Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for September 19, 2006

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NBA Rumors & Notes

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Free agent Bonzi Wells met with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy and general manager Carroll Dawson on Monday at Toyota Center as the Rockets stepped up their long-shot pursuit of the veteran guard. Though the Rockets are limited by the salary cap and some of their free-agent spending this summer, Wells has clearly not ruled out the Rockets while also considering the Nuggets, Heat and Bobcats.

Shawn Kemp's planned workout at the Berto Center never materialized Monday, and it's unlikely the six-time NBA All-Star will receive another invitation from the Bulls. Kemp experienced travel problems late Sunday night but still arrived in Chicago early Monday morning. Instead of working out with the Bulls, he traveled to his hometown of Elkhart, Ind., to visit an ailing relative. Kemp, 36, who retired in 2003 after 14 seasons because of weight issues, also missed a planned workout with Dallas earlier this year.

Heat swingman Shandon Anderson, who had his moments last season as a defensive stopper, is in the process of completing negotiations to return for a third season, agent Dan Fegan said Monday. Anderson is expected to sign for the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million, which would count only $745,000 against the salary and luxury tax, a dollar-for-dollar penalty coach Pat Riley has vowed not to exceed. ... Once Anderson signs, it will leave guard Derek Anderson as the lone player not brought back from last season's 15-player championship roster.

MTV VJ LaLa Vazquez and her fiancé, NBA star Carmelo Anthony, are expecting their first child together in March, Vazquez's rep, Jack Ketsoyan, confirms exclusively to PEOPLE. This will be the first child for both. The couple, engaged since Christmas Day 2004, plan to wed after the baby's birth.

The Nets and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority yesterday finalized a new lease that will allow the team to remain at the Continental Airlines Arena until 2013 if necessary. Nets executives insisted the team will begin playing in Brooklyn in 2009, but just in case that project is delayed, they negotiated a deal that gives the team a chance to make more money and guarantees the sports authority won't lose any. "We're hopeful that Brooklyn doesn't work and we can negotiate something long-term," said George Zoffinger, chief executive of the sports authority, which operates the Meadowlands Sports complex. "But at least under this deal we will always show a profit."

Roughly two months after buying the Sonics for $350 million and promising to negotiate a potential new arena in good faith, Sonics owner Clay Bennett said he is optimistic about the progress of discussions with city and region officials. Bennett, who arrived in the Pacific Northwest this past weekend, participated in Monday's U.S. Bank Governors Cup on Monday at the Golf Club at Newcastle, teaming with Sonics guard Ray Allen in a foursome. Wearing a white University of Oklahoma windbreaker and still smarting from the Sooners' controversial loss Saturday, Bennett expressed optimism regarding a new multiplex arena in Seattle or in a suburb such as Bellevue. "I am ever encouraged each time I'm here and as the meetings progress and as we continue to begin to frame up our team and ideas about the future," he said. "I continue to see a successful conclusion."

Luke Schenscher, who averaged 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 20 games with the Bulls last season, remains the leading candidate to fill the vacant spot.

Although Puerto Rican guard Larry Ayuso told the newspaper Primera Hora he might attend the Nuggets' training camp, he has not been given an official invitation. The 6-foot-3, 202-pounder averaged 21.2 points and shot 62.9 percent from 3-point range for Puerto Rico during the recent world championships.

Nuggets forward-center Nene, who was limited to one game last season because of a knee injury, has been participating in pre-training camp workouts at the Pepsi Center.

Steve Nash didn't utter a sentence about the NBA. He talked about taking care of kids, not guarding Jason Kidd. The people who introduced Nash did manage to mention pro basketball, and some people in the audience chanted "MVP'' when he took the stage. But not the man himself. When he used a magic three-letter word, it was the "Hut,'' a drinking establishment of some renown among the students at Santa Clara University. The students roared, and you could practically hear them thinking: He really, really is one of us. At the end of Nash's speech, the school raised a giant replica of his No. 11 jersey in a corner of the Leavey Center. The Canadian kid who came to Santa Clara as a big-school reject isn't invisible anymore. Except when, like the perfect point guard, he decides to be.

Last September, former NBA player and current TNT analyst Kenny Smith hosted a hurricane relief basketball game in Houston, which raised more than $2 million for the Red Cross and local shelters. This year, Smith is hosting the event in New Orleans -- Kenny Smith's 2006 Hurricane Katrina Relief Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

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MLB Rumors & Notes

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The A's would like to re-sign Frank Thomas before the season ends, and they've had talks with his agent, Arn Tellem. Progress has been slow in discussions with general manager Billy Beane. "Billy's a tough negotiator and my guy is a tough negotiator," Thomas said. "I hope we can work something out before the season is over. I don't know how things are going. They're talking." Thomas' big September has helped the A's on the field, but it's hurt them at the negotiating table. He could be in line for a multiyear deal and a huge increase on his $500,000 base salary.

Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez is due $11 million next year and $11.5 million in 2008 as part of the four-year deal he signed on Opening Day last year. But Ramirez may void the deal after this season, something he’s likely to do if he and the Cubs don’t strike a sweetened extension before then. The market for Ramirez will be a favorable one, with both Los Angeles teams likely to jump in on the bidding. According to Cubs people, general manager Jim Hendry and Ramirez’s agent, Paul Kinzer, have held only preliminary talks on a new deal. However, Hendry and the agent enjoy a good relationship, and the Cubs appear cautiously optimistic they can get it done.

Toronto is hoping that Vernon Wells is indeed its center fielder next year, but there's always the lingering possibility of trading him over the winter if the Jays can't sign him to a contract extension after this year. Even if Wells isn't willing to talk extension, the Blue Jays could always keep him through next season to benefit from his production.

Barry Zito's most likely option besides the A's might be the San Diego Padres, who employ former A's officials Sandy Alderson, Grady Fuson and Paul DePodesta. Zito, a free agent after the season, also grew up and lives in Southern California.

Will Texas keep CF Gary Matthews Jr.? "I'd love to stay here; I enjoy it here," said Matthews, who is in his third season as a Ranger. "It's been nice to be playing here in an organization that knows me and knows what I bring to the table." Matthews spoke highly of many aspects of the Rangers' organization, including his teammates, of the foundation for a winning team, of the offense and of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. The Rangers will have a two-week period of exclusive negotiating rights following the World Series to try to get a contract extension done with Matthews (and all their free agents) through his agent, Scott Leventhal. Matthews did not rule out getting something done in that time.

The Pirates likely will look to lock up some arbitration-eligible players to long-term deals, but a new contract for Freddy Sanchez is "nothing we're worried about right now," said Kevin McClatchy -- even if Sanchez wins the National League batting title.

Reggie Sanders signed a two-year, $10 million contract before this season. He hit .246 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs before a knee injury took him out in August. He’ll be 39 next season, and while he’s been what the Royals paid for, the team could try to trade or even release him to create space on the roster. ... Emil Brown could be traded or end up in a platoon with the left-handed hitting Shane Costa.

When asked by the Tribune-Review this past weekend if he planned to sell his interest in the 120-year-old franchise, which his ownership group purchased Feb. 14, 1996, McClatchy's words did little to detract from suspicion that these were his final days with the Pirates. "I'll comment on my situation after the season," McClatchy said. "That includes my ownership share and my job as managing general partner." McClatchy's refusal to say whether he's staying with the Pirates has sparked uncertainty among those close to him within the organization. For every team official who has confided he or she does not expect McClatchy to return, there is somebody who pleads honest ignorance as to McClatchy's true intentions.

The move seems to lessen the chance that Joel Pineiro will be in Seattle in 2007. The Mariners own his rights, but he makes $6.8 million and is arbitration-eligible. If he doesn't figure to be in the rotation next season, it seems extremely unlikely that he would be offered salary arbitration, because relievers who aren't closers don't make anywhere close to that kind of money.

Until it's known how much money Toronto has to work with, it shouldn't be expected that the Jays would be able to make serious runs at obtaining top-tier free-agent pitchers like Oakland's Barry Zito or San Francisco's Jason Schmidt.

With catching at a premium these days, the Cubs may be hard-pressed to re-sign Henry Blanco as a backup to Michael Barrett. Blanco, a free agent, was hitting .070 in 43 at-bats on June 1. Going into Monday's game, he was hitting .329 since June 1. Blanco has also thrown out 38.9 percent of attempted base-stealers, which would lead the National League if he had more playing time.

Kevin McClatchy believes Jim Tracy is still the man to lead the Pirates out of the dark waters in which they have sailed since 1993. Though there seemed no doubt otherwise, McClatchy said Tracy will return in 2007. So, too, will general manager Dave Littlefield, mostly because McClatchy is pleased with the way he believes Littlefield has built up the farm system.

The Angels are nearing the end of a second consecutive season in which they'll finish near the bottom of the American League in runs, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks, so naturally, fingers are being pointed at Mickey Hatcher. ... Hatcher can stand the heat. "I'd rather they blame me than the players," he said. But he's tired of a common theme to the complaints — that he is somehow encouraging the Angels to be overly aggressive, to disregard working counts, to slap the ball instead of drive it. "People who say we teach our guys to slap — that's a farce," Hatcher said. "Our philosophy is simple: see a ball, center it up and hit it. Whatever the situation or count, whether it's a hit-and-run or if a guy is in scoring position, stay to center field and hit a line drive. "I can't guide the ball for these guys. I can't go up there and make a guy walk. Our philosophy must be all right, because we won a World Series in 2002 and went to the playoffs the last two years."

Excoriating himself as he came off the field after retiring L.A. in the first inning, with the Padres still leading 4-1, Jake Peavy heard Mariano Duncan's voice as the coach ran behind him toward the Dodgers dugout. “He said, 'We're gonna get your (expletive), you stupid cocky (expletive),' ” said Peavy. “That's it, verbatim, with that little Dominican twang. I didn't even know who the guy was. But that's one classless individual . . . “I'd love for him to come to San Diego Fight Club, where we train sometimes, so we can settle it there.”

Veteran reliever Mike DeJean, who made only one appearance this season before undergoing shoulder surgery, plans to begin a throwing program soon and insists he will be ready without limitations in spring training. The question is, for whom will he be pitching? He has a mutual option next season with the Rockies. Said DeJean: "I plan on pitching two or three more years. And I want to retire a Rockie."

The Yankees want to see if Gary Sheffield can be an option at first base in the playoffs. Torre said he would rather use Jason Giambi as the designated hitter. Sheffield had surgery in June to repair a torn ligament in his left hand. The Yankees hold a $13 million option on him for next season. Sheffield knows he will be more attractive as a free agent if he can play first. “The more positions you play, the more people want you,” Sheffield said.

Pitcher Kyle Lohse is eligible for arbitration after the season and hopes he and the Reds can come to a contract agreement before it gets to that. Asked if he had heard anything, he said, "No, but I never do. They always wait until the very end with me, make me sweat." Of course, he has never negotiated a contract with the Reds, but he has with Krivsky, who negotiated contracts for the Minnesota Twins before he came to the Reds. And Lohse pitched for the Twins then. Asked if he'd like to stay with the Reds, Lohse, said, "You always want to be where you are wanted."

Phillies setup man Arthur Rhodes, whose season likely ended Sept. 9 due to a strained tendon and sprained ligament in his left arm, said yesterday he will not have surgery if it is recommended. "I'll just exercise real hard, try to get back," said Rhodes, 36. Of the injury he said: "It was one pitch. It was like my arm broke." A free agent after this season, Rhodes is 0-5 with a 5.32 earned run average.

Padres GM Kevin Towers and Bochy are under contract next season, but the contracts of several others in the organization are to expire Oct. 31. Towers said he expects that department heads such as scouting director Bill “Chief” Gayton, international scouting supervisor Randy Smith and field coordinator Bill Bryk will be issued contracts for 2007. Towers said he also expects to issue contracts to all of Bochy's coaches (hitting coach Merv Rettenmund has a contract for 2007). “We've probably made all of the changes we're going to make,” Towers said.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, appearing this Sunday as a guest on FSN's Chris Myers Interview, asked about his old school attitude with today's young players. "I think baseball has changed. The new players, or the kids, changed because we let them change. It’s our fault to let those kids do whatever they want to do, and they think they’re bigger than the game, they think they’re a big shot because they’re a first round or second round pick and make that much money and they’re only 17 years old and made it to the big leagues."

The Yankees are lining up Mike Mussina as the No. 3 starter for the AL Division Series but are undecided on an order for Randy Johnson and Chien-Ming Wang in Games 1 and 2. Mussina is scheduled to pitch next Sunday at Tampa Bay, then Sept. 30 against Toronto. That would put Mussina on five days' rest for Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs.

When Aaron Hill arrives at the ballpark, there's one thing he knows for sure: his name will appear in Toronto's lineup. Whether that means he'll be starting at second base or shortstop doesn't really matter to him at this point. "Last year, I was playing every other day sometimes," Hill said on Sunday. "This year, I'm playing every day so, obviously, there's no complaints." That's not to say that Hill will feel the same about the situation in the future. For now, Toronto's middle infield issues have dictated that Hill move between second and short. That's why the sophomore infielder has accepted his current role as a two-position player. "Eventually in my career, I don't want to be a guy who goes back and forth. They know that," Hill said. "But under the circumstances -- I'm young and I can play both positions -- whenever I see myself in the lineup, I'm going to go out there."

The cost of attempting to defend a 2005 World Series title amounted to an additional $25 million in player payroll for the White Sox. So it probably wasn't surprising, with the Sox in third place in the American League Central, that announcer Ken Harrelson said on the air Sunday the Sox were underachieving. And general manager Ken Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen didn't dispute those comments. "The position we're in, we've earned it," Williams said Monday, acknowledging that teams have come after the Sox. "We've earned it by not being consistent in many facets of the game. That's across the board. Again, if there is such a thing as a team sputtering to a 90-whatever win season, this is an example of it. "If we rally ourselves, like we rallied ourselves at the end of last season, we still have the talent to carry us through. It's very important that we stay positive, come out and leave it all on the field."

Reaching age 30 in March was a wakeup call for Paul Konerko. Specifically, it was a message for the White Sox's first baseman to pay extra attention to his back this winter. Konerko acknowledged he might have to do more maintenance work in the off-season, the result of the daily baseball grind that has led to soreness and caused him to miss Sunday's game at Oakland. Konerko declined to be more specific about his off-season work, deferring questions to trainer Herm Schneider.

Matt Cain leads all National League rookies with 13 wins, 163 strikeouts and a .208 opponents' batting average. With his team pushing for a playoff spot, he has gone 5-0 with an 0.21 ERA over his last six starts. In some seasons, he would have been a mortal lock to win Rookie of the Year, but not in 2006. To better Cain's odds against some golden competition, the Giants are thinking about launching a modest campaign on his behalf by e-mailing a reminder of his accomplishments to the writers who will vote for the award.

It's official: Rich Harden will make his first start in more than three months Thursday at the Coliseum. Harden, who has been out with a sprained right elbow ligament, will be on a 60-pitch count, which should translate to about four innings or so. Manager Ken Macha said the team has options "A, B and C'' to fill in afterward, depending on the situation in the game.

Since the break, the Pirates are 33-27, and a contributing factor in that "surge" has been more efficient work by the starters. At the break, Zach Duke averaged 6.2 innings per start. Since the break, he has averaged 6.5 innings per start. Paul Maholm improved from 5.7 innings per start to 6.2. Ian Snell went from 5.6 to 6.2.

Padres GM Kevin Towers is happy he traded backup catcher Doug Mirabelli to the Red Sox. “He called (Dave) Roberts (when Mirabelli was traded) and said, 'I guess I'm getting called back to the big leagues,' ” Towers said before Monday's game with the Dodgers. “I'm glad I didn't hear that. . . . I don't miss him. These guys don't miss him.” Towers says he received more calls from Mirabelli than from any other player during his tenure, and that the complaints were ceaseless. “He was (upset) when we got Piazza,” Towers said. “ . . . He was (upset) because Rob Bowen was hitting in a group with Piazza and it should have been him. . . . “The Sunday before the trade, Mirabelli was calling my phone like 5-6 in the morning. I finally get to (Petco) Park . . . I get into the clubhouse and he says, 'KT, can we have some private time?' ” When they were alone, Towers said, Mirabelli told him the Padres might want to start Bowen behind the plate against the Dodgers that day, “because I'm not focused on the game.” “I said, 'What?' ” Towers recalled. “He said, 'My boys, the (Red) Sox have been calling me. I got to tell you, it's all I watch on TV; all I think about is the Red Sox. Do me a favor and you guys a favor (and make a deal).”

Jason Jennings' fingerprints are all over the Rockies' record book. From victories to games started, Jennings ranks first. But as he pitches tonight, a mark sits within reach as significant as any he has accomplished. Jennings has a 3.61 ERA, a tick better than the Rockies' 3.66 starter record established by Joe Kennedy in 2004. "That would mean a lot," Jennings said. "I know the park is playing differently, but it's still not an easy place to pitch."

As suspected, Eric Milton's season is over, even though the pitcher will have his elbow examined again sometime this week. Milton already said he sees no reason to try again, and Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron said Chris Michalak will take Milton's final two turns in the rotation.

With Rodrigo Lopez experiencing minor soreness in his pitching arm, the Orioles have decided to keep struggling rookie Hayden Penn in the rotation for at least one more start. Penn will start tomorrow's series finale against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo acknowledged that he went both ways on the decision before choosing to give Penn another opportunity. In three starts, Penn is 0-3 with a 27.00 ERA. A 21-year-old right-hander who is one of the organization's top pitching prospects, Penn has given up 24 hits and 22 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Reversing what he said Sunday, and explaining why he said it, Tigers 2B Placido Polanco hasn't ruled out playing again this season. For that matter, he's not even ruled out playing in Kansas City on the second stop of this road trip. "I regret I said it," Polanco said about the sudden pronouncement about his season being over. Suffice to say, it was a statement that caught the Tigers' hierarchy off guard. There was no team announcement on the matter, because there was no announcement to make.

Did You Know? Boston's Josh Beckett, who opposes Johan Santana on Thursday, has 15 wins in each of the past two seasons, making him one of only 11 big league pitchers with 30 combined victories the past two years. The others are Chris Carpenter (36), Jon Garland (35), Santana (34), Randy Johnson (34), Roy Oswalt (33), Dontrelle Willis (33), Cliff Lee (30), Andy Pettitte (30), Brandon Webb (30) and Barry Zito (30).

Something that will not change for 2007 will be the Pirates payroll, which Kevin McClatchy said is expected to remain in the mid-to-upper $40 million-range. "It's going to remain the same regardless of ticket sales, but I think it's a number that can float a little bit," McClatchy said.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, appearing this Sunday as a guest on FSN's Chris Myers Interview, asked about what he expects from his players: "I don’t want anybody who’s bigger than the game, I don’t want anybody who thinks they’re better than the rest of the guys. I don’t have too many rules in the game. I have a couple of rules, and I expect them to go by my rules." "I’m the nicest guy to play for, but I’m the meanest son of gun to play for because the expectation from me of my players is high. I want my players to play every day with the expectation to win. Obviously, that’s not going to happen every day, but I want the best out of my players."

In the eyes of Rays manager Joe Maddon, the only reason to activate All-Star pitcher Scott Kazmir from the disabled list with 12 games left in the season would be to give the 22-year-old a chance to gain confidence heading into the offseason. Kazmir, sidelined since Aug. 22 with a sore shoulder, had his first throwing session in 10 days, making 40 pitches off flat ground before Monday's game. Following the Devil Rays' 4-1 loss to Baltimore, the team announced it was shutting down Kazmir for the remainder of the season.

The champagne on his clothes wasn't even dry and Mets general manager Omar Minaya already was thinking about the future. And not the immediate future, as in October. "Our goal is not to win the division one year, we hope we can do this for years to come," the GM said. "This is a first step. ... I'm happy for guys like Paul Lo Duca, Carlos Delgado, Pedro (Martinez), who trusted and took my word that we'd do the best we could to win, and Carlos Beltran, who took my word that we were going to be here. I just feel this is a great, good night, and look, the most important thing was ownership. Ownership has given me the resources to go out and get the players. They believe in my plan. But it's not about one person, it's about the team. It's a 'we' concept."

Trying to figure out Jimmy Rollins' optimal spot in the lineup is understandable these days, thanks to the Phillies leadoff man's 21 home runs and 71 RBIs. Charlie Manuel, stressing that he wants Rollins to not concentrate on hitting homers, nonetheless acknowledged that batting Rollins second, sixth or seventh has appeal because "it means we have a stronger lineup." Manuel noted, however, that Rollins leads off because he is the player best-suited to do so.

Justin Morneau has been obscured on his own team by Johan Santana and Joe Mauer, but without Morneau the Twins aren't a playoff team. A Twins Cities writer says that Moneau should be the American League MVP.

Mets ace Pedro Martínez threw on flat ground, then had a light bullpen session, before last night’s game, and Willie Randolph reiterated that he expected Martínez to start Game 1 of the division series. “He’s to me our best pitcher when he’s right,” Randolph said. “And I’m assuming he’s going to be right. His track record, his résumé, everything.” Martínez is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Florida and next Wednesday in Atlanta. “If he gets through the next two starts feeling good, feeling strong, he’s got my vote,” Randolph said.

Chipper Jones took batting practice Monday and hopes to be in the lineup Tuesday against the Washington Nationals when he's first eligible to come off the disabled list. Although an opening wasn't needed because of expanded rosters, the Braves put the third baseman on the DL as part of their attempt to have insurance cover part of Jones' $11 million 2006 salary.

Gary Sheffield is practicing at first base because while he was out with left-wrist injuries, the Yankees traded for Bobby Abreu to play right field. If Sheffield can handle first, Jason Giambi would be the designated hitter, Hideki Matsui could play left field and Melky Cabrera would go to the bench. It would leave the Yankees with a ridiculously deep lineup for the postseason -- if the they are okay with playing Sheffield at first base in a crucial game. "If we feel comfortable that he can play the position, I don't think that's an issue," manager Joe Torre said. "But again, we have to see something that'll make us feel that way."

White Sox GM Ken Williams begrudgingly gave credit to the A's Frank Thomas for slugging two clutch homers against his former team last weekend in Oakland. "You have to tip your hat to Frank for rising up to a big game for his team and the occasion. Hats off to him in that respect. He's one of the greatest talents the game has seen. "Aside from my personal feelings on the other end of things—everybody knows how I feel about that, but on this end of the things, on the baseball field, he's a special guy."

Orioles' owner Peter Angelos said he will speak to Nationals ownership about offering tickets for Nationals games in Baltimore and for the Nationals to offer Orioles tickets in Washington. At the crux of this partnership, Angelos said, could be a joint team store that could be opened in Washington serving both fan bases, where tickets and Orioles and Nationals merchandise could be offered. "That's our goal," Angelos said. "We have discussed that not in too much depth with [Nationals President] Stan Kasten and the new ownership, but we fully intend to do that as soon as the season is over."

Ned Yost the Milwaukee Brewers manager will be sharing his thoughts soon with general manager Doug Melvin, as will members of the Brewers coaching staff. And those discussions promise to be frank. "Doug gets everybody's opinion on players' ability, makeup, where they fit in the grand scheme of things," Yost said. "It's about if a player fits in, if it's somebody we want to move forward with, or does a change need to be made." Yost said the sessions - Melvin meets individually with Yost and members of the coaching staff - will take place during the next two weeks.

C.C. Sabathia, the ace of the Indians' staff, loves to come home to Northern California and pitch against the Oakland Athletics; never mind that his career record at McAfee Coliseum is 1-1 with a 7.01 ERA. ``I don't know the stats,'' he said Monday. ``I'd prefer not to know.'' Sabathia will make his sixth career start here Thursday, a performance that will give the A's a spike in attendance. When Sabathia pitches here, he can expect to attract a personal following of between 50 and 150. His mother, Margie, will be here for sure. Probably uncles, aunts, cousins and boyhood friends as well. ``They'll probably all be here, but it's not as big a deal as it used to be,'' Sabathia said.

The Oakland A's ended negotiations that might have kept the baseball team in McAfee Coliseum until 2013. The team said Monday it broke off talks with the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, which operates the stadium, over a lease extension.

The Braves had a few anxious moments on the flight from Atlanta to Dulles International Airport on Sunday night after their Delta Airlines charter had issues with the hydraulic system controlling landing flaps. They made it without incident. "They had the fire engines out, but there wasn't even a bump," Cox said. "It looked like the Nationals might be in fourth place for a minute," joked broadcaster Skip Carey, noting Washington's position in the NL East standings behind the Braves. "I drank one of those little bottles of vodka after they made the announcement," admitted Cox, smiling at himself.

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NFL Rumors & Notes

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Perhaps concerned with their depth at safety after Artrell Hawkins (thigh) missed Sunday's game and James Sanders was injured on the opening kickoff and didn't return, the Patriots worked out three defensive backs yesterday: Brent Alexander, Keion Carpenter, and Lance Schulters.

Vikings coach Brad Childress did not say how he planned to replace Erasmus James. His options include moving Darrion Scott or rookie Ray Edwards into a starting role. Scott started 15 games at end last season, after Kenechi Udeze hurt his knee in the third game and had season-ending surgery in October. The Vikings also could look at free agents. Among those available is Michael Haynes, Chicago's first-round pick in 2003. He was let go by New Orleans last week after a brief stint with the team. His agent, Brian Mackler, said Monday that the Vikings had not called about his client.

There appears more of a likelihood that Tennessee QB Billy Volek will be dealt away to San Diego, Kansas City or Oakland than there is of him ever throwing another pass as a Titan again.

The injury to QB Aaron Brooks means Andrew Walter is the Raiders starting quarterback against Cleveland. He has not started a game in his two-year NFL career. Shell said he won't rule out the possibility of re-signing veteran Jeff George or some other proven quarterback between now and the Browns game. George signed late in training camp but was released four days later. Marques Tuiasosopo is the only other healthy quarterback on Oakland's 53-man roster. ... Shell made it clear that Brooks isn't in jeopardy of losing his job. Brooks will return to the starting lineup whenever he is cleared to play again, Shell said.

The biggest target for Miami's 0-2 start continues to be the quarterback, the highest-paid player on the team, the one whose acquisition this offseason drove ticket sales. Daunte Culpepper. ''I'm just going to continue working,'' Culpepper said Monday, ``and do everything I can to get better.'' There is obviously room for improvement, and though Nick Saban isn't thinking about benching Culpepper now, the debate isn't utterly ridiculous to the coach. ''No,'' Saban said about a change now. ``We need to give our quarterback a chance to make plays and when he has an opportunity to make plays, there are things he needs to do a little better. I think you can say that about every position. ``I also think there's a certain level of performance we need to get from every position and if we're not going to get it at certain positions, we would consider making changes.''

Asked Monday if he considered replacing the struggling Jake Plummer at quarterback with rookie Jay Cutler - not as a permanent move but as a temporary spark - Broncos coach Mike Shanahan slightly paused but never flinched. "Uh, no," he said. "It's going to be constant. It happened last year. It happened when John Elway was here. It happened in San Francisco with Joe Montana and Steve Young. This is football and it is great. It's great for talk radio, it's great for TV, but Jake has won a lot of games. Just because we started off a little slow, just like we did last year, doesn't mean it's the end of the world."

The Bucs are moving forward with Chris Simms though it seems his development as a quarterback has taken several steps backward. A week after piling on his 26-year-old passer, Jon Gruden indicated coaches and players need to rally around him. “I worry about everyone’s confidence when things don’t go good,” Gruden said Monday. “We’ve got to do a great job of rallying around (Simms) as a staff. I know our football team will do that. He’s got to take responsibility to get better and I know he will. “I have a lot of respect for him and his resolve. I expect him to come back raring and ready to go this week.” ... Gruden acknowledged the Bucs might have misjudged how far Simms had progressed.

There is no new timetable for Terrell Owens' return. As of Sunday night, it was two to four weeks, and Parcells wasn't guessing when Owens would come back. With the Cowboys in the start of their bye week, there is no need to push it. If Owens can function with the plate, he may not miss a game. Parcells said he could not recall having a receiver play with that injury. Right now, the early thought is Owens will miss the Cowboys' next game, Oct. 1 in Tennessee against the 0-2 Titans. And that he will return in time to play the following week's game: Oct. 8, in Philadelphia. "No, that wouldn't shock me," one Cowboy official said with a smile. Owens has made no secret of his desire to play against the Eagles, and in Philadelphia. It's a nationally televised game on FOX, and it will be his first game in Philly since he became persona non grata there.

The best bet is for the team to sign a veteran cornerback, since the Eagles are perilously thin at the position. Donald Strickland, who was among the team's final cuts, is a possibility. Other veteran cornerbacks still on the market include Ahmed Plummer (San Francisco), Dwayne Washington (Kansas City), Willie Middlebrooks (Denver), Eric Warfield (Kansas City), and Tony Beckham (Tennessee).

Falcons coach Jim Mora said Monday that the team is still reviewing options at the field goal kicker position. Michael Koenen, who won the job by making 8 of 8 attempts in the exhibition season, has missed 6 of 8 in the two regular-season games. Todd Peterson, who made 23 of 25 field goal attempts last season for the Falcons, is available. Also, Paul Edinger, who's kicked for the Vikings and Bears, is a free agent. Peterson's agent, Michael Moye, tried to reach the team. "I left a phone message [Sunday] evening and have not heard back," Moye said. "Todd is game-ready and kicking great."

Houston, coached by former Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, could pursue WR Charlie Adams. Mike Shanahan also said Adams could be brought back to the Broncos in the future.

The Eagles are likely to sign another cornerback either today or tomorrow. The most obvious move would be to bring back Donald Strickland, who was among the Eagles' final cuts a few weeks ago and played three games with the team last season. One week after losing cornerback Lito Sheppard to a severe ankle sprain, the Eagles lost his replacement, Rod Hood, to a strained right heel.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli and offensive coordinator Mike Martz said last week WR Mike Williams had improved during practice. There is no plan to teach Williams a lesson, Marinelli said. "This is what we want," Marinelli said. "There's a certain standard we want in how we're doing business." Whatever the standards are, the Lions need more production from their wide receivers.

Going into the third game of the season, Texans QB David Carr finds himself in unfamiliar territory. His 123.7 passer rating ranks third in the NFL, but he knows it's tainted because of the fourth-quarter competition at Indianapolis. "I didn't even know that, but I'd trade it for two wins in a heartbeat," Carr said about his rating. Gary Kubiak defended Carr from critics who are singling out the quarterback as the reason for the 0-2 start. "We're all to blame," Kubiak said. "In the past two weeks his numbers are very good, but we're not after numbers.

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the union, said he plans to propose a rule that would prohibit agents from contacting players until after they have declared themselves eligible for the NFL draft. Under current union regulations and NCAA rules, agents are permitted to contact players at any point. But they're prohibited under union regulations from participating in any activity that could cause a player to lose his NCAA eligibility, such as signing a player to a representation contract while he's still playing college football or giving a player cash payments, loans or gifts. The NFL players' union is in charge of the certification and discipline of agents.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said the plan for now is to activate wide receiver Deion Branch for this week's game, and that Branch will share time at split end with Nate Burleson, while Darrell Jackson remains the flanker and Bobby Engram maintains his role as slot receiver. "Their roles won't change a great deal," Holmgren said of Jackson and Engram. Branch was picked up in a trade last week and not active for Sunday's game against Arizona to give him more time to learn the Seahawks' offense.

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis said he would play Sunday at Houston. After playing in the opener against Minnesota, Portis was inactive against Dallas and said in an interview during the game that he had injured his rotator cuff against the Vikings. "It wasn't that I did something to my rotator cuff. It just wasn't firing the way it was supposed to," Portis said. "Like the doctors said, it was natural after coming back from the injury I came from, playing in the game after not getting hit for four weeks, and that I was going to have soreness."

Chargers LB Shawne Merriman was not at the Chargers' light practice yesterday. A club spokesman said Merriman suffered a broken nose during an exhibition game and it was decided to re-set it yesterday. Merriman is expected to practice tomorrow.

Despite his breakout game against the Minnesota Vikings, rookie running back DeAngelo Williams will remain in a backup role for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “DeShaun Foster is still our starting tailback,” coach John Fox said Monday. “We feel good about all our running backs, in particular DeShaun and DeAngelo. Really, each game takes on its own personality and (DeAngelo) was making some plays, but so was DeShaun. “We ran the ball a little more effectively this past game than we did the week before. I think they had the same number of carries. That may not always be true, either. We try to spread the wealth in running the ball and I don’t look for that to change.”

Steelers coach Bill Cowher decided to activate newly acquired halfback Najeh Davenport and make Duce Staley inactive for the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers signed Davenport Sept. 8, the day after their opening victory against Miami and six days after he was released by the Green Bay Packers. Staley had knee surgery in August 2005 and was inactive for 11 regular-season games and did not play in the postseason. He missed six games with a hamstring injury in the second half of the 2004 season after he rushed for 707 yards in the first seven games. Staley, 31, agreed to a $1 million pay cut in March, and will receive a $1.5 million salary this season.

Bill Belichick was asked for his reaction to the intense scrutiny of his fleeting postgame handshake with New York Jets coach Eric Mangini following the Pats’ 24-17 victory. “I don’t care,” Belichick said. “Scrutinize it all you want. Knock yourself out.” The Pats coach went on to say he was more concerned with preparing his team for the game than anything that happened after. “Preparing the team to win, that’s what I care about,” he said. Belichick paused a beat before finishing with a good line. “Let me know the next time you see two coaches kiss out there on the field,” he said.

Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said he wasn't sure what he was going to do at defensive end other than to incorporate Jerome McDougle into the four-man rotation. McDougle, the Eagles' first-round pick in 2003, did not dress in the team's first two games. Johnson said he was not sure who he would start at defensive end. Darren Howard will likely remain at right defensive end, but Johnson said he was not sure if Trent Cole would be comfortable moving over to left defensive end.

Packers WR Koren Robinson will start to see more work in practice this week with the offense and get into the receiver rotation, coach Mike McCarthy said.

Although the Chiefs have yet to win in two games under Herman Edwards, they are making the transition to becoming a team in his image faster than anyone believed — Edwards included. Their once-forlorn defense has carried them in both games. Their once-mighty offense has floundered. The Chiefs are eighth in the league in total defense, 21st in total offense. They are 29th in points scored, 11th in points allowed. ... For the first time in years, going back to the days when the Chiefs were coached by Gunther Cunningham, their defenders have a reason to feel good about themselves. “This defense is going to be good,” linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “You started to see that (in Denver). The tables are turning around here.”

If the Ravens' defense is beginning to show shades of the unit that propelled the franchise to the Super Bowl title in the 2000 season, Brian Billick isn't prepared to make comparisons. "I can understand people doing that, but we're not going to do it," Billick said of the defense, which is ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed (152 per game) and take-aways (nine). "This is a different group of people, a different scheme, a different idea. You always pull back on your heritage a little bit, but there's no upside for us drawing too much into that, other than being very proud of the group that did what they did."

The Seahawks' center of the future has become the left guard of the present. Chris Spencer, who was drafted in the first round last year to eventually play center, will move into the starting lineup for Sunday's story line-laden matchup with the New York Giants because left guard Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack could be sidelined six weeks after spraining his right knee in the Seahawks' home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

Edgerrin James has never entered Week 3 of an NFL season still searching for his first 100-yard performance. In seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, James averaged 114 yards through two games. This season, his first with the Cardinals, he is averaging 68.5. Arizona coach Dennis Green explained James' lack of production during Monday's weekly news conference. In short, he said it's not the running back's fault. Too many sacks and penalties pushed the Cardinals into long-yardage situations in Sunday's 21-10 loss to the Seahawks in Seattle.

Falcons DE John Abraham, who missed Sunday's game after suffering a groin injury in the opener, is angling to return for the game at New Orleans on Monday night. "Abraham's already chomping at the bit to get in on Monday night," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "He's saying that he's going to be there. That's definitely going to be a game changer."

A picture hung in the Giants' locker room clearly showing the foot of Eagles LB Trent Cole in RT Kareem McKenzie's groin -- proof of the critical personal foul at the end of regulation. McKenzie, though, still insisted Cole's kick missed its target. "To the best of my knowledge," McKenzie said. "Unless I'm delirious."

Did You Know? According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Chargers were the first team since the 1977 Raiders to start a season with seven scoreless quarters on defense. And San Diego's streak of 60 unanswered points to start a season was the best since Detroit scored 78 straight to start the 1970 season.

Erasmus James is the third Vikings player to be lost this season because of a knee injury. Linebacker Chad Greenway (torn ACL in left knee) and safety Tank Williams (fractured left kneecap) were both placed on IR last month. Both were operated on by noted surgeon James Andrews.

When Dolphins guard Bennie Anderson awakes from surgery to repair his torn triceps today, doctors likely will know whether he will miss the remainder of the season, his agent said Monday. But based on the recent luck of his position, it is becoming difficult to have an optimistic outlook these days. The Dolphins already have lost three other right guards to injuries. Two of those players -- Seth McKinney (neck) and Joe Toledo (knee) -- have been moved to injured reserve.

Patriots personnel blocked CBS cameras from filming running back Corey Dillon after he appeared to hurt his shoulder in the waning minutes Sunday. Dillon looked fine at his locker after the game and didn’t appear to be favoring any injuries yesterday. “A lot of guys had some bumps and bruises after the game,” Belichick said. “We’ll go out there (tomorrow) and see how everyone is, do the injury report (tomorrow). That’s how we always do it.”