| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the news around the NFL. 
Savage passes on Eagles
Buchsbaum: It appears that (Ravens director of college scouting) Phil Savage and his
scouting staff turned a very lucrative offer to go to Philadelphia. They’ll stay in
Baltimore, where they’ll be given very well-deserved raises. One of the biggest
reasons, apparently, that Savage decided to stay, other than his loyalty to the Ravens
— though he would go someplace else for a GM job, and he did interview for the
Bears’ job apparently — is that nobody trusts (Eagles president) Jeffrey Lurie
and (executive vice president) Joe Banner anymore.
One NFL source told me, after the way they screwed (former director of football
operations) Tom Modrak royally, no one’s going to trust them. (Packers director of
college scouting John) Dorsey could have had the deal; Savage could have had the deal.
Both are very bright, capable, young executives who’ve done fabulous jobs, yet
neither one would take it, though there was more money and power involved than they
currently have, simply because they were afraid to work for Lurie or Banner, they did not
feel they could trust them. Furthermore, there is a great deal of animosity toward them in
the scouting community, not only for firing Modrak, but for the way it was handled. So
right now, though the team may be gold and people do want to work for Andy Reid, Lurie and
Banner have soiled their names.
Bears sign Smeenge, re-sign Simmons
The Bears have agreed to one-year contract with DE Clyde Simmons. The 15-year veteran
played in 16 games last season for Chicago, and his consecutive-games streak of 218 ties
him for the second-longest streak among active players. Last season Simmons had 27 total
tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, two passes defensed and a half-sack.
Previously, the Bears signed former Jaguars DE Joel Smeenge, who last season recorded
31 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defensed and six sacks
Buchsbaum: Basically what this comes down to is, Dick Jauron is a coach who’s
fighting for his life, and he’s saying, to hell with the future, I’ve gotta win
this year, and he’s doing everything to win this year at the expense of developing
young players, which is what the team should be doing. And with the team operating without
a GM now, he’s got more power than he’s ever had, at least on a temporary basis.
These type of short-sighted signings, which are not going to give the young players a
chance, that they’ve made all offseason, are really going to hurt down the road. Ted
Washington, Keith Traylor and the two defensive ends are not going to be there when this
team turns it around — or if this team turns it around in the foreseeable future. I
mean, these are basically one- or two-year stop-gap solutions that they’re going
after.
PFW: What does Simmons offer them at this point of his career?
Buchsbaum: Veteran leadership and an occasional pass rush.
Panthers sign Chester
The Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract with former Colts DT Larry Chester
worth $430,000. The 315-pound free agent is expected to back up starters Sean Gilbert and
Brentson Buckner and compete for playing time with Al Lucas and second-round draft pick
Kris Jenkins. Chester spent three seasons with the Colts, appearing in 45 games with 10
starts. He posted 79 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble.
Buchsbaum: Basically, he’s a guy that’s not going to give you any pass rush,
but he can be fairly effective against the run, and he’ll probably be a fourth or
fifth defensive tackle for them. |
