Training Camp Update!

So the first week of training camp is complete for most teams now, there can't be much to talk about right?  You couldn't be more wrong.  There are stories braking all over the US all the time.  So lets take a look at a sample of them.

T.O Finds a team!

T.O and new teammate Ochocinco

The first major news that broke in the NFL around training camp was the fact that WR Terrell Owens, who had been searching for a team all off season, finally found a home in Cincinnati.  T.O had been to visit with the Bengals at the beginning of the free agency period, but left without a contract.  Just a few days later the Bengals signed former Buccaneer's WR Antonio Bryant.  This looked to kill off any chance of seeing the T.O and Ochocinco combo - to which I was very upset.  So Training Camp began and something changed the Bengals minds.  Within minutes of this news leaking out Chad Ochocinco was publicly trying to convince everyone, including T.O, that this was a great idea.  T.O signed a 1 year $2 million deal, with the prospect of receiving an additional $2 million in incentives.  T.O himself though understands that those contract incentives are almost impossible to reach, but he doesn't care, he just wants to play football.

Palmer also wanted T.O in

This team looks very exciting on paper now in the passing game. They have a great QB in Carson Palmer.  Palmer actually spent time in the off season working out with T.O, and was also rumoured to be putting pressure onto the Bengals organisation to sign him.  He now believes that he has the weapons around him to take the Bengals back to the playoffs, and maybe to a Superbowl.  Lets think about the offence for a second.  You have Ochocinco on one side, T.O on the other.  In an ideal world you would like to see double coverage on at least one of these players.  But here's the problem.  The Bengals can also put in Antonio Bryant as a slot receiver, and Jermaine Gresham, drafted in the first round this year and a very good pass catcher, in at TE.  Now what do you do as a defence?  I've got it!  You sit back in a zone coverage!  Not possible, don't forget the running presence of RB Cedric Benson.  This team has a huge amount of talent on offence, and if the defence can hold up to last years high standards, then this team WILL win the AFC North.


Defensive troubles in Baltimore

Ed Reed is on PUP

As all the excitement was building in Cincy, the Ravens injury worries kept going from bad to worse.   The first piece of bad news came as it was announced that pro bowl safety Ed Reed would begin the season on the PUP list.  The 'Physically Unable to Participate' list is used by teams so that they don't have to use up a roster spot.  All teams are limited to the amount of players they can have on their roster at any time.  During the season this is 53.  If the Ravens did not declare Reed as PUP, they would either have to name him as one of the 53 players (in essence wasting a roster spot) or put him on IR (Injury Reserve).  If you go on the IR list, you cannot play for the rest of the currant season.  PUP can be used up until week 6 of the season.  It is not clear when Reed will be able to play, but there is no doubt that his presence in the Ravens secondary will be missed.

Foxworth suffered injury

 The next piece of bad news came as the Ravens 2nd round draft pick LB Sergio Kindle could not report to camp.  The reason for this was that Kindle had fell down 2 flights of steps, and suffered a fractured skull.  Kindle is in a stable condition now, but the Ravens are unsure when he will come back.

The news kept coming once camp opened as starting CB Domonique Foxworth suffered a season ending knee injury.  These injuries have seriously damaged the Ravens defencive capabilities for the coming year.  This is not a good thing for the Ravens, as their division rival Bengals, are just getting better.



Darrelle Revis holds out

Revis wants more cash

The Jets defence is seen by many, including myself, as one of, if not the, best defences in the entire NFL.  The additions of Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor to an already fantastic defence, has everyone excited.  When they turned up for training camp though there was a big name missing, pro bowl CB Darrelle Revis.  'Revis island' is seen by many as the best CB in the league.  He proved this thought time and time again last season as he was matched up one on one with teams top WR, and completely shut them down.  The reason Revis is not at camp is because he is unhappy with his contract.  Revis is due to make $1 million this year.  To me and you that seems like a hell of a lot of money, but when you consider the fact that CB Nnamdi Asomugha is making over ten times more that that this year in Oakland, you can perhaps see Revis's point.  Just to prove how annoyed he is with the contract, consider the fact that everyday of camp he misses, he is fined over $16,000.  The Jets will be desperate to get Darrelle in camp as his one on one match up skills are a vital part of this defence.  Watch this space!


Albert Haynesworth can't run

Haynesworth fails again

If you have kept in touch with nflgbview over the off season you will have heard about the problems in Washington.  Basically Albert is unhappy in Washington, and has not turned up at all during the off season.  So the time comes - training camp!  The first day all players who have not been in during the off season - just Haynesworth - have to complete a fitness test.  This test involves 2 sprints, with a slight rest in between, that have to be completed in a certain amount of time.  Surprise, surprise, Haynesworth hasn't been keeping hiself in shape during the off season, and fails the test.  Head coach Mike Shannahan Tells Haynesworth he cannot practice until he passes the test.  We are now 7 days in, and Haynesworth is still not practicing.  He has not been taking the test every day, and has also claimed that he has a knee problem.  If you ask me, 'Fat Alb' needs to grow a pair, and get into shape.


Cowboys lose Bryant

T

Bryant out for 4-6 wks

The Dallas Cowboys took WR Dez Bryant in this years draft, which caused a huge amount of interest.  The Cowboys are 'America's team' and Bryant is a very gifted player, who happened to be suspended for most of his senior year in college due to meetings that took place with Deon Sanders.  With all this hype, and the Cowboys opening camp first, everyone wanted to see Dez.  The first few practices were great, Bryant making plays, beating CB's and catching passes from QB Tony Romo.  He also looked very talented in the kick / punt return game.  Then disaster struck!  Bryant went up to catch a pass, came down funny, and suffered a high ankle sprain.  Bryant is currently wearing a protective boot on his right foot, and is likely to be out for between 4 - 6 weeks.  This will see him miss most of training camp.

As you can see the first week of training camp has been anything but dull.  I will now be writing updates more regular so make sure you keep checking back to nflgbview for the latest news.  You will notice I have not wrote about a certain QB that wears number 4.  This is because the whole story is up in the air at the moment, I will cover this story in detail, when more details are avaliable.