NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Free Agents Face Chaos:

Our recent celebration of the Fourth of July, Independence Day, brings to mind one of the Marines motto's: "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome." Such might be the mantra for the NFL's free agents and general managers.

Here's why: Logistically, it will be challenging time for free agents. It fact, those predicting the free agency period are describing it to be a "frenzy" and "chaotic." Normally free agency begins mid-march, in a 'Post-Lockout' scenario free agency will be pushed to late July. It's been reported or speculated that the Lockout may end around July 15th and that free agency would begin July 23rd. Keeping in mind the start of the season is scheduled Thursday, September 8th with opening kickoff  weekend of Sunday, September 11th, it will prove to be a challenging period.

Think about the logistics for free agents. When a free agent is signed by a new team (in a different City), he will have to relocate, learn the new playbook and in a matter of weeks be ready to play. By the way, pre-season starts in August.  How fast will that 'big name' player be able to make an immediate impact?

As described by, USA Today, "After already losing months of off-season work to the lockout, a delayed camp means having to learn a lot in a hurry for teams installing new systems or free agents changing teams."

GM's In Crunch Time Too:

General Managers are dealing with huge time constraints as well.  Teams will "scramble to fill needs in days rather than weeks as in previous years. The pool of unrestricted free agents is about 250, including 100 starters..," as USA Today points out.  One more twist to the story, "Adding to the frenzy would be the wave of players newly eligible for unrestricted free agency instead of restricted free agency (where the current team has the right of first refusal) under the proposed CBA," as described by Fox Sports.

It should make for an interesting time.   Teams will need to sign free agents, rookies, any undrafted free agents, all in a condensed period of time.  Further, there is that little item of trading players; another ingredient in a chaotic 'Post-Lockout' span (Twitter will be inundated).

No doubt, general managers and free agents will have to 'improvise, adapt and overcome.'

Tiki Barber has revealed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are two squads on his shortlist. This is kinda big because his agent claims there are two teams that are showing significant interest.

The objections inevitably are he's too old (he is in great shape), he'll implode the locker room (that can only happen to weak locker rooms), he's full of himself (OK?), or that they don't need him.

Barber went over 530 yards receiving six times in his career. That's six more times than Cadillac has. I'm sure Josh Freeman would like an effective pass-blocking outlet receiver he can count on. Ultimately, what does it hurt to bring him in and try him out? Tiki doesn't have to be anything other than better than the running back on the bottom of the roster. Depending on the number of offers he might receive, Tiki could consider – now and/or after his next retirement – that getting a few touches after being away from the game for four seasons might be enough of an accomplishment by itself.

Last night, a Milwaukee television station reported that Packers cornerback Brandon Underwood was arrested for misdemeanor disorderly conduct after allegedly grabbing a necklace of his estranged wife’s neck, dragging her out of their car, and throwing her to the ground.

Underwood had a court appearance this morning, after which his wife told reporters that the incident was blown out of proportion.

“I told police I did not want them to arrest him. He's never harmed me in any way, shape or form,” 25-year-old Brandie Underwood said according to the Green Bay Press Gazette. “The last thing I wanted was for him to get in trouble.”

Mrs. Underwood filed for divorce in May, but the couple still shares a residence and are working on their marriage.

Underwood, a 2009 sixth-round pick out of the University of Cincinnati, signed a $1,000 signature bond and requested additional time to find an attorney. His next court date is scheduled for July 15th.

Cowboys receiver Roy Williams sent his girlfriend, former Miss Texas Brooke Daniels a surprise a recorded marriage proposal with a $76,600 engagement ring through the mail just before Valentine's Day.

When Daniels declined the proposal, she did not return the ring. Now Williams has filed a lawsuit Thursday to get it back according to Jon Vanderlaan of the Odessa American.

Williams has declined to comment for the story, but in an affidavit signed by Williams, he claims he sent $5,000 for school and dental bills, a baseball for Daniels' brother and — as a surprise — a recorded marriage proposal with the ring through the mail just before Valentine's Day to Daniels. However, when Daniels declined the proposal, she did not return the ring.

Williams said in the affidavit that he asked for the ring to be returned until Daniels claimed six weeks later that she had lost it, at which point he reported it lost to his insurance agency. The insurance investigation revealed that Daniels' father, Michael Daniels, had the ring. He is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Michael Daniels said in a phone interview Tuesday that although he has documentation that Williams initially told his daughter to keep the ring, he will return it to avoid a lawsuit. Daniels didn't specify when or how the ring would be returned.

"He said (to Brooke Daniels), 'I'm not like a lot of people, I don't want the ring back. You'll eventually come back to me,' and she didn't," Michael Daniels claimed.

"I want to wash my hands of it," Michael Daniels said. "It's just a hassle. I'll take care of my daughter. I don't need him."

Lawyers for the NFL and the players’ association wrapped up a second day of negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement Wednesday and sources say both sides hope to achieve a true framework for a new CBA by the close of business on Friday according to ESPN.

Putting more pressure on the negotiators, U.S. District Judge Arthur Boylen, the mediator in the talks, is scheduled to go on vacation Saturday, sources said. But both sides are committed to stay in New York this weekend to try to finish the deal. The sides did not get together on weekends during negotiations the past month.

On Wednesday, lawyers negotiated details for free agency and training camps once the NFL is re-opened for business.

The players have so far rejected any deal that allows teams to have a right of first refusal on offers for up to three of their own free agents. One agent said: “That punishes the top guys.”

Also, teams would be allowed to bring in 80 to 90 players to training camp to allow for injuries and rust because of the lockout, which reached its 113th day Wednesday.

Yes, the one name that simply won’t go away has reared its ugly head again.

Brett Favre.

According to NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt, he thinks that Favre might be considering another comeback for a 21st NFL season.

“I do think Favre would be interested in talking to a team about returning,” Brandt wrote in an NFL.com chat Tuesday. “But I don’t see a team out there right now that would bring him back as a starter.”

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Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune suggests Chargers GM A.J. Smith will be more willing to deal wide receiver Vincent Jackson this year than in 2010.

Acee emphasizes that he’s not predicting the Bolts will deal Jackson, only that an offer of a second-rounder plus a conditional mid-round pick would have a much better chance of being accepted this time around. Jackson is willing to play under the franchise tag, but he’s yet to sign for 2011. Acee’s revelation is especially interesting in light of earlier reports that Steve Smith’s preference is play in San Diego.

If the Chargers can work out a deal to snag Smith from Carolina, there’s no doubt that it would make the thought of moving Jackson all that much easier if the Chargers chose to do so. If San Diego can get something of value in return, moving Jackson makes all the sense in the world.