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Archive for the ‘Matthew Stafford’ Category

While the Detroit Lions reached a five-year contract agreement with running back Jahvid Best -- the 30th overall pick -- late Friday night, they haven't signed their top choice, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Filed under: Cowboys, Rams, Ravens, Redskins, NFL Free Agency, NFL Training Camp, NFL Analysis, NFL Notebook

News about the progress (specifically, the lack thereof) toward an agreement between NFL owners and the players union has come in trickles during the offseason, with the two sides going months without so much as pulling up chairs.

Now that real football is about to start -- the Dallas Cowboys report for training camp today in San Antonio -- it's safe to say there will be even fewer updates and less gains made on the labor front. True, these things always have a way of getting done at the last minute, though this standoff, especially with the dissolving of the salary cap, has a funny feel about it.

But it was interesting hearing from the two sides this week, courtesy of separate appearances on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning." It was as if NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, (right) who appeared Wednesday, and NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash, who was given equal time Thursday, were lobbing their posturing and parting shots before the real football news kicks off and drowns them out.

Some highlights:

 

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The St. Louis Rams just opened contract negotiations with Sam Bradford's agent last week, but team official Kevin Demoff said Tuesday that fans shouldn't be concerned about the ability to sign the No. 1 overall draft pick.

The St. Louis Rams opened contract negotiations with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford's agent Friday, NFL Network's Jason La Canfora and Michael Lombardi confirmed. However, a team official told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that a deal with the No. 1 overall draft pick isn't expected soon.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, number one overall draft pick Sam Bradford's contract is likely to include $45-to-$50 million in guaranteed money.

Our View: 2009's number one overall pick, Matthew Stafford, was given $41.7 million in guaranteed money. You can see why the NFL's owners are making rookie salaries a focal point of the next collective bargaining agreement talks.

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Filed under: Chicago Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings, NFC North

It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL. So what better time to start breaking down the upcoming season? From July 6-27, FanHouse will take an in-depth look at each division to help prepare you for training camp. We're calling it our Summer Scramble.

Coming July 16: AFC South Players to Watch

Burning Questions

Will Julius Peppers live up to his six-year, $84 million contract?

Peppers terrorized Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie late last season, forcing the Pro Bowler to the bench, while Peppers kept putting his mitts on Brett Favre. The Bears see Favre -- assuming he plays, which virtually everyone thinks he will -- and the Vikings twice. Can Peppers continue to create nightmares for the Vikings line? Will he be hurt by the Bears' decision to cut veteran Alex Brown, allowing him to sign with the defending champion Saints as a free agent? Peppers has been a pretty consistent force over his career, with the notable exception of 2007. The Bears shouldn't be excessively worried about injury or ineffectiveness, but the reality is there is a ton of pressure on Peppers and Brian Urlacher to resurrect this one-proud defense. If one or both falter, it doesn't matter what the offense does. It'll be another long year.

 

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Is anyone else preparing to see the Rams head into training camp without rookie QB Sam Bradford? The possibility is real—as it is with any first round pick in this league. But unlike last year's No. 1 overall pick, Matthew Stafford of the Lions (who was signed before the draft even began in 2009), St. Louis will have to get their top pick under contract in less than three weeks.

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Kevin Demoff, the man responsible for negotiating a contract for No. 1 pick Sam Bradford with the St. Louis Rams, will return from vacation next week and then it's down to business.

The Rams will open up negotiations with Tom Condon, the agent for Bradford, according to a report by Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The hope, of course, is to have the man the team is rebuilding around on the field for the start of training camp, something the Detroit Lions accomplished a year ago with their quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

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Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, said he fully expects to be under contract in time to open training camp in late July.

Filed under: Lions, NFL Training Camp

Jonathan Wade was a bust as a third-round draft pick in St. Louis. The former University of Tennessee standout started just six games in three seasons, including the first four of the 2009 season. The last was a 35-0 loss at San Francisco. He was benched for good.

So when Wade talks big -- like he did during the Detroit Lions' three-day mini-camp this week -- it's not like hearing from Champ Bailey or Darrelle Revis.

But that's OK with Lions coach Jim Schwartz.

"If you have a confidence problem and you're a corner, you're not going to be a corner very long," Schwartz told reporters in Allen Park, Mich. "You have to have a short memory and you have to be able to put bad plays and mistakes behind you. That's part of the mentality."

Clearly, Wade has no problem erasing the negative, regardless of whether he's been part of it. The guy experienced one victory with the Rams last season -- and a total of six in his three seasons -- and after being dispatched into the free-agency pool, signed with the Lions, who won a combined two games the previous two seasons.

Wade, though, became the latest in a line of outspoken and optimistic Lions -- joining veteran tackle Jon Jansen and blossoming second-year safety Louis Delmas -- to jump on the turnaround bandwagon and vow the club will make the playoffs in 2010.

"It's been said. I've heard it. I want you to write this down," Wade told The Detroit Free Press. "Jonathan Wade now says we're going to make the playoffs -- 9-7."

 

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In addition to the Jaguars, the Lions will have also forfeit practice sessions for violating league policy on offseason workouts. The Lions will give up OTAs on June 21 and June 22. [...]

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Well done. You mounted a (mostly) reasoned and largely robust defense this week of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who I suggested would f...

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Here's what's happening around the National Football League on Monday, May 17, 2010:

o. Linebacker Matt Roth essentially forced his way out of Miami last season, thanks to what he claimed was a groin injury that team doctors couldn't diagnose and Roth refused to play through. Now, Roth is trying to wiggle out of Cleveland, too.

Roth, who joined Cleveland midway through 2009 after the Dolphins released him, has asked the Browns to trade him before the 2010 season starts, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Roth is a restricted free agent, but has yet to sign his tender -- Roth wants a long-term deal from the Browns, but the two sides haven't come close to an agreement.

The Browns were no doubt counting on the sixth-year linebacker to hold down a starting spot on the outside, but as it stands now, it's hard to envision Roth and Cleveland reuniting.

o. Elvis Dumervil, a restricted free agent coming off a 17-sack season, showed up for the start of Denver's Offseason Team Activities (OTAs) despite his quest to receive a long-term contract.

 

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The St. Louis Rams picked Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1 selection in the NFL draft Thursday night, hoping he can help revive a franchise that has slid a long way from its days as "The Greatest Show on Turf."

The Detroit Lions' biggest need is talent. Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best seem to have a lot of it.

Stafford (knee) is not yet 100 percent, MLive.com reports. [...]

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Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will need help to lead a turnaround. He believes he's getting it.

Last year the Detroit Lions knew well in advance that they'd use the No. 1 pick in the draft on quarterback Matthew Stafford, and all of the franchise's key players were on board with that decision.This year the Lions have...

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PewterReport.com reports there is a chance the Detroit Lions could select Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft in order to help protect QB Matthew Stafford.

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Here is the reality of holding the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft these days: You’re stuck with it.

For more than five years now, teams drafting in the top five sports in the draft have traditionally done everything they can to deal down. No one wants to own a pick that high with the massive guaranteed money that is involved. The Detroit Lions forked over $41 million guaranteed to quarterback Matthew Stafford a year ago.

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