NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Legendary senior writer jclombardi–photos & notes training camp, day 1.

Training Camp Day 1 notes: Rookie Derek Sherrod, 1st round draft choice, worked with the No. 1 offense at the LG position and also took a few snaps at LT. The No. 2 LG was T.J. Lang. At LT, Marshall Newhouse worked behind Chad Clifton. Rookie Caleb Schlauderaff was No. 2 behind RG Josh Sitton. Nick McDonald was No. 2 behind C Scott Wells. Charlie Peprah was given the opening-day assignment at SS ahead of Morgan Burnett. Ditto for Frank Zombo at ROLB over Erik Waldenand Brad Jones. Mike Neal worked with the No. 1 base defense at right DE ahead of Howard Green. The Packers didn’t assign the No. 89 jersey, presumably because they still would like to re-sign free agent wide receiver James Jones. John Kuhn’s No. 30 hasn’t been assigned, either. On the other hand, they did assign No. 20 to running back AlexGreen. It had been worn for five years by safety Atari Bigby, another free agent who obviously will not return. The No. 57 jersey worn by linebacker Matt Wilhelm, another free agent, was given to linebacker Ricky Elmore. Injuries update: Diyral Briggs (hamstring) and undrafted rookie defensive end Eli Joseph (didn't pass physical) sat out the session while Morgan Burnett (knee), Jermichael Finley (knee) and Mike Neal (shoulder) were limited to individual drills.

This whole competition thing Uncle Pete preaches is nice and all but thus far into training camp it seems that theme is relegated mostly to guys filling out the depth chart more than it applies to starters. In fact, I think the most compelling position battle will be among the unproven kickers and I don’t think it can be argued there are really any starting positions “up for grabs” either. Correct me if I am wrong of course but unless someone like Antonio Cromartie gets snatched up or Richard Sherman/Alan Branch just kill it and beat out Thurmond/Cole I don’t see much shuffling amongst the starters.

What compels me to do an “in training camp” depth chart was doing research for an article and noticing there are not a ton of current depth charts out there, I know the roster but not where all the pieces fall right off the top of my head and I got deservedly called out for leaving a backup defensive lineman out of an article. Pete sure likes his roster turnover, so I thought I would do the 12th Man justice and make one based on the current roster

Rookies, undrafted free agent rookies, and free agents are included. Some of the reserves look bare, but there are still free agents to be signed and this will be updated accordingly.

 

Quarterback

Starter: Tarvaris Jackson

Backup: Charlie Whitehurst

Third String: None

 

Running Back

Starter: Marshawn Lynch

Backup: Justin Forsett

Third String: Leon Washington

 

Fullback

Starter: Michel Robinson

 

Wide Receiver

Flanker: Sidney Rice

Split End: Mike Williams

Slot: Deon Butler

Fourth: Ben Obamanu

Fifth: Golden Tate

Sixth: Kris Durham

 

Tight End

Starter: John Carlson

Backup: Cameron Morrah

Third String: Anthony McCoy

 

Left Tackle

Starter: Russell Okung

Backup: Tyler Polumbus

Third String: Paul McQuistin

 

Left Guard

Starter: Robert Gallery

Backup: Mike Gibson

Third String: Michael Huey

 

Center

Starter: Max Unger

Backup: Bret Osborne (guard)

 

Right Guard

Starter: John Moffitt

Backup: Paul Fannika

 

Right Tackle

Starter: James Carpenter

Backup: Breno Giacomini

Third String: Will Robinson

 

Left Defensive End

Starter: Red Bryant

Backup: Dexter Davis

Third String: AJ Schable

 

Right Defensive End

Starter: Chris Clemons

Backup: Pierre Allen

 

“One Technique” Defensive Tackle

Starter: Brandon Mebane

Backup: Junior Siavii

Third String: Jay Alford

 

“Three Technique” Defensive Tackle

Starter: Alan Branch (*Colin Cole)

Backup: Kentwan Balmer (*Alan Branch)

Third String: Pep Levingston (*Kentwan Balmer)

 

Strongside Linebacker

Starter: Aaron Curry

Backup: Matt McCoy

Third String: Malcolm Smith

 

Inside “Mike” Linebacker

Starter: Lofa Tatupu

Backup Blake Sorensen

Third String: Mike Morgan

(I know the last two aren’t prototypical inside linebackers).

 

Weakside Linebacker

Starter: David Hawthorne

Backup: Leroy Hill

Third String: KJ Wright

 

Cornerback

LCB Starter: Marcus Trufant

RCB Starter: Walter Thurmond

Nickel- Roy Lewis

Dime- Richard Sherman

Quarter- Byron Maxwell

 

Free Safety

Starter: Earl Thomas

Backup: Mark Legree

 

Strong Safety

Starter: Kam Chancellor

Backup: Jeron Johnson

 

Kicker

Brandon Coutu vs. Wes Bynum (oh snap position battle)

 

Punter

Starter: Jon Ryan

 

You can view all Seahawks comings and goings as they happen on our Free Agency Tracker. as well as Seahawks Roster Needs

You can view up to date Seahawks free agency news and rumors by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bengals Saturday shored up their secondary, coming to terms with freee agent cornerback Nate Clements. He was released by the 49′ers earlier this week, allowing him to seek employment elsewhere.

It’s a good signing for the Bengals, as he will take the spot of Johnathan Joseph, who signed as a free agent with the Texans. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, not happy about losing Joseph, sounded off about it and who would be able to step in for him.

Back in 2007 Clements inked an eight-year, $80 million deal that was pushed to a 10-year average with San Fran. In the end, Clements played out only half of the contract. The 10-year veteran spent six seasons in Buffalo before signing with the 49ers.

A 2001 first-round pick out of Ohio State by the Bills, Clements has 33 interceptions over his career.

Veteran middle linebacker Barrett Ruud has agreed to a one-year deal with the Titans, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

A second-round pick out of Nebraska by the Buccaneers in 2005, Ruud became the full-time starting middle linebacker in 2007. Over the last four seasons, Ruud has accumulated 511 tackles, five quarterback sacks, six interceptions, with 20 passes defensed.

Labor issues have hurt Ruud on several occasions during his career.

The first instance came in 2005, when Ruud was signed to a five-year rookie contract less than a year before the 2006 CBA limited second-round picks to four-year contracts. That fifth year meant Ruud was under contract through 2009, leading to Ruud being denied unrestricted free agency in the uncapped season.

Ruud played the 2010 season under the “First- and Third-Round” restricted free agent tender, earning $3.268 million in base salary. Finally there’s the lockout, which by running into late July likely kept Ruud from signing a long-term contract.

The Bears added a pair of discarded players on Saturday, agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and running back Marion Barber, Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports.

A 2007 first-round pick by the Texans, Okoye was not a fit in the Texans’ new 3-4 defense and, after no team was willing to trade for him, was released earlier on Saturday.

Several suitors quickly emerged and the 24-year-old from the University of Louisville agreed to a one-year deal with the Bears, where the 6-foot-2, 302-pounder will play the three-technique spot.

Barber, 28, was released by the Cowboys in a cost-cutting move on Thursday. The 28-year-old is coming off his least productive season and was due nearly $5 million in total compensation in 2011. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Barber’s two-year contract is worth $5 million.

Barber has rushed for 4,358 yards and 47 touchdowns over the last six seasons, adding 174 receptions for 1,280 yards and six touchdowns out of the backfield.

The last time Plaxico Burress wore black and gold was the AFC Title loss to the New England Patriots back in January of 2005. It was that night that it became apparent that he was going to move on through free agency.

Could Burress be doing a 180 and come back to the place where his up and down career began?

Burress, fresh out of two years in prison, has dined twice with the Steelers twice at Saint Vincent College, and reports say that his services will come down to two teams – Pittsburgh and the Jets.

“We know what to expect from him and he knows what to expect from our organization,” said Kevin Colbert, the Steelers director of football operations.

Burress was having his mid-day meal with a number of his former teammates, including quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich, wide receiver Hines Ward and linebacker James Farrior. He had breakfast with coach Mike Tomlin, Colbert and team president Art Rooney.

Now the big question – if the Steelers want him, what type of offer do they make for him? The Jets, who lost out on Nnamdi Asomugha Friday when he shocked everyone by inking with the Eagles, seem to have the money to pay more to him if they want him bad enough.

So it come simply come down to Burress. Does he want to play for the team that drafted him and reached the Super Bowl last season? Or does he want to go back to the Big Apple to play for a team that will (along with the Pats), be one of the lead stories on SportsCenter just about everyday?

Burress can be an asset to the Steelers. Sure he hasn’t played for two seasons, but let’s be real, he’s still a threat, and that’s the reason why the two teams that fought it out in the AFC Title game are after him. He can be a huge threat by the goal-line for jump balls, and also could create mismatches with the Steelers if they ever want to go to five wide with Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Burress.

If the Steelers don’t have to break the bank for him, it’s worth the risk. On the other hand, if he wants to be a starter and wants the last cent, the place to be in 2011 will be with the Jets. Now it likely falls on Burress to make the decision.

It was reported earlier today that wide receiver Braylon Edwards was shopping his services around to other teams than the New York Jets, and two of those teams were the Vikings and Rams.

With the development of Mike Sims-Walker signing in St. Louis (fantasy sleeper), one has to wonder if Edwards will become Donovan McNabb's go-to target for the 2011 season in Minnesota.

I have to say, I am not sure of the fit. Edwards has had a solid decline in play since his days with the Browns, and he will likely require a good sized paycheck wherever he signs this offseason. The Vikings have not been shy about over-paying players (Brian Robison, Madieu Williams) so they might just be willing to go after Edwards in somewhat of a desperation move to upgrade their wide receiver group.

Despite losing out on Nnamdi Asomugha, not all is lost for the New York Jets.

The Jets have reached out to Anotnio Cromartie, though nothing further than that has been reported. Cromartie has received little "buzz" on the market. The Jets main competition appear to be the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.

It is also being reported that the Jets are moving on from Braylon Edwards. The free agent receiver seems to have priced himself out of the Jets price range. he had drawing interest from the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings, among others.

To replace Edwards, the Jets were reportedly making a "big push" on Plaxico Burress. However, he is not visiting the team complex tomorrow as it was previously reported, though he still may in the future. The Jets have also been linked to James Jones, formerly of the Packers.

Now onto to some good news. The Jets locked up Eric Smith to a 3 year contract worth $7.5 million. They also signed cornerback Donald Strickland, who was with the team in 2009, to a 1 year contract.

After signing Smith, the Jets appear to be moving on from Brodney Pool. However, they have made an offer to James Ihedigbo.

Finally, Mark Brunell is expected to re-sign with the team on Sunday at a reduced salary.

They also have made a contract offer to safety James Ihedigbo

With the NFL lockout over and an agreement to play football in place, it looks like defensive tackle Kelly Gregg will have to put his ultimate fighting plans on hold for the time being. Per a league source, Gregg has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs.

If your not familiar with Gregg's work, he was the guy on the interior defensive line eating up the blocks that kept Ray Lewis clean and free to destroy opposing running backs. In Kansas City, Gregg will have an opportunity to compete for the starting nose tackle job with Anthony Toribio and rookie Jerrell Powe.

While the Cowboys have been fairly silent in free agency, only signing their own free agents, it appears they have ventured out, at least a little. The Cowboys are closing in on former Cowboy, DE Coleman. It is rumoured that they have offered Coleman a two-year deal and that he is expected to officially sign later today.

Coleman, while not flashy, is a smart addition to the Cowboys defence. He played with Rob Ryan in Cleveland the last two seasons. He is more than capable to play the position, and he is a great depth player. Coleman, who played for the Cowboys from 03-06, will fill in for the departed Stephen Bowen, and the likely departed Jason Hatcher.

It is understandable that Cowboys fans might be getting a little impatient with the whirlwind activity going on around the league. The Cowboys still have many holes to fill, but Coleman does address one of those holes. With the failure to secure Asomugha the fans want reassurance that this year's Cowboys are going to be improved over last years. From the surface it appears that with the releasing of four high priced free agents, it is tough to argue they are better. But, it is still early and there are still some players available. Who knows, maybe the Cowboys will be the team that makes the next "swoop".