NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Bears are determined to reel in a big wide receiver and he “wouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility” of Chad Ochocinco landing in Chicago this summer. Ochocinco counts as a big receiver in comparison to the Bears’ collection of small, quicker receivers.

Other possibilities are tantalizing because they could weaken one of their division rivals. They could lure away the Vikings’ Sidney Rice with a big free agent contract offer or loot the Packers roster by signing physical receiver James Jones.

According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, since his rookie year in 2005 no player in the NFL has had more sacks than the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware. That distinction, however, was not enough to get him voted as one of 2011′s top 10 players according to his peers.

Ware, who has 80 sacks since 2005, six more than second place Jared Allen, is arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL. But according to a players vote that has been unveiled on the NFL Network, Ware was given the No. 12 overall ranking.

Ware appeared on the NFL Network on Sunday to dispute his ranking. "You know, I think I should be the number one guy on the list," Ware said. "But at the end of the day, people are going to vote you where they think you should be." The network is in the process of airing a 10-part series on the 100 best players in the NFL. The top ten are the only players yet to be revealed.

Ware is the first player in Cowboy history to either lead for be tied for the team lead in sacks in each of his first five seasons. He is the only defender in the league with at least 10 sacks in each of the last four seasons and his 20 sacks in 2008 is second only to Lawrence Taylor in NFL history among linebackers for a single season. He already ranks ninth on the Cowboys all-time sack list with 64.5.

Ware generously made a list of the top pass rushers NOT named DeMarcus Ware: .) Julius Peppers , 2.) Dwight Freeney , 3.) Jared Allen, 4.) James Harrison and 5.) Clay Matthews.

I thought about opening this post with the words "Brian Robison has waited patiently for his chance to start" but I've attended enough of his live chats over at Viking Update that I actually think he probably hasn't been waiting all that patiently and has been champing at the bit since entering the league.

Robison sounds as if he is glad that Ray Edwards, who can't seem to call Robison anything other than "my backup" in recent interviews, appears to be moving on from Minnesota in search of a bigger paycheck.

"I know Ray and I've seen some of the comments he made and we've talked about it," Robison said in a radio appearance on Tuesday.

"He means no harm about it — he's doing what he has to do to get his payday, and he definitely deserves a payday. He's had two great seasons playing left defensive end for us. He's definitely made a name for himself.

"He deserves that payday, and at the same time, I feel like I deserve the right to start. I feel like I've fought every year for that right to start and haven't really got the shot that I deserve yet, and hopefully, now I'll get that shot and he'll go get his payday and we'll all be happy."

I've long said that I would like to see Robison get a shot as a full time starter and it appears, for better or worse, I might get my wish in 2011.

Sources reported Wednesday that stadium negotiators had dropped the cost of the $1 billion proposed project by nearly $200 million, the Vikings had upped their contribution from $407 million and the state, Ramsey County and the team had resolved who would own and operate the stadium in suburban Arden Hills according to Rochelle Olson and Mike Kaszuba of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

In addition, they said, an announcement could come later Wednesday.

"You're headed in the right direction," said Sen. Doug Magnus, R-Slayton, a Senate co-author of the stadium legislation. Magnus however did not confirm specific figures, but said an announcement could come Wednesday.

Lester Bagley, the Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development, said Wednesday "there are no hard and fast numbers. Ideas are being exchanged every day."

Former Jets and Chiefs coach Herm Edwards gave a great speech earlier at the NFL Rookie Symposium.

Just like for any other veteran, this offseason has not exactly been like any other in recent history. Most vets have had to work out on their own to keep in shape, any many have attended some type of team workout when they have been held.

For Steelers CB Bryant McFadden, he's been down in Orlando, FL working out, keeping in top shape for the day that the call comes that the lockout is over and he's heading back to work in a black and gold uniform.

"It's been a little different," McFadden told Steelers Gab on Monday in an exclusive interview. "We're all just waiting around, nothing is set for training camp, normally we would already know dates and have a schedule, so in that regard it's different."

McFadden commented on the fact that players have not been talking to coaches since the lockout began back in early March. Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris says he talks to players all the time, but McFadden wasn't so ready to say that he's been in talks with anyone like Mike Tomlin or Dick LeBeau.

"There's for sure a lack of communication between us (players) and coaches," McFadden said. "Before you could just pick up and phone anytime and call the coaches, now it's different since we can't do that. Everything's in shut down when it comes to talking to them."

Last season was McFadden's return to the Steelers, coming over from Arizona, where he left to play after the team beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl in February of 2009. His return to the Steelers came after the Steelers got a 5th round pick for Santonio Holmes, then the Steelers used that pick to re-acquire McFadden.

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