July 1: What You Missed
Jul 1, 2010, 6:35 PM | Updated: Apr 4, 2011, 7:55 pm
THE LEAD:
Are the Seahawks considering adding one of the available big name wide receivers to their roster?
Last week we heard John Clayton say that Terrell Owens might be on the team’s short list. Now we’re hearing that San Diego Chargers restricted free agent WR Vincent Jackson might also be on their radar.
There is one caveat with Jackson, though. The NFL announced today that Jackson will be facing a 3-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh joined Paul Silvi and Jim Moore on the show today, and as always, he didn’t disappoint.
T.J. on the Seahawks potentially adding T.O. or Vincent Jackson to the roster.
“If they feel like that’s what they need to do as a team, I could care less, to be honest with you. … They’ve created an atmosphere of competition… and the best guy’s going to play. If that’s how it’s going to be, I have no problem with it, because if they bring those guys in-it’s just my honest opinion-they not better than me anyway.”
To read more on what Housh had to say, and to hear the entire interview, click here.
Later, ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth joined the show to offer his take on Owens and Jackson.
Schlereth on comparing Vincent Jackson and Terrell Owens:
“Vincent Jackson’s a better receiver at this point in time. I understand he’s got a three-game suspension coming up, but to me he is a young player that hasn’t even reached his potential fully yet. You’ve got to understand that Vincent Jackson was a kid out of Northern Colorado … it’s just a little Division II school. So that guy’s still learning how to play the game. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s fast, he does it all right now. He’s just getting to the point of, I think, a position where he’s really going to explode. He’s really going to become an elite receiver, where T.O. is a gun for hire whose better years are behind him. He has slipped considerably over the course of the years. He’s still a great athlete and all those kinds of things, but he is not what he once was to be sure.”
On bringing in talented players with troubles pasts:
“It depends, there’s a lot of different factors in there. If the guy is a great player and has made some mistakes, I’m fine with giving guys second chances. … Both of them [Terrell Owens and Vincent Jackson] are a little different situations. For me with Vincent Jackson, I would definitely be for giving him another opportunity. … T.O. I would leave alone.”
ON A LIGHTER NOTE:
Vincent Jackson wasn’t the only one getting bad news from the league today. LenDale White was also handed a suspension, his being for four games, for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
White, who was released earlier in the off-season by the Seahawks, has yet to be picked up by another team. So what is he up to? We turn to ESPN NFL analyst John Clayton for the answer. Listen here.
IN OTHER NEWS:
After a stellar performance on Saturday against the Yankees in New York, the Cliff Lee trade talks continue to gain momentum. The Twins seem to be the leader in the clubhouse, and the Yankees are always in the mix. The newest team to join the discussion: the New York Mets.
We bring on Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN New York, who gives us a New Yorkers perspective of the short- and long-term future of Cliff Lee.
On the Mets and Yankees going after Lee:
“I think the Mets definitely want him very badly. I do believe they could do a deal if they want to. … As far as the Yankees, I don’t think they’re real big players in this unless the price comes down, because they would rather just sign Cliff Lee in the off-season, which they probably will. … I don’t think Brian Cashman wants to pay twice, to pay the prospects and then pay him in the off-season.”
On how much interest the Mets have:
“Usually when we talk about these deals I think people get hung up on who has the deeper farm system, but really it’s how badly do you want to do a deal. … I do think there’s a good chance the Mets will go very hard after Cliff Lee. But ultimately I think he’ll end up a Twin.”
On where Cliff Lee signs next season:
“I think it’s very, very likely that Cliff Lee ends up a Yankee. … When you look at Cliff Lee, he’s likely going to take the most money. Who’s going to offer the most money? The Yankees. Also, guys like playing with the Yankees. You always win, living in New York, … it has a lot to offer.”