Newsbreakers Recap
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May 7, 2005 6:23 PM ET
Patriots: Brady inks six-year deal
The News
Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady signed a six-year contract extension on Saturday. The ESPN website reports that the contract is worth roughly $60 million and includes a signing bonus of $14.5 million. Brady had two years remaining on his previous deal, but the new contract will replace those years. Brady threw 28 touchdown passes last season and led his team to a Super Bowl victory.
Our View
If anyone deserves a raise and a new contract it's Brady, who has led his team to three Super Bowl wins over the last four seasons and boasts a perfect 9-0 record in playoff games. Brady's fantasy owners should be pleased with the new deal, as it guarantees that he will remain in the Patriots' productive offense for another six seasons.
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May 7, 2005 9:38 AM ET
*****: Nolan open to starting Smith
The News
*****' head coach Mike Nolan is open to the idea of using Alex Smith as the starting quarterback this season, but he's going to make the No. 1 overall pick in last month's draft work for it. "It will be determined by how quickly he grasps the offense," Nolan told the Associated Press on Friday. "It's no different for him that it is for any other quarterback. I'd like to bring him along quickly. I'd like to see how much he can handle. We'll expose him to the entire offense in the next month." Smith will battle Tim Rattay for the starting job during training camp.
Our View
Smith and Rattay split the majority of the snaps during the first minicamp workout on Friday, while Ken Dorsey and Cody Pickett took the leftovers. There are still rumblings that Rattay is on the trade block, but the team has not confirmed those rumors. At this point, we expect Smith to be the starter this season.
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May 7, 2005 9:32 AM ET
Chargers: Foley calls out Merriman
The News
Chargers' linebacker Steve Foley sounded off on rookie Shawne Merriman's minicamp holdout on Friday. "The guy needs to get here," Foley told the Associated Press. "I don't care how well he thinks he's doing wherever he is. Fact of the matter is, he needs to get here with everybody else. We know what happens when guys usually miss significant time, they end up being left behind." Merriman was advised by his agent to skip minicamp unless the team changes contractual language that protects unsigned players.
Our View
This is a perfect example of why some teams shy away from players who are represented by the Poston brothers. The sibling agents are notorious for instructing their clients to hold out during their rookie seasons, so it might be a while before Merriman reports to the Chargers' workouts.
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May 7, 2005 8:54 AM ET
Rams: Little gets a slap on the wrist
The News
Rams' defensive end
Leonard Little was sentenced to two years probation for speeding last year, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was convicted of speeding last month, but a jury acquitted him on charges of driving while intoxicated. Per the terms of his probation, Little is not allowed to consume alcohol for two years. In 1998, Little pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter relating to a drunk driving offense that resulted in a St. Louis woman being killed.
Our View
There wasn't much the judge could do in terms of severe punishment after Little was cleared on the latest drunk driving charge. The arresting office testified that he smelled alcohol on Little's breath on the night in question, but the 30 year-old veteran refused to take a breath test. Something tells us that an ordinary citizen with an ordinary lawyer wouldn't get off so easily.
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May 7, 2005 8:47 AM ET
Redskins: Gardner unlikely to return
The News
Redskins' head coach Joe Gibbs doesn't believe Rod Gardner will rejoin the team. "After talking to him, I'd say I'm kind of skeptical of that working out," Gibbs told the Washington Post. Gardner is still upset that the team was unable to trade him during the offseason.
Our View
Rod has no one to blame but himself in this situation. He asked team officials to trade him, but he refused to sign a long-term deal with teams that expressed interest in him. If the Skins can't trade Gardner and don't intend to use him, the likely alternative would be to release him from his current contract.
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May 7, 2005 8:21 AM ET
Cardinals: Boldin to take part in offseason workouts
The News
Cardinals' wide receiver Anquan Boldin is planning to take part in the team's offseason workout program despite his frustration with his current contract. Boldin skipped a minicamp last week in protest, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus said the two-year veteran will join the team on Monday. "There are no promises from either side," Rosenhaus told the ESPN website on Friday. "It's a good faith thing and it's time for Anquan to get in there and begin conditioning with his teammates. We'll resume contract discussions at the appropriate time." Boldin is entering the third year of the four-year, $2.58 million contract he signed as a rookie.
Our View
This is great news for Boldin owners, as the 24 year-old wideout can start forming a bond with new quarterback Kurt Warner. Although Anquan could still resume his holdout at any time, the fact that he is rejoining the team is a good indication that progress has been made in the contractual department. Cardinals' officials have said all along that they are willing to renegotiate Boldin's contract, so we expect a new deal to be in place before the season begins.
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May 7, 2005 8:07 AM ET
Patriots: Brown signs two-year deal
The News
Free agent linebacker Chad Brown signed a two-year contract with the Patriots on Friday. The 34 year-old veteran will earn $4 million over the next two years, according to the ESPN website. Brown spent the last eight seasons with the Seahawks before the team released him last month. He logged 37 tackles and one sack last season despite missing nine games due to injuries. The 12-year veteran passed on offers from the Saints and Broncos before signing with the defending Super Bowl champions.
Our View
When healthy, Brown is still a very good linebacker. However, he has missed 19 games over the last three seasons due to various injuries. Given his history of injury problems, Brown is a risky pick in fantasy leagues that award points for individual defensive players.
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