ProFootballCentral.com

By Bob Cunningham

Defensive ends are quickly becoming the highest-paid players in the NFL, especially on defense. In fact, up until Haynesworth’s recent monster deal, Dwight Freeney was the highest paid defensive player in the league at nearly $12 million per year.

The position has seen a transition over the years. No longer are the ends big and fast like a Reggie White or a Bruce Smith. Today, those guys would probably be playing defensive end in the 3-4.

Guys like Julius Peppers, Osi Umenyiora, and Freeney have become the prototypes.

Why is this? Perhaps because there’s a direct correlation between sacks and dollars. Sacks, interceptions, and touchdowns are what lead to extra zeros in the new contract.

Teams will overlook an end’s poor performance in the running game if the speed and agility is there to get to the quarterback on third down.

That’s the job description of these guys, and they do it best.
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By Bob Cunningham

The 3-4 defensive end is an odd breed.

They’re basically just more athletic 4-3 defensive tackles. The must be big, strong, and able to hold at the point of attack. However in the same play, they’re expected to be quick and athletic enough to make sure no one gets out around them.

With a couple teams switching to the 3-4 every couple years or so, it’s a position that’s in much higher demand and should see a real boom over the next 5-10 years, that is until the 3-4 fades out in obscurity again.

Let’s not forget that the 3-4 is just a fade coming back around.

Anyway, it’s certainly relevant enough in today’s NFL to recognize the men who do it best.
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Eric Allen, of NewYorkJets.com, reports New York Jets LB and recent Pro Football Central Radio guest Calvin Pace has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performing enhancing substances. Pace said in a statement that the violation occurred because he used an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance banned by the league that he did not know about.

Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports on his Twitter page that the Denver Broncos does not want to trade WR Brandon Marshall but are willing to take calls from other teams about him.

Albert Breer, of SportingNews.com, reports unrestricted free-agent LB Willie McGinest (Browns) said he would play to play for a team this season.

Arthur Kane and Tony Kovaleski, of TheDenverChannel.com, report Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall said he wanted to be traded by the Broncos and verbally attacked the city of Denver during his arrest for driving under the influence Oct. 22, 2007, according to police documents.

Edgar Thompson, of the Palm Beach Post, reports the Miami Dolphins have signed third-round draft choice WR Patrick Turner to a four-year deal worth around $2.3 million, which includes a signing bonus of more than $700,000, according to a league source.

By Bob Cunningham

While philosophies may differ, the most usual job description of the 3-4 nose tackle is to simply be a space-eater.

The nose tackle will usually be the biggest guy on the field, and more often than not he’s not doing anything real flashy. Yes, they will have the occasional sack or big tackle in the backfield, but for the most part they are there to eat up the double-team and keep the linebackers clean so they can make those big plays.

Finding that combination of athleticism to make that sack and go along with that mammoth size is extremely rare. Most of the time you’ll have one or the other, but finding both size and the athleticism needed is no easy feat.

Fortunately for the employers of these guys, they’ve found it.
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Tim Graham, of ESPN.com, reports former NFL head coach Dennis Green said during a radio interview that he believes the Miami Dolphins will eventually sign free-agent QB Michael Vick (Falcons). “I have a hard time believing that Michael Vick is not going to wind up with Bill Parcells, simply because he has that creativeness that says that no matter what it takes, he’s going to find a way to get Michael Vick,” Green said. “Now, whether it means convincing the commissioner or whatever it takes, Michael Vick is probably going to wind up at Miami because of the fact that Bill Parcells is Bill Parcells.”

By Bob Cunningham

In any defense, the tackles may be the most important part.

They are the first line, and they’re the tone-setters. Their play can determine the difficulty or ease of the linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties behind them.

If the line is playing well and keep the linebackers clean, odds are that team will be fairly successful. If they’re not, their respective team is looking at a very long day.

They’re the biggest guys on the field and their only intention is to make sure that the other big guys across from them don’t move them. They growl, they snot, and they snarl just to defend that six inches of ground.

The trenches. It’s the reason why we love football and what makes it such a man’s man of a sport. Giving up or keeping that six inches can be the difference between a win and a loss.

These are the guys who do it best.

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Smith on Sports

BY Bill Smith

Today the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of American Needle vs. NFL. Am Needle is a former licensee of the NFL that makes hats with team and league logos. The suit argues that when the NFL granted a 10 year exclusive to Reebok International in 2001, it violated anti-trust laws. Most sports fans probably wonder why this deserves mention here. This case may change the way that all teams and all leagues do business from now on.

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The New York Giants have signed tight end Travis Beckum, the second of their two third-round draft picks. Beckum is the fifth of the Giants’ nine draft choices to sign, joining receiver Ramses Barden (third round), quarterback Rhett Bomar (fifth) and cornerbacks DeAndre Wright (sixth) and Stoney Woodson (seventh). Terms of Beckum’s deal were not released.

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms on a four-year deal with second-round draft choice  and past Pro Football Central Radio guest LeSean McCoy, according to his agent. Drew Rosenhaus announced the signing on his Twitter page Monday night. The running back from Pittsburgh, taken by Philadelphia with the 53rd overall selection, is the first second-round pick to sign.

Jason Cole, of Yahoo! Sports, reports the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is leaning toward indefinitely suspending unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress (Giants), according to sources. Goodell is apparently upset at Burress’ refusal to accept jail time as part of his plea bargain in his felony gun trial, according to a league source.