This may be the best non-holiday Monday ever. By all accounts the lockout is coming to an official end today! If—for some stupid reason—that does not happen, then today is going to be ridiculously stupid. Let us not think about such dark things.
Today's Pirate Booty reflects the the end of the lockout. There is a ton of speculation on roster moves—moves that are about to start happening.
Raiders on verge of reporting to training camp - Inside the Oakland Raiders
One of the first things we will seek confirmation on is the status of running back Michael Bush, who has been in the league for four years but played only the past three. Bush’s agent has said that he is under the impression that Bush’s rookie season won’t count as an accrued season, which would make Bush a restricted free agent.
Of all the speculation about Michael Bush being restricted or not, this one seems the most authoritative. His agent is not going to admit that Bush isn't going to say he is restricted if there is any possible way that he may not be.
This is a great take from an opposing offensive assistant coach.
Sunday Blitz: Asomugha could find limited interest - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"He has good feet, change of direction, he covers a lot of ground and he’s phyiscal, but you can always throw the other way against a shutdown corner," said one AFC West offensive assistant coach who has game planned against Asomugha many times. "We never targeted him, but we didn’t shy away from him either when the picture presented itself. I’d much rather play against someone like him than a great pass rusher. The biggest challenge is protecting the passer."
That has to be a coach for the Chargers, right? They are the only AFC West team that ever tries to throw on him. And his point aside, which I think is valid, Nnamdi is going to do just fine for himself.
PantyRaider you may not want to read this!
Supplemental draft might not be in Terrelle Pryor's future - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s journey to the NFL might take longer than expected. Not only has the NFL yet to schedule a supplemental draft for the 2011 season, but Pryor might not qualify if there is one despite having announced plans to enter after leaving Ohio State in early June.
ESPN—in an Insider piece—gave their view on the first move for every team. Here is all the mention of Raiders.
Analyzing the first post-lockout move for every NFL team - ESPN
Oakland Raiders -- Re-sign TE Zach MillerBefore the lockout, the Raiders were very active when it came to securing the services of Richard Seymour, Stanford Routt and Kamerion Wimbley. Now that the lockout has ended, the focus should shift to locking up Pro Bowl tight end Miller, who has led the team in receiving in each of the past three seasons.
Dallas Cowboys -- Sign S Michael Huff
The Cowboys passed on signing a pair of high-profile street free-agent safeties in February and did not address the back end of their secondary in the draft. Look for Dallas to target Huff, the former University of Texas standout, when free agency opens.
Philadelphia Eagles -- Sign CB Nnamdi Asomugha
Adding a starting-caliber cornerback opposite Pro Bowler Asante Samuel was believed to be a first-round draft target for the Eagles, who went offensive line instead. Corner remains a need, and the Eagles have the means to go after a big-name target such as Asomugha.
No shockers there.
This next article is week, and way behind us. But if you haven't caught any of the talk about getting Wimbley off of the franchise tag, here you go:
ProFootballWeekly.com - Wimbley deal could cost Raiders
Problem is, the team is paying him as such. Before the lockout began, the Raiders offered Wimbley the franchise tag for 2011, keeping him off the free-agent market. He readily signed the deal, giving him a one-year contract and a salary of the average of the five highest-paid players at the position — a figure that's expected to be around $11.3 million.With the Raiders at or above the expected salary cap already, the large check they're cutting to a good but not great linebacker could be costly. The salary cap is judged by how much a team is spending at year's end, not in Week One, so there is still time for the Raiders to restructure Wimbley's contract to lower the cap hit. With multiple positions of need that have to be addressed, along with bringing back some of its own free agents, we hear the team would benefit greatly from giving Wimbley the deal he deserves, not one that exceeds it.
Around the AFC West
Analyzing the first post-lockout move for every NFL team - ESPN
Denver Broncos -- Sign RB DeAngelo WilliamsDefensive tackle is a priority as the Broncos convert to a 4-3 under coach John Fox, but so is adding a running back to pair with Knowshon Moreno. The free agent Williams, who ran for 4,211 yards and 31 touchdowns for Fox in Carolina, would be a good addition to what's expected to be a run-heavy offense in Denver.
Kansas City Chiefs -- Sign T Jermon Bushrod
The Chiefs ranked 18th in adjusted sack rate in 2010, and don't have much depth at the offensive tackle position. With quarterback Matt Cassel due a $7.5 million option bonus this year, the least the Chiefs can do is protect him better. The best tackle on the free-agent market is Bushrod, who has been protecting Brees' blindside the past two seasons in New Orleans.
San Diego Chargers -- Re-sign S Weddle
San Diego ranked seventh in defensive DVOA and was fourth against the pass in 2010. Weddle, a free safety, was a big part of that unit's success, and re-signing the former second-round pick out of Utah to a long-term deal should be high on general manager A.J. Smith's priority list.
Around the Lockout
Everything you need to know about the lockout is that unless something unbelievable unforeseen happens this is the last time this phrase will come into play for at least a decade.
And tomorrow's Pirate Booty, this should be Around the League.
