PDA

View Full Version : From AFC coaches meeting this morning



Denver Native (Carol)
03-23-2010, 04:14 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5021502

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Early Tuesday morning, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin grabbed a cup of coffee and strolled over to an overcrowded table in a Ritz-Carlton banquet room.

The AFC coaches had a one-hour media session, and a majority of the gathered reporters surrounded Tomlin's table to ask questions about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is being investigated by police in Georgia for an alleged sexual assault incident.

Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels was at the next table. When asked about his first owners meetings as a head coach, he pointed back to Tomlin's table, reminding reporters that he had the overcrowded table last year because of his feud with Jay Cutler.

Roethlisberger is the headline story so far of this year's owners meetings.

"I didn't have to see my name tag," Tomlin said as he found his seat before the inquisition.

Naturally, Tomlin couldn't say much. "Nothing has changed as far as the investigation," he said.

But what seems to be clear is that Roethlisberger, one of the game's top quarterbacks, has let his lifestyle affect his football career. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that he would meet with Roethlisberger at the appropriate time to discuss why he is putting himself in troublesome situations. (Roethlisberger also is facing a lawsuit by a woman who says he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel.)

You can see where this is heading. If Roethlisberger is charged, he will face a trial and severe consequences. The Steelers probably won't release him, but they would have to start making plans to terminate his contract if he is convicted. Although the team plans to re-sign Charlie Batch as a backup, it would start expediting the education of Dennis Dixon to be prepared in case something happens.

If there is no charge, Roethlisberger will still meet with Goodell to discuss the way he handles himself off the field. That could lead to a short suspension, or at the very least, the league could mandate some type of counseling.

Roethlisberger's strength as a player is being able to scramble out of the pocket. But these two incidents have trapped his still-young career, leaving him little room to maneuver.

Here are other things being heard at the owners meetings:

1. The least touched-upon story that could most impact the season could be the decision to move umpires to the offensive backfield. Umpires have positioned themselves a few yards behind the defensive line to get a good view of holding and offside calls. Last season, five umpires suffered injuries: two concussions, two knee injuries and one shoulder injury. NFL players have gotten bigger and stronger, while umpires have gotten older and slower.

Starting this season, umpires will align themselves on the offensive side about 12 to 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Don't underestimate the impact. For the past three seasons, offensive holding calls have been down. When holding calls are minimized, scoring goes up because quarterbacks aren't faced with as many first-and-20s and the game is played quicker. Last season, there were 1.84 holding calls per game. In 2010, umpires will be able to see holding better because they won't have to worry about dodging players coming at them. If they call more holding penalties, scoring could drop.

One thing umpires won't be able to do as well is spot defensive holding. That could force the back judge or another official to be on the lookout for that. A television issue also is involved: Networks use a sound mike on the umpire to pick up the quarterback's cadence. But with the umpire far behind the line of scrimmage, the mike won't be able to pick up as much of the call.

Finally, there could be long-term ramifications. The NFL has used bigger officials as umpires because they were in danger of collisions. The new positioning will force umpires to run more and may lead to a change in hiring procedures, as more mobile officials could be hired as umpires and then eventually become referees because they will share similar visions behind the offense.


Starting this season, umpires will align themselves on the offensive side about 12 to 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Don't underestimate the impact. For the past three seasons, offensive holding calls have been down. When holding calls are minimized, scoring goes up because quarterbacks aren't faced with as many first-and-20s and the game is played quicker. Last season, there were 1.84 holding calls per game. In 2010, umpires will be able to see holding better because they won't have to worry about dodging players coming at them. If they call more holding penalties, scoring could drop.

One thing umpires won't be able to do as well is spot defensive holding. That could force the back judge or another official to be on the lookout for that. A television issue also is involved: Networks use a sound mike on the umpire to pick up the quarterback's cadence. But with the umpire far behind the line of scrimmage, the mike won't be able to pick up as much of the call.

Finally, there could be long-term ramifications. The NFL has used bigger officials as umpires because they were in danger of collisions. The new positioning will force umpires to run more and may lead to a change in hiring procedures, as more mobile officials could be hired as umpires and then eventually become referees because they will share similar visions behind the offense.

2. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels doesn't know where the Brandon Marshall situation will lead, but you get the sense that he won't trade him before the draft. What's clear at the owners meetings is the Miami Dolphins won't jump for him. Braylon Edwards made a smart move to sign his restricted free-agent tender, so that pretty much eliminates the New York Jets from showing serious interest. The Seattle Seahawks remain the primary team interested in acquiring Marshall in a trade, but they won't offer either of their two first-round picks to acquire him.

McDaniels said his relationship with Marshall is good enough that he could return to the team, but the Broncos are in the same boat as any other team that has a restricted free agent who hasn't signed his tender and isn't attending offseason workouts. The Seahawks will wait until the draft and through the first round, if necessary, to see whether the Broncos are willing to trade Marshall for less than a first-round choice. The only team Marshall has visited is the Seahawks.

WARHORSE
03-23-2010, 05:16 PM
Fine with me.


Bring Brandon back at the tender or the contract we offered him.:coffee: