25
Jul
2010
Free Agent LB Keith Bulluck signs with the NY Giants; excited to return home
Bulluck signed a 1-year, $2.5 million deal with the Giants (Photo: Scott Boehm/Getty Images)
The New York Football Giants added some veteran leadership to their LB corps this weekend, signing former pro bowl LB Keith Bulluck to a 1-year, incentive-laden deal. Bulluck – who spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans, tore his ACL last season and is coming off surgery less than 7 months ago, which delayed his entry into free agency.
But after working out for the team privately on Monday, the Giants were impressed enough to offer Bulluck a contract, along with the starting MLB job. New York is in desperate need of leadership in the middle after releasing Antonio Pierce, and if his knee holds up, Bulluck could be the perfect fit. A pro bowl selection in 2003, Bulluck will instantly command respect in the huddle, and if nothing else could help groom some of the Giants younger LB’s like Jonathan Goff and rookie Phillip Dillard.
For his part, Bulluck – a native of New City, NY (just 25 minutes from New York City) and a Syracuse alum – is excited to return home and prove his doubters wrong. Via Bulluck’s Twitter account (in all it’s twitter-speak glory):
It’s official yes I am a NYG…all my G fans & haters get @ me…4 the so called experts,the last time I played a full game I was def AFC player of the week. Now I’m washed up? The only thing that can stop me is an injury obviously. Please check my resime b4 u pass judgement. If ur experts u kno that…where I’m from talk is cheap,glad I get 2 come home 2 prove it. Shoutout 2 my new teammates,can’t wait@ get up!! Read the rest of this entry »
24
Apr
2010
POST-DRAFT WRAP-UP … WAIT, THAT’S IT?
Oregon's LeGarrette Blount went undrafted ... but well rested. He later signed with the Titans as an undrafted FA (Image: Deadspin.com)
Is anyone else uncomfortable that the draft is over and it’s only Saturday? What the hell am I supposed to do with the rest of my weekend? Go outside or something??? Oh well … since Thursday night was the highest-rated draft ever, we’d better get used to this new format.
Now that Mr. Irrelevant has been picked, it’s time for armchair GMs everywhere to start second-guessing NFL executives and handing out their annual draft grades. Nevermind the fact that we’ll have no idea how this draft is going to pan out for at least 2-3 years … these type of knee-jerk assessments are what the draft is all about! At first glance, we really like what the Raiders, Seahawks and 49ers did over the last 3 days. In case you’re interested Pete Prisco at CBS has graded every single pick of the draft, and Shutdown Corner has their Best & Worst of the 2010 draft.
And just because the draft is over doesn’t mean teams are done adding players. Keep track of all this Undrafted Free Agent Signings list to see what camp fodder each team is bringing in. For your reference, here’s NFL.com’s list of the best players available after the draft.
In case you missed them through the sweat dripping off of Berman’s huge cranium, here are a few more stories of note from the weekend:
- The Raiders got QB Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins [ESPN.com]
- The Seahawks traded for RB’s Leon Washington of the Jets and Lendale White of the Titans [NFL.com]
- The Jets released all-pro G Alan Fanceca [NY Daily News]
- The Jaguars traded for Raiders LB Kirk Morrison [PFW]
- Lawrence Taylor’s memory of the day he was drafted in 1981 is a little bit fuzzy … probably because he had 41 Coors Lights [SI.com]
6
Mar
2010
Giants Sign Antrel Rolle to 5-year, $37 million deal
Antrel Rolle is a Giant
The New York Football Giants made an aggressive entry into free agency on Friday with the signing of Cardinals S Antrel Rolle, making him the highest-paid safety in the game.
The 27-year-old Rolle fills a HUGE position of need for the Giants, who lost Kenny Phillips to injury last season and were abused in the defensive secondary down the stretch. Rolle – who had 4 interceptions last year – was widely regarded as the best available safety in FA, and GM Jerry Reese wasn’t going to let him leave the Meadowlands with out a deal. Even if it meant overpaying a bit. The Giants are hopeful that Rolle will team with Phillips (his fellow U of Miami alum) to make one of the best safety tandems in the league.
“The best in the league, hands down,” Rolle said on a conference call with reporters this morning. “Without a doubt. … I mean, The sky’s the limit for us. We’re definitely going to go out and make things happen.”
“I was extremely excited when this opportunity presented itself,” Rolle said. “Being back there with a fellow University of Miami guy, and a guy I know that his potential going to be maximized. My potential is going to be maximized with him. We’re going to be a dynamic duo.”
Of course, that largely depends on how well Phillips recovers from his knee injury. Even though the Giants say KP is ahead of schedule, his status for 2010 is still unclear, making the Rolle signing even more crucial for the Giants.
Rolle, who started his career at CB, is a bona fide play maker with 4 career TDs and a knack for gaining big yardage once he gets his hands on the ball … something the Giants secondary is desperately in need of.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF ANTREL ROLLE AFTER THE JUMP
11
May
2009
Darrius Heyward-Bey Hurt Himself “Running Too Fast”
Darrius Heyward-Bey working hard at Raiders mini-camp. I think he just sprained his elbow. (Photo: BaltimoreSun.com)
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey became the pariah of the 2009 NFL Draft when he was selected with the 7th overall pick of the draft by the Oakland Raiders, ahead of top-ranked receiver Michael Crabtree. Al Davis clearly had visions of Cliff Branch dancing in his head, and took DHB primarily because of his blazing speed (4.3 40-yd dash).
But apparently, the Maryland product has got too much of the quick stuff for his own good, having “sat out the final day of the Oakland Raiders’ minicamp Sunday because of a sore hamstring and fatigue”
“Just tightened up,” Heyward-Bey said. “My legs are a little too tight. Running too fast.”
Heyward-Bey, who had the fastest 40 time at the Scouting Combine in February, was injured late in Saturday’s practice and did not work out in the afternoon.
That’s right. He was running too fast, and got tired. Yikes. This one is going south faster than anyone could have expected. Oh, and the Raiders’ 2nd round pick – S Mike Mitchell – missed the workout as well…. for “similar reasons”
I think it’s nice that they let people sit out practice in Oakland because they’re too tired. I hope they give the guy a nice comfy couch to sit on, and maybe a nice parfait while he’s hanging out on the sidelines too. He’s worked hard enough already.
Check out an ESPN video report on Darrius Heyward-Bey, after the jump.
Here are your Monday Evening Links:
- Peter King lists his early NFL Power Rankings. 1) Pats 2) Steelers 3) Giants 4) Bears
- In case you’d like to get caught up on who your favorite team signed and re-signed this off-season, here is a comprehensive list of the 2009 NFL unrestricted & restricted Free Agent Signings
- This is what Vikings DE Jared Allen has chosen to do with his head [Shutdown Corner]
Chris Kane had this same haircut back in the day (Photo: Shutdown Corner)
21
Apr
2009
Tory Holt to ruin his legacy in Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed WR Tory Holt to a 3-year deal on Monday, ensuring that the long-time Rams star will end his career in relative anonymity, floundering in northern Florida. Much like Jerry Rice finishing his career with the Broncos, Brett Favre going to the Jets, and Emmitt Smith to Arizona after a career in Dallas, its pretty much a guarantee that this won’t end too well for Holt.
The Jags were desperate for a WR after waiving Matt Jones and Jerry Porter, and Holt certainly helps to fill that void. And now, people are saying that Jacksonville won’t need to select a WR with the #8 pick in this weekend’s draft. But if the Jags relying on a 32-year-old to be their only real receiving threat, they’re going to be in trouble. And after a hall-of-fame career in St. Louis, Holt will likely fade into the sunset after a mediocre couple of years in Jacksonville.
Kosar as a Dolphin (Photo by Scott Halleran/Allsport)
NFL.com has an interesting photo gallery of players who ended their career in unfamiliar uniforms. It’s pretty wild to look at some of these … it’s almost as though we’ve blocked out these chapters in great players’ careers, and choose to remember them in their prime, with their long-time club. Here are a few swan songs that I didn’t remember:
- Art Monk – Eagles (1 year)
- Bernie Kosar – Dolphins (3 years)
- Joe Namath – Rams (1 year)
- Eric Dickerson – Falcons (1 year)
- Tony Dorsett – Broncos (1 year)
- Johnny Unitas – Chargers (1 year)
13
Apr
2009
James Harrison gets PAID by Steelers
James Harrison taking it to the bank. Photo Source: Newscom
The economy apparently isn’t having any effect on the NFL’s free agency signings, as record-breaking contracts continue to bethe norm this off-season. The Steelers have re-signed LB James Harrison – the NFL’s reigning defensive player of the year – to a 6-year, $51 million contract. Harrison’s contract is the largest ever awarded to a Steelers defensive player and the second-largest in franchise history.
Harrison would have been an unrestricted FA after the 2009 season, so the Steelers were smart to wrap him up with a long-term extension. And as much money as it is, compared to similar FA signings of late, it’s not that unreasonable of a contract for a player of his caliber. Mike Tomlin knows what he’s doing over there … defense wins championships, and Harrison is the cornerstone of their 3-4 system.
