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NFL PICKS & NFL FREE PICKS
NFL PICKS & NFL FREE PICKS
NFL PICKS- (associated press) broncos,falcons and redskins do three team trade.
The Atlanta Falcons traded running back T.J. Duckett to the Washington Redskins on Tuesday
as part of a three-team deal and acquired holdout receiver Ashley Lelie from the Denver
Broncos.
The Broncos received Washington`s third-round pick in the 2007 draft as part of the deal,
according to two officials within the league who spoke on condition of anonymity because
the trade had not been officially announced.
Sportsbook.com has the Falcons listed at +3000 to win the Super Bowl this year while the
Redskins and Broncos are at +1800 and +1200 respectively.
Washington had been shopping for a running back since star Clinton Portis partially
dislocated his shoulder in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. The Redskins are unsure
if he`ll be ready for the start of the regular season.
The Falcons, meanwhile, were eager to land another receiver after losing Brian Finneran to
a season-ending knee injury in the early days of training camp. Lelie was the NFL`s leader
in yards per catch the last two seasons, but he held out of training camp in hopes of
forcing a trade.
: (associated press): with peterson trade derek smith is 49ers defensive leader.
Derek Smith has called thousands of defensive signals and made hundreds of thankless
tackles in his nine NFL seasons. He`s willing to do almost any dirty work to help the San
Francisco 49ers.
Just don`t ask this prototypical middle linebacker to move out of the middle, even now that
the 49ers` group of outside linebackers is ravaged by injuries and free-agent defections.
You`ve got to embrace your strengths, Smith said Tuesday. I`m not an outside guy. I
see things better behind the ball. You can`t get in as much of the action when you cut
yourself off from half the field.
The 49ers wouldn`t dream of separating the thick-necked, speedy Smith from his favorite
task. With a new three-year contract and a swell of optimism for the upcoming season, the
31-year-old believes he`ll be a big part of San Francisco`s move back to the respectability
it enjoyed when he first joined the club in 2001.
While coach Mike Nolan has gutted much of the roster he inherited last year, Smith is among
the 49ers` handful of veteran mainstays, along with defensive end Bryant Young and injured
center Jeremy Newberry.
Smith, San Francisco`s leading tackler for five straight seasons, appears in promotional
spots for the club, encouraging fans to remain faithful to a team that`s won six games in
the last two years.
I feel like I`m one of the guys they want to try to build around, Smith said. Those
are the type of guys they want to have in there, those character guys.
Yet Smith feels like a newcomer every time the 49ers change coaches. The Niners have
employed three coaching staffs in his time with the club, but he has been a steady standout
throughout the turmoil of owner John York`s regime.
He`s a phenomenal leader, defensive coordinator Billy Davis said. He takes his
business very seriously. He`s no-nonsense. (He`ll say), `Just watch me work.` Derek and
Bryant Young ... they don`t tell somebody how hard you have to work. Just watch (them)
work, and you`ll be playing at a championship level.
Other linebackers with Smith`s credentials are rich and famous, with multiple Pro Bowl
appearances and national followings. Smith has made at least 100 tackles in nine straight
seasons, a number surpassed only by Tampa Bay`s Derrick Brooks and Miami`s Zach Thomas, who
have done it in 10 straight campaigns.
But Smith plays for the lowly Niners, and does little to draw attention to himself apart
from his consistent play. He has moved cautiously into a vocal leadership role with the
49ers in recent seasons, but still feels most comfortable lifting in the weight room or
hammering ball carriers in the gaps of an offensive line.
I still try to do what I do in practice, just be an example to guys that way, he said.
If things aren`t going as well as they should, I`ll step up and say something now.
He has plenty to say this week after the 49ers` lackadaisical performance in a 23-7
exhibition loss at Oakland. Though he only played 12 snaps, Smith spoke out about the
defense`s slow tempo and tepid aggression.
The 49ers visit the Dallas Cowboys and former teammate Terrell Owens on Saturday, and
Smith is one of the few Niners still remaining from Owens` eight seasons with the club. The
linebacker had unusually harsh words about T.O.`s attitude and effort last season before
San Francisco faced the Philadelphia Eagles - but Owens claimed he didn`t even know who
Smith was.
Oddsmakers have Dallas listed as a 6-point home favorite. The total is set at 35.
Derek isn`t in it for the glory or the money, said Jeff Ulbrich, his teammate and
fellow unsung linebacker since 2001. He`s just a guy who would rather be playing football
than doing anything else, except maybe being with his family. I`m the same way. We love the
game.
Smith was a starter from his first game in the league with the Washington Redskins in 1997,
and he learned aspects of professionalism and poise from veteran linebackers Marvcus Patton
and Ken Harvey. He left Washington after four seasons to join San Francisco as a free
agent, then took a contract worth less than he probably could have made elsewhere to return
last spring.
Smith got a three-year deal with a $2 million signing bonus and more than $3.7 million in
salary this season - perhaps not numbers in line with his statistical achievements, but
still gratifying for a hardworking employee.
You have to earn it every day, he said. You want to make them feel like they got a
good deal.
. (associated press): bears discipline rb benson.
Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson has been punished by coach Lovie Smith for leaving
the sidelines during Friday night`s preseason win over San Diego, and for missing a
mandatory post-game meeting.
Cedric was supposed to have been on the sideline like the rest of our football team and
he wasn`t, Smith said.
Smith wasn`t specific about a fine or suspension for Benson. He also said the situation
won`t necessarily hurt Benson`s attempt to win the starting tailback spot from Thomas
Jones.
I`m just going to say I punished him, Smith said.
Benson, who didn`t play last week because of a sprained shoulder and is expected to miss
this Friday`s game against Arizona, admitted his mistake. Players were handed a set of
rules at the beginning of the season.
As far as being on the sideline, I don`t remember reading anything specific, Benson
said. But I guess, I know now.
Oddsmakers have the Bears listed as 3 1/2-point home favorites. The total is set at 35.
Benson suggested his own frustration with a sprained shoulder led him to leave the
sidelines. He has been out since Aug. 5 with the injury. He and Jones, who suffered a
pulled hamstring July 27, both have begun to practice again this week for the first time
since their injuries.
It`s something new to deal with, to not be out playing, Benson said. So maybe I kind
of just let my emotions get the best of me at the time.
Benson said Smith spoke to him about the violation the night of the game.
He just basically told me I know better than that, I`m not a young guy any more, Benson
said. It`s a professional`s game and I need to be one. He talked to me just like a man.
Bears players are trying to put the situation in the past.
It`s not going to shake this team, safety Mike Brown said. You know what I`m saying?
We have rules and regulations that everyone follows. If you break them, there`s
repercussions, or whatever - there`s consequences.
You make the choices and you have consequences. That`s the bottom line.
FREE NFL PICKS- (associated press) :spikes expected to play in bills next preseason game.
Linebacker Takeo Spikes has spent so much time lobbying Bills coaches to test his injured
right leg in a preseason game, he`d almost given up on that happening.
It`s why he was stunned when coach Dick Jauron, on Tuesday, said it was possible that
Spikes will play Saturday when Buffalo hosts Cleveland.
Who said that? a surprised Spikes said after practice. Once he heard it was Jauron who
opened the door, Spikes broke into a wide grin and said: Stay tuned.
Excited? Very, he said.
Oddsmakers have listed the Bills as 3 1/2-point favorites for Saturday`s contest.
Although Jauron made no guarantees that Spikes will play, the mere possibility of that
happening is a big sign the two-time Pro Bowl selection is on track to complete his
comeback since tearing his right Achilles` tendon in Week 3 of last season.
I think he`s probably ready but we`re going to address it as we get closer, Jauron
said, referring to game time. We`ve got to get him in a game before we open up because we
all know the game`s very different. So we`ll just have to see how he feels tomorrow and go
from there. But it`s a possibility.
Spikes is trying not to get too excited, although he relishes the idea of making his debut
in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd in the Bills final home preseason game.
Ideally, it`s everything that you want as a player, he said. Spikes, however, cautioned the decision to play will be determined after he sees how his
leg holds up after he upped his workload in practice this week.
Physically I feel OK right now, but I need to feel how I felt this morning on Friday,
Spikes said. Then it may happen.
Buffalo finished 29th in the NFL in yards allowed, a significant drop-off after the defense
- with a healthy Spikes - finished second in each of the previous two years.
Spikes arrived at camp in suburban Rochester last month, vowing he would be ready for the
regular-season opener. And nothing he`s done so far has provided any doubt he`ll not meet
that goal.
Days before the start of camp, Spikes impressed the Bills staff during an individual
workout, enough to allow him to be cleared for contact in the first week. He`s since been
gradually worked into full-team drills.
Spikes then turned it up a notch this week when he received permission to get additional
practice time by working not only with the first-stringers but also with the second unit in
team drills.
Every week the strength is coming back so I can`t ask for anything much more, Spikes
said. I took a lot of steps where I needed to go so I`m very happy with the progress
NFL PICKS- (associated press): colts expect simon back for opener.
Indianapolis defensive tackle Corey Simon is likely to miss a couple of more weeks after
having arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee, but was hopeful he could return for
the regular-season opener.
It was just that, after the second opinion, we thought it was best to go that way, he
said. So we took care of it.
Simon hasn`t practiced since banging his knee Aug. 4.
Colts coach Tony Dungy had only said that the Colts were considering surgery for the former
Pro Bowl defensive tackle who signed a five-year deal last September. Dungy was expected to
comment after Indy`s afternoon practice Tuesday.
At 300 pounds, Simon is the biggest player on a defensive line that is undersized by most
NFL standards. Known as a run-stuffer, Simon is expected to play a major role in the Colts`
defensive tackle rotation that also includes Montae Reagor and Raheem Brock, a converted
defensive end who is moving full-time to tackle this season.
Simon plans to sit out Saturday against New Orleans and if he misses the preseason finale
Sept. 1 against Cincinnati, it would mark the second straight year he`s missed the entire
preseason. The Colts first regular season game is against the New York Giants on Sept. 10.
Oddsmakers have listed the Colts as 3 1/2-point favorites for their final preseason
contest.
In 2005, Simon held out in a contract dispute with Philadelphia before the Eagles finally
released him Aug. 28. Four days later, the Colts signed the former Pro Bowl selection -
hoping he would be the final piece to their Super Bowl puzzle.
But skipping meaningless games does not concern Simon.
The preseason is great, he said, smiling. It`s the preseason, you know.
The question now is how long it will take him to get to 100 percent.
He reported to camp significantly lighter and admittedly in better shape than last year,
and he acknowledged that it would take some time for him to get back in football shape.
Yet Simon believes he`ll be ready to contribute when the games count.
I`m definitely ahead of the curve from where I was last year, he said. I think I was
playing pretty well, practicing pretty well and keeping the weight off. ... The only bad
thing is that nothing gets you in shape for football but football.
The Colts` other big concern is the status of backup quarterback Jim Sorgi, who injured his
throwing shoulder in Sunday night`s 30-17 loss to Seattle.
Sorgi had been bothered by a sore right shoulder all summer, and he was on a pass-count
during Indy`s three-week training camp, which ended Saturday.
But Sorgi left Sunday`s game after just three plays - a handoff, an incomplete pass and an
interception that was returned for a touchdown. He was driven into the ground on the final
two plays and left for good after the series.
If Sorgi can`t play this week, that would mean seven-year veteran Shaun King and undrafted
rookies Josh Betts and Mike McGann could see more action. Should Sorgi be out longer, the
Colts may need to add another quarterback to the roster.
Shaun has played in big games before, he`s been with different teams and in different
situations, so I think that`s good, two-time MVP Peyton Manning said. But we`re still
waiting to hear about Jim`s situation.
FREE NFL PICKS (associated press) dallas recievers stepping up in place of terrell owns
Here`s a juicy bit of news: Not having Terrell Owens the last few weeks actually has been a
good thing for the Dallas Cowboys.
Don`t get the wrong idea. The Cowboys definitely would`ve rather had their new lead
receiver on the field, both to work with the rest of the offense and to cut down on the
chatter generated by his lingering hamstring.
But his absence has forced more balls to be thrown to the unproven players fighting for
backup jobs, and that`s helped coaches sort through one of the team`s biggest concerns of
the preseason.
Undrafted rookie Sam Hurd and returning practice squad member Jamaica Rector seem to have
taken the most advantage. After showing enough in practice last week to earn playing time
with starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe, both fit in well with the first-teamers in a 30-7
victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
The Cowboys are listed at +160 to win the NFC East by sportsbetting.com.
Hurd caught three passes for 30 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown that he had to fight
off a defensive back to grab. Rector had three catches for 32 yards, all on that same
scoring drive, including a 5-yarder on third-and-4 from the 23 that he made despite his
defender being flagged for pass interference.
I`m excited about the way they have played, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. It makes
me feel good about me not breaking my neck to find another receiver.
Owens missed much of training camp because of a hamstring injury that may require further
evaluation this week. Patrick Crayton, the projected No. 3 receiver, also has been out with
an injury. Players were off Tuesday, with practices resuming Wednesday at team
headquarters.
It`s uncertain whether Owens will join the club then or for the next preseason game,
Saturday night at home against San Francisco. Oddsmakers have listed the Cowboys as 6-point
favorites for that contest. Coach Bill Parcells was in no mood to discuss T.O. after the
Saints game.
I`m tired of talking about it, I really am, Parcells said. Let`s talk about the guys
who were here and played.
Terry Glenn was the most spectacular, providing a one-handed touchdown catch around his
defender`s head that should remind everyone Owens won`t be Dallas` only game-breaking
threat. He finished with 71 yards on four catches, showing no signs of problems with
blisters that caused him to miss some time in training camp.
Terrence Copper, the only receiver on the roster besides Owens, Glenn and Crayton to have
caught a pass in a regular-season game, had two catches for 32 yards.
Miles Austin, another undrafted rookie, helped his chances with a 48-yard touchdown catch
from backup quarterback Tony Romo.
Even before the top three receivers were hurting, the Cowboys already were looking for more
candidates. They acquired one from Denver, but that trade was voided Friday because of a
failed physical.
More moves could be in the works. And there`s always the waiver wire once teams begin
cutting players, with Dallas likely most interested in veterans.
Presuming Crayton holds his job, Hurd is the likely front-runner for the fourth spot
because he`s learned the routes for all three receiving positions. He often works with
Owens after practice and has made enough plays on the practice field for Bledsoe to trust
him in the game.
For instance, consider this conversation before Hurd`s touchdown: I told him in the
huddle to throw it up, and I would make a play for him, said Hurd, who did exactly that.
Coaches seem eager for Rector to succeed, too. They appreciate his hard work, especially in
the weight room. He half-jokingly calls that a must because, I`m the smallest dude on the
team.
I kind of try to balance things out with my strength, said Rector, who is 5-foot-10,
186 pounds.
Rector`s status could depend on whether the Cowboys keep five or six receivers. It also
depends on whether Skyler Green is among them since Parcells considers him strictly a kick
returner. The fourth-round pick had 37 yards on four punt returns Monday night, most on a
22-yarder, and took his only kickoff 13 yards.
He`s in a tough battle for a job, Parcells said. He`s caught every punt that we`ve
had this preseason. I can`t give him any more work than that.
NFL PICKS- (associated press): cleveland deepnes secondary.
The Cleveland Browns on Tuesday acquired defensive back Therrian Fontenot from Green Bay
for wide receiver Carlton Brewster to give their injury-riddled secondary some depth.
Fontenot, an undrafted rookie free agent last season, appeared in one game on special teams
and spent the rest of the year on the Packers` practice squad.
The Browns needed to add a defensive back because of injuries to cornerbacks Gary Baxter
and Daylon McCutcheon, who both may not be ready for the season opener Sept. 10.
Brewster was signed by the Browns in May as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Ferris
State. He caught three passes for 21 yards in two preseason games.
FREE NFL PICKS (associated press): matt lienart making smmoth transition.
Matt Leinart is pleased with his smooth, quick transition to the NFL, but losing is
unfamiliar and uncomfortable, even if it`s early.
I know it`s preseason, the rookie quarterback said. But the feeling of losing, I
haven`t had that too many times in my career, even in high school.
Leinart, 37-2 as USC`s quarterback, knows that even the best teams lose more than that in
the NFL. Still, he wants to help instill a winning attitude in a Cardinals franchise that
has had one winning season in 21 years.
In college, it was expected to win, it was just how many points we were going to win by,
it seemed, he said. There were a few close ones here and there, but that was the
mind-set that we had, and that`s the mind-set we need to have here.
Sportsbetting.com has Arizona listed at -120 to win under eight games this season.
Leinart`s NFL baptism was a challenging one, to say the least. He was inserted into the
game at New England with just under two minutes to go in the half. He responded with a pair
of scrambles for 29 yards to set up Neil Rackers` field goal, Arizona`s lone score in a
30-3 loss on Saturday.
I felt like I had some good composure in the pocket and made some plays on the move, he
said. There`s a few throws that I should have made, but those will be there, just feeling
more comfortable with the system and stuff. Next time I just want to be able to move the
sticks and put some points up on the board.
Leinart completed four of 11 passes for 45 yards but had two dropped. He was not
intercepted.
He needed a little more help out there, but I thought he had solid play, coach Dennis
Green said. He`s a talented player. He`s got great poise, and that`s the thing that
really showed up.
Before his NFL debut, Leinart participated in only two days of training camp after ending
his contract holdout by signing a six-year deal that could be worth as much as $51 million,
with $14 million guaranteed.
I`m happy with how quickly I got back into this stuff, he said. A couple of days of
training camp and I didn`t really miss a beat.
Friday night against the Bears in Chicago, Leinart expects to enter the game early in the
second half.
I know I`m becoming more confident out there with the team, he said, understanding
what the guys are, getting the connection and the timing and all that stuff down. Green wasn`t ready to officially name Leinart the backup quarterback behind starter Kurt
Warner, even though the choice seems an obvious one. John Navarre has completed 12-of-23
passes for 70 yards with three interceptions.
I`m just competing, Leinart said. Obviously right now I`m getting all the second-team
reps and all that, but nothing is given to you. I`m just going to keep doing it, keep
getting better.
Leinart said one difference from college that he discovered in a hurry was the speed of the
NFL game.
Definitely the biggest thing is those guys up front are moving fast, they`re moving a lot
faster than they did in college, he said. They`re going harder, they`ll bull rush you,
they`ll do everything. You`ve just got to have your feet in the pocket and maintain your
composure.
He was not surprised, though, that he was able to move into action so quickly.
I was here in the summer and knew a bunch of stuff, Leinart said. At USC, I was
tutored very well with audibles and understanding defenses, so when it came to this
transition, it was a little easier. Obviously it`s more complex in the NFL but the basic
stuff I know pretty well and I`m just going to keep getting better.
They keep throwing more stuff at me and, kind of like a sponge, I just absorb it and move
on to the next thing.
FREE NFL PICKS - (associated press): cards release defensive tackle, signs defensive end.
The Arizona Cardinals signed defensive end Garrett McIntyre on Tuesday and released
offensive tackle Kellen Davis.
The team also placed guard Rolando Cantu on injured reserve with a knee injury.
McIntyre, 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, was a three-year starter for Fresno State and signed
with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in May. The Seahawks released him a month later.
Davis, a former Oklahoma State player, signed with the Cardinals as a rookie free agent on
Aug. 3.
NFL PICKS- (espn.com): former 49er barlow rips 49er head coach nolan.
Kevan Barlow is now a New York Jet, but he isn't leaving his 49ers career behind quietly.
Barlow ripped his former coach Mike Nolan and the direction of the 49ers in a telephone
interview with the Contra Costa Times.
"He has too much power as a first-time head coach. He walks around with a chip on his
shoulder, like he's a dictator, like he's Hitler. People are scared of him. If it ain't
[Mike] Nolan's way, it's the highway."
Kevan Barlow
"Nolan just doesn't know what he's doing. He's a first-time head coach with too much
power," Barlow told the newspaper. "He has too much power as a first-time head coach. He
walks around with a chip on his shoulder, like he's a dictator, like he's Hitler. People
are scared of him. If it ain't Nolan's way, it's the highway."
Barlow also plays for a first-time coach with his new team, led by Eric Mangini.
Barlow tried to backtrack from the comments in a subsequent call to the Contra Costa Times.
"I was kind of harsh on him, saying he's a dictator. That's bad. Saddam Hussein is a
dictator," Barlow told the Times. "I was speaking on emotion. ... My world's been [turned
upside down] in the past [48] hours."
In the initial call to the newspaper, Barlow expressed anger at how the trade to New York
went down, claiming that Nolan informed him of the trade 30 minutes before the 49ers headed
to Oakland on Sunday for a preseason game.
"[Nolan] doesn't know about the 49ers way, and that's too bad because even his dad [Dick]
was coach of the 49ers. Bill Walsh set the standard there, and he ain't living up to it."
Barlow told the Times that Nolan has too much power in his first NFL head coaching job.
"Coach Nolan could be a good head coach, but he's not going to be because he has too much
power.
"He calls all the shots. He needs somebody above his head. He doesn't know what he's doing.
I respect [team owner John York] and everything he's done for me. He's made me successful.
I'm still in my prime. You don't trade a guy like me."
Barlow told the newspaper he was speaking out because he still has friends on the 49ers.
"[Nolan] still is my problem because I've got friends on the team. Half my [former]
teammates feel this way but can't say that. They feel the same way," Barlow told the Times.
"You can't be yourself in there. Dudes are uptight and walking on eggshells. How are you
supposed to go out and make plays the way you've always done?"
The Contra Costa Times reported that Barlow was read back all his initial quotes to check
for accuracy with his agent on the line.
When contacted by the newspaper, Nolan expressed disappointment at Barlow's comments.
"It's unfortunate he feels that way," Nolan told the Times. "Personally, I feel Kevan is a
good kid. When I came here I heard negative things about him and trouble in the locker
room. When I was here, I thought he did the right things, like calling me if he was late or
calling if he said the wrong thing to the media. As long as he was here, he was a model
citizen."
FREE NFL PICKS- (espn.com):patriots reciever branch ends silence.
Patriots receiver Deion Branch talked publicly for the first time about his holdout,
telling Boston television station CBS-4 on Tuesday night that he was confident everything
would "work out."
"I'm pretty sure everything's going to work out," Branch said, while attending an And1 hoop
tour event.
Branch, who has one year left on his rookie contract, has been holding out from Patriots
camp since it began on July 27. He is scheduled to earn $1.045 million this season.
Branch is expected to be fined $14,000 for each day he misses from camp.
"I'm human. I have my days and ups and downs. I realize it's business and what they're
doing is business," Branch told CBS-4.
Branch was the MVP in the 2005 Super Bowl with 11 receptions in a win over Philadelphia.
He was healthy throughout last year's training camp but sat out all four exhibition games,
perhaps to preserve his health. He had missed seven games with a knee injury in 2004.
Branch played all the regular-season and playoff games last year and had seven catches for
99 yards and a touchdown in the opener. In 2004, he had six catches for 105 yards and a
touchdown against Kansas City after missing the previous six games.
NFL FREE PICKS- (espn.com) browns running back back at practice after courtdate
Reuben Droughns was a few minutes late for practice on Tuesday, and the Browns didn't
mind one bit. They were just happy to have him back.
Droughns
Cleveland's running back returned to the club one day after pleading not guilty in a
Colorado court on misdemeanor harassment and domestic assault charges stemming from an
argument with his wife.
A trial for Droughns, who played his college ball at Oregon, was set in Arapahoe County
Court for Feb. 5, 2007 -- one day after the Super Bowl.
"It went pretty good," Droughns said of his court appearance, which took place on his 28th
birthday. "The main issue was to try and get it pushed to after the season and that's what
we accomplished."
Droughns said there was no attempt by his lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, to make a plea bargain
with prosecutors.
"We feel like we're going to fight this thing to the end," he said.
"It's good to know that his season will not be interrupted and our season will not be
interrupted with him missing time, practice or a game," Crennel said. "The trial date was
set in February and that's good. It's probably good for him too, so he can clear his mind a
little bit as far as that situation goes. He can wait until after the season to start
worrying about it again."
Droughns is accused of throwing his wife, Kellie, to the ground and onto a bed before
throwing her outside and locking the door during a May 12 altercation at their suburban
Denver home.
Kellie Droughns has asked for the charges against her husband to be dropped. Droughns said
the district attorney's office in Centennial, Colo., is unlikely to dismiss the case before
going to trial.
"They realized from the first day that she wanted it dropped, but they decided to pick it
up and run with their case," said Droughns, who was asked if he felt prosecutors were
making an example of him.
"I hope that's not the case," he said. "I hope they aren't trying to make an example out of
anybody, especially me. It might be the case though."
A message was left seeking comment from the district attorney's office Tuesday night.
Droughns could get six to 18 months in jail if convicted of assault and up to six months in
jail on each of the harassment charges.
Since the incident, Droughns has found comfort in being on the field. He said getting the
trial date set was somewhat of a relief.
"From the start it wasn't going to be a distraction during the season because I'm not going
to put my team in jeopardy like that," he said. "I was trying to focus on the season
regardless, but it's a little easier now."
In his first season with the Browns, Droughns rushed for 1,232 yards on 309 carries. He is
the first Cleveland back to top 1,000 yards since 1985, and his carries set a franchise
record, breaking Jim Brown's 305 in 1961.
Droughns, who earlier this year was acquitted by a jury of drunken driving, said the past
few months have given him a new perspective on his life.
"I just got to be a hermit now," he chuckled. "My thought is to stay focused on life and
football and try to keep all the outside problems away."
NFL FREE PICKS- (associated press) seahawks wistrom bac kfrom injury:
Defensive end Grant Wistrom practiced with the Seattle Seahawks' No. 1 defensive team on
Tuesday, marking his return from shoulder surgery in February.
Wistrom
Wistrom, in his third season with the Seahawks and ninth overall, had returned to limited
participation on the practice field last week. On Tuesday, he practiced with the No. 1
defense for the first time since last season.
"It felt good," he said after the morning workout. "I feel I'm a part of that unit and I
feel I have the right to be there. That's my spot, on the right end. I know they went out
and signed Darrell [Wright] and good for him, but I just wanted to go out and claim my spot
until someone younger comes along to take it."
Wistrom said he will play in Saturday's exhibition at San Diego.
Clayton: Seahawks camp tour
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren assembled his players at the beginning of training camp to
discuss their fun-but-failed trip to the Super Bowl. His points hit home. Holmgren told the
team that to return to the Super Bowl and win, even stars such as MVP Shaun Alexander,
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones had to play better.
"I wanted to emphasize you can't rest on your laurels, that this is a new year," Holmgren
said. "By addressing our best players, I think I got the message across to everybody."
Joining Wistrom on the No. 1 defensive unit was defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who had
offseason surgery to repair a bursa sack in his right knee. Backup defensive end and
special teams player Joe Tafoya also returned after offseason shoulder surgery.
"It's nice to have those guys back on the field," said an obviously pleased coach Mike
Holmgren. "It changes our defense a little bit; the energy is tremendous. They're good
football players. Getting Porkchop [Floyd Womack] back at left guard, we have most of the
guys back now."
Wistrom and Bernard's return marked the first time the starting defense has worked out as a
team since camp began July 29.
Wistrom started all 16 games and three postseason games last season, recording 52 tackles
and four sacks, including one in the Super Bowl. Bernard started 10 games, including all
three in the playoffs, and recorded 8½ sacks in the regular season and two more in the
postseason.
For Wistrom, Bernard and Tafoya, the offseason was spent with other injured players in the
Seahawks' training facility, stretching, stabilizing muscles, regaining range of motion and
lifting weights.
"I played all of last season with a sore shoulder, so it feels kind of weird to have a
shoulder that's healthy," said Tafoya, in his sixth year in the NFL and second in Seattle.
"I'm still fighting through a little bit of pain, a little bit of soreness, but it's
already feeling better than it did last year," he said.
Key players still missing practices because of injuries include wide receiver Darrell
Jackson, defensive tackles Marcus Tubbs and Russell Davis and tight end Jerramy Stevens.
"Those would be the four ones that we were kind of counting on that we won't have right now
for the weekend," Holmgren said. The Seahawks travel to San Diego for their third preseason
game on Saturday.
Holmgren said he hoped to have Jackson and Tubbs return to practice next week.
The injuries to so many key players have been frustrating, but it was important to make
sure the players didn't try to return too soon, Holmgren said.
"Grant Wistrom, Rocky Bernard, any of the guys that had surgery and missed time in training
camp, I get a little frustrated with that," Holmgren said. "Injuries are what they are and
if you rush them, then that's worse."
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- (espn.com) falcons add defensive takcle grady jackson.
Having taken care of their most pressing offensive need, with the three-team trade that
landed them disgruntled Denver Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie on Tuesday night, the
Atlanta Falcons a few hours later addressed one of their biggest defensive shortcomings.
And in a big way.
The Falcons late Tuesday reached agreement in principle with unrestricted free agent
defensive tackle Grady Jackson on a three-year contract. Jackson, 33, is scheduled to
arrive at the Falcons' complex on Wednesday for a physical examination. If there are no
problems, the giant-sized tackle will sign the deal and immediately add much-needed bulk
and a top-shelf run-stuffer to the undersized Atlanta defensive front.
Financial details were not immediately available. But earlier in the day, Jackson's agent,
Angelo Wright, told ESPN.com that he was seeking a contract similar to the three-year, $6.5
million deal that free agent defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson signed with the Miami Dolphins
last week. That contract will pay Wilkinson $1.3 million to $1.5 million in 2006 between
bonuses and base salary.
If he is in even decent physical condition, Jackson could vie for the starting job at nose
tackle on a unit that struggled to stop the run in 2005, when the Falcons statistically
rated 26th in rushing yards surrendered. The Falcons had problems versus the run in their
first two preseason games as well, and it was obvious that Atlanta needed to add some bulk
to its interior.
In addition to Jackson, the Falcons in recent days discussed the possibility of signing
free agent defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, released by the Carolina Panthers this
spring.
Jackson met with Atlanta officials earlier in the free agent period, but the team backed
off signing him when a physical examination indicated a possible heart problem. Subsequent
examinations by an independent physician and by the medical staffs of other franchises
interested in Jackson showed no problems.
The nine-year veteran, who has often fought the battle of the bulge in the past, apparently
has his weight under control as well. Sources said that when Jackson auditioned for the New
York Jets and the New York Giants last week, he checked in at a manageable 359 pounds,
considerably less than he weighed only a couple months ago.
Jackson, who played for Green Bay the past three years, is coming off one of the most
productive seasons of his nine-year league tenure, having started all 16 games for the
Packers in 2005, when he registered a career-best 72 tackles. Despite his performance, the
Packers made little effort to re-sign Jackson once he entered the unrestricted free-agent
market.
The deal with the Falcons, if it is consummated, will reunite him with defensive
coordinator Ed Donatell, who held the same position in Green Bay during part of Jackson's
tenure there. Even at this late stage of his career, Jackson remains an interior defender capable of
clogging things up in the middle and of playing effectively against the run. He often
commands double-team blocking because of his size and strength, and that allows teammates
to flow more readily to the ball. His stamina appeared to be much improved in 2005, and his
16 starts were his most since the 2001 season.
Earlier in his career, Jackson also provided some inside push in pass-rush situations, but
he hasn't played on third down the last several seasons and has just two sacks in the past
two campaigns.
In 123 games, including 80 starts, Jackson has recorded 431 tackles, 32½ sacks, nine forced
fumbles, seven recoveries and 24 passes defensed.
Jackson began his career with the Oakland Raiders in 1997, when they made him a sixth-round
draft pick from Knoxville College. He has served stints in Oakland (1997-2001), New Orleans
(2002) and Green Bay (2003-05).
The Falcons have one of the most effective "under" tackles in the league, in Rod Coleman,
but have had problems this summer filling the nose tackle spot. Former starter Chad
Lavalais has fallen out of favor with the Atlanta coaches and his roster spot could be in
jeopardy. While the staff likes youngster Darrell Shropshire, and feels Antwan Lake and
rookie Tommy Jackson have promise, too, Jackson is a proven commodity and a clear upgrade.
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