Around the NFL

By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
May 17, 2002

• In Green Bay, Brett Favre has shown what a great leader he is just in the way he has done everything to go out of his way to make recently acquired WR Terry Glenn feel welcome, from playing golf with him to eating with him to teaching him the offense. Favre is probably the best leader in the game today, and he knows what it takes to win. … In other Packers news, Robert Ferguson has just been phenomenal in workouts, and it looks like he is ready for a breakout year at wide receiver. With the addition of Glenn, Ferguson and first-round pick Javon Walker, the Packers could go from having a very mediocre group of wide receivers to having one of the better groups in the league with three potential big-play makers as opposed to last year, when they really didn’t have the type of home-run hitter that they needed to utilize Favre’s very strong arm.

• It will be very interesting to see which team picks up QB Charlie Batch after the Lions let him go. One interesting team that may be in the market is the Denver Broncos. The Broncos were going to take Batch in the third round over Brian Griese in the 1998 NFL draft. So just keep that in the back of your mind. … The Broncos are not sure starting LB Ian Gold is going to work out. The key is going to be that both Gold and John Mobley are weak-side outside ’backers, and the Broncos don’t know if Mobley is big and strong enough to play over the tight end, on the strong side.

• Atlanta head coach Dan Reeves, who has always run one of the most complex offenses in the NFL, has gone from algebra down to basic arithmetic, to accommodate his three young quarterbacks. Reeves finally has shown that he will adjust to fit his talent.

• In New Orleans, Mickey Loomis was appointed general manager, but no one knows how long this is going to last. Loomis received only a one-year contract.

• In Dallas, the Cowboys think they may have the big wide receiver they were seeking, and it may not even be Antonio Bryant, their second-round pick from Pittsburgh. Instead, they are very high on former Raiders draft pick Ken-Yon Rambo, who has gotten bigger and stronger. Rambo, a former Ohio State receiver, seems to have gotten his act together.

• The Vikings will use a two-TE base offense this year so they can get their best 11 players on the field. They obviously still need another wide receiver with the loss of Cris Carter but are hoping ex-Bear D’Wayne Bates from Northwestern will finally step up and show he is not a bust.

• The Chiefs have no speed at linebacker but a lot of age. That’s why they tried so hard to sign Bears LB Warrick Holdman. Now they are going to wait until after June 1 and see what shakes lose. But unless they get faster at linebacker, they could have problems.

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