Andy Reid: Eagles will 'sit back and evaluate' Kevin Kolb offers

Andy Reid didn’t announce anything we didn’t know – that the Philadelphia Eagles are fielding offers for quarterback Kevin Kolb – but he reinforced it this week in an interview with the team’s Web site.
The key, as Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News noted, will be whether or not NFL business resumes before the draft in late April. That will give the Eagles a window to shop Kolb to the teams out there that are otherwise sifting through candidates for the draft.
“People have shown a little interest (in Kolb), and as this thing picks up, I’m sure it will continue," Reid said. “Listen, we’ll sit back and we’ll evaluate.
“He’s ours. Everything else from there is easy. It’s kind of like what I said last year. If people are interested, they’ll come to you. But on the other hand, do we love Kevin Kolb? Are you kidding me? I mean, this guy is a helluva football player.
"You look at his numbers and the things he did when he had the opportunity to start, and you start six or seven games and you’re the NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice, and all the 300-yard games he put together and the way he commands the offense and all these things, you’re not in a big hurry to get rid of Kevin Kolb.”
Kolb is under contract for only one more season so the Eagles risk losing him a year from now and getting nothing in return. If they’re fully committed to Michael Vick, dealing Kolb while his value is high makes sense. They need a chance to do it before the draft to maximize their opportunities.

source:  The National Football Post
author:  Brad Biggs

Antonio Cromartie thinks prospects should attend the draft

As far as New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie is concerned, top draft prospects should attend the NFL draft in New York as they usually do.
That's a defiant statement considering that the decertified NFL Players Association is expected to organize its own competing draft event..
"I hope all the top guys go to Radio City and get the experience as everyone else did," Cromartie wrote on his Twitter account. "I think the fans that go radio city loves it. I'm speaking as fan and as a guy who got drafted. I couldn't wait till that day."
This isn't the first time that Cromartie has offered a strong opinion.
After the season, he ripped owners and NFLPA  executive director DeMaurice Smith.
“You got our head union rep acting like an a--hole. They got their guys acting like a---holes. So they just need to get their sh-- together and just get it done.”
When a fan asked if Cromartie will attend the draft, he replied, "ok I'm there."

source:  The National Football Post
author:  Aaron Wilson

NFL News and Notes - St. Patrick's Day

NFL teams may still make scheduled payments of deferred compensation to players during the lockout.

On Wednesday, the NFL's Competition Committee announced several rule change proposals that will be voted upon by owners at the league meetings in New Orleans next week.

Unlikely to be brought back by the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver Randy Moss wants to play for the New England Patriots again.

Moss also would love a third stint with the Minnesota Vikings.

Buffalo Bills employees will take pay cuts during the lockout.

Larry Kennan, the director of the NFL Coaches Association, was surprised by the salary cuts the New York Jets will be making.

Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel tries to identify which Miami Dolphins player will have a breakout season in 2011.

USC cornerback Shareece Wright may be a mid-round target of the Baltimore Ravens, writes Matt Vensel of The Baltimore Sun.

The off-season has been status quo for some members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, writes Dan Gigler of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Mike Lombardi of the NFL Network isn't so sure the Cleveland Browns are sold on quarterback Colt McCoy.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has a four-day tryout with Sporting Kansas City of the MLS.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark will give acting a shot during the lockout.

If the lockout continues, Titans free agent defensive end Jason Babin may give the CFL or UFL a shot.

San Diego Chargers linebacker Kevin Burnett was highly critical of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.


The 2011 Oakland Raiders will have a much harder schedule than the team that went 8-8 in 2010.

Lehigh offensive lineman Will Rackley is a mid-round prospect on the Seattle Seahawks' radar screen, writes Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune.

Matthew Barrows of The Sacramento Bee looks at some of the second-round prospects for the San Francisco 49ers.

Starting April 11, Arizona Cardinals coaches will take pay cuts during a lockout, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Four members of the St. Louis Rams personnel department were at Illinois' pro day on Wednesday, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Illinois possessing up to three first-round picks drew six coaches and scouts from the Chicago Bears.

ESPN's Todd McShay has the Detroit Lions selecting Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara with the 13th pick in his mock draft.

New York Giants co-owner John Mara announced that season-tickets holders owe nothing on their invoices until a new CBA is reached.

Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner appeared with Mike Florio on PFT Live on Wednesday.

In a letter to fans, Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen says the lockout is "difficult but necessary".

One of the proposed rule changes could hurt Dallas Cowboys kicker David Buehler, writes Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News.

That same rule change could make Carolina Panthers kicker Rhys Lloyd obsolete, writes Darin Gantt of The Charlotte Observer.

Troy wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan had a private workout with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis discussed the labor situation on Wednesday.

Mount Union wide receiver Cecil Shorts had an impressive pro day performance.
Pro Days: Appalachian State, Lehigh, Marshall, Michigan, Missouri, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.
NFL birthdays: Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (23), Giants defensive tackle Dwayne Hendricks (25), Jets safety Eric Smith (28), Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (24), Seahawks tight end Cameron Morrah (24). Free agent nose tackle Kwaku Danso (29), cornerback Marquis Floyd (31), safety Marlon McCree (34), and offensive tackle Charles Spencer (29).

Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh would have turned 97.

Retired defensive backs Don Griffin (47) and Jerome Woods (38), kicker John Hall (37), linebacker Barry Krauss (54), running back Chuck Muncie (58).

source:  Mac's Football Blog
Posted by Brian McIntyre

Jason Babin Considers UFL, CFL

After going to his first Pro Bowl after posting 12.5 quarterback sacks for the Tennessee Titans, free agent defensive end Jason Babin would prefer to be signing a long-term contract this off-season.

With the NFL lockout indefinitely delaying the start of free agency, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports that Babin will do some MMA training, hunt some bear, and perhaps give the UFL or CFL a shot.

"I know those leagues would love to grow their awareness and if they got a certain amount of high-profile guys to join in, the money would go from the NFL pool to the CFL or UFL pool and maybe they could negotiate a TV deal," Babin said. "Now that would scare the (bleep) out of the NFL owners if they could pull something like that off, you know?"

A first-round pick out of Western Michigan by the Houston Texans in 2004, Babin earned $1 million, including $700,000 in base salary, after signing an offer sheet that the Philadelphia Eagles declined to match.

The 30-year old Babin has 30 quarterback sacks in an 82-game career with the Texans, Titans, Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Troy Bergeron, who had been signed to a "Reserve/Futures" contract, has joined the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

source:  Mac's Football Blog
Posted by Brian McIntyre