It’s the holiday weekend, and everyone is heading off to their various locales. But before you do… let’s take a moment to try to figure out what’s up with Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins. You’ve probably seen by now that sources say the Colts are pushing to trade for him. They appear a little frustrated, though, at some of their offers not getting any traction. As for why that is, a high-ranking Cowboys source told me, “We’re not interested in trading Mike Jenkins.” OK, then. So… What does this all mean? Well, let’s play the semantics game. That’s really how to solve this. The Cowboys say they are not “interested” in trading Jenkins. That’s a little softer than what coach Jason […]

The Cowboys wrapped up their first week of OTAs with a bunch of players making their first appearance in a while because of injury, and others making their first appearance as Cowboys. It was only open to the media one day, and we’ve already written some about it. Want some more details and reactions? OK, then… Here’s what’s up: – Training camp is still months away, but I’m already looking forward to one particular aspect of it. WR Dez Bryant and CB Brandon Carr are slated to have some serious one-on-one battles, and I am slated to enjoy watching them. The physical receiver needs a little more seasoning, and Carr needs to get acclimated to the Cowboys defense. Should be […]

The Saints held OTAs today, and it was open to the media. For the first time, everyone watched a Saints practice without coach Sean Payton or QB Drew Brees. Payton is suspended along with some others, and Brees is staying away because of contract issues. I surmised recently that the suspensions would actually help Brees, and no doubt the scene of little Chase Daniel running the team must’ve been jarring. Couldn’t have been pretty. Brees’ stance is noted by all. Reading the transcripts of the interviews of several Saints players and coaches, though, I can’t help but take one thing away from it: They think Brees will come back soon.  Sounds like they are optimistic or convinced it’ll happen. That […]

Time to rearrange the fantasy rankings following word Hakeem Nicks broke a bone in his foot, which the team announced on Thursday. Nicks will undergo surgery on Friday and is expected to be out 12 weeks, which would push his return to sometime around training camp and the opening of the season.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant is talented. Duh. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got great hands, he has great balance. Yet we are all still waiting to see how good the former first-round pick from Oklahoma State can be.

If Ray Rice holds out of training camp to land a new contract, it could put a dent into his lofty fantasy appeal.

One of the best signs for the Dallas Cowboys today during their OTAs was that RB DeMarco Murray was on the field. The second-year player, who showed off some serious skills last year, is coming off a broken ankle suffered on Dec. 11. In part because of his injury, the ‘Boys lost three of their last four and missed the playoffs. When he was healthy, though, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry. The Cowboys, in fact, won all five games in which he had 20 or more carries. Clearly, he’s valuable. And now, they have him back. Murray looked, well, like himself. (Here is what I said about Murray on Total Access.) How did he feel? “It felt great just […]

The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their second day of OTAs a few minutes ago, but their first open to the media. One player not present was CB Mike Jenkins, who has made known his desire to be traded (for real at some point). He’s also rehabbing a shoulder injury, so he wouldn’t be participating anyway. A few minutes ago, coach Jason Garrett seemed pretty clear on two things: He wants Jenkins to be here, and the team isn’t trading the disgruntled defensive back. “Mike Jenkins, we believe, is a big part of our football team right now,” Garrett said. “He’s making a business decision not to be here. But we’re not going to trade him. We like Mike Jenkins, we […]

Beanie Wells has value as a No. 2 fantasy runner, but another knee surgery is definitely cause for at least some concern.

From 2007 to 2010, the Lions picked their version of the Big 3. After years and years of terrible drafting, Detroit grabbed WR Calvin Johnson second overall in 2007, QB Matthew Stafford first overall in 2009, and DT Ndamukong Suh second overall in 2010. That’s not bad. Three cornerstones. And each were in the era of massive, massive rookie deals. Slowly, that trio will look to get paid. And considering their production, all will deserve it. Megatron was first, and he’s slated to earn about $130 million over the next eight years. Figure Stafford is next, and then Suh. It’s a hefty task for the Lions in a salary cap era, though some would say a good problem. And so, […]

Well, I’m back from a two-night stay in Detroit, which is actually Dearborn, Mich. It becomes Allen Park when you drive a mile and get to the Lions facility. That was the place where I wrote this article that is now posted on NFL.com. What else happened on my trip? Come on in… Overall feel from OTAs: I went over a bunch of this here yesterday, but the Lions did have a very business-like feel. There wasn’t the euphoria that you might expect from a team that has just started winning after being really, really terrible for so long. Maybe that’s good. They aren’t satisfied. Another sense I got was how familiar everything is for the returning players. Think about […]

I began my conversation with Lions President Tom Lewand yesterday just hoping to get an understanding for how Detroit has turned around its once-woeful franchise. I left with a franchise-wide view on why this string of success may continue. Lewand and I spoke for a while, with him mixing in anecdotes about the two main things that have happened to spring the Lions. One is how decisions have been made without bowing to public pressure. The other is that those in power — including coach Jim Schwartz — are not satisfied. They won’t be satisfied with just making the Wild Card game. As Lewand told me, “We haven’t done anything yet. We got a Wild Card game. And I understand […]

Yesterday, while I was doing my thing in Detroit, we learned that Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins is staying home for OTAs. He wants to be traded, I was told, and is still weighing what to do for mandatory mini-camp. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett wants him in town, Jenkins isn’t having it. A few things on this… First, in my opinion, Jenkins is absolutely doing the right thing. His only leverage is to sit out, sit home, and stay away from OTAs that are, by the way, voluntary. Jenkins wants to be traded, and he wants a new deal. The Cowboys want him to play for cheap (in the last year of his rookie contract), serve as a security blanket, and […]

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told NFL Network on Tuesday he would like Wes Welker “to be a Patriot for life.”

Dallas Clark and Kellen Winslow will be wearing new uniforms in 2012, but neither will have much fantasy appeal.