NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The 49ers have found a trading partner for safety Taylor Mays, as reports say he is headed to the Bengals. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the 49ers will receive an undisclosed draft pick.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that the 49ers were attempting to trade Mays, who was the 49th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

A Seattle native, the three-time first-team All-American from USC started six of 16 games as a rookie, totaling 38 tackles and scoring one touchdown after recovering a blocked punt against the Falcons.

Mays started training camp as a third-string safety, and then came the news the 49ers were seeking to trade him. He played often in the preseason opener in New Orleans and then not at all Saturday night at Candlestick against the Raiders. It’s possible the 49ers did not want to risk an injury before consummating the deal with Cincinnati.

When 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio mentioned safeties Monday, he never said a word about Mays, basically sealing the deal that he was about to be dealt somewhere.

The Browns and Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas have come to terms on a seven-year, $84 million contract extension. Thomas’ extension will include $44 million in guaranteed money.

Selected with the third overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Thomas started all 64 games of his NFL career, earning four straight trips to the Pro Bowl Thomas also has three straight selections to the All-Pro team, including first-team honors after each of the last two seasons.

Thomas had a $1 million reporting bonus and was scheduled to earn $8 million in base salary in 2011, the final year of his five-year, $42.5 million rookie contract that included $23 million in guarantees.

Legendary senior writer jclombardi reports Packers news.

Credit: Tom Lynn

The Packers have settled two positional battles in training camp.  OLB Zombo suffered a broken scapula meaning he will miss significant playing time (close to 4 to 6 weeks) and/or may be headed to the injured reserve.  With OLB Jones not 100% recovering from a bruised knee injury, OLB Walden appears to be the front runner for the right OLB starter position.  Meanwhile, coach McCarthy told reporters in his press conference that veteran OG T. J. Lang will now be the starting left guard after the dismal showing of rookie OL Sherrod in the past two preseason games.  This is no surprise since the rookie needs a great deal of seasoning for the big time in the NFL.

NFL free-agent Antwan Odom was shot in the leg early this morning according to Jessica Taloney of WKRG in Alabama. Nor further details available as the shooting occurred about 4:30 am.

Odom’s spokesperson says football star shot during home invasion. Deputies say the shooter entered house through unlocked door. His injury is not life threatening and his PR guy called it a flesh wound.

Odom was selected in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Titans. He played four years for the Titans and was signed by the Bengals during free agency in 2008 and was released by the Bengals in late July.

Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald is reporting that former Georgia Bulldog free agent rookie RB Caleb King has signed with the Vikings. He apparently got several offers.

At first glance, it may seem like a crowded backfield with Adrian Peterson, Lorenzo Booker and Toby Gerhart. That said, it’s possible Gerhart does more of a fullback role this year. Booker could also be used on the field at the same time as one of the other running backs as he can go out wide.

King was found academically ineligible to return to Georgia on July 8th.

According to Albert Breer of NFL Network, the Oakland Raiders have used their 2012 3rd round pick to take Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor in today’s Supplemental Draft. For a team that lost two of its best playmakers in Nnamdi Asomugha (to the Eagles) and Zach Miller (to the Seahawks), this looks like a great value pick.

Ironically, former Raider head coach Jon Gruden has a lot of faith in Pryor’s abilities as a quarterback. While this has been the off-season that Al Davis has been in the background for, you have to wonder if he won’t commission Hue Jackson to get that 4.38 speed on the field at some point during this season, maybe as a wide receiver.

The other quarterbacks on the roster are Jason Campbell, Trent Edwards, Kyle Boller, and San Jose State rookie Jordan La Secla. Hue Jackson will be earning his money, needless to say.

Eagles quarterback Vince Young said that his “Dream Team” comment was taken out of context according to Jeff McLane of the Philadlephia Inquirer.

“That’s pretty much how it go with Vince Young,” Young said Monday. “My words always get taken out of context. It’s just basically what I mean. We do have some really talented guys and I feel like if we continue to keep working and taking care of our responsibilities and finish like a team like we want to finish I feel like that’s pretty much how I called it.

“How everybody want to take it that’s how everybody is going to take it. Just how the Miami Heat was — them guys ended up being in the NBA Finals. So it’s all about getting your chemistry right, playing together and taking stepping stones to get where you want to be.”

Did regret the statement?

“That’s just how I feel,” Young said. “I don’t care what nobody else says, that’s how I feel about the guys here.”