NFL - Sports Rumors

The New York Giants may have lost a pair of veteran wide receivers, but the team believes quarterback Eli Manning(notes) will be able to make up the different with experience, the New York Post reported.

"We're going to put more of the onus on him," Giants GM Jerry Reese said.

And how did Manning respond?

"I think you got a quarterback going into his sixth year and . . . some young receivers," Manning told The Post Tuesday. "It's my job to make sure those guys are on the same page and my job to be a leader and take control of the offense and the passing game.

"As a quarterback you're always going to be a leader, but now I'm one of the older guys on the offense."

Source: New York Post

The Philadelphia Eagles may not have Brian Westbrook(notes) back yet, but they have secured the services of his projected back-up according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The report indicated the Eagles signed McCoy, a second-round draft choice, was signed to a four-year deal Monday. Terms were not disclosed.

The 20-year-old McCoy, the 53d pick overall, became the first second-rounder to agree to a contract. The Birds have come to terms with seven of their eight picks — all except first-round selection Jeremy Maclin(notes), a wide receiver out of Missouri.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Tampa Bya Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik indicated the Bucs have no interest in signing former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) at this time, the St. Petersburg Times reported.

The Bucs are looking for receviers to back up starters Antonio Bryant(notes) and Michael Clayton(notes).

"We're going to let Brian Clark(notes), Maurice Stovall(notes) and even Dexter Jackson compete and go from there,'' Dominik said.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Former Washington Redskins return man Brian Mitchell says his recent firing by a radio station owned by the team is not due to economic factors but for critical comments made about the team and its performance.

Mitchell told USA TODAY's Michael McCarthy that Red Zebra radio cut him as an analyst because he was critical of the Redskins. Station executive Bruce Gilbert said the move was "100% driven by the economy."

Mitchell made $150,000 per year.

"If you never discuss any money, or any changes in my money with me, then you already have your minds made up. This didn't have a damn thing to do with the economy," Mitchell told McCarthy.

Source: USA Today

Terrell Owens(notes) has been good for business when it comes to the Buffalo Bills.

The Buffalo News reported last week that the Bills have sold 53,048 season tickets, which despite the sharp economic downturn puts them on pace to match last season's total of 56,011. Last year's total ranked second in team history, behind 1992, when they sold 57,132.

Source: Boston.com

It appears the Baltimore Ravens and linebacker Terrell Suggs(notes) are inching closer to a new deal that will keep the linebacker in purple, according to BaltimoreRavens.com.

According to the report, three-time Pro Bowler expects to reconnect with the team for the first day of training camp, which officially begins for veterans on July 29. If he does, that would mean that Suggs and his agent, Gary Wichard, have come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension with the Ravens. The Ravens have until 4 p.m. on July 15th to get Suggs signed to a long-term deal. If they do not, Suggs would have no choice but to sign his franchise tender and wait until the season is over to sign a new long-term deal.

"I feel like we're getting close," Suggs said in an exclusive interview with BaltimoreRavens.com. "Negotiations are going on with the Ravens. Fans can be optimistic that I'll be [at training camp]. We've talked," Suggs explained. "There are some minor things we're working out."

Source: BaltimoreRavens.com

Five NFL teams are still interested in acquiring the services of wide receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and Profootballtalk.com.

According Rosenhaus, via his Twitter account, Burress now has five NFL teams interested in him. And that list, according to Rosenhaus, could become even longer soon, Profootballtalk.com reported.

"There are now 5 teams interested in Plaxico," Rosenhaus wrote. "I expect more teams to enter the mix over the next few weeks as well."

It's believed that the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears are among the potential destinations for Burress.

Source: Profootballtalk.com

Brett Favre(notes) may have agreed on a contract with the Minnesota Vikings, but nothing has been filed with the NFL Players Association, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

A spokesman for the NFL Players Association wrote in an e-mail Thursday to the Star Tribune  that a contract for the quarterback has not been filed. It is a requirement that when a player signs with a team a copy of his contract be sent to both the NFL and the players association. The league requires it gets a copy within two days of it being signed by the player and team. A league spokesman declined to say if they had received paperwork on a Favre contract, but if that did happen the NFL would have no reason to keep it quiet and, in fact, it would be expected to be put on the transaction wire.

Last word was that Favre still hasn't decided if his surgically repaired arm will allow him to play and there is no reason for him to sign until he makes the call on whether he can return for a 19th NFL season, according to the report.

However, it is key that if he decides he is able to return that the contract not be a last-second sticking point.

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

The agent for Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers(notes) said the All-Pro defensive end is open to negotiating a long-term deal with the team, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The Observer reported Thursday that Peppers has signed his one-year tender and would play for the Panthers this season.

For about two years, Peppers has resisted the Panthers' attempts to sign him to a contract extension, turning down offers that would have made him the NFL's highest-paid defensive player, the Observer reported. Peppers' change of heart apparently occurred after recent meetings with team officials.

"Julius has always had tremendous respect for the individuals in the organization, and he had the opportunity to sit down face to face and talk with the people he's had great respect for," said his agent, Carl Carey. "Sometimes it takes a discussion to begin to understand each other's perpectives."

According to the Obserber, Carey's comment amplified a statement Peppers released through Carey earlier in the day.

"I've had positive and productive discussions with the organization," Peppers said in the statement. . "I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season."

Source: Charlotte Observer