http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3150 Recent articles about Jerry Porter en-us Moves around the league in free agency affecting fantasy football for the coming season. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:13:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301852 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301852 Read about the latest news & notes from around the NFL which could impact your fantasy football draft decisions. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:43:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301832 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301832 As the Jaguars approach their pre-season opener, there is still no immediate signing of Derrick Harvey expected. When camp began, Jack Del Rio admitted that there is a point that an unsigned draft pick starts to lose value to the team. Has Derrick Harvey gotten to that point yet? Probably not, but you have to wonder where that line in the mind of the Jaguars coaches. Can Harvey come to camp and make an immediate impact? "A little bit of it is natural ability," admitted veteran defensive end Paul Spicer. "Guys can come in, and off God given talent can get to the quarterback." But it takes more than just talent to make plays consistently, Spicer warns. "There is no successful pass rusher who just came and said 'That's all me, I didn't have to do nothin.' No, you have to work on it." Spicer said. That being said, rookies have, in the past, made big impacts as pass rusher. Jevon Kearse, Dwight Freeny and Simeon Rice are among those who have recorded double digit sacks as rookies. Second round pick Quentin Groves has looked good rushing the passer and has received positive reviews from offensive linemen like Maurice Williams and Khalif Barnes. Groves was also singled out by Del Rio after Friday night's scrimmage. Was that a message for Harvey? Maybe. But Groves' performance in pre-season games might just give the Jaguars more leverage…then again, it could go just the other way. Notes: Linebacker Clint Ingram said that he might be back on the practice field this evening after leaving practice Monday with an ankle injury. He also thinks that he might play on Saturday in the pre-season opener. When asked what he thought of the current state of rookie contracts, Spicer replied "I wish I was 25 again." Here's an interesting scenario to consider: Brad Meester will likely be out until October recovering from his biceps surgery. The Jaguars will have to keep Meester around in the meantime, eating up a roster spot. Might that spot cost Matt Jones? As far as the wide receiver are concerned, Jerry Porter, Reggie Williams, Mike Walker, Dennis Northcutt and Troy Williamson seem to be in. Would the Jaguars keep more than five receivers on the roster? They may have to use one of the last roster spots on a player who would help on special teams, or maybe an extra offensive linemen to have around in case of another injury up front. That could make it tough for anyone outside of those top five receivers to make the squad. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:04:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301592 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301592 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RocbkSz3c For people who happen to read Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk, you should already know that he thinks the Colts are going to be passed by the Jaguars.  He backs up this ridiculous thought with bad information and the twisting of facts.  On the link posted above, you can see Mike Florio spouting off his usual "The Colts are doomed.  There time is up." crap that he has been saying since the offseason started.  He pretty much gives us three reasons on why the Colts are doomed: There are a bunch of injuries, the Colts give out big contracts which causes a lack of depth, and the Jaguars spent a lot of money this offseason. True, the Colts do have a lot of injuries.  They also have said and shown that everything is fine.  Bob Sanders has said that he is almost at 100%.  Dwight Freeney has been running in practice, which gives me the right to assume that he is around 90 to 100%.  Peyton Manning had an infected bursa sac which is not a big deal at all.  Marvin Harrison is 110% and is only missing tomorrow night's game just to be careful that he wouldn't reinjure them. The contract comment was ignorant and stupid.  If the Colts have bad depth, then teams with good depth should have multiple Pro Bowlers on the bench.  Here are all of the players that were projected starters or contributors going into training camp that missed multiple games: Marvin Harrison Anthony Gonzalez Tony Ugoh Ryan Diem Dwight Freeney Anthony McFarland Raheem Brock Robert Mathis Rob Morris Freddy Keiaho So we didn't have 9 starters and our first round draft pick for multiple games, and still went 13-3 losing to the 2 teams who played in the AFC Championship Game by a combined score of I think it was 7 and a game where we rested the starters. That comment was made out of pure ignorance to what happened last year.  He chose a little fact, and he ignored the other facts to make it seem like it was a problem.  Jeff Saturday will get a big contract this offseason or at least the franchise tag.  It won't hurt the team.  Sure, Tyjuan Hagler might have to leave, and some players might be cut, but it won't affect the team. Throw in Cato June, Nick Harper, Jason David, and Dominic Rhodes, all of whom started in the Super Bowl season left, and we had a better playoff seed this time around. Also, his comment about the Jags spending money was another dumb one.  In that case, I guess the Redskins should win the Super Bowl, the Knicks should win the NBA Championship, the Yankees should win the World Series, and USC should win the BCS National Championship Game.  The teams that spend the most money don't always win the most games.  It's not how much money you spend.  It's how wisely you spend it.  The Colts signing Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney, and Bob Sanders to big contracts is better than giving players like Jerry Porter big contracts.  These players are proven stars.  Jerry Porter hasn't done anything recently to deserve that contract. Good teams don't spend money in the offseason on big name free agents.  Look at the Patriots.  They have drafted well over the past 8 years and made smart trades to get Welker and Moss, and they did great last year.  The Chargers did well drafting LT, Luis Castillo, Shawne Merriman, Antonio Cromartie, and signing Antonio Gates as an undrafted free agent.  The Giants drafted Corey Webster, Justin Tuck, Brandon Jacobs, Gibril Wilson, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, Ahmad Bradshaw, and made a draft day trade for Eli Manning.  All of these guys were key to the Super Bowl victory. My point is, signing big name players in free agency does not make a winner.  Sure, the good teams all have some players that were acquired through free agency.  The Colts have Adam Vinatieri.  The Patriots have Rodney Harrison.  The Giants have Plaxico Burress.  However, none of these teams have been out signing every big name free agent that comes their way.  That's what the Raiders do.  They get players like Javon Walker and suck.  Free agency is not the way to build a team.  Drafting well and making smart personnel moves is. So to sum it up, Mike Florio is as knowledgable as a five year old in Pakistan about the NFL and the game of football in general. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:56:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/299955 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/299955 The opening weekend of training camp has been rough on the Jaguars wide receivers. Free agent signee Jerry Porter is out of action, recovering from surgery to aid the healing of a troubling hamstring. Reggie Williams, who led the Jaguars with 10 touchdown catches last year, didn't make it through a full day of practice before his knee acted up, requiring a scope this week. Mike Walker, who has flashed star potential, is practicing on a limited basis. Matt Jones hasn't missed a practice, but his legal travails hover over him. Last year, despite David Garrard team record setting 102.2 quarterback rating, no Jaguars receiver caught as many as 50 passes or gained as much as 700 yards. And in the Jaguars' playoff loss in New England, Dennis Northcutt dropped two key passes, including one at the goal line that would have tied up the game in the second half. Room for improvement? You bet. One of the questions that will be answered this pre-season is whether the optimistic view of the Jaguars receivers is correct: will Porter return to form? Will Williams continue to show some of the promise that made him a top 10 pick once? Will former Viking Troy Williamson do the same? Can Walker's knee hold up long enough to give the Jaguars the impact receiver they haven't had since Jimmy Smith's retirement three years ago? Can Matt Jones overcome his pending legal issues and live up to his potential? If the Jaguars receivers are an improved bunch over last year, this could be the year that Jacksonville knocks the Colts off the AFC South throne, and in the process, becomes a Super Bowl contender. But what if the wide receivers don't improve. What if Porter doesn't come back from the surgery, if Williams stagnates, Walker struggles with his knee and Matt Jones is a non factor (for one reason or another)? If that happens, the Jaguars can hope for little better than a wild card chase, another road trip in the playoffs and another year waiting for the Colts to fall. The first public test for the receivers–at least those who are healthy–is Friday night at the team's annual scrimmage at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:44:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298973 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298973 The opening weekend of training camp has been rough on the Jaguars wide receivers. Free agent signee Jerry Porter is out of action, recovering from surgery to aid the healing of a troubling hamstring. Reggie Williams, who led the Jaguars with 10 touchdown catches last year, didn't make it through a full day of practice before his knee acted up, requiring a scope this week. Mike Walker, who has flashed star potential, is practicing on a limited basis. Matt Jones hasn't missed a practice, but his legal travails hover over him. Last year, despite David Garrard team record setting 102.2 quarterback rating, no Jaguars receiver caught as many as 50 passes or gained as much as 700 yards. And in the Jaguars' playoff loss in New England, Dennis Northcutt dropped two key passes, including one at the goal line that would have tied up the game in the second half. Room for improvement? You bet. One of the questions that will be answered this pre-season is whether the optimistic view of the Jaguars receivers is correct: will Porter return to form? Will Williams continue to show some of the promise that made him a top 10 pick once? Will former Viking Troy Williamson do the same? Can Walker's knee hold up long enough to give the Jaguars the impact receiver they haven't had since Jimmy Smith's retirement three years ago? Can Matt Jones overcome his pending legal issues and live up to his potential? If the Jaguars receivers are an improved bunch over last year, this could be the year that Jacksonville knocks the Colts off the AFC South throne, and in the process, becomes a Super Bowl contender. But what if the wide receivers don't improve. What if Porter doesn't come back from the surgery, if Williams stagnates, Walker struggles with his knee and Matt Jones is a non factor (for one reason or another)? If that happens, the Jaguars can hope for little better than a wild card chase, another road trip in the playoffs and another year waiting for the Colts to fall. The first public test for the receivers–at least those who are healthy–is Friday night at the team's annual scrimmage at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:44:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298973 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298973 The Jags continue to the bearer of bad tidings of bad luck when it comes to injuries so far this training camp, as today wide out Reggie Williams reinjured his right knee just hours after being activated.  Williams was making a spin move after a catch during the night portion of practice and hurt the knee, and even had to be carted off the field. He was taken off the physically unable to perform list earlier in the day as he had missed the first three days of training camp with a sprained knee.  He wore a protective sleeve on the knee during practice, and was running routes and making plays till he got hurt. Losing Williams for a long peroid of time is going to hurt the Jags in a big way, as last season he had his best year, catching 38 passes for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns.  He is expected to team up with another injured Jaguar - WR Jerry Porter, to give a boost to the teams passing game.  Now we'll have to wait to see how serious the injury for the wide out is. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:56:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297820 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297820 The Jags continue to the bearer of bad tidings of bad luck when it comes to injuries so far this training camp, as today wide out Reggie Williams reinjured his right knee just hours after being activated.  Williams was making a spin move after a catch during the night portion of practice and hurt the knee, and even had to be carted off the field. He was taken off the physically unable to perform list earlier in the day as he had missed the first three days of training camp with a sprained knee.  He wore a protective sleeve on the knee during practice, and was running routes and making plays till he got hurt. Losing Williams for a long peroid of time is going to hurt the Jags in a big way, as last season he had his best year, catching 38 passes for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns.  He is expected to team up with another injured Jaguar - WR Jerry Porter, to give a boost to the teams passing game.  Now we'll have to wait to see how serious the injury for the wide out is. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:56:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297820 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297820 After hearing from folks around the country, I've come to realize that the Jaguars are poised to have more fans jumping on the bandwagon than at the start of any other season in franchise history. And while the bandwagon often carries with it a negative connotation (SEE fair-weather fans) for this team it can only be a good thing. With rumors swirling of the franchise's uncertain future in Jacksonville, fan and media attention is more important than ever. Training camp begins today so for all the undecided, here are three reasons you should seriously consider joining the Teal and Black Bus. After I've convinced you, next week I'll offer three reasons you may be in for a bumpy ride. WINNING: First of all, you should hop on board now cause this train just might go all the way to the Super Bowl. By definition, bandwagons follow a winner and this team is going to be just that. In 2007, the Jaguars displayed a winning mentality. The offense struggled at times while the defense was porous at others, yet they found a way to win on most weekends. Believe it or not, the inconsistent Jags won the games they were supposed to win, showing poise that they'd lacked from the turn of the century. In David Garrard, the team found their first legitimate star quarterback since the peak of Mark Brunell's career. Last January they nearly challenged the Pats for AFC supremacy, and might have pulled the upset if not for a couple dropped "touchdown" passes and an inability to get in Tom Brady's zip code. Heading into this season, it looks like they've only gotten better. EXCITEMENT: Bandwagoners are attracted by exciting teams, and while the bottom line is to win, it helps to do it in an exciting way. The receiving corps received a boost of speed with the acquisition of Jerry Porter from Oakland and Troy Williamson from Minnesota. While Porter will miss all of the pre-season to recover from hamstring surgery, if either he or fellow wideout Mike Walker (knee) can successfully rehabilitate and live up to expectations, the Jaguars will see an immediate improvement in the passing game. Speedsters Williamson and John Broussard also have the ability to stretch any defense. If the Jags' can produce a legitimate passing attack, that will only facilitate the running game; a very scary thought indeed. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew still have the ability to score on every touch and Garrard is certainly one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch working with his feet. On defense this team brought in the aggressive Gregg Williams to direct the unit and he should have enough weapons to suit his attacking style of play. Explosive rookie ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves were drafted with one job: get to the quarterback. That's quite a burden on their young shoulders, but they should be aided by second-year players Reggie Nelson and Justin Durant, who figure to factor often in WIlliams' schemes to get pressure on the passer. This team should be fun to watch on both sides of the ball. COLLEGE AFFILIATION: If you're part of the Gator Nation it's hard not to be a Jaguar fan right now. Stars Fred Taylor and Mike Peterson both spent their college years playing in the Swamp, as did Nelson and Harvey. A fifth Gator, DE Jeremy Mincey, will be hoping for a roster spot as he sits out training camp on the PUP list. On top of that, this team has a decidedly Floridian flavor with RB Greg Jones, WR Mike Walker, and CBs Trae Williams and Rashean Mathis representing FSU, UCF, USF, and Bethune-Cookman respectively. Add DBs Jamaal Fudge and Drayton Florence to the list that grew up in Florida and you truly have Florida's team. College fans out in LA might want to keep an eye on the little stat-machine, Jones-Drew, as well as his Bruin counterpart TE Marcedes Lewis, who figures to play an even more prominent role this season. And their cross-town rivals will be interested in following the two USC products picked up by the Jags in the later rounds of this year's draft. Trojans LB Thomas Williams and RB Chauncey Washington will be battling to impress head coach, and fellow USC-alum, Jack Del Rio to secure a place on the team. Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:16:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/296615 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/296615 Is Jack doing the right thing by bringing Matt Jones into camp? Won't he be a disruption? Perpetually in the doghouse, Jones has seen some ups and downs. Stellar one handed grabs are negated in fans minds by one handed misses. His body language alone makes the fans in my section grumpy. He is however a big time talent. We might have reached for him in the first round but we knew that he was a work in progress. His recent drug arrest has fans in an uproar. Local hero gets busted by local cops. Rumors circle that he doesn't like it here, he hasn't meshed well, doesn't have many friends and doesn't like what the team or Jack is doing with him. I agree, sort of. It has to be hard to shift from the signal caller to the wide receiver. Just the change in position name is emasculating. He should be on the field more. Ask any of the jags dbacks and they will tell you Matt Jones is our best guy. So why isn't it panning out? Don't give up, yet. I believe that he was already in Jack's doghouse. I expect something similar to what the team did with Leftwich. Precedence has been set. We would not want an AFC rival to get this guy. Its footballs version of Murphy's Law. If our enemies get him, he will blow up. So we keep him at least through camp and preseason. Until we see Porter produce, we have to insurance. Williams is solid and Williamson has looked great, but we have heard that before. Let us see him in a game. Walker, Broussard? Don't hold your breath. So insurance it is. Safety first. Maybe he has a great preseason and flies right and becomes the star Jaguar that he can be. Maybe we trade him if he looks good. Or Jack keeps him until Porter returns and then cuts him loose like a bad contractor. We shall see. We shall see. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:52:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295793 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295793 The Jacksonville Jaguars begin training camp on Friday, 7/25, and Coach Jack Del Rio's team seems primed for a big year (at least on paper). This may be the deepest Jaguars team top to bottom since the 1999 team that went 14-2 en route to the AFC Championship Game. Though the roster is strong, here are five things to watch closely as the Jaguars begin the 2008 campaign: 1. Will WR Matt Jones Make It Through The Final Cuts? It certainly seems like Matt Jones is at the end of his nine lives. The much-maligned WR has not lived up to his 1st round draft status, and his recent arrest on felony cocaine possession charges is not helping his cause in the eyes of the coaching staff, the fans, and owner Wayne Weaver. Coach Del Rio has stated that Jones will not be cut based on his recent arrest. However, it remains to be seen if Jones will do anything special in training camp to climb out of the doghouse. The only thread of hope he seems to have is that WR Jerry Porter is out for the entire preseason recovering from hamstring surgery. With both the uncertainty of WR Mike Walker's recovery from a knee injury and the questions still surrounding WR Troy Williamson's ability to shake off his past woes in Minnesota, Jones may have bought himself some time for one last shot to prove himself. 2. Who Becomes The Starting Strong-Side Linebacker: Clint Ingram Or Justin Durant? Clint Ingram had a great rookie year in 2006 when he was thrust into action because of injuries. But he tailed off a little bit in 2007, and Justin Durant went on to have a stellar rookie campaign once Mike Peterson was out with an injury. Now Peterson is healthy and ready to reclaim his spot at middle linebacker. With the underrated Daryl Smith taking care of the weak side, the battle between Ingram and Durant will be fun to watch. Durant, ironically wearing #56, looks and plays like a young Lawrence Taylor. His speed in getting into the backfield, defending the run, and showing good coverage in passing situations is likely to get him the starting nod on Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams' defense. 3. What Contributions Will Rookie DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves Make In 2008? The Jaguars were criticized by the so-called experts for not pulling the trigger on a trade during the April draft for Dolphins' DE Jason Taylor and for trading up to spot #8 to take Derrick Harvey from the University of Florida. But clearly, two young defensive ends are better than one aging, soon-to-be-dancing-into-retirement defensive end. Harvey and Groves (as of 7/24) remain unsigned, so hopefully, the Jaguars can be swift at getting the contracts done and the rookies into camp on time. So where do they fit in the grand scheme of things? I would expect to see Harvey and Groves contribute right away. There is no guarantee that DE Reggie Hayward has fully recovered from the devastating ruptured Achilles' heel injury in 2006. If he cannot prove he is back to normal, it would not surprise me to see the Jaguars cut Hayward and get Harvey and Groves more in the mix. Granted, the Jaguars still have DE Paul Spicer, who is coming off a career year for himself. But he is 33 years old, and I can see the Jaguars rotating Harvey and Groves out in situations to keep the older guys fresh for the season. 4. Can LB Mike Peterson Shake Off The Injuries Of The Last Few Years And Make An Impact In The Final Year Of His Contract? There is no questioning the heart of a warrior. Mike Peterson leaves it all out on the field on every snap he is in the ball game. When you listen to him in interviews, you know he means business. There is no BS when it comes to Peterson. However, the recent injuries of the last few years have started to build. In 2005, he injured his wrist late in the year and was a non-factor in the 28-3 playoff loss to New England. In 2006, he tore a pectoral muscle and missed 11 games. In 2007, he missed 6 regular season games and 2 playoff games with a broken hand. Are there legitimate questions about his durability? Sure. Is there any questioning his heart? No way. You can bet Peterson has a huge chip on his shoulder and wants to prove he is not damaged goods. He knows the crop of linebackers itching to take his place (Ingram, Durant, and D. Smith) are lurking in the shadows. Will he be able to ward them off in 2008? 5. Can RB Fred Taylor Repeat His Stellar 2007 Season, Or Has He Peaked? Fred Taylor is just like his fellow Florida Gator Mike Peterson. He takes his job seriously, strives for nothing but the best, and takes pleasure when people question his abilities and he is able to serve up some tasty crow when his critics are wrong. Taylor got to his first Pro Bowl in 2007 after an amazing season where he ran for 1202 yards and averaged a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. With the combination of a rigid offseason workout routine coupled with sharing carries with RB sensation Maurice Jones-Drew, Taylor has managed to elevate his game as he heads toward the twilight of his career. The critics may be ready to push Fred Taylor out the door. However, Taylor has made it known that he intends to pass Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown before his career is done, which gives Taylor a good two years to potentially do it. Has Fred Taylor peaked? No way. Watch for the Jaguars to heavily showcase the running game again in 2008. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:59:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295244 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295244 The Chicago Bears put to rest a completely unnecessary distraction in an off-season when signing young stars to long contracts was supposed to be a priority. Monday the Bears signed Brian Urlacher to a one-year extension to end in 2012 for the tune of $18 million with a $6 million signing bonus. Urlacher was already signed with the team until 2011 but decided he wanted an extra year and fat signing bonus now. I can almost hear the clatter of loafers from lawyers running to the court house to re-examine child custody terms. Forget that the Bears are still working on a contract with first round pick Chris Williams, who stands to play the biggest role in solidifying the offensive line. Forget that the Bears are still trying to figure out a dollar amount to sign Devin Hester and keep him from leaving town. Instead the Bears spend $18 million on a middle linebacker, albeit their marque player, that is approaching his peak with an arthritic back. Brian Urlacher was looked up to by everyone in Chicago at a time when the team was at the bottom of the league. The team has reached the Super Bowl and now is trying to figure out how to get back. Urlacher still remains the face of the team but he is struggling to maintain that position of honor. He'll always do the commercials and the ads and all that great stuff that makes us all love him. It's his actions on the field that make you wonder if this is a team struggling to find where Urlacher fits in. The guy still makes amazing plays and I'm happy to keep him here as long as possible as a leader. You just have to wonder if a time will come when Urlacher will no longer be the star on defense and if he will take it well. The Bears have shown an uncanny ability to draft great defensive players and get them on the field quickly to contribute. Guys like Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs, and Mark Anderson have come in making a difference from the first snap. However, young talented guys also want to get paid like young, talented guys. The Bears are struggling right now to figure out how much they can afford to pay Devin Hester, the greatest return man in the game. The front office can't continue to dump money into old players, even the very successful ones, and allow the players of the future to go to another team. The other day I had a moment when I was thinking about teams that have had huge ups and downs in the league. The great teams are the ones that don't have trouble drafting key players and can keep their salary cap down, aka Indianapolis Colts. Then I got to thinking about the Oakland Raiders, a team that made a Super Bowl appearance and immediately dropped to the bottom barrel of the league. They had an MVP quarterback in Rich Gannon, and great veteran receivers in Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. After they lost the big game they also lost all their veteran players and the rest is ugly history. Within two years they were relying on Kerry Collins, Jerry Porter, and Tyrone Wheatley to lead the offense. The moral of the story is you need to know when to keep veteran players and to allow young players to usher in a new age. If it is not handled well you end up with veterans overstaying their welcome and young players that leave town because they are frustrated with the organization that drafted them to sit the bench. Everyone in Chicago still loves Michael Jordan but let's face it, the constant confusion of when he was going to retire prevented the Chicago Bulls from knowing when to rebuild and retarded their growth for the first five years after he retired. A team has to have balance and I hope the Bears know how to keep it. Devin Hester needs to be locked up in the longest term contract possible. When you come across talent that great at such a young age you have to keep it all to yourself. I still think Urlacher can make huge contributions, I'm not saying he still isn't an amazing player. I just worry that in a few years if the Bears want to bring in an understudy to learn his position that he might not take it well. This is a team looking towards the future to a good team with a long time. It just worries me when they become distracted with a veteran wanting more money and forget to sign their key first round draft pick. The Bears need to get focused and stay on the course they have set for being a solid team for a long time. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:42:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293745 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293745 The biggest free-agent pickup of the offseason for the Jaguars is going to miss the entire preseason due to hamstring tendon surgery. Jacksonville announced today that WR Jerry Porter will miss six-to-eight weeks, but hope is he will be able to take the field opening day for his new team. "Jerry had a successful surgical repair to a hamstring tendon that had continued to bother him," coach Jack Del Rio said. "We expect a complete recovery in time for the regular season." The 30-year-old Porter signed a six-year, $30 million dollar deal with the club in March. He first hurt the hamstring during a practice in May, and it was called at that time a strain. Coming from the Raiders, Porter is expected to be a huge part of the Jags offense. He has 284 catches for 3,939 yards and 59 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons. With Porter gone for up to two months, the team will likely move Reggie Williams back to the #1 role, and Dennis Northcutt to the teams #2 WR spot. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:38:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292666 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292666 The biggest free-agent pickup of the offseason for the Jaguars is going to miss the entire preseason due to hamstring tendon surgery. Jacksonville announced today that WR Jerry Porter will miss six-to-eight weeks, but hope is he will be able to take the field opening day for his new team. "Jerry had a successful surgical repair to a hamstring tendon that had continued to bother him," coach Jack Del Rio said. "We expect a complete recovery in time for the regular season." The 30-year-old Porter signed a six-year, $30 million dollar deal with the club in March. He first hurt the hamstring during a practice in May, and it was called at that time a strain. Coming from the Raiders, Porter is expected to be a huge part of the Jags offense. He has 284 catches for 3,939 yards and 59 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons. With Porter gone for up to two months, the team will likely move Reggie Williams back to the #1 role, and Dennis Northcutt to the teams #2 WR spot. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:38:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292666 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292666 This has been a tumultuous offseason for the Raider Nation. First there was the ongoing saga of whether or not Al Davis and Lane Kiffin were playing a game of dare to see whether Kiffin would quit, be fired, or coach for the 2008 season. Nnamdi Asomugha was given the franchise tag, and then free agents were signed fast and furious to huge contracts. Meanwhile, there was not motion on locking down Asomugha long term. Chronic malcontent Jerry Porter was jettisoned, but fellow chronic malcontent LaMont Jordan remains. What the duce is going on inside that building on Harbor Bay Parkway? Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:55:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291493 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291493