| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the news around the NFL. 
Reid given additional title
The Eagles gave head coach Andy Reid the additional title of executive vice president
of football operations Tuesday, one day after firing former director of football
operations Tom Modrak. Said team owner Jeffrey Lurie: "Around the NFL, it’s
obvious that (Reid) is a terrific, terrific young head coach. What is less known is that
he’s a fantastic leader, a dynamic leader, with great organizational ability …
He is like a CEO in the field." Reid will be responsible for hiring a player
personnel director, a pro personnel director and at least one pro scout.
Buchsbaum: This is a clear indication that the Eagles all along intended to give Andy
Reid full control. They regarded him as a genius in the organization and the man they most
wanted to head it up. However, the way they handled the Tom Modrak situation is a total
disgrace. If Jeffrey Lurie were a man about this, he would have just come out and said,
"We feel Andy Reid is the best football man in all of football to handle everything,
and although Tom Modrak has done a fabulous job here, it’s still something we feel we
must do to ensure that we have Andy Reid for the foreseeable future without any
possibility of him going anyplace else. We’d be perfectly willing to allow Modrak to
stay with organization if Andy wanted him as head of all personnel matters, but we will
leave that decision up to Andy and to Tom." If he came out with a statement like that
and at least was honest, Modrak still would have been screwed, but at least it would have
been honesty.
Bills sign Centers
The Bills signed FB Larry Centers on Tuesday, adding to their already crowded
backfield. Centers, the NFL record holder for receptions by a running back, will enter his
12th season with 685 catches, 25 for touchdowns. He spent the past two years
with the Redskins, leading the team in receptions both years. In Buffalo, Centers joins
Antowain Smith, Jonathan Linton, Sammy Morris, Shawn Bryson and second-round pick Travis
Henry.
Buchsbaum: He gives them an excellent pass-catching back that fills a nice role in the
West Coast offense. He’s a very gifted receiver with a great feel for getting open.
As a runner he’s got some skill, he’s more quick than fast and he doesn’t
have speed. As a blocker, he’s average. But the one thing this will do is, it may
limit the development of some of their young backs. While Centers will basically be a
third-down back, and Travis Henry probably a first-down back, guys like Sammy Morris and
Shawn Bryson, who showed well at times, probably will not get that much playing time.
Redskins sign Campbell
Former Panthers OG Matt Campbell signed with the Redskins on Tuesday. Campbell, who
spent the last six seasons in Carolina, was the last original member of the franchise. He
was a blocking tight end as a rookie before being converted to guard the following year.
The Redskins needed help at the position after releasing starters Tre’ Johnson and
Keith Sims for salary-cap reasons. Campbell becomes the projected starter at left guard,
with second-year pro Mookie Moore projected at right guard.
Buchsbaum: He’s a former tight end who’s a good athlete. He runs well and can
pull and trap, but he’s never been known as a tough or physical player. He’s
also had a series of injuries lately, and some scouts question if he can really stay on
the field for an entire year. Right now, the Redskins plan to play him at left guard,
which probably would be his best position. With regard to the Panthers replacing him,
unless they think Jamar Nesbit can do the job, it may be a little tough.
Jones visits Browns
Free-agent OT Tony Jones, who played for the Browns from 1988 to ’95, visited with
his old team Tuesday. Jones was released by the Broncos in February, and the 13-year
veteran would like to end his career in Cleveland. Jones was one of the most popular
Browns players during his first stint with the team, and he has maintained his residence
in the Cleveland area. With Ross Verba expected to miss 10-12 weeks following back
surgery, the Browns are in need of insurance. Verba, who signed with the Browns as a free
agent this offseason (four years, $16 million), injured his back lifting weights last
month.
Buchsbaum: I think that would be a very good move for Tim Couch. Jones is no longer
much of a run blocker, but he’s still one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in
football. He lives there, he wants to be there, and if they can get him at a reasonable
rate for one or two years, he could really help them, especially considering Ross
Verba’s back problems, which make him very questionable for the start of the season.
Falcons sign Vick
The Falcons signed the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, Michael Vick, to a
six-year, $62 million contract Wednesday. Vick is guaranteed $15.3 million through the
first three years of the deal, including an initial signing bonus of $3 million. The
contract is the largest for a rookie in NFL history. Chris Chandler, who remains the
Falcons’ starting quarterback, agreed to restructure his contract to fit Vick’s
deal under the salary cap.
Buchsbaum: It was something they had to do if they want to play him much this year.
He’s very raw, very green and will need all the work he can get. Any time of holdout
at all would have hurt him very dearly. |
