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New York Giants' newest addition Jason Pierre-Paul struggles on field with

The sight of Jason Pierre-Paul hunched over in pain Saturday, or lying on the grass being worked on by trainers, was troubling enough. It seemed worse later when Tom Coughlin said the Giants' first-round pick was "suffering" because his "conditioning" wasn't where it needed to be.

But Pierre-Paul insisted it all looked and sounded worse than it really was. He said the "pinching" he felt in his back is normal for him this time of year, and that it usually goes away in about a week.

"I'm not out of shape," the defensive end from South Florida said. "The fact that I was out there bending down and stuff, it wasn't that I was out of shape. I kept on telling Coach that. I'm not out of shape now. I feel like I'm in great shape. It's just my back was just killing me."

Several times, Pierre-Paul looked slow getting in and out of his stance and pushing off the line of scrimmage. He was often hunched over, seemingly winded, though he insisted he was only in pain. At one point, he was on his knees on the ground as the trainers sprayed him with water and applied a bandage to his lower back.

Coughlin, who has little tolerance for any injuries, seemed pleased that his new, 6-5, 270-pound defensive end fought through the pain and kept practicing.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2010/05/02/2010-05-02_giants_top_pick_struggles.html#ixzz0mpR2ftBS

Suh or McCoy? For Bucs, it's debatable

Most everyone has had a debate such as this tossed into his or lap at some point.

Beatles or Rolling Stones? Ginger or Mary Ann? Letterman or Leno?

If you follow sports, you've probably wrestled with this strain of argument more often than most.

Gretzky or Lemieux? Mays or Mantle? Bird or Magic?

Seldom has anyone had to weigh the true consequences of their choice. That, though, is what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have to do when it comes time for the third pick in tonight's NFL draft.

Suh or McCoy?

More than a few draft analysts envision a scenario in which the Bucs are left to choose between two potentially game-changing defensive tackles: Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy. If so, then what?

Who would the Bucs choose?

"You're talking about two dynamic guys, and two guys who bring dynamic aspects to the game," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said recently. "You're talking about two guys who are slightly different but are both dominant."

The St. Louis Rams are expected to take Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford first overall. Though the defensive tackles are tempting, some believe the Detroit Lions will take an offensive tackle to protect the blind side of franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford, last year's No. 1 overall pick.

Either way, one of the two standout defensive tackles should be there for the Bucs. But is one a better fit? Do they like one so much more that they would consider trading down if he is gone?

Well, it depends on what the Bucs are looking for in a defensive tackle, a position that is among their greatest areas of need.

If it's a dominant run stopper, then Suh, the University of Nebraska standout, is probably the choice. If it's a pass rusher, then McCoy, the Oklahoma product, is likely the man.

Or is he? Though most analysts believe McCoy does a better job of penetrating the line of scrimmage and getting after the quarterback, Suh's production says otherwise. During the 2009 season, Suh recorded 12 sacks, 11 pass deflections and 41 quarterback hurries, while McCoy had six sacks, one pass deflection and 18 hurries.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/apr/22/220022/sp-its-debatable-ndamukong-suh-nebraska-6-4305-ger/sports-bucs/

Cowboys need to take Dez Bryant, avoid another Moss blunder

The Cowboys decided to pass up Randy Moss with their first-round draft selection in 1998. In 1999, the career of their Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin came to a tragic end with a neck injury.

That sent the franchise into an offensive tailspin. The Cowboys finished 28th in the NFL in passing in 2000 and 31st each of the next two seasons. It took the Cowboys seven years into the decade to finally regain status as a Top 10 passing team when Tony Romo finally hit the field.

But would the Cowboys have struggled so mightily to throw the football had Moss worn a star on his helmet the entire decade? He was busy carving out a Hall of Fame career elsewhere with the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.

That left Jerry Jones and the Cowboy faithful to wonder: What if?

What if Moss became a Cowboy in 1998? He might still be a Cowboy today. I doubt the Cowboys would have gone a modest 82-78 in the 2000 decade with just one playoff victory had Moss been posting his record receiving seasons in Dallas instead of elsewhere.

Ten years from now, another What if? could be looming for this franchise.

Dez Bryant is the Randy Moss of this draft – a wide receiver with extraordinary skills whose talent ranks in the Top 10 of the Class of 2010.

Like Moss, though, the Lufkin product has some character issues. Actually, some maturity issues. Can he be trusted to be both an adult and a professional when fame and fortune come his way as an NFL player?

Like Moss, Bryant figures to slide in this draft because of those concerns. He may slide out of the Top 10. He may slide through the teens. What if he's there at No. 21 – the exact same spot where the Vikings claimed Moss?

The NFC East champion Cowboys are so close to a Super Bowl. Adding a playmaker with the skill level of Bryant could put them over the top. With Romo throwing him passes, Bryant would pencil in as the favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

The Cowboys hope to become the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl on their home field next February. They have a Pro Bowl quarterback, a Pro Bowl wide receiver and a Pro Bowl tight end. All would become better with Bryant on the flank – and the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints proved last season that championships in today's NFL are all about offense.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/stories/042210dnspogosselin.3fe568b.html

Titans bring back quarterback Chris Simms

Chris Simms left the Titans last year because of an offer he couldn't pass up, but also because of uncertainty at the quarterback position in Nashville.

He returned to the Titans on Monday with a one-year contract. And while some things have come into focus since Simms left — Vince Young is now the unquestioned starter over Kerry Collins — it's not quite clear where he will fit.

Collins' future with the Titans would seem to be in question, however. He's scheduled to make $5.5 million this fall and has been conspicuously absent from the offseason workout program.

"Whatever they deem my role is, I'll gladly accept that,'' Simms said. "I know Vince is coming off a great 10 games to end last year. He did real well and helped spark the team. I have a lot of respect for Vince as a person and a player and I am excited to be back with him. … Whether Kerry comes back,

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100413/SPORTS01/4130339/2161

Add Ginn to Dolphins on trade block

Coach Tony Sparano has often said the Dolphins are happy with their wide receivers. Well, I guess one would have to define happiness if, as I suspect, the report Ted Ginn is on the trade block is correct.

NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora tweeted minutes ago that Ginn is being shopped by the Dolphins.

My question is who would buy and for how much?

Ginn is coming off a year in which he regressed in 2009. He caught 38 passes for 454 yards and one touchdown. He also dropped eight passes, which was among the NFL leaders in that category.

In 2008 Ginn caught 56 passes for 790 yards and two touchdowns. Not stellar, but there were still hopes Ginn could continue to improve. Those hopes took a significant hit last year.

At one point, Ginn lost his starting job before regaining it late in the season.

So where does this leave us?

One might assume the Baltimore Ravens might be interested as Cam Cameron is their offensive coordinator. Cameron was the one who drafted Ginn's family in 2007. General manager Randy Mueller drafted Ginn.

But let's face it, in a league where Brandon Marshall is available for less than a first-round pick and Anquan Boldin was traded for a third and fourth-round pick, Ginn's value cannot be very high.

The Dolphins might be lucky to get a low fourth rounder for Ted Ginn Jr. And that might be based on his promise as a good return man.

Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2010/04/add-ginn-to-list-of-players-on-trade-block.html#ixzz0l59iSjYp

Sources: Miami Dolphins to trade for Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall

The Miami Dolphins' silence for much of the last month during free agency was replaced Wednesday morning by a boom loud enough to wake up the entire NFL.

Miami is on the brink of trading for Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall, one of the most talented but controversial players at his position, sources told The Miami Herald. The acquisition would change the complexion of the Dolphins' offense immediately.

Marshall is expected to fly to South Florida to take a physical in a formality that is necessary before any trade becomes official, the sources said.

``Anytime you bring in a proven talent, you instantly get better,'' said wide receiver Greg Camarillo, who had only heard the same reports about the trade as everyone else. ``He has proven he can be dominant.''

The deal would send a second-round pick this year and another pick (also likely a second-round pick) next year, ESPN is reporting.

The wide receiver, in the peak of his career, is the type of aggressive force Miami treasures at the position, but coach Tony Sparano said at last month's owner's meetings in Orlando it would take something ``tremendous'' to make Miami go after such a player.

Asked if the team was interested in Marshall or wide receiver Terrell Owens, Sparano said, ``Right now we're kind of sitting back and we feel good about where we are right now. We'll see as this thing goes on if all of a sudden something came to us that was tremendous. But right now, I wouldn't say so. We're OK where we are.''

Whether the deal became better fitted for Miami's tastes -- or whether it was simply a bluff -- no longer seems to matter. On Wednesday, the Dolphins were actively trying to trade wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., which might have been the first sign of the pending deal.

Then, on the same day, Marshall also signed his first-round tender, which prompted many to speculate that a trade between the Broncos and another team was about to go down.

Marshall has been a delight in Denver for his ability on the field (he has caught more than 100 passes for over 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons) and a consistent distraction off the field (he was once suspended for a game because of legal trouble in 2008).

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/14/1578618/sources-miami-dolphins-to-trade.html

The early line on defensive linemen

Even though two defensive linemen could be taken in the first three picks, there is a good chance that an appealing one will fall to the Ravens near the bottom of the first round next week.

Penn State's Jared Odrick, the consensus No. 3 defensive tackle in the draft, fits the personality of the Ravens' defense. In commenting on Odrick's high-energy play and toughness, one team official recently said, "He plays like a Raven."

Odrick was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches after he recorded 43 tackles last season for the Nittany Lions. He also had seven sacks and 11 tackles for losses.

The biggest reason why Odrick could last into the second half of the first round is he's not considered flashy. He stops the run and rushes the passer equally well, but isn't dominant in either area.

"The fact that he's got a great motor and had great production in college is his highest testament," said Mike Mayock, the NFL Network's draft analyst. "It will be tough for some of those teams at the end of the first round to pass on him."

The Ravens, who hold the 25th overall pick, are likely among those teams who won't pass on Odrick.

Defensive line is one of the Ravens' needs after the team lost Dwan Edwards (signed with Buffalo) and Justin Bannan (Denver) in free agency. The Ravens added Cory Redding last month, but he's viewed as a stopgap solution. Three of the Ravens' top four defensive linemen (Redding, nose tackle Kelley Gregg and defensive end Trevor Pryce) will be at least 30 by the middle of the season.

Odrick, who stands 6 feet 5 and weighs 304 pounds, would be an upgrade over Edwards, anchoring the Ravens' defensive line with Haloti Ngata for the next decade. Although some think Odrick could be adequate as a nose tackle, the Ravens project him as an end in their system.

"He's a lunch-pail-type player," said Eric DeCosta, Ravens director of player personnel. "He plays hard. He's a smart kid. He's a good prospect."

There is a chance that Odrick will be gone before the Ravens are on the clock. The Ravens were reportedly among seven teams that had scheduled a private meeting or workout with him. (The Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons were the others.)

One report had Odrick being drafted as high as No. 7 by the Browns, but few see him going in the top 20 in the draft despite the fact that he was one of eight players invited to New York for the first round.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-sp.ravens12apr12,0,2313494.story

Packers showing interest in Westbrook

By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

The Green Bay Packers are exploring the possibility of adding former Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook to their already potent offense.

Though it’s unclear whether the Packers are serious enough to sign the 30-year-old veteran free agent, two sources said Monday that the club definitely has shown interest in him. Westbrook became a free agent when the Eagles released him Feb. 23.,

Westbrook has taken a lot of hits over his eight-year career and last year missed eight games due to a pair of concussions. There was some speculation that he would retire after the Eagles released him, but he appears determined to play again and wants to show people rumors of him being finished aren’t true.

If the Packers signed Westbrook, it would probably be to fill the role veteran Ahman Green did the second half of last season. Westbrook is an outstanding receiver and often lined up in the slot in Eagles coach Andy Reid’s offense, taking advantage of match-ups with slower linebackers. As important to the Packers would be his leadership role on offense.

Last year, Westbrook carried 61 times for 274 yards (4.5-yard average) and a touchdown and caught 25 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. Projected over 16 games, those numbers would have been far below his 936 yards and nine touchdowns rushing and 54 catches for 402 yards and five touchdowns in 2008.

Despite the decline in his numbers, Westbrook played well enough to remain the starter in Philadelphia last year, although rookie LeSean McCoy started emerging for the Eagles early in the season. It's possible Westbrook would benefit from playing a more limited role somewhere else.

If healthy, Westbrook could provide coach Mike McCarthy with the effective third-down back he has lacked in recent years. Brandon Jackson was an outstanding blocker on third downs last year, but he was not a factor as a receiver or runner. Starter Ryan Grant has expressed an interest in playing more on third downs, and if he does, he probably would need his backup to handle some of the work on other downs.

McCarthy could also use the two backs together in order to create favorable match-ups. Westbrook played numerous positions in Reid's offense and was a threat to run or catch the ball on third downs. At 5-10, 203 pounds, his combination of size and speed made him difficult to bring down.

Much has been made of the concussions Westbrook suffered last year, the first when his helmet collided with the knee of Washington linebacker London Fletcher. The second forced him to miss the last five regular-season games.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/packers.html

New York Jets trade 5th-round draft pick to Steelers for troubled WR Santonio Ho

The Jets continued their busy offseason Sunday night, acquiring troubled but talented wide receiver Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.

Holmes, 26, who made the winning catch with 35 seconds left and was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII, has been under investigation for allegedly throwing a glass at a woman in an Orlando nightclub. The woman is suing Holmes, who has denied any wrongdoing, and Holmes' lawyer told a Pittsburgh television station last week that he has a sworn statement from a witness who said that he, not Holmes, was the one who threw the drink.

The incident in Orlando is the latest in a series of off-field problems that is likely the reason Holmes was available so suddenly and at such a low price.

Holmes has a checkered past dating to his youth, when he admitted to selling drugs. He was deactivated for a game against the Giants in 2008 after being charged with marijuana possession. Those charges were eventually dropped. But Holmes posted on his verified Twitter page in March, "time to wake n bake," a reference to smoking pot.

Holmes also was arrested in 2006 for disorderly conduct, domestic violence and assault. He pleaded no contest to a related traffic ticket, and the other charges were eventually dropped.

Holmes, who had 79 receptions for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns last season for Pittsburgh, joins a Jets roster that is suddenly loaded with players who have checkered pasts.

Fellow receiver Braylon Edwards was charged with assault the day before the Jets acquired him from the Browns in October, and could be facing suspension for his no-contest plea.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, acquired from the Chargers last month for a 2011 third-round pick, has faced several paternity suits and was accused of hitting a man in a bar with a champagne bottle, though San Diego police couldn't find enough evidence to press charges.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2010/04/11/2010-04-11_source_new_york_jets_trade_5thround_draft_pick_for_steelers_for_troubled_wr_sant.html

Trouble looming between Titans, Chris Johnson

In late March, we pointed out that Chris Johnson's contract could soon become a problem. "Soon" could be sooner than anyone in Tennessee realizes.

With Johnson boycotting offseason workouts and Titans coach Jeff Fisher shrugging at the possibility that the 2009 AP offensive player of the year's absence will become protracted, we're hearing that Johnson could be preparing to make a stand.

As the 24th pick in the 2008 draft, Johnson signed a slotted deal worth $12 million over five years. He already thinks he should be the highest-paid offensive player in the league.

He isn't; he's not even close. He'll earn a base salary of $550,000 in 2010. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will earn $3.8 million more this season than Johnson will make under his entire rookie deal.

The Titans easily can respond to a request for a new deal by pointing to the 30 percent rule, which as we've recently explained makes it very difficult to do a market-value extension in the uncapped year -- unless the team wants to fork over a gigantic signing bonus. And while we believe when it comes to a veteran deal that the player should honor the terms of his contract, the current slotting system fails to reward a rookie who outperforms his draft position.

Regardless of whether Johnson chooses to hold out of training camp (and the grapevine suggests that he very possibly could), any forthcoming tweaking to the rookie compensation system not only should remove the windfalls paid to the men taken at the top but also should ensure that the players who become stars are paid accordingly.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/11/trouble-looming-between-titans-chris-johnson/