The impact from the 80-man roster is really being felt as teams bring players to minicamps. As of Friday, only 362 undrafted free agents have signed or reached agreements with teams. That's little more than 11 per team. There are only 108 job slots available. NFL owners are making a mistake not expanding the offseason roster to at least 86 players in order to get teams through training camps.
New hire not needed: The silliest idea circulated Friday was the Raiders need to reorganize their front office and hire another salary cap manager. They have one of the best in the business working in the back of the office. How else could the Raiders squeeze what is a $145 million payroll into a $116 million cap with $1 million to spare? Sure, they still have to sign Darren McFadden, the fourth pick in the draft. But the way top draft choice deals are done, the big bonus comes in the second year. McFadden's cap number will be less than the $3 million given to Jake Long, the first pick in the draft. A new cap guy? You've got to be kidding me. Imagine anyone doing better when Al Davis decides the team needs an expensive player, drops it on the desk and says, "Work it out.'"
Ravens QB: It's interesting to see Kyle Boller and Troy Smith competing for the starting quarterback job in Baltimore. First-round pick Joe Flacco is going to need time to develop. Plus the Ravens are a solid organization and aren't going to rush things. The key willl be if Smith has improved enough to compete.
Good move: The classiest move of the day was the presence of Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard at minicamp. Sheppard has been shopped for a trade and he may not even have a starting job, depending on where the Eagles start Asante Samuel. Nevertheless, Sheppard was present at minicamp Friday and in good spirits. Sometimes, being nice instead of demanding can make a trade work faster, but it's also good to see professionalism from a player who could have been upset.
Colts bid good-bye: Dylan Gandy might have had an opportunity to compete for a starting job on the Colts offensive line after Jake Scott left for the Tennessee Titans. Those thoughts ended Friday when he was released. Gandy was a fourth-round pick in 2005. But the Colts drafted three interior offensive linemen last week, making him expendable. The Colts also released tight end/half back Bryan Fletcher. Gandy and Fletcher were restricted free agents who had signed their one-year tenders.
John Clayton
