Post by John on Jun 16, 2006 16:10:21 GMT -4
Eagles' Brown heads need-to-step-up class
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
With Terrell Owens taking his skills and his tired act from Philly to Dallas, the Philadelphia Eagles need somebody to step up as Donovan McNabb's go-to receiver. Hasn't he been looking for that guy for most of his career?
For all the talk about how Owens and McNabb didn't get along, McNabb was smart enough on the field to know that Owens was a playmaker, a guy he needed and one who could help make him look good.
So is there another one on the Eagles roster?
The word from inside the building is that the Eagles think second-year player Reggie Brown has that type of ability.
Can he become T.O. without the baggage?
"I've heard that maybe once or twice," Brown said recently. "I'm just trying to ignore the whole ordeal. I'm staying grounded, just going about doing my daily routine and not reading too much into what everyone is saying. I just want to become the best football player I can become."
It's hard to ignore the talk when Brown's play will go a long way in deciding whether the Eagles can get back to Super Bowl form. Two years ago, it was Owens who helped the Eagles get to one, finally giving McNabb a receiver he could count on.
But 2005 turned into a disaster for the Eagles. The Owens situation took a nasty turn and he was suspended for the year, and then McNabb was hurt. The Eagles finished 6-10.
Lost in all of that was the late-season emergence of Brown. The team's second-round pick in April of 2005, Brown caught 43 passes, but in the final nine games -- after T.O. was sent home -- he had 34 of those catches and all four touchdown receptions.
"It started slow for me," Brown said. "I think I was more comfortable at the end of the year. It started to slow down for me."
Rookie receivers traditionally have trouble with the numerous coverages they see. Instead of just running routes, they have to read on the run. The thinking sometimes slows them down, which is why it's rare when a rookie receiver puts up huge numbers.
Brown faced those same types of hurdles.
"At times it can be confusing when you have everybody flying around and they're changing coverages all the time," Brown said. "You don't see many defenses thrown at you in college."
Once he settled in, Brown showed the skills that made the Eagles take him coming out of Georgia. But it wasn't enough for some Eagles fans, who called for the team to sign a marquee free agent this winter.
They didn't land one, although they did sign Jabbar Gaffney away from the Texans. That makes Brown the No. 1 receiver.
A year ago, it was T.O., coming off his amazing Super Bowl performance.
Now it's Reggie Brown and his 43 career catches.
"I'm just trying to continue where I left off," Brown said.
He has spent the offseason working with McNabb, who was hurt for much of Brown's playing time last year. They're trying to create a bond. He has also used a few of the things that Owens showed him, one being that believing in one's self is key.
"The great receivers stand out," Brown said. "They have this aura about their ability. All the great receivers have it. I'm trying to bring it out in myself."
If he can, the Eagles will have a receiver with confidence, minus the antics or the arrogance. If that happens, McNabb will be one happy man.
If it happens, the Eagles can be a deep playoff team. That's a lot of pressure on a second-year player, yet Brown is ready for all of those who say the Eagles success could hinge on how well the receivers play.
"It's a challenge, not an insult," he said. "And I'm ready for it."
It's that challenge that makes Brown headline a list of NFL players who must come through for their teams to have a chance to get to the Super Bowl.
Here are some others:
Tatum Bell. RB, Broncos: The Broncos let Mike Anderson leave to sign with the Ravens, and they passed on drafting a back. That puts a lot of pressure Bell and his big-play speed. There are some who wonder if Bell is tough enough to handle 20-25 carries. Ron Dayne is also in the mix, but if the Broncos are going to be a Super team, Bell has to be the guy.
Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, WRs, Jaguars: With the retirement of Jimmy Smith, these two former first-round picks have to step it up. Both have looked good in the offseason, which is a good sign. Williams has been a diligent worker who has impressed teammates and coaches. Jones has leaned up and looks much more like a receiver than he did last year. One or both of these guys has to come up big to get the offense scoring more points.
Ellis Hobbs, CB, Patriots: Forced into starting duty as a rookie, Hobbs had three interceptions and showed well in coverage. He also was a willing tackler. Although he's short for the position at 5-9, he's a feisty player who won't back down. The Patriots are counting on him becoming an effective cover player.
Dominic Rhodes, Joseph Addai, RBs, Colts: The Colts let Edgerrin James walk in free-agency, but the team feels as if Rhodes and Addai can combine to fill his shoes. Rhodes played well a few years back when James went down with a knee injury, but the likelihood is that Addai will become the feature back at some point. He has the speed that James didn't to rip off the big runs. That has the Colts excited about his potential.
Cedrick Wilson, WR, Steelers: When the Steelers let Antwaan Randle El leave in free-agency, it put a lot of pressure on Wilson to produce. He caught 26 passes last season in his first with the Steelers. Randle El caught 35. So there isn't much to make up in terms of production. Wilson caught eight passes for 196 yards in three playoff games to show he has big-play ability.
Corey Webster, CB, Giants: The Giants were horrible against the pass last season, and a lot of it had to do with poor play at corner. Webster was a rookie, so he can get a little pass for his play in his four starts. But with a complete overhaul of the position, he will start opposite Sam Madison. The Giants think he can become an effective cover corner. If he can, their defense will be much improved.
Mark Bradley, WR, Bears: As a rookie last season, he showed well until he suffered a serious knee injury. He's made good progress in his rehab and should be ready to push for the starting spot opposite Muhsin Muhammad. The Bears need Bradley's speed to be able to throw the ball down the field.
Michael Clayton, WR, Bucs: As a rookie two seasons ago, he was sensational. But then he had the sophomore slump. Where was Clayton in 2005? After catching 80 passes for 1,193 and seven touchdowns as a rookie, Clayton caught 32 passes for 372 yards. He reported to camp out of shape, struggled with injuries and clearly didn't look like the same receiver he was as a rookie. The Bucs need to get the earlier version of Clayton to help open up their passing game.
Jason Fabini, Rob Petiti, OTs, Cowboys: The right tackle spot was a major problem for the Cowboys last season. Petiti played there as a rookie and showed he has potential, but he was overmatched at times. That's why the Cowboys signed Fabini as a free agent. Bill Parcells had him when he was with the Jets, and he trusts him. Neither will make Cowboys fans forget Erik Williams, but this position should be better than in 2005.
Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings: The Vikings have run by committee the past couple of seasons, but that should change with the signing of Taylor. The Vikings paid him a lot of money to come over from Baltimore, but the question is still whether he can take the pounding for 16 games. He has filled in nicely for Jamal Lewis the past couple of seasons, but this is another step up. He has to be a 1,400-yard rusher for the Vikings to have a Super chance.
Around the league
* There were a lot of reports that teams shied away from linebacker LaVar Arrington for two reasons. One was the condition of his knees, the other was that he was considered a player who freelanced a lot with the Redskins. Some teams worried his knees would degenerate over the next couple of years, which scared them away. They thought he'd be good to go for two or three years, but the risk wasn't worth a mega-deal. The Giants thought his knees good enough to give him a seven-year, $49 million deal that is loaded with incentives. As for the freelancing, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that has been overblown. "I didn't see it," Coughlin said. A head coach from one other team backed that up. Coughlin is excited about what he has seen from Arrington, who is playing the strong-side linebacker position. "He hasn't done any of that (freelancing)," Coughlin said. "He's been in the weight room since he's been here. He brings vitality and a personality to the locker room. He's a big, strong man. He's under 260 with low, low, body fat. He's a physical guy we really needed." With end Mike Strahan and Osi Umenyiora in the pass rush up front, look for Arrington to bring it from the linebacker spot. If he stays true to the defense, he can make an impact like he did in the Redskins NFC playoff game victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January. "He had a heck of a game," Coughlin said. "We think he's going to be able to do those types of things for our defense."
* One of the keys to how well the Green Bay offense plays this year will be the running back situation. Ahman Green is coming off a torn ACL, while Najeh Davenport is coming off a season that ended early with a broken ankle. Coach Mike McCarthy said both players are making good progress in their rehab, and he expects them to both be there when the season starts. "We'll be fine there," McCarthy said. "Our reports from the medical staff are all good. Ahman is a physical specimen, so he'll be OK. If we can stay healthy, we'll have a lot of depth." Sam Gado and Noah Herron give the Packers some extra quality. McCarthy has been impressed with Herron, a second-year player from Northwestern. At 5-11, 224 pounds, Herron gives the team a back with good size who was productive in college. He had 48 carries last season for 123 yards, getting 61 of those on 21 carries in the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks. "We just have to be smart with our guys coming off injury and we should be fine," McCarthy said. When Green went down last season, it forced way too much onto the arm of Brett Favre. The Packers averaged 84.5 yards rushing per game, 30th in the league. The 3.4-per-rush average was the second-lowest in the league to the 3.2 for Arizona. The Packers ran it 24.5 times a game, while throwing it 39.1 times a game. That has to be more balanced, which McCarthy intends to try to do.
* The Jaguars are excited about how two of their draft picks might be able to help their pass rush. Fourth-round pick Brent Hawkins, a defensive end/linebacker from Illinois State, and seventh-round pick James Wyche from Syracuse have impressed the coaches and the players with their ability to come off the corner. The Jaguars are looking to get more speed off the right end, and these two may be able to provide it. Paul Spicer, the starting right end, is a good player who gets by with toughness and effort, but he lacks the burst off the corner. If the Jaguars can get Spicer to play on run downs and one of these youngsters to provide an outside rush to go with Reggie Hayward on third down, they should be able to improve the pass rush. Hayward said he's been impressed with the speed of Hawkins and Wyche, but he warned that doing it without pads is an entirely different story from doing it with them. The addition of the two rookies will put pressure on third-year player Bobby McCray to have a good preseason. McCray has nine sacks in his first two seasons, but he will be pushed to for a roster spot this summer.
* Just a thought, but is the team concept going out the window in New England? In winning three Super Bowls, players always talked about how team was more important than individual stuff. Tom Brady was lauded for taking less money on a new deal because he wanted to stay in New England, as if a player taking less money is ever a good thing. But now we have players staying away from on-field obligations. We had Richard Seymour do it last year for contract reasons, and now we have receiver Deion Branch doing it now. Branch is scheduled to make a little over $1 million this season, which is chump change by lead-receiver standards. He is coming off his best season, catching 78 passes for 998 yards, and he's 18 months removed from winning a Super Bowl MVP. He is clearly the Patriots best receiver. But how good is he? Is he in the same class with Chad Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss and that group? No way. He's in the middle of the pack when it comes to NFL receivers. The problem is the Patriots don't have a lot of options. They drafted Chad Jackson in the second round out of Florida, but it will take time. They have vets like Troy Brown around, but he is getting up in the years. Reche Caldwell, who comes over from San Diego, has ability but he's been plagued by injuries. The Patriots could consider Denver's Ashley Lelie or the Saints' Donte Stallworth, but can they really be a go-to guy? Branch has some leverage here, but it's a touchy situation. The Patriots don't want to overpay for a receiver who isn't in the elite category, but they also need him to win this season. This one will get interesting. Seymour ultimately got the contract he wanted, but he's among the elite players at his position, maybe the best. That can't be said for Branch, so he might not just miss this week's minicamp, but also could be a training-camp holdout.
* Don't you just hate it when one of the old-time players comes out of the woodwork to make some stupid statements? Did you see what former Oakland Raiders center Jim Otto had to say about the possibility of Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley wearing jersey No. 00, which Otto made famous? The league, of course, denied Bentley the chance, but Otto was glad that was the case. "To let him wear my number, that I built into a legacy, all it takes is one ounce of coke up his nose and that legacy is gone," Otto told the Contra Costa Times. "I don't know who he is. I played 15 years with the Raiders. He's played, what, three or four years in New Orleans? What kind of legacy would he give double zero? I don't think he should wear it and I don't think anyone in the NFL should wear it." Otto sounds like an angry, bitter man. Bentley happens to be one of the nicer players in the league, a fan of the game, a student of his position. When I did a column last season on the lack of black centers over the years, he was forthcoming on the topic and it was clear he was a student of center play in NFL history. He wanted to wear 00 to honor Otto, not mock him. For Otto to come out and say the things he did is absurd. He should be embarrassed by what he said, and he owes Bentley an apology.
* I'm all for giving guys who have been in trouble the benefit of the doubt, but the Bengals have to get rid of receiver Chris Henry. Enough is enough. He was arrested for the fourth time in seven months this week, this time for providing alcohol to underage girls. His rap sheet is an embarrassment. Henry came out of West Virginia as a big-time player, but teams were scared off by his off-field problems. The Bengals used a third-round pick on him and he showed well as a rookie, playing as the team's third receiver. But the latest arrest has to be what forces coach Marvin Lewis to let him go. The kid needs help. Or prison. He's headed for one or the other, but the Bengals shouldn't be enabling him anymore. Cut the cord now. It can only get worse. Maybe if he's out of the league for a while it will help straighten him out.
* All the best to Packers president John Jones in his recovery from heart surgery. Jones, a former sportswriter, was not feeling well Sunday and was taken to the hospital where he underwent heart surgery. Jones, who has run three marathons, is not a man who is out of shape, which is why this is a little shocking. He recently was named the successor to Bob Harlan as the team's chief executive officer. He will assume that role in 2007. Let's hope he has a speedy recovery.
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
With Terrell Owens taking his skills and his tired act from Philly to Dallas, the Philadelphia Eagles need somebody to step up as Donovan McNabb's go-to receiver. Hasn't he been looking for that guy for most of his career?
For all the talk about how Owens and McNabb didn't get along, McNabb was smart enough on the field to know that Owens was a playmaker, a guy he needed and one who could help make him look good.
So is there another one on the Eagles roster?
The word from inside the building is that the Eagles think second-year player Reggie Brown has that type of ability.
Can he become T.O. without the baggage?
"I've heard that maybe once or twice," Brown said recently. "I'm just trying to ignore the whole ordeal. I'm staying grounded, just going about doing my daily routine and not reading too much into what everyone is saying. I just want to become the best football player I can become."
It's hard to ignore the talk when Brown's play will go a long way in deciding whether the Eagles can get back to Super Bowl form. Two years ago, it was Owens who helped the Eagles get to one, finally giving McNabb a receiver he could count on.
But 2005 turned into a disaster for the Eagles. The Owens situation took a nasty turn and he was suspended for the year, and then McNabb was hurt. The Eagles finished 6-10.
Lost in all of that was the late-season emergence of Brown. The team's second-round pick in April of 2005, Brown caught 43 passes, but in the final nine games -- after T.O. was sent home -- he had 34 of those catches and all four touchdown receptions.
"It started slow for me," Brown said. "I think I was more comfortable at the end of the year. It started to slow down for me."
Rookie receivers traditionally have trouble with the numerous coverages they see. Instead of just running routes, they have to read on the run. The thinking sometimes slows them down, which is why it's rare when a rookie receiver puts up huge numbers.
Brown faced those same types of hurdles.
"At times it can be confusing when you have everybody flying around and they're changing coverages all the time," Brown said. "You don't see many defenses thrown at you in college."
Once he settled in, Brown showed the skills that made the Eagles take him coming out of Georgia. But it wasn't enough for some Eagles fans, who called for the team to sign a marquee free agent this winter.
They didn't land one, although they did sign Jabbar Gaffney away from the Texans. That makes Brown the No. 1 receiver.
A year ago, it was T.O., coming off his amazing Super Bowl performance.
Now it's Reggie Brown and his 43 career catches.
"I'm just trying to continue where I left off," Brown said.
He has spent the offseason working with McNabb, who was hurt for much of Brown's playing time last year. They're trying to create a bond. He has also used a few of the things that Owens showed him, one being that believing in one's self is key.
"The great receivers stand out," Brown said. "They have this aura about their ability. All the great receivers have it. I'm trying to bring it out in myself."
If he can, the Eagles will have a receiver with confidence, minus the antics or the arrogance. If that happens, McNabb will be one happy man.
If it happens, the Eagles can be a deep playoff team. That's a lot of pressure on a second-year player, yet Brown is ready for all of those who say the Eagles success could hinge on how well the receivers play.
"It's a challenge, not an insult," he said. "And I'm ready for it."
It's that challenge that makes Brown headline a list of NFL players who must come through for their teams to have a chance to get to the Super Bowl.
Here are some others:
Tatum Bell. RB, Broncos: The Broncos let Mike Anderson leave to sign with the Ravens, and they passed on drafting a back. That puts a lot of pressure Bell and his big-play speed. There are some who wonder if Bell is tough enough to handle 20-25 carries. Ron Dayne is also in the mix, but if the Broncos are going to be a Super team, Bell has to be the guy.
Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, WRs, Jaguars: With the retirement of Jimmy Smith, these two former first-round picks have to step it up. Both have looked good in the offseason, which is a good sign. Williams has been a diligent worker who has impressed teammates and coaches. Jones has leaned up and looks much more like a receiver than he did last year. One or both of these guys has to come up big to get the offense scoring more points.
Ellis Hobbs, CB, Patriots: Forced into starting duty as a rookie, Hobbs had three interceptions and showed well in coverage. He also was a willing tackler. Although he's short for the position at 5-9, he's a feisty player who won't back down. The Patriots are counting on him becoming an effective cover player.
Dominic Rhodes, Joseph Addai, RBs, Colts: The Colts let Edgerrin James walk in free-agency, but the team feels as if Rhodes and Addai can combine to fill his shoes. Rhodes played well a few years back when James went down with a knee injury, but the likelihood is that Addai will become the feature back at some point. He has the speed that James didn't to rip off the big runs. That has the Colts excited about his potential.
Cedrick Wilson, WR, Steelers: When the Steelers let Antwaan Randle El leave in free-agency, it put a lot of pressure on Wilson to produce. He caught 26 passes last season in his first with the Steelers. Randle El caught 35. So there isn't much to make up in terms of production. Wilson caught eight passes for 196 yards in three playoff games to show he has big-play ability.
Corey Webster, CB, Giants: The Giants were horrible against the pass last season, and a lot of it had to do with poor play at corner. Webster was a rookie, so he can get a little pass for his play in his four starts. But with a complete overhaul of the position, he will start opposite Sam Madison. The Giants think he can become an effective cover corner. If he can, their defense will be much improved.
Mark Bradley, WR, Bears: As a rookie last season, he showed well until he suffered a serious knee injury. He's made good progress in his rehab and should be ready to push for the starting spot opposite Muhsin Muhammad. The Bears need Bradley's speed to be able to throw the ball down the field.
Michael Clayton, WR, Bucs: As a rookie two seasons ago, he was sensational. But then he had the sophomore slump. Where was Clayton in 2005? After catching 80 passes for 1,193 and seven touchdowns as a rookie, Clayton caught 32 passes for 372 yards. He reported to camp out of shape, struggled with injuries and clearly didn't look like the same receiver he was as a rookie. The Bucs need to get the earlier version of Clayton to help open up their passing game.
Jason Fabini, Rob Petiti, OTs, Cowboys: The right tackle spot was a major problem for the Cowboys last season. Petiti played there as a rookie and showed he has potential, but he was overmatched at times. That's why the Cowboys signed Fabini as a free agent. Bill Parcells had him when he was with the Jets, and he trusts him. Neither will make Cowboys fans forget Erik Williams, but this position should be better than in 2005.
Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings: The Vikings have run by committee the past couple of seasons, but that should change with the signing of Taylor. The Vikings paid him a lot of money to come over from Baltimore, but the question is still whether he can take the pounding for 16 games. He has filled in nicely for Jamal Lewis the past couple of seasons, but this is another step up. He has to be a 1,400-yard rusher for the Vikings to have a Super chance.
Around the league
* There were a lot of reports that teams shied away from linebacker LaVar Arrington for two reasons. One was the condition of his knees, the other was that he was considered a player who freelanced a lot with the Redskins. Some teams worried his knees would degenerate over the next couple of years, which scared them away. They thought he'd be good to go for two or three years, but the risk wasn't worth a mega-deal. The Giants thought his knees good enough to give him a seven-year, $49 million deal that is loaded with incentives. As for the freelancing, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that has been overblown. "I didn't see it," Coughlin said. A head coach from one other team backed that up. Coughlin is excited about what he has seen from Arrington, who is playing the strong-side linebacker position. "He hasn't done any of that (freelancing)," Coughlin said. "He's been in the weight room since he's been here. He brings vitality and a personality to the locker room. He's a big, strong man. He's under 260 with low, low, body fat. He's a physical guy we really needed." With end Mike Strahan and Osi Umenyiora in the pass rush up front, look for Arrington to bring it from the linebacker spot. If he stays true to the defense, he can make an impact like he did in the Redskins NFC playoff game victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January. "He had a heck of a game," Coughlin said. "We think he's going to be able to do those types of things for our defense."
* One of the keys to how well the Green Bay offense plays this year will be the running back situation. Ahman Green is coming off a torn ACL, while Najeh Davenport is coming off a season that ended early with a broken ankle. Coach Mike McCarthy said both players are making good progress in their rehab, and he expects them to both be there when the season starts. "We'll be fine there," McCarthy said. "Our reports from the medical staff are all good. Ahman is a physical specimen, so he'll be OK. If we can stay healthy, we'll have a lot of depth." Sam Gado and Noah Herron give the Packers some extra quality. McCarthy has been impressed with Herron, a second-year player from Northwestern. At 5-11, 224 pounds, Herron gives the team a back with good size who was productive in college. He had 48 carries last season for 123 yards, getting 61 of those on 21 carries in the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks. "We just have to be smart with our guys coming off injury and we should be fine," McCarthy said. When Green went down last season, it forced way too much onto the arm of Brett Favre. The Packers averaged 84.5 yards rushing per game, 30th in the league. The 3.4-per-rush average was the second-lowest in the league to the 3.2 for Arizona. The Packers ran it 24.5 times a game, while throwing it 39.1 times a game. That has to be more balanced, which McCarthy intends to try to do.
* The Jaguars are excited about how two of their draft picks might be able to help their pass rush. Fourth-round pick Brent Hawkins, a defensive end/linebacker from Illinois State, and seventh-round pick James Wyche from Syracuse have impressed the coaches and the players with their ability to come off the corner. The Jaguars are looking to get more speed off the right end, and these two may be able to provide it. Paul Spicer, the starting right end, is a good player who gets by with toughness and effort, but he lacks the burst off the corner. If the Jaguars can get Spicer to play on run downs and one of these youngsters to provide an outside rush to go with Reggie Hayward on third down, they should be able to improve the pass rush. Hayward said he's been impressed with the speed of Hawkins and Wyche, but he warned that doing it without pads is an entirely different story from doing it with them. The addition of the two rookies will put pressure on third-year player Bobby McCray to have a good preseason. McCray has nine sacks in his first two seasons, but he will be pushed to for a roster spot this summer.
* Just a thought, but is the team concept going out the window in New England? In winning three Super Bowls, players always talked about how team was more important than individual stuff. Tom Brady was lauded for taking less money on a new deal because he wanted to stay in New England, as if a player taking less money is ever a good thing. But now we have players staying away from on-field obligations. We had Richard Seymour do it last year for contract reasons, and now we have receiver Deion Branch doing it now. Branch is scheduled to make a little over $1 million this season, which is chump change by lead-receiver standards. He is coming off his best season, catching 78 passes for 998 yards, and he's 18 months removed from winning a Super Bowl MVP. He is clearly the Patriots best receiver. But how good is he? Is he in the same class with Chad Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss and that group? No way. He's in the middle of the pack when it comes to NFL receivers. The problem is the Patriots don't have a lot of options. They drafted Chad Jackson in the second round out of Florida, but it will take time. They have vets like Troy Brown around, but he is getting up in the years. Reche Caldwell, who comes over from San Diego, has ability but he's been plagued by injuries. The Patriots could consider Denver's Ashley Lelie or the Saints' Donte Stallworth, but can they really be a go-to guy? Branch has some leverage here, but it's a touchy situation. The Patriots don't want to overpay for a receiver who isn't in the elite category, but they also need him to win this season. This one will get interesting. Seymour ultimately got the contract he wanted, but he's among the elite players at his position, maybe the best. That can't be said for Branch, so he might not just miss this week's minicamp, but also could be a training-camp holdout.
* Don't you just hate it when one of the old-time players comes out of the woodwork to make some stupid statements? Did you see what former Oakland Raiders center Jim Otto had to say about the possibility of Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley wearing jersey No. 00, which Otto made famous? The league, of course, denied Bentley the chance, but Otto was glad that was the case. "To let him wear my number, that I built into a legacy, all it takes is one ounce of coke up his nose and that legacy is gone," Otto told the Contra Costa Times. "I don't know who he is. I played 15 years with the Raiders. He's played, what, three or four years in New Orleans? What kind of legacy would he give double zero? I don't think he should wear it and I don't think anyone in the NFL should wear it." Otto sounds like an angry, bitter man. Bentley happens to be one of the nicer players in the league, a fan of the game, a student of his position. When I did a column last season on the lack of black centers over the years, he was forthcoming on the topic and it was clear he was a student of center play in NFL history. He wanted to wear 00 to honor Otto, not mock him. For Otto to come out and say the things he did is absurd. He should be embarrassed by what he said, and he owes Bentley an apology.
* I'm all for giving guys who have been in trouble the benefit of the doubt, but the Bengals have to get rid of receiver Chris Henry. Enough is enough. He was arrested for the fourth time in seven months this week, this time for providing alcohol to underage girls. His rap sheet is an embarrassment. Henry came out of West Virginia as a big-time player, but teams were scared off by his off-field problems. The Bengals used a third-round pick on him and he showed well as a rookie, playing as the team's third receiver. But the latest arrest has to be what forces coach Marvin Lewis to let him go. The kid needs help. Or prison. He's headed for one or the other, but the Bengals shouldn't be enabling him anymore. Cut the cord now. It can only get worse. Maybe if he's out of the league for a while it will help straighten him out.
* All the best to Packers president John Jones in his recovery from heart surgery. Jones, a former sportswriter, was not feeling well Sunday and was taken to the hospital where he underwent heart surgery. Jones, who has run three marathons, is not a man who is out of shape, which is why this is a little shocking. He recently was named the successor to Bob Harlan as the team's chief executive officer. He will assume that role in 2007. Let's hope he has a speedy recovery.