NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

If there is going to be a regular season, there is going to be a free agency period eventually, which means Matt Hasselbeck or not, the Seahawks are guaranteed to add at least one quarterback through free agency, if not two.

It's certainly a sellers market on quarterbacks this off season. Kevin Kolb  is definitely the most desirable and highest priced commodity available despite up and down campaigns as a starter and an equal TD/INT ratio for his career. He is going to fetch a first round pick or what the Falcons got for Matt Shaub.

Kyle Orton will probably be pryed away for no less then a second round pick from the Denver Broncos. Carson Palmer (based on a report from Seahawks Draft Blog), is interestingly enough apparantly a Seattle Seahawk in 2011 or bust. If Mike Brown does decide to actually deal him, he would likely cost Pete Carroll at least a second round pick as well.

That being said, this is who I think (in order) the Seahawks should consider also taking into consideration the potential trade costs as well.

1) Re-sign Matt Hasselbeck

He doesn't cost a draft pick, he played perhaps his best game as a Seahawk against the Saints, and perhaps his playoff performance(s) showed he has more left in the tank then what he left on the field the past two seasons. He is more familiar with whats going on then anyone they bring in would, except perhaps Tarvaris Jackson (Hasselbeck>>Jackson), because of the Darrell Bevell connection.

2) Trade for Carson Palmer (2-3rd rounder)

As of now, as I said before, he is off the market and not likely to be dealt. Regardless, some people will argue that Palmer is the best quarterback available and if indeed Seahawks Draft Blog is accurate (the Palmer moving to Seattle is 100 percent accurate regardless) that means the only way he plays in 2011 is in a Seahawks uniform. That being said, I just don't think he is an upgrade over Matt Hasselbeck unless your talking about the number of years he would offer Seattle opposed to Hasselbeck.  Palmer is four years younger and perhaps looking at the bigger picture with four years remaining on his contract and in an admitted rebuilding mode Carroll may opt for continunce at quarterback for the remaining time on his deal.

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Fox Sports says that despite a report saying the Falcons would have a long look at Chad Ochocinco, the team isn’t the least bit interested in the Bullriders antics being a part of the Falcons in 2011.

Despite a report from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Falcons might have “the inside track” for signing Chad Ochocinco if he is released by Cincinnati when the lockout ends, any deal is expected to be derailed. It’s a convenient connect-the-dots scenario between Ochocinco and new Atlanta quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski, who was the Bengals offensive coordinator for the wide receiver’s entire 10-year Bengals tenure, but the truth is that Bratkowski and Ochocinco weren’t particularly close — even though “Ocho” is pushing the notion of a reunion — and the 33-year-old wide receiver isn’t a very good fit.

“Ain’t happenin’,” one team source succinctly told The Sports Xchange. The Falcons’ starters are likely to be Roddy White, the NFL’s leading pass-catcher in 2010, and rookie Julio Jones, the first-round pick for whom Atlanta surrendered five draft choices to move up in the first round last month. Even if the Falcons release or trade former first-rounder and starter Michael Jenkins, who could now be rendered extraneous and overpriced with the addition of Jones, the team still has third-year veteran Harry Douglas to play the slot. In the best-case scenario, Ochocinco would be the Falcons’ No. 4 receiver, and he (and his mouth) isn’t apt to accept that role.

USA Today reports that despite the lockout, the Packers will get their Super Bowl rings on June 16th at Lambeau Field.

The lockout won’t keep the Green Bay Packers from receiving their Super Bowl rings. The NFL gave the team an exemption from the rules prohibiting contact with players during the lockout. And the Packers have scheduled a ceremony to distribute them on June 16 at Lambeau Field. “We’re looking forward to having an evening for the players, coaches and organization to recognize the victory in Super Bowl XLV,” Packers CEO Mark Murphy said. The team will gather for the first time since beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Teams have not been allowed to contact players about football matters during the lockout, except for a brief window on April 29 before an appeals court halted a lower-court ruling invalidating the work stoppage

Although it's not entirely surprising, an interesting development has emerged on the legal front in the lockout lawsuit, Brady, et al v. NFL. The Coaches ssociation has filed an amicus brief in support of the player's argument in favor of ending the lockout. For those not of the legal persuasion, and for those not bored to tears by legal explanations, an amicus curiae is a filing by an interested party who does not have a direct stake in the matter. It's common practice (especially at the federal appellate level) for non parties to weigh in when a decision of the court might have a positive or negative impact on their rights.

Although no coach was specifically mentioned, the brief goes into some detail about how a continued lockout will not only irreparably harm the players and their ability to make a living, but also irreparably harm the coaches who have been robbed of much needed prep time with their teams. This is especially true of the new coaches who will now be behind a rather large eight ball once football operations resume. In their brief, the Coaches opined the following sentiments as it relates to the lockout:

"To meet management's expectations, coaches need adequate time in the offseason to prepare their players for the season ahead…The lockout has already interfered with the coaches' offseason plans for their players, and each day lost in preparing for the season further diminishes coaches' opportunities to prove themselves and advance their career…"

I doubt it will be the back breaking development we've all been waiting for, but it's certainly interesting that in a three party system it's now two against one.

Colts owner Jim Irsay remains optimistic he’ll be able to lock up quarterback Peyton Manning to a long-term deal once the NFL’s lockout is lifted according to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

If not, the team will rely on the “exclusive franchise” tag to retain the league’s only four-time MVP for the foreseeable future. But over the long haul, that string of escalating one-year contracts promises to be more expensive than any multiyear contract would be.

The franchise tag for 2011 will pay Manning $23.1 million. Current provisions call for a 20 percent increase each season. That computes to $27.72 million in 2012, $33.264 million in 2013 and $39.9 million in 2014. Manning’s “take” as a four-year franchise player: $124 million, or an average of $31 million a season.

During this week’s owners meetings, Irsay reiterated his commitment to signing Manning, 35, to a long-term contract.

“I’m still confident we can get (it) done,” Irsay said. “And I think we’ve probably added to our proposal to him with our first two draft picks, both really great offensive linemen (Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana).

“It’s on hold, but it’s something we can get back on track and get something done with him and (agent) Tom Condon.”

Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib has been indicted on aggravated assault with a deadly weapons by a Dallas County (Texas) grand jury.

Talib, 25, is alleged to have pistol-whipped Shannon Billings, the longtime boyfriend of Talib’s sister, before firing multiple shots at Billings, who was fleeing the scene. Talib has denied the charges, indicating that it was his mother, 58-year old Okolo Talib, who fired the shots at Billings.

Talib’s lawyer released the following statement on Friday:

“It is important to note that the indictment is merely a formal accusation, and that Mr. Talib has not been convicted of any crime with respect to this matter. The grand jury was not privy to a number of important facts. We are very confident that once we have the opportunity to present all of the facts, this matter will be resolved in Mr. Talib’s favor.

“Aqib looks forward to putting this matter behind him and returning to the game of football. Given the sensitive nature of this matter, we cannot comment any further.”

If convicted of the second degree felony, Talib faces up to 20 years in prison.

A 2008 first-round pick out of Kansas, Talib has 127 tackles, 15 interceptions, and 35 passes defensed in 41 career games with the Buccaneers. Since entering the league, Talib has been involved in fights with teammates and served a one-game suspension at the beginning of the 2010 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after assaulting a cab driver during training camp.

The 6-1, 205-pound Talib has two years and up to $6.3 million remaining on his rookie contract, including a $1.0563 million guarantee on his $1,563,750 base salary next season.

Despite the everlong NFL lockout, the Miami Dolphins have still managed to fill out the roster through the draft earlier this spring.

While they failed to answer all of the pressing questions that they faced entering the off-season, they added some what hopes to be, integral parts to the offense. With the team filling the needs at center/guard, running back, tight end, and speed wide receiver/returner, the Dolphins offense should be loaded with even more weapons than we've seen in years.

While the team will undoubtedly be shedding some contracts, such as Ricky Williams, and possibly Ronnie Brown, and Tony McDaniel, the team is looking to retain at least one or two of those aforementioned players.

With free agency set to start later than usual this year because of the ongoing lockout, that should take care of even more roster spots. The Dolphins are believed to be taking an interest in DeAngelo Williams, and possibly Mike Sims-Walker, this off-seasons emphasis is undoubtedly the offensive side of the ball.

But the questions going into this season will not be how many holes the Fins need to fill, but who will start, and whether those players can be competent enough for the Dolphins to contend for a playoff birth this year.

Even though the Dolphins strong suit is defense, they have an enormous amount of depth on the defensive line, and also will be stretched thin at outside linebacker this season.

The Dolphins placed the franchise tag on Paul Solia, and Randy Starks and either Jared Odrick, or Tony McDaniel will get the start alongside him depending on whether or not McDaniel is retained.

At the linebacker spots, Channing Crowder, Karlos Dansby, and Cameron Wake will be the stars of this corps, with Koa Misi on the rise as well. But after the starting four, the depth behind them is a question mark. Who steps in if someone goes down with an injury? Who steps up if someones play is poor? The front four is solid, but I have concerns with our depth.

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