NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Much attention has been given to the reports that Vikings starting left end Ray Edwards will not be signing his RFA tender until the last second, and thus will be skipping a number of offseason activities including the mandatory minicamp.

It is fully his right to skip these events hardly anybody blames him.  As everybody knows, fourth and fifth year players (such as Edwards) are getting a bum deal during this whole uncapped year thing.

I haven't weighed in on the topic too much, and frankly, it is because I don't see it as a real big deal.

Some people blame Edwards.  Some people blame the Vikings.  Some people blame the NFL and the Player's Union.

What do I think?  I think Edwards isn't worth the hype simply because he hasn't proven much to me.

Edwards played decently his rookie season, primarily as a backup.  However, for four games in 2007 he was suspended for violating the NFL's Steroid Policy, embarrassing himself and the team.

In 2008, he continued his loud-mouthed ways by predicting that the addition of Jared Allen would result in him easily beating the single-season sack record.  He got five, which landed him just a tad shy of the record.

Despite the advantage of lining up next to three Pro Bowl defensive linemen, Edwards still didn't come close to any record breaking numbers in 2009.  His "breakout" performance included 8.5 sacks, which was a personal best for him.

Here is a look at his career stats from NFL.com:

Cliff Avril.  Is that a name that you think should garner the type of publicity that Edwards has recently?  Probably not.  However, let us take a look at the relatively unknown third-year player's production while playing next to one of the worst defensive lines in football:

Now, while I show you this comparison to illustrate why I firmly believe Ray Edwards has not produced anything special in his time with the Vikings, I would be remiss if I didn't point out his postseason successes.

In two postseason contests, Edwards has managed eight tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles.

However, I firmly believe that a player that has yet to get double digit sacks, constantly runs his mouth, has been suspended, and whose productions rivals that of a relatively unknown Lion is by no means someone that will make or break your team.

If Edwards was indeed a defensive end with great value, then the Vikings probably would have at least given him a long term offer of some sort… which they didn't.

Meanwhile, Edwards will be skipping activities and allowing the competition (Brian Robison and Everson Griffen) the chance to see extended time with the first team and perhaps even push him for playing time.  If one or both of these guys ends up taking regular season snaps away from Edwards, then he may have just inadvertently kept himself from ever signing that giant contract that he has "put his life on the line" to earn.

My point here isn't to belittle any of Edwards accomplishments, or to rehash some negativities of the past, but rather to let you all know that this is a slow time of year and not to worry too much about how this thing is going to play out.

The Vikings will not trade Edwards.  Edwards will sign his tender after the mandatory minicamp (June 14^th).  Edwards will play for the 2010 Vikings.  And Edwards will probably get his wish and be a free agent in 2011 because the Vikings do not consider him much more valuable than the compensatory pick they would get in return.

Only Edwards has the ability to change how all this goes down.  And that can be changed by him having a lights out year with the Vikings in 2010, which can only result in everybody ending up happy.

So stop fretting so much about Edwards!

UP NEXT:  Why aren't people fretting about Brett Favre!?!  (just kidding)

Saw a post over at Big Blue View that got my dander up as they say — and wanted to offer an opinion.  Not that I'm known for doing such things of course…. but I digress.

In the wake of last season's bitter running game void that began with the departure of the 2008 super-group "Earth Wind and Fire" and ended with the demise of Brandon Jacobs' Juggernaut persona –  a few details have emerged that potentially shed light on what the Giants may have in store for their RB core 2010.

1) Jacobs' Knee Injury:  Just one day after 2009 seasons end, did we really need the press conference that delivered that jolting news?   ALL SEASON we figured as much.  The only thing we weren't sure about is WHEN it happened — it just so happened to be in the first damn game of the season.   Lesson learned, according to Brandon Jacobs.  Instead of trying to play through 16 weeks injured, rather than taking the coach's advice and taking 4-6 weeks off early on and getting the necessary procedure done — all the while being accused of tip-toeing up to the line and missing a 1,000 yard season and 4 ypc as predicted by the man himself. Lesson learned indeed.

We'll see what happens in game one of 2010, and whether or not Jacobs will get the bulk of the carries as the feature back for the majority of the game.  OR … will the Giants adopt a more dynamic strategy like they did toward the end of the season with relying on their #2 and 3 backs throughout the game instead of lengthy assignments across big chunks of game time.

I would argue that the more Jacobs plays in status quo downs — between the 30's– the less damage he's going to do in the red zone when they get there.  While Jacobs' damaging running style in years past had weakened up defenses' underbellies — going forward I think it only serves to weaken Jacobs' under carriage.  Since 2008 when Jacobs proved he and the Giants running game was for real, teams have adapted.  And one of the things they continue to do is lunge at Jacob's knees — and they are not going to stop doing that because he had an off year last year (due to an injury of the same nature).  It's clear what has to be done now — treat Jacobs more like a 2006 era battering ram, and less like an all-in-one featured back for the bulk of the game.  Particularly when there are other players on the team that are arguably more elusive, and equally as effective. This brings me to my next point and where Big Blue View fits in……

2) More touches for Ahmad Bradshaw:    Via Ed Valentine — one of our favorite stat sites Pro Football Focus has recently posted an article about rating the NFL's running backs on "elusiveness" and coined it their "Elusive Rating".

Cut to the chase — Ahmad Bradshaw is a top 10 back in terms of individual elusiveness and production.

Bradshaw is certainly in good company there…. and what's great about the ranking is it attempts to get rid of the offensive line effect – wherein the strength of the runner is tied to the strength of the guys blocking for them.   See?

The goal of this stat is to filter out the performance of back's blockers and solely focus on a runner's contribution.

Bradshaw is also in the top 10 most elusive after the CATCH

This is not to say I told you so — although admittedly it is always nice to have numbers to support what you've been saying for quite some time — but what this means for the Giants is that in Ahmad Bradshaw they have a very capable, dangerous, determined, and versatile young player that COULD be the feature back if they decided to give him that role.  And the numbers show that in a limited role with fighting injuries — he was still an elite back in terms of production.

Meanwhile — Derrick Ward fell off, big time.  Not that I wish Ward ill will or anything – I've just always preferred to see Bradshaw step out of the shadow cast by Ward and Jacobs.   And while Jacobs is going to continue to "get his money" as the #1 RB for the Giants, I would in my heart like to see Bradshaw escalate to a larger role with more responsibility.  I think he's earned it.

To those who will qualify this study with a more negative outlook on Bradshaw's numbers likely dropping with more involvement in the offense, more carries for a loss, more receptions broken up — fair enough.  But I still challenge you to think optimistically about Bradshaw's potential as a future all-in-one featured back for the Giants, and Jacobs being more of a compliment as the years go on.

Pewter Report says that director of pro personnel Doug Williams is gone from the club effective immediately. The loss of Williams is going to hurt the team, but it’s not too much of a shock with the team moving in another direction.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and director of pro personnel Doug Williams have mutually agreed that Williams will leave the team effective immediately. Williams had his contract up in early 2010, and he and general manager Mark Dominik agreed to keep him on and re-visit his status after NFL free agency and the draft. Williams had been with the team since 2004. As the director of pro personnel Williams coordinated the scouting and recruiting of NFL players. The previous five season under general manager Bruce Allen, Williams worked in the pro scouting department as a personnel executive.

There are lots of questions with the Eagles defense right now. To me, the biggest question surrounds the secondary right now. Out of the four positions, there are two shoe-ins and then a million other questions.

Asante Samuel and Quintin Mikell are the two obvious starters on the defense. However, there are no other guaranteed starters at this point. The Eagles currently look to have Ellis Hobbs starting at the other corner and Macho Harris starting at the other safety position. These guys may be listed as starters but there's not a whole lot of confidence in these guys at the moment and their jobs are definitely open to competition.

Marlin Jackson is a guy the Eagles brought in to compete for a starting safety position even though he played primarly corner for the Colts. Personally, I'd like to see him compete at both positions. If he is a better cornerback then Hobbs, then I think he should start rather than trying to fill the void at safety.

Other guys that could make a push for the starting spot at corner are Joselio Hanson and Dimitri Patterson. Both of these guys saw time on the field last year in sets where the Eagles needed extra defensive backs and also played on special teams. Trevard Lindley is a guy the Eagles just drafted but doesn't seem to have a shot at making a push for a starting position. He may make the team but not as a starting corner.

The battle for the open safety position should be a fun battle to watch in Training Camp. You have Macho who is slated as the starter and has supposedly bulked up trying to keep his spot against some heavy competition. He will compete against Quintin Demps (maybe not), Marlin Jackson, and Nate Allen.

The safety battle is interesting and I have the feeling that we may see multiple starters throughout the season. Ideally, I think the Eagles would like to see Allen eventually be the starter but I'm not sure if he'll be ready come the opener in September.

The Eagles would love to find some stability in the secondary after a rocky 2009 season. I'm hoping that somebody is ready to step up to the plate.

Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco may have dropped a hint via twitter that the Bengals may have interest in bringing in ex-Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell. He tweeted the following: “JaMarcus Russell, you on twitter, if not its cool ill see you in #minicamp, ooopsss, did I just leak that info.” Following up, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter tweeted back:: “Your team has called JaMarcus Russell, as have others. But there are no plans for him to be at any minicamps now.” Joe Reedy of The Cincinnati Enquirer just tweeted: “JaMarcus Russell’s agent just issued a nice and terse no comment when asked about the Russell to the Bengals rumors.”

The league of course is keeping close watch on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, and today NFL.com reports that the league is awaiting word on the QB after he was in treatment over a week ago.

The NFL is awaiting further word regarding evaluations of Ben Roethlisberger, a source with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday, after the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback finished league-mandated treatment last week. Roethlisberger completed a clinical evaluation, ordered by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell following sexual-assault allegations against the quarterback led to no charges in April, and there still could be a recommendation that he receive further treatment. Goodell will move in a reasoned, measured pace in deciding when Roethlisberger can return to the Steelers’ facility for offseason workouts. No decision is imminent, according to the source. Steelers officials expect the quarterback to be back for their upcoming organized team activity sessions next month (June 1-3 and June 8-10) at the earliest, but they haven’t been given a timetable or expectations from the league.