Around the NFL: Snyder’s Supplement

This has been a fairly busy week in the NFL for July. We had a player retirement, the Supplemental Draft, a big contract in Baltimore, and a couple of looming deadlines. Last week I asked if Steve McNair belonged in the Hall of Fame. Here’s what one Tennessee Titans fan wrote:

“McNair is a first ballot hall of fame quarterback for sure! There’s no doubt that he belongs there. He was one of the best for years and if he’d one (sic) that Super Bowl nobody would even question it! Close to a Super Bowl win and an MVP award should be enough and he’s the toughest quarterback ever!”

- Alex, Louisville, KY

Alex has a good point in that he won an MVP award and that he was a yard away from winning a Super Bowl. It’s hard to argue that he should be considered for the Hall of Fame, but I don’t know about first ballot. After looking into this further throughout the week, I’ve decided that I’m of the opinion that he is deserving of induction. I think it might take a few years to get him in, but I think he deserves it. He was the heart and soul (along with Eddie George) of the Titans for several years in the late nineties and the early part of this decade. Then he led the Ravens to the playoffs in his first year as a starter in Baltimore. He was the definition of a leader on the field, and he has the statistics and the brass to warrant getting in.

With all that being said, let’s get into what happened this week around the league:

Mason Retires… maybe

Baltimore Ravens WR Derrick Mason announced that he would retire this week. There’s speculation that his decision was based in part on the death of his friend and former teammate, Steve McNair, although Mason is at an age (35) where players often do retire. Mason has been the Ravens’ leading WR for the past four years and he’s long been an underrated player, quietly notching his seventh career 1,000-yard season last year. His retirement wasn’t a complete shock to fans, so I believed it at first. Now, the team says they’re surprised by the announcement and it seems they will try to talk him out of it. Mason still has the ability to lead the team in receiving, so if the Ravens can entice him to stay another year, the team will be better off. If he goes, the gaping hole at WR the Ravens already have will just get that much bigger.

Snyder’s Supplement

The 2009 Supplemental Draft was Thursday of this week and only one player was selected: DE Jeremy Jarmon from Kentucky. The Redskins will forfeit their 3 rd round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft for the rights to select Jarmon, and it may be worth it in the long run. Had he played his senior season Jarmon likely would’ve been a first round pick in next year’s draft. The Redskins get a guy who is really an ideal 4-3 DE. Jarmon is quick enough to rush the passer and stout enough to play against the run. In a few years, you might see Jarmon take over for Andre Carter, but until then expect him to be a situational player while he learns the Redskins defense.

Payday!

This week marked the deadline for teams to sign their franchise players to long-term extensions. While most players, including Dunta Robinson and Karlos Dansby, will have to go another season without long-term deals, Baltimore Ravens hybrid DE/OLB Terrell Suggs got his payday with reportedly 6-years and $38million guaranteed. Suggs is one of several playmakers on that defense and is capable of making game-breaking plays at any moment. This was a great signing for the Ravens, keeping together a core of Ray Lewis, Suggs, and Ed Reed on their stout defense. Losing LB Bart Scott to the Jets in Free Agency will hurt the team, but Suggs is probably the more dynamic player. Now they just have to make sure they lock up DE/DT Haloti Ngata after his contract is up in 2011.

Newly acquired Chiefs QB Matt Cassell was also signed to a lucrative contract this week. While it was probably necessary to lock him up before he got a chance to test free agency next year, the Chiefs are definitely “buying high” in this situation. There’s a lot of risk involved with giving that much money to a guy with only a year of starting experience. Additionally, Cassell won’t have near the supporting cast in Kansas City that he had in New England. The Chiefs have essentially decided to sink or swim with him though and we’ll see how that turns out. One thing is for sure; new Head Coach Todd Haley’s future with the team will almost certainly be tied to the success of Cassell.

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Deadlines

Favre has given himself a July 30 th deadline to decide whether or not to play football this year. The Vikings are being pretty lenient, but then again they don’t really have any other options right now. I’ve said for a while now that I believe he’ll play. I still believe he’ll play this year.

Another deadline is looming, as Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he will begin to consider the case of Michael Vick’s re-admittance to the NFL after he is released from his current home confinement on July 20 th. Goodell has been rough on most players (evidenced by his indefinite suspension of Donte Stallworth) but this one really looks like it could go either way. On the one hand, Vick has done some heinous things and has been legally punished more severely than other players under Goodell’s scrutiny. However, Vick has also paid his debt to society according to the law, and he’s kept his nose clean while he’s been in prison and in his home confinement. My guess is that Goodell takes his time with the decision, watching Vick carefully during the time that he’s out of federal custody. If Vick shows that he’s a new man and that he plans on becoming a good role model and citizen, then I think Goodell will let him come back, perhaps at the start of the season and perhaps after a 1-8 game suspension. If Vick gets into any trouble, any trouble at all, then I think Goodell bans him indefinitely or at least for a full season. We’ll see how this plays out, and we’ll see if any teams take a chance on him with the hope that he’s allowed to play. I maintain that he’d be a great addition to the Wildcat offense. Imagine the Saints in the Wildcat with Vick and Reggie Bush in the backfield. With Jeremy Shockey, Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Devery Henderson on the field as well, it’d be hard to decide where to put the defensive attention. I’m just saying it would be interesting. We’ll see how it pans out.

Until next week!

By: Brandon Niles
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer