NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

I'm back from my winter hiatus, folks.  But like every other football fan, I have no idea when or if football will be back.  Despite a little bit of progress and positive signs here and there, we are less than a week away from a lockout.

So where do we stand?

Last Thursday concluded a string of seven consecutive days meeting in the prescence of a federal mediator with both sides agreeing to resume talks on Tuesday, three days before the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires.   After the 45 hours worth of meetings over the six day span, federal mediator George Cohen  released a statement saying:

"At the bottom, some progress was made, but very strong differences reamin on the all-important core issues that seperate the parties"

Now all of you, like me, are free to gather and discuss as many opinions and scenarios as you please but this situation boils down to being a lot more pessimistic than optimistic.  I've thought all along the longer this standoff between the NFL and the NFLPA goes and the closer we get to the CBA expiring, the messy and the worse this is going to be for everyone.

Cohen didn't specify the "issues" seperating both sides, but they're not hard to figure out: revenue, an 18-game vs. the current 16-game format, rookie wages and benefits for retired players.  The biggie seems to be about how exactly about $9 billion in annual revenues will be divided up.  It appears that the owners are asking for a much larger piece of the revenue pie over the last CBA agreement.  Shocking no one, that has been met with staunch resistance by the NFLPA.

Perhaps the most confusing disagreement is the push from the owners for an 18-game schedule instead of the regular 16-game season we currently have.

Click HERE to read the rest

Expect Bears To Address Defensive Tackle Position Via Draft

Bears GM Jerry Angelo stuck to his proclamation last Friday, concerning the NFC North Champions' agenda to issue a slew of roster changes this week.

The club went ahead Monday, letting go of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris; while ending the deals of linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (did not play in '10) and back-up offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer.

However, when asked about Harris last week, coach Lovie Smith traveled the other route:

"Every player that's on our roster right now fits into our plans," Smith said when asked specifically about Harris. "Every day I've been on the job, Tommie's been there. All those things will take care of themselves. Tommie has a contract with us. It's a little hard for me to talk about players that don't have a contract. Tommie has a contract with us."

Lovie seems to never disappoint us; whereas, Angelo is a "straight shooter" in every sense of the imagination.

Harris, the 14th overall choice in the 2004 draft, made three Pro Bowls and one second-team All Pro selection with the Bears. He started 90 of 104 career games for the Bears in seven seasons, but was dropped because of his sputtering performance and health.  In just six starts during the 2010 campaign, he produced only 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.  The former Sooner standout was due a $2.5 million roster bonus in June.

Count on the Bears upgrading the position left by Tommie in the Draft:

Angelo – "I made the statement that the defensive line position is very good again this year, it's probably as good or better than last year in part because of the underclassmen at that position."

Defensive tackles on the current roster: Anthony Adams (seeking extension), Matt Toeaina (signed new deal in December), and the emerging Henry Melton.  I wonder if Corey Wootton will receive an opportunity to play inside in 2011.  Nonetheless, watch the team to be aggressively active trying to better the guys next to Julius Peppers on the defensive line.

ProFootballTalk reports that Colin Kaepernick’s top throw was clocked on the radar gun at a galactic 59 MPH, putting him ahead of Ryan Mallett’s 58 MPH and Cam Newton’s 56 MPH.

Things to remember:

•Blaine Gabbert and Greg McElroy didn’t throw
•Taylor Potts wasn’t invited to the Combine, period
•This was measured in perfect indoor conditions, with signal-callers being able to step into the throw

Arm strength is big, though, for spreading out defenders and – especially in combination with a quick release – fitting balls into tight windows. This – more than a receiver or corner with a 2nd round grade running a great 40 – will open eyes among scouts.

Tagged are the known teams that interviewed Kaepernick at the Indianapolis Combine.

The Houston Texans said two weeks ago not to be surprised if the new defensive regime breaks mold of the 2010 third-worst defense.  Since then, word has come out about (2010 position – name) defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, outside linebacker Brian Cushing, defensive ends  Connor Barwin and Jesse Nading, cornerback Glover Quin.

The changes that general manager Rick Smith, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and linebackers coach Reggie Herring have announced all have been complemented with the possibility that some other moves are not made and the Texans will have to resort to the players' 2010 position.  For example, the Texans have interest in moving Glover Quin to free safety in 2011.  

That is, if the Texans can add the likes of a Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha, Cincinnati's Jonathan Joseph, Oakland's Stanford Routt, Washington's Carlos Rogers, Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor and Baltimore's Josh Wilson to their starting cornerback depth.  If the Texans are unable to upgrade at the position, Quin will likely stay at cornerback. However HoustonTexans.com reported that Rick Smith will be active again in the free agency:

Click HERE to read the rest

InsidePittsburghSports.com is reporting that Steelers WR Hines Ward is going to be part of the 12th season of “Dancing with the Stars,” which premieres on ABC on March 21st.

Ward, if he indeed becomes part of the show, follows behind a number of other NFL players that have been a part of the cast – including Jerry Rice, Chad Ochocinco, Emmit Smith and Jason Taylor.

Taping of the show takes place in Los Angeles, and the official announcement of who will be on the show will be made today.

Aaron Rodgers is being watched more closely than ever, and the NY Post spotted him doing the Oscar circuit recently over the weekend with Mila Kunis.

“Black Swan” beauty Mila Kunis was spotted flirting up a storm with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the Circa Hollywood Dominos Oscar party at the Sunset Tower Hotel on Thursday.

Spies report they “were seen mingling and sipping on Moet & Chandon Champagne at an outdoor table and seemed to keep to themselves until friends arrived.” Another source said Kunis was “very keen” on talking with the Super Bowl MVP, and he loved the attention.