| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics around the NFL. 
Ricky Williams talking baseball
A representative of Saints RB Ricky Williams reportedly called the Texas Rangers during
spring training to discuss Williams’ interest in playing baseball. Williams
hasn’t played since 1998, when he spent 12 games with Class A Batavia of the New
York-Penn League. The Rangers said the talks were very preliminary, and the Saints said
they were not aware of Williams’ talks with the Rangers. Williams has been on the
Rangers’ restricted list since March 4, 1999, when he skipped spring training to
concentrate on his rookie season in the NFL.
PFW: Have you heard anything about Williams’ interest in playing baseball?
Buchsbaum: The guy was a lousy baseball player with the Phillies (hit .211 with four
home runs and 40 RBIs in four minor-league seasons). The other players on his minor-league
team didn’t like him too much. But this is a guy that marches to the beat of his own
drummer. So who knows?
Buchsbaum analyzes recent player moves and rumors
PFW: Broncos sign DE Keith Washington, OG Phil Ostroski
Buchsbaum: He’s sort of a situational pass-rusher, a solid backup and probably not
good enough to start. He’ll probably upgrade the roster but not win a starting job.
Ostroski gives them depth at guard. He’s their type of blocker in that he’s not
huge, but he’s a pretty good athlete. The Broncos have been very aggressive in free
agency. They’ve made tremendous use of the cap. I don’t know how they’ve
managed to do it. I don’t know if they’re putting themselves in debt in the
future, but they’ve made tremendous use of the cap to upgrade their team.
PFW: Rams apparently bringing DL Ray Agnew back
Buchsbaum: He still could be a good backup at the right price. He’s a good player
in the clubhouse, he’s one of those players on defense who does the right thing and
provides leadership, and he’s one of the players on defense who did not quit at all
last year.
PFW: Rams could take shot at signing CB Samari Rolle
Buchsbaum: Rolle is a tremendous corner — one of the top five in the game. But
he’s best suited to play in Jeff Fisher’s defense. His best trait is tight
man-on-man, bump-and-run coverage. And he’s tremendous in that. Now, if they use the
type of coverages Tampa Bay used when (Rams defensive coordinator) Lovie Smith was there,
a lot of Rolle’s talent would be wasted. But if he were to go there, the key would be
the system. They’ll have to pay an arm and a leg for him, because Tennessee really
can’t afford to let him go. He’s their best cover guy by far. He fits
Fisher’s defense to a "T." Plus, they already lost Denard Walker, and they
have CB Donald Mitchell coming off major knee surgery.
PFW: Would you anticipate Tennessee cutting some players to make cap room for
Rolle?
Buchsbaum: Well, very often you can restructure deals and if they let Henry Ford go and
restructure deals, they probably should be able to keep Rolle. But what he’s doing is
putting the team in a terrible bind. He probably won’t end up with much more money in
the long run, but, like in many cases, the agent wants to make a splash, come up with a
creative deal and get noticed. And I think that could be the real problem here.
PFW: Griese rumored to be having dialogue with Kansas City
Buchsbaum: I think that’s basically Ralph Cindrich, Griese’s agent, trying to
get a little bargaining leverage with the Broncos. He’s willing to take the $42
million base for seven years, but he wants more incentives and renegotiation clauses.
Griese wants to stay with Shanahan and Kubiak. They played tremendous roles in his
development and he realizes that. He also realizes he is in a very quarterback-friendly
offense in Denver that fits his skills very well.
PFW: Chargers could trade Vick pick for right package
Buchsbaum: That’s always been their position. I think it would be very hard for
teams to meet that requirement, because you’re not ending up with a guy who will have
an instant impact on your football team (in Vick). He’s a guy you’re going to
have to wait on. It’s not like he’s the one player who will be the missing link
to the Super Bowl this year. The Chargers probably want a combination of high draft picks
and at least one veteran player who can come in and play for them right away. |
