Weekly NFL News and Notes Column

 First and foremost, our prayers go to the Cowher family. The loss is sad and even more, Bill having to be dad for his girls. God bless them and keep them

 

First and foremost, our prayers go to the Cowher family. The loss is sad and even more, Bill having to be dad for his girls. God bless them and keep them in your prayers folks. This is going to be miserable to deal with.

 

I have been warning you for weeks about the Tom Brady contract situation. We were told early this morning that a deal isn’t done, but they are much closer to it now than one week ago. It makes no sense for the Patriots who are famous for avoiding distraction to let this go on.

 

Dez Bryant was told to carry Roy Williams’s pads after practice, something that Roy had to do while a rookie in Detroit and is pretty much a right of passage for the first year youngsters in the NFL. He will be lauded by fans as tough, but that doesn’t sit well in locker rooms with guys who aren’t macho and paid their dues.

 

How about Eli Manning dropping one million dollars in the lap of Ole Miss for students who can’t afford school? He isn’t the only one who gives (SUH gave $2 million to NU), but it is great to see.

 

One NFL team executive told me last night, “I can’t imagine the Rams being so stupid as to bring in T.O. If they do, it will prove why they are the Rams and that everyone will know why they stink. I don’t see it happening, but if it does, you can be assured Spags (Head Coach) was not part of it. No matter what he says publicly.”

 

Does people beating up on Matt Millen ever get old? It is like ANY President years into his new administration blaming past Presidents. It gets old.

 

Around the Dolphins you sure can hear the excitement for Ricky Williams. He is in a great state of mind and one Dolphin told me, “He is going to kick [butt].”

 

Speaking of praise and love for players, Patrick Willis has people inside the Niners fired up. One told me last Wednesday, “I don’t know what his ceiling is, but Coach is one of the all time best and thinks he could be better.”

 

Is LenDale White done as an NFL player? Sad.

 

What is Jimmy Clausen thinking? All draft picks for his team signed except him. Hey Jimmy, you weren’t a number one and frankly, many teams were shocked you went where you did. You play for your second deal when you aren’t a first rounder. Unless, of course, you don’t think you will get a second deal?

 

So who hasn’t Lane Kiffin alienated? He broke all coaching etiquette to get an assistant who he wanted. For a young man with so much ability and talent, it is sad to see him setting himself up for failure.

 

Is there anyone left in America that thinks Brett Favre isn’t coming back? The folks I know in Minnesota have no doubts. He will be back when the team breaks camp.

 

Teams have backed away from trying to trade for Albert Haynesworth assuming at some point the Skins will blink and let him go. The sharks are circling and the blood is in the water in Skins Park. Enjoy watching to see who blinks first.