ESPN NFL Nation Blog

Jon Gruden, former Raiders and Buccaneers coach and current "Monday Night Football" analyst, is joined by Tom Coughlin, Bill Cowher, Jeff Fisher and John Harbaugh on the inaugural NFL-USO Coaches Tour. The group is traveling to meet and greet service members for several days in the Persian Gulf region. Gruden sent an update from the tour:

Posted by ESPN's Jon Gruden

Gruden

BAGHDAD -- I think the jetlag is finally setting in.

It's very hot, the temperatures are in the 100s and dust is flying everywhere.

We got in Wednesday at about 1 a.m. local time and were immediately debriefed on the day's schedule. I've never been to this part of the country and it's not easy to get here. I had to fly from Tampa, to Dulles, and it's 13-14 hours from Dulles to Kuwait. From Kuwait I took a two-hour flight to Baghdad.

We checked into our rooms and after a long day of travel, tried to get some sleep because we had a long day ahead of us. This morning we were briefed by General Ordiano. It was unbelievable. He briefed us on what's going on in various nearby areas. We traveled with him to Masul and met several hundred service men. All branches of military were represented. It was awesome. We signed autographs, took pictures, told stories and had a lot of fun. We took a flight to the FOB Warrior to Kirkuk and were presented with football jerseys by men in these camps. We met several hundred soldiers and had lunch after that. Thirty-three hand-picked Marines, soldiers and service members were asked to join us at lunch in the cafeteria. We mingled for a while and then Giants head coach Tom Coughlin gave a great speech to the troops.

We later went to a beautiful palace in Kirkuk called Alfau Palace, where General Ordiano lives and works. While there, we participated in a roundtable discussion with the fans. Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher tried to turn some of Iraq into Steeler Nation and some of the other coaches didn't quite agree. He was even carrying around his "Terrible Towel." Overall, the event was great. A band played while we mingled with the troops. We signed everything -- footballs, towels, and t-shirts, even Iraqi money. It was a beautiful setting with so much enthusiasm. So much time, effort and sacrifice has been made by these people and just to come over here and brighten their day was an awesome feeling. We were with the Army and Air Force for the majority of time today.

The hotel where we are staying is one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces. The fact we are staying in one is kind of cool, because there are some special guests here. All five of us are in the same room on double bunk beds, so there's only one coach on this trip who has to sleep on the top bunk bed and that would be me. I'm on the top bunk bed. These other guys are too big and older than me so we let coach Cowher sleep below me. Titans' head coach Jeff Fisher is on his own bed. Raven's head coach John Harbaugh is a big guy, so he took the lower bunk and Coughlin got a bed that would impress anybody. He's getting treated like a king -- he got a double bed. Little Jonny, the guy without the job is stuck up stairs with no chance. We share everything in the room, even the shower. We're having so much fun. It's like we're in camp.

It's amazing what you see here. The organization and the attention to detail is amazing. The camaraderie is excellent. The pride will bring tears to your eyes. I'm really proud of these people. These warriors, these people at war here. They want to be great at what they do. They love it, and you can see it in their eyes. It's been so impressive to me. I just tip my hat to them. Coach Cowher and I kept taking off our Super Bowl rings and letting the soldiers wear them. They loved it.

They are so excited for the NFL season to start. It was very exciting and somewhat exhausting for all of us. We ran into some big fans out there. We saw Buccaneer and Oakland Raiders' tattoos, Steelers Nation was well represented, there was a pocket of Giants fans, I don't understand that, but they were here. There's just a collection of people who are really interested in football.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

The New York Jets' dynamic defense just became less vibrant.

The NFL has suspended outside linebacker Calvin Pace the first four games of 2009 for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy.

	Rich Kane/US PRESSWIRE
	Jets linebacker Calvin Pace has been suspended for the first four games of the season.

Pace can take part in training camp and preseason games, but he will be persona non grata at the Jets' facility beginning Sept. 5. He will miss games at the Houston Texans, against the New England Patriots, against the Tennessee Titans and at the New Orleans Saints.

He will be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 5 and be able to play in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins on "Monday Night Football."

Pace responded to the suspension through a statement released by the Jets:

"This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the league's policy. I am responsible for what I put into my body, and I should have paid closer attention to the league's guidelines.

"I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization, as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl."

Pace's absence will be a blow to Rex Ryan's defense. The big-ticket free agent led the Jets last year with 12 tackles for losses, tied for fifth in the NFL with five forced fumbles and recovered a team-high four. He finished with seven sacks, second to Shaun Ellis' eight.

But Pace's suspension at least should give Vernon Gholston an early opportunity to prove himself. Gholston, the sixth overall draft pick last year, made zero impact at outside linebacker.

Another possibility to step up is Marques Murrell, who was listed as Pace's backup on last year's depth chart and is said to have had a fine offseason.

The Jets better hope somebody steps up because a fast start could prove necessary to winning the AFC East, a division that might send only one team to the playoffs. The Patriots won 11 games last year and didn't get in, losing a tiebreaker to the Miami Dolphins, while the AFC North and AFC South sent two teams apiece.

The AFC East faces a far more difficult schedule this year. Their cross-divisional games are against the AFC South and NFC South.

That gives AFC East clubs four of the seven toughest schedules in the leagues based on last year's records.

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	Rookie guards Eric Wood (70) and Andy Levitre are expected to start this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- A decent amount of pressure rests on the young shoulders of Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.

The Buffalo Bills need these rookies to perform straight away for an offensive line that's going through a serious overhaul slathered with skepticism.

"We're going to have five guys probably playing in new positions up front for the Bills," Wood said at a youth football camp during the four-day NFL Rookie Symposium, which ended Wednesday at PGA National Resort and Spa.

Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters is gone, traded away to the Philadelphia Eagles to avoid another contract spat that would've doomed the season before it began. Gone is left guard Derrick Dockery, cut two years after the Bills gave him the richest contract in team history.

Those were the first dominoes in an offseason that ensured the Bills won't have any offensive linemen playing in the same position as last year.

Wood and Levitre are projected to be the starting guards, positions they weren't known for in college.

The Bills selected Wood, a star center at Louisville, with the most meaningful pick they received in the Peters trade, making him the 28th player off the board. The Bills traded up with the Dallas Cowboys to grab Levitre 51st overall. He played tackle at Oregon State.

Much will be expected of them. The Bills declined to draft a tackle to groom as Peters' replacement.

Instead, they're switching Langston Walker from right tackle to left. Last year's right guard, Brad Butler, is being shifted to Walker's old post. The Bills said goodbye to centers Duke Preston and Melvin Fowler and signed free-agent Geoff Hangartner, a Carolina Panthers reserve for half of last year.

The term "hodgepodge" comes to mind.

"I love it when people have doubts about us," Levitre said. "It just feels so much better when you can go out there and prove it. It's something to work for. You want to go out there and prove you're not a bad line just because you're new."

Perhaps no other unit needs to work in harmony more than the offensive line.

While the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets could enter 2009 with a grand total of one change on their offensive lines combined (the Dolphins have a new center), the Bills arguably have the league's most chaotic situation.

"Any time everyone's doubting you, you're definitely going to have a chip on your shoulder," Wood said. "That's a challenge we're welcoming.

"The good thing about my experience in the NFL so far is you got enough meeting time and you got enough practice time to make it work. We got some guys returning from last year and some guys that know our divisional opponents.

"It should be an easier transition than it seems, but it's definitely going to be a challenge."

Wood and Levitre will have to mature quickly. Twice a year they will be facing defenses stamped by Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan.

The AFC East will play against the AFC South and NFC South this year. The Bills will need to stop six of the top 11 sackmasters from last year.

"We go against some great nose guards and D-ends," Levitre said. "As long as you know what you're doing on the field, it doesn't really matter. If you know your assignments, that shouldn't pose too much of a problem.

"We got a lot of new guys on our offensive line, but I feel we're clicking pretty well. We've been working together, going out together. I think we're going to be pretty cohesive."

Wood and Levitre have each other to lean on.

As players turning pro at the same time and with expectations to start, each will know what the other is going through.

"We're both hardcore competitors and ideally we'd like to play out our careers in Buffalo and hopefully be the starters forever," Wood said. "But we got a lot to do before anything like that can happen. We realize the challenge just earning a spot on the line is."

Wood has been speaking with former Louisville mate Jason Spitz, a guard the Green Bay Packers drafted in 2006 along with guard Daryn Colledge and right tackle Tony Moll. The trio started as rookies.

The Bills are banking on versatility and intelligence with their crew. They all can play multiple positions. Hangartner started games at center and both guard spots for the Panthers last year because of injuries.

And they have impressive brains. Walker has an economics degree from California-Berkley. Butler has interned on Capitol Hill during the offseason. Hangartner scored 47 out of a possible 50 (believed to be the highest score ever by a lineman) on the Wonderlic intelligence test before the 2005 draft. Wood turned down a scholarship to play at Columbia. Levitre was academic All-Pac-10, graduating from Oregon State with degrees in finance and sociology.

"I think we're going to have a tough unit up front with a bunch of smart guys," Wood said. "From any offensive line coach you talk to, if you got smart, tough guys, you can make it work if the guys come together."

Of course, a No. 2 pencil can't help them answer the questions that will test them on Sundays.

How will the line respond with Peters and Dockery gone?

Will two rookies learn new positions adequately enough?

Can so many juggled players work in concert without a prolonged adjustment period?

"We know that we're young and new and have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be," Levitre said. "I think all of us understand that."

	William Perlman/US Presswire
	Giants quarterback Eli Manning has set himself up for a big pay day.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Giants general manager Jerry Reese has a simple solution for replacing the hole that Plaxico Burress left in the offense. He thinks it's time for quarterback Eli Manning to take on more responsibility and lead this organization to another Super Bowl.

In 2007, Manning caught lightning in a bottle for a little more than a month and helped lead the Giants to a world title. But with the loss of his combustible safety blanket, Burress, and a supporting cast comprised of talented but raw wide receivers, the Giants believe Manning can elevate his teammates to another level.

The only problem with that approach from a management standpoint is that you're increasing your quarterback's bargaining power. But I don't think the Giants are concerned about that side of the equation. And that's why Manning is poised to become the highest-paid player in league history in the next month or so.

Eli Manning #10 QB New York Giants 2008 STATS ATT CMP YDS TD INT RAT 479 289 3,064 21 10 86.4

Unless the Giants are thinking of putting the franchise tag on Manning after the '09 season -- they're not -- it's time for Reese to sit down with the agent to the star quarterbacks, Tom Condon, and get something done. So what's the going rate for a 28-year-old franchise quarterback who already has a Lombardi trophy? We know that at least one man thought defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, also 28, was worth $41 million in guaranteed money.

Haynesworth is, without argument, the best defensive tackle in the game. As a quarterback, Manning probably ranks behind Tom Brady, his older brother Peyton, Drew Brees and perhaps Ben Roethlisberger, although I could argue otherwise. And don't bring up Philip Rivers. He's put up huge numbers (but no world titles) against inferior competition in the AFC West.

With that in mind, and realizing that quarterback is the most valuable position on the field, I think Manning has a case for becoming our first $50 million (guaranteed) quarterback. The rest of the contract numbers won't matter that much. We're talking about CIF (cash in fist), and I think the $50 million figure is what Team Manning will be looking for.

A respected member of the Giants organization not named Jerry Reese told me Thursday morning, "There's no way this thing becomes contentious. Something will probably get done before the season, and everyone will move on."

	Rich Kane/US Presswire
	Eli Manning will be asked to take on more of a leadership role on the field this season.

If the Giants truly wanted to play hardball, they could point to the possibility of an uncapped season in 2010. If a collective bargaining agreement is not reached before the start of free agency next February, Manning wouldn't become an unrestricted free agent. But at this point, both sides appear to be operating as if a new CBA will be in place. The last thing the Giants want is to have Manning playing with the contract cloud hanging over his head. And that's why I think they'll make him the richest quarterback in the history of the game sometime next month.

The Cowboys let Tony Romo enter the last year of his contract in 2007, but that was a completely different situation. Romo hadn't played a full season in '06 -- and he didn't have any skins on the wall like Manning.

In 2004, Manning's big brother signed a seven-year, $98 million contract extension with the Colts that seemed off the charts at the time. But according to personnel types around the league, Eli's contract could end up somewhere in the seven-year, $120 million range, which would make him a league-high $17 million per year player. Manning likes to "aw shucks" his way through life, but his reps at Creative Artists Agency aren't into hometown discounts.

In talking to Giants officials, Manning's struggles last December and January did nothing to diminish his value with the franchise. With Brandon Jacobs banged up and Burress sidelined, the organization knows Manning was in a tough situation.

It's obviously not the ideal time to do a mega-contract, what with the economy in the tank and trying to finance a $1.6 billion (and rising) new stadium. There were reports last January the Giants might not have $40 million in guaranteed money available for Manning. But something tells me the Mara and Tisch families socked away a little cash for their franchise quarterback.

Becoming a $100 million quarterback doesn't mean much anymore. Even Michael Vick once broke that barrier. What matters, obviously, is the guaranteed portion of the contract. And I think Manning could sneak up on that $50 million barrier we discussed earlier.

"[Eli's] not a veteran anymore, he's a Pro Bowler -- we'll put some of this on his back," said Reese earlier this offseason. "We're going to put more of the onus on him."

And that's why Manning's about to become the wealthiest quarterback in the game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

One of our favorite golf writers, ESPN.com's Jason Sobel, woke up at 5 ET this morning to follow a foursome that included Tiger Woods and Tony Romo -- oh and House Minority Leader John Boehner. Woods had invited Romo to play with him in Wednesday's Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am, which precedes the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Here's Sobel's from-the-scene account of what took place this morning:

	AP Photo/Rob Carr
	Tiger Woods and Tony Romo played together in Wednesday's pro-am.

"A funny thing happened when Tony Romo showed up at the 10th tee at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday for a tee time with Tiger Woods in the pro-am for the AT&T National here in the heart of Redskins country," writes Sobel. "He was greeted with ... applause.

"Throughout his round with tournament host Woods, Congress Minority Leader John Boehner and Dallas-based automobile broker Tom Dundon, the Cowboys quarterback was treated as if this was a home game by the gallery members, a few dozen of whom were adorned in navy, silver and white No. 12 jerseys.

"Oh sure, there were a few who stayed loyal to the local team, including one 10-year-old who audibly admonished Jessica Simpson -- not present at the time -- for "settling" on beau Romo, who was "getting chubby." Another spectator wore a T-shirt that read, "Romo wuz NOT built in a day," which may have been more factual than adversarial. When the scratch handicapper flubbed a fairway wood approach shot on No. 9, there were a few lighthearted catcalls, but nothing of real disdain. And during the tournament's opening ceremony, Romo received a smattering of boos, as Redskins stars Jason Campbell and Antwaan Randle El were met with boisterous cheers.

"As for the golf, Romo actually stepped it back and played the final 17 holes from the tournament tees alongside Woods, even outdriving his partner on a few occasions. Though his putting stroke left something to be desired, the quarterback acquitted himself well, helping the team to an overall score of 9-under-par.

"It may not have been the kind of performance that would equate to a game-winning drive at FedEx Field, but it was hardly an ill-timed interception, either."

Join me in thanking the official golf analyst of the Beast, Jason Sobel. His live blogs during the majors the last couple years have been brilliant. And in case you missed the news, Woods has asked Romo's girlfriend, Jessica Simpson, to sing the national anthem before Thursday's first round. I didn't realize anyone sang the national anthem before golf tournaments, but it sounds like a nice touch. We'll continue to bring you Woods-Romo updates throughout the day. That's what you guys have demanded.

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	Who is the better back: Chris Johnson or Maurice Jones-Drew? We debate the topic.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky and Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson

It came up so often in the weekly AFC South chats that Kuharsky told his editor it should be a Double Coverage topic.

So Williamson of Scouts Inc. and Kuharsky recently got on the phone and argued it out: Who's the better back, Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew or Tennessee's Chris Johnson?

Podcast: Football Today Matt Williamson and Paul Kuharsky debate which player is the better running back: Chris Johnson of the Titans or the Jaguars' Maurice Jones-Drew. Football Today

We already can picture Houston fans running to send e-mails protesting that Steve Slaton was not included. (Sorry folks. He's a wonderful player, but both of us have him third in this conversation right now. We touch on that in here.)

We cover everything we could think of: durability, reliability, speed, versatility, leadership, blocking, complimentary pieces and the context of their teams.

Here's a summary from each of us on why we took the position we did:

Kuharsky: I'm repetitive in this debate because I keep circling back to the one thing that I think sets Johnson apart -- his blazing speed. When defensive coordinators are planning for the Titans, they're up late, worried about all sorts of scenarios that might put Johnson in position to outrun their entire defense. That world-class speed might make Johnson as feared an offensive weapon as anyone in the league. And as much as I like MJD and as well-rounded as his game is, the danger factor Johnson brings with every touch makes him my choice.

Williamson: While I am a big believer in Chris Johnson and do concede that he is a nightmare to prepare for, I like Maurice Jones Drew better because I simply think that he brings more to the table. Not only can Jones-Drew catch the ball and create big plays in space, but he is far more powerful than Johnson and is a fantastic short yardage runner. Jones-Drew scores touchdowns in bunches and is the more well rounded --and proven -- player of the two.

While body blows are landed on both sides, don't expect a knockout.

Jason Soderberg mediates the debate. He might even declare a winner.

Hit it here to listen, and then feel free to chime in with your review of our review.

	Getty Images
	Baltimore's Ed Reed, right, and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu were voted best all-around and smartest player by their AFC North peers.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Both are versatile safeties.

The two also are perennial Pro Bowlers and unique talents.

And according to their peers, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best all-around player and smartest player, respectively, in the division.

During the offseason, ESPN.com's AFC North blog surveyed 32 players and granted them anonymity -- eight from each team in the division -- on topics that will be revealed periodically during July. The players surveyed could not vote for themselves or their teammates.

This week we take a look at Reed, who was voted best all-around player, and Polamalu, who was selected the division's smartest player. As evidence of their dominance, both safeties finished second in the other category too.

Best All-Around Player: Ed Reed

When it came to choosing the top all-around player in the AFC North, Reed and Polamalu accounted for 21 votes -- more than two-thirds of the 32 players surveyed.

But Reed (14) still received twice as many votes as Polamalu (7), who was tied with teammate James Harrison (7) for second place in this category.

"I feel he's just a great player," one opponent said of voting for Reed. "You have to be aware of him at all times."

Reed received multiple votes from players of the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Steelers. 

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Tony Romo revisits the offseason, the upcoming season in Dallas and T.O.

	Joel Auerbach/US Presswire
	Miami's Vontae Davis hopes to avoid major mistakes on and off the field.

 Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Vontae Davis faced a semicircle of cameras and microphones to talk about a disconcerting incident he recently endured.

Behind him, Oakland Raiders receiver Louis Murphy crept, grasped the hem of Davis' shorts and yanked them down.

Symbolic, really.

The main message of the NFL Rookie Symposium, a mandatory four-day orientation at PGA National Resort and Spa, is "watch your back at all times."

For the past 13 years, the league has conducted seminars to counsel draft picks on how to act like professionals. With the misdeeds of Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress filling headlines, commissioner Roger Goodell wants to get new players indoctrinated immediately.

"I think it's great what [Goodell] is doing for the league, cleaning it up and really doing a great job of holding guys to a higher standard," said Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick. "They just try to introduce the rookies to that and to the policy and how strict it is."

A significant aspect of being new pros is protecting themselves now that they're on the big stage. These players are young and often naive. Many come from modest backgrounds. They're about to receive steady paychecks with lots of commas. That makes them targets.

"The biggest thing is 'no' has to be the favorite word in your vocabulary," Davis said. "You can't be afraid to say 'no.' Most people are friendly. It's hard for them to actually say 'no.' But they're going to have to learn. They might have to go to a "no" class where they say 'no' a thousand times.

"I sit is a room every day and say 'no, no, no.' I practice it."

Davis is more aware than most of his 2009 draft classmates.

He recently was the victim of identity theft. Last week, an impostor provided Davis' full name and address when cited for a couple tickets in Champaign, Ill., where the real Davis went to college. Davis was with the Dolphins at the time of the traffic stop.

Davis said his wallet had been stolen from his car while he was attending Illinois. He canceled his credit cards and obtained a new license -- the old one was issued in Washington D.C., the new one was from Maryland -- and didn't think about it again until reports of an arrest surfaced.

On Monday, we learned another schmo was passing himself off as Dolphins receiver Davone Bess through a Twitter account.

"We talk about this stuff every week in our player development meetings," Davis said. "To actually see it happen to you, you're like, 'Wow.' It wakes you up. This stuff is serious. It's really serious."

The NFL brings in several speakers each year to discuss everything from life choices to finances to charity work to the importance of history.

This year's program included NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, retired running back Jerome Bettis, Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and St. Louis Rams linebacker Chris Draft.

One of the more compelling speakers had to be former Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Richard Collier, who was shot 14 times last September. He is paralyzed from the waist down and had his left leg amputated.

"It's about making smart decisions," Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith said. "You definitely want to remember that because you not only can hurt yourself but your organization. You don't want to draw that kind of negative attention to your team."

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez recounted appropriate words of advice Southern California coach Pete Carroll and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter gave him.

"You've got to be smart and protect yourself, protect your team," Sanchez recalled Jeter telling him recently.

"Coach Carroll said the same thing: If you love something and respect something with all your heart, you'll do everything you can to protect it. This is what I've always wanted to do."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- When the Miami Dolphins selected Southern California wide receiver Patrick Turner in the third round, draft experts were baffled.

	Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
	Mark Sanchez (6) expects big things from Patrick Turner (1), just like when the two played at USC.

Mark Sanchez wasn't.

"I think Patrick Turner's best days are yet to come," Sanchez said Tuesday after they took part in a youth football camp as part of the NFL Rookie Symposium at the PGA National resort. "He's going to be a special player."

Turner was Sanchez's top scoring target last year at USC. Sanchez, the fifth overall choice of the New York Jets, connected with him 49 times for 741 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns.

That made Turner the Trojans' leading scorer after kicker David Buehler.

Turner's easy to find. He's 6-foot-5 and 223 pounds. He has exhibited sensational hands at Dolphins practices this offseason. He should be an attractive option for Chad Pennington in the Dolphins' red zone.

"He's got a great opportunity to play down there," Sanchez said. "I'm a little upset we've got to play against him because he's such a good player."

The biggest knock on Turner before the draft was his speed. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds at USC's pro day.

Scouts Inc. rated him the 38th best receiver in the draft. Pro Football Weekly's draft guide ranked Turner 30th, saying he "has no upside" and that he benefitted from facing single coverage on a stacked offense. Lindy's Pro Football ranked him 18th.

That didn't matter to the Dolphins, or to Sanchez.

"He's really starting to come into his own and be a dominant receiver, somebody who plays with a lot of effort and intensity," Sanchez said. "He's only going to get better. You haven't seen his peak yet."

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Several people who are friends of mine on Facebook wondered why former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor failed to make Football Outsiders' list of the most underrated players of the decade.

Taylor

I took the question directly to the source, and our friend Aaron Schatz wrote me back with this, the conclusion of which is going to please a lot of Jaguars fans.

"Taylor has been a good running back for an extended period of time, but based on FO stats, he's certainly not been a GREAT running back for an extended period of time. On a per-play basis, his best seasons were probably 1998-2000, which is before this decade (and the very beginning of this decade). Since 2001, he has only been in the top ten for running back value (based on Football Outsiders rushing DYAR) twice, eighth in both 2002 and 2007. His 2003 season (1574 yards) was not as good as it looks at first because of an easy schedule, and it was his last year with a Success Rate above 45 percent (i.e. league average). He was below-average by our numbers in 2004, 2005, and 2008. So I think that the conventional wisdom on Taylor is about right -- he's been a good, not great, running back with good career longevity, neither overrated nor underrated.

"The Jacksonville fans are going to like me a lot more than they hate me in a couple weeks, because Football Outsiders Almanac projects the Jaguars to return to the playoffs."

He said he's got the Colts as the team most likely to win the division and the Titans and Jags in as wild cards.

Good June fodder. But I'm sure he'd be fine with me referring to this entry from last year, when he had the Texans going to the playoffs.

Thanks Aaron for the quick response.

James Hasty on what players should be doing to get in shape for camp.

	AP Photo/Matt Ludtke
	Nick Collins says he isn't sure if he'll report to training camp without a new deal.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

This is what happens when you build around young players.

They get older.

And they want to get paid.

After three years of fielding the NFL's youngest team, Green Bay has entered the next -- and decidedly less fun -- phase in the development of its program. In the past year, the Packers have signed four veterans to contracts worth a total of $116.5 million, but they still have 15 players whose contracts will expire after this season. Seven are likely starters, and one (safety Nick Collins) hasn't said for sure whether he will report to training camp without a new deal.

Key Packers approaching free agency • Safety Atari Bigby* • Defensive back Will Blackmon • Offensive lineman Chad Clifton • Linebacker Brandon Chillar • Offensive lineman Daryn Colledge* • Safety Nick Collins • Defensive lineman Johnny Jolly* • Linebacker Aaron Kampman • Tight end Tory Humphrey* • Fullback John Kuhn* • Receiver Ruvell Martin* • Guard/Tackle Tony Moll • Nose tackle Ryan Pickett • Center/guard Jason Spitz • Cornerback Tramon Williams+ *Will be a restricted free agent if NFL moves to an uncapped system in 2010 +Will be restricted free agent only if NFL has a new CBA in 2010

Decisions will have to be made and feelings inevitably will be hurt. This crossroads is neither unexpected nor avoidable, but for the Packers it's no less pressing than their conversion to a 3-4 defense as they attempt to rebound from a 6-10 season.

"There is always an evolution of a team," general manager Ted Thompson said. "At different points in people's careers, certain things happen. And we're trying to take care of our business the best we can. Each year your team matures, and we have a larger number of young guys that are getting ready for the next phase of their careers, and that's something that's our job to deal with."

Since his arrival in 2005, Thompson has taken a disciplined approach to building through the draft. You can praise him for developing players who are now worthy of extensions, or you can criticize him for structuring an unbalanced team. Regardless, his choice now is either to maintain the nucleus he has built or cast it aside for another young crop of players.

It's hard to imagine the Packers starting over, but the financial constraints of the NFL's salary cap will likely result in some players being excluded. That unavoidable byproduct has added a new layer to locker room dynamics as players try to figure out where they stand and inevitably compare their situations to others'.

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Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

So you thought all-decade week was over? On Monday, I came across an intriguing list compiled by the Football Outsiders. We've already gone over their list of the most overrated players of the decade. Now, let's take a look at the most underrated players, according to the Outsiders.

Since this list is on ESPN Insider, I'm only going to reveal the underrated players from the NFC East:

5. Shaun O'Hara, C, Giants

9. Shawn Springs, CB, Redskins

10. London Fletcher, LB, Redskins

15. Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles

17. David Akers, K, Eagles

18. Antonio Pierce, LB, Giants

I like all of these names -- especially Fletcher, although the Rams should get most of the credit for him. Here's what the Outsiders said about Springs: "Springs came out of Ohio State as the good Lord's gift to pass defense, and looked like a Hall of Famer in 1998-99. He got hurt in 2001, came back a little slower and suddenly everyone forgot about him. Fans often think of Springs as a guy who "used to be good," but the fact is that when healthy, he's still very good, and he's always been very good. He's just not the Hall of Famer people originally expected, and he's much better at coverage than at making big plays (only 19 interceptions since 2000)."

Who did we miss here?