PFW: Whispers from around the NFL 12-27

[bubba9497]

Pro Football Weekly

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1953758

# Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes revealed last week that he has been meeting for 45-60 minutes every morning this season with rookie SS Michael Boulware, who has more than exceeded expectations thus far. Rhodes said the sessions, starting at 6:50 a.m., include video study of the previous day's practice, as well as advance work on what will be featured in practice that day.

# Bears general manager Jerry Angelo is said to be seeking more quick-twitch, difference-making athletes for the Bears' offense in the offseason. RB Thomas Jones and QB Rex Grossman are sure starters, but all other skill-position players are written on the 2005 depth chart in pencil.

# Now that rookie OGs Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja have shown they can hold up as starters, OLG Rick DeMulling and ORT Ryan Diem, both unrestricted free agents in March, may have lost some negotiating power. Diem played guard until 2003 and probably has higher value on the open market, but there are scouts who believe DeMulling could have been a Pro Bowler last season.

# Although the Falcons won't change the offense when rookie QB Matt Schaub is under center, head coach Jim Mora says the team will have to adjust to playing with a right-handed quarterback.

# Falcons head coach Jim Mora is angry that DT Rod Coleman was snubbed from the NFC Pro Bowl squad and believes the Falcons' lack of national TV exposure was one reason Coleman won't be going to Hawaii.

# Although Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has said he would consider it an insult to play Chris Simms in the final week of the season with the Bucs playing a meaningless game, sources say there is a 50-50 chance Simms could see some time anyway.

# Bucs observers believe that DE Simeon Rice's reputation as a pure pass rusher has led to him being snubbed at least three times for Pro Bowl appearances, including this season.

# Although Saints RB Deuce McAllister's high-ankle sprain seems to be completely healed, it is thought that his lack of confidence in cutting is one reason he isn't more involved in the passing game.

# The selection of Panthers LB Dan Morgan to the Pro Bowl came as a surprise to some because not only did he miss a quarter of the season recovering from a concussion, but the team won exactly two of the games in which he played.

# Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad's selection to the Pro Bowl only serves to make it more likely that he will end up playing elsewhere next season if the Panthers can't rework his contract, which calls for a $10 million bonus this spring.

# Patriots ORG Stephen Neal told PFW that the coaching staff deserves a lot of the credit for the offensive line's solid play this season: "We practice hard and we have a really great coach, Dante Scarnecchia. He gets us prepared. The one thing about the Patriots' coaching staff is they're working so hard because Bill (Belichick) demands as close to perfection as you can get. It doesn't matter if it's your first game starting or your 200th game starting, you've got to get the job done right. You're expected to do so. We all take it really serious during the week, and we prepare to be ready for anything they may throw at us. I think we do a pretty good job at it."

# The Bears' decision to place Brian Urlacher on injured reserve wasn't merely a precaution. There was serious doubt Urlacher (hamstring) would have been able to play in the final two regular-season games.

# Expect to see a lot of OT Marc Colombo this week after he started at left tackle in Week 16. Colombo is working his way back into football shape after the training staff found a weekly routine that has helped him shake off much of the rust accumulated in missing much of the last two seasons.

# The Packers were high on TE Ben Steele, but the rookie has dropped too many passes and never has been a good blocker.

# The entire Vikings offensive line has been inconsistent, but ORG David Dixon has been a pleasant surprise overall. Dixon contemplated retirement after last season but returned in the best shape of his career. He's playing on a bum ankle, but Dixon's performance has the Vikings' excited about the future with injured ORT Mike Rosenthal (foot) due back next season.

# The Colts won't risk injury to rookie S Bob Sanders to get him back on the field this week. Sanders did some light jogging before last week's game vs. San Diego, but his knee isn't yet 100 percent.

# Jared Lorenzen, who was signed to a free-agent deal by the Giants this year after the draft but was a no-show for training camp, is getting the itch to play football again. And the Giants are said to be interested in having him back. The team placed Lorenzen on the "reserve/did not report" list. A player does not get paid if placed on that list, but the team retains his rights.

# The Cowboys have been disappointed in the development of second-year WLB Bradie James, who has been given limited opportunities this season after Bill Parcells took an extended look at James in the preseason over starter Dexter Coakley. James' problems evidently haven't been physical; he has been out of position on many plays, and sources close to the team aren't sure James can pick up the defensive scheme.

# Getting back PR-RB Reno Mahe is a big lift for the Eagles. Although Mahe has struggled at times trying to do too much on punts, his return from injury -- a little bit unexpected -- allows the team to use a veteran on returns in the playoffs instead of rookie Dexter Wynn.

# Although Redskins C Cory Raymer has received praise from teammates for getting the job done this season, observers are less than impressed with Raymer's play, especially in terms of run blocking. Getting a center could be high on the team's offseason priority list.

# Assistants from teams with 4-10 records don't often receive too many promotion offers, but Titans RB coach Sherman Smith has interviewed for the head-coaching job at Miami (Ohio), his alma mater, which lost head coach Terry Hoeppner to Indiana. Smith, credited with doing a nice job with the development of RB Chris Brown, spoke with PFW in September and said he would consider returning to the college game if the right offer came along. It's believed Smith would be very interested in the Miami gig.

# We hear the Rams have been more than satisfied with the recent efforts of backup QB Jamie Martin despite his two-year layoff and are probably looking at him and rookie Jeff Smoker to battle for the No. 2 role behind Marc Bulger next season. As for the beleaguered Chris Chandler, our sources think it's a miracle that Mike Martz decided to keep him on the roster the rest of this season.

# We hear playmaking linebackers and a right end who can rush the passer could be just as high on the Rams' wish list as the obvious need for help on the offensive line. Don't be surprised if the Rams' disappointing LB corps is dramatically revamped in 2005.

# Word is Cardinals DE Calvin Pace, whose play has steadily regressed after a strong start in a situational role, could be on a short rope if he doesn't make significant strides in his strength and conditioning this offseason.

# With his opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent just around the corner, we hear a mysterious back injury has Cardinals CB Renaldo Hill more than a bit concerned. Hill had played well enough this season to attract some attention on the open market.

# Our Niners sources tell us a very underpublicized problem this season has been the WR corps' collective problems against press coverage.

# The way we hear it, there is a feeling that reserve OLB Alonzo Jackson, a 2003 second-round pick, may not make the Steelers' roster next season. Jackson has not been able to beat out James Harrison for more playing time.

# A source close to the Bengals believes the team will have an easier time re-signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh than RB Rudi Johnson. While Houshmandzadeh has been productive in a starter's role filling in for Peter Warrick, he's still expected to cost less to bring back than Johnson.

# The Texans are giving veteran Marcus Spears playing time at left tackle on passing downs, a development that does not reflect well on starter Seth Wand.

# It shouldn't come as a huge surprise if WR Johnnie Morton isn't back with the Chiefs next year. K.C. tried to get him to rework his contract this season but couldn't get it done. With Marc Boerigter due back from a knee injury this summer and youngster Samie Parker needing more playing time, it seems conceivable that Morton could be shown the door.

# Chiefs ORG Will Shields likes the versatility of the right tackles the team has trotted out this year, but he doesn't want to name a favorite heading into next season between John Welbourn, Chris Bober and Jordan Black. "They're pretty unique in that they're all interchangeable guys," Shields told PFW of the trio, who all can play inside as well. "It's tough to fix on one guy who's going to be there (next season) because you never know what the offseason and training camp is going to hold. When we come out on Sunday, that's who's there, and I know any one of the guys they put there is going to do a good job and fight and battle and do the best they can."

# Broncos SS John Lynch dismisses the notion that the Denver roster needs an overhaul and believes it's on the cusp of big things despite slipping a bit since midseason. "Look at Pittsburgh. A lot of people were calling for Bill Cowher's head and wanted big changes," Lynch said last week. "Now they're hot, and everybody is glad changes weren't made. This team doesn't need any major changes."

# A source within the Raiders' organization indicated that had charges been filed against DBs Charles Woodson and Marques Anderson in last week's arrest for public intoxication, it could have become "an issue" with the team, especially with Woodson, who carries the team's franchise tag.

# After watching his punt-return average dip from 13.6 yards in 2003 to only 5.8 this year, the Raiders' Phillip Buchanon has taken some heat for a lack of explosiveness and decision-making. But special-teams coach Joe Avezzano acknowledged that his unit has not given Buchanon many opportunities to break one, saying, "There needs to be 10 other guys out there that have the same passion that the returner does."

# Inactive for the first eight games of the year, in large part because of a questionable work ethic and poor blocking, TE Teyo Johnson has made strides for the Raiders down the stretch and is being moved around a lot at the line of scrimmage to take advantage of his athleticism.

# The Chiefs may be regretting that they signed safeties Greg Wesley and Jerome Woods to sizable extensions in the offseason, but they've been pleasantly surprised with SS Willie Pile, who has filled in with Woods and Wesley sidelined the past several weeks. Pile isn't a standout in coverage, but sources feel he could be groomed to transition over to free safety, allowing him to team with the more physical Wesley for the future in Kansas City's secondary.

[Chris 44]

Yes! Lets hope this happens. (Raymer)

[Walking Deadman]

I have to think that the entire O line and the blcoking schemes have to be retooled to be more useful for Portis and Betts.

[JMac]

Dockery and Brown should be added to that list.

[[[ghost]]]

i hope muhsin mohammed becomes a free agent, he would answer our redzone answers, mixed with a heavy center, we will kick ass next year