NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Mark Buehrle talks at White Sox spring training about how relieved he is to have A.J. Pierzynski behind the plate, and also defends his comments he made regarding Michael Vick.

ESPN's NFC East blogger Matt Mosley had an interesting take on NFC East teams that could take a serious look at drafting Alabama running back Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner. While he mentioned that the Giants could be a potential landing spot if we were still available with the 19th overall pick (the Giants draft his father, Mark Sr., in 1987), he also had this to say about the Redskins selecting Ingram with the 10th overall pick:

There's also another NFC East team that might have some interest in Ingram. Everyone assumes the Redskins will select a quarterback with the No. 10 overall pick, but it wouldn't shock me if Mike Shanahan chooses Ingram. The Redskins left themselves exposed last season at running back and wide receiver. With the uncertainty surrounding free agency, there's more pressure than ever to land starters via the draft.

Ironically, since his days in college, Ingram has been most often compared to Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, in terms of his playing style. He doesn't necessarily have top-level speed, but he's a very effective downhill runner that patiently waits for his blocks to set up.

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Michael Vick was penciled in to conduct an interview on the Oprah Winfrey show, when his agent suddenly released that he was canceling the appearance. When I heard the news, I was a bit surprised, that Vick, who had given rather bland and non-descriptive responses to questions of his past, would agree to go do an interview with Oprah. There was a massive amount of speculation surrounding Vick, and why he had made the choice to back out and not go through with the interview.

Fox 29, based in Philadelphia, is now reporting that the Eagles forced Vick to cancel. A source reported to Fox that the Eagles had requested that Vick cancel the interview. The exact reason behind the cancellation is unknown, but Vick called in on the same day he received his franchise tag. Fox was contacted early Thursday morning by the Eagles organization, in which they denied that that the Eagles put any pressure on Vick to cancel.

An Oprah spokesman has released that Vick canceled due to, "personal reasons." Later on, Vick confirmed that he did cancel for personal reasons and did not reveal any more information. "I admire and respect Oprah and hope to be able to participate in an interview in the future," was a response that Vick gave when being questioned about his cancellation.

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Below is an updated list of Free Agent QB’s that will be out there for anyone to pick from.

Peyton Manning (IND) Franchised – Won’t be going anywhere, and will get a record deal from the Colts that should allow him to retire as a Colt and make a few more runs at a second Super Bowl.

Michael Vick (PHI) Franchised – Same as Manning, he won’t be leaving the Eagles, and we shall see if he can overcome some of the late season slump that cost the team a real Super Bowl run with a Wild Card playoff loss to Champion Green Bay.

Brett Favre (MIN) Retired – Says he’s finally stepping away for good, and let’s hope it stays that way.

Seneca Wallace (CLE) – Backup in Cleveland, and while he’d like to think he can start, more than likely he would make a decent backup for some squad.

Matt Hasselbeck (SEA) – The Hawks want him back for one more good run, and in the weak NFC West, there’s no doubt that they can make another playoff run with him under center.

Matt Moore (CAR) – Lost his starting job to Jimmy Clausen, another backup QB for some club, possibly the Panthers.

Alex Smith (SF) – Former first overall pick, time for him to move on and get a start elsewhere to see if he can produce like the Niners felt he was going to.

Matt Leinart (HOUS) – Another former first round pick, Leniart didn’t get much of a shot in Houston, and likely will look to see if there’s another team that would give him more of a chance to play.

Marc Bulger (BAL) – Didn’t see the field for the Ravens last year, and is aging and his window to play is starting to close. We’ll see if a team takes a flier on the former Rams gunslinger.

Todd Collins (CHI) – Was awful for the Bears, and may have seen his last chance to make any sort of impact when he came in and stunk up the joint in the NFC Title game.

Caleb Hanie (CHI) – The Bears love his upside, and he shined and almost was the hero in the NFC Title game. They will do what it takes to keep him around.

Other Free Agent QB’s

Brady Quinn (DEN)
Drew Stanton (DET)
Trent Edwards (JAC)
Luke McCown (JAC)
Brodie Croyle (KC)
Chad Pennington (MIA)
Tyler Thigpen (MIA)
Tarvaris Jackson (MIN)
Jim Sorgi (NYG)
Kellen Clemens (NYJ)
Kyle Boller (OAK)
Bruce Gradkowski (OAK)
Dennis Dixon (PIT)
Billy Volek (SD)
Troy Smith (SF)
Kerry Collins (TEN)
Rex Grossman (WAS)

1. Carolina (Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn)

- The Panthers gave up a first round pick for Everette Brown (DE) in 2009. The  presence of  Fairley should allow Brown to reach his potential as a pass rusher, while adding a player that Carolina can build their defense around.

2. Denver (Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU)

- Champ Bailey will likely not return and Peterson has the potential to be a younger, bigger, and stronger version. You can't let a shutdown corner get away without a replacement; a perfect scenario for the Broncos.

3. St. Louis [trade w/ Buffalo] (A.J. Green, WR, Georgia)

-St. Louis has a few needs, but none more than adding a dynamic playmaker for their young quarterback. A.J. Green can stretch the field and demand bracket coverage. The Rams trade their #14 (1^st), #47 (2^nd), #111 (4^th), & 1^st rd pick in 2012 (draft value chart).

Buffalo alternate: Marcel Dareus, DT/DE, Alabama

4. Cincinnati (Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson)

- With Bowers still on the board this would be an easy choice. Cincinnati ranked in the bottom five in sacks last season and Bowers immediately makes the entire front four more productive.

5. Arizona (Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M)

- I suspect the Cardinals will add a veteran quarterback either through trade or free agency, with their second need being a rush linebacker. I rate a few players higher, but none is more explosive than Von Miller from the snap.

6. Cleveland (Julio Jones, WR, Alabama)

- The Browns will be changing their defensive alignment and need players on both sides of the ball. I think it comes down to Alabama products Marcel Dareus or Julio Jones, with Jones winning out. New head coach Pat Shurmur is an offensive mind and will likely want an immediate weapon on the outside for Colt McCoy.

7. San Francisco (Marcel Dareus, DT/DE, Alabama)

- Quarterback is a need, but Jim Harbaugh has stated he would like to work with Alex Smith. The defense may be in transition and Dareus can be an impact player from either alignment.

8. Tennessee (Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri)

- New head coach Mike Munchak will need a quarterback to build around with Kerry Collins likely gone, as well as Vince Young. Wanting to avoid a quarterback prospect with character concerns, the Titans go with Blaine Gabbert.

9. Dallas (Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska)

- The Cowboys would be thrilled to land a player like Amukamara, and could use him at safety or cornerback. Terrence Newman has been a liability in man coverage, and at 31 years old could soon be leaving. Amukamara would be the best player on the board at this point. Defensive end is also a strong possibility.

10. Washington (Cameron Jordan, DE, California)

- The Redskins will need a quarterback, and may go that route, but they also need to replenish the defensive line with impact talent. Cameron Jordan can hold the edge while making every player around him better.

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According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports Cowboys Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson said Tony Romo has been to Valley Ranch four or five times since the end of the season to throw the ball. Wilson’s assessment:

“He’s throwing great,” Wilson said. “His delivery and velocity and revolutions and all that stuff is really, really good.

“As far as his throwing motion, it’s back to normal.”

Romo missed the final 10 games of the regular season with a broken left collarbone. In the 15-minute sessions Wilson wanted to see if he could spot anything unnatural in Romo’s delivery.

“He’s not having any concerns with that at all,” Wilson said. “And he’s back to playing golf and basketball.

“All of that is good for him.”

2007 NFL Defensive Player Of The Year Recipient

Two-time Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders, decimated by injuries throughout his entire career, has been let go by the Indianapolis Colts.

Sanders, only participating in nine games the past three campaigns, was scheduled to make a $5.5 million base salary with a $500,000 offseason workout bonus; this coming after being removed just three years from receiving NFL defensive player of the year honors.

Sanders, who tore the biceps muscle in his right arm during the first quarter of the season-opener, later had surgery and did not return for the Colts in 2010.

The two-time All-Pro selection was thankful about the opportunity to play his career in Indianapolis:

“I want to thank Mr. Irsay for the opportunity to play with the Colts,” Sanders said in the team statement. “I appreciate all he and the organization did for me throughout my career, and I always will consider myself a Colt. I want to thank the fans also for their great support. They played a big part in making my seven years with the team very rewarding.”

Since Leaving Ann Arbor, LaMarr Has Been Instant Impact For The Black & Gold

The AFC representatives officially slapped the franchise tag on passing rushing menace LaMarr Woodley Friday, a source told according to ESPN’s AFC North blogger James Walker.

Woodley, 26, was one of the NFL’s top bargains and playmakers last season, bringing in just $550,000 in the last year of his rookie deal. Including postseason play, Woodley registered 60 tackles, 13 sacks and two interceptions. He also become just the second Pittsburgh Steeler to put up double-digit sacks in three consecutive years, joining fellow standout James Harrison.

The former Wolverine, is expected to make about $10.2 million in 2011.

Have Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens had a falling out? It is hard to say but if the Tweets between the two indicate that might be the case. The Tweets begin with Ochocinco blaming T.O. for Carson Palmer wanting to leave Cincinnati or retire.

Judge for yourself in the series of tweets:

Chad: @terrellowens Man its your (expletive) fault my QB is retiring, I should whoop your (expletive) cause they're blaming me you (expletive) Diva!!!

Owens: @ochocinco I should whoop ur (expletive) 4 asking me 2 come 2 Cincy! Yeh it's my fault tht he's retiring but not if I woulda had 15 TDs instead of 9

Chad: @terrellowens (expletive) yo touchdowns we went 4-12 and now my QB is leaving and they blaming me, you taking 50% of the blame for this (expletive)!!!

Owens: @ochocinco And so much ur "Batman & Robin" idea!!

Chad: Cincinnati Bengals rock!!! Anybody that doesn't like us (expletive) you and the horse you rode in on!!! Who (expletive) Dey!!!

Owens: @ochocinco Where the hell was Robin all year?

According to Michael Lombardi of NFL Network, Richard Seymour’s $30 million contract eliminates the Raiders getting a deal done with Nnamdi Asomugha.

Lombardi said on Asomugha’s chances of signing, "I think slim and none, and I would favor none." It is now likely the Raiders will franchise tight end Zach Miller.

Asomugha will be a top free agent this offseason, and he will get a huge deal, something the Raiders can't really pay."