Mini-Camps:Major Headaches

This is my least favorite time of the year as an NFL fan. I know I should be getting excited because teams are going to mini-camp and this is the first real football period since the draft. Yet every year at this time the same old stories pop up. Players unhappy with contracts, holding out, not reporting and demanding trades. I’d like to take the time to play GM and solve some of these problems quickly so we can play football.

Giants- Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress are both unhappy and sitting out of mandatory mini-camp, despite both being on the premises at the time of practice. Osi Umenyiora isn’t happy either, but he’s practicing. Resign Osi. With Strahan out you have to solidify the strength of your team, the DL. He’s worth the money and still has a big upside. Let Plax sit out. He excelled last year without practicing so how much could this hurt him? He’ll play at the start of the year, then get him a contract if possible. Trade or release Shockey. This team played much better without him crying on the field late last year. He is a distraction and a poor teammate who drops as many touchdowns as he catches. Let him go elsewhere and get much attention for little production.

Bengals- Trade Chad Johnson. I know you don’t want to do it but I think you have to. Yeah, he showed up for camp, but now’s he’s come up with about a dozen different reasons why he may not be able to contribute this off-season anyway. Ocho-Cinco (what a retarded nickname) is a very good but not great receiver. He is probably no better than TJ on the otherside. Get something for him while you can and work on changing the image of this team. I know Chad has not been one of the Bengals in legal trouble, but as a vocal leader he has done nothing to help the matter either.

Bears- Give Urlacher what he wants. Urlacher may or may not be the best middle linebacker in the business. What he is though is the face of your suddenly fledgling franchise and, unlike Chad Johnson that is a positive, thing. Urlachers defensive teammates refer to him as the gas that starts the car. Be more careful with Tommie Harris. It doesn’t take much for Drew Rosenhaus to think his guy is worth more. Make sure he is by convincing him to start the season, if possible, then work on negotiations during the season.

These are the biggest issues but certainly more will rise. Hopefully by training camp we can start focusing on the guys on the field instead of in the negotiation room.

- raiderhater, Senior Contributer and Owner of raiderhater.wordpress.com