It’s gettin’ hot in hurr.

– The Arizona Cardinals offensive line woes may become a thing of the past if the first week of camp is any indication. Of course, this could be the product of a defensive front seven still learning the nuances of a new defense.

– With Michael Vick presumably done for the year and Warrick Dunn scheduled to miss all of the preseason after offseason back surgery, Bobby Petrino will look to throw the ball more.

Back to business

It’s been a few days since our last post, and both of us here at NGPF are either going through a move, or getting ready for one, so it’s made it a bit of a challenge to maintain the site. We still have big plans for Next Gen Pro Football, so we ask for everybody’s patience.

Now that we have that over with, let’s talk about some football.

There are seven rookies left who as of today are still yet unsigned.

– Tarik Glenn has officially called it quits, and with that, the Colts’ chance of repeating takes a major hit. Peyton Manning’s blindside will now be protected by rookie second rounder Tony Ugoh. Little Trouble for Big Country.

– Dolphin’s rookie quarterback John Beck(also known as Not-Brady Quinn) was impressive in camp sessions today, and Ted Ginn was at home without a contract.

– Arthur Blank was allegedly on the verge of suspending Michael Vick for four games this season.

– Can the Lions get Calvin Johnson into camp on time? If not, Jon Kitna might only throw for 40 touchdowns this year.

– The Vikings are dropping subtle hints about acquiring a veteran quarterback. We’re going to go ahead and drop subtle hints that the Vikings’ passing game will be horrendous.

– The Boston Globe lays out the Patriots’ options at cornerback. Maybe Bill Belichick should call up Deion Sanders.

– Football player Will Smith may soon be as rich as movie star Will Smith. The timing of Dwight Freeney’s mega deal couldn’t have come at a worse time for New Orleans.

Daunte Culpepper has finally been released by the Miami Dolphins, closing the chapter on a largely unsuccessful and frustrating comeback attempt from a significant 2005 season knee injury.

The Dolphins held onto him for as long as possible, hoping to get something out of a player who cost them a 2nd rounder and around seven million dollars a year. Instead, they were left with little interest in a disgruntled former Pro Bowler who refused to accept any trade and got feisty, taking them to court for said grievances.

So what’s next for Daunte “Small Hands” Culpepper?

One of the final three franchised players signs new deal……

The wheeling and dealing of the 2007 off season isn’t done yet apparently. The Detroit Lions and franchised defensive tackle Corey Redding have come together on a seven year, $49 million contract according to John Clayton of ESPN.

Redding, who received $16 million in guaranteed money, now overtakes the Vikings’ Kevin Williams as the highest paid interior defensive lineman in the league. In an off season that has seen several other record setting contracts, this should come as no surprise.

– Wade Phillips wants to instill more of a “family atmosphere” within the Cowboys’ roster. Terence Newman, one of the leaders of the Boys’, is apparently a key to this. What’s he gonna do, get his grandmother to rob some boy scouts?

– As a teenager, new Raiders’ coach Lane Kiffin dreamed of being a head coach in the NFL. A few years later, he’s the head man in Oakland and nearly finished with puberty.

– Will the Lions beat the clock in signing Corey Redding? With just under two hours to go we expect an announcement here any minute. This seems much more likely than the other two franchised players, Asante Samuel and Lance Briggs, signing their offers.

Shaun Rogers’ potential gun and sexual assault charges involving a 20-year-old stripper were dropped today due to insufficient evidence. The stripper alleged that Mr. Rogers (Hello, Children!) came into her dressing room at Loose Ends Players Club in Detroit, Michigan. He then proceeded with the fondling and the gun wielding.

“We have taken the time to interview witnesses and review the evidence,” [ Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L.] Worthy said in a prepared statement. “In all cases we must look at the evidence in a fair and consistent manner. The standard is whether we can prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. After an extensive investigation we have determined there is insufficient evidence to file any charges against Mr. Shaun Rogers.”

NGPF Keeps On Truckin’ With “Fantasy” Impact #6 - NFC North

Welcome back to the NFC North installment of the Fantasy Impact series for 2007.

The players featured in the Norris division aren’t as flashy as their Eastern brethren but there are some diamonds in the rough to be found here yet, young chap.
You can find three of the top fantasy rookies here: the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson, the Lions’ Calvin Johnson, and the Bears’ Greg Olsen. You can also find plenty of young offenses struggling to gain footing.

Marc Bulger Extension?

ESPN’s John Clayton is reporting that the St. Louis Rams and quarterback Marc Bulger are finally progressing in their contract talks.

In our (humble) opinion, what took so long?

Bulger’s story seems to be similar to the situation that played out in the early 90’s in San Francisco. Playing in the shadow of Joe Montana, it looked as if Steve Young could do no right, and even while winning games and putting up big numbers, there was no clutch postseason victories. There wasn’t a Super Bowl victory.

Extra, Extra! “Vasher Signing Signals End of High Priced Cornerbacks,” Screams Mainstream Media

The Boston Globe joins the parade now forming to proclaim the cornerback market crash after the Chicago Bears inked Nathan Vasher to a five-year, $28 million deal.  Suddenly because of the less lucrative contract extensions signed by Broncos’ corner Dre Bly and Vasher, people are proclaiming Asante Samuel, well, cornered. 

Contract extensions traditionally are worth a lot less than deals signed with new teams on the open market as profootballtalk.com touches on.  Extensions are usually a goodwill gesture on the part of the team to ensure that a talented player will never see the deadly auction block that is free agency in the NFL. 

Furrey Follows Kitna’s Lead to Make 2007 an Enormous Embarrassment
(I Guess “Lion” is Contagious After All…….)

Stop what you’re doing this very second.  NFL “superstar” Mike Furrey has spoken, and the world must listen (per the Detroit Free Press):

“Right now, on paper, we look like we should win 10 to 12 games, easily,” Furrey proclaimed.

“We’re seeing what we have, and we have guys in there now that believe in
Marinelli,” Furrey said. “They believe in what we can do. And if you ask every
one of us, we expect to win 10 games.”

Megatron Terrorizes the World, but Football Fans Know Better

After hours of deliberation, three masterful NFL owners and upper management legions came together to take a final stand against their demanding battle of more dominant opponents.  The only way to salvage any value out of their functional, yet incomplete, components was to come together and become a complete entity (both concepts seem to have eluded the organizations as of late), capable of pillaging many a village.