AFC West: New York Jets

Yeremiah Bell will not be the one who provides depth to the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the safety has signed with the New York Jets. Bell visited the Chiefs on Wednesday, and they were one of four teams he was considering.

The Chiefs were interested in Bell as a third safety. The Chiefs also looked at veteran O.J. Atogwe.

In other AFC West news:

Here is a call for the Raiders to cut troubled middle linebacker Rolando McClain. He was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft. He has been a disappointment on the field and a distraction off it.

Once again, in a radio interview, LaDainian Tomlinson, said he’d consider playing for the Chargers again. And, once again, I just can’t see that happening.

New Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, in radio interview, said he expects his unit to be a top-10 defense. For that to be possible, the defensive tackles would have to mesh quickly.
The Kansas City Chiefs just announced that their rookie free-agent class is signed. Here is the team’s release:

WR Josh Bellamy (6-0, 206) played in 26 games (17 starts) in two seasons at Louisville, compiling 53 catches for 681 yards (12.8 avg.) with seven touchdowns. Bellamy spent two years at Butte Community College in Oroville, Calif., prior to his arrival at Louisville. Bellamy prepped at Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Fla.

TE Tim Biere (6-4, 260) played in 44 games (28 starts) at Kansas, recording 66 catches for 798 yards (12.1 avg.) with six touchdowns. He was an all-super state first-team selection his senior year at Westside High school in Omaha, Neb.

OL Justin Cheadle (6-2, 290) played in 47 games (33 starts) at California. Cheadle started 21 consecutive games at right guard spanning all 13 contests of 2009 and the first eight of 2010, before returning to start all 13 games his senior season. He prepped at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, Calif.

RB Nate Eachus (5-10, 212) played in 37 games (28 starts) at Colgate, rushing 838 times for 4,484 yards (5.4 avg.) with 53 touchdowns and hauled in 40 receptions for 395 yards (9.9 avg.) with two touchdowns. He was team captain in his senior year at Hazleton Area High School in Hazleton, Pa., and was named the 2007 PIAA District Dream Team Player of the Year.

DB Jean Fanor (6-1, 200) played in 37 games (22 starts) at Bethune-Cookman, registering 127 tackles (70 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss (-26.0 yards), three interceptions for 19 yards, 13 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also spent time on offense as a wide receiver, recording five receptions for 91 yards (18.2 avg.) with a touchdown. He was an all-county performer at North Miami Senior High School in North Miami, Fla.

DB Chandler Fenner (6-1, 189) played in 44 games at Holy Cross, tallying 133 tackles (108 solo), 3.0 sacks (-14.0 yards), four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He added two interceptions returned for 49 yards and 18 passes defensed. The Virginia Beach, Va., native prepped at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Va.

FB Taylor Gentry (6-2, 250) played in 44 games at North Carolina State, catching 38 passes for 313 yards (8.2 avg.) and recording 61 tackles (22 solo). He was two-time all-conference, all-area and team MVP at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, N.C., as a tight end, wide receiver, outside linebacker and defensive end.

DB Tysyn Hartman (6-3, 206) played in 50 games (45 starts) at Kansas State, tallying 258 tackles (155 solo), 10 interceptions returned for 119 yards and 12 passes defensed. He was a three-year starter at both quarterback and defensive back at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita, Kan., earning first-team all-state honors as a defensive back.

LB Dexter Heyman (6-3, 238) played in 43 games (23 starts) at Louisville, compiling 156 tackles (98 solo), 23.5 tackles for loss (-80.0 yards), 6.5 sacks (-43.0 yards), three interceptions, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and five passes defensed. He was a first-team all-state selection at Male High School in Louisville, Ky.

OL Cam Holland (6-2, 320) played in 36 games (30 starts) on the offensive line at North Carolina, primarily at center. He was a first-team all-state performer at Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh, Pa.

DE Ethan Johnson (6-4, 300) played in 47 games (37 starts) at Notre Dame, compiling 97 tackles (43 solo), 18.5 tackles for loss (-83.0 yards), 12.5 sacks (-68.0 yards), a forced fumble, four fumble recoveries, six passes defensed and a blocked extra point. He was a U.S. Army All-American selection at Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore.

WR Brandon Kinnie (6-3, 220) played in 40 games (20 starts) in three seasons at Nebraska, recording 81 receptions for 892 yards (11.0 avg.) with six touchdowns. He caught 62 passes for 845 yards (13.6 avg.) and 10 touchdowns as a freshman at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan. He was an all-state performer at Grandview High School in Grandview, Mo.

DB Terrance Parks (6-2, 218) played in 43 games (25 starts) at Florida State, compiling 99 tackles (65 solo), nine passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and an interception returned for a touchdown. He was an Under Armour All-American at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga., where he played in the same secondary as Chiefs S Eric Berry.

K Matt Szymanski (6-1, 196) played in 52 games between SMU (2009-10) and Texas A&M (2006-07), competing in 26 contests at each school. He converted 35 of 58 (60.3 pct.) career field goal attempts with a long of 61 yards and was successful on all 131 extra point attempts. He also punted 123 times for 5,105 yards (41.5 avg.) with a long of 74 yards. He was rated the No. 1 kicker in the nation at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas.

DB Neiko Thorpe (6-2, 185) played in 51 games (40 starts) at Auburn, compiling 279 tackles (172 solo), seven interceptions returned for 189 yards (27.0 avg.), 35 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. He was an Under Armour All-American at Tucker High School in Tucker,

In other AFC West news:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Raiders have given former Jets vice president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales the title of Director of Personnel, overseeing pro and college operations. Schefter reported the Raiders hired Clinkscales earlier in the week. Clinkscales and Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie were childhood friends.

U-T San Diego reports that Chargers' first-round pick Melvin Ingram lined up at strongside linebacker at the team’s minicamp. The paper also reported former San Diego star safety Rodney Harrison is no longer scheduled to speak at Friday night’s celebration of life for Junior Seau at Qualcomm Stadium.
It's clear Plaxico Burress wants to play in the NFL in 2012.

And it’s also clear that he’d play anywhere. The receiver, who will turn 35 in August, appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio with hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon.

Gannon asked Burress his thoughts on Carolina, Oakland and Miami as possible destinations. Burress said yes, yes and yes.

Here is his response: “You just ran off some good teams. I spoke with Cam [Newton] a few times this offseason when he was down here working out in South Florida. I didn’t get a chance to work out with him but I know he’s a very hard worker. Steve Smith is obviously, in my book, one of the top five receivers in all of football. He has been that kind of player for some time now. … Oakland, I’ve always thought that Carson Palmer has been one of the best deep-ball throwers in all of football since I can remember. … They do have some great talent over there in Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy. I think those guys are only going to get better with Carson. … The Miami Dolphins. I ran into Reggie Bush a few weeks ago at the Heat-Celtics game and he was just saying, ‘Man, please, just come down here and make some plays, and we’re going to have the receiver to go up and get the ball in the red zone and things like that.’ I said, ‘Hey, man, you know, when my phone rings, hey, you never know.’”

My thoughts on Burress’ idea of playing in Oakland? Just because the Raiders were one of the team’s Gannon mentioned doesn’t mean it is a good fit.

Burress had 45 catches for the Jets last season, his first back in the league after missing two years while he was in prison.

The thought of adding Burress, in my mind, is a lot like the idea of the Raiders signing Terrell Owens. I just think the Raiders would be better off developing their young stable of receivers than adding one of these two aging players.
As expected, Joey Clinkscales is joining his childhood friend in Oakland.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Clinkscales, former Jets director of college scouting, is taking a prominent scouting job with the Raiders; there is a strong chance it will be on the pro-personnel side. The Raiders have reportedly already hired Green Bay’s Shaun Herock as their college scouting director.

ESPN New York reported prior to the draft that the Jets and Clinkscales were headed for a mutual parting of the ways, and that Clinkscales would likely end up in Oakland. Clinkscales played at the University of Tennessee and was childhood friends with Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie.

McKenzie has been making wholesale changes since he took over in Oakland in January.

In other AFC West news:

Two Kansas City rookies will miss a day of minicamp so they can graduate from college. Class move, Romeo Crennel. Jeff Allen and Tim Biere will have a million more NFL practice days. No more graduation days.

Kansas City signed defensive end Ropati Pitoitua. Pitoitua, 27, played in 22 games with the New York Jets over the 2009 and 2011 seasons; he will be a bottom-of-the-roster type if he makes the team.
Reggie McKenzie didn’t waste time in adding to his scouting department.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports McKenzie has hired longtime Green Bay scout Shaun Herock as the team’s director of college scouting. Herock was with the Packers for 19 years. McKenzie came to Oakland as general manager in January after a long stay in Green Bay.

Herock is the son of former Raiders and Packers personnel executive Ken Herock. Ken was one of the men who advised Oakland owner Mark Davis after Oakland owner Al Davis died last October. Herock also recommended McKenzie to Davis.

The Raiders fired former college scouting director Jon Kingdom after 33 years on Monday. Wholesale changes have been expected since McKenzie took over. Shawn Herock has long been considered as a possibility to join Oakland’s staff. He was the Packers assistant director of college scouting for 11 years. He’s been an NFL scout for 23 years.

Jets college scouting director Joey Clinkscale had been linked to the Oakland job. He went to the University of Tennessee and was childhood friends with McKenzie. During the draft, Clinkscale said he expected to remain in New York.

In other Oakland news:

The Raiders signed guard Ed Wang. He has played in six games with Buffalo. He was a fifth-round pick by the Bills in 2010 out of Virginia Tech. He was the first Chinese-American player drafted into the league.

The Oakland Tribune reports Raleigh McKenzie – the twin brother of Reggie McKenzie – will join the team’s scouting department.

Update: Clinkscale could still emerge as a pro personnel candidate in Oakland if he does leave the Jets.

Report: Raiders fire top scout

April, 30, 2012
Apr 30
10:40
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New Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie began the expected overhaul of the team’s scouting department Monday when he fired longtime scout Jon Kingdon, according to the NFL Network.

Kingdon was Oakland’s college scouting director and had been with the organization for 33 years. The team is restructuring the organization as it transitions after the October death of owner Al Davis.

Davis was Oakland’s decision-maker on every move, but Kingdon was one of his top chiefs. When McKenzie took over in January, it was expected that wholesale changes would be made.

Often such changes happen shortly after the draft so don't confuse the timing of the firing as a sign that Kingdon failed during the weekend. It was McKenzie’s show and I’m sure this move was planned.

ESPN New York recently reported that the Jets and college scouting director Joey Clinkscales were likely to mutually part ways and that Clinkscales could leave for a lateral move in Oakland. McKenzie and Clinkscales were childhood friends who played together at the University of Tennessee. Clinkscales said during the weekend that he expects to stay in New York.

However, there is now an opening in Oakland for him.
The Broncos’ compensation in the Tim Tebow trade is a gift for Tebow’s replacement, Peyton Manning.

Denver took Baylor center Philip Blake with the No. 108 pick, in the fourth round. That was the primary pick the Jets gave up in the Tebow trade.

Interestingly, Blake will backup/compete with J.D. Walton, a former Baylor teammate. Denver took Walton two years ago and he has been the team’s starter. Manning has been working closely with Walton since Manning signed in Denver last month. Blake likely won’t compete with Walton right away.

The Broncos made an interesting pick early in the fourth round in the in the form of Arizona State cornerback Omar Bolden. He missed all of last season with an ACL injury. He has excellent cover skills and, if healthy, he likely would have been a second-round pick last year.

Bolden is now healthy. It’s a worthwhile pick for Denver since they are looking for young cornerbacks who don’t have to start right away. This pick has a chance to be a steal.

The Chiefs love small, return types. They drafted Devon Wylie of Fresno State in the fourth round. Wylie is dynamic player. He is fast and NFL-ready, yet he is just 5-foot-9, 188 pounds. He can also kelp in the return game, where the Chiefs have several options. Wylie is similar to 2010 second-round pick Dexter McCluster.

He and McCluster can be on the field together with McCluster being in the backfield. With big receiver Dwayne Bowe and Jon Baldwin, the Chiefs continue to give themselves matchup options.

The Chargers began to start thinking about a post-Antonio Gates world by taking Louisiana-Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green in the fourth round. Like the Chargers’ first three picks, Green was expected to go earlier in the draft. He is an interesting prospect for down the road.
The Oakland Raiders appear to be poised to add an experienced draft evaluator as they continue to rebuild their franchise after Al Davis.

ESPN New York reports the New York Jets and Joey Clinkscales, their top college talent evaluator, will likely part ways after the draft. The report cites that the Raiders are interested in Clinkscales.

This makes sense because since the Raiders are planning to make major changes in scouting after the draft. New Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie and Clinkscales were college teammates at Tennessee and remain friends.

His move to Oakland would be a lateral move. Clinkscales has been in his current role since 2008 and the Jets have had mixed drafting success since then.

In Clinkscales’ first year in his current role, the Jets selected Vernon Gholston with the No. 6 pick and he is considered one of the great all-time draft busts. He made $20 million without registering a sack for the Jets in three seasons. Still, Clinkscales is considered a solid football man, who has twice interviewed for general manager jobs.

Davis, who died last October at the age of 82, made essentially every personnel move for Oakland for nearly 50 years. This potential hiring is another example that Oakland is moving toward a more traditional organizational structure.
Tyson Jackson's time in Kansas City is hitting a critical stage.

NFL.com reported that Jackson -- the No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 draft -- has accepted a major contract restructuring. The report said the restructuring was amicable and logical, but it is clear the Chiefs were focused on getting Jackson’s pay scale in line with his production. He was heavily overpaid because of his draft slotting. The Chiefs are in fine salary-cap shape, so this wasn’t a restructuring done out of necessity.

The report states that Jackson’s 2014 contract was voided and he could hit the open market as soon as next year. Jackson will now reportedly see his 2012 contract go from more than $8 million to $4.25 million in base salary, with $4 million guaranteed. According to the report, Jackson will have a $14.72 million salary in 2013 with a whopping a $17.5 million cap figure. Thus, expect Jackson to be either restructured again or cut next year.

Jackson is a decent player. He will never produce up to the standards of being the No. 3 player selected, but he’s not a total bust, either. This new contract allows the Chiefs flexibility moving forward.

It also makes you wonder if the team could add a defensive end early in the draft. The Chiefs have the No. 11 pick and perhaps they could be in play for someone such as Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox or North Carolina's Quinton Coples.

In other AFC West news:

ESPN Stats & Information has a look at what the Raiders have received for their spent 2012 draft picks.

Former Oakland cornerback Chris Johnson is visiting the Jets, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson was cut by Oakland earlier this year.

The Raiders are keeping their future stadium options open.
The Oakland Raiders are bringing back safety Matt Giordano.

He is a solid backup and started nine games last season with five interceptions. He is a decent playmaker who will have a place in the team’s plans.

Giordano also has a history with the two most important men in the organization. He was in Green Bay in 2009 with new Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie and he was in New Orleans in 2010, where his position coach was new Oakland coach Dennis Allen. This is a nice depth move by the Raiders.

In other AFC West news:

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was one of Tim Tebow’s biggest supporters last season and he remains in his former teammate’s corner. Miller predicted Tebow will become the Jets’ starting quarterback in 2012. Denver swapped Tebow to New York a day after signing Peyton Manning.

As expected, Dwayne Bowe was not at the Chiefs’ first day of the offseason program Monday. He is one of several unsigned franchised players staying away. It is pretty normal and is not a worrisome development.

AFC West notes

March, 26, 2012
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I have fulfilled my jury duty commitment, so let’s catch up on some AFC West notes:

Jacksonville owner Shahid Khan said Tim Tebow did not want to come to the Jaguars and that’s why he was traded to the Jets last week. Tebow reportedly felt as if the Jets wanted him more than the Jaguars did. Tebow is from Jacksonville.

New Denver and former Indianapolis tight end Jacob Tamme said in a radio interview that the presence of Peyton Manning played a big role in his signing with the Broncos.

Manning got some throwing reps in at a Denver-area high school on Monday with several of his new teammates. Due to CBA rules, the players currently have to work out on their own without the guidance of coaches. The Broncos will assemble as a team for some offseason workouts April 16. Still, Manning is clearly focused on getting acquainted with his new teammates as soon as possible.
It’s been three days since Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos and speculation began that he would be joined by multiple former Indianapolis teammates.

The opportunities are shrinking. Manning’s longtime center Jeff Saturday, who visited Denver on Wednesday, has signed with Green Bay, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

While the team is still working on Colts’ tight end Jacob Tamme, the Broncos did sign tight end Joel Dreessen on Friday. Dreessen is a good second tight end who had 28 catches last season.

If Tamme does sign that would likely mean Colts’ veteran Dallas Clark will not come to Denver. If Tamme signs elsewhere (Seattle is hotly pursuing him), perhaps Clark will be in the picture. Denver also wants to develop second-year tight end Julius Thomas.

Other former Manning teammates Denver could consider include running back Joseph Addai and receiver Brandon Stokley.

I don’t think the fact that Saturday is not coming to Denver is a huge loss. Sure, It would have helped Manning’s transition to the offense, but third-year center J.D. Walton is a solid player who did well last season. Manning and Walton will find a rhythm and Walton didn’t deserve to be replaced by a 37-year-old simply based on a previous comfort level.

In other news:

Yes, the Broncos’ trade of Tim Tebow to the Jets has been delayed by protocol. But, don’t be fooled. Tebow will be a Jet.

New England signed Denver free-agent fullback Spencer Larsen. Denver didn’t have much interest in bringing him back.

Kansas City right tackle Barry Richardson has visited the St. Louis Rams. He has been replaced by Eric Winston, who is a major upgrade from Richardson.
Tim Tebow.

I’ve typed the name countless times. I’m sure I’ve never typed another name more in any 23-month stretch of my 22-year career.

Did I want to write all things Tim Tebow since he was drafted by the Denver Broncos? It didn’t matter what I wanted. I had to write about Tim Tebow.

He became required coverage when Denver made him a surprise first-round draft pick. As soon as I saw ESPN’s cameras focused on Tebow talking on the phone while the Broncos were on the clock with the No. 25 pick of the 2010 draft, I knew everything was changing.

I knew it was Tebow Time.

I was warned. All of the coverage of Tebow leading up to the NFL draft created major traffic and drew strong interest. I knew he would affect the coverage of whatever division he came to. Still, I wasn’t prepared for the scope of what was to transpire in the next 23 months.

Tebow was everywhere. He was more than a sports story. He was an entertainment story. He was a political story. He was a religion story.

He was the story.

We probably could have had an all-Tebow blog and it would have been one of the most popular on the site. Did I write enough about Tebow? I don’t know if it was even possible.

The beauty of Tebow coverage is that everyone had an opinion. Many couldn’t get enough of Tebow; just as many complained that they had indeed had enough of Tebow. But the truth is, everybody read about Tebow. All the time.

It was an interesting, challenging journey. Now, Tebow leaves the AFC West and shifts to the AFC East, where I’m sure intense coverage and readership awaits. We will move on with much learned from the experience.

I wonder if the new guy in Denver will be any fun to cover?
The Denver Broncos must feel very good about Peyton Manning's health.

Can you imagine the position of the Broncos, who traded Tim Tebow to the Jets on Wednesday, if Manning has not recovered from a neck injury that cost him the entire 2011 season?

That risk is on the table. But, rest assured, the Broncos have thought about that scenario. Everything they have learned about Manning and everything they have seen from Manning makes the Broncos believe he will healthy for the season.

Sure, he could experience another injury. But every NFL player has that risk.

There’s no doubt, Denver feels great about not having Tebow moving forward.

It traded Tebow to the Jets on Wednesday because it wanted to move away from Tebowmania and it didn’t think Tebow fit in with the new offense that will come with Manning.

Now, the plan is to find a backup for Manning. There are several options, but keep an eye on former San Diego backup Billy Volek. Denver visited with former Chicago backup Caleb Hanie on Wednesday. He would be a candidate to be the No. 3 quarterback.
Well, now it’s official. Tebow-mania is dead in Denver.

Ending an intense day of renewed trade talks with the New York Jets and renewed talks with Tim Tebow’s hometown Jacksonville Jaguars, the Broncos have sent Tebow to the Jets. This time it seems it’s for good.

The same trade parameters remain. The Jets get Tebow and a 2012 seventh-round pick. The Broncos get 2012 fourth- and sixth-round picks. The holdup was a $5 million bonus payment. The Broncos and Jets have decided to split it down the middle, so the Jets owe the Broncos $2.5 million. Bringing Tebow-mania to Broadway should make up for it by morning.

So long, Tebow-mania. It’s been something else.

Here’s my reaction to the trade when the news first broke Wednesday morning.

I will be back with more coverage of this story later.
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