NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports there is no “drop-dead date” drawn up by league officials that would cancel the entire NFL season in the event that the current lockout extends into the regular season, commissioner Roger Goodell told Steelers season ticket holders this afternoon.

In his 17th such conference call held this spring with individual club’s season ticket holders, Goodell said the league and the teams are preparing to conduct a full 2011 football season but also are prepared if the lockout lasts into September or beyond.

“First, our objective is to have a full season, we scheduled a full season, we are planning for a full season and that’s our intent,” Goodell said. “If we’re not capable of doing that we will play as many games as possible and want to finish with the Super Bowl.”

Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers may be on his way out of town, but not before taking a swipe at fellow cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Rogers made an appearance with The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan this morning and indicated the he probably won't re-sign with Washington when he hits the free agency market when a new CBA is finalized.

"I ain't never discounting the Redskins, but my mindset right now is that it's time for a change," Rogers said via the station's official blogger David Elfin. "I don't think I've been as appreciated as I should be in that organization, not by everybody. I've always been the No. 2 corner, but I'm the one they put on a guy they want to shut down." Rogers went even further when elaborating on his comments with ESPN 980?s Chris Russell, taking a veiled shot at Hall. "I wasn't the corner that gave up the most TD's or yards or first downs," Rogers said, "but I'm the corner that is looked at [as] the 2nd corner, [that] I need to be replaced." Rogers was given a chance to retract his comments, but declined. "I don't care. I ain't say nothing that ain't true," he said.

Despite the fact that staying with the Bengals may prove to be Chad Ochocinco's best option, the public seems to be convinced that it's time for the Bengals WR to make a move. Why would it be the best option for Chad to stay? If Carson Palmer returns, the variables of the equation will change quite a bit. On top of that, the market for a 33-year old WR, who is arguably on the decline, may not be as generous as the public (and probably Ochocinco himself) would like to believe. Of course, Chad would probably want to make as much as he's making with the Bengals now and that further limits his options. Anyway, there are other possibilities for him out there nonetheless.

The Oakland Raiders are a club known for past gambles they have taken on players. Add to that the fact that Hue Jackson worked with Ochocinco in the past and that he apparently likes the guy and you have a reasonable variant cooked up. The Raiders are also in need of a veteran WR, and that plays into the picture nicely too. When it comes to teams in need of a WR, the Seattle Seahawks have got to be at the top of the list. Chad may be a high-maintenance guy, but scaring off Pete Carroll is not an easy feat. The Seahawks have been known to take chances on colorful characters before too.

If the price is right, the Chicago Bears may also be an option for the WR. He may be a quirky character, but it's not like he's ever seen any kind if legal trouble and while he is certainly a one of a kind guy, he's not so much about drama than about self promotion. Mike Martz's idea of an ideal WR might not suit Ochocinco at this stage of his career, but given the limitations of the free agent market, he may still be a profitable edge for the team.

Today we discuss Commissioner Goodell's future in light of the lockout. The Ravens Gab writers give their 'take' on the issue.

We pose the question: "What does the future hold for Goodell?"

Will Goodell have to step down in light of the fact that many players have lost confidence in him with his handling of the labor agreement?

Jonathan Scruggs, Columnist/Legal Analyst

My take: I don't think that the lockout will have a long lasting or far reaching negative impact upon Roger Goodell. As much as he may not have handled every aspect of this mess with perfection, he's the done the best he can with an all around bad situation.

Furthermore I don't think the players have lost confidence in Goodell anymore than they ever had confidence in him in the first place. He's the commissioner of the league and by virtue of his title, he's always going to be seen as an adversary. After all, he's the very public face of THEM, as opposed to us. In all honesty the attacks on Goodell are just more bluster from the players in a heated legal battle, nothing more than that. He'll survive this and his legacy will be no more tarnished than Pete Rozelle's.

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Defensive line coach for the Vikings, Karl Dunbar, has been charged with sexual assault according to Liz Collin of WCCO in Minneapolis. A restraining order has been filed against Karl Dunbar, who has been coaching with the Vikings for the last five seasons.

But, Dunbar's attorney said Wednesday there are two sides to the allegations. Paperwork was filed Tuesday in Scott County by a woman asking for Dunbar to stay off of her property.

The woman said Dunbar has shown up at her home twice since a sexual assault in April. She said in the paperwork she is "afraid of retribution and unsure of his behavior." When reached by a phone call, the woman told WCCO-TV her attorney told her not to comment on the case.

The woman is not requesting a court hearing at this time. She's asked for the restraining order to last for two years.

Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union reports receiver Mike Sims-Walker played four seasons for the Jaguars after they drafted him in the third round in 2007.

He spent his first season on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. Sims-Walker played in nine games in 2008 and had a breakout season in 2009 when he caught 63 passes for 869 yards.

Because of the lockout, free agency has yet to begin and Sims-Walker doesn’t know where he’ll end up yet. But he and his best friend Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall have discussed reuninting. The two of them played together at UCF.

“We would love that,” Sims-Walker said. “Me and him, our relationship on the field and off the field. We make each other better. We compete with each other so much that we’re going to bring the best out of each other every single minute. That will be the best thing for the whole team.”

Several NFL teams have instituted furloughs, paycuts, and layoffs during the NFL lockout. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, Jerry Jones has no plans to do anything like that.

“Each team has its own approach,” Jones said. “Each team has its own need for its off-the-field employees that includes their coaching staff.

“We, for all practical purposes, are year-round for 99 percent of the employees that we have. And certainly we have an obligation to our stadium and the events that we’re involved in. When you look at the big picture, our operation and what we’re doing with our employees is more dictated by that than it is by the fact that we’re locked out.”

Jones said this has been, “a pretty normal off-season” in that regard and that the club has even hired employees to replace those who have left.

NFL Gridiron Gab Draft expert Abe Munch goes team by team into the 2011 NFL Draft, and breaks down all the picks as well as goes in-depth with Best Selection, Sleeper and a Final Grade. Today we take a look at the AFC West. Click the links below to see the breakdown of the Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs and Broncos.

Chargers Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft
Raiders Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft
Chiefs Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft
Broncos Gab Grades the Teams Picks in the 2011 Draft