NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

In an off-season slowed by a drudging lockout it's no wonder the only newsworthy bits that pique any interest involve potential free agent speculation.

Usually, we're three months past the opening of free agency and fans are discussing their new acquisitions, currently, a squabble over a massive $9  billion pool of money has haulted all league activity.

When it comes to Seattle, the most talked about free agent is Matt Hasselbeck, and courtesy of Peter King, speculation is becoming increasingly rampant that Hasselbeck has played his last down in Seatttle.

Here is what he had to say on the issue:

"I think that the Seahawks are gonna move in a different direction…I think Matt is gonna move in a different direction. The fact is they made him an offer before they had to stop talking to their own players, and he turned it down. I just have thought ever since then, that he's probably going to go in a different direction."

NFL Networks version of Adam Schefter also weighed in on the topic as well:

"I have a feeling maybe Hasselbeck lands in Tennessee when all is said and done,"

Sports Illustrated writer Jim Trotter also tweeted:

to those correcting me, hasselbeck is NOT a seahawk. he's a free agent. as i wrote a month ago, i don't anticipate him being back w/ seattle

Click HERE to read the rest

Evan Silva of NBC Sports reports via twitter citing reliable sources that the Rams are unlikely to pursue free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Instead, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will double down on his 2-TE system. Given that Plaxico is most likely nothing more than a red zone threat and a third down guy at this point in his career, it would make little sense to bring him in after committing a second-round pick to the tight end strategy.

Burress recently told Giants running back Brandon Jacobs that he wouldn’t mind playing in St. Louis with head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was the former defensive coordinator in New York. Rams defensive tackle Fred Robbins in a recent sirius radio interview with Adam Schien, said that “he really wants” Plaxico in St. Louis.

Heading into the 2011 season questions are plenty at the wide receiver position. Mostly who is going to start along side Mike Thomas, as the release of Mike Sims-Walker has left a hole at this position. Thomas was the leading receiver on the team last year with 66 receptions for 820 yards and 4 touchdowns. Marcedes Lewis was second on the list with 58 receptions for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Sims-Walker placed third with 43 receptions for 563 yards and 7 touchdowns. The only other Jags wide-out with double digit catches, that is still with the team, is Jason Hill who had 11 receptions for 248 yards and 1 touchdown.

While the Jaguars will surely look to newcomer Cecil Shorts III for help with this dilemma there are possibilities out there. The team could very well re-sign Mike Sims-Walker once the lock out ends and free agency begins, they could also stand pat with what they have. The team could also pursue a veteran receiver in free agency to give the young guys leadership and a proven teacher. Sims-Walker could be back in the fold simply because he is young and has produced for them in the past.

The Jags could also pursue a couple native Floridians to give them help at the receiver position. Santana Moss and Santonio Holmes are both free agents and both hail from Florida. Moss has spent the past few years with the Washington Redskins, and last season gave them 93 receptions for 1115 yards and 6 touchdowns. While Moss isn't as quick has he used to be he is a proven veteran and would be a boost the receiving corps. Holmes is entering his 6th season in the NFL.

He spent last season with the NY Jets after being traded in the off season from Pittsburgh after off the field issues forced the Steelers to make a move. Holmes is a former Super Bowl MVP and is a very clutch receiver. Holmes has speed and quickness that helps him burn defenders. Last season he had 52 receptions for 746 yards and 6 touchdowns while only playing in twelve games for the Jets.

No matter what route the Jaguars decide to go they will definitely have a solid young core of receivers for David Garrard to throw to. How the young guys catch on and help the team will be a story that is told over the course of the season. Regardless the Jaguars will again have a highlight reel receiving corps to watch in 2011.

There’s been rumors all over the place about coaches talking to players, and it’s been frowned upon by the league, who continue to draw the battle lines between the owners and players during the lockout.

One coach who doesn’t seem to mind admitting that he’s talking to his players – “all the time,” is Buccaneer head coach Raheem Morris. In a recent interview, Morris stated he and his players seem to have chats quite a bit.

Morris made a visit on WDAE-AM 620 in Tampa on Wednesday with host Steve Duemig. In it, he pretty clearly states that he's been violating conditions of the lockout. Specifically, Morris says he's pretty much been in constant contact with some of his players, a very big no-no.

Now, perhaps Morris will claim he used the wrong verb tense. But take a look for yourself what went down, according to JoeBucsFan. A caller to the station said that Bucs running back LeGarrette Blount frequently plays catch with neighborhood kids that he lives by.

"You probably don't realize who else is over there. You got Sammie Stroughter, Legarrette Blount, (Dezmon) Briscoe," Morris said. "They all go over there. They tell me about it all the time."

Duemig then asked Morris if the players live there during the offseason. "Yes," Morris replied. "They live right over by Jefferson (High School)."

Then, the caller praises the players for making a positive impact with the kids in the area. "Hey listen," Morris said. "I talk to them all the time. I talk to those guys all the time."

At that point, Morris changed the topic.

Bears safety Chris Harris took to social media Thursday in joining teammate and union rep Robbie Gould in voicing critical remarks regarding the NFL labor situation. Addressing remarks made on conference calls with fans by commissioner Roger Goodell — who essentially has said the NFL lockout might be beneficial to fans because it could lower ticket costs — Harris voiced skepticism on Twitter.

Harris wrote: “So Roger Godell said the lockout is for fans as well. U have to be either stupid or naïve to believe tix prices r going down after new CBA,” following it up with, “Roger Godell tix prices will not go down if anything they will go up.” In replying to a fan’s question regarding the matter, Harris — the team’s most prolific and outspoken Twitter poster — broke things down with a simple lesson in economics. “[Goodell's] argument is if they get what they want n CBA, tix prices will lower,” Harris wrote.

“That’s not true bc demand is still there. In any business if demand is high, prices rise.” The safety could have a point, considering all the criticism and snarky remarks Goodell’s comments have drawn from other players — active and retired — and fans on Twitter.

49ers quarterback Alex Smith acknowledged some on-field chemistry issues, but insists there is no bad blood between himself and 2009 first-round wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

“On the field, no question,” Smith said according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. “He and I would both agree that we were–unhappy would be an understatement–for all our play last year. No question…There’s no question both of us are unhappy. We’d be the first to tell you that. We know we have to play better, both of us. Absolutely. No question.”

With Smith under center, Crabtree only had 11 receptions for 139 yards with no touchdowns as the 49ers went 0-4 to start the 2010 regular season. Crabtree would catch 17 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the next two-and-a-half games before Smith was injured against the Carolina Panthers. When Smith was reinserted as the starter for the final month of the season, Crabtree would catch just 14 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, a series of games that began with a one catch for one yard performance in a 40-21 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Smith said he apologized to Crabtree for what appeared like a shot regarding the receiver’s lack of attendance at the team’s player-run workouts in the Bay Area. Crabtree appeared to fire back at the quarterback on Monday when he questioned whether or not Smith was actually the team’s starting quarterback.

“I’m not even on the roster,” a diplomatic Smith said. “I’m a free agent. I’m not on the roster. So for him to be confused as to the quarterback situation isn’t the strangest thing in the world in my opinion.”

Now healthy, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is relishing his opportunity to work with Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure, a pair of second round picks who’ll potentially play key roles this season, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

“They’re part of our team now, and potentially very valuable parts of it, so it’s on me to try and teach them up as much as I can,” Stafford said. “I like doing it. Me teaching them keeps me sharp as well. I’ve got to be on my P’s and Q’s to teach them the right stuff at the right times. That’s good for me to be thinking like that.”

According to Birkett, Stafford brought Young to Georgia after the draft, and has been working one-on-one with both players during the player-run workouts.

Chosen 44th overall out of Boise State, Young (5-11, 174) caught 150 passes for 2,256 yards and 19 touchdowns the last two seasons and is expected to make an immediate impact as the Lions No. 3 receiver. Detroit traded back into the second round to select Leshoure 57th overall. At 6-foot and nearly 230 pounds, Leshoure adds a big, physical presence to the running game, where he’ll complement 2010 first-round pick Jahvid Best.

By Vikings Gab Columnist Randy Perrin

Multiple reports are stating AEG officials that are trying to move a team to LA have talked to the Vikings and 4 other teams. Tim Leiweke, president of AEG and Viking officials were seen last month together but down played the talks of a move to LA.

It's now coming out that they did have discussions about a possible move. Leiweke told the Orange County Register that billionaire Philip Anschutz is willing to buy majority stake in a team so he can relocate them to LA. St Louis, Jax, Oakland, SD and Minnesota are among teams said to still be in the mix to relocate.

As Vikings still make a push to stay in Minnesota its obvious they are listening and keeping options open. While I do think the Vikings intentions are to get a deal done with Arden Hills for a stadium, were going to keep hearing about moving until a stadium gets built.

Former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer has been with a lot of teams and seen a lot of heartbreak over the years, but the team that he says is best according to his interview in the Plain Dealer in Cleveland was that of the 1993 team that saw the Chiefs get to the postseason to lose to the Bills in the AFC Title game after they topped Warren Moon and the Oilers on the road.

I think the ’93 team of (Joe) Montana and Kansas City. We had arguably one of the finest quarterbacks of all time under center. We had a really good defensive team. . . . We went to Buffalo in the AFC championship game and Joe was injured in the first half, at some point in time, and we couldn’t overcome that. I’m not suggesting we would have won even if he had played the game throughout. To me that was the team.

Marty also went on to play the best player he ever coached was Chiefs Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.

You know, that’s hard to say. Montana was terrific. Philip Rivers is a terrific, terrific quarterback. LaDanian Tomlinson, Derrick Thomas, I mean, you know, I could build a team of them, if you would, by position. … There’s been a lot of terrific, terrific players that I’ve been fortunate enough to be associated with, and I’ve always maintained I was always a much better coach when I had good players.

Click HERE to read the whole interview.