SUMMER BREES…MAKES ME FEEL FINE ~ According to injured free agent quarterback Drew Brees (not exactly how he’d prefer to be defined) San Diego is where he will likely stay.  "[The Chargers] want to pursue me long-term.  I know that's something that for the next few months everybody's going to be working on. As far as what's going on up to this point, it's not much, just the very beginning stages. I know they want me long-term and I want to be here long-term."  To which GM A.J. Smith said, "We don't have any comment on our business until we're complete with our business."

Hmmm….

Smith later admitted his pangs for Brees and that the sides expect to work something out.  The fat lady hasn’t entered the picture yet.  Stay tuned.

I’M THE MAN, I’M THE MAN, I’M THE MAN, I’M THE MAN…Five of the top seven teams in the 2006 NFL Draft will have a new head coach — the Texans, Saints, Jets, Packers and Raiders.  That’s what happens when you stink!

OOO THAT SMELL…CAN’T YOU SMELL THAT SMELL ~ Speaking of stink, stank and stunk, let’s talk about Marcus Vick.  Can you say penthouse to the outhouse?  Vick’s stock will certainly plummet after his famous Gator Bowl incident followed by his dismissal from the team (after which he said, “I’ll just move on the next level, baby.”) and then one day later, his arrest for waving a gun at three teenagers.  How will someone that dumb figure out disguised NFL blitz packages, baby?

I’VE BEEN SEARCHING SO LONG…TO FIND AN ANSWER ~ It’s certainly no surprise that the Ravens will open up the position of starting quarterback to competition and the contestants are likely to be Kyle Boller and some grisly veteran.  Here’s Brian Billick’s thoughts on the subject: “It would not be fair to the process — to this team, the organization, and really the fans — for the ease of simply sitting here and anointing Kyle Boller the starter going forward.  And that’s not what we're going to do. Competition is good.”

Hey coach, isn’t this statement about 3 years late?

HE WENT DOWN, SWINGIN’…LIKE SONNY LISTON…YEAH HE WENT DOWN…SWINGIN’ ~ Word is that Chad Johnson was going at it in the locker room with receivers coach Hue Jackson at halftime of the Bengals playoff game against the Steelers.  Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham claims that a Bengals’ offensive player confirmed the confrontation between the two.  What happened Chad?  After a press conference to refute the story, Johnson told the Cincinnati Enquirer, “(The story) sounds like drama. At halftime, I was getting an IV. Nothing happened. Why don’t you talk to the coaches, they’re all down there today.”

No one else with the Bengals would comment on the incident.  “We don’t comment on rumors,” Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan said.

On GAMETIME this week (which you can hear on Baltimore’s ESPN Radio every Sunday at 10AM to Noon) we will be joined by the Bengals beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mark Curnutte. 

I DIDN’T MEAN TO HURT YOU…I’M SORRY THAT I MADE YOU CRY ~ Chuck Ludwig of the Daytona Daily News said that he isn’t saying former Bengal and current Steeler DE Kimo von Oelhoffen intentionally hurt Carson Palmer on Sunday yet he added that Oelhoffen’s body language after the injury was nothing more than some very good acting.  Sounds like an accusation to me Chuck!

More importantly, what does Palmer think?  "I don't know Kimo personally," Palmer said. "From what I've heard, he's a classy guy. Football is football. I don't think it was malicious at all. He's a guy with a high motor that plays hard and was playing hard. It just happened. I don't think in any way he was trying to do anything. It's just part of the game."

In the end, Palmer’s feelings are all that matters.  Sounds like Chucky boy is trying to sell some newspapers or doing a drama queen impersonation.  Sour grapes anyone?

HELP ME IF YOU CAN I’M FEELIN’ DOWN…AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR BEING ROUND ~ Yesterday the Ravens hired a new receivers coach – a position that previous reports indicated would go to Wes Chandler the former Pro Bowl receiver for the Chargers.  What happened?  No one has said just yet but don’t be surprised if Brian Billick’s lame duck status makes it difficult for him to hire new coaches with impressive credentials.  Why would the better available coaches come on board when the current head coach is skating on very thin ice?  Factor in that six assistants have departed since last season and ladies and gents, the Ravens just might have a dicey situation on their hands.

With that in mind, here are the creds on the newest member of Brian Billick’s staff, Mike Johnson who Billick describes as “one of the bright young coaches in this league” who “brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and has been schooled by some of the best coaches in the game, including Dan Reeves, Mike Riley and Norv Turner.  He will be a great addition to this staff.”  You be the judge:

Johnson spent 4 seasons (2002-05) with the Atlanta Falcons, including the last 3 as quarterbacks coach. In his 1st season with Atlanta (2002), Johnson coached WRs.

Under Johnson’s tutelage, Falcons QB Michael Vick earned 2 Pro Bowl selections (2004 and 2005), and helped lead the Falcons to the NFC Championship game in 2004. From 2003-05 Vick was 22-12 as a starter, posting 5,310 passing yards, 33 TDs and 28 INTs. He also rushed for 1,754 yards and 10 TDs, the most by a QB over that time frame. With Johnson’s guidance, Vick posted 17 games with a QB rating of 82.0 or higher and 8 games with at least a 104.0 rating. Vick became the 1st QB in NFL history to throw for more than 250 yards and run for more than 100 yards in the same game in the Falcons’ 41-28 win at Den. (10/31/04).

In 2002, Johnson coached a young group of WRs, including current Falcon Brian Finneran who had the best season of his career under Johnson. Finneran led the Falcons with a career-high 56 receptions for 838 yards and 6 TDs in 2002; prior to that season, Finneran’s highest season total was 23 receptions for 491 yards and 3 TDs.

Before joining the Falcons, Johnson guided the San Diego Chargers’ QBs for 2 seasons. Under Johnson, QB Doug Flutie enjoyed career highs in 2001 in passing yards (3,464), completions (294) and passing attempts (521). It was the most passing yards by a Chargers’ QB since Dan Fouts had 3,638 yards in 1985.

Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Johnson was the WRs coach (1997-98) and then QBs coach (1999) at Oregon State.

Pro Coaching Experience: San Diego Chargers 2000-01; Atlanta Falcons 2002-05 

(3:00 PM) NEW RAVENS SECONDARY COACH

Former Pro Bowl defensive back and 11-year NFL veteran Mark Carrier will join the Ravens as their secondary coach, Brian Billick announced today.

“Mark brings the unique perspective to the position that only a former player can bring, Billick said. “In addition he has made a commitment to the profession having coached at both the high school and collegiate level.  Mark will bring the same toughness and tenacity to this staff that he brought to his teams during his 11-year career in the NFL.”

Carrier spent 2 years (2004-05) as the cornerback’s coach at Arizona State. In 2005, the ASU defensive backs posted a combined 353 tackles, including 58 TFL, 34 PD and 6 INTs. Five of the top 7 tacklers on the roster were in the defensive backfield. In his 1st year at ASU, Carrier led a defensive backfield that included senior Chris McKenzie, junior Josh Golden, and freshman Chad Green after losing his top CB, R.J. Oliver, to a season-ending foot injury. McKenzie finished with 42 tackles, tied for 1st on the team with 7 PD and an INT. Golden also pulled in 2 INTs and tied for 5th on the team with 49 tackles.

Carrier began his NFL career playing for the Chicago Bears (1990-96). Drafted by the Bears as the 6th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, he won Rookie-of-the-Year honors after leading the NFL with 10 interceptions -- the highest single-season mark in the 1990s. A 3-time Pro Bowl selection with the Bears (1990, 1991, 1993), Carrier played in 108 straight games to begin his NFL career.

Carrier then played for the Detroit Lions (1997-99). After signing with the Lions in June of 1997, Carrier tallied 296 tackles in 3 seasons with the Lions. He finished his NFL playing career with the Washington Redskins in 2000. Carrier recorded at least 100 tackles in five seasons.

In 1989, as a junior at the University of Southern California, Carrier became the school’s 1st winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's best defensive back. A 2-time 1st-team All-American (unanimous in 1989), Carrier had 7 INTs in 1989. He also added 107 tackles, 3 FR and 10 PD for the Trojans. A 3-year starter with 13 career INTs, Carrier was a Thorpe semifinalist in 1988.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, DIRTY LITTLE LIES…WE GOT OUR DIRTY LITTLE FINGERS IN EVERYBODY’S PIE…WE LOVE TO CUT YOU DOWN TO SIZE, GIVE US DIRTY LAUNDRY ~ Ray Lewis made his way back to the Baltimore area yesterday to participate in a scheduled memorabilia signing at Great Moments Authentic in Westminster.  ABC 2 News and the Carroll County Times both dispatched personnel to Great Moments with the hopes that Ray might break his silence with the local media.  It didn’t work out that way as Ray chose not to use the signing event to stage a press conference.  Unfortunately for Ray, the perception is that he only returned to the area for the money and that he still is unhappy with the Ravens unwillingness to redo his contract.  Fans wonder why Ray can support a relative’s college team along the sidelines on crutches but not his own team yet he can make his way back if there’s something in it for him. 

Perhaps there’s a logical explanation to all of it, but neither Ray nor the team is speaking up about it and the silence only fuels the speculation…like that in The Grapevine.