NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The Post this morning has reported that even though Jason Campbell as gone ahead and studied coach Shanahan's offensive playbook, he won't be showing up for voluntary minicamp any time soon. [via]

Although quarterback Jason Campbell declined to attend the voluntary minicamp, he has studied the plays the offense will run throughout the three-day session that is scheduled to begin around 10 a.m. today at Redskins Park, two people familiar with the situation said late Thursday night.

The Redskins recently sent Campbell, who has left town for a few days, the offensive script for the camp in an effort to keep him on pace with his teammates despite his absence, the sources said. Although players have said Coach Mike Shanahan's version of the West Coast offense is more sophisticated than what the Redskins used the past two seasons under Jim Zorn, some of the plays are similar, and both are word-based systems.

Apparently, Campbell is familiar enough with the new stuff that he should be able to catch up fairly quickly, or at least be up to speed by the next voluntary three-day minicamp that begins May 7. That is, if Campbell is still on the Redskins' roster by then.

Would you study up for a test and then make it clear to the teacher you don't intend to show up to take it?  That's essentially what Jason Campbell is doing by not participating in these voluntary workouts.  So why even bother cracking the books to begin with?  Just incase you have no other options?

Whether the players, or the players agents realize what's being said here through inaction… I'm not sure.  But what is perceived by the collective consciousness of the fans is that details of one's contract are more important than the teams collective goal to win.

And the message one sends by not attending the workouts, whether it be Campbell or Haynesworth – is this:

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS TEAM WINNING.

That may not be what players feel, say, or actually want to project in any way… verbally or non-verbally. But you know what?  ACTIONS speak louder than words.   Not showing up to put the time in on the field with your teammates is what matters.  Learning the new offense and getting as many reps as possible is what matters — and if you're honest with yourself then the process of trying to get better collectively as a team, whenever you have the opportunity to do so,  that is the priority. A leader does that.  A good quarterback does that.  A good teammate DOES THAT.

80% of success in life is just showing up — Woody Allen.

On this team, in this situation, when the needs are this dire — we should expect no less than 110% from the Redskins players.  To me, there is no excuse. Not being contractually obligated to participate is not an excuse.  And frankly, after what feels like 10 years of listening to Jim Zorn's excuses — I think most Redskins fans are SICK and TIRED of the bull. There's only one way you get back to having a winning team, and it's EXTRA effort from everyone, especially your team leaders.

Yes, Campbell got a bit of raw deal to start his career.  Talent with no offensive line.  It happened with newly signed San Francisco QB David Carr when he was drafted to Houston as well — every other play resulted in a sack. But the difference between Campbell and Carr is simple — extra effort.  If you go back and look at ANY given workout, any sideline chatter with the QB's, anywhere that Carr could have been – he was there.   THATS why he got signed again so quickly… he showed the ability to lead, be depended on, and the anxiousness to get out there and prove himself.

Contractual obligations may get you paid, but they don't get you championships.  Time to put in the extra effort and make the most of your opportunities. That's what winners do.

Mike Garafolo is reporting that South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul visited the Giants earlier this week. Pierre-Paul is projected to be a high first round pick.

I would not be a fan of a Pierre-Paul to the Giants. While Pierre-Paul has a world of talent, he is so raw. He's only played one season of major college football. He got by mostly on his athleticism, but that won't fly in the NFL.

Pierre-Paul is a classic boom or bust type, and the Giants aren't traditionally interested in those type of players. I think the Giants would be making a mistake in picking Pierre-Paul. For those interested, his prospect profile is here.

Garafolo also revealed, in that same article, some more players who visited the Giants. They are:   Duke Calhoun, WR, Memphis; O'Brien Schofield, LB, Wisconsin; Mitch Unrein, DE, Utah; and Phillip Dillard, LB, Nebraska.

That puts the known total of non-local visits at 15. You are allowed 30. Here are the 15 that we know of:

Penn State LB Navorro Bowman
Memphis WR Duke Calhoun
Nebraska LB Phillip Dillard
North Alabama LB Michael Johnson
LSU S Chad Jones
Penn State LB Sean Lee
Alabama LB Rolando McClain
Houston TE Fendi Onobun
Indiana (Pa.) S/KR Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul
Wisonsin LB O'Brien Schofield
Iowa CB Amari Spievey
Buffalo RB James Starks
William & Mary DE Adrian Tracy
Wyoming DE Mitch Unrein

While most of us are expecting safety, tight end, guard and wide receiver to be among the positions the team looks at early in this year's draft, Cincinnati has shown that it will always (a) stick to its draft board and (b) surprise us on draft day. That said, here are three positions the team could surprise and spend an early pick on:

Offensive Tackle

Let's say the second round rolls around and six receivers, five safeties and three tight ends are off the board, but somehow only five offensive tackles are gone. Where would you go with this pick? Look no further than 2006 for evidence of this position's potential. The Bengals had Willie Anderson and Levi Jones established as their tackles when taking Andrew Whitworth in the second round out of LSU.

Cornerback

With the cutting of Mike Mickens to make room, expiring contracts of Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, and Mike Zimmer saying he wants to upgrade the nickel corner position, signs point to the Bengals taking a cornerback in the draft's first three or four rounds this year. A schedule boasting the re-vamped Ravens (x2), Patriots, Saints, Colts and Chargers also begs for attention to be paid to spread offenses.

Running Back

Maybe I'm just praying Toby Gerhart falls to the third round comp and becomes a Bengal, but this situation reminds me a bit of 2004. Though Benson is a bit more proven than Rudi Johnson was at the time, the team had its bell cow and solid depth behind him (Kenny Watson then, Brian Leonard and Bernard Scott now). Benson, like Johnson, is entering a contract year and is another strong season from a really good pay day.  This is the kind of insurance/bargaining tool we've grown accustomed to seeing from Mike Brown.

File this story by James King of the Phoenix New Times under the "Why Not Go Ahead and Start a Rumor" heading.  Although King asserts that the "blogosphere" suggests that the "Arizona Cardinals are a likely team for the two-time Super Bowl champ," this could not be further from the truth.  There have been rumors swirling about the Steelers moving Roethlisberger, but there is absolutely no way he will be traded to the Cardinals.

King does note that "it seems that anytime a big-name quarterback becomes available — or in this case is rumored to be available — the sports gossip-junkies turn to the teams with the least-impressive quarterbacks and get the rumors started — remember all the Donovan McNabb talk a few weeks ago."  The problem is, however, that there doesn't seem to be any other source that even mentions Arizona as a possible team for Roethlisberger.

As if it wasn't already clear, the Cardinals announced Leinart as the starter, with Anderson backing him up.  St. Pierre, who still hasn't officially signed, is likely to be slotted at third on the depth chart.  In addition, the Cardinals have also made it clear they intend to select a quarterback at some point in next week's draft.  This leaves no room for a quarterback that has shown  a repeated and blatant disrespect for his team's welfare, league policy, and good common sense.