NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The Panthers will begin player-initiated informal workouts next week in Charlotte. First overall pick Cam Newton says he will participate in the workouts. Tony Paige, one of Newton's two agents, told The Charlotte Observer that Newton is anxious to get on the field and work with his new teammates.

“When you’re a rookie, especially as a quarterback, it’s good to work on timing. But (it’s) mainly getting around your teammates,” Paige said, according to the Observer. “I think Cam is excited about getting to know his teammates. Typically by now, he would know everybody.”

NFL players have taken to organizing informal workouts in the midst of the NFL lockout as a way to simulate organized team activities. Several first-round draft picks have not shown up to their team's events; because rookies are not under contract, an injury would be catastrophic to their signing a deal. Newton's other agent, Bus Cook, sounded much more tepid than Paige.

“I know it’s non-contact and all that, but hypothetically if they get hurt – especially if it’s season-ending or career-ending … it could have a big impact,” Cook told the newspaper.

Free agent wide receiver Torry Holt played the role of coach during Rams player-organized workouts earlier this week, and Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Holt hasn’t ruled out playing in 2011.

“I haven’t retired,” Holt said. “I’m going to continue to keep my options open. I’m training right now. So if something comes about — great. If not, hey, the NFL Network has been good to me. They gave me an opportunity to talk football, stay around the game. We’ll see.”

A seven-time Pro Bowler, Holt was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the sixth overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State In 173 career games, Holt has 920 receptions, which ranks him 11th all-time, and 13,382 yards, which ranks 10th all-time. Holt has 74 receiving touchdowns, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2000s.

Holt, who’ll turn 35 next month, spent 2009 with the Jaguars, catching 51 passes for 722 yards. After being released by the Jaguars last February, Holt signed a one-year deal with the Patriots.

A knee injury last summer landed Holt on injured reserve and in the studios of the NFL Network, where he worked as analyst during the 2010 season.

“If I play another down, great,” Holt said. “If I don’t, I’ve really enjoyed playing in the National Football League. I really enjoyed what the game did for me and my family. And I hope I was able to give the game what it gave me. As well as the city of St. Louis. I love the city.”

Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network reports that the Ravens have called a press conference for Thursday to announce the retirement of long-time kicker Matt Stover.

Although official transactions are not allowed during the lockout, Stover is expected to symbolically sign a one-day contract to retire with the franchise he played under for 18 years.  Until 2009, Stover had been the only placekicker in Ravens history.  He has also played for the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns and was signed in October 2009 by the Indianapolis Colts to replace injured kicker Adam Vinatieri.  Stover did not play for any team in the 2010 season.

Stover has been one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history and will retire 4th in the NFL in points with 2004.  He holds NFL records for most consecutive PATs with 469, most consecutive games with a made field goal with 38, and is in the top ten of every other NFL placekicker record.  He was the oldest player to ever appear in a Super Bowl at 42 years, 11 days when he was the Colts kicker in 2009.

Redskins' second-leading all-time rusher Clinton Portis appeared on Late Hits on Sirius XM radio with Brian McGovern and Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew on Tuesday. In response to a question from McGovern, Portis, who was released by the Redskins earlier this year, said that he would like to play for the Giants.

"To go to the Giants and get to play the Redskins twice a year after them feeling I wasn't capable any more, I think that would be outstanding," he said. He mentioned the Giants' strong offensive line, run-oriented style and the presence of an established quarterback in Eli Manning as other reasons why he would like to pay. Portis also mentioned the possibility of playing for another one of the Redskins' division rivals.

In discussing his preference to play with "a quarterback who had the opportunity to really run his system" he listed Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles along with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and others. "I think for the situation that was going on in Washington for myself it was time to vacate," he said. "The organization was going in a different direction and I really think that Coach Shanahan is going to get the organization back on track and back to winning ways, which is what the people in Washington want to see."

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has maintained he has no interest in moving the Vikings and the owner has been clear the franchise isn't for sale either. But until a new stadium deal gets done — and that looks like a longshot to happen this year — speculation will continue that the club will be relocated and/or sold.

One potential buyer's name began circulating like a hot rumor when former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has announced his intention to seek the Republican presidential nomination, asked conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh if it's true he's going to buy the Vikings and move them. Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune broke it down.

"Well, uh, this interview is about you," Limbaugh replied while laughing. Pawlenty responded with some laughter of his own and then Limbaugh continued on, saying, "I’ll keep (the interview) focused on you."

Bills rookie Marcell Dareus could be both a menace on the field and the NFL’s most colorful newcomer.  Even before he records a single pro stat, the No.3 overall pick in the draft is making a name for himself.

In between private workouts, the 21-year-old has spent much of the recent labor standoff issuing bold predictions about the extent of his future impact in the NFL, while also clearing some time to spend with his pets (a python and a Chihuahua), and his alter ago.

That's right, his alter ego. Off the field Dareus is an engaging and humorous figure, who apparently had Derek Jeter in stitches when they met at a pre-draft event in New York. Within the gridiron though, he reinvents himself as the Incredible Hulk, and will politely request that his new Bills teammates address him as such during game action.

Bragging by rookies is not exactly a new phenomenon.  Dareus takes things a step further by not only detailing what he is going to do in the NFL, but also suggesting how long he is going to do it for, and who he is going to do it to. All in all, it makes for thoroughly entertaining listening.

"The NFL needs to know the Hulk is coming," Dareus told Yahoo! Sports at an NFL players rookies event at a school in Santa Monica, Calif. last week. "The Hulk takes control, he doesn't let anything get past or anything get in the way. That is what I call myself and before I go out to play I get myself into that state of mind. It helps me get ready.  It is like I turn into something different and I hope the other guys will call me Hulk. The Hulk is planning to be around for a long time. I am looking at a long career, I think I can play in this league for 12, 13, 14 years and be one of the great ones in my position.  have respect for the league and the players in it but I know I can hold myself with those guys too and be a part of it all. I know I can make a difference and I just want to go and do it as soon as I can. There are definitely some teams I have got my eye on."

Dareus especially has his eyes on the Panthers and the Broncos because both teams passed him up in the draft.  "I want to show that they made the wrong move and I feel I was the best guy and the best choice," he said. "I have a point to prove to those teams and I can do that by going out and putting on some hurt.”

Dareus will get an opportunity to take on the Broncos this season, while he may have to wait until 2013 before he can take a shot at the Panthers.

Former Redskins running back Clinton Portis thinks Donovan McNabb has a lot left in him.

Portis appeared on Sirius XM NFL Radio’s Late Hits show last night via Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post and said, "I don't know the extent of Donovan's situation, but from what I could see and what I could tell, once you get into a position where you're clashing, it feels as if any mistake you make you're gonna be pulled. It's kind of hard to play like that, and that's really how it was.

"I think with that Washington media being so critical of the team, it's hard to really have that team bond, because the media, shoot, they're picking it apart and tearing it apart and being so critical even when the good times come. I don't think Donovan was ready for that, even coming from Philly. I don't think he understood the position he was coming into. I think Donovan's got a lot left in the tank."

And yet, having said that, Portis apparently does not feel like McNabb is a proven quarterback with the opportunity to run his system.

"I just never played with a quarterback who had the opportunity to really run his system," Portis said. "So for me, I would love to play with a Drew Brees, a Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Michael Vick. I mean, you name it, Aaron Rodgers, Roethlisberger. You know, I want to play with a proven quarterback who gonna take a lot of the pressure off me.

"I think being in D.C., I was always the focal point, and a lot of people blamed me for a lot of the things that was going on around me, but I promise you I gave everything I had. So going to a team and really not being the focal point, being able to come in and contribute and add to a team who got the pieces in place, who just missing some things, I would love to do that."

NFL player agent Joe Linta wants to see the proposal that the NFL made to the NFLPA last week in Minneapolis, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

“I'd like to see it myself so when I talk to my 45 guys, I can show them what it is – since there is no union,” Linta said. “I would like (Pittsburgh Steelers president) Mr. Rooney to forward the offer to me. I represent two percent of the union, I'm not insignificant. Let me ask you something, who has the players' back more, the players union or the player's agent? Why can't I get copy of this and disseminate it to my players?”

Among the players Linta represents is Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, a longtime player representative, dating back to his days with the Minnesota Vikings, and an outspoken critic of the late Gene Upshaw’s performance as NFLPA Executive Director.

Linta was critical of the negotiations between NFL and NFLPA, which he says hasn’t taken advantage of agents, who negotiate for a living, out of the loop.

“These guys are driving these players right off a cliff right now. I told a father of one of my players who got drafted, it's 50-50 this season is not going to happen,” said Linta. “These coaches are starting to go looney-toon too.”