NFL Update - 3/26/2009

QUICK HITS

• The Bears signed former Browns OT Kevin Shaffer to a 3-year deal. Shaffer will replace John St. Clair, who left Chicago for Cleveland.
  
• The Panthers and Jake Delhomme have started negotiations on a contract extension. Delhomme is entering the last year of his contract.
• The Chiefs reached an agreement with one of the few remaining players that could arguably upgrade a team. Veteran OG Mike Goff, formerly of the Chargers, signed with Kansas City and may be replacing Brian Waters.
• The Saints are expected to retain the services of backup QB Joey Harrington.
• NFL owner meetings are taking place in California and there has been a lot of news coming from the get together. One of the biggest is expanding the schedule. Commissioner Roger Goodell would like to expand the season to 17 or 18 games, possibly by 2011. One or two preseason games would be dropped to accommodate the the addition of games. If a 17 game schedule were used the extra game may be a neutral-field contest, possibly abroad.
• Rule changes have been another hot topic. The the four or five man "wedge" has been deemed dangerous and has been made illegal on kickoffs. Teams may use no more than a two man wedge, but there is nothing against multiple two-man "wedges". To prevent unsafe collisions during onside kicks, where players can line up has now been changed. There must be at least four players on each side of the kicker during onside attempts. Two more rule changes have made certain hits completely illegal and would result in a 15-yard penalty. Blind-side hits to the head by helmet, forearm, or shoulder are now illegal. This stems from the massive block on Bengals rookie Keith Rivers by Hines Ward. The other rule that will cause headaches for officials is flagging defenders for hits on defenseless receivers. Now defenders may not hit receivers in the head or neck with their helmet, forearm, or shoulder. These last two changes are going to be hard to evenly enforce throughout the course of not just the season but an entire game.
• One of the biggest rule changes comes with instant replay. Officials are now allowed to use replay to determine if a loose ball is a fumble or incomplete pass as well as determining possession. Replays are now also allowed to determine if kicks go out of bounds.
• The final rule change has nothing to do with the schedule, games, officials, or replays. It is the draft order. Starting with the 2010 draft, the order in which the playoff teams select will be different. No longer will it be based on record for picks 1 through 30, regardless of playoff success. Next year, teams that lose their wild card matchup will be given slots 21 through 24 dependant on regular season record. Slots 25 through 28 will go to the divisional round losers (again based on record), and slots 29 and 30 go to conference championship game losers. Picks 31 and 32 remain with the Super Bowl loser and winner, respectively. This came about because of teams making the playoffs but still having a mid-round pick, in front of teams that they beat in the playoffs. The Chargers finished 8-8 during the regular season but won the AFC West. They then defeated the 12-4 Colts but lost to the Steelers the following week. In 2012 the Chargers would have pick 25. This year they are 16, 11 selections in front of the Colts.

• 2009 DOLPHINS DRAFT PICKS, as of 3/26 (Round-Overall Pick): 1-25, 2-44 [from Washington], 2-56, 3-87, 4-108 [from Oakland], 5-161, 6-181 [from Oakland], 7-214 [from Cleveland], 7-237 [from Carolina].
• The Dolphins acquired DT Tony McDaniel from the Jacksonville Jaguars last week in exchange for their 7th round pick (232 overall) in the 2009 draft. McDaniel will see most of his time at DE in Miami's 3-4 alignment. He may be forced to play some NT in emergency situations. McDaniel will be fighting with Randy Starks, Rod Wright, and Lionel Dotson as the primary backups to Phillip Merling and Kendall Langford.
• Miami is interested in Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens, considered a second or third round prospect, and Tennessee CB DeAngelo Willingham. Willingham has the size to convert to FS in the NFL.
  
• Staying active in the offseason, Miami traded OC Samson Satele to the Raiders for Oakland's 6th round pick. The teams also swapped 4th round selections. The Dolphins signed former Raiders OC Jake Grove earlier this month to take over for Satele.
• As I mentioned a few days ago, the Dolphins are prepping second year QB Chad Henne to be the teams starter in 2010.
• My Two Cents: The Dolphins currently own nine draft picks, four of which are in the top 100 selections. Personnel Czar Bill Parcells would like to have 10-12 to work with on draft day. Look for a small deal or two take place in the coming weeks. And I'd put the probability of Miami trading down in the first at close to 65% in order to accumulate more picks and get better value for the players they have targeted. This is a deep CB class - Miami's biggest weakness - but no one really stands out as elite. Miami would get better value on a CB between picks 30-40 then at 25.
  

• 2009 JETS DRAFT PICKS, as of 3/26 (Round-Overall Pick): 1-17, 2-52, 3-76 [from New Orleans], 4-115 [from Washington], 6-193, 7-228.
• New York has been linked to a number of prospects over the last week, including Cincinnati OLB Connor Barwin, Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin, Florida WR Percy Harvin, San Jose State DE/DT Jarron Gilbert, Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, USC QB Mark Sanchez, and Stillman College DE/DT Sammiie Lee Hill.
• Another former Raven may fly to New York to be reunited with head coach Rex Ryan. CB Samari Rolle visited the Jets last week.
• The Jets are rumored to be interested in disgruntled Denver QB Jay Cutler. In order to obtain him they'd most likely have to part with at least their first and second round selections this season plus possibly their first round pick in 2010.
• The Jets signed former 49ers CB Donald Strickland to a 3-year, $3 million deal.
• My Two Cents: Though the Jets need some help at DE and depth at NT, New York would be best suited addressing a dismal offense at pick 17. I doubt they trade up to land a QB; sitting at 17 should be a premiere WR or RB that fits their needs. My money still says WR but someone like Tyson Jackson would be very enticing if available.
  

• 2009 STEELERS DRAFT PICKS, as of 3/26 (Round-Overall Pick): 1-32, 2-64, 3-96, 4-132, 5-168, 5-169 [compensatory], 6-205, 7-226 [from Tampa Bay], 7-241.
  
• Though the team has not yet struck a deal with 2008 Defensive MVP James Harrison, president Art Rooney is optimistic terms will be agreed upon.
• Restricted free agent CB Anthony Madison signed his one year offer from Pittsburgh. The deal will pay him $1.01 million in 2009. Madison could see his role expanded since Bryant McFadden left for Arizona.
• The 49ers are convinced former Steelers OT Marvel Smith is past his back problems. An offer is on the table for him. He has yet to sign it.
• The Steelers are interested in OC prospects Eric Wood (Louisville) and A.Q. Shipley (Penn State). They also have a visit scheduled with little known prospect Sammie Lee Hill from Stillman College, Hill would be an ideal 3-4 DE.
• Former Steelers John Stallworth has joined the the Rooney family in ownership of the franchise. The Hall of Fame wide receiver is a part of a group of investors that comprise 50% of stake in the team.
• Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says divisional rival Baltimore - not Pittsburgh - is the team to beat in the AFC North.
  
• My Two Cents: Great to see a former player love a franchise enough to invest in them Great move for the organization and by Stallworth. The Harrison situation is similar to that of many former Steelers OLB. Pittsburgh rarely pays a high price for veterans at the positions over 30. Harrison will soon be 31. Not good for him. Even though he won MVP last season, he'll have to have a hell of a 2009 season to convince Pittsburgh to sign him to 3- or 4-year deal. There will not be a deal done before or during this season. It's not Pittsburgh's style. Ask Joey Porter, Jason Gildon, and Greg Lloyd.

• 2009 COWBOYS DRAFT PICKS, as of 3/26 (Round-Overall Pick): 2-51, 3-69 [from Cleveland], 4-101 [from Detroit], 4-117, 5-156, 5-166 [from Tennessee], 5-172 [compensatory], 6-197 [from Miami], 6-208 [compensatory], 7-210 [from Detroit], 7-227 [from Detroit].
• Dallas will host the Raiders during the afternoon Thanksgiving Day game. Yuck.
• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to utilize the "wildcat" offense in 2009. They have the necessary pieces in Felix Jones and Isaiah Stanbeck, a former college QB. Jones has also gone on record saying he'd be willing to use a draft pick for a player suited for a "wildcat" scheme. Perhaps West Virginia QB Pat White?
• My Two Cents: I like the "wildcat". I do. After all, my Miami Dolphins are the ones that reintroduced it to the NFL after it lay dormant at the professional level for decades. However, I think it has run its course and would not be an effective game plan. Perhaps in small doses but not as a large chunk of the offense. Outside the Dolphins dismantling of New England in week 3 - the first appearance of the set - Miami was stifled in later games. Things are quiet in Dallas. That's probably for the best.

• 2009 EAGLES DRAFT PICKS, as of 3/26 (Round-Overall Pick): 1-21, 1-28 [from Carolina], 2-53, 3-85, 4-121, 5-141 [from Cleveland], 5-153 [from N.Y. Jets], 5-157, 6-194, 6-195 [from Minnesota], 7-230.
• Philadelphia may be interested in Buffalo LT Jason Peters. Peters remains unhappy with his contract with the Bills. The massive OT would be a big upgrade for the Eagles, who lost both starting tackles to free agency. Tra Thomas signed with Jacksonville and Jon Runyan remains unsigned. Stacy Andrews was signed away by Philadelphia from Cincinnati to play RT.
• Philadelphia, finally, has a true FB. After using three or four men at the position last season, the Eagles agreed on a 1-year deal with Seattle FB Leonard Weaver.
• The Eagles have been linked to a couple of draft prospects, including Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens, Tennessee CB DeAngelo Whittingham, Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew, and Stillman College DE/DT Sammie Lee Hill.
• My Two Cents: The Eagles should certainly pursue Peters but I doubt it'll happen based on his demands. He wants to be paid as one of the top LTs in the game. Despite making the Pro Bowl two seasons in a row, he isn't. He is a great athlete. But he isn't one of the five best at his position; close, but not quite there. If he lowers his asking price, and the Bills lower theirs, a trade could happen.