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Pro Football Hall of Fame Has 7 New Members

Article from the Pro Football Hall of Fame website:

 

CANTON, OHIO – Guard Russ Grimm, linebacker Rickey Jackson, cornerback Dick LeBeau, running back Floyd Little, defensive tackle John Randle, wide receiver Jerry Rice, and running back Emmitt Smith make up the Class of 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.The seven-man class was elected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee who met today in South Florida. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 17 finalists who had been determined earlier by the committee.

Grimm was a steadying force of the Washington Redskins’ offensive line known as “The Hogs.” The standout guard earned All-NFL acclaim and Pro Bowl trips four consecutive seasons.

Jackson helped turn the Saints from perennial losers to a playoff contender and becomes the first long-time player from the team to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He was named first-team All-NFL four times in his career.

LeBeau, was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns but cut, joined the Lions shortly thereafter. He went on to enjoy a 14-year career that saw him intercept 62 passes. That total currently ranks third all-time among cornerbacks.

Little, the first 1,000-yard rusher in Denver Broncos history, was a versatile star who amassed more than 12,000 all-purpose yards on rushing, receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns during his nine-season career.

Randle, a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro pick, amassed 137.5 sacks during his career with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, he played in 219 career games.

Rice played an amazing 20 seasons and owns virtually every major receiving record. In all, he caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and scored a total of 208 touchdowns.

Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards and scored a record 164 rushing touchdowns. He won four NFL rushing titles and gained 1,000 yards in a record 11 straight seasons.

Cowboys Want To Keep Austin

At the top of the Cowboys off-season wish list is wide receiver Miles Austin, who made $1.545 million in 2009 with the second-round tender. To tender Austin at that level again, it would cost the Cowboys $1.759 million in 2010. The Cowboys want to sign Austin, according to the Dallas Morning News, who had 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns, to a long-term contract. But in order to secure him, they would probably have to put the $3.168 million first- and third-round tender on him. The Cowboys made a similar move on Marion Barber in 2008 before signing him to an extension. 

No One Wants To Coach Cutler??

There are reportedly "rumblings at the Senior Bowl" that the Bears can't find an offensive coordinator because candidates are turned off by the prospect of having to coach Jay Cutler, says the National Football Post.  The perception is that Cutler ran ex-Bears OC Ron Turner out of Chicago.  Turner certainly did take the fall for the Bears offensive woes.   It would also be hard to argue that Turner did a good enough job in the first place. There is a more logical perception that OC candidates don't want to work under head coach Lovie Smith, who's entering a "win or else" situation in 2010.

Dwight Freeney To Play In Super Bowl??

Colts RE Dwight Freeney sprained his right ankle in the AFC title game, but is fully expected to play in the Super Bowl, says the Associated Press.  The two-week layoff between conference championship week and the Super Bowl will get players on both sides back to at least close to 100%.

Bengals To Let Larry Johnson Go??

The Bengals are not expected to re-sign free agent Larry Johnson, says the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Bernard Scott will be Cedric Benson's primary backup from here on out. and has the talent for more.  Johnson is 30 and has well documented attitude problems.  If the Bengals don't re-sign him, some team will certainly give him a look. 

Will Jets Need A New Secondary Next Season??

Three-fifths of the Jets’ starting secondary may not return next season, including safety Kerry Rhodes, as upgrading the unit is a top priority this offseason, says the Newark Sar-Ledger.   First, the Jets don’t plan to pick up the $10 million roster bonus due cornerback Lito Sheppard in March and it’s unlikely he’ll return. Sheppard, a former two-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles, battled injuries all season and was benched for the Jets’ 30-17 loss to the Colts on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, playing sparingly in nickel and dime situations. Sheppard, who was replaced by Dwight Lowery, finished with just one interception in 11 games this season. He cost the Jets a fourth-round pick. Also, rumor says,  the Jets is leaning toward releasing nickel back Donald Strickland, who can’t seem to stay healthy. He injured his right hand last week before the AFC Championship Game against the Colts and then injured his groin in the first quarter. His loss was a huge blow to the Jets secondary. Strickland played in just nine games this season, also having a quad injury and a concussion.

Is Willie Parker Done In Pittsbugh??

The possibility that Willie Parker will now longer be a Steeler is creeping closer to reality because Parker is an unrestricted free agent who sounds as if he has played his last game with the Steelers, says the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.   After losing his starting job to Rashard Mendenhall in Week 4, Parker played sparingly the rest of the season. At age 29 and with an average of 244 carries in each of his past five seasons, he wants to, and thinks he still can, be a starting running back in the NFL. Even though his 5-foot-10, 209-pound frame has absorbed a lot of blows. “I’m a starter always looked at myself as starter, that’s what I want to be,” said Parker, who was an undrafted free agent from North Carolina in 2004. “So, till I hang up pads, that’s how I’m going to look at myself. Rashard is a great back and he had a great season and, hopefully, he’ll carry it on. “I had six great years here with the Steelers. We won two Super Bowls. I want to thank the organization and thank everybody. You know how the business goes. I love these guys. I love the organization. I’m a Steeler by heart. We’ll see what happens in the future.”

What Will Vikings Do If Favre Retires??

If you’re Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, whose job it is to procure talent for the team, you have to check on whether the Philadelphia Eagles are ready to move on without QB Donovan McNabb, as rumored. says the Pioneer Press.   With McNabb, who might cost the Vikings two second-round draft picks plus Rosenfels, the Vikings could retain their league-wide buzz. It’s unclear whether new Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wants to go with QB Matt Hasselbeck. McNabb and Hasselbeck — they would seem to be the Vikings’ only options among proven QBs if Favre decides he’s finally had enough.

How Hurt Is Cedric Griffin??

The Vikings fear that CB Cedric Griffin tore his ACL and MCL in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, says the Chicago Sun-Times.  Griffin went down while covering the opening kickoff of overtime. The results of his MRI are unknown, but tearing both ligaments would almost guarantee that Griffin starts 2010 on the PUP list. With Antoine Winfield turning 33 and Benny Sapp being a free agency, such a serious injury to Griffin would vault cornerback to the top of Minnesota's list of offseason needs.

No Official Word On Tom Cable

Raiders spokesman John Herrera said Monday that the Raiders still have not decided the fate of head coach Tom Cable.  Al Davis continues to toy with the media while hiring assistant coaches with direct connections to Cable. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported three days ago, it is likely Cable will stay. Word is that Davis and Cable are meeting "regularly" to discuss the future, just a day after claiming the Raiders never gave any indication Cable's job was in danger.

What Will Bears Do With Ogunleye??

Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye is recovering just fine from the broken fibula he suffered in the Week 15 loss at Baltimore. “The leg is good. I’ve just been resting it,” Ogunleye told the Staten Island Advance. Ogunleye suffered a small fracture in his left leg and was placed on season-ending injured reserve, but he should be fully cleared or close to it before free agency opens March 5. The Bears have a decision to make. They are expected to let Ogunleye test the open market to gauge his value. He has said he would like to return, and their need for a defensive end has been heightened after the death of Gaines Adams.

Latest On Viking Stadium News

A new wrinkle developed in the Minnesota Vikings’ stadium strategy on Friday, when team officials said they are looking at federal stimulus money to help them build a new home that just might be located in the suburbs, says the Star Tribune.   Vikings’ spokesman Lester Bagley told a real estate gathering in Minneapolis that private developers and local government officials have also approached the team about a half dozen potential Twin Cities suburban sites. Bagley would not say where, but some signs pointed to Dayton, near Interstate 94 in western Hennepin County, as a possible home. To help finance the deal, the Vikings are exploring federal Build America Bonds, along with a possible 2 percent increase in the hospitality tax across the seven-county metro area.

Brian Westbrook To NOT Retire??

Pro Football Weekly hears that the talk of RB Brian Westbrook’s career being over might be highly premature. Westbrook’s balky left knee — and not the multiple concussions he suffered this season — reportedly is the issue that might cause him to retire, but he is not believed to have suffered any further injury to the knee this past season. Westbrook might not remain with the Eagles given their preference not to pay $7.5 million to a part-time player, which is what he would be in Philly next season if he stayed. But he is not likely to retire at this point.

Forte Had Knee Surgery

Bears running back Matt Forte had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee within the last two weeks, according to multiple sources. The clean-up procedure followed a post-season MRI, says the Chicago Tribune.   Forte sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee during the Bears’ 25-19 victory at Seattle in Week 3, but it is unclear if the surgery stems from that specific injury. Although Forte ran better toward the end of the season, he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, down from his 3.9-yard average as a rookie. He finished with 929 rushing yards on 258 carries as the Bears ranked 29th in the league. Forte ran for 1,238 yards on 316 carries as a rookie the year before. As a receiver, he had 57 catches for 471 yards in 2009 against 63 for 477 in his first season. Forte also suffered a partially torn hamstring during offseason workouts before the ‘09 season.

Tony Gonzalez to Return Next Year

Tony Gonzalez has confirmed he will return to the Falcons in 2010, says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.   “I’ll be around for sure next season,” the 13-year veteran tight end said in an interview on the Falcons’ website. There was some doubt, as Gonzalez did tell the paper after the season’s final game that he was undecided whether he’d continue playing. “You don’t ever want to make a decision right after the season is over,” Gonzalez said today. “Now that I’ve had a chance to get away from the game a little bit and talk to my family, I’m definitely going to be around for next year,” said Gonzalez, whose 999 career receptions are the most by a tight end in NFL history and seventh-best among all receivers. “I’m excited about the direction this team is going in. We’ve got a really good football team and I really do believe this could be the best football team I’ve ever played on coming up next year,” he said.

Latest on Rodgers-Cromartie

Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie suffered no significant ligament damage in his left knee Saturday against the Saints, but an MRI showed that he does have a chipped bone in his left tibia, according to the Arizona Republic. Rodgers-Cromartie did suffer an injury to his medial collateral ligament but it’s not a tear. Rodgers-Cromartie’s anterior cruciate ligament was not damaged. “We were scared it might be the ACL, then you’re talking six to nine months,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “This was very good news.”

Chargers Extend Norv Turner

Chargers signed head coach Norv Turner to an extension through 2013, says the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Turner is 32-16 in three seasons as Chargers head coach, making the playoffs all three seasons.  This season the Chargers finished one-and-done in the playoffs after winning 11 straight games and winning their division and the two seed.

 

Ray Edwards "Fine?"

Early indications are that Vikings LE Ray Edwards knee injury is a sprain, says the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  He'll have an MRI Monday, but coach Brad Childress already said that Edwards should be fine.

Jeremy Shockey Hurt

Jeremy Shockey appeared to aggravate his right toe injury during Saturday's win over the Cardinals, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.  Shockey is almost certain to play against the Vikings, but I don't look for him to have a big impact.

 

Wade Phillips will return as coach of the Cowboys next season, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.  Despite the old-fashioned butt-whooping that came from Minnesota on Sunday.