http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/ en-us Copyright 2009 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:52:04 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.21-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss We're moving to a new home, with lots of new features, including Mark Maske's news feed. Of course, we'll have news there, too, in addition to expert commentary and an opportunity for you to weigh in on the burning question of the day in the NFL. Hope you follow us there. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/nfl_insiders_moving_day.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/nfl_insiders_moving_day.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:52:04 -0500 This just in....Maske is heading to the memorial service for Gene Upshaw this morning at the Kennedy Center. Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot while waiting for some women outside a Jacksonville apartment early Tuesday and sustained life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Collier, 26, and former Jaguars player Kenneth Pettway were waiting in a car when a gunman shot into the vehicle, said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson. Collier was shot several times but it's not clear where he was hit. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/jaguars_tackle_in_critical_con.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/jaguars_tackle_in_critical_con.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:30:39 -0500 Tailback Rudi Johnson agreed to a contract with the Detroit Lions. He'd been released by the Cincinnati Bengals after they'd tried but failed to trade him. Johnson is to back up starter Kevin Smith in Detroit. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/lions_bolster_backfield_with_r.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/lions_bolster_backfield_with_r.html Lions Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:16:56 -0500 The early reports are that the Superdome has suffered no significant structural damage during Hurricane Gustav. The New Orleans Saints are scheduled to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their season-opening game Sunday at the Superdome. It's not clear yet if the game will be played there as scheduled. The Saints relocated to Indianapolis to practice this week and reportedly plan to return to New Orleans on Friday, if possible. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/no_serious_damage_to_superdome.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/no_serious_damage_to_superdome.html Saints Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:28:47 -0500 Quarterback Derek Anderson and wide receiver Braylon Edwards participated in the Cleveland Browns' practice today and, barring setbacks, should be in the lineup in Sunday's opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Anderson had been sidelined by a concussion. Edwards had been on the shelf since suffering a cut on his foot while running sprints in socks last month and being stepped on by the cleat of teammate Donte' Stallworth. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/d_anderson_b_edwards_participa.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/d_anderson_b_edwards_participa.html Browns Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:23:22 -0500 Wide receiver Ashley Lelie has agreed to a contract with the Oakland Raiders. He'd been released by the San Francisco 49ers. The speedster is a former first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/lelie_to_raiders.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/lelie_to_raiders.html Raiders Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:19:28 -0500 The Baltimore Ravens have named rookie Joe Flacco their starting quarterback for Sunday's opening regular season game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco, a first-round draft choice in April out of Delaware, once seemed out of the starting competition. But Kyle Boller's shoulder injury and Troy Smith's recent illness put him back in the running, and now he joins the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan as the league's rookie starting quarterbacks this weekend. The Ravens also appeared close to signing quarterback Joey Harrington, who'd been released by the Falcons. Harrington was the Ravens' choice after a workout in which fellow free agent quarterbacks Chris Simms and Todd Bouman also participated. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/ravens_name_flacco_starter_set.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/ravens_name_flacco_starter_set.html Ravens Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:16:28 -0500 Quarterback Tom Brady today declared himself fit and ready to play in the New England Patriots' opening regular season game after being plagued during the preseason by a sore right foot. "If it is up to me, there is no question," Brady said during a news conference. "But those questions aren't always up to me. I am always hoping that I am going to be out there and preparing the same way. I think I have been getting progressively better over the last couple of weeks. I am excited, excited to start the year." Brady didn't play in any preseason games but said he probably could have done so. "I would have loved to play," Brady said. "Like I said, the decision was made that I couldn't play. I wanted to play. The decision was made not to play and like I said, those decisions aren't always up to http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/brady_declares_himself_ready_f.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/brady_declares_himself_ready_f.html Patriots Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:26:05 -0500 The league announced today that all NFL players will wear patches on their jerseys this season honoring Gene Upshaw, the late executive director of the players' union. The patch will include Upshaw's initials and the number 63, his jersey number during his Hall of Fame playing days with the Oakland Raiders. "Gene was a truly unique, one-of-a-kind contributor to the NFL," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a written statement issued by the league. "No one in our game has ever combined Gene's level of achievement both as a Hall of Fame player and as an executive leader. No one did more for NFL players than Gene Upshaw. He deserves our everlasting respect and thanks." In addition, Upshaw's wife Terri and sons Eugene Jr., Daniel and Justin are to participate in the pregame coin toss at the NFL's season-opening game Thursday night between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/players_to_wear_uniform_patche.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/players_to_wear_uniform_patche.html Upshaw Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:54:44 -0500 The New England Patriots have announced the signing of cornerback Deltha O'Neal. The defending AFC champions spent much of the offseason remaking their secondary, and the effort continues into the week before the regular season. O'Neal reached two Pro Bowls in eight seasons with the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. He has 31 career interceptions, including nine in 2001 for the Broncos and 10 in 2005 for the Bengals. He was released by Cincinnati over the weekend. The Patriots released tight end Stephen Spach to create a roster spot. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/pats_add_oneal_to_secondary.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/pats_add_oneal_to_secondary.html Patriots Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:46:30 -0500 When the New England Patriots released safety John Lynch over the weekend, Coach Bill Belichick left open the possibility that the team would re-sign him at some point. Now the Star-Ledger is reporting that the New York Jets might try to sign Lynch instead. The Jets wouldn't do something like that to wreck the Patriots' plans, would they? http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/jets_reportedly_could_try_to_s.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/jets_reportedly_could_try_to_s.html Jets Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:38:04 -0500 The Philadelphia Eagles claimed linebacker Tank Daniels off waivers. He'd been released by the New York Giants when they signed defensive end Jerome McDougle, who'd been released by the Eagles. So the two NFC East teams essentially swapped McDougle for Daniels. Daniels began his NFL career with the Eagles before being released last year and signing with the Giants. The Eagles released linebacker Rocky Boiman to create a roster spot for Daniels. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/eagles_bring_back_t_daniels.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/eagles_bring_back_t_daniels.html Eagles Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:51:49 -0500 The San Francisco 49ers claimed linebacker Ahmad Brooks off waivers. He'd been waived by the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend. Brooks likely will back up Patrick Willis in San Francisco. The 49ers released linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to create a roster spot. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/a_brooks_to_sf.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/a_brooks_to_sf.html 49ers Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:46:08 -0500 Look for the NFL Players Association to make its official announcement later this week about launching its search for an executive director. We reported in a story in the print edition of the paper early last week that members of the union's ruling 10-member executive committee would speak via conference call to discuss plans to launch the search for a replacement for the late Gene Upshaw. That story reported that the committee would form a search committee from within its ranks and hire an outside search firm, hoping to conclude the search in time to elect a new executive director at the union's annual meetings next March. Richard Berthelsen, the union's interim executive director, said in a telephone interview for that story that the conference call would take place within a few days. He also said he'd told players that he was committed to remaining with the union in http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/official_announcement_of_union.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/09/official_announcement_of_union.html Union Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:41:47 -0500 The New England Patriots released safety John Lynch. He'd been signed by the Patriots after being released by the Denver Broncos at the outset of training camp. Coach Bill Belichick seemed to leave open the possibility of the Patriots re-signing Lynch at some point. The team also released wide receiver Chad Jackson, a second-round draft pick in 2006 who has struggled with injuries. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/08/patriots_release_j_lynch.html?wprss=nflinsider http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/08/patriots_release_j_lynch.html Patriots Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:38:45 -0500