Back again for another edition of the NFL Round-up. One final day to wait before the first round of the NFL draft begins. Teams continue to sign, drop, trade and evaluate the league’s existing and upcoming talent. Here are the latest happenings that I’ve so kindly compiled for you to peruse.
- Later this afternoon, Ben Roethlisberger should learn the exact details of his impending suspension. League sources are speculating that his time off should be between four and six games in length. Big Ben’s suspension length will likely be determined by how he conducts himself in the following months. I’d like to personally suggest that Ben sees a doctor in his time off. Perhaps he wouldn’t have so many complaints coming from the ladies if he’d take the time to address his ashen hued member. Just a thought.
- While Roethlisberger awaits his fate, the Steelers wasted no time in finding his temporary heir aparent. Pittsburgh traded a seventh round pick to the Buccaneers, in return for Byron Leftwich. I guess Charlie Batch acts so much like a coach and cheerleader on the sidelines these days, that he just blended in with the coaching staff finally. Either that, or the Steelers figured out something that Detroit fans have known for almost a decade; Batch actually does make for a better cheerleader than a quarterback. Maybe they were just worried that Ben’s off field antics are starting to rub off on Charlie. I digress.
- The New York Jets bolstered their already stingy defense Tuesday, signing Jason Taylor to a two-year deal. When asked why he chose New York, Taylor cited the city’s dance scene as being on the rise.
- In other news of players who are well past their prime, the New England Patriots signed former Rams and Jaguars wideout Torry Holt. Holt, who spent his first and only season with Jacksonville last year, was all but forgotten due to the emergence of Mike Sims-Walker. If he was able to flip them the bird while he was leaving town, you can all but bet he would have.
- The Lions held a pre-draft event for season ticket holders on Monday at Ford Field. The crowd of more than 1,500 ended up chanting “Suh, Suh, Suh”, which leaves me to wonder whether D4L’s very own Matt Rogal was in attendance. If you missed it, Rogal wrote a great piece here yesterday, which only made me want Suh in a Detroit uni even more.
- The NFL released full team schedules yesterday. The Lions will open their season in Chicago and will be playing the Patriots on Thanksgiving. At least I’ll be able to sleep off all that turkey without wondering whether the Lions are winning.
- Finally, Matthew Stafford seems to be buying into the Lions off-season moves. Stafford has been rehabbing a surgically repaired knee and a sore left shoulder during the winter months. He spoke at length about both his healing injuries, and also about the newest additions to the team’s roster.
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