D Burgess a no show?

[R4Life]

Rice passes physical with Andrews

Defensive end Simeon Rice, released by the Bucs for failing a physical, said he passed a battery of exams administered by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola last weekend and has been cleared to play this season.

""With flying colors,'' Rice said by telephone Tuesday.

Rice said in addition to a physical exam, Andrews performed x-rays and an MRI on his surgically repaired left shoulder.

""It was all 100 percent,'' Rice said. ""Dr. Andrews said, "What kind of physical did you take down there?' I told him they just checked for my mobility in the shoulder and said I failed. He said, "They didn't even test you for any kind of structure in the shoulder?'

Rice said he was asked by Bucs general manager Bruce Allen to take a pay cut of $2.5-million from his $7.25-million salary. When Rice refused, he was released.

Rice was in New York and scheduled to dine with members of the Giants' front office Tuesday evening. He is expected to undergo a physical Wednesday.

""I can do everything. I'm clear,'' Rice said.

However, Rice said he does not intend to rush his decision. He also has received interest from the Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2007/07/rice-passes-phy.html

 

[jatfly]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/report/OAK/10275381

--Defensive end Derrick Burgess, who reportedly was considering holding out because of dissatisfaction with his contract, indeed did not practice with the team to start training camp.

But not because of his contract.

Burgess had hernia surgery two weeks before camp opened to repair a condition he said he has had since birth.

"We decided, the doctors decided, it's better to get it done, get it out of the way so it won't be a problem in the future," Burgess said.

Burgess' contract, a five-year deal worth $17.5 million, pays him $2.5 million this season. He leads the NFL with 27 sacks over the past two years. Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney, whose best back-to-back seasons netted him 27 sacks, recently signed a deal with $30 million in bonus money.

"We all deserve a lot of things," Burgess said. "But it is what it is, man. I'm here. I signed a contract here. I'm here to play for the Raiders."

Burgess said his agent had initiated talks with a member of the Raiders front office, who thought an extension was a possibility. That executive, Mike Lombardi, is no longer with the team and recently joined the personnel department of the Denver Broncos.

--The Raiders have put in a series of 7 p.m. practices, putting portable lights at the secure grounds of Redwood Middle School behind the Napa Marriott.

The practices are the second of their double sessions. With the first session at 8:45 a.m., it gives the Raiders nearly eight hours of recovery time and two full meals.

Every day following a double day, there is a single practice at 2:45 p.m.

"After researching, it was the best thing for their health and to be able to get them to practice at the level we want them to," coach Lane Kiffin said. "Plus being under the lights gives them a little juice."

--Punter Shane Lechler was understandably sorry to see the departure of Adam Treu, the backup center and long-snapper throughout Lechler's professional career.

"If something goes wrong -- hopefully it won't -- you'll understand how good he really was," Lechler said. "I can only think of one or two bad snaps I ever had from him and I think those were when he was doing double-duty (as the starting center). He was good, one of the best I've ever seen."

--Defensive tackle Warren Sapp said he weighed in on the first day of practice at 282 pounds, three pounds lighter than at the mandatory minicamp after the draft and 52 pounds lighter than the 334 coach Lane Kiffin said Sapp weighed last year.

Why the dramatic weight loss, considering Sapp had a 10-sack season in 2006?

"I was (angry)," Sapp said. "I put up 10 sacks and the three dudes they sent to the Pro Bowl had nine combined, I think. I always thought it was a measuring stick, even though we were a 2-14 team. We were the third-rated defense. I felt a little disrespected that I put in this game that many years and I put up that kind of year and was just overlooked."

--Center Jeremy Newberry, who played 11 of a possible 48 games since 2004 because of bad knees since 2004 and hasn't played since November of 2005, believes the second microfracture surgery he underwent could re-start his career.

"Amare Stoudamire played this year and he had a similar deal with the Suns," Newberry said. "When I tried coming back after the first one, I didn't have enough time to strengthen my legs. I've had a whole year now just to strengthen my legs and get my body right to play. That's as much a factor as anything."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I take direct messages. If you have something to say to me look in my eye and say it. I don't know what other veterans would have to say to that. I just know what Warren has to say." -- Warren Sapp, responding to speculation that coach Lane Kiffin's release of veteran players was a message to other veteran players.

Copyright (C) 2007 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.


THE BEST THING HERE MAY BE NEWBERRY TRYING TO MAKE A COMPARISON BETWEEN HE AND AMARE STOUDAMIRE...........LOL