NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

For their Super Bowl XLV ring ceremony, scheduled for June 16, the Packers have announced they'll keep it private, meaning no fans or, most likely, media will be there to witness it, this decision has upset many Green Bay fans, and NFL.com's Vic Carucci can understand why.

As Carucci writes, "Packers fans aren’t just fans. Many are shareholders and, consequently, feel entitled to be a part of certain 'official' team functions, especially those of the celebratory variety. To them, the ring ceremony isn’t a whole lot different than attending the annual shareholders meeting, such as the one held last summer at Lambeau Field. "But to the Packers, it is very different. To the Packers, it is supposed to be something that only players, coaches and front-office staff members should share together without the presence of anyone who isn’t part of the “family” as it exists inside the confines of the team facility. They’re citing 'past practices' as a reason to go with the private ceremony."

But the "past practices" excuse doesn't make Packers fans feel any better about the decision. Wrote one commenter on the Green Bay Post Gazette website: “'Because we did it this way last time’? OH! Well I guess you can’t argue with that. Just because I can’t figure out why you would not want to fill Lambeau with happy fans, with all the implications for the local economy, is no reason to do it differently."

To those who aren't Packers fans, the private ceremony doesn't feel like a big deal – after all, it's not like the annual shareholders get to be team insiders (it's not like they have a say in who Green Bay drafts every year or who will start the next time QB Aaron Rodgers sustains a concussion). But Carucci makes a good point at the end of his column, writing, "Still, there’s a part of me that also wonders, particularly during these frustrating times of lockout limbo, if it would have been possible to at least involve the shareholders so they could feel that added sense of attachment to their favorite team."

The Raiders are always active in looking to add players, and Pro Football Weekly reports that the Silver and Black reportedly have their eyes on Alex Smith, the 49ers QB that was a former number one overall pick a few years back.

Pro Football Weekly hears that Raiders owner Al Davis apparently looked into the availability of free-agent QB Alex Smith, who all of the sudden looks like a lock to remain the starting QB in San Francisco. Smith reportedly has a one-year, $5 million dollar contract waiting on the table from the 49ers to return in 2011, despite the team drafting University of Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round. Coach Jim Harbaugh has expressed interest all off-season in retaining Smith. Jason Campbell was acquired from the Washington Redskins for a fourth round draft pick during the 2010 NFL Draft. Campbell had an up-and-down first season in Oakland, throwing for 2,387 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions while posting a 84.5 QB rating in 12 starts, but was in and out of the lineup due to injuries and spotty performances.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee doesn’t expect the 49ers to consider a reunion with free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens. Mired in an uncertain quarterback situation with a diva receiver of their own in Michael Crabtree, there’s simply no incentive for the Niners to bring back perhaps the second greatest wideout in franchise history.

Whereas Randy Moss speculation has been aplenty this offseason, the T.O. rumor mill has remained surprisingly quiet. Owens, 37, spent his first eight seasons with the 49ers (1996-2003), recording 592 receptions, 8,572 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. Owens had a falling out in San Francisco and was shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.

Plaxico Burress will be released form the Oneida Correctional Facility in upstate New York on Monday after being locked up for 20 months for illegally carrying and firing a gun at a Manhattan nightclub.

Drew Rosenhaus, Burress’ agent told the Associated Press, ”He will play in the NFL this year. Many teams want him. He will be a top free agent. He is healthy and ready to go. He will be signed shortly after the lockout ends.”

But according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post, there might not be the demand for Burress that Rosenhaus predicts.

After talking with people on five NFL teams that are in the market for wide receivers. None of them expressed an interest in signing Burress.

Said one personnel director: "I'm very leery. Too many things could go wrong as opposed to going right."

Said another: "Not by any stretch can he be counted on as a go-to receiver anymore."

Burress will play in the NFL this fall. But it's doubtful any team will bring him expecting him to be a big-time producer, or pay him starter's money.

Unlike Michael Vick who was 29 after his release from prison, Burress will be 34. It took Vick one full year to hit his stride. If it takes Burress a year to get rolling, he'll be 35 by the time he's ready to contribute in a big way.

Disgruntled Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith did not attend the Panthers organized practices. Smith reportedly has asked the Panthers for a trade and for most believe he will be moved after the lockout ends.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, “It’s not a foregone conclusion” the Panthers will move wide receiver Smith, who is signed through the 2012 season. He said their conversation prior to the lockout left Rivera uncertain about Smith’s intentions.

“We had a great conversation. He was honest. He was forthright,” Rivera said. “He did kind of leave me at a point where I was wondering exactly where does he want to go with this? I will wait until we sit down and talk when the time comes.”

Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy stood on opposite sidelines four years ago, vying to become the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl championship. Dungy and his Colts walked away with the prize that rainy February night in Miami, beating Smith’s Bears 29-17, but there aren’t hard feelings on either end. In fact, Dungy will stroll into Chicago’s Halas Hall on Monday as Smith’s invited guest.

“We’re just going to talk football for a day,” Smith, who served as the Buccaneers’ linebackers coach under Dungy from 1996 to 2000, recently told the Chicago Tribune. “There aren’t a whole lot of us still in our system who believe in it the way we do. We’re pumped up about him coming.”

The NFL lockout, which is in its third month, is keeping players from meeting with their coaches, so Smith is spending the time with his staff for what he calls “football enrichment.” That includes daily clinics in which the offensive coaches teach the defensive coaches what they do, and vice versa.

CBS Sports reports that Charlie Whitehurst seems to think he’s going to be the starter this season at QB for the Seahawks, partially due to the fact he’s the only “actually signed quarterback” on the current Hawks roster.

Thanks to the lockout, there are still a number of teams with unsolved quarterback situations. The Seattle Seahawks, who have Charlie Whitehurst as their only “actually signed quarterback,” are one of those teams. But fear not, Seahawk nation — the bearded one believes he can be the guy to lead Seattle back to the promised land. Or, at least he thinks he win the starting job anyway.

“Well, luckily I’m not going through the free-agent stuff like some guys are going through,” Whitehurst told The Seattle Times’ Danny O’Neil in a recent Q&A. “I know I’m the only quarterback that’s on the roster right now, and I’m sure that will change eventually when we get it figured. I look at it like I’m going to get the chance to be the starter, and I think I can do it. “That’s what I plan to do. Whenever we figure it out, I’ll compete as hard as I can to make that happen.”

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka pulled no punches on Friday at a luncheon when he said that the opener in 2010 between the Lions and Bears was stolen from Detroit when Calvin Johnson made what should have been a game-winning touchdown catch.

The iconic former Chicago Bears player and coach recently praised the strength of the NFC North and the up-and-coming Lions. And yes, Ditka said, Calvin Johnson did make a legal catch in last year's season opener at Chicago.

"The game in Chicago they got stolen from them," Ditka said Friday at a Gridiron Greats function in Novi. "That should never have happened. I don't give a (expletive) what the rule says. That's a bad rule and it was interpreted wrong and it was officiated poorly."

Kudos to “Iron” Mike for admitting that his old team should have lost the game, and that the Lions got robbed setting up another tough season.

There’s been plenty of talk that the Eagles are the front-runner to land Plaxico Burress once he exits prison on Monday morning. Even former teammate Brandon Jacobs says that Burress isn’t going to go back to NY, but made mention in a round about way that the Eagles were the team likely to sign him.

Pro Football Weekly says “not so fast.” Writer Eric Edholm says that the Eagles already have a solid base of WR’s, and that he doesn’t think the team will need to get Burress to make a run in the NFC.

Number one, the team considers its group of pass catchers a real strength. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are a top-flight starting duo, and Jason Avant is a clutch third-down receiver working out of the slot. In addition, Riley Cooper holds promise as a big wideout and red-zone option, seeing more time on offense as his rookie season wore on. The top two tight ends, Brent Celek and Clay Harbor, are athletic and could be productive.

Burress doesn’t exactly fill a spot that the Eagles need, assuming all of these players are at full health this season, and he would not be a special-teams contributor. Certainly, his size and red-zone ability would be welcome, but Burress might not play his best football this season, having been in prison since 2009. It took Vick a year to reacclimate himself to the NFL, after all.

Don’t be shocked if the Eagles pass on Burress and that he ends up elsewhere.

If what is written above is true, it opens the door for teams like the Browns, Rams or maybe a dark horse to jump in and snag Burress.

While there’s been plenty of bad news about Dez Bryant this past offseason with his issues not paying for things and problems as area malls, today National Football Post reports that Bryant has paid off all his debts, and is looking forward to the 2011 season.

Facing multiple lawsuits and $800,000 in debt following spending sprees on expensive jewelry, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant said he has resolved his financial issues.

"I have a handle on it and it’s done," Bryant told the Associated Press during an autograph session in Tulsa, Okla.. "It’s in the past and I’m ready to go ahead from here." Bryant said that there’s no rift between himself and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stemming from his financial problems.

Bryant also predicted the lockout will end and the season won’t be lost.

"There will be an NFL season and I think we will start on time," Bryant said.. "I know Dallas will be ready to go, and I’ll be ready to put on my helmet and go to work."