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Koren Robinson
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Koren Robinson had what many considered a breakout season in 2002, finishing with78 catches for 1,240 yards. His yardage total was second only to Steve Largent in franchise history, and his 15.9-yard average per catch was second in the NFC.
Robinson showed the kind of after-catch running skills that head coach Mike Holmgren lauded when he was drafted two years ago.
But as any Fantasy owner relying on Robinson last year will tell you, the young receiver fell short of expectations last year. He finished the 2003 campaign with 65 receptions, 896 yards and four touchdowns.
Meaning his yardage total fell by approximately 25 percent.
But that's not all. ... Dropped passes were also a problem last season. Seahawk receivers dropped a total of 37 passes with Robinson dropping at least two sure scoring strikes.
Fortunately, the former first-round draft pick is said to be highly motivated this offseason.
So motivated, in fact, that he spent the entire offseason in Seattle rather than returning to his home in North Carolina. He worked so hard, he'll open camp at 214 pounds, up from 208 last season. According to Tacoma News Tribune staff writer Mike Sando, "His biceps appear to be on loan from a linebacker. ..."
So motivated that when he and Darrell Jackson have dropped passes during mini-camp workouts, they immediately dropped and did push-ups as punishment.
Robinson: and the crew have also been subjected to an array of drills designed to improve their concentration. Receivers coach Nolan Cromwell had his players stand on one leg and catch softballs being tossed from different angles and at various speeds to help them focus on incoming passes.
We'll also remind you of his obvious physical attributes. At 6-1, 215 pounds, Robinson boasts an impressive 38.5-inch vertical leap and is good catching the ball in a crowd.
He is a sharp route runner who is especially effective on underneath passes and crossing patterns. His upfield acceleration consistently allows him to break tackles.
But of course, all the hard work and physical attributes in the world won't do Robinson -- or Fantasy owners -- much good unless the 24-year old's mind is in the right place.
With that thought in mind, we tracked Robinson down early in May, sat him down and spent some time trying to find out why Fantasy owners should believe this obviously talented youngster is ready to regain the form necessary to work his way back into our plans.
We found Robinson to be engaging, amusing, informative and very interesting. We believe you will, too.
DBook: Looking back at last season, your numbers obviously came down a little bit, but I understand that you've been working hard to turn things around this offseason.
Robinson:: Yeah, I'm trying to go ahead and show the coaches and everybody that I'm dedicated to the team. You know being a part of this offense, I have to dedicate myself and show them what I'm willing to do.
DBook:: Trying to show some leadership, eh?
Robinson:: Yeah, and in a way I feel like I am that type of player, my teammates need me stepping up, trying, doing the little things that will help them out, too. Showing that I'm trying to get it right and hoping they will follow in suit.
DBook:: I'll remind everybody at this point that you came out of college after just two seasons. You were young, and by all accounts a bit immature. But it appears you're getting things together in that department. I understand you even showed up in Seattle before the offseason program started?
Robinson:: Yes.
DBook:: I know the team's program started the first week of April, but I heard you were there as early as March. When did you get started?
Robinson:: March 15 or something like that.
DBook:: I have a quote here from Matt Hasselbeck, about you showing up early: "He and I talked a lot and he's going to spend a lot more time up here this offseason, which will be great. Your comfort level with a guy just becomes so much greater when you're working out every day with them."
Do you agree? Is working more closely with Hasselbeck going to have an impact on your game this fall?
Robinson:: Yeah, it's going to have a great impact on agility and quickness. Anytime you get to work with somebody every other day or every day it's going to help you and the team out, individually and help the team to get into the playoffs.
DBook:: Speaking of the playoffs, that was a bit of a disappointment last year.
Robinson:: Oh yeah because you feel like we're so close, and we lost that game on the last play. We felt like we were supposed to win that game; you know, going into overtime we all agreed with what Matt said after the coin toss.
DBook:: Did you hear what he said?
Robinson:: No, I didn't know that until later, but it doesn't surprise me that he did. That's how we felt. We felt for him to say that because that's how, we felt like we had the momentum, we had the ball, we just knew we were going to go down and score.
DBook:: In case anybody missed it, Hasselbeck's "We want the ball, we're going to score" pronouncement after winning the coin toss in the overtime period of Seattle's first-round playoff game in Green Bay was a very cool moment.
Robinson:: He showed a lot of confidence.
DBook:: He's a fiery guy, no? Was the glimpse representative of his overall approach to the game?
Robinson:: Yeah, it is.
DBook:: He seems to be getting more aggressive.
Robinson:: Yeah, he's quieted down, but that's his real personality. I think it just came out in the heat of the game.
DBook:: Moving along, let's talk about something I've always liked about your game -- your run-after-the-catch skills. Tell me about that.
Robinson:: You know I was a running back in high school; I was a running back all my life.
DBook:: Until you went to North Carolina State?
Robinson:: Yeah, until I went to North Carolina State. I feel like I'm an open field runner. Whatever it takes to get to the end zone, that's what I try to do, elude tacklers, breaking a tackle, running somebody over or whatever I gotta do, that's what I do. That's just me. I've been doing that ever since I was eight years old.
DBook:: So it's just second nature; once you catch the ball, you turn into a halfback?
Robinson:: I turn into the running back.
DBook:: There you go. ... You've got a bit of size there, too. I assume you feel comfortable sticking your helmet into would-be tacklers on occasion?
Robinson:: Yeah, you know a little bit.
DBook:: Given those skills, it comes as no surprise you were in on the two longest plays in Seahawks history in 2002, taking a pass from Trent Dilfer for a 79-yard touchdown at St. Louis and then later in that same game, setting the franchise record with an 83-yard gain to the Rams' 2-yard line.
Is that something you'd like to return to again this year, breaking off some more long ones?
Robinson:: Yeah, I do. I think last year [opposing defenses] keyed on me more because I don't feel like coming into my second year everybody knew my skill level or what I was capable of.
DBook:: They overlooked you.
Robinson:: Yeah, kind of overlooked me, so I feel like I took them by surprise my second year. Into my third year, they knew. They started moving the coverages over me.
DBook:: So, you didn't get the kind of opportunities you were looking for?
Robinson:: Right, so they roll deep coverage on my side or whatever and that takes me out of the offense pretty much. But I feel like this year Darrell [Jackson] had a good year and then we got Bobby [Engram], he is doing great on the inside. I feel like I will get those opportunities once again this coming year.
DBook:: Tell me about some of the drills the receivers have been doing in recent workouts.
Robinson:: Oh yeah. We're playing with a softball right now. We just throwing and got to catch it with our fingertips. We got to focus in on the ball and you throw it kind of hard, you don't want to be hit in the face with a softball. You have to really concentrate to catch it with your fingertips. We've started catching the ball and it's bigger and it's easier to see.
DBook:: Your position coach, Nolan Cromwell, is behind that drill. He seems like an intense guy. In fact, I see a lot of intense guys on that staff: Mike Holmgren, Ray Rhodes, Cromwell. Am I wrong?
Robinson:: You're not wrong at all. I can testify to that.
DBook:: How is it working with them. Do you enjoy it?
Robinson:: Oh yeah, I love it. I love playing for Seattle. It's a really nice atmosphere, you know, chemistry, coaches, players. It's great.
DBook:: Cool. Lets talk a little bit about Darrell Jackson. How is it to play across from him? And how much does it help you to have him coming off a big year like he had?
Robinson:: It takes the pressure off me. If they double-team me I feel like he can kill you, you know if you try to double-team him then I can kill you. If you try to stop both of us, we got Bobby Engram on the inside and he can get open.
DBook:: I suspect Engram is also helpful off the field?
Robinson:: He takes this business as his job. You have to approach it as that. He did give me little pointers on the field, you know as far as getting off the line or how to deal with pressure or stress out there on the field. He's been a great help. He's a real good friend. He's a lot of help to me.
DBook:: Excellent. Let's talk about some of your other offensive teammates. Tell me a little bit about the tight ends, in particular Jerramy Stevens. How do you see him progressing this year?
Robinson:: He's working out in the offseason, coming in and catching balls, getting in the weight room, going out running. He's taking it upon himself to get better to help us out during the season. He has a lot of potential.
DBook:: How about Itula Mili?
Robinson:: He's unbelievable. He's not the biggest guy. ...
DBook:: But he's pretty athletic for his size.
Robinson:: Yeah. He's real athletic. He got us out of a lot of situations last year so we were able to win the game. Itula is a big part of the offense.
DBook:: Tell me something about Shaun Alexander.
Robinson:: He's slippery.
DBook:: The offense is definitely coming together. I think one of the things Fantasy guys like is that your offense as a whole came on strong down the stretch in each of the last two seasons. But they'd like it even better if you could keep that pace all year.
What kind of plans do you have to make their wish come true?
Robinson:: We're trying to do everything we can in the offseason to go ahead and deal with the quarterback and find your niche early so you don't have to play eight games before you get to your zone.
Whatever I'm trying to do in the offseason to help me out.
DBook:: All right. I wanted to bring up something I found rummaging through my old files here -- something I wasn't aware of until now. You tied Torry Holt's all-time record with 14 100-yard games receiving for North Carolina State, accomplishing the feat in 22 games, compared to 41 for Holt. How did you do that?
Robinson:: Actually, they don't count bowl games. There's one more. I beat it.
DBook:: I stand corrected. ... What do you think about Holt? Is he someone you look up to still?
Robinson:: Oh, yeah. He's a great player and great person. People compare me to him and that's a great comparison, I think. I love to be compared to him, it's an honor.
He's a great player. He's one of the best receivers anywhere right now, if not the best.
DBook:: Okay. ... Let's talk a little Fantasy here. What is your overall perception of Fantasy Football?
Robinson:: I think it's great. People get more into football game, watching NFL, and knowing what's going on. I feel it's great for somebody to get started.
DBook:: How often are you approached with Fantasy-related questions?
Robinson:: Oh man (laughing). ...
DBook:: It happens every now and again?
Robinson:: It happens all the time. Yeah, "You're on my Fantasy Football team, you know?" It's everywhere we go.
DBook:: How do you typically respond?
Robinson:: I appreciate it. I thank them for the support.
DBook:: What do you think of the NFL's recent efforts to promote Fantasy Football?
Robinson:: I feel like it's good. It's real good for the NFL. It gets more people aware, involved or interested in the NFL.
DBook:: How closely do you follow individual statistics at your position during the season?
Robinson:: I'm not really a stat guy like that.
DBook:: You just try to keep the focus on performance?
Robinson:: Yeah. That's it. I do my best to perform.
DBook:: If you take care of business, the stats will take care of themselves?
Robinson:: That's right.
DBook:: Excellent. So do you follow other players and teams? Do you keep up with that kind of news during the season?
Robinson:: Like watching SportsCenter? Oh yes.
DBook:: Who is your favorite NFL analyst?
Robinson:: Irvin.
DBook:: You like Michael Irvin?
Robinson:: It's gotta be.
DBook:: On the whole, how accurately do you believe the media portrays you?
Robinson:: Some of the stuff is right on, and some of it is. ... You know what I'm saying?
DBook:: Are you saying some of them have an agenda?
Robinson:: Yeah. Some of them are going to put in what they believe and not know where it's coming from or whatever.
DBook:: How do you deal with that?
Robinson:: I don't let it bother me. I just go out and be my own person.
DBook:: Do you pay attention to any of it?
Robinson:: I read it or whatever. I just read it and put it in the past or whatever, because it's not true so I'm not going to let it bother me.
DBook:: How would you describe your game?
Robinson:: Intense. Elusive. ... Need the YAC (yards after the catch).
DBook:: It's all about the YAC. ... Along those lines, what kind of individual goals have you set for the upcoming season?
Robinson:: Just to hit some of the numbers that I hit my second year. Just to prove to everybody that I still have a lot of upside, that I have a lot of potential and there's a lot more in store.
DBook:: When you set goals, what do you base them on? Do you have a measure, like I want to improve a certain amount?
Robinson:: I feel like reducing the mental errors, you know some of the penalties, some of the little stuff. ...
DBook:: The details?
Robinson:: Yeah, little details. I feel like if I can get better and better every year I know that I'll have a better season. I do want to get back to certain numbers and that would be great.
DBook:: You might not pay attention to them during the season, but at the end of the year you'd like to see them back up.
Robinson:: Right.
DBook:: All right. How big a factor do you consider strength of schedule to be, when you're going into a season?
Robinson:: That plays a lot. It's real big. I know we have a hard schedule.
DBook:: It definitely looks tough this year. Should that keep Fantasy owners from drafting you?
Robinson:: If you like a player and you believe in his potential or his skills you gotta go with him.
DBook:: You stick with your guy?
Robinson:: That's right.
DBook:: Looking even more closely at this year's schedule, the Seahawks face a number of tough passing defenses. Will that be a problem?
Robinson:: Not at all. We've got one of the elite league's group of receivers.
DBook:: What player do you least like to see staring across at you from the line of scrimmage?
Robinson:: I really don't care.
DBook:: Whoever it is, you're going to tear them up?
Robinson:: Yeah. I want to go up against the best because I feel that will be more recognition for me.
DBook:: What single player do you least like to see closing in for a tackle?
Robinson:: Ray [Lewis] is the main guy. He choked me last year. He had me by the neck, but I got him back though.
DBook:: You got him back? What did you do?
Robinson:: I think I cracked down on him. I got him. He was tired then, but it didn't matter (laughing).
DBook:: What's your favorite route?
Robinson:: I like a hitch route or a slant route where I can get my ball in my hand early. ...
DBook: And put the running skills to work?
Robinson:: Yeah, make a move and make somebody miss. You know, take the distance or get a first down or something like that, whoever.
DBook:: In terms of defenders, who talks the most and the best trash?
Robinson:: [Lewis] and Chris McAllister.
DBook:: Who talks the weakest trash?
Robinson:: Everybody else.
DBook:: What NFL defender would you most like to legally blindside?
Robinson:: Rodney Harrison.
DBook:: What opposing defensive coordinator seems to have your number?
Robinson:: Lovie Smith for the Rams (now Chicago's head coach); but I always have good games against [St. Louis].
DBook:: What opposing defense disguises its coverages best?
Robinson:: I think it was Cleveland that gave us a hard time, and they were disguising their coverage a lot and they were messing us up at the beginning of the game, but once we figured it out it all downhill from there.
DBook:: Since it would be hard not to pick yourself I'm going to give you the first two picks in a mock Fantasy draft. Who do you take with No. 2 and why?
Robinson:: Vick.
DBook:: What do you like about Michael Vick?
Robinson:: The man got an arm.
DBook:: A cannon.
Robinson:: And he can run. That's all a quarterback needs.
DBook:: Who is the most underrated offensive player on your team?
Robinson:: I would say our fullback, Mack Strong.
DBook:: What offensive teammate of yours is going to exceed our expectations this year? Who is going to come out and put up bigger numbers than we think?
Robinson:: Matt (Hasselbeck).
DBook:: Cool. That would make my readers happy.
Robinson:: That will make a lot of people happy. Make them happy and take us deep into the playoffs.
DBook:: Generally speaking, what percent of an NFL team's success is due to talent and what percent can we attribute to coaching or the system?
Robinson:: I'd say 50 percent talent, 25 percent coaching, 25 percent system.
DBook:: If you were running the team what would your offensive philosophy be?
Robinson:: Run and gun.
DBook:: Your team has either drafted or signed a high profile newcomer in your position; is there any such thing as friendly competition?
Robinson:: If you're the newcomer, I'm going to help you out. If you want my position, you're going to have to take it.
DBook:: On a scale from 1-10, how important is team chemistry to your individual success?
Robinson:: I think a 10.
It's real important for a team to gel. It only takes one person to mess the whole play up. I think everybody has to be on the same page to be a successful NFL team. The team relies on individuals.
DBook:: What head coach other than your current coach would you be interested in ever playing for? Is there a guy out there that you really admire?
Robinson:: [Denver's Mike] Shanahan.
DBook:: Okay, does your position coach have a major role in your game preparation?
Robinson:: Yeah, he does. He's right up under the offensive coordinator. I think they're almost head-to-head to tell you the truth, but the offensive coordinator has a little more pull you know, but he has a big part.
DBook:: Do you like (Seattle offensive coordinator) Gil Haskell?
Robinson:: I like Gil. Gil's my boy.
DBook:: He says a lot of good stuff about you.
Robinson:: Yeah, I like him. He's real cool. He tries to put plays in to utilize my skills.
DBook:: Does Haskell actually call plays during the game or does Holmgren do that?
Robinson:: They both do.
DBook:: They share?
Robinson:: Yeah. Gil calls the majority.
DBook:: They've been working together a long time.
Robinson:: Sometimes Coach Holmgren; if he feels like he wants to go with a play, then he'll call it.
DBook:: What one word best describes your blocking ability?
Robinson:: Hellacious.
DBook:: Okay. How often does the quarterback have to tell you to shut up in the huddle during the course of an average game?
Robinson:: Three or four times (laughing).
DBook:: Are you telling him to look your way? Do you tell him you can beat your man?
Robinson:: It may not even be that. It might be that I'm hyper or just singing in the huddle.
DBook:: Any truth to rumors you're the team jokester?
Robinson:: Yeah. You gotta have fun. Gotta be loose and go out there and have fun and relax.
DBook:: All right Koren, one last question here. If you could be commissioner for a day, what's the first rule you'd change?
Robinson:: We could celebrate. We'd take the helmets off.
DBook:: There you go.
Robinson:: I would change the celebration, taking the helmets off, and then the socks. I don't like the long socks.
DBook:: You don't like the long socks?
Robinson:: (If I'm commissioner) you don't have to wear the long socks.
DBook:: The uniform police aren't your buddies?
Robinson: Oh my Lord (laughing). ...
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Our latest Cheat Sheets updated constantly through September.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Jermicheal Finley Says No Progress On Contract Yet
(2/3 11:45 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Finley is a free agent this offseason and there hasn't been any movement on a new contract. "Hey, it's the NFL," Finley said Friday. "With business right now, I don't even know what's going on. ...You just have to play that (waiting) game. It's the Green Bay way. "I don't know anything. I'll just hope for the best."
Diehards Line:
As Journal Sentinel staffer Tyler Dunne notes, if Finley does receive the franchise tag from the Packers, it's expected that he will seek to be classified as a wide receiver. An arbitrator would make that final call. The franchise tag number for wideouts will likely be around $9 million. This season, Finley had 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Chiefs Going With Daboll As OC
(2/3 10:00 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the previous item. ... ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs hired former Dolphins assistant Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator.
Diehards Line:
Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and he was selected over QBs coach Jim Zorn and former Raiders OC Al Saunders.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Bills, Rian Lindell Agree To New Contract
(2/3 9:32 PM PT)
The Facts:
According to a league source, the Bills and Lindell have agreed on a contract that will keep him in Buffalo. Lindell was set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, but the two sides have hammered out an agreement.
Diehards Line:
Lindell has spent nine seasons as the kicker for Buffalo since arriving from the Seattle Seahawks. From 2003 to 2010, Lindell didn't miss a single game for Buffalo. It wasn't until this past season that he missed eight regular season games due to a shoulder injury. In his career in Buffalo, Lindell has connected on 204 field goals out of 246 attempts, a field goal percentage of nearly 83-percent. He's also missed only one extra point, that coming on a block against the Chicago Bears at the Rogers Centre in Toronto in 2010.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Super Bowl XLVI Injury Report; Final Edition
(2/3 4:25 PM PT)
The Facts:
Friday's final Super Bowl XLVI Injury/Status Report is now available for your review.
Diehards Line:
Under NFL rules, teams are only required to list if a player practiced or not until Friday. Then they must reveal the player's status for the game (out, doubtful, questionable, or probable). That information can now be accessed HERE.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Ryan: Sanchez, Holmes Have Talked; Hope To Meet Soon
(2/3 2:02 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes have talked by phone in an attempt to repair their relationship, and they're planning to meet soon for a kind of quarterback-wide receiver retreat. HC Rex Ryan told ESPN.com Friday that Sanchez and Holmes have discussed the possibility of taking an entire weekend to hash out their differences -- a couple's getaway, NFL style. "I'm not sure if they're going to or not, but that's something they mentioned," Ryan said. "I'm not sure where it would be or anything like that. I know they had mentioned that to me."
Diehards Line:
Ryan said he has spoken individually to Sanchez and Holmes, whose year-long rift became public at the end of the season. Asked if he planted the seed for the get-together, Ryan smiled and said, "I'm not going to take credit for that." Owner Woody Johnson revealed Thursday that he's planning to have dinner next week with Sanchez, and the team also has to make a final decision on Holmes' contract. If they wanted to cut him, they'd have to do it by Wednesday, according to a clause in the five-year, $45 contract he signed last summer. If he's still on the roster by Wednesday, his guaranteed money increases from $7.75 million to $15 million. Ryan, reiterating the team's public stance on Holmes, said there's no chance of him being released. "That's not going to happen," he said. ... We'll see.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Bradshaw, Nicks Listed As Probable For Super Bowl XLVI
(2/3 2:01 PM PT)
The Facts:
Ahmad Bradshaw didn't participate in practice Friday, the final session before Sunday's Super Bowl. Defensive back Tyler Sash and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee) were limited. All three players are listed as probable, along with wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot).
Diehards Line:
The absences came after HC Tom Coughlin had presented a rosy picture of his team's health while addressing the media Friday morning. "Everyone wants to be a part of it at this point in time," Coughlin had said. "No one wants to be someone who is not able to participate or be a part of this wonderful experience. We’ve had everyone on the practice field, and hopefully, thank God, it will be that way Sunday. ..." As NFL.com's Albert Bree notes, Bradshaw had participated in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis and was a full participant Thursday. It has not been unusual for Bradshaw to play in a game after missing a day or two of practice since he broke a bone in his foot during the regular season.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Irsay Releases (Another) Statement On Peyton Manning
(2/3 1:57 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Colts owner Jim Irsay released a statement on Friday. “Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts,” the statement reads. “The present focus is on the Super Bowl and the great game that awaits.”
Diehards Line:
At the risk of sounding cyncial and mean-spirited, the words in the release don't match the actions either side have taken this week. The two sides appear to be using the enormous world-wide stage that comes with the Super Bowl being hosted in Indianapolis to gain some kind of media or public relations advantage in what appears to be the process of separating after a lengthy and mutually-beneficial relationship. And every time they say it's not so, it becomes even clearer that it is. ... We'll further suggest we'd expected more from both sides.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Gronkowski, Welker Listed As Questionable For Super Bowl XLVI
(2/3 1:13 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... TE Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable on the team's final injury report. Gronkowski participated in Friday's hour-long walk-through. He practiced for the second straight day after being limited in practice on Thursday. The Patriots listed 10 other players as questionable, including safety Patrick Chung (knee), left guard Logan Mankins (knee), linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) and wide receiver Wes Welker (knee).
Diehards Line:
All 11 players were listed as taking part in a limited portion of Friday's practice and Boston Herald staffer Ian Rapoport advised his readers that Gronkowski is likely to play, as will likely all of the questionable. "This is kind of like Saturday for us," said HC Bill Belichick. "We've had a little bit of extra time this week (to practice). I think we're ready to go. We've worked hard this week Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in practice, and we had good practices back (in Foxboro) last week. We went through some mental-review things out there (Friday). ..." Stay tuned. We'll be posting the full injury report for Sunday's game once it's released by the league office.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Matt Forte Says Intent Of Franchise Tag Will Determine His Approach
(2/3 12:36 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Matt Forte said he would be fine with the Chicago Bears using the franchise tag on him as long as it leads to a long-term deal and is not simply a tactic to keep him off the free-agent market for another season. "It depends on the motive of (the franchise tag)," Forte said Thursday. "If they are doing the franchise tag just to get more time in order to negotiate a long-term deal then I would be OK with it. But if it's just to hold me another year and just 'Let's throw some money at him right now to keep him quiet,' that's not going to solve anything."
Diehards Line:
Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said on Tuesday that the team has no intention of letting Forte become a free agent. Forte, who made his first Pro Bowl in the final year of his rookie contract, hopes that means an amenable resolution to a contract issue that has gone on since the lockout ended in July. Forte turned down a contract offer from the Bears before the season with $13 million to $14 million in guaranteed money, ESPN.com reported. Now with Phil Emery taking over for Jerry Angelo as Bears GM, Forte is hopeful an agreement can be reached. He said his agent has already spoken with Emery and expects to have more conversations in the next few days. Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after suffering a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. He finished the season with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and returned to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chiefs Considering Daboll For OC Opening
(2/3 12:29 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Kansas City Chiefs are talking to Brian Daboll about their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to a league source.
Diehards Line:
As previously noted, the Chiefs have also looked at Jim Zorn as an in-house candidate and have spoken to former Raiders coordinator Al Saunders, who has worked previously in Kansas City. Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and several executives expect him to be a top candidate for the job.
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