Saints lose money in tax credit investment (PA SportsTicker)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 3rd, 2009Bears appear to be ending pursuit of Plaxico Burress (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 3rd, 2009Wash. state Ryan Leaf case dismissed (AP)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009A lawyer for Ryan Leaf says a fugitive action filed against the former NFL quarterback in Washington state has been dismissed. The Whatcom County prosecutor had filed an interstate fugitive case against Leaf after he was arrested by federal Customs agents as he crossed the border from Canada in mid-June on his way to face drug and burglary charges in Texas.
Buccaneers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009Josh Freeman is the Bucs' quarterback of the future. But is the future now?
That's the question the Bucs were wrestling with at the end of minicamp.
Freeman, the 17th overall pick from Kansas State, entered the draft as a true junior.
The Bucs' initial plan was to bring Freeman along slowly. But first-year head coach Raheem Morris and first-year Mark Dominik might have about a two-year window to turn the team into winners again after ridding the team of many veterans, including linebackers Derrick Brooks and Cato June and running back Warrick Dunn.
The sooner Freeman gets on the field and proves he can be a franchise quarterback, the better the odds Morris and Dominik will plant roots in their current positions.
Bucs officials will decide a week...
Redskins Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009Playing golf Monday morning to help raise more than $100,000 to grant the wishes of 16 seriously ill children who are served by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Clinton Portis had his own less critical wish. The Washington Redskins' star running back wishes that people would stop talking about a rift between him and second-year coach Jim Zorn.
"How this story came about, I have no idea," Portis said of a ProFootballTalk.com report that he had disrespected Zorn in front of his teammates earlier this month during the organized team activities that ended on June 11. "There's nothing going on. There's no beef between me and Coach Zorn. We're on good terms at this present moment. There's no problem."
The unpredictable Portis had a well-publicized spat with Zorn after he was benched...
Rams Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009When Billy Devaney took over as general manager of the Rams and started his search for a new head coach, he knew whoever he hired would be dealing with a roster that needed a major overhaul.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo has spent the offseason getting the roster younger and trying to fill as many holes as possible. They also knew everything necessary wouldn't happen in one offseason.
With training camp approaching, the area that appears to be in most need of upgrading is at wide receiver. Releasing Torry Holt and Drew Bennett, along with the decision not to re-sign Dane Looker and Dante' Hall, left the Rams with a group headed by second-year players Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, Laurent Robinson, who was acquired in a trade from Atlanta, Derek Stanley, who is battling back...
Seahawks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009During the final day of minicamp offensive tackle Walter Jones ran wind sprints and worked out of a three-point stance at the end of practice. It was the first, significant work Jones had done on the field since opting for microfracture knee surgery to alleviate pain in his left knee that shortened his 2008 season.
Jones is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp at the end of July. However, at 35 years old, Jones is coming to the end of an impressive career as one of the top tackles in the game. If Jones cannot return to the field healthy, Seattle will have to resort to Plan B, which is move right tackle Sean Locklear to left tackle and play Ray Willis at right tackle.
The Seahawks signed Locklear to a five-year, $32 million deal with an eye...
49ers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009Coach Mike Singletary says the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback competition is too close to call.
However, he acknowledges that if it's too close to call, the job will likely go to Shaun Hill, who finished the second half of last season as the team's starter and might be the person most responsible for Singletary getting the job as the 49ers' full-time coach.
The 49ers probably feel a lot better about their quarterback situation now than when the offseason began. The 49ers appeared ready to offer Arizona Cardinals free agent Kurt Warner a contract in the neighborhood of $15 million a season to leap to the 49ers.
But Warner remained with the Cardinals, and the 49ers had no other choice but to stick with Hill and Smith.
Chargers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
by Yahoo Sports ~ July 2nd, 2009Was this the offseason that leads to the Chargers' first Super Bowl title?
Hard to say before the calendar hits July, but the team is upbeat over a number issues after completing its OTAs.
The team is in much better shape—medically—than it was last offseason. Many key players who had their fingers crossed they would be ready for the 2008 season opener were out running for this offsesason's work.
In particular, quarterback Philip Rivers wasn't worried about his mended knee.
Center Nick Hardwick wasn't rubbing a sore foot.
Tight end Antonio Gates wasn't moving gingerly on a tender toe.
That gives the Chargers—as well a roster stocked with talent—optimism to win its first NFL title.
Offseason Standout:...