Posted by Will Brinson



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• The North Carolina Secretary of State's office sent a search warrant to Bank of America demanding a pile of financial records relating to suspended NFL agent Gary Wichard's financial activity from January 2009 on. This is important to the NFL, because it could -- conceivably -- open up a can of worms with relation to other players, other coaches and pay-for-play accusations. It's way more important to the NCAA side of things, however, because Elaine Marshall's office is currently investigating the big pile of dirty things that happened on Chapel Hill's campus. Of course, Marvin Austin, the guy at the center of this warrant, is about to be an NFL'er, so there's that too.

• Joe Pearson takes a look at how eight prospects for the Panthers No. 1 overall spot fared at the combine.

• The Chiefs are going to make everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- take a paycut if there's a lockout.

• Brian Finneran and Brian Williams are not going to be walking in that door, Falcons. But probably because you kicked them out.

• Adrian Wilson, coming off a season in which he played injured much of the time, cannot be stopped.

• No tender offer coming for Troy Smith from the 49ers. Apparently Jim Harbaugh's not a huge fan.

• Jason Whitlock had Mike Florio on his podcast and got him to tell the story of how PFT happened. (I'm a media meta guy so I find this stuff interesting.)

• Jordan Palmer will spend the spring throwing to receivers. That is so cute -- he thinks he can be a quarterback!

• Mike McCarthy isn't too worried about Jermichael Finley's return "ruffling the feathers" of the wide receiver corps in Green Bay.

• How aggressive should Jacksonville be in pursuing a quarterback during this year's draft?

Posted by Josh Katzowitz

With two of Atlanta’s best receivers out of action – that’d be Michael Jenkins with a shoulder and Harry Douglas, who’s still recovering from knee surgery – 34-year-old Brian Finneran will take many of the practice reps in place of them.

Finneran hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2003, and he really seemed to fall off last year, making just 11 catches for 111 yards in 10 games while dealing with his long-term knee injury problems.

But if the Falcons need him to start, then he’ll start.

"I've been there before," Finneran told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "It's been a while since I've been asked to do it, but you just go out there and play football. I've been on the football field for a long time now. Whether if you are a two, three or number one [receiver], you go out there and play."

Jenkins likely will miss four to six weeks, which means Finneran could go into the regular season as the starter at that WR spot. Finneran always has used his 6-foot-5 height to his advantage, and he’s got good hands. And if he can stay healthy, he might continue to have a significant role on this squad even when Jenkins returns.

"A lot of times, the number [one receivers] of the world, you know who they are, the Roddy Whites and Larry Fitzgeralds of the world," Finneran told the paper. "But from two through four, those guys get to step up and make plays every week. So you just go out there and do it."

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Posted by Andy Benoit

Rest assured Falcons fans, your team will be just fine without wide receiver Michael Jenkins. Jenkins, a seventh-year veteran, suffered a shoulder injury during an intrasquad scrimmage Friday night. Fortunately, he is only expected to sit 4-6 weeks. That means he’ll likely miss just one or two regular season games.

"You are always concerned anytime any of your players goes down with an injury," said Falcons head coach Mike Smith, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.  "One thing I am certain of is that Michael will work very hard with our athletic performance staff and our training staff to get back out on the field as soon as possible."

Though plagued by drops early in his career, Jenkins has evolved into one of the sounder possession receivers in the game. His terrific blocking and willingness to go over the middle make him an excellent fit in Mike Mularkey’s system. That said, the Falcons still have superstar receiver Roddy White and future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. Plus, the Falcons utilize two tight-end formations with greater frequency than any team in football, so Jenkins’s absence could actually translate to more snaps for Justin Peelle and fullback Ovie Mughelli.

The depth chart suggests Harry Douglas should fill in for Jenkins. But Douglas is a speedy, diminutive slot weapon. A better replacement for the 6’4”, 215-pound Jenkins would be veteran Brian Finneran (6’5”, 206) or fifth-round rookie Kerry Meier (6’2”, 224). Whoever lines up outside is the Falcons will remain a power-oriented team with just enough aerial firepower to survive a few weeks being shorthanded.

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