Good news for you Michael Bush-o-philes out there. (I'm talking to you Silva! Although there are many others.)

The Raiders have listened to the Bucs entreaties for Bush, and they have no interest in dealing him. I think the Raiders realize what they have in Bush after his quietly ridiculous 177-yard effort against the Bucs in Week 17 last year.

He mostly helped out at fullback last year because of injuries, but I doubt he'll play any more fullback no matter what now. Bush is a great fit for Oakland's zone blocking scheme, and he's a nice partner for Darren McFadden.

Silva and I were talking, and agreed that Justin Fargas better keep his head on a swivel this off-season. He's due $3.5 million next year, and I could see the Raiders cutting him if he gets hurt in training camp.

Either way, Tom Cable has one of the most promising young backfields in the league. It's easy to envision a future where Bush and McFadden split touches evenly.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

While I was focused on CutlerCasselGate last night, Michael Clayton's five-year contract agreement with the Bucs slipped under the radar. Adam Schefter reported that Clayton received $10.5 million guaranteed on a five-year, $24 million contract.

The numbers look so outrageous, you almost have to assume the numbers are puffed up.  How did Clayton score $10.5 million guaranteed?   If they are truly guarantees, that is starter money. 

Clayton hasn't topped 500 receiving yards for the last four seasons.  He has struggled with injuries, weight, confidence, and drops since his awesome rookie year.  This sign of faith is a good sign for his fantasy value, but I don't see why he'll improve when Jon Gruden leaves. It's usually the other way around. Detroit and Minnesota both showed interest in him, but this deal is still out of line.

While Brandon Jones and Michael Clayton signed quickly, Laveranues Coles and T.J. Houshmandzadeh continue to look for homes. 

Either something is fishy about Clayton's numbers or the Bucs are getting too eager to spend their money. 

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Leave it to my friend Tom Curran to write the definitive post on the Cassel/Cutler brouhaha.  It answers my questions on the mess, so there's no need to repeat it here. Check it out.

While the Broncos were actively seeking to deal for Cutler for Cassel, don't assume he's still on the market.  Already, writers are imploring the Bucs and New York Jets to get involved in the Cutler sweepstakes.

It's worth a shot, but Cutler seems very unlikely to go anywhere now.  Giving up a true franchise quarterback for another starting quarterback you are more familiar with is one thing.  (I wouldn't give up Cutler, either way.)

It's quite another to give up Cutler without getting a long-term starting quarterback in return.   Last time I checked, the Jets, Bucs, and Lions don't have those.  Jay Cutler is not going to get traded for draft picks, no matter how unhappy he is. 

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm not in the habit of linking to ESPN videos, but the Chris Mortensen video posted tonight is too stunning to miss. (The information is stunning, not Mort's visage.)

Mort reports that the Patriots turned down a first- and third-round pick from the Bucs in a potential three-way trade that would have sent Matt Cassel to Denver and Jay Cutler to the Bucs. Instead, the Patriots chose a second-round pick from the Chiefs.

This defies all logic and belief, no matter how tight you think Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli are.

Continue reading "Did the Pats turn down a first-rounder?" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Were the Denver Broncos merely listening to offers for Jay Cutler Saturday or were they initiating them?

It depends who you listen to. The Broncos, of course, say they were only fielding calls from interested parties. (Namely, the Bucs.)

"He's not the only person in the last few days we've received calls on," Josh McDaniels said.

ESPN.com's Bill Williamson, however, writes that the Broncos were actively trying to acquire Matt Cassel by dangling Cutler. Chris Mortensen backed up Williamson's report on ESPNews.

Whatever the truth is, Cutler is convinced that Denver was doing their best to get rid of him. In fact he thinks they still are looking to trade him. That sounds crazy to me, but choosing Cassel over Cutler would also be stunning.

I thought Cutler was in for a long, successful run with Josh McDaniels, but Saturday's events put that into question. I know how Cutler feels; It's hard to know what to think.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

In hindsight, perhaps Matt Cassel to the Chiefs was the obvious move all along. Scott Pioli’s history with Bill Belichick and Cassel made the fit comfortable for both sides.

More than anything, I probably overrated the Patriots willingness to absorb Cassel’s $14.651 million cap figure. That was the biggest driving factor. The Patriots simply weren’t going to absorb that number and move forward building their team how they wanted.

You can fairly question why the Patriots were only able to acquire a second-round pick for Cassel and Mike Vrabel, but it couldn’t have been for a lack of trying elsewhere. Apparently, no one was willing to give up a first-round pick for Cassel. (Until Jay Cutler - that's another matter.)

In Bill Belichick’s eyes, he just turned a seventh-round draft pick into a 11-5 season, then packaged him with an aging veteran for a second-round pick. That’s value. High second-rounders are likely starters who get paid dirt cheap for four years.

In the eyes of most Patriots fans, the same ones that wanted Cassel cut last August, the team just gave away a potential Pro Bowl quarterback and a future “Patriot Hall of Famer" for the cost of Chad Jackson. That’s robbery.

Why can't both viewpoints be correct?

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)