NFL News & Blogs

New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis is not expected to hold out of training camp because he does not want to jeopardize a future guarantee he already has in his present contract, sources have told Michael Lombardi, of NFL Network.

Sean Leahy, from USAToday.com, reports the lawyer for ex-Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell commented that he was confident his client will be cleared of any charges after his arrest earlier this week. Attorney Donald Briskman told the Mobile Press-Register – “I think at the end of the day, JaMarcus is going to be acquitted and will go on about the business of getting on with his career.” Our View: What else is a defense lawyer going to say? Russell is innocent until proven guilty, but even if he’s cleared of all the charges it will be difficult for him to find a home in the NFL again. Teams weren’t exactly beating down his door before this arrest, and he will likely have to continue his football career in the CFL or the UFL.

Arnie Stapleton, from the Associated Press, reports Broncos rookie receiver Eric Decker, is participating in Larry Fitzgerald’s star-studded camp this week. “I’m a little nervous and I’m anxious because I’m back to football, I’m back playing, I’m done in the training room and that’s exciting to me,” Decker said. “It’s still a day-to-day thing and the training staff is helping me to move along and progress at a very good rate. I feel comfortable every day so that’s the best I can say.” Our View: Decker was considered by many in the scouting community to be the best possession receiver in the entire 2010 NFL Draft class. He is a tough player who is not afraid to catch passes over the middle of the field. Decker also has a knack for finding the soft spot in a zone, and could develop into a fine #2 receiver someday. The Broncos are expecting Decker and fellow rookie Demaryius Thomas to be their starting WR duo in the near future. We’ll see how Decker looks in training camp as he continues to recover from a Lisfranc injury he suffered last year.

Nate Ulrich, from the Akron Beacon-Journal, reports Mitch Frankel, the agent for Jerome Harrison, said that Harrison had no intention of holding out before camp despite his recent contract dispute. Our View: Harrison proved that he could put up monster stats when he rushed for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Chiefs in week 15 last year. That didn’t stop the Browns from trading up for RB Montario Hardesty in the second-round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and both will compete for the starting job in training camp. We like Hardesty’s skill set, but feel the rookie could start the season as a reserve player until he proves himself as a pass blocker. If Harrison does lose the starting job to the rookie, he could still contribute as a third-down back for the Browns this year.

Robert Wills, from RealFootball365.com, reports Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said the team is willing to make QB Peyton Manning the highest paid NFL player of all time to ensure he will stay with the team for years to come once his contract ends after the season. Our View: We can’t imagine Peyton Manning in another uniform, and won’t be surprised when Manning receives the biggest contract in the history of the league. Even with labor negotiations clouding the future, we have a feeling the Colts will do whatever it takes to keep Manning around. He has been an ironman and a superstar for the team ever since he came into the league, and will likely retire as a member of the Colts.

The Associated Press reports ‘purple drank’ has seen an increase in popularity over the last decade, and has now hit the NFL. Former Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell was arrested for possession of codeine syrup, a key ingredient in purple drank. The concoction: typically codeine and the antihistamine promethazine mixed with Sprite or 7Up and Jolly Ranchers or other hard candy. Former NFL player Marcellus Wiley doesn’t believe consumption is widespread within the league, “but obviously I think it’s picking up some steam. It doesn’t have the negative connotation it should, the same negative connotation there is with crack cocaine or heroin,” said Wiley, an ESPN analyst. “People think of this purple drank as kind of a cool thing. Because people think it’s cool, it invades that mentality, invades that culture, without alerting people to the dangers of it.” Our View: Russell is not the only NFL player to get in trouble over codeine. Packers DL Johnny Jolly is scheduled to go to trial later this month after getting arrested in 2008 allegedly for illegally possessing at least 200 grams of codeine. Hopefully these two cases help discourage other NFL players from using this illegal concoction.

Two football players for the University of Georgia have been arrested on alcohol-related charges, just days after the school’s athletic director resigned in the wake of a drunken driving arrest.

University of Georgia – Driving under the influence – Athletic director – American football – Damon Evans

What’s Brett Favre up to these days? Playing catch with high schoolers , hanging out down in Hattiesburg, Miss., and, oh yeah, contemplating his future. The latest will he or won’t he will unfold next week.

New York Giants WR Steve E. Smith led the NFL with 29 third-down receptions in 2009, reports Mike Sando, of ESPN.com.