Post by TheShadow on May 11, 2007 4:39:50 GMT -5
washingtontimes.com/
By David Elfin
A trade proposal that would've sent Kansas City's 36-year-old quarterback, Trent Green, to Miami -- now coached by his former quarterbacks coach, Cam Cameron -- fell through on draft week. The breakdown has left a headache in Kansas City.
The Chiefs wanted a fourth-round draft pick. The Dolphins offered a sixth. Neither team has budged since.
"Trent's not going to be returning," Green's agent, Jim Steiner, told the Kansas City Star. "They've said Brodie Croyle is going to be the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback. They brought back [2006 fill-in] Damon Huard. They've told Trent they want to get younger. It's grossly unfair of the Chiefs to keep Trent on their roster."
Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson has maintained that Green won't be cut despite counting $9.1 million against the salary cap.
"Trent's far too valuable to this organization to simply say goodbye to him in that fashion," Peterson told the Star. "We've never said that he's not here to compete for the starting job. Sometimes the best trade you make is the one that doesn't happen."
Two years ago, the AFC West's quarterbacks were Kansas City's Green (12th season), Oakland's Kerry Collins (11th), Denver's Jake Plummer (ninth) and San Diego's Drew Brees (fifth). This season, the Chargers' Philip Rivers, who's 25 and has started 17 NFL games, is the old man of the division's quarterbacks ahead of second-year men Jay Cutler of the Broncos (five starts), Croyle of the Chiefs (zero) and Raiders rookie JaMarcus Russell.
No sweat -- They'll be calling him bad, bad Levi Brown in Arizona if the rookie offensive right tackle performs as poorly as Leonard Davis, the last offensive lineman the Cardinals took in the top five. But Levi Brown is more concerned, for now, about the desert heat.
"I sweat a lot, so it'll be an interesting fit," the 6-foot-5, 323-pound Norfolk native said on draft day.
Although Joe Thomas, who went two picks earlier to Cleveland, was the consensus top tackle, the Cardinals preferred Brown because he's more physical and because he'll protect left-handed quarterback Matt Leinart's blind side.
Happy meal? -- Cardinals' second-rounder Alan Branch, touted as a first-rounder during the winter, had a message for ESPN's draft guru.
"Mel Kiper has been riding me the whole time," the former Michigan defensive tackle told reporters. "After these next couple of years, I'm going to make sure he eats every word."
Beg to disagree -- Oakland, Seattle, Green Bay and Tennessee could all be in the hunt for Keyshawn Johnson, who was cut by Carolina.
Minnesota isn't, despite a lack of proven talent at receiver.
"I don't know if he's got anything left," Minnesota coach Brad Childress said on KFAN radio of the 34-year-old Johnson, whose 70 catches, 815 yards and four touchdowns in 2006 would have been Vikings highs.
Remorseful Tank? -- Chicago defensive tackle Tank Johnson is due to be released Sunday from Cook County (Ill.) jail. Johnson also pleaded guilty in nearby Lake County to possession of a firearm without a valid state identification card. The misdemeanor was punishable to up a year in jail, but Circuit Judge Brian Hughes sentenced Johnson to 45 days with credit for time served in Cook County. Hughes also ordered Johnson to donate $5,000 to local charities.
"I hope you redeem yourself and become a changed person," Hughes told Johnson in court.
"Thank you, your honor, I definitely will," replied Johnson, who's expected to receive a lengthy NFL suspension soon.
Gotta wonder -- With Johnson enmeshed in the legal system, the Bears chose tight end Greg Olsen, who helped record an ugly and obscene rap video as a Miami (Fla.) freshman, in the first round. What's more, Olsen is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for franchise linebacker Lance Briggs, who has vowed to never play for Chicago again.
By David Elfin
A trade proposal that would've sent Kansas City's 36-year-old quarterback, Trent Green, to Miami -- now coached by his former quarterbacks coach, Cam Cameron -- fell through on draft week. The breakdown has left a headache in Kansas City.
The Chiefs wanted a fourth-round draft pick. The Dolphins offered a sixth. Neither team has budged since.
"Trent's not going to be returning," Green's agent, Jim Steiner, told the Kansas City Star. "They've said Brodie Croyle is going to be the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback. They brought back [2006 fill-in] Damon Huard. They've told Trent they want to get younger. It's grossly unfair of the Chiefs to keep Trent on their roster."
Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson has maintained that Green won't be cut despite counting $9.1 million against the salary cap.
"Trent's far too valuable to this organization to simply say goodbye to him in that fashion," Peterson told the Star. "We've never said that he's not here to compete for the starting job. Sometimes the best trade you make is the one that doesn't happen."
Two years ago, the AFC West's quarterbacks were Kansas City's Green (12th season), Oakland's Kerry Collins (11th), Denver's Jake Plummer (ninth) and San Diego's Drew Brees (fifth). This season, the Chargers' Philip Rivers, who's 25 and has started 17 NFL games, is the old man of the division's quarterbacks ahead of second-year men Jay Cutler of the Broncos (five starts), Croyle of the Chiefs (zero) and Raiders rookie JaMarcus Russell.
No sweat -- They'll be calling him bad, bad Levi Brown in Arizona if the rookie offensive right tackle performs as poorly as Leonard Davis, the last offensive lineman the Cardinals took in the top five. But Levi Brown is more concerned, for now, about the desert heat.
"I sweat a lot, so it'll be an interesting fit," the 6-foot-5, 323-pound Norfolk native said on draft day.
Although Joe Thomas, who went two picks earlier to Cleveland, was the consensus top tackle, the Cardinals preferred Brown because he's more physical and because he'll protect left-handed quarterback Matt Leinart's blind side.
Happy meal? -- Cardinals' second-rounder Alan Branch, touted as a first-rounder during the winter, had a message for ESPN's draft guru.
"Mel Kiper has been riding me the whole time," the former Michigan defensive tackle told reporters. "After these next couple of years, I'm going to make sure he eats every word."
Beg to disagree -- Oakland, Seattle, Green Bay and Tennessee could all be in the hunt for Keyshawn Johnson, who was cut by Carolina.
Minnesota isn't, despite a lack of proven talent at receiver.
"I don't know if he's got anything left," Minnesota coach Brad Childress said on KFAN radio of the 34-year-old Johnson, whose 70 catches, 815 yards and four touchdowns in 2006 would have been Vikings highs.
Remorseful Tank? -- Chicago defensive tackle Tank Johnson is due to be released Sunday from Cook County (Ill.) jail. Johnson also pleaded guilty in nearby Lake County to possession of a firearm without a valid state identification card. The misdemeanor was punishable to up a year in jail, but Circuit Judge Brian Hughes sentenced Johnson to 45 days with credit for time served in Cook County. Hughes also ordered Johnson to donate $5,000 to local charities.
"I hope you redeem yourself and become a changed person," Hughes told Johnson in court.
"Thank you, your honor, I definitely will," replied Johnson, who's expected to receive a lengthy NFL suspension soon.
Gotta wonder -- With Johnson enmeshed in the legal system, the Bears chose tight end Greg Olsen, who helped record an ugly and obscene rap video as a Miami (Fla.) freshman, in the first round. What's more, Olsen is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for franchise linebacker Lance Briggs, who has vowed to never play for Chicago again.