Weekend Roundup: Owens & NFL draft talk

by Matty I on Mar 9, 2009 12:15 AM EDT in News Comment 37 comments

We are less than 50 days away from the NFL Draft - and there's still plenty of news to talk about.

T.O. SIGNS WITH BUFFALO
As you all surely know, Terrell Owens signed a one year deal on Saturday with the Buffalo Bills. And as some of you probably noticed, I really haven't said anything about the move by the Bills.

Why? Because I simply don't care. Owens will spend the year playing in Buffalo. I'm not sure who I feel worse for - Owens, for having to spend a year in Buffalo, or the Bills, who are probably going to regret signing Owens once he starts acting like the egomaniac that he is.

And it's only a one year deal. So I don't see how this move benefits Buffalo - other than the extra tickets they will sell and the added media attention Owens will bring. The addition of Owens doesn't make Buffalo Super Bowl contenders; nor does it help them build for the future. So what's the point?

Here's what I know. Dick Jauron is still Buffalo's head coach. And more importantly, Trent Edwards is still their quarterback. If Owens wasn't happy getting the ball thrown to him by Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo, then how the hell is he going to be satisfied with Trent Edwards (who has more career turnovers than touchdown passes) as his quarterback?

FINS SHOWING INTEREST IN THE DRAFT'S CORNERBACKS
Barry Jackson's latest article for the Miami Herald was filled with some good little nuggets. But I wanted to highlight two in particular - mainly because it seems the Dolphins are showing interest in the very two cornerbacks that I like the most in April's draft - Utah's Sean Smith and UCONN's Darius Butler.

Here's what the article reports about Smith:

Sean Smith interests the Dolphins, who met with him and want another private session Monday at Utah's Pro Day. ''There are not many 6-3 corners,'' Mayock said. "But he's got a chance to be a good NFL corner, though you cannot leave him in man coverage all day.''

It'll be very interesting to read reports on Utah's Pro Day. At the Scouting Combine, Smith, at 6'3, ran one of the better 40 yard dash times among the cornerbacks - clocking in a 4.53. But there are now reports that claim the Combine's equipment may have malfunctioned. But if Smith can run a similar - or even better - 40 time at his workout and package that with a solid display of technique during his "on-field" workout, his stock is really going to begin to soar.

As far as Darius Butler goes, reports indicate that the Dolphins also have a lot of interest in him. Per the article:

Connecticut's Darius Butler said Miami and Baltimore ''are showing a lot of interest'' in him, and NFL Network's Mike Mayock said Butler could be the best corner available to Miami at No. 25.

Butler, from Coral Springs Charter, said he saw general manager Jeff Ireland at some of his games; met with Ireland and Tony Sparano at the Senior Bowl and NFL combine; and got good feedback from Bill Parcells in January: ``The first thing he said was how much stuff he heard about me from [Dolphins guard and ex-college teammate] Donald Thomas.''

The article adds that Butler has spent time working out with Deion Sanders recently - and that Butler has said "Miami would be a dream." What's not to like about that?

In all seriousness, though, Butler's Pro Day - which is on March 25 - will be a critical day for Butler. Butler ran an unofficial 4.45 40 time at the Combine - but it was corrected up to a 4.53 "official" time. Again, with the timing equipment malfunctioning, Butler's time at his workout will be something to note.

Butler is also intruiging because of his 43" vertical leap - the 2nd best figure among all participants at the Combine. At a little over 5'10, that vertical gives Butler the ability to defend bigger receivers in the NFL.

For more on Butler, I suggest checking out this fanpost by one of our community members.

QUICK HITS
-Barry Jackson also writes that the Dolphins want Samson Satele to compete with Donald Thomas for the starting RG job.

-On his weekly television show, Drew Rosenhaus said that Samson Satele could be traded. He also claims that the Dolphins would be willing to welcome Jason Taylor back - but other teams might be more interested in him.

FINAL THOUGHT
One thing I really don't understand is why everyone is suddenly all panicked about the Dolphins' cornerback situation following the Bills' signing of Terrell Owens. This is nothing new. We all already knew that the Dolphins have some issues at corner. Owens being a Bill doesn't change anything. And it's not going to change the plan that Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland have in place.

A one-year rental of a 35 year old, loud-mouth wide receiver isn't suddenly going to panic Parcells and Ireland. They aren't going to deviate from their plan just because the Bills have a new receiver. That would be assanine and would reek of fear and desperation - two emotions that I'm not even sure these two gentlemen possess.

0 recs | Comment 37 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I like the corners too

but truthfully I am not hoping for a great pro day for either. I still want a USC LB and one of the corners including D.J. Moore to slip to us in 2nd round. With the second 2nd rounder another DE/LB with DT shortly there after. Tuna’s stp the pass isn’t in the corners but FIRST stop the run(make them predictable) then pressure QK if he has only 3 to 4 seconds to find a reciever even average corners look great :)

Blaze

by Blaze453 on Mar 9, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll take Sean Smith all day

I really like him as a CB prospect.

As far as the TO thing, you’re absolutely right that it really does nothing for the Bills. The only thing I’m hoping for is that he makes them just good enough to want to keep Jauron around (and since he’s stuck around through the past couple lackluster years, that should be a simple task). He’s a TERRIBLE coach, and the longer he’s running the Bills, the better.

And all the panicking for a CB is pretty disappointing. People are ready to jump off the deep end because Bryant McFadden signed elsewhere? Really? He’s the Epitome of Average. He’d be solid depth, but is anybody really sold on him being a number 1 corner? Once the draft is over, we’ll all see how the plan is taking shape again.

"Are we doing this? Is this happening?"
~Co-Pilot of the Draft Alex Mack Bandwagon~

by Little Nicky 21 on Mar 9, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very well said

You said it all.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Mar 9, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree but you have to understand the guys who think like that

After watching the Patriots tear us apart on defense with 3 Randy Moss’ TD you cant help but relate these two guys and their actions. And I also think it goes deeper than that, a lot of people are worried about that CB hole because we are going to play against Manning, Brees Rivers and Big Ben so the Andre Johnson’s effect immediate come to mind, meaning that if there is a painfull way of losing is doing so because their #1 receiver manhandled you all game and seeing all the work you put into other units go to the trash. On the other hand, look at what happens when you have a true shut down corner ( in the Denver game Goodman played as good a football as any corner did all season) :
1-Nullify their #1 receiver
a) altering their gameplan
b) stopping their offense as a whole
2- Create turnovers and capitalizing in the scoreboard
3- Making your offense efficient

So as we can see, covering that CB spot (ironic) will be the difference between having an @Denver like season or an @Houston season.

by MauMontaV5 on Mar 9, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Goodman got some help

from the zebras, that offensive pass interference call saved his ass from being burned.

God is Great,
Beer is good
and people are crazy.
Phyrmun

by phyrmun on Mar 9, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was one play in the whole game, and it indeed was an offensive interferience

rules are rules deal with it. And he still managed to keep Brandon Marshall to 1 reception after coming from a 19 rec game.

by MauMontaV5 on Mar 9, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would be assanine and would reek of fear and desperation - two emotions that I'm not even sure these two gentlemen possess.

Lol I love it.

And yeah, I’ll tell you who I really feel sorry for: Trent Edwards. He’s a softspoken Stanford kid who’s just trying to make his way in the NFL, and now he has to put up with loud-mouth TO yelling at him for either not throwing him the ball on every play or for throwing an interception?

And do you honestly expect Dick Jauron to be able to control him? TO is going to destroy the Bills.

Some people try to find things in this game that don't exist but football is only two things - blocking and tackling. ~Vince Lombardi

by ratenxs on Mar 9, 2009 1:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I think TO is a good move for the Bills. Not that they’re scaring anyone, but Owens has talent and, like a few people have pointed out, he’s usually been good to his teams for the first couple of years before becoming a headache.

It’s not like Buffalo is going to the Super Bowl, but kudos to them for improving their team, even if, like Matty said, this move won’t have any long-term implications, and only lead to moderate short-term success.

by icerob on Mar 9, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

TO has been good to his teams for the first couple of years...

…Until he stops getting the ball enough to feed his appetite, or the team starts losing, both of which I predict to happen within 3 games.

Some people try to find things in this game that don't exist but football is only two things - blocking and tackling. ~Vince Lombardi

by ratenxs on Mar 9, 2009 4:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol. You may be right.

by icerob on Mar 9, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trent wanted T.O.

Why do you feel sorry for him? He asked for T.O. The kid may be soft-spoken but he wants to win.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 12, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I like your last comment on there

That the TO signing isn’t something for us to worry about. What has changed? That suddenly we have to face a team twice a year that has two good-great WRs? Isn’t that the same thing as facing the Patriots with Moss and Welker? We all know that we are weak at the CB spot. What’s changed?

I don’t understand the panic that seems to be flying around. Nothing’s different. We need a CB. TO doesn’t scare me. Why? Trent Edwards.

Proud member of the EPIC 1073 Comment thursday Lunchtime CKC
****Keeper of the Phinsider Goo Cannon****
Creator of the R&R Track Laying Max Unger Draft Bandwagon

Your 2008 AFC East Champion Miami Dolphins!

by Mosul_DolFan on Mar 9, 2009 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

What a suprise, we need CB help.

I’m glad this TO signing brought that to Parcell/Ireland/Sparano’s attention. They would’ve never addressed the position otherwise.

"I have nothing to declare except my genuis."

-Oscar Wilde

by Neo on Mar 9, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

should we panic? Is it panic time yet?

"Are we doing this? Is this happening?"
~Co-Pilot of the Draft Alex Mack Bandwagon~

by Little Nicky 21 on Mar 9, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah- seriously-

McFadden is just a guy. Do you really think the Steelers would let a great player walk? I said it in the other post- he made 8 starts and didn’t look particularly special- and that was with a monstrous front 7 rushing the passer in front of him.

Honestly, there is a good chance we don’t sign any FA corners at this point- AND there is a good chance we don’t take a CB in the 1st round. Parcells believes that the best pass defense is a pass rush so if there is a stud OLB he will take him every time over a CB.

"Right now he’s got to be one of the best players in America. He’s got the best first step . . .What he did to prepare for that game is what legends are made of." Urban Meyer on Percy Harvin
Lonely Leader of the Percy Harvin Bandwagon.

by GatorPhan on Mar 9, 2009 7:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

even the greatest pass rush gets stopped from time to time

Thats why you need a great secondary to stop the pass so your linebackers and d-line can worry about stopping the run. I can see the FO drafting two young cornerbacks within the first three rounds because will allen is getting old and jason probably isn’t going to cut it

here kitty kitty kitty BANG!

Dj Moore come on down

by bryankstro on Mar 9, 2009 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"There is a good chance we don't take a CB in the1st round."

As much as I really want them to take a corner first (mainly because that’s our greatest hole AND the OLB position is deeper this year than in years past), like I said in my mock draft, I agree with you and – as of now – think the Fins will go LB in round 1.

The Phinsider: SBN's Miami Dolphins blog

by Matty I on Mar 9, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree I got a feeling we go LB as well

Ahhhh Ta Ta Ta Ta Bye Bye Foy518

by Foy on Mar 9, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you-

I’d like to see an elite corner here, but I don’t think we will. Parcells just usually doesn’t draft them high or shell out big $$ for them.

Belichick is the same way- he uses guys old enough to be our grandparents so he can pay them in applesauce and shuffleboard vouchers. Whatever works.

by GatorPhan on Mar 9, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read this in another post (i think by GatorPhan)

but T.O.-Evans is still inferior to the Moss-Welker tandem we have already had to face IMO.

I don’t see how TO signing with the Bill changes anything for us. And yes, we have needed a #1 corner for a few years now, even though W. Allen is good.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Mar 9, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ill take Smith as well and I would not even complain if they took him at 25

Ahhhh Ta Ta Ta Ta Bye Bye Foy518

by Foy on Mar 9, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Buffalo

A contestant on a game show was informed, “Good news and bad news. The good news is you won the second place prize. The bad news is the prize is a weekend in Buffalo.”

Have fun T.O. Buffalo turned O.J. into a homicidal maniac memorabilia possessive freak. Luckily for you, you already are a freak.

by Sparcells on Mar 9, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

O.J. didn’t allegedly kill anybody until he went to Hollywood. He didn’t become a convicted felon until Las Vegas.

I don’t see the correlation between Buffalo and O.J.’s bad behavior.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 12, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they’re just trying to find something negative to talk about so they don’t feel worried about the presence of T.O. – thats fine and dandy – don’t be worried – works for us

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by J2 on Mar 12, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

we’re not worried about TO, or anybody on the Bills for that matter. Dicky J is still your coach.

Winner of Three 2008/2009 Matty Awards
"Are We Doing This?"

by Little Nicky 21 on Mar 12, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

word

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by J2 on Mar 12, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The TO signing just adds another big WR that has to be dealt with next year...

and puts an emphasis on C for the phins, IMO. Look at the list of receivers that the phins are playing: Moss, Welker, Owens, Evans, S. Smith (Car), White (Atl), Bryant (TB), Colston (NO), Wayne (Ind), Johnson (Hou), Gage (Ten), Chambers (SD), Holmes (Pit).

That is a list of some big time talent and TO just adds to the list. Corner was always a concern regardless of who they are playing, but looking at this list, it makes drafting a C early imperative. IMO

by ct1361 on Mar 9, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

next time you should probably address the Corner Back position as "CB" and not "C" lol

you had me completely lost until I realized what you meant. And yeah those are some scary receivers.

by MauMontaV5 on Mar 10, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gage Chambers and Holmes are not elite WRs

neither is Welker for that matter

"How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?"

-From the Unforgiven III off of Death Magnetic

by Patssuck456 on Mar 10, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if I would call them elite either...

but they are probably top 20. Gage and Holmes are probably the weakest on the list, but Welker has led the league in receptions the last two years combined and is a pro bowl player. He is pretty good.

And Mau, I did mean “CB”. Don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I put in “C”. The funny thing is that I reread everything I write before I hit post. lol.

by ct1361 on Mar 10, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What the TO signing tells me is this:

I need Rosenhaus to be my agent.

Seriously, getting a 35 year old WR in decline, not to mention who has burned every bridge with every team he has been on and gotten himself booted out of town – a $6.5M guaranteed is virtual armed robbery!

Like so many of you have candidly (and bluntly!) stated – this marriage promises to blow up even more spectacularly than the previous TO go arounds.

Stopping Owens has become quite simple of late: jam him at the line and/or have your QB draw up plays with the TE and then watch TO explode with jealousy….

by Natalya on Mar 10, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs