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Bench Warmer
By Adam Schefter
NFL Analyst
PHOENIX -- Owners meetings represent one thing as much as anything else: The curtain has dropped on free agency and risen on the upcoming NFL draft.
Just as draft chatter is about to intensify, so are player visits.
The Detroit Lions have scheduled 30 college prospects to visit their training complex over the next month, including Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
The Lions are scheduled to pick second, though Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli admitted Wednesday that the team has been virtually besieged with offers from other teams interested in drafting No. 2 overall.
It might be unlikely that the Lions, or any other team, would be able to land Russell at No. 2. At this week's owners meetings in Phoenix, Raiders owner Al Davis, who owns the No. 1 overall pick, admitted that Russell's arm strength and side-to-side escapability remind him of John Elway.
Undaunted, other teams still are interested in bringing Russell to their city to see how much they like him.
The Browns have arranged for Russell to visit Cleveland next week, and they would love a chance to draft him. Browns general manager Phil Savage has known Russell since the LSU quarterback was 14 years old, stood 6-foot-4, weighed 185 pounds, and attended his football camp in Mobile, Ala.
Savage recognized then, as he does now, the immense talents that Russell possesses. Other teams now do as well, though.
The Washington Redskins, scheduled to pick No. 6, are planning to bring Russell to their training complex the second week in April.
And other teams also are busy scheduling in visits for the top college prospects.
LSU safety LaRon Landry is scheduled to visit the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions next week. Landry is considered a top 10 pick, and could be the reason the Falcons moved up in the draft from the 10th overall pick to the eighth, leapfrogging the Miami Dolphins at No. 9. Other top 10 teams believe the Falcons are enamored with Landry, the best safety in the draft.
MORE ATLANTA DEALINGS
Landry is one piece that the Falcons are attempting to add to their secondary. The other is Cincinnati Bengals former Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O'Neal.
The Falcons and Bengals have entered exploratory trade discussions about Atlanta landing O'Neal to team with DeAngelo Hall. Atlanta has been looking to add a second corner since the start of free agency, when it inquired about then-Detroit cornerback Dre' Bly. The team failed to trade for Bly, but it seems to have a greater chance at landing O'Neal, whom Cincinnati is looking to unload.
Hall would love to add O'Neal, and the Falcons are trying to see if they can make it happen. Trading for O'Neal would be a continuation of a busy offseason for Atlanta that shows few signs of letting up.
The club tried trading for Bly, lost defensive end Patrick Kerney, dealt quarterback Matt Schaub, moved up in the draft, is in talks with Chicago's free-agent defensive tackle Ian Scott, could wind up releasing defensive tackle Grady Jackson, and is digging in on O'Neal.
Busy offseason everywhere. Especially busy in Atlanta.
A CARR RIDE
Back in 2002, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren gave another chance to the former second-overall pick in the draft, quarterback Ryan Leaf.
Now Holmgren might do the same for a former No. 1 overall pick, quarterback David Carr.
Seattle is debating the merits of signing Carr, whom Holmgren has admired since the two got to know each other at the 1998 Senior Bowl. Few coaches can maximize a quarterback's talents quite like Holmgren, which is one reason the Seahawks coach is intrigued about signing Carr.
But talks for Carr are not expected to intensify until next week, when the former Houston Texans quarterback could start visiting teams.
Other teams that might have an interest in Carr include the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers, who have been seeking a quarterback to back up Jake Delhomme.
Over the past week, Carr has generated little discussion. But that will change next week.
BACKFIELD OF DREAMS
Whether or not he was blowing smoke or making sense, Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden left open the possibility that he would draft Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson at No. 4 to team with Cadillac Williams.
Gruden said, Why not? New Orleans has running back Deuce McAllister, a former first-round pick, to go along with running back Reggie Bush, another former first-round pick. Chicago teamed first-round picks Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.
And now, Gruden insisted that he is debating the merits of a similar tag-team backfield.
Asked if he saw any similarities between Peterson and Williams, Gruden responded, "Yeah, they're really good."
NFL Analyst
PHOENIX -- Owners meetings represent one thing as much as anything else: The curtain has dropped on free agency and risen on the upcoming NFL draft.
Just as draft chatter is about to intensify, so are player visits.
The Detroit Lions have scheduled 30 college prospects to visit their training complex over the next month, including Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
The Lions are scheduled to pick second, though Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli admitted Wednesday that the team has been virtually besieged with offers from other teams interested in drafting No. 2 overall.
It might be unlikely that the Lions, or any other team, would be able to land Russell at No. 2. At this week's owners meetings in Phoenix, Raiders owner Al Davis, who owns the No. 1 overall pick, admitted that Russell's arm strength and side-to-side escapability remind him of John Elway.
Undaunted, other teams still are interested in bringing Russell to their city to see how much they like him.
The Browns have arranged for Russell to visit Cleveland next week, and they would love a chance to draft him. Browns general manager Phil Savage has known Russell since the LSU quarterback was 14 years old, stood 6-foot-4, weighed 185 pounds, and attended his football camp in Mobile, Ala.
Savage recognized then, as he does now, the immense talents that Russell possesses. Other teams now do as well, though.
The Washington Redskins, scheduled to pick No. 6, are planning to bring Russell to their training complex the second week in April.
And other teams also are busy scheduling in visits for the top college prospects.
LSU safety LaRon Landry is scheduled to visit the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions next week. Landry is considered a top 10 pick, and could be the reason the Falcons moved up in the draft from the 10th overall pick to the eighth, leapfrogging the Miami Dolphins at No. 9. Other top 10 teams believe the Falcons are enamored with Landry, the best safety in the draft.
MORE ATLANTA DEALINGS
Landry is one piece that the Falcons are attempting to add to their secondary. The other is Cincinnati Bengals former Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O'Neal.
The Falcons and Bengals have entered exploratory trade discussions about Atlanta landing O'Neal to team with DeAngelo Hall. Atlanta has been looking to add a second corner since the start of free agency, when it inquired about then-Detroit cornerback Dre' Bly. The team failed to trade for Bly, but it seems to have a greater chance at landing O'Neal, whom Cincinnati is looking to unload.
Hall would love to add O'Neal, and the Falcons are trying to see if they can make it happen. Trading for O'Neal would be a continuation of a busy offseason for Atlanta that shows few signs of letting up.
The club tried trading for Bly, lost defensive end Patrick Kerney, dealt quarterback Matt Schaub, moved up in the draft, is in talks with Chicago's free-agent defensive tackle Ian Scott, could wind up releasing defensive tackle Grady Jackson, and is digging in on O'Neal.
Busy offseason everywhere. Especially busy in Atlanta.
A CARR RIDE
Back in 2002, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren gave another chance to the former second-overall pick in the draft, quarterback Ryan Leaf.
Now Holmgren might do the same for a former No. 1 overall pick, quarterback David Carr.
Seattle is debating the merits of signing Carr, whom Holmgren has admired since the two got to know each other at the 1998 Senior Bowl. Few coaches can maximize a quarterback's talents quite like Holmgren, which is one reason the Seahawks coach is intrigued about signing Carr.
But talks for Carr are not expected to intensify until next week, when the former Houston Texans quarterback could start visiting teams.
Other teams that might have an interest in Carr include the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers, who have been seeking a quarterback to back up Jake Delhomme.
Over the past week, Carr has generated little discussion. But that will change next week.
BACKFIELD OF DREAMS
Whether or not he was blowing smoke or making sense, Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden left open the possibility that he would draft Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson at No. 4 to team with Cadillac Williams.
Gruden said, Why not? New Orleans has running back Deuce McAllister, a former first-round pick, to go along with running back Reggie Bush, another former first-round pick. Chicago teamed first-round picks Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.
And now, Gruden insisted that he is debating the merits of a similar tag-team backfield.
Asked if he saw any similarities between Peterson and Williams, Gruden responded, "Yeah, they're really good."
