NFC

Sporting News, The, March 15, 1999

Arizona

LET'S TALK, SON: There's a growing feeling that vice president Bill Bidwill Jr. should be relieved of his duties after allowing free-agent LT Lomas Brown to get away. That move alone isn't the source of dissatisfaction with the owner's son, but after a promising season on the field that ended with a modest playoff run, it is shaping up as business as usual in the club's front office. Bidwill Jr. is off to another horrible start in free agency, having lost Brown, irked WR Rob Moore by designating him as a franchise player, and irked LB Jamir Miller by going three weeks into the signing season without making an offer. With Brown signing a three-year, $10.75 million contract with Cleveland, there is no strong candidate on the roster to step into his old spot. The leading in-house candidate, Anthony Clement, was injured last season and has never played left tackle in a pro game.

STARTING AT LEFT TACKLE: If Clement doesn't come back ready to win the job, another in-house candidate is Matt Joyce, a restricted free agent who has visited Minnesota and is waiting to see whether he receives an offer sheet from the Vikings. The club could use a first-round pick to select an offensive tackle. John Tait of Brigham Young, who grew up in Tempe, Ariz., and has said he would like to play for the team, is expected to be among the first linemen drafted and should be available at No. 8.... The club could also lose S Kwamie Lassiter, the NFC interceptions leader (eight), to the Chargers, who have made an offer superior to that made to him by the Cardinals. --Lee Shappell

Atlanta

SIGN 'EM UP: The club stayed busy signing players last week. Starting CB Ronnie Bradford agreed to a four-year deal worth about $7.5 million, and free agent QB Danny Kanell acknowledged he would sign for two years and $2.5 million. The team added insurance at strong safety by signing Gerald McBurrows, a part-time starter with the Rams the past four seasons. Knee injuries sidelined McBurrows, who accepted a two-year offer, for 14 games during the past two seasons. McBurrows effectively switches places with Devin Bush, a reserve free and strong safety who last month accepted an offer from the Rams. Despite adding McBurrows, the club is still interested in re-signing starting SS William White.

RECEIVER SWITCH: More significant was the three-year, $3.9 million deal the club struck with free-agent WR Chris Calloway. The club had ended a one-year relationship with Tony Martin, its leading receiver last season. Calloway led the Giants in receptions the past four years but was cut recently to make salary cap room for New York to sign free-agent QB Kerry Collins.... The team made up for the loss of backup DE John Burrough by signing former Packers reserve DT Bob Kuberski.... FS Eugene Robinson agreed to enter a pretrial diversion program in Miami. If he completes the program successfully, Robinson likely will have his misdemeanor solicitation charge dropped. Despite his arrested the night before the Super Bowl, Robinson is welcomed back to the team to finish the second and final year of his contract. --George Henry

Carolina

LEWIS LANDS: QB Jeff Lewis, a career backup who nonetheless eventually could challenge Steve Beuerlein for the starting position, was acquired from the Broncos for a pair of future draft picks--a third-rounder this year and a conditional selection in 2000. Lewis has said he is fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him all of last season. Coach George Seifert thinks Lewis is a perfect fit for the West Coast-style offense installed by offensive coordinator Gill Haskell. But the starting job remains Beuerlein's to lose, as there are many questions about Lewis that must be answered. First and foremost, his mobility before the knee injury was one of his greatest assets. Is he as mobile now as he was then? By the way, Lewis has thrown only 21 passes in his career.

ROCKET SIGHTING: Rocket Ismail, whose re-signing remains the team's top immediate priority, surprised even his agent when he took a visit to Dallas last week and met privately with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Only a day earlier, it seemed Ismail was close to re-signing with Carolina. Now no one seems certain what will happen, except that Ismail is sure to cash in on his career season last year.... The team continued to build some depth by adding inexpensive former Packers DB Broderick Mullen. He isn't a starter but is considered a decent backup and is expected to compete for time as a nickel back. It's another example of Seifert making it clear he won't overspend in free agency to secure more expensive players until he is confident they can really make a difference. --Joe Menzer

Chicago

MCNABB MOVES UP: Syracuse QB Donovan McNabb worked out at the recent scouting combine and has edged ahead of Oregon's Akili Smith in the minds of some scouts. In the process, the Chicago-area native may have reduced the chances he will be available when the Bears' turn comes at No. 7. McNahb, one of the quarterbacks the club believes is worth the seventh pick, reinforced some already strong impressions made at the Senior Bowl last month. His poise and presence during interviews drew praise, then he showed a slightly better arm than Smith, rated as one of the best pure throwers in the draft and also high on the Bears' list.... Pickings in free agency have been adequate. The club has upgraded at left tackle, with Blake Brockermeyer, and defensive end, with Clyde Simmons. At quarterback, there is interest in Tony Banks, Glenn Foley and Heath Shuler. The idea is not necessarily a starter but, rather, insurance in case Erik Kramer goes down before the anticipated rookie draft choice is ready.