NFL Update - 3/19/2009

QUICK HITS

• The Buccaneers - devoid of talent at OLB after the roster purge - may move SS Jermaine Phillips to the position. Phillips is open to the experience but has never played LB at any level of play.
• Cardinlas QB Kurt Warner underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip this week to repair a torn labrum and clean up any loose fragments. He hopes to be ready for the start of Arizona's voluntary offseason program, which begins May 19th.
• After finalizing a contract with CB/KR Chirs Carr, the Ravens finally ended their relationship with veteran CB Samari Rolle. The Rolle release had been speculated and anticipated for weeks. Carr will be the primary kick returner and will most likely be the teams nickel or dime back.
• The Bengals are in need of a new OT and may take one with the 6th overall pick in the 2009 draft. However, according to reports, the rookie wouldn't be filling in at RT. He would step in at LT. The current LT, Levi Jones, may be on his way out of Cincinnati. If an OT is taken early in the draft, Jones is expected to be traded or released.
• The Ravens continue to kick the wheels of old, past-their-prime OTs. After signing Willie Anderson last year, Baltimore has now looked into signing former Steelers OT Marvel Smith and recently released Rams OT Orlando Pace.
• Speaking of Smith, he is visiting with the 49ers today.
  
• The Saints have signed TE Darnell Dinkins and safety Darren Sharper. Dinkins was with the Browns and Sharper was with the Vikings in 2008.

• The Dolphins continue their search for competent CBs. They had former Texan DeMarcus Faggins in for a visit yesterday.
• The Dolphins have been present at a wide range of Pro Day's including Western Illinois' to meet with LB Jason Williams, Nebraska's for OT Lyndon Murtha, Maryland's for CB Kevin Barnes, and Penn State's for DE/OLB Aaron Maybin.
• My Two Cents: Little going on right now for not just Miami but for the entire NFL. We're past the combine and through the big part of free agency. Now we wait for the draft and get to sift through smokescreens. The Dolphins desperately need CB help but I'm not sure Faggins is the answer. They probably will sign another vet. and draft at least one prospect in April. At least, they should.
  

• The Jets are showing a lot of interest in Kansas State QB Josh Freeman and have schedule at least one private workout and meeting with him.
• New York matched Cleveland's offer to restricted free agent safety Abram Elam retaining his services for the 2009 season.
• RB Thomas Jones has been a no-show thus far at Jets voluntary workouts and is seeking a new contract. He's entering the third year of a four year deal he signed prior to the 2007 season when he was traded from Chicago to New York.
• My Two Cents: I hate when athletes don't want to honor a contract they have signed and agreed to... especially after it netted them over $13 million during the first two years of their deal! Come on, Jones, see the big picture. Take your $900,000 this year - plus bonuses - and shut up. The Jets owe you nothing more.

• The Steelers resigned veteran CB Fernando Braynt to a 1-year deal. He will be asked to step up with Bryant McFadden in Arizona.
• OT Trai Essex has signed a new 2-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh. Recently Essex was drawing interest from Tennessee. Essex resigning means that the Steelers will have a chance to trot out the same starting o-line as they did at the end of the year, plus utilizing the same backups. The only OL that is gone is Marvel Smith.
• The Steelers remain very interested in former Penn State OC A.Q. Shipley.
  
• My Two Cents: Resigning Bryant is a good start but the Steelers need some young help at CB. They could be looking at taking a CB with their first round pick. Someone like Alphonso Smith, Sean Smith, or Darius Butler would like good in black and gold.
  

• Ummm.... pretty much nothing of importance coming out of Dallas.
• Roy Williams (the safety) is visiting the Bengals.
• Oh, and CB Terrence Newman ripped on Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. Newman says Romo's relationship with Simpson leaves the QB unfocused and distracted.
• My Two Cents: Jessica Simpson can be my distraction any day. And just for the heck of it...

• Former Eagles TE L.J. Smith - who was franchised by Philadelphia in 2008 - has signed with the Ravens. He had been entertaining offers from Atlanta and Detroit, too.
• RB Correll Buckhalter has been implicated in a lawsuit against a former drug deal. Buckhalter signed with the Broncos this offseason after spending the first eight years of his career in Philly. Of course, he only saw the field in five of those seasons. He missed all of the 2002, 2004, and 2005 seasons with injuries.
• The Eagles are also interested in CB Kevin Barnes from Maryland. They were present at the Terrapins Pro Day last week and held a private meeting with him.
• My Two Cents: The Eagles still need another OT and they seem set on finding him in the draft. However it may be fruitful for them to sign another vet. to throw off teams drafting behind them in the draft. If Philly relies too much on taking an OT with one of their 1st round picks, a team could snipe them and leave the Eagles scrambling.