ProFootballWeekly.com
asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in
football.
Giants lock up QB Collins to contract extension
Giants QB Kerry Collins has agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2004
season. His ’02 contract was restructured to give the team some breathing room under
the salary cap. With some of the money, the Giants will re-sign Jason Garrett, their
backup quarterback the previous two seasons who will compete for that same position with
second-year pro Jesse Palmer. Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said the restructuring
will save the Giants about $1 million.
Buchsbaum: By signing Collins, the Giants were basically able to clear up some cap
room, which will make it possible for them to sign Garrett as a backup quarterback for one
more year and also facilitate the signing of their top two draft picks. There is a very
good chance they will have their first-round pick, Jeremy Shockey, in camp for the start
of camp tomorrow because of this signing.
By signing Collins to an extension, the Giants and Collins to a degree are taking a
gamble. In effect, if Collins played the way he played last year, the Giants are basically
stuck with him. The way he played last year is not good enough to win in the NFL. However,
if he reverts back to the form he showed in the Giants’ Super Bowl season up until
the Super Bowl, they have a good quarterback at a reasonable rate.
Steelers reward DE Smith with contract extension
The defense that led the league last season gained another multimillionaire Wednesday
when DE Aaron Smith signed a five-year, $25-million contract extension with the Steelers.
Smith, who had eight sacks last season, signed a few hours before the Steelers
officially opened camp in Latrobe, Pa. His new deal is comparable to a $22.5 million deal
signed by LB Joey Porter, a $23 million deal signed by All-Pro LB Jason Gildon, and a
$25.25 million contract signed by CB Chad Scott. The Steelers have locked up every key
player on their defense for at least the next five seasons, except S Lee Flowers, who may
be allowed to become a free agent after the 2002 season.
Buchsbaum: By signing Smith, the Steelers locked up their best defensive lineman and a
defensive end that is almost an ideal fit in their 3-4 defense. Ever since coming to the
Steelers, Smith has done nothing but get better. He is the type of player who could not
only two-gap but could also rush the passer. He is very good against the run and he is
becoming a good pass rusher. In the Steelers’ type of defense, it is very hard to
find down linemen who can rush the passer, and Smith is one of them.
Broncos sign DE Sinclair to replace ailing Toviessi
The Denver Broncos waived DE Paul Toviessi, the team’s second-round draft pick in
2001. Toviessi has undergone three operations on his right knee since being drafted,
including one in May. Doctors believe he has a career-ending bone-on-bone knee condition.
To fill the void left by Toviessi, the team signed former Seahawks DE Michael Sinclair.
Buchsbaum: It’s this time of year again when the Broncos always load up on depth
leading to older, fading players having no leverage and bargaining room and just signing
to what amounts to the minimum. Their latest addition is Sinclair. It will be interesting,
since Sinclair is supposedly healthier and in better shape than he has been in years and
may have some juice left in him. At one time, he was one of the game’s best
pass-rushing ends and one of the best overall ends. While never very big, he was a very
good leverage player with outstanding initial quickness and a burst to the quarterback in
his prime.
Last year, the Broncos were so high on Marshall DE Paul Toviessi that they moved up to
draft him in the second round. However, he missed his rookie year as a result of knee
problems and rehabilitation to develop his body. After the early part of workouts, when
Toviessi had gained considerable weight and strength, the Broncos couldn’t stop
raving about him. However, his knee problems continued to occur and after his third knee
scope or operation in less than a year, the Broncos decided that his knee would never be
sound enough for him to be an effective NFL player and released him. That may be part of
the reason they signed Sinclair at a very low number. If Sinclair can come close to
returning to his form in Seattle, the Broncos not only will do without Toviessi, they
might consider letting go DE Kavika Pittman, who is a big cap hit as well.
Patriots coach Weis suffers setback
New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis underwent a gastric bypass procedure on
June 15 that nearly resulted in his death. After spending weeks in a rehabilitation
center, he is now home but is not expected to join the defending Super Bowl champs when
they open training camp Friday. Because of nerve damage in both feet due to complications,
he cannot walk on his own. Weis is expected to join the team late next week and will do
his coaching from a golf cart.
Buchsbaum: Weis and the Patriots suffered what could be a devastating blow that not
many people are talking about but could have a major impact on the Patriots’ season
this year as well as on Weis’ long-term health. Weis, who is quite rotund and does
not give the appearance of a head coach but is eminently qualified to become one, had
gastric bypass surgery. This is a surgical procedure in which the stomach is made much
smaller so the individual can’t hold nearly as much food and consequently will lose a
considerable amount of weight and will have to eat six more meals a day just to keep the
weight up to the weight he wants to be at and has the somewhat restricted diet because of
this surgery. Weis may have felt he needed the surgery to become a head coach or he may
have done it for health in terms of high blood pressure and physical reasons. This we
don’t know. What we do know is there were major complications, and he almost died as
a result of the surgery. Because of those complications, he will be severely handicapped
physically in terms of moving around for quite some time and probably will not be able to
attend the beginning of training camp, at the very least.
Weis is a brilliant QB teacher and offensive coordinator who played a tremendous role
in the development of Tom Brady, the Patriots wide receivers who all had career years and
RB Antowain Smith last year. He is so invaluable to the Patriots that they made him one of
the highest paid, if not the highest paid, offensive coaches in the league and did
everything to retain his services after last year. Losing him or losing him in part could
have a tremendous impact on the entire offense, which is not a very talented unit overall
and needs Weis’ hands-on coaching desperately. |
