Weekly NFL News and Notes Column

Albert Haynesworth made it known he would like to join the Vikings. Â The recent court ruling is going to cost them along the DL for several games next season;

Albert Haynesworth made it known he would like to join the Vikings.  The recent court ruling is going to cost them along the DL for several games next season; this deal could get done. If Haynesworth is moved (and I think he will be), I think the Vikings have the best shot to get him if they are willing to spend the money.

JaMarcus Russell is the poster child for a rookie salary cap. When a deal gets done, there WILL BE a rookie salary cap. I talked with two NFL union reps on two separate teams and five players yesterday.  All of them not only support a rookie cap, they want it.

There has been a lot of speculation about where JaMarcus will end up. I can tell you this; of all the NFL people I have talked to none of them even have interest. This may be going out there, but I don’t see him getting another shot. One NFL team management member said it best to me, “If you can’t play for Al (Davis), who would want you?”

DeSean Jackson of the Eagles recent comments about Donovan McNabb shows you why the Eagles felt they could let him go. McNabb was more highly respected outside of Philly than in it.

There has been a lot said about Jake Locker, the University of Washington QB. There are two QBs who could unseat him next year as the first QB taken. Ryan Mallett of Arkansas is getting a lot of buzz, but here is a name you may not have heard of, Andrew Luck. The Stanford QB has all the tools and if he can have a big year may leave early. Locker is a good QB, but many scouts think Mallett and Luck could be better this early in the evaluation process.

Last week in my way early 2010 college football top 25 I had UNC rated 16th. I was shocked at the email that thought I was nuts. Well, here is my reasoning. Butch Davis has done a masterful job building that program and talking with NFL people I predict five UNC defenders could be first round draft picks in 2011. FIVE on one side of the ball people! If they can get any offense, they are a top five team.

In the 2010 NFL mock draft that we had for Spartan Nation our NFL help projected that Alabama DT Terrence Cody would go in the first round to the Ravens. Baltimore loved him. The way the draft played out Cody dropped and they were able to steal him in the second round. He has been running with the first team in OTAs with Ngata’s injury. He has looked fantastic. Ravens players are already thinking he was the steal of their draft. They love his attitude and work ethic.

Bobby Carpenter is going to the Rams. The Dolphins wanted him, but playing for Coach Spags will be a good thing for him. He has gas in the tank and when the Big Tuna left Dallas he went downhill. The Rams will get the better part of this deal.

Watching Brett Favre next season will be fun. The Vikings will be the NFC Super Bowl favorite if he comes back. Expect it.

Cliff Ryan is entering a contract year. He will be poised for a nice payday if he continues to play the way he has for the Rams. Ryan’s work ethic has been tremendous and has outplayed other drafted players during his tenure.

With Kyle Orton and Coach McDaniels love for Tebow in Denver, Brady Quinn may once again find himself on the outside looking in. He will have to perform at an amazing level to get a fair shot. Something he has never done.

People from the Steelers are telling me that Leftwich will be the guy when the season starts. No matter who gets it, I do not expect Big Ben to start the first game he is eligible.