What will Russell get?

With Raiders owner Al Davis admitting his club’s frustration over potentially paying a $17 million option bonus to No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell, it’s impossible to say which way this contract turns if reports are accurate that receiver Calvin Johnson, the second overall selection in last April’s draft, received $27.5 million in guaranteed money today from the Detroit Lions.

Specific details on Johnson’s contract haven’t been released, but most believe to reach that $27.5 million level the Lions had to use an option-bonus format. Detroit had a smaller rookie pool number than the Raiders to negotiate with.

The Raiders simply don’t want to pay huge option bonuses to their future quarterback without any forfeiture clauses. The entire league is waiting to see how the Russell contract will be structured simply because of its future implications with other top draft picks. Plus, most salary cap experts believe the Raiders will never get to $30 million in guaranteed money and that Russell may want more than that.

There has been some speculation that Oakland’s total guaranteed money offer is $24 million, or what the 49ers gave Alex Smith two years ago. But that doesn’t make much sense, either.

Minter struggling Teams never know when certain veterans are going to hit the wall physically, but Carolina’s trade for Bears safety Chris Harris on Thursday puts an exclamation point on free safety Mike Minter’s tenuous future with the Panthers. Minter may still have a job, but he may not longer be a starter. What is scary for the Panthers, who still have one of the game’s best defensive lines, is that Harris is a physical hitter but Chicago thought he was a step slow in pass coverage. The other starting safety in Carolina is inexperienced Nate Salley.

Speaking of the Panthers, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is working himself back into shape and he may actually weigh a little less than fellow tackle Ma’ake Kemoeatu. They are both in the 360-pound range at the moment. Many think that Jenkins, who has been slowed by injuries for a couple of seasons, could be on the verge of returning to his 2003 form when he was the game’s best interior defensive lineman.

 

More money for Smith?

 

The reverberations of the Dwight Freeney contract seem to be headed toward New Orleans. Will Smith, the Saints’ excellent young defensive end, is entering his fourth NFL season. He had 10 ½ sacks last season and has forced 11 fumbles in his career. According to some agents, the Saints have started to discuss a big money extension with the player who still has one more season before hitting free-agency.

 

Petrino likes Ray Rice

 

Atlanta head coach Bobby Petrino still shakes his head over his tough loss to Rutgers last season while coaching Louisville. Petrino says he will still keep tabs on college football this season. Asked if he will devote hours on Saturday watching college games like Steve Spurrier did when he coached the Redskins, Petrino laughed and said he doubted that he would do that.

There is no question that Petrino thinks that Rutgers’ rugged running back Ray Rice will be a first-round pick when he’s available for the NFL draft.

 

He’s so physical and his legs are so big and strong,” Petrino said of Rice. “People bounce off of him and in the fourth quarter he’s really good, which is the best indicator of a good back. He gets stronger as the game goes on.”

 

Cleveland Comebacks

The Browns have to be very encouraged with how great tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. looks in training camp. Winslow looks as good as new after microfracture surgery on his right knee. That operation was his third one on the knee.

 

Also, cornerback Gary Baxter is limited, but shows signs of being able to play this season after having surgery on both of his patellar tendons last October. I don’t think any NFL player has ever returned to be a starter in the league after such drastic operations.

And the news is also good on center LeCharles Bentley. The word is that Bentley should be playing in September and that the coaching staff simply wanted to postpone his return to practice in order to keep a roster spot available for a younger player. If the Browns activated Bentley now and passed him physically, they would have to release someone else. Why rush him into the fray early in camp when there’s still plenty of time to get him ready?

 

And, finally, everyone is raving about the slimmer Jamal Lewis, who is less than 240 pounds, who sounds like he’s ready to prove a point to his former team, the Ravens, and everyone else for thinking he might be finished as a big-time running back. 

 

The Jenny Craig Line

There are few things missing in Arizona this training camp. First, Edgerrin James removed his familiar gold teeth and put them in a very safe place. Edge claims he’s still the same dude, but the smile is lot tamer.

 

But the most noticeable sight is the weight loss of Edge’s offensive line. They seem to be determined to impress new offensive line coach Russ Grimm. All total, four linemen have lost a combined 130 pounds. Starting right guard Deuce Lutui is down to 300 pounds. Reggie Wells, the other starting guard, has lost 23 pounds and ditto for starting right tackle Oliver Ross, a former Steeler.

 

“Obviously, to make it to this level, guys have to have some pride,” Grimm said.  “And the more you kick the dog, sooner or later, he's going to turn around and bite you. These guys want to turn things around.”

 

If Grimm can do for the Cardinals what he did in Pittsburgh, this team has a chance to compete in what looks like a wide-open NFC West at the moment.

 

Speaking of Grimm, there is no doubt it his mind that Steeler President Art Rooney II, son of owner Dan Rooney, wanted him to be the head coach of the Steelers. Friends believe he was actually offered the job, one that went to Mike Tomlin.

 

“From what I understand, Tomlin was always Dan Rooney’s first choice,” said a rival team president who is close with Grimm. “This is why Dan allowed Ken Whisenhunt to leave and take the Arizona job. He didn’t want to stand in his way of becoming a NFL head coach, knowing that he wasn’t going to elevate him to the position. I think Russ really believed that Art could make it happen for him. But in this league, it’s always the owner who makes that call. And Mr. Rooney liked Mike Tomlin from the very beginning; he simply needed time to convince himself. Russ left Pittsburgh because he saw no future there and felt a little betrayed.”

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