| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hot topics around the NFL. 
Dallas signs Pickens
The Cowboys agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth just over the veteran minimum with
WR Carl Pickens on Thursday.
Pickens missed seven games with a strained hamstring last season and caught just 10
passes for Tennessee.
Buchsbaum: He’s a veteran receiver who has something to prove because he’s
playing for the veteran minimum this year and could have a fairly productive year.
He’s a possession guy at this stage, and he catches the ball well, yet with his size
and jumping ability, he can get some vertical stretch. But this is not an indication of a
youth movement.
ProFootballWeekly.com: Why has he gone so far downhill in recent years?
Buchsbaum: He’s never been a great offseason worker, and the more money he got,
the more complacent he got.
ProFootballWeekly.com: Can he get back to a star level in this league or are
those days past?
Buchsbaum: I think they’re past.
Kennison signs with Denver
The Broncos’ search for a third wide receiver came to an end Thursday when the
team signed Eddie Kennison to a three-year contract worth nearly $7 million. The
28-year-old Kennison led the Bears with 55 receptions for 549 yards last season.
Buchsbaum: (The significance of the signing) depends on how mature he’s become. If
he grows up and is willing to learn and play within the confines of the system, he’s
a great addition. But if he’s this immature, fly-by-night kid who doesn’t study
film, he will not fit in with Mike Shanahan.
ProFootballWeekly.com: If Kennison has it together, it seems like his style is
a very nice complement to Broncos WRs Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith.
Buchsbaum: Well, he’s got pure speed, but his route running has been inconsistent,
and his concentration has been inconsistent.
Chiefs sign Crockett
CB Ray Crockett, who spent the last seven seasons with the Broncos, came to terms on a
six-year deal with the Chiefs yesterday. Crockett will be entering his 13th
season in the NFL and should help a very young secondary in Kansas City.
Buchsbaum: I don’t know if he’s got anything left. I know (Chiefs defensive
coordinator) Greg Robinson and some people thought he has a little bit left, but I just
don’t know. He’s 34 years old, he never had speed and he looked really slow last
year.
Gragg re-signs with San Francisco
ORT Scott Gragg agreed to a six-year deal to stay with the 49ers. He attracted interest
from the Bengals and several other teams but decided to stay put after starting all 16
games on an offensive line that gave up the third fewest sacks in 2000.
Buchsbaum: He was a good fit for them. He’s not a great player by any means, but
he fit in well. He’s a big, strong, smart guy who lacks some quickness and explosion.
ProFootballWeekly.com: By re-singing Gragg to this deal, the thinking seems to
be that this further decreases the chance that Charlie Garner’s going to be back with
the team.
Buchsbaum: I don’t think they’re counting on him being back. I think the
49ers think the one year was a fluke, and he burned out in December. They’ll probably
draft a running back now.
Chargers re-sign Fontenot
Unrestricted free-agent DE Al Fontenot re-signed with the Chargers for three more
years. Fontenot recorded four sacks in 15 starts last season but will enter training camp
as a backup this season.
Buchsbaum: He’s a good third defensive end who will help them spell the starters.
ProFootballWeekly.com: Can you talk about the Chargers’ trio of defensive
ends?
Buchsbaum: (Marcellus) Wiley is the best all-around player, (Raylee) Johnson is an
explosive, upfield pass rusher who lacks a little bulk against the run and Fontenot is a
solid run-down type of guy who gives good effort.
Bengals' free-agent activity
ProFootballWeekly.com: It seems like whenever a player signs somewhere, you
hear that the Bengals were in the running, doesn’t it?
Buchsbaum: Every agent is using Cincinnati to bid up the price. That’s what they
are now. Everybody uses them to bid up the price because now they’re offering
above-market value.
ProFootballWeekly.com: What are the reasons the Bengals haven’t made much
of a splash in free agency?
Buchsbaum: The team’s reputation. People don’t know when they’ll go back
to being cheapskates. These players are afraid that they’ll sign there and then
they’ll be quick cuts if they don’t win with them because the team is not
committed to winning.
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