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That noise you hear in the background is the clock tick-tick-ticking toward the NFL trading deadline, which arrives at 4 p.m. next Tuesday, and which again figures to produce the level of excitement commensurate to that of the Cincinnati Bengals offense.
This is not to be confused, for certain, with the incessant countdown of the famed 60 Minutes stopwatch every Sunday night. There is no sense of urgency, phone lines aren't burning up leaguewide, and once again old-fashioned wheelin' and dealin' will go the way of the single wing and the flying wedge.
Want to set an over-and-under benchmark on how many deals are actually consummated on Deadline Day? Start with zero.
|  | | Trades involving marquee players like Ricky Williams don't take place in-season. |
The league public relations department authored a very solid reminder this week that is has been 10 years since Brett Favre was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Green Bay Packers in one of the greatest heists in the history of the NFL. The press release also trumpeted the offseason trades in which Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn and Ricky Williams relocated. The point: That trades still do occur in the league.
But the point the press release missed: There are never any swaps, at least deals of consequence, at the league's trading deadline. So don't sit in front of the television all day next Tuesday, mesmerized by the ESPN2 crawl, and awaiting news of a blockbuster trade for your favorite franchise. Redecorate the family room, and watch the paint dry on the walls, because the exercise will be far better amusement and a much more productive use of time.
Barring something unforeseen, there won't be any big names changing their uniforms on Tuesday, and probably no deals involving current starters.
"The salary cap just makes it too difficult," said Miami Dolphins senior vice president Rick Spielman. "And at this point of the season, it's hard to fit any new player into what you're doing, so his value is pretty diminished. This isn't baseball, where they've got the (trade) deadline, then you can cut deals after guys clear waivers, plus there's no cap. So there is very little action. In fact, there isn't even much talk about trades, really."
Last season there was only one "deadline" deal, and you certainly recall the blockbuster that sent veteran defensive end Stalin Colinet from Cleveland to Minnesota for a fifth-round choice in this year's draft, right? Yeah, we kind of thought so.
Fact is, from 1990-2001 there were only a dozen "deadline" trades in the NFL -- an average of one per year -- and most were pretty forgettable. Over the last seven years, there have been just four deals, and there were none in four of those years. The Oakland Raiders acquired serviceable defensive end Regan Upshaw from Tampa Bay in 1999 for a sixth-round draft choice. Kansas City traded for the late linebacker Wayne Simmons, recently killed in an automobile accident, in a '97 swap with the Green Bay Packers.
But more typical of the players who have changed teams at the deadline are guys like tailback Brent Fullwood (1990), wide receiver Alexander Wright (1992) and defensive back Reginald Jones (1994). There have been a few players who changed teams at the deadline -- safety Vann McElroy (1990), offensive tackle Harvey Salem (1991) and defensive tackle Rueben Davis (1992) -- who made a modicum of difference for their new franchise.
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Side Lines
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On-Line
You could put New York Giants left end Michael Strahan and whichever right tackle he is facing in this slot every week and it would be legitimate. But this week's matchup for Strahan is particularly interesting because it includes many subplots. Strahan will battle Atlanta Falcons tackle Todd Weiner for a second straight year, although in a different uniform, and the pair figures to have a relatively intense tete-a-tete. Playing for the Seattle Seahawks in 2001, Weiner limited Strahan to one sack for seven yards, a fairly admirable performance, especially given what the Giants star did to more established right tackles. So impressed were Falcons personnel folks with Weiner's performance in only his 18th career start that Atlanta signed him to a five-year, $17.5 million contract that included a signing bonus of $5.5 million. Even Weiner admits the game against Strahan made him a hot commodity in the free-agent market next spring. The other interesting aspect of the Sunday matchup is that Strahan will chase backup quarterback Doug Johnson, not the injured Michael Vick, and that will provide him a more stationary target. |
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The List
With three interceptions in Week 4, Oakland Raiders free safety Rod Woodson moved into the No. 5 spot for all-time thievery, with 64 pickoffs. The future Hall of Fame member has an excellent chance to finish his 15th season in the top three. Here is the list of the top 10 ballhawks: |
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Ranked
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Player
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INTs
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1.
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Paul Krause
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81
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2.
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Emlen Tunnell
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79
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3.
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Dick Lane
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68
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4.
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Ken Riley
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65
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5.
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Rod Woodson
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64
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6.
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Ronnie Lott
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63
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7.
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Dick LeBeau
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62
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8.
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Dave Brown
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62
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9.
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Emmitt Thomas
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58
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10.
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Bobby Boyd
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57
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10.
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Eugene Robinson
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57
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10.
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Johnny Robinson
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57
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10.
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Mel Blount
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57
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10.
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Everson Walls
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57
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Stat of the Week
In what is shaping up as a redemptive season for Trent Green, the Kansas City quarterback is not only engineering one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, but lighting up opponents in the "red zone." Green has completed 12 of 20 passes for 112 yards inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Ten of the 12 completions have been for touchdowns and Green has yet to throw a "red zone" interception in five outings.
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Stat of the Weak
If St. Louis loses to Oakland on Sunday afternoon, the Rams will establish a new record for the poorest start to the season by a team that appeared in the Super Bowl the previous year. A defeat would drop the Rams to 0-6. The 1987 New York Giants started 0-5 a year after defeating Denver in Super Bowl XXI. But the Giants' poor start earns an asterisk, since three of the five losses came in "replacement games" during the strike. The Broncos and Falcons each started 0-4 in 1999 after appearing in Super Bowl XXXIII.. |
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The Last Word
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| Demps |
Baltimore rookie free safety Will Demps on the effect middle linebacker Ray Lewis has on the rest of the Ravens squad: "The man can flat-out will a team to victory when he's on the field. And even when he's off the field (like the final two quarters at Cleveland last week), you're still aware of what he expects from you. I mean, had we blown that lead against the Browns, trust me, no one wanted to have to face him. Nobody would have wanted to walk into the locker room and try explaining that to Ray. It would have gotten ugly."
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Such a list, however, is a very short one. And it doesn't figure to get much longer next week.
There are some teams, St. Louis foremost among them, who wouldn't mind jettisoning some veterans. The Rams would consider dealing free safety Kim Herring and moving backup cornerback Dexter McCleon into the spot. But to trade Herring, signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2001, the Rams would have to absorb $1.8 million in signing bonus "acceleration" and their cap couldn't handle such an immediate hit.
A few running backs, and at least two wide receivers, are being dangled by teams, but the players are hardly difference-makers. If there is a deal made by the deadline, personnel men who spoke with ESPN.com, guessed that it would be for backup help on the offensive or defensive line. Just about all teams need proven defensive reserves and several teams are desperate for an experienced offensive tackle.
Dynamics change from week to week in the NFL and players available as recently as a month ago might not be on the block now. With a surplus at defensive tackle, for instance, the Packers were shopping three veterans at the beginning of the season. A month later, Green Bay is beset by injuries on its defensive front, and has pulled those same players off the market.
At the end of Tuesday, you can bet, the "transaction" list in your newspaper will not be dramatically expanded by the amount of NFL dealing. "I've got a guy I've let all the other teams know I'll deal, and for nothing more than a late-round pick next year, and my expectation is that my phone won't even ring," said one NFC personnel director.
Around the league
In the wake of the confirmation by Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor that he is attempting to purchase the Minnesota Vikings, two NFL owners told ESPN.com on Friday afternoon they are wary of his possible stewardship of the franchise. Both owners cited Taylor's problems in the past, particularly his suspension by NBA commissioner David Stern, when he circumvented the salary cap with a contract for free agent forward Joe Smith. One of the two owners said he would be "a lot more comfortable" with an ownership group that included Taylor, but also Bob Naegele, one of the several members of the group which owns the NHL's Minnesota Wild. Taylor has said he might be interested in combining forces with the Wild investors, and that might be the formula for securing the team, which Red McCombs clearly would like to peddle by the end of this season. There are some NFL owners as well who suggested Friday that the team will not sell for the $600 million-$700 million some experts felt it could fetch. Taylor also seemed taken aback that some people feel the NFL franchise is worth that much. McCombs' people insist there are two other groups, outside the state of Minnesota, interested in the club. But the league isn't going to permit the Vikings to leave the Twin Cities, so the Taylor-Naegele pairing seems like the most viable option right now.
League security officials have been on the phone every day this week with Redskins people, fretting over the sniper shootings in the Washington area, and trying to devise even more stringent measures for protecting the fans at FedEx Field this Sunday afternoon. The league has also spoken with the FBI and various law enforcement agencies. In short, while everyone tries to paint a pretty face on this and fans are being urged to come out to the game with the New Orleans Saints, the league and the Redskins are frightened by the madness that has transpired. Needless to say, there will be all kinds of additional precautions enacted, team and league sources told ESPN.com. That said, three players from the two teams involved told us on Friday that they are unnerved by the prospects of playing on Sunday just miles from one of the shootings.
It seems that aforementioned safety Kim Herring isn't the only veteran who figures to be victimized by the coming shakeup that will reconfigure the shape of the St. Louis roster in 2003. His impeccable character aside, cornerback Aeneas Williams is almost certainly gone after this season. The 12-year veteran has slipped noticeably this year and, at age 34, no longer has the consistent big-play potential he once possessed. Williams will still "flash" on occasion, but he's not the player he was, and the Rams cannot afford his $8.206 million cap charge for '03. Williams is due a $3.5 million roster bonus next March 1 and he'll never see it. It will cost the Rams $1.2 million in prorated signing bonus to dump Williams, but that is a pittance, at least compared to the cost of retaining him. The team likewise would like to do something with declining wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who this season has been supplanted by Torry Holt as the team's "go to" wideout. But to trade or release Bruce, at least before next June 1, would cost the Rams about $7.76 million. He could be back, at a reduced price, but the odds are St. Louis will wait until after June 1 to lop him. The team needs cap room to retain Holt and offensive left tackle Orlando Pace and will have to make some moves to create it. There are also rumblings that some team officials would like coach Mike Martz to cede some personnel responsibilities back to Charley Armey, the nominal general manager, and to bring in an offensive coordinator to cut his own work load. Some officials are concerned that Martz, a bit of a loner, will quickly burn out if he continues at his current pace.
Look for the New Orleans Saints to strike a contract extension agreement with middle linebacker Charlie Clemons before the end of the 2002 season, and maybe even in the next few weeks. There have been substantive talks between Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and Clemons' agents, Don and Brooks Henderson, in recent weeks and progress has been made. Minus a new contract, Clemons would be eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season. The pending deal won't put Clemons into the sort of tax bracket recently realized by linebackers such as the Baltimore pair of Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware, but it probably would make him one of the top five middle 'backers in the league in terms of average per year. A onetime CFL player and special teams standout, Clemons has made himself a standout defender, through his hard work and dedication. The sixth-year veteran enjoyed a true breakthrough season in 2001, posting 13½ sacks, and is recognized as one of the most respected players in the New Orleans locker room. The defense has changed some this season, and Clemons isn't getting as many pass rush opportunities, but the Saints want to keep him for the long term and seem poised to make a very solid proposal to him.
Although there have been reports that suspended cornerback Dale Carter might be banished for the balance of the season, don't be too shocked if he is reinstated to the New Orleans roster next week, sources tell ESPN.com. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue last week rejected Carter's application for reinstatement. But there are hints that the league expects Carter to serve six weeks away from the game, will revisit his situation after this weekend, and possibly allow him to return for the final 10 contests of the year.
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| Dunn |
Dan Reeves has often noted that "you can never have enough running backs," but the Atlanta Falcons coach might consider this old saw: "Be careful what you wish for." Reeves and his staff have yet to divine a way to effectively juggle tailbacks Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett. The lack of carries could set the characteristically mild-mannered Dunn, who we hear is privately seething, into a public snit. Through four games, Dunn has just 58 "touches" (combined rushes and receptions) and 200 combined yards from scrimmage. Remember, when Atlanta signed Dunn to a six-year, $28.5 million contract that included a signing bonus of $6.5 million, the team promised him 20-25 "touches" per game. He's getting only 14.5 "touches" to this point. During his five-year Tampa Bay tenure, Dunn averaged 65 "touches" and 289 yards over the first four games of those seasons. Never one to make waves, Dunn is frustrated and disappointed, enough so to have made his feelings known to teammates and some coaches. Reeves and his staff are trying to concoct scenarios under which Dunn and Duckett are on the field together, but that might diminish the role of fullback Bob Christian, one of the league's best players at his position.
Dunn isn't the only player with "Warrick" in his name who is having a tough 2002 campaign. There's Chicago Bears linebacker Warrick Holdman, out for the entire campaign, after knee surgery. And, of course, there is Cincinnati wide receiver Peter Warrick, who is close now to earning the label of first-round bust. Warrick is averaging just 10.4 yards per catch in 2002, the same as his career average, and this week lost his job as the team's primary punt returner. It won't be surprising if he soon is removed from the starting lineup as a wide receiver. Cincinnati chose Warrick as the fourth player overall in the 2000 draft and, while scouts from other clubs were backing away from him because of a subpar 40-yard time (in the 4.6 range), the Bengals felt they were getting a steal. But the former Florida State standout isn't big enough to play an outside receiver post and isn't quick enough to be effective operating out of the slot. A big-play performer in college, he has just seven plays of more than 30 yards in his two-plus years in the NFL, and one of those is a run while another is a punt return. In 36 games, Warrick has but one reception for more than 40 yards. Cincinnati brass recently ordered Warrick to wear contact lenses because of a problem with his vision, but he remains the football equivalent of Mr. Magoo when it comes to locating the end zone. And you can bet the Bengals wish now they had exercised some 20/20 hindsight in the 2000 draft.
Despite a defense that hasn't played even close to expectations, and now is battling injuries on the line and in the secondary, the Green Bay Packers are 4-1 and own a two-game division lead. Credit coach Mike Sherman for his overall leadership and outstanding relationship with his players. But credit also should go to one of the unheralded members of the management team, vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt, the man who oversees the contract negotiations and monitors the salary cap. Green Bay by far has the lowest payroll in the NFL, just $39.72 million, according to NFL Players Association documents obtained by ESPN.com. That's an incredible 36 percent below the league average and less than half of what the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers will pay out this year in player compensation. A onetime player agent, Brandt has demonstrated knowledge and flexibility operating on the other side of the negotiating table, and has steered the Pack away from the kind of salary-cap problems that have hampered other clubs. One of the best ways to assess the job done by a cap manager is to figure out how many essential players a franchise has lost in free agency. Think about it: When is the last time Green Bay lost a veteran it really wanted to keep?
As much as Dallas officials and coaches sorely want Emmitt Smith to soon break Walter Payton's rushing record, the team seems poised to increase the playing time of backup tailback Troy Hambrick. The Dallas running game is sputtering right now, in large part because of injuries on the offensive line, but the feeling is Hambrick gets to the hole quicker than Smith and also provides a long-run threat that Emmitt can't at this point in his career. Said one Dallas assistant: "You love Emmit, but we're fighting for our lives here, and you can't sacrifice wins for the record."
The news that original AFL commissioner Joe Foss is near death is sad, indeed, especially for the veteran scribes who followed the league from its inception. Some writers from the old AFC days contend that about half the teams in the NFL wouldn't be around now without Foss' stint as the AFL commissioner, and the point is a well-made one. "He was precisely what the new league needed," said Jerry Magee, the veteran football writer for the San Diego Tribune-Review, and one of the veteran AFL hacks. "He was a World War II hero, a flying ace, and he provided the league legitimacy and viability. He was a kind man, a good man, and he gave the league a kind of prominence it would not have enjoyed without him.".
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| Davis |
It looks as if stalwart tailback Stephen Davis, even with a sprained medial collateral ligament, will start for the Washington Redskins this weekend. The hard-running tailback has experimented with a couple different braces during this week and has gotten more comfortable. Certainly the Redskins desperately need Davis in the lineup, especially now that the team has cast its lot with rookie quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who will benefit from the safety net of a viable rushing attack. But there are some Redskins officials who were curious to see how the team would have performed sans Davis in the lineup. That's not to suggest they wished ill on Davis, but they wanted to see how backups Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson would have done in his absence, since the skins are looking to the future. Davis carries a hefty cap charge of about $11 million for 2003 and Washington might not be able to retain him. At some point, the team will have to decide if it currently has anyone on the roster capable of replacing Davis, or if it will have to deal with agent Steve Weinberg on a dramatically refashioned new contract. By the way, things are getting pretty heated in the Washington front office, and owner Dan Snyder may have to step in and settle some festering squabbles.
That "other" guy named Elvis once crooned that "wise men say only fools rush in." We don't want to infer that retired quarterback Elvis Grbac is a fool for offering his services to the battered Cleveland Browns, but the truth is that the team has no plans right now to rush him into duty. Grbac left the game after being released by the Baltimore Ravens this spring, and finding that the market for his services was not what he felt it should be. Since he lives close to Cleveland it is the only franchise, Grbac said this week, for which he would be interested in dusting off his cleats. But here's the rub: Browns coach Butch Davis hasn't so much as reached for the phone yet, and he probably won't, instead hoping that he can get through with Tim Couch and Josh Booty until Kelly Holcomb returns from a hairline fracture of his leg. Grbac was close to Browns president Carmen Policy when both men were with the San Francisco 49ers. But it's Davis, not Policy, who has control over Cleveland personnel moves. And, for now at least, Davis is content with what he has available to him.
It looks like the Buffalo Bills are prepared to part with defensive tackle Tyrone Robertson, currently serving a four-game suspension for a repeat violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, once his sanctions conclude. The Bills gambled on Robertson, who has a bit of a history, because he had a great upside. But he was fined numerous times during his 2001 rookie season for being late to meetings and never seemed very motivated this year. As badly as the Bills need defensive linemen, they had hoped that Robertson would mature, both on and off the field. Instead they will seek to recoup a prorated share of his signing bonus and, after perhaps keeping him around for a week following the end of his suspension, waive him.
It might not seem like it, but the Carolina Panthers haven't completely forgotten about quarterback Chris Weinke, and he could still get some starts in 2002. That would be especially if the Panthers' early-season success fades and if Rodney Peete keeps turning the ball over. The new coaching staff still needs to get a better read on Weinke, since it will have to decide whether to select a quarterback in the high rounds of the 2003 draft.
At least for now, dismiss comments made by Tennessee owner Bud Adams last week about how his club appears to be getting "outcoached." Adams isn't about to fire coach Jeff Fisher. Not yet. The remarks were made out of frustration and Adams remains very fond of his head coach. But if the team collapses completely, then The Bud Man could shake things up.
Punts: If the Falcons are looking for a deep threat, and they should be given the paltry verticality of their passing attack, then they might have a potential solution right under their noses. Practice squad wide receiver Quentin McCord, team defensive backs tell us, has been outstanding in the recent practices and the Falcons should consider elevating the former Kentucky star to the active roster. … Arizona offensive right tackle Anthony Clement, out since camp with a triceps tear, could be back within the next week or two. The only problem, and a happy one, is that second-year pro Leonard Davis has played like a Pro Bowl performer since he moved from guard to tackle to take Clement's place. … Look for LSU tailback LaBrandon Toefield to cut short his college career and make himself available for the 2003 draft. … Ditto Tennessee wide receiver Kelley Washington. Scouts are wary of Washington, though, because he isn't nearly as quick as the Vols coaches insist. … The New York Giants are 36-4 under Jim Fassel when leading after three quarters.… The Bills defense has now gone six games, dating back to last year, without an interception. … Teams seeking a solid No. 3 quarterback, or a passer who could pay some dividends for the future, would do well to take a look at Jets practice squad passer Todd Husak. The guy is smart, has a good-enough arm, and gained vailable experience in the NFL Europe League. Husak thought that the Jets were going to activate him last week, but it didn't happen. … The Colts' Peyton Manning has thrown 27 interceptions in his last 22 games.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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