<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Linehan minimizes Wroten's absence July 24, 2008 10:05 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Wroten Scott from Southern California writes: "With the suspension of (Claude) Wroten, will the Rams be looking outside the organization for more d-line help?" Scott from St. Louis -- as in Rams coach Scott Linehan -- provided an answer of sorts to reporters as the team gathered for training camp near Milwaukee: "It really doesn't affect us. Our plan going into the offseason is that we had depth within the defensive line; we really thought Claude was going to be in battle to make this team going into camp. What the suspension does, it eliminates him from the mix. We're going into the season carrying seven defensive linemen, four defensive ends and three defensive tackles. He would have been battling to get a roster spot." Wroten was a third-round draft choice in 2006, so clearly the Rams were hoping he would earn a roster spot and realize his potential. But they couldn't have been counting on him, realistically, given Wroten's history with the NFL's substance-abuse policy. The league suspended Wroten for the first four games last season. He is now suspended for the 2008 season. Wroten played less than a quarter of the snaps for the Rams last season. Keeping only seven defensive linemen would mark a departure for the Rams. By my count, they have averaged keeping 8.4 for regular-season openers since 2003. That includes keeping nine last season: Leonard Little, La'Roi Glover, Adam Carriker, James Hall, Trevor Johnson, Clifton Ryan, Wroten, Eric Moore and Victor Adeyanju. Two were inactive, so perhaps that's what Linehan meant (I'm not at Rams camp and won't be there for another week or so). The Rams are carrying 12 defensive linemen now, one fewer than the average for teams running 4-3 schemes. Finding a capable veteran on the free-agent market is tough. The Rams have given up on a few defensive tackles over the years, notably former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy. They need Carriker and rookie Chris Long to realize their first-round potential. And they need to limit Glover's reps to keep him fresh. St. Louis Rams, Scott Linehan, Claude Wroten, Leonard Little, La'Roi Glover, Adam Carriker, James Hall, Trevor Johnson, Clifton Ryan, Eric Moore, Victor Adeyanju, Jimmy Kennedy, Chris Long Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boldin vows to leave, but he'll be 30 by then July 24, 2008 6:22 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Gene Lower/Getty Images Anquan Boldin has reportedly told his agent to stop negotiating a new contract with the Cardinals. Anquan Boldin's comments Thursday -- that he plans to play out his contract with the Cardinals and then sign elsewhere -- shouldn't come as a shock to the Cardinals. As general manager Rod Graves said earlier this offseason: "I fully expect that at some point we're going to have to make difficult choices by letting good football players walk because we can't afford to keep everybody." Boldin has three years remaining on his deal. Lots can change between now and March 2011. But as Darren Urban of azcardinals.com notes via the first link in this entry, the situation appears bleak for now: "Boldin said he has told his agent to no longer negotiate a new contract and that he would not sign a new deal with the Cardinals. He wouldn't say he would ask for a trade, and he understands he still has three years left on his contract, but he gave the clear message that he feels the clock is ticking on his Cardinals' career." Graves had to know this was a possibility. A team can commit only so much to one position. The Cardinals were all but forced to pay Larry Fitzgerald after his rookie contract exploded in value through incentives. The four-year deal Fitzgerald signed this offseason provided needed salary-cap relief while, in theory, giving the team three years to reach a resolution on Boldin. Boldin might be principled enough to follow through on his promise. Then again, money tends to talk in these situations. Boldin is scheduled to earn $8.25 million over the next three seasons. He could earn much more on a long-term deal. Boldin turns 28 in October. He'll be several months past his 30th birthday when his current deal expires. The best solution for Boldin would be to sign a shorter deal that puts him in better position to cash one more big contract. Short of that, he can collect the $8.25 million and take his chances at age 30, assuming the Cardinals don't restrict his movement with a franchise-player designation (if such a mechanism exists in the next collective bargaining agreement). Arizona Cardinals, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Rod Graves Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49ers-Raiders session set for Aug. 4 July 24, 2008 5:47 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando The 49ers announced plans to scrimmage against the Raiders on Aug. 4 in Napa Valley, Calif. The teams then play in the exhibition opener Aug. 8 at Oakland. The scrimmage is closed to the public. The teams will practice twice on Aug. 4, once in the morning and once in the evening. The 49ers will then return to their facility in Santa Clara that night. San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why the Boldin talks could take time July 24, 2008 4:57 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Boldin Dockett Agent Drew Rosenhaus has finished visiting Cardinals general manager Rod Graves without reaching deals for receiver Anquan Boldin or defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, notes Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. Most deals don't get done without deadlines. At this point, nothing is compelling the Cardinals to act quickly. Graves and head coach Ken Whisenhunt have acknowledged that Boldin's contract should be addressed at some point. That seems fair after the Cardinals' other starting receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, reworked his deal. Fitzgerald's original contract demanded attention because incentives had bloated his salary to the point that the Cardinals were having trouble re-signing players in free agency. The team faces no such pressure with Boldin, one reason its talks with him will take longer to resolve. Boldin is scheduled to earn $2.5 million in base salary this season. His cap number is a very manageable $4.5 million. Fitzgerald's deal had ballooned to $14.6 million in salary, with a cap charge of nearly $16.5 million. Fitzgerald had leverage. Boldin has the Cardinals' goodwill, but no hammer. It's not like players can afford to hold out with three years left on their deals. As for Dockett, the Cardinals have been clear. They have no desire to rework his contract, which has four years remaining. Arizona Cardinals, Anquan Boldin, Drew Rosenhaus, Darnell Dockett, Rod Graves, Larry Fitzgerald Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seattle's Tubbs, Branch candidates for PUP July 24, 2008 3:33 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Branch Tubbs Defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, receiver Deion Branch and possibly linebacker Will Herring are expected to open training camp on the Seahawks' physically unable to perform list, notes Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Tubbs has gone this route before. His career remains in question amid a series of knee injuries. The Seahawks have no incentive to rush him back. Unlike in past years, the they aren't counting on him. They could use him, no question, but Brandon Mebane's emergence gives Seattle a quality presence against the run. Tubbs, the 23rd player chosen in the 2004 draft, is a more dynamic player when healthy. At his best, he could push the pocket and disrupt plays. For a time, Seattle's run defense was dramatically better when he played. Branch is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. His absence from camp was expected. Update: Add punter Ryan Plackemeier to the list of candidates, via Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times. Seattle Seahawks, Marcus Tubbs, Deion Branch, Will Herring Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two remain unsigned for Seattle July 24, 2008 2:54 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando The Seahawks are scheduled to hit the practice field Friday morning, possibly without all their draft choices under contract. First-round choice Lawrence Jackson is not yet close to an agreement, according to a source. It's not uncommon for first-round negotiations to go to the wire and then some, and things can change quickly when other deals get done. I'll be making more calls within the division as practices approach. The Seahawks' second-round choice, John Carlson, also remains unsigned. Seattle Seahawks, Lawrence Jackson, John Carlson Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thoughts on the 49ers' Gore July 24, 2008 1:00 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Gore Chad in Lancaster, Pa., asks: "Will Frank Gore bounce back this year?" A running back might be justified asking for a raise after rushing for 1,102 yards with a 4.2-yard average and a team-leading 53 receptions. In Gore's case, we wonder if he can bounce back. That's a little unfair to Gore, who managed to put up very good numbers in a horrific offense. For perspective, consider how many times 49ers legend Roger Craig finished with more than 1,102 yards rushing and 53 receptions in the same season: once, in 1988. Craig's contributions meant more because the 49ers were winning and their offense featured numerous Pro Bowl-caliber options. You could argue that Craig might have put up better individual numbers on a lesser team. Even so, Gore's numbers last season were impressive under any circumstances, and moreso given the inept nature of the passing offense (145 yards per game). Which is not to discount Chad's question entirely. Gore did put up superior numbers in 2006, rushing for 1,695 yards with 61 receptions. In that context, it's fair to wonder if Gore can return to that level of production. I'm not sure he can. The 49ers' offense has changed considerably in terms of scheme and personnel. Larry Allen and Justin Smiley were the guards on that team. Mike Martz, known to favor the passing game, was not the offensive coordinator. Gore has proven he's capable up putting up MVP-caliber numbers. I'm just not sure whether the 49ers' combination of scheme and personnel will facilitate a return to his 2006 stats this season. It's something I'd like to pursue upon visiting 49ers camp next week. San Francisco 49ers, Frank Gore, Roger Craig Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49ers have no more unsigned picks July 24, 2008 12:39 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Kentwan Balmer's five-year deal with the 49ers, reported today by John Clayton, leaves San Francisco with no unsigned draft choices. The 49ers become the first team in the division to reach agreements with all their picks. San Francisco 49ers, Kentwan Balmer Read comments or leave a comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In perspective: TE camp races July 24, 2008 12:30 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Season ARI SF STL SEA 2007 3 4 4 3 2006 3 5 3 4 2005 3 3 3 3 2004 3 2 2 3 2003 3 4 3 3 Average 3.0 3.6 3.0 3.2 WR on roster today 5 5 4 5 Rams tight end Randy McMichael is coming off the most frustrating season of his NFL career, but at least he didn't re-sign with the Dolphins. McMichael expects a much better season in 2008, and he might be in position to pump up his 39-catch total from 2007. Other tight ends in the division find themselves at similar crossroads. But in most cases, it's relatively easy to project which tight ends will earn roster spots. NFC West teams are carrying 19 tight ends. Twelve or 13 figure to stick around past the 53-man cutoff. The chart tells us as much. It shows how many tight ends each team in the division carried for its last five regular-season openers, 2003 to 2007. The Cardinals have carried three for each of those openers. They are carrying five now. Leonard Pope is the incumbent starter, but he's coming off a serious injury and isn't a punishing blocker. Ben Patrick has a shot at winning that job. In San Francisco, Vernon Davis is coming off a 52-catch season. Expect his stats to improve if the 49ers become even average on offense. San Francisco expected to feature Delanie Walker more prominently last season, but the offense imploded. How might he fit into the team's plans for the passing game? That's a question for new coordinator Mike Martz. The Seahawks, meanwhile, think second-round rookie John Carlson can give them badly needed versatility at the position. If he can, the question becomes, "How soon?" Seattle has enough issues at receiver to give Carlson an opening. He's a player I want to watch closely when training camp opens Friday. Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Randy McMichael, Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick, Verno Davis, Delanie Walker, John Carlson Read comments or leave a comment</div> http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest
