Owners may opt out of labor deal next week (AP)
NFL owners could opt out of their agreement with the players union next week, leaving open the possibility of a 2010 season without a salary cap. The labor agreement is on the agenda for the league meetings in Atlanta on Tuesday. "If they don't do it next week then it will be soon after that," Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said Friday. [Link]
Minicamp Insider 1.0
In his latest column, Scout.com's NFL insider Adam Caplan breaks down several story lines. Who is player the Kansas City Chiefs targeted in the Jared Allen trade? Why did the Green Bay Packers target a receiver in the second round and where will he fit in long-term? What is the future of Darren Howard? We also have more exclusive details on Brady Quinn's contract and whole a lot more inside. [Link]
Newman Close to New Deal?
Dallas Cowboys CB Terence Newman currently has one year remaining on his contract (the final year was voided) and there had been reports of both sides being far apart on negotiations on a new deal. [Link]
Manningham Vows to Leave Past Behind Him
Before the very first practice of rookie mini-camp, Tom Coughlin made sure that of all the young players set to take the field for the first time he specifically stopped by to speak with Mario Manningham. [Link]
Giants DE Strahan quiet on future (PA SportsTicker)
Michael Strahan claims that he is close to making a decision regarding his football future. But the New York Giants star defensive end is not ready to announce his plans. [Link]
7 Points: Jones-Drew is a Little Big-Man
Ed Thompson points out why Maurice Jones-Drew can scoff at his former critics — and why Miami rookie WR Davone Bess should be able to do the same in a few years. Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald, former Raider Duane Starks, a smart personnel move by the Colts and more are all in today's 7 Points feature. [Link]
Who's going to be NFL's biggest comeback?
Jay Cutler had a tough 2007 and has been diagnosed with diabetes. It's why he's on Alex Marvez's list of comeback award hopefuls. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents: Offense
Here's an updated look at the best available NFL free agents from the offensive side of the ball. The running back position clearly has decent talent that could come in and contribute right away. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents-Defense
Here's an updated look at the best available NFL free agents from the defensive side of the ball. There are still some quality defensive tackles available who could come in and help a team. [Link]
Strahan still isn't sure if he'll play in '08
Michael Strahan still hasn't made up his mind about whether he is going to play next year, but some of his teammates are trying to do it for him. [Link]
Giant Longshots
One only has to look at Craig Dahl for motivation. No one even knew his name last year at this time. Yet, there he was starting at safety and playing very well during two crucial Giants victories in December. [Link]
Kraft feels vindicated by Boston Herald apology (AP)
Robert Kraft picked up the newspaper at his home Wednesday morning and was happy to see the front-page headline in big capital letters: "SORRY, PATS" The Patriots owner felt vindicated by the Boston Herald's apology after a season — and offseason — of reports the NFL's most successful franchise of the decade had spied on opponents.
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Time for Pats fans to embrace the dark side
A Pats fan from the Bleacher Report says the team has gone from Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader — and it's more fun being a villain. [Link]
Five teams that have made Super improvements
Minnesota fans might be shouting "Victory!" well into the playoffs. Our NFL Czar has the Vikings among his most-improved teams. [Link]
Tomlinson wary of window closing (Yahoo! Sports)
LaDainian Tomlinson discussed his desires to win a title and several other issues during a recent Q&A. [Link]
Boston Herald reporter expresses regret over Spygate story (AP)
The Boston Herald sports writer who reported the New England Patriots taped a pre-Super Bowl walkthrough by the St. Louis Rams in 2002 said he will regret the erroneous story for the rest of his life. "First and foremost, this is about a writer breaking one of the cardinal rules of journalism. I failed to keep challenging what I had been told," wrote John Tomase in Friday's editions of the… [Link]
Army P Owen Tolson waived by Giants (AP)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Free agent punter Owen Tolson of Army was among five players released by the New York Giants. Tolson, who ranked seventh in the nation in punting last season, was signed last week and cut on Monday after participating in a weekend minicamp for rookies and free agents. The Giants also waived linebacker Rory Johnson of Mississippi and defensive tackle Joshua Muse of Louisiana… [Link]
Nine nuggets for the NFL offseason
Don't look now, but Buffalo has the pieces in place to make some noise in the playoffs. Adam Schein explains in his offseason nuggets. [Link]
Does Being Number One Really Matter?
When compared to their draft class peers, there was no one statistically better at running the ball, intercepting passes, throwing passes or sacking the quarterback than these players. But did it pay off for them on draft weekend? Scout.com's Ed Thompson takes a look. [Link]
Injuries Mar Camp
Two of the players everyone was most excited to see didn't even make it through New York's two-day rookie minicamp. [Link]
If N.F.L. Doesn’t Call, the Army Will
If Owen Tolson makes the Giants roster, a new Army program will allow him to delay his active-service commitment to play professional sports while serving as a recruiter. [Link]
Giants' Manningham, Woodson injured (PA SportsTicker)
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - Receiver Mario Manningham and quarterback Andre Woodson suffered minor injuries during the New York Giants minicamp for rookies and free agents Saturday. [Link]
Manningham, Woodson hurt in Giants rookie minicamp
Receiver Mario Manningham and quarterback Andre' Woodson were sidelined by injuries Saturday during the New York Giants' minicamp for rookies and free agents. A third-round draft pick from Michigan, Manningham suffered a hip flexor on his left side running a pull-up pattern early in the morning workout. Manningham said the injury happened because he did not run his pattern right. "It ain't nothing bad or serious," Manningham said. "If it was serious I would not be walking. [Link]
Press Conference: Tom Coughlin
Tom Coughlin spoke with the media today. Here is a transcript. [Link]
Press Conference: Gilbride and Spags Speak
Kevin Gilbride and Steve Spagnuolo spoke with the media today. Here is a transcript. [Link]
Manningham, Woodson hurt in Giants rookie minicamp (AP)
Receiver Mario Manningham and quarterback Andre' Woodson were sidelined by injuries Saturday during the New York Giants' minicamp for rookies and free agents. A third-round draft pick from Michigan, Manningham suffered a hip flexor on his left side running a pull-up pattern early in the morning workout. [Link]
Safety Set to Blaze Path With Familiar Number
Kenny Phillips, the Giants 2008 first-round pick, has chosen to wear No. 21 as a tribute to Sean Taylor. [Link]
Press Conference: Bryan Kehl & Andre Woodson
Bryan Kehl and Andre Woodson answered questions for the media today. Here is a transcript. [Link]
Manningham flashes top-level skills at Giants minicamp
Mario Manningham has given people a lot to talk about with all his off the field problems. On the field with the New York Giants for the first time Friday, the troubled third-round draft pick from Michigan showed flashes of why he might have been one of the biggest steals in the NFL draft. Manningham caught a short pass in the morning workout, deked a defender, spun past another and jogged down the field with a flair that raised eyebrows at the Giants' minicamp for rookie and free agents. [Link]
Manningham flashes top-level skills at Giants minicamp (AP)
Mario Manningham has given people a lot to talk about with all his off the field problems. On the field with the New York Giants for the first time Friday, the troubled third-round draft pick from Michigan showed flashes of why he might have been one of the biggest steals in the NFL draft. Manningham caught a short pass in the morning workout, deked a defender, spun past another and jogged down the… [Link]
AP Interview: Mannings eager for more Super Bowls
Archie Manning admits it. He's getting greedy. The patriarch of America's reigning first family of football wants sons Peyton and Eli to keep going back to the Super Bowl. Just not at the same time. The Manning family celebrated Peyton's first NFL championship when the Indianapolis Colts won the 2007 Super Bowl. Then came an encore when Eli guided the upstart New York Giants to this year's title. What's more, each was the game's MVP in this remarkable brother act. [Link]
AP Interview: Mannings eager for more Super Bowls< (AP)
Archie Manning admits it. He's getting greedy. The patriarch of America's reigning first family of football wants sons Peyton and Eli to keep going back to the Super Bowl. Just not at the same time. The Manning family celebrated Peyton's first NFL championship when the Indianapolis Colts won the 2007 Super Bowl.
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Press Conference: Kenny Phillips
Kenny Phillips answered questions for the media today. Here is a transcript. [Link]
It's the wrong era for a star LB like Connor
The draft day downward spiral of the most productive player ever from "Linebacker U" shows Alex Marvez how times have changed. [Link]
Pats OT keeps the mood Light (Yahoo! Sports)
Matt Light is as skillful at keeping his teammates laughing with pranks as he is protecting Tom Brady. [Link]
A Decade of Sins Deserves a Year Out
The league needs to send a message in how it deals with Bill Belichick and his extensive video library of N.F.L. spy tapes. [Link]
Best Available NFL Free Agents-Defense
With the NFL draft behind us, here's an updated look at the best available free agents from the defensive side of the ball. [Link]
Former Giant Expects Big Things from Phillips
Who better to comment on first-round pick Kenny Phillips than a former Giants defensive standout that knows Phillips better than most… [Link]
New Deal for the Giants’ Diehl
Offensive tackle David Diehl signed a two-year extension with the Giants that will keep him under contract with the team through the 2013 season. Diehl, who had four years left on an extension he signed in 2005, will make $31 million under terms of the deal. Diehl has been a starter since being taken by the Giants in the fifth round of the 2003 draft. [Link]
Giants give LT Diehl a 2-year extension
Offensive tackle David Diehl signed a two-year extension with the New York Giants that will keep him under contract with the Super Bowl champions through the 2013 season. Diehl, who had four years left on an extension he signed in 2005, will earn $31 million under terms of the new deal. The extension was worked out over the past month, Peter Schaffer, Diehl's agent said in a telephone interview. [Link]
Giants give LT David Diehl a 2-year contract extension (AP)
Offensive tackle David Diehl signed a two-year extension with the New York Giants that will keep him under contract with the Super Bowl champions through the 2013 season. Diehl, who had four years left on an extension he signed in 2005, will earn $31 million under terms of the new deal. The extension was worked out over the past month, Peter Schaffer, Diehl's agent said in a telephone interview. [Link]
This NFL offseason has been anything but uneventful
Who says nothing happens in the NFL offseason? Peter Schrager hands out some awards after a seriously hectic couple of months. [Link]
This NFL off-season has been anything but uneventful
Who says nothing happens in the NFL off-season? Peter Schrager hands out some awards after a seriously hectic couple of months. [Link]
NFL Power Poll: 'Spider sense' puts Giants at No. 1 (SportingNews.com)
SN's Vinnie Iyer has a "spider-sense" that Eli Manning and the Giants are still the team to beat going into the 2008 NFL season. [Link]
Pro Football Scout of the Year
Former pro scout Tom Marino took a look at the often unheralded pro scouts in the NFL and selected one as his "Professional Football Scout of the Year." Find out who he picked, and why, in this Scout.com feature. [Link]
Giants give LT Diehl new deal (PA SportsTicker)
The New York Giants have rewarded left tackle David Diehl for his solid job of protecting Eli Manning's blind side, according to a report Tuesday on ESPN.com. [Link]
Coughlin’s Playful Side Has Deep Roots in Florida
Most people rarely see Tom Coughlin in anything less than full intensity. But those close to him have long said that the public image was only a partial reflection. [Link]
Five teams that could get over playoff hump
You can write off the Bengals, but Randy Hill isn't giving up. Cincy is one of his five surprise playoff picks for the 2008 season. [Link]
NFL Draft: 2009 Mock Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft is behind us, but it doesn't mean we can't have a little fun and take a look at the 2009 draft. Scout.com's NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber releases his first 2009 mock draft and includes draft-eligible underclassmen. [Link]
Pressing needs for every NFL team
The draft can't fix everything (see the Jets' and 49ers' QB quandaries). Alex Marvez runs down every team's pressing needs. [Link]
