Posted by Will Brinson



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• Charles Woodson's a pretty darn good cornerback, in case you didn't know. But he's apparently a better teammate, because he recently said that he'd be willing to switch to safety if the Packers could land Nnamdi Asomugha (and it was the best thing for the team). Woodson's already got his title and his Heisman and his NFL DPOY, but apparently none of that matters if he can keep doing what he needs to do in order to help his team win. Pretty awesome, really.

• The NFL has agreed to unseal some documents in the media fees case after the NFLPA requested it. They didn't unseal all of the documents requested by the NFLPA, however. That's cool, though, because, you know, negotiations are about compromise. AHEM.

• The Cardinals won't be able to franchise Larry Fitzgerald in 2012, per Steve Wyche, which could mean trouble if they don't go ahead and lock him down with an extension.

• Here's a fun little debate: is Brian Urlacher a Hall of Famer?

• Sergio Kindle is hoping to get cleared for contact in the near future.

• Former Panthers running back coach John Skipper is now headed to the Titans. 

• The Packers are raising ticket prices by $2-$4 per game next year, though it's not supposed to mess with their sellout streak. They are the defending world champs after all.

• The Steelers might consider using their transition tag on Ike Taylor, who would probably fetch a pretty penny on the open market. And who's departure would be not good for a Steelers' secondary that struggled a lot last year.

• Not NFL-related, but I wish that someone would make more sandwiches for football players. I love sports-related sandwiches. This Carmelo Anthony one just makes no sense, unless it's symbolizing the level of annoyance with 'Melo by the time he was finally traded.

• Brandon Jackson of the Packers has flipped from Gary Wichard -- suspended! -- to Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. Thrilling, I know.

Posted by Will Brinson

Larry Fitzgerald spent much of his time leading up to the Super Bowl letting folks he'll only re-sign with the Cardinals if they bring in a talented quarterback to throw him the ball. Kevin Kolb, the one-time Eagles starter turned backup, was at the top of Fitzgerald's list.

Kolb admitted this week in an interview with WIP's Howard Eskin that it's "awfully flattering" to be named by someone as talented as Fitzgerald, and that he'd be open to a trade to the Cardinals. If, you know, the Eagles were interested in trading him.

"I mean, if he's not the best, he's one of the best receivers in the NFL, superstar," Kolb said. "For a guy like that to say something about me, it means a lot. And it's awfully flattering, and I hope that if something happens, their name comes up."

As we've covered, Kolb wants out of Philly -- not because he doesn't love the team or the coach or the organization, but because the team, coach and organization just love Michael Vick too much. But he's still handling the situation fairly well, dropping not-so-subtle but not-too-aggressive hints about wanting to end up with another team before 2011 starts.

Kolb's at least being reasonable about the whole process and pointed out that certain circumstances -- namely the labor situation -- will make it more difficult for the Eagles to swing a deal. "I've always had a good relationship with the Eagles. I think they understand my situation, I think they see where I'm coming from," Kolb said. "And you guys know this, it's not really in my makeup to go out there and cause a stink about things. That's just not what I do. I try to be as professional as possible and see both sides.

"I truly believe that they're going to try and do what's best for myself and the team, and if that doesn't work out, I obviously won't be happy about it. But in my opinion, it won't be their fault if it doesn't work out. I think it'll be because of the CBA not getting done."

On the other hand, it's entirely possible the Eagles WANT a new CBA deal done so they can look to move Kolb -- if Matt Flynn's currently worth a second-rounder (and that possibility's out there), Kolb's all but guaranteed to warrant more in a deal. And if the Eagles could get a first-rounder for him, you'd have to think they'd be open to a deal that makes everyone happy.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Now that the Cards have filled their defensive coordinator position, the Steelers have just one obstacle to retaining their own DC Dick LeBeau: retirement.

It appears they'll have an answer soon, too. NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora reports that the Steelers -- who got the "only you" nod from LeBeau recently -- are "hopeful about formalizing a new contract" with LeBeau sometime next week.

"It looks very positive," LaCanfora's source said.

If LeBeau returns -- and it seems pretty likely based on LaCanfora's report -- that's tremendous news for the Steelers, as he's the guy (outside of the players) who makes their dangerous defense works.

It might have made sense for LeBeau to bounce after a Super Bowl victory, too, but considering that the Steelers are probably primed for another big season -- if they can boost the offensive line and hold onto a few key defensive players -- it makes a lot of sense for him to return and make another run at a title.

And provided he does return, it's more than likely he'll receive a one-year contract; the Steelers wouldn't allow Arizona to interview linebackers coach and likely DC-in-waiting Keith Butler, which means he's not far off from taking LeBeau's spot.

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Posted by Will Brinson



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• Our pal Dan Shanoff has put together an "Anatomy of a Rumor" piece on Brett Favre possibly appearing on "Dancing with the Stars." This is the most we'll write about it, because it's not happening, but Shanoff's piece absolutely deserves a read.

• Mike Mayock, my favorite non-CBSSports.com draft analyst, has some good words of caution for those falling in love with Cam Newton: "the best pro day I ever attended for a quarterback was JaMarcus Russell."

• This is somewhat un-NFL-related, but it's still a great listen, as Jonah Keri invites Richard Deitsch onto the "Jonah Keri Podcast" to talk about sports media, Twitter and the (at some point) Super Bowl. Now I just sit back and wait for my invite, Mr. Keri. Ahem.

• Mark Sanchez led the NFL in dropped interceptions with 15 (!!!). For those of you wanting to crown his butt.

• Go read our own Mike Freeman's column on the lockout. No, seriously, go. NOW.

• The Cardinals appear unlikely to actually use their franchise tag this season.

• Is Michael Oher the first author ever to include the title of the movie made about the book about his life in the title of the book about his life?

• Could some former Panthers end up following John Fox to Denver?

• Wes Welker appeared in a Vitamin Water ad congratulating Ray Allen for his all-time three-point record and he somehow managed to squeeze a Rex Ryan foot joke in his shoutout. So awesome.

• NFL.com writer Vic Carucci mentions that Chan Gailey likes Cam Newton "a great deal." Please let him go No. 3 overall. Please.

Posted by Will Brinson



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• So, the Panthers, according to Steve Reed of Carolina Growl, are apparently going to run the Chargers offense next year. This isn't surprising given how much success San Diego had on the offensive end, and the fact that Ron Rivera and Rob Chudzinski are now in town. Three problems stand out though. The Panthers don't have 1) Philip Rivers, 2) Antonio Gates, or 3) Norv Turner. 

• Want the real story behind Aaron Rodgers' WWE championship belt? The National Football Post has you covered.

• Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports is whipping through a Top-40 list of NFL Draft prospects. Ryan Mallett (who checks in at No. 37) is at one point called a "statue with a cannon attached," if that makes you feel good about your team maybe drafting him. It shouldn't.

• The Dolphins have reworked Will Allen's contract so he can stay with the team in 2011, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

• Ray Horton, newly of the Arizona Cardinals, wants to run an "aggressive, downfield defense" in his new home.

• Cam Newton's Tim Tebow-like media party is underway, starting today at 1:00 PM EST in San Diego. Weeeeeee!

• Yowza. It's going to cost about $12.5 million for the Ravens to franchise Haloti Ngata. As Jamison Hensley points out, Baltimore can thank Dan Snyder for giving Albert Haynesworth that fatty contract, since last year, defensive tackles got $7 million.

• Speaking of franchise tags, it looks like Vincent Jackson of the Chargers could be in line for one too. But he's fine with that and will play. Since, you know, it means more than $10 million next year.

• Good read by Tom Friend of ESPN on what's become of William "The Fridge" Perry.

• Luis Deloureiro of the Fifth Down takes a look at whether or not Ben Roethlisberger is already a lock-job Hall of Famer.

Posted by Andy Benoit

Ken Whisenhunt had been patiently waiting for the Super Bowl to finish up so that he could talk to some of the Steelers assistants about Arizona’s vacant defensive coordinator position. Reportedly, Whisenhunt’s top choice was Steelers linebacker coach Keith Butler. But when the Cardinals requested to interview Butler, the Steelers said no.

Thus, it will be Whisenhunt’s second choice who likely gets the job: Ray Horton. The Steelers defensive backs coach has an expiring contract. Horton, 50, is flying to Phoenix on Wednesday. The longtime NFL defensive back worked with Whisenhunt for three years under Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh. In all, Horton has been an NFL assistant for 17 years.

As for Butler, don’t feel too bad about the Steelers denying him an opportunity to chat with the Cards. According to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, Butler is the heir apparent to Dick LeBeau.


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Posted by Will Brinson



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• So, as it turns out, the bookies aren't so smart after all. Okay, they're smart, but they're not perfect -- having Green Bay as a 2.5-poing favorite (or 3-point fave at kickoff depending on where you went) ended up torching them, as America laid tons of money on the Packers. At one point, Jay Rood, the guy runs the MGM's sportsbook, took a call from his boss who asked "What's the worst-case scenario?" Rood answered: "It's happening."

• The Cardinals are pursuing Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler, according to Jason LaCanfora.

• The Onion's solution to solving the Super Bowl halftime woes? A murder-mystery, natch.

• Want to see Aaron Rodgers give golf tips to Kevin from "The Office"?

• Fergie weighed in on Christina Aguilera's singing of the Anthem. Which is must-read analysis because the Black Eyed Peas were SOOOOO AWEZUM at halftime. /sarcasm

• Glenn Beck doesn't think that the "sports players" in last night's "sports game" were patriotic enough when it came to listening to the National Anthem. This was right after he mocked the National Anthem.

• The Sports Pickle has the NFL's Facebook page from last night. Had me at "Ears."

• Cam Newton apparently wants to work Brett Favre as a mentor. Because he loves to retire? Or send text messages?

• Aguilera was at least good enough to warrant the Syracuse Crunch inviting her to sing the Anthem for them. Yes, I think they're a minor league hockey team.

• The Eagles have named Mike Caldwell linebackers coach and Mike Zordich secondary/safeties coach

Posted by Will Brinson

Larry Fitzgerald is heading into the final year of his contract and he's made it clear that he wants to stay in Arizona. If they give him a lot of money. And if they get him a quarterback who will help the team win.

He's reportedly gotten even more specific, too, naming Kevin Kolb and Marc Bulger as guys he wants in Phoenix, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Kolb is apparently Fitz' top choice, but the most glaring part of the report is the lack of Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton and Donovan McNabb on the list.

McNabb should be one of the top free agent quarterbacks on the market, despite his age and poor 2010 performance, but the Cardinals aren't a team that's been considered likely to show any interest in him, should the Redskins end up not picking up his option.

Kolb's a nice target, but the problem is the Eagles will probably want a first-round draft pick in exchange for their talented backup signal caller. (Which would mean if the Cards give Fitzgerald everything he wants, they're going to severely hamper themselves long-term.)

Bulger's a much more realistic target, obviously, because he's simply the backup in Baltimore.

Either way, though, the Cardinals would be heavily catering to a single player's demands and still leaving themselves open to a nightmare situation if either Bulger (he is old) or Kolb (he is still somewhat unproven) didn't work out in 2011.

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