Simplifying a complex world

Sporting News, The, May 26, 2003 by Dan Pompei

M@IL BONDING

DAN POMPEI ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

You've criticized the Bills' selection of running back Willis McGahee in the first round of the NFL draft and, like others in your field, left your critique completely void of better alternatives for the team. What other available players do you believe offered more value with the 23rd overall pick than McGahee?

Kevin Farmer, Buffalo

Kevin: First, let me reiterate that if McGahee eventually can play as he did last year at the University of Miami, he will be the best pick in the draft. But he's coming off a major knee injury and surgery, so that's a huge if. The Bills, who already have running back Travis Henry, entered the draft with bigger needs, and some of the players who could have helped fill them are Iowa guard Eric Steinbach, Oklahoma cornerback Andre Woolfolk, Miami defensive tackle William Joseph and Iowa right end Dallas Clark.

SPEED READS

* The Patriots have more talent now than when they won the Super Bowl following the 2001 season. Coach Bill Belichick and player personnel man Scott Pioli have added quality players through the draft, despite picking near or at the bottom of each round, and have supplemental the roster with veteran free agents. What remains to be seen is if the Patriots can recapture the rare chemistry that fueled them in their Super Bowl run.

* Young, highly paid players such as Chiefs defensive tackle Ryan Sims need to be full-time participants in their team's offseason conditioning programs, especially when head coaches are insistent on it. Sims should be a cornerstone player for Kansas City, but that can't happen until he makes a deep commitment.

* Sammy Knight is joining a Dolphins secondary that features former Pro Bowl picks Brock Marion, Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain, but don't be surprised if Knight--an afterthought free agent from the Saints--leads Miami defensive backs in big plays.

INSIDE DISH

By DAN POMPEI

Despite rumors to the contrary, TE Kyle Brady will remain with the Jaguars, according to coach Jack Del Rio. Brady's salary for 2003 is $3 million, and the team is trying to get him to accept a pay cut. Brady is willing, but only up to a point. Even if Brady's contract isn't redone, Del Rio indicated Brady will remain with the team. "He's under contract, and we're not in cap jail," Del Rio says. "We can afford him. He's definitely not going to be gone June 1. I don't know who started that, but that makes no sense for the Jaguars. We're trying to be as good as we can be, and we think he's a good football player." Brady is coming off one of his best seasons when he caught 43 passes for 461 yards and four touchdowns.... The contracts for three key 49ers--WR Terrell Owens, LB Julian Peterson and CB Ahmed Plummer--will expire after the 2003 season, and the team is bracing for the probability that at least one of the three won't be retained. Owner John York says, "The system is not set up to keep everybody." The team hopes to get one or two of the contracts extended before the start of the season. The least likely of the three to return is Peterson, who made his first Pro Bowl last season. The 49ers will prioritize the superstar Owens, and they can't afford to lose Plummer, their top cornerback.... You have to wonder about the future of two aging, overweight defensive tackles. In New Orleans, 30-year-old Grady Jackson showed up at minicamp weighing 366 pounds and was demoted from the starting lineup. Coach Jim Haslett was so disgusted with Jackson earlier this offseason that he told him not to show up at the team facility for the workout program until Jackson lost weight. In Chicago, 35-year-old Ted Washington reported to a recent minicamp way overweight. What's more, Washington missed most of last season with a broken leg and a torn ligament in his foot. He still is not able to practice. Considering his age, weight and injuries, Washington's future seems dubious.... One of the things the Bills bought with free agents was defensive flexibility. The acquisition of Jeff Posey gives them a player who can play linebacker or rush end, and the opposing offense won't know which position Posey is playing on any given play. Takeo Spikes gives the team two linebackers capable of covering on passing downs, as it already had London Fletcher. In fact, coach Greeg Williams' plan is for both linebackers to play in dime defenses.... The Glazer family continues to look into purchasing the Los Angeles Dodgers. That means selling the Buccaneers remains a possibility. If the Glazers were to buy the Dodgers and sell the Bucs, they could purchase an NFL team such as the Vikings and relocate it to Los Angeles.... In addition to developing into a premier receiver for the Packers, Donald Driver also has become a player who helps sets the tone for the offense. During the team's recent minicamp, Driver's high tempo forced his teammates to kick it up a notch. On a team with young receivers, a player such as Driver is invaluable.