Parcells expects No. 1 pick to sign
It's pretty evident Bill Parcells expects to sign the No. 1 pick in the draft. With a new Dolphins owner coming aboard and plenty to do to reshape the roster, Parcells cannot be held hostage by a training camp holdout. Michigan tackle Jake Long was the obvious choice to be one of the first players to enter negotiations with Miami. Parcells apparently doesn't want to take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan with the first pick. He'll try to get the best deal with Long, defensive end Chris Long of Virginia or LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. With the first pick expected to get a contract in the neighborhood of six years and $60 million-plus, Jake Long could try to wrap up something a day or two before the draft.
Meanwhile, with no guarantee he will go in the top five, Ryan was one of six high-profile selections who agreed to be in New York for the April 26-27 draft. The Longs,
Vernon Gholston, Dorsey and
Darren McFadden also agreed to be on hand. Ryan already knows the Dolphins are unlikely to take him No. 1. He has to be hopeful the Falcons take him with the third overall pick.
Counting Cardinals: The Cardinals have at least caught up to several teams with their numbers after getting the
Larry Fitzgerald deal done. The Fitzgerald deal took four weeks to approve, costing Arizona a chance to be very active in free agency. During that period, the Cardinals were limited to 48 players. Since Fitzgerald had his deal approved, the Cardinals have signed 12 players, most of which were re-signed. They now have 24 defensive players signed.
Dorsey injury not serious: Apparently, Dorsey's leg injury isn't that serious. During the scouting combine in February, it was revealed Dorsey had a healed knee fracture, which occurred from hitting a weight during a summer workout at LSU a couple years ago. Doctors feel positive enough about the knee and the crack that they aren't inviting him to the combine physical re-check.
Denver kicking around options: Unless the Broncos reach out to veteran
Mike Vanderjagt, who visited the Chiefs earlier this week, the Broncos appear set to use a draft choice to fix their hole at placekicker. The Broncos lost
Paul Ernster to the Lions on Wednesday after he agreed to what is believed to be a one-year deal. Ernster's strength is kickoffs, but the Broncos already have 80 players on the roster and will have to start letting some go once they start signing their draft choices and any undrafted free agents. Denver didn't have the money to keep veteran kicker
Jason Elam, who left for the Falcons.
Jackpot Jet: Kerry Rhodes hit the jackpot in the form of a $33 million contract extension with the Jets. In the past three seasons, he's averaged 90 tackles, three interceptions and almost three sacks. With Rhodes' free agency coming up after the season, the Jets felt he was too valuable to let hit the free agent market.
John Clayton
