Rudi Johnson being shopped?

They have been rumors since Chad Johnson got hurt that the Bengals are shopping Rudi Johnson for a "real WR." Of course, Marvin Lewis says that's just a "rumor."

Bengals tailback Rudi Johnson, the third-leading rusher in franchise history, said Tuesday that he expects to be traded "any minute now."

He returned to practice Monday and Tuesday after battling a hamstring problem and learned that the Bengals are offering him to other teams for a wide receiver.

"It's out there, so evidently it's true," said Johnson, a fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2001 who emerged as a starter in 2003. "It doesn't bother me one way or the other. I'm still going to do the same thing. It's part of the business."

"It's always something every year. They've been trying to get me out of here for a long time now," he said.

What's interesting is that Lewis is saying it's just a rumor and Johnson says it'll happen "any minute now".

I guess we'll find out who's right really soon. Start your stopwatch.

Michael Strahan to remain retired

After losing Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury last week, the Giants strength in 2007 became a weakness. One solution would have been to talk Michael Strahan, now a retired Fox Sports analyst, out of retirement and so Jerry Reese and the Giants gave it a shot. But to no avail.

"This has been one of the toughest nights of my life," Strahan said from Greece. "But after long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired.

"I have gone back and forth on this because as a player you'll always want to play, you'll never lose that urge to be out there. But I could only do this if I could commit 100 percent, physically, mentally, emotionally and I can't do that. I've tried to convince myself and my body to give it one more year, but in the end I just don't think I could turn it on like I need to again."

I think it makes sense that Strahan remain retired. He says he can't "commit 100 percent" and if he were to come back, he would owe that to his team and teammates. Plus, I've always heard former players discuss how risky it is injury-wise to play if you're not 100% committed.

Michael Strahan made the right decision even if it's what Giants fans didn't want to hear. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a Cowboys fan. (ok - maybe just a little bit.)

Matt Ryan named starting QB in Atlanta

So far, Matt Ryan has played well in the pre-season. He has completed 61.5% of passes (32-52) for 277 yards. In those 52 pass attempts, he has only thrown 1 interception.

Aug. 9: 9/15, 113 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Aug. 16: 8/16, 62 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Aug. 22: 15/21, 102 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Matt Ryan's solid play has earned him the starting QB gig. Is it too soon?

I think the Falcons are making the right move. With or without Matt Ryan at the helm, the Atlanta Falcons are going to be awful in 2008. Although using a #3 pick doesn't guarantee success (see Harrington, Joey), Ryan is the Falcons QB of the future.

It makes a lot of sense to me to let the QB of the future get experience in the present so that when the team has a brighter future, their QB will be better-positioned to help lead them.

Steve McNair visits Titans

Steve McNair had given his all to the Tennessee Titans. Probably more so than any other player and definitely more than any other QB, McNair sacrificed his body for the benefit of the team. Perhaps, he played with too much reckless abandon, but nobody can question his heart.

Then, in 2006, Steve McNair was locked out of the Titans facility. In my opinion, it was a horrible way to handle the situation.

"Steve was told that until he got his contract straightened out, he wasn't welcome at the facility," said [his agent "Bus"] Cook.

Now, two years later, he has re-visited the Titans and he still has a great attitude. And a sense of humor about it.

For the first time since the Titans locked him out of team headquarters in 2006 during a contract impasse, Steve McNair visited the building this afternoon. He spoke to reporters to publicize an upcoming charity event, then went on to watch practice.

He joked that he was a bit scared walking in and relieved that the door opened.

Lights (out), Camera, Action

It's not uncommon for an active NFL player to join the studio production of the NFL Network, ESPN, etc. when the player's team has a bye week or in the post-season when his team has been eliminated from the playoffs. However, Shawne Merriman is taking it to a new level.

The Chargers linebacker will be an in-studio analyst for FSN's Pro Football Preview, which Fox says will be the first time a current player has served in a full-time capacity for any national pregame studio show for any sport.

The show will be taped in Los Angeles on Thursdays, and Merriman will be flown by private plane to and from San Diego so that he doesn't miss practices. He will be joined on the show by host Jay Glazer and analyst Eddie George.

Merriman is one of the best players on one of the few legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Should the San Diego Chargers prevent him from appearing on FSN's Pro Football Review? I don't know the answer, but it's question likely to be asked if Merriman and the Chargers underperform.

Zygi Wilf - My Kind of Owner

Every sports team owner should be a big sports fan (not always the case). Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf personifies what a good owner is in my opinion:

Owner Zygi Wilf is a frequent visitor to practice, and this is what I like about him: Not only is he approachable, he does not draw attention to himself while standing on the sideline. Here's something else I like about him: When a trainer challenged him to field punts one afternoon at practice, insisting he couldn't catch one, Wilf took him up on it -- walking on the field in front of an audience of Vikings fans. He caught three of six. I knew there was a reason I liked this guy.

Here is a You Tube video of Wilf tailgating:

Andy Reid or Bill Belichick?

Asante Samuel was asked to compare the personalities of his current coach (Andy Reid) and his former coach (Bill Belichick). Not that it makes much of a difference, his response is hilarious.

"You know Bill doesn't have a personality," Samuel said after he practiced for the third straight day and talked for the first time at training camp. "So Andy wins that."

Some would argue that Reid is also lacking in the personality department.

"Not much," Samuel said. "But Bill doesn't give you anything."

I wouldn't make much sense though for a player, any player, to pick his former coach when asked that question even if Bill had more than "nothing". And even more so if you're in training camp.

Chad Johnson to become Chad Ocho Cinco?

Pro Football Talk is reporting that Chad Johnson has legally taken the first steps to change his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. Therefore, he would be able to put "Ocho Cinco" on the back of his jersey without being subject to $5,000 fines from the NFL.

I really hope this is true. Chad Johnson is a head case, but how funny would it be for a player to legally change their last name to their number...and, in Spanish?

Brett Favre - fumbling and running laps

Brett Favre has told Eric Mangini that he wants to be treated like everyone else. Eric Mangini has said that is one of the things he likes about Favre. In any event, when Favre and Nick Mangold fumbled a QB-C exchange, the defense started chanting for them to run. So, they did...



I'm not sure if running laps after fumbles will win him any fans on the team (although actual fans cheered him running), not running certainly would have caused him friends on the team. Perhaps not surprisingly, he isn't winning everyone other on the team.

On Alan Faneca's comments about Brett Favre, here's what Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote:

The Favre-Faneca relationship is definitely something to watch. Faneca probably thought he’d walk in as the leader of the offensive line, if not the entire offense. Now, it’s Favre’s show. If Faneca doesn’t like Favre and/or resents all the attention Favre is getting, things could get even more interesting in New York.

And Laverneus Coles, someone with whom Brett Favre would like to be on the same page, had a close relationship with Chad Pennington.

"I just need some time," Coles told a member of the Jets' public-relations staff.

Coles was said to be very upset Wednesday night, when the team learned that Pennington would be released to make room for Brett Favre.

Toward the end of practice, Coles stood alone on the sideline, away from his teammates - unusual for him. Clearly, something is bugging him.

Al Davis talks Javon Walker out of retiring?

After getting hurt last year in game 3, Javon Walker only had 9 catches for 57 yards in the final 4 games of the year. Surprisingly, he was able to get Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders to give him a huge deal (6 years, $55 million) in the off-season.

Then, after a night of partying and spraying the crowd of a nightclub with champagne, he was abducted and beaten.

Despite making a mistake with Walker and other players like Tommy Kelly, apparently Al Davis had his chance to reverse a bad decision.

...Javon Walker, struggling with his performance during training camp, told the team Thursday he intended to retire and offered to return his $11 million signing bonus.

According to a source, Raiders owner Al Davis persuaded Walker to remain with the team.

I like that Al Davis is an owner that wants to "just win baby", but it's becoming more and more obvious to me that Davis needs to step down. He just doesn't have it anymore.