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Stronso

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I will try to post these every day if I remember:

Kordell Stewart
Steelers Bears Cardinals Ravens
Mar. 6 - With Jake Plummer signed in Denver and Jake Delhomme in Carolina, Stewart appears to have moved to the head of the class. Coincidentally, Stewart was in Chicago meeting with the Bears when the news on Plummer came down. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Bears are expected to make Stewart an offer today.

The Cardinals, whom Stewart visited Tuesday, made an offer late Wednesday that VP Rod Graves acknowledged was in response to Stewart's visit to Chicago the same day the Bears lost out on Plummer. The Ravens might also be interested, as talks with Jeff Blake have stalled. Blake is due in Chicago today and is expected to visit Pittsburgh and Arizona, as well.


Roosevelt Colvin
Bears Giants Lions Cardinals Patriots Bills
Mar. 6 - Unconfirmed reports had Colvin close to a deal in Detroit, where he spent Tuesday meeting with the Lions. But he was in Arizona as scheduled Wednesday, but reports there say he left without a contract offer. Colvin met with the Giants earlier this week and is expected to make a few more visits before getting serious about negotiations.

Dexter Jackson
Buccaneers Steelers Cardinals Colts
Mar. 6 - Tampa Bay's Super Bowl MVP visited Pittsburgh on Monday and Arizona on Wednesday, but he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he doesn't plan to make a decision soon. "I'm out exploring my options right now," Jackson told the paper. Another team Jackson is expected to visit is Indianapolis, where he would be reunited with former Bucs coach Tony Dungy. The Bucs, meanwhile, are still trying to coax Jackson into returning.


Emmitt Smith
Cardinals Buccaneers Panthers Raiders
Mar. 5 - The Dallas Morning News reports that a meeting between Smith and the Cardinals has been tentatively scheduled for March 12 and 13. Cardinals VP Rod Graves told the Arizona Republic on Tuesday, "We have talked three times, so there is definitely interest." The Cardinals, without a healthy, proven running back, want to capitalize on the many Cowboys fans in the Valley of the Sun, and they're hoping Smith is intrigued at being the feature back behind a solid offensive line.

Tampa Bay and Carolina have been the destinations mentioned most prominently in early speculation, but the Bucs have salary cap issues and likely couldn't offer much more than the veteran minimun and shared playing time, and the Panthers appear more intent on making a run at Stephen Davis.

Vonnie Holliday
Cardinals Seahawks
Mar. 4 - Holliday visited the Cardinals on Monday and is scheduled to fly to Seattle today and meet with Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who drafted Holliday in Green Bay in 1998, on Wednesday. However, Hugh Douglas was in Seattle already, and it appears he would be the Seahawks' first choice among available defensive ends. Also, Holliday indicated he might end visiting numerous teams before making a decision. He recently switched agents, hiring Brian Levy of Miami, and is in the process of working out that relationship.

Chike Okeafor
Lions Cardinals Chiefs 49ers
Mar. 4 - Okeafor, a starter last season for the first time in his four-year career, is trying to determine his market value, visiting numerous teams to see what they might be willing to offer. He was in Detroit on Monday, and plans to visit Arizona today and Kansas City on Thursday. The 49ers, meanwhile, are waiting to see what other teams offer before making a pitch of their own. Okeafor registered six sacks and 43 tackles while starting all 16 games for San Francisco.


Denard Walker
Bengals Vikings Titans Cardinals
Feb. 28 - Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "Yeah, we have an interest," when asked about Walker, a six-year veteran cut by the Broncos recently. Walker played the first four years of his career for the Titans, who are interested in possibly bringing him back to Nashville. The Vikings also are in search of cornerback help and are interested in Walker, Dre' Bly and Tory James.




Blake trying to force Ravens' hand


Ever since the regular-season ended, the Baltimore Ravens have contended they not only want to bring back Jeff Blake, but they want him to be the starting quarterback. But now it seems Blake might be happier as a backup someplace else rather than return to Baltimore for what he considers unfair wages.


Blake urged his agent, Ralph Cindrich, to set up a meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have Comeback Player of the Year Tommy Maddox firmly entrenched as their starter. But with his negotiations in Baltimore going nowhere, Blake is looking elsewhere, starting today in Pittsburgh.


"If he's going to play for backup money in Baltimore, he might as well look around," Cindrich told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, referring to what he considers a low-ball offer for a starting quarterback. "He understands the backup situation with the Steelers."

According to Cindrich, Blake has always liked the Steelers, but there is obviously another reason why Blake chose to meet with Pittsburgh. The Steelers and Ravens are both in the AFC North, and what better way to light a fire under your team than by threatening to sign with a division rival.

Should the Ravens be unable to come to an agreement with Blake, they'll have to look at other solutions, one of which might be Kordell Stewart. However, there are several reasons why it would make more sense to keep Blake than to look at Stewart, one of which is that Brian Billick's system fits Blake better, mainly because of his downfield accuracy.


But the biggest reason is that Stewart is being courted by the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears, and both of those teams have a generous amount of cap space. It makes no sense for the Ravens to get involved in a bidding war over Stewart when they could pay less to keep Blake.
 

TheCardFan

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Denard Walker
Bengals Vikings Titans Cardinals

Very interesting...first time I have heard of possible interest by AZ.

Should the Ravens be unable to come to an agreement with Blake, they'll have to look at other solutions, one of which might be Kordell Stewart. However, there are several reasons why it would make more sense to keep Blake than to look at Stewart, one of which is that Brian Billick's system fits Blake better, mainly because of his downfield accuracy.

Would have been very important had we kept DB.
 

AzCards21

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Good post thanks Stronso.

One common theme to all is they are going to make the rounds and feel out the market. FA is like a love fest. They like the attention and all the hoopla following them around. There will be more than enough time to pick a contract and sign.
 
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Stronso

Stronso

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I don't know if anyone saw it but the Ravens and Blake discussions are kaput..............time to get him in here.
 

Krangodnzr

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Originally posted by Stronso
I don't know if anyone saw it but the Ravens and Blake discussions are kaput..............time to get him in here.

Heck, I wouldn't care one bit if the Bears snagged Stewart if we could bring Blake in here.

It's good to see the Ravens break off talk with Blake.
 

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