NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Lions and their top draft pick have reached a deal. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, has agreed to a five-year contract worth a base of $60 million with a maximum of $68 million. The contract includes $40 million in guaranteed money for the former Nebraska standout. The deal comes days after the draft’s No. 1 pick, Sam Bradford, inked a six-year deal worth a reported maximum of $86 million – $50 million in guaranteed money.

For the Seattle Seahawks, the third day isn’t the charm.  Nor is the fourth.

According to Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com, Aaron Curry missed out on his third straight practice.  The absences stem from headaches caused by what 710 ESPN Radio in Seattle called a concussion he suffered Saturday.

As for the fourth?  That’s the total days rookie left tackle Russell Okung has missed thus far while his representation tries to come to reach an agreement on a contract with the Seattle Seahawks’ front office.  Okung is one of two players selected in the first round of April’s Draft that has yet to sign a contract.  The other is Buffalo running back C.J. Spiller.

The Seahawks were given tomorrow off by head coach Pete Carroll and will return to the practice field Thursday.  The team will have two practices.

Can't get enough NFLGridironGab?  Follow SeahawksGab Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen.

Well, you knew at some point someone would actually talk to Brett Favre, and while that hasn’t happened, how about a text.

That’s about the best anyone can get, and that person to talk to Favre is former coach Steve Mariucci. The former Niners and Lions coach says that despite all the hoopla on Tuesday, no decision has been made as of yet.

It’s eerie to realize how much difference a year doesn’t make in the world of Favre Watch. Even so, there’s still no better source on Brett Favre around the NFL than our own Steve Mariucci. Mariucci has been texting back-and-forth with Favre on Tuesday, and delivered this message: “Everyone needs to calm down a little bit.”

According to Mariucci, Favre told him he’s simply trying to get healthy and has no timetable from the Vikings to report to training camp. Not only that, the Vikings would prefer if Favre waited until he was fully healed and then show up to Eden Prairie, similar to what he did last year. “Right now his ankle is improving,” Mariucci told NFL Network.

“It’s not where it needs to be yet. Obviously that probably can affect your conditioning level, if he can’t run as he could last year, with just the shoulder injury. So really, he hasn’t retired officially yet. He’s trying to see where his ankle goes, still. He hasn’t told anybody officially, ‘I’m done.’ He’s been hopeful to see if he can be healthy, but he’s not quite healthy yet. There’s no press conference, there’s no announcement, there’s nothing imminent. He just simply has another week or so to see if his ankle does continue to improve, and then see if he can do it again.”

Mooch seems to have the ear of Favre, and while many said from the moment it first broke that Favre indeed would be back, this latest almost seems to clinch it. Until he decides to retire…then un-retire…then retire..unretire….you get the point.

Truly upset, undoubtedly convicted beyond words!  Really?  Appalled to hear because of Favre’s retirement, this team will be fortunate to achieve a .500 record!  Mind-boggling!  Did Adrian Peterson call it quits?  Shocked, yet for some reason I understand the media’s stupidity.

I mean, this squad only has the best RB, defensive line, four standout pass-catchers, and one of the best home field advantages.  That’s it.  Other than that?  Ridiculous!  Preposterous!  Where’s the love for the #4-less NFC runner-up Minnesota Vikings?!?  Oh, and by the way, he’s still going to play.  100% sure he’s the QB.

1. Adrian Peterson’s Record-Breaking 2010: Adrian’s setting the league on fire!  Without Favre expect over 2,000 yards and 20+ touchdowns.  Chris Johnson said he’s going for 2,500 and MVP honors, “All Day” is eclipsing Eric Dickerson’s 1984 mark of 2,105 rushing yards.  People tend to blow-up his fumbling woes, and in doing so, forget how great he really is.

This kid is special and the more he has the rock the more you can expect from the Vikings, thus, the better the year they will have.  Speed, power, and the wherewithal to make things happen -now sit back, relax, enjoy and watch it all unfold.  “History In The Making”

2. Green Bay’s Over-Hyped, Detroit’s Just Not There Yet, Chicago Proves No Challenge: The competition isn’t all that strong.  I believe you have more of a sure thing in the Vikings than you do the field.  They have an identity on both sides of the pigskin.  They run the ball and they stop the run.  They are consistent, efficient.  Simply, the line of scrimmage is theirs.  They do what they do best.

Gotta love their strengths -they overwhelm their weaknesses.   They easily have what it takes to earn 10 or 11 wins.  Maybe 12.  Green Bay is up one moment, down the next.   Detroit is still very, very young.  Chicago is just Chicago, they are not a factor.

3. Dome Sweet Dome: In the Metrodome since 2007  they have only lost six games, just two by double digits.  Home crowd is always absurd. One of the toughest venues for opposing teams to visit and notch a victory.  Eight games in 2010.  They were unbeaten last season.

I like their chances at home.  Its one of the many reasons this team is so tough to beat.  And when you get them outside comfort, they possess the style to win.  Playing on the road actually benefits their scheme minus Favre.    

4. Rallying Around Tarvaris: Ability to make plays with feet, excellent supporting cast, and mentality to prove critics wrong. I believe Tarvaris is more than just a caretaker.  He has the talent to prolong plays and lead scoring drives, especially when you consider the weapons and their knack to pick up extra real estate after the catch/first contact.

Skill is not a question.  If he’s ready for the challenge like I know he will be, the sky’s “still” the limit for the 2010 Minnesota Vikings.  No pressure.  He’s been waiting for the opportunity.

They seem to be dropping like flies out at Lehigh University this year and it is quite discouraging. However, are the injuries we're currently seeing with the Eagles anything we should be terribly worried about?

There have been a number of Eagles players missing sessions, days, etc. at Training Camp since the full team reported at the end of last week. These include a number of impact players like DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel. None of these injuries have been extremely serious (knock on wood), but they are happening in a quantity which makes you fearful.

I have always been torn about the way Andy Reid runs his Training Camp. The Eagles have one of the more physical camps and have a lot of contact drills. I believe this is necessary because the players need to get that feeling back after being away from it for an extended period of time.

It amazed me to watch the Hard Knocks series last year with the Cowboys and how they have a camp without contact. You can view this as a situation that may help cut down on a lot of injuries, but at the same time it is surprising.

Hopefully because these injuries are happening early, they won't happen later. It also let's the team be more cautious with all the injuries.

With none of the injuries seeming to be that serious, it appears that everyone should be able to bounce back. However, it's never good to hear that players are getting injured.

When Dez Bryant went down with a high ankle sprain late last week, the Cowboys were naturally worried about the consequences of losing their number one pick in the draft for the entire preseason. What was a bad situation has been lightened a little bit with the surprise play of some of the other young receivers in camp so far.

Two receivers seem to be taking advantage of Bryant's absence and stepped up a lot. Kevin Ogletree has been working really hard and has reminded the coaching staff of what they saw in him last year. He broke off a beauty of a touchdown catch against the number one defence on Saturday and has continued to play very well. He will be difficult to keep off the roster.

The biggest surprise so far for the receivers has to be Manny Johnson. Johnson, a seventh round pick out of Oklahoma in last year's draft, spent all of last season on the practice squad. Over the summer he dropped some weight and worked extensively with Dallas' strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek. Johnson is leaner and quicker at this year's camp. He has made some great plays and has got the attention of offensive co-ordinator Jason Garrett:

""He's made a number of plays. He really has, and really it's what he did in college when he got a chance to play. Again, a very productive guy. Maybe not always the flashiest guy, but finds himself getting open and then making competitive catches."

Praise like this will go a long ways in helping Johnson secure a roster spot in a very crowded receiver position. One thing is for sure, both Johnson and Ogletree will be looking to strut their stuff this Sunday against Cincinnati when Dallas plays them in the "Hall of Fame Game".

So as with anything in this world, good things must come to an end, Brett Favre is retiring again after a glorious season with the Minnesota Vikings.  There have been speculations throughout the 2009 season that he was going to retire from teammates, media and friends.

His announcement does not come to a surprise, but is he really done?  Can he really walk away from his passion, his love, his heart, for good this time?

Brett has been a rare diamond from day one. There has been so much love for Favre that when an opponent coach comments on how great you are, you know this is where you are meant to be.  Alabama coach Gene Stallings said, “You can call it a miracle or a legend or whatever you want to. I just know that on that day, Brett Favre was larger than life.”

That was said after his almost fatal crash in 1990 when he led Southern Miss to a comeback victory over Alabama.

Today, he still proves to be a legend and larger than life.

So where does he go from here, how do you stop and end an extraordinary book?

Favre has changed history, he has open doors and will forever be remembered as an admirable teammate, as a phenomenal player and an exceptional human being with amazing gifts.

His book may never end, only to advance and continue on to new opportunities.