Tim Tebow was invited to the NFL Draft in New York, but the ratings-grabber isn't sure he will attend.
"I've got to figure out what will be more fun for me and my best for my family,'' he told SI's Peter King. "But I have to say I liked what Joe Thomas did on the day of the draft a couple of years ago -- he went fishing with his dad.''
We heard rumblings last week through a source that Tebow was unlikely to attend the draft, and these comments help to verify the rumor.
Frankly, we're surprised most players don't go the Thomas route, even when they are invited to New York. The NFL will tell the players what to do and where to be at all hours right after they are drafted. We'd want to enjoy the time and celebrate with those closest to us.
Other than a little free publicity, which Tebow doesn't need, what's the benefit?
Tebow doesn't sound likely to attend draft
Clausen poised to visit Browns, Rams, Bills
Apparently, Holmgren plans to give it a try.
Per a league source, Clausen will make pre-draft visits to the Browns. We're told that Clausen also will visit the Rams and the Bills.
Clausen had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his toe, delaying his Pro Day workout to April 9.
It's unclear where Clausen will fall in the draft. He's generally regarded as the No. 2 quarterback, behind Sam Bradford and ahead of Colt McCoy.
PFT Heroes 2009: The Boomer Esiason Award
When naming the annual award for the top quarterback from the prior season, we'll admit that we had a bias. We don't personally know many former NFL quarterbacks who have thrown for 500 yards or more in a game, primarily because there are only three of them. And we likewise don't know many of the top twenty all-time NFL passing yardage leaders, primarily because there are only . . . um . . . removing shoes and socks . . . twenty of them.
But we know Boomer Esiason, and we've come to greatly admire what he has done on the field, and off it.
Taken in the second round of the 1984 draft after long-forgotten names like Rick Bryan and Ron Faurot and Clyde Duncan and Mike Geundling were called, Boomer became one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, and perhaps of any generation.
The only omission from his list of NFL
Esiason's career with the Bengals ended too soon, due in large part to
the misguided decision to hire David Shula to be the coach, and to draft
David Klingler to be the quarterback. But Boomer made it to the Pro
Bowl
Esiason finished his fourteen-year career thirteenth on the all-time
passing yardage list, ahead of Hall of Famers such as Jim Kelly, Steve
Young,
Esiason's career after football has been just as impressive. Combining a passionate campaign against cystic fibrosis with a diverse presence in the media, Boomer is far busier now than he was during his playing days, and he has shown no signs of ever slowing down.
And so we recognize his accomplishments, and his friendship of the site, by naming the annual award we'll bestow on one NFL quarterback after him.
This year's winner, for the second straight year, is Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
He got it last year without taking his team to the playoffs. In 2009, he not only went to the playoffs but also won the Super Bowl -- and he has placed everyone on notice that he's in the prime of a career that could culminate in a Cajun caravan to Canton.
But it wasn't easy to pick Brees. Peyton Manning was the league MVP and Brett Favre had the best season of his career statistically, at age 40.
Still, Brees won the Super Bowl -- completing New Orleans' post-Katrina resurgence.
We could say more, but we'd either be preaching to the choir or failing to convince the Manning/Favre crowd.
Devaney upset Atogwe's name was floated
One reason that Rams G.M. Billy Devaney came out so strongly against the Donovan McNabb trade rumors was the inclusion of safety O.J. Atogwe's name.Speaking on Bernie Miklasz's radio show, Devaney wasn't happy that Atogwe's name was mentioned. Devaney said the Rams are trying to sign Atogwe long-term, and they don't want any "bad rumors" to create collateral damage.
The floated rumors, then, were not just premature. They were ill-conceived.
Including Atogwe's name forced the Rams to dismiss the report publicly and potentially damaged the chances of a future trade.
SportingNews.com: Draft-time marijuana concerns much ado about nothing
This year, the hand-wringing over the hand-rolling has begun, even before word has leaked of positive pot tests at the Scouting Combine.
So is it really a big deal? We explore the matter for SportingNews.com.
Last word on Pacman to Detroit
Officially, the Lions have no comment, per John Niyo of the Detroit News.
As we've heard it, via NBC Sports Digital G.M. Rick Cordella's intel gathering in Las Vegas, an agreement has been struck, and the Lions will announce it on Tuesday. We've spoken to Cordella again, and we stand by the report.
But here's the thing. We wouldn't rule out the possibility of the Lions delaying the announcement, now that word has leaked. Also, if Jones hasn't already signed a contract and if the Lions think that the leak traces to him and not them, the Lions might decide not to proceed.
Pierre Thomas won't skip workouts
Saints running back Pierre Thomas was one of the most underpaid backs in football last year, making the league minimum while he led the Saints backfield in rushing.He is hoping for a long-term extension this offseason, but he won't skip OTAs in an effort to get paid.
"It's a business and it's up to them," Thomas said. "You know, I'm putting my resume out there, showing them what I can do."
To this point, the restricted free agent hasn't received noteworthy interest from other teams. Thomas told his agent he only wanted to hear updates if another team wanted to meet with him; that hasn't happened.
With Reggie Bush's future uncertain and Mike Bell already gone, Thomas figures to be among New Orleans' priority extensions this offseason.
Vermeil doesn't think McNabb will be traded
But not everyone agrees.
Former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil, in a Thursday conversation with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan of Sirius NFL Radio, talked about the situation.
"Yeah, you know, there's a lot of rumors in regard to that but I talked to [coach] Andy [Reid] before he went to the owners meetings a week ago and it really didn't sound that convincing that he was going anywhere to me," Vermeil said. "I mean, he didn't just say he's going anywhere he said they've got some things going on but I'll be surprised if he leaves Philadelphia."
Before Tuesday, we would have agreed. But Reid's comments at the league meetings created the current feeling that McNabb will be traded -- and the Eagles have said nothing since then aimed at cramming the toothpaste back into the tube. So, for now, we'll assume that McNabb is going to be traded. The only thing that will change our mind is a contract that would extend his stay beyond 2010.
Kevin Smith "on schedule" but "no timeline" on ACL rehab
"My leg is feeling good and I think I'm right on schedule," Smith wrote on his personal web site. "I'm just taking it day-by-day, doing my rehab every day and lifting. It's time to get back into it. Football season is going to come back around real fast."
Smith started all 13 games before suffering the injury and was the Lions' leading rusher, but coach Jim Schwartz said at the annual league meetings that the team isn't going to rush Smith back.
"It's not measured in days or weeks," Schwartz said of Smith's recovery process. "I mean, you're measuring the rehab in months."
Smith will almost certainly not be ready for the start of training camp, and with a torn ACL in December, being ready for Week One may be a stretch as well. Smith acknowledged that being "on schedule" doesn't necessarily mean there's a clear indication of when he'll actually be ready to play football again.
"There's no timeline for my knee, I just know that I don't want to waste a single day," Smith wrote. "I rehab with a purpose, every day I find the focus to get myself right. My time is coming really soon."
PFT Daily: Tebow can win over an NFL locker room
One of the big questions regarding quarterback Tim Tebow is whether he'll face resistance or resentment in an NFL locker room and, if so, how he'll handle it.
It's an intriguing question, and as usual we've got an opinion on the topic.
We suppose we could write the opinions, but we need to justify our capacity to shoot videos by, you know, shooting videos. Besides, it keeps me shaving.
Steelers re-sign Charlie Batch to two-year deal
The Steelers announced today that they have re-signed Batch, an unrestricted free agent quarterback who has spent the last eight years in Pittsburgh, to a two-year deal. No financial terms were disclosed.
The Steelers were always interested in keeping Batch, but it may have become a higher priority when starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault. The Steelers' other backup quarterback is Dennis Dixon.
Batch has started four games during Roethlisberger's tenure in Pittsburgh and has been fairly reliable, although he's thrown only two passes in the last two years.