NFL 2007: New England Patriots

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. Today we look at the New England Patriots).

The New England Patriots have been a model of consistency during the decade. Head coach Bill Belichick has developed a system that everyone brought into the organization must abide by. The formula has worked. New England has captured three Super Bowl titles and were within an eyelash of going to a fourth Super Bowl in seven years. This offseason, the Patriots, never one to spend big time bucks on free agents, threw the baby out with the bath water and went on a spending spree that brought in Adalius Thomas, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, Tory James and Randy Moss. The Pats are picked by many to go all the way in 2007.

Offense: New England lives and dies by the leadership and passing arm of Tom Brady. The three-time Super Bowl winner had gaudy numbers in 2007 despite the lack of big play receivers. Brady, who threw for 3,529 yards and 24 touchdowns, looks to do even better in 2007 with an improved receiver corps. Ageless wonder, Vinny Testaverde, returns for a 21st season and will provide backup. Matt Cassell is the number three.

Laurence Maroney takes over as the starting tailback after Corey Dillon retired/left New England. Maroney ran for 745 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Impressive numbers, but there are questions about his durability. Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris provide depth. Heath Evans and Garrett Mills are solid fullbacks.

The biggest change from last season is at wide receiver. New England went out and grabbed Stallworth, Welker, Kelley Washington and the big prize, Moss. Randy the Dandy will look to rebuild his career after two lackluster seasons in Oakland. Throw in holdovers Reche Caldwell, Troy Brown and Chad Jackson, and you have the makings of a potentially stellar group. Benjamin Watson is the pass catching tight end, while Kyle Brady was signed from Jacksonville for his blocking.

A solid O-line returns intact with Matt Light and Nick Kaczur at tackle, Stephen Neal and Logan Mankins at guard and Dan Koppen holding down the fort at center. Russ Hochstein, Ryan O'Callaghan and Wesley Britt provide depth.

Defense: The strength of the team has always been on the defensive side of the ball and this season should be no different. Thomas was the big catch during free agency and his 83 tackles and 11 sacks will fit in nicely with New England's 3-4 scheme.

The defensive line returns intact with Ty Warren and All-Pro Richard Seymour at end and Vince Wilfork at nose tackle. The Patriots are blessed with one of the best front sevens in all of football and with Thomas and Roosevelt Colvin on the outside and Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi in the middle, that unit is even stronger. Barry Gardner, Eric Alexander and Larry Izzo backup at linebacker, while Jarvis Green, Mike Wright and Santonio Thomas provide depth on the line.

The secondary is aging, but still has some chops, especially with the signing of free agent Tory James from Cincinnati. James (41 tackles, 4 INT) will compete with Ellis Hobbs at one corner, while disgruntled All-Pro Asante Samuel (64 tackles, 10 INT) holds down the other slot. Ray Mickens will see action in nickel packages. Ageless Rodney Harrison is back at strong safety and Eugene Wilson and Artrell Hawkins will compete for the free safety spot. Look for top draft pick Brandon Merriweather to see plenty of action as well. The secondary is the one so-so position on the roster. CB Chad Scott is out for the season and Samuel is in the beginnings of potentially long holdout.

Special Teams: Stephen Gostkowski is no Adam Vinatieri but he had a solid rook season nonetheless. Gostkowksi made 20-of-26 attempts and finished with 103 points. He should be a year older, wiser and better. Punter Josh Miller (43.0) is one of the leagues finest. Faulk and Welker will handle kickoff and punt return duties.

Outlook: New England is one of the top teams in the league and have a legitimate chance at another Super Bowl berth. The additions of Moss, Stallworth and Welker should provide even more weapons for the always dangerous Brady. Belichick has built a world class franchise that should compete with the Colts, Chargers and Bengals for the AFC crown.

Prediction: Moss will regain some of his old luster, thanks to Brady, and the Patriots will win another AFC East crown and battle for a Super Bowl berth. Record: 12-4.

Bill Walsh (1931-2007)

A living legend of the gridiron has passed away.

Bill Walsh, the groundbreaking football coach who won three Super Bowls and perfected the ingenious schemes that became known as the West Coast offense during a Hall of Fame career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 75.

Walsh died at his Woodside home Monday morning following a long battle with leukemia.

"This is just a tremendous loss for all of us, especially to the Bay Area because of what he meant to the 49ers," said Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, the player most closely linked to Walsh's tenure with the team. "For me personally, outside of my dad he was probably the most influential person in my life. I am going to miss him."

Walsh didn't become an NFL head coach until 47, and he spent just 10 seasons on the San Francisco sideline. But he left an indelible mark on the United States' most popular sport, building the once-woebegone 49ers into the most successful team of the 1980s with his innovative offensive strategies and teaching techniques.

The soft-spoken native Californian also produced a legion of coaching disciples that's still growing today. Many of his former assistants went on to lead their own teams, handing down Walsh's methods and schemes to dozens more coaches in a tree with innumerable branches.

Walsh went 102-63-1 with the 49ers, winning 10 of his 14 postseason games along with six division titles. He was named the NFL's coach of the year in 1981 and 1984.

Few men did more to shape the look of football into the 21st century. His cerebral nature and often-brilliant stratagems earned him the nickname "The Genius" well before his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Walsh twice served as the 49ers' general manager, and George Seifert led San Francisco to two more Super Bowl titles after Walsh left the sideline. Walsh also coached Stanford during two terms over five seasons.

Even a short list of Walsh's adherents is stunning. Seifert, Mike Holmgren, Dennis Green, Sam Wyche, Ray Rhodes and Bruce Coslet all became NFL head coaches after serving on Walsh's San Francisco staffs, and Tony Dungy played for him. Most of his former assistants passed on Walsh's structures and strategies to a new generation of coaches, including Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, Andy Reid, Pete Carroll, Gary Kubiak, Steve Mariucci and Jeff Fisher.

Walsh was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004 and underwent months of treatment and blood transfusions. He publicly disclosed his illness in November 2006.

Walsh started his coaching career in 1954 at Fremont High School. Walsh was coaching in Fremont when he interviewed for an assistant coaching position with Marv Levy, who had just been hired as the head coach at California.

After Cal, he did a stint at Stanford before beginning his pro coaching career as an assistant with the AFL's Oakland Raiders in 1966, forging a friendship with Al Davis that endured through decades of rivalry. Walsh joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968 to work for legendary coach Paul Brown, who gradually gave complete control of the Bengals' offense to his assistant.

Walsh built a scheme based on the teachings of Davis, Brown and Sid Gillman - and Walsh's own innovations, which included everything from short dropbacks and novel receiving routes to constant repetition of every play in practice.

Though it originated in Cincinnati, it became known many years later as the West Coast offense - a name Walsh never liked or repeated, but which eventually grew to encompass his offensive philosophy and the many tweaks added by Holmgren, Shanahan and other coaches.

Much of the NFL eventually ran a version of the West Coast in the 1990s, with its fundamental belief that the passing game can set up an effective running attack, rather than the opposite conventional wisdom.

Walsh also is widely credited with inventing or popularizing many of the modern basics of coaching, from the laminated sheets of plays held by coaches on almost every sideline, to the practice of scripting the first 15 offensive plays of a game.

After a bitter falling-out with Brown in 1976, Walsh left for stints with the San Diego Chargers and Stanford before the 49ers chose him to rebuild the franchise in 1979.

The long-suffering 49ers went 2-14 before Walsh's arrival. They repeated the record in his first season. Walsh doubted his abilities to turn around such a miserable situation - but earlier in 1979, the 49ers drafted quarterback Joe Montana from Notre Dame.

Walsh turned over the starting job to Montana in 1980, when the 49ers improved to 6-10 - and improbably, San Francisco won its first championship in 1981, just two years after winning two games.

Championships followed in the postseasons of 1984 and 1988 as Walsh built a consistent winner and became an icon with his inventive offense and thinking-man's approach to the game. He also showed considerable acumen in personnel, adding Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Roger Craig and Rice to his rosters after he was named the 49ers' general manager in 1982 and the president in 1985.

Walsh left the 49ers with a profound case of burnout after his third Super Bowl victory in January 1989, though he later regretted not coaching longer.

He spent three years as a broadcaster with NBC before returning to Stanford for three seasons. He then took charge of the 49ers' front office in 1999, helping to rebuild the roster over three seasons. But Walsh gradually cut ties with the 49ers after his hand-picked successor as GM, Terry Donahue, took over in 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Geri, and two children, Craig and Elizabeth.

NFL 2007: Miami Dolphins

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. Today we look at the Miami Dolphins).

Changes abound in Miami during the offseason. Nick Saban left after two years to head up the program in Tuscaloosa and in comes Cam Cameron, fresh off an impressive run as offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. Also expunged is the Daunte Culpepper experiment. After two injury-filled seasons, Culpepper was let go and veteran Trent Green was brought in. Cameron took a lot of heat drafting Ted Ginn Jr in the first round and Miami fans are showing their impatience and frustration early.

Offense: Green is 37 and may be staring down the slippery slope. A vicious hit to the noggin left him out for eight games last season. He finished with 1,342 yards passing with seven touchdowns and nine picks. Cleo Lemon and rookie John Beck will serve as backups.

Ronnie Brown (1,008 yards, 5 TDs) took a step back last season under Saban, but should thrive under the reigns of Cameron. Rookie Lorenzo Booker will be the backup with Corey Schlesinger, a free agent pickup from Detroit, providing a solid blocking fullback for Brown.

Chris Chambers (59-677-4) and Marty Booker (55-747-6) are a solid, if unspectacular, starting combo. Joining them will be free agent Az-Zahir Hakim, Derek Hagan and rookie Ginn Jr. Randy McMichael bolted to St. Louis and left a big hole in the Dolphins red zone attack. David Martin, acquired from Green Bay, and Justin Peele will look to pick up the slack.

Center Rex Hadnot, guard L.J. Shelton and left tackle Vernon Carey return to lead an offensive line that will feature some new parts in 2007. Guard Chris Liwienski (Cardinals) and tackle Mike Rosenthal (Vikings) were brought in to shore up the line. Look for rookie guard-center Samson Satele, guard Kendyl Jacox and tackle Anthony Alabi to battle for starting positions.

Defense: The strength of the Miami club is the defense and this year should be no different. Age is starting to catch up to these guys, but they are still one of the top units in the NFL.

The defensive line is lead by defensive MVP, Jason Taylor. The All-Pro defensive end collected 60 tackles and 13.5 sacks last season. On the other side is promising Matt Roth, while Keith Traylor and Vonnie Holliday man the middle. DT Rodrique Wright, rookie DT Paul Soliai and ends Abraham Wright and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila serve as backups.

The venerable Zach Thomas (165 tackles, three sacks) returns to lead the defense from his middle linebacker spot. Newcomer Joey Porter had a down year in Pittsburgh with seven sacks and the Dolphins hope a change of scenery will invigorate him. Channing Crowder (103 tackles) operates at strong side linebacker and is solid. Donnie Spragan, Keith Adams and Derrick Pope provide depth.

Will Allen and Andre Goodman are back at corner, while Renaldo Hill and Yeremiah Bell return at safety. That may not be a good thing. The four combined for only three interceptions last season and the Dolphins had a franchise low eight picks last season. Look for 2006 number one pick, Jason Allen, to make a bid for a starting spot at either corner or free safety. Safety Travares Tillman and CB Travis Daniels will play in nickel and dime packages.

Special Teams: Gone is long time kicker Olindo Mare, who was sent packing to New Orleans, and in comes Jay Feely from the Giants. Feely scored 107 points and made 23-of-27 field goals last season. He's solid and Mare shouldn't be missed. Punting is a different story. Donnie Jones, who signed a three-year deal with the Rams, is out and in will be rookie Brandon Fields or second-year pro Ryan Flinn. Ginn Jr. will handle punt and kick return duties.

Outlook: The Dolphins will once gain rely on their defense to keep them in games. The offense, unfortunately, is the same as last year with the exception of Green. The offensive line is shaky and Green may be fighting for his life each and every Sunday. Cameron will really miss the weapons he had in San Diego.

Prediction: Miami should be better with Green at the helm, but the defense is like aged Parmesan and the offense doesn't have enough firepower to keep up with the better teams in the AFC, including division rivals New England and the Jets. Look for the Dolphins to battle Buffalo for third in the AFC East. Record: 6-10.

NFL 2007: Buffalo Bills (Re-post)

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. We start in the AFC and the Buffalo Bills. This is a re-post of a previous article.)

The Bills managed a 7-9 mark last season in Dick Jauron's first year at the helm. Better than most imagined. Major house cleaning was done in Buffalo during the offseason as London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes, Nate Clements and Willis McGahee are all gone. To top it off, the Bills have failed to reach agreement with DT Darwin Walker, who was traded to them from the Eagles for Spikes and Holcomb. This is a squad that has taken a step back in the AFC East.

Offense: J.P. Losman grew into the role of number one quarterback and looked more and more comfortable leading the Bills as the season went along. He threw for 3,051 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions. Losman needs to stay healthy and keep improving if Buffalo wants to have a decent season. Kelly Holcomb is gone and that leaves Craig Nall and rookie Trent Edwards as the backups. Not good.

Willis McGahee took his 990 yards and nine touchdowns in a trade to Baltimore, which means rookie Marshawn Lynch will be asked to carry the load for the Bills. Veteran Anthony Thomas (378 yards, 2 TDs) provides depth, while fullback Damion Shelton is a solid blocker. The development of Lynch will determine how potent the Buffalo offense will be.

Lee Evans (82-1,292-8) leads a receiving corps that is weak at best and possibly a disaster in the making at the worst. After Evans, there isn't much. Josh Reed (34-410-2), who has never lived up to his rep, is the number two man with Peerless Price (49-402-3) in the slot and Roscoe Parrish (23-320-2) is the fourth receiver. Robert Royal (23-233-2) returns at TE. Watch out for Kevin Everett, who returns from a season-ending knee injury in 2006, to make a statement.

Jauron has completely rebuilt his offensive line by adding guards Derrick Dockery (Redskins) and Jason Whittle (Giants) and left tackle Langston Walker (Raiders). They will pair with holdovers Melvin Fowler at center and Jason Peters at right tackle. Chris Villarial, Duke Preston and Aaron Merz will battle for playing time.

Defense: The Bills were hit hard on defense. Fletcher, Clements and Spikes combined for 286 tackles and three sacks and will be missed. Fortunately, the defensive line, the strength of the defense, returns intact.

DE Aaron Schobel had an All-Pro season with 53 tackles and 14 sacks in 2006. He will be paired with Chris Kelsey, who came through with 61 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season. Anthony Hargrove serves as a capable backup. At tackle, Tim Anderson, Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams are strong. The position will be even stronger if 2006 first rounder John McCargo can bounce back from injury. If they can sign Walker, the Bills will be tough to run on.

All is not lost at linebacker despite the loss of Fletcher and Spikes. Angelo Crowell (82 tackles) and Keith Ellison (65 tackles) return on the outside with rookie Paul Posluszny manning the middle. Mario Haggan, Coy Wire and John DiGigorio provide depth.

The loss of Clements hurts the secondary but there are some decent pieces in the Buffalo puzzle. Donte Whitner had an excellent rookie season at strong safety with 104 tackles. Ko Simpson (76 tackles, 2 INT) is the free safety with Jim Leonhard backing up both spots. Terrence McGee is at one corner with Jason Webster and Kiwaukee Thomas battling for Clements' slot.

Special Teams: Rian Lindell (102 points, 23-of-25 field goals) and Brian Moorman (43.6 avg) make up a strong kicking game for the Bills. McGee (26.1) is the kick returner and Parrish (11.4) returns punts. The strength of this team is the special teams.

Outlook: The Bills are solid on the defensive line and special teams, but Jauron has lost too much on both sides of the ball for this team to improve much from last season. McGahee's absence means a rookie must lead them. Losman, while improving, doesn't have the best targets to throw too and will be running for his life, thanks to a rebuilt offensive line. The defense lost too much experience and talent to be better than it was last season.

Prediction: Buffalo has dropped back a bit in the AFC East compared with the Patriots and the Jets. Look for the Bills to battle Miami for third. Record: 6-10.

Martin Announces Retirement

One of the all-time greats has called it a day.

Jets running back Curtis Martin, the fourth leading rusher in NFL history who hasn't played since the 2005 season, will make it official this week and announce his retirement from the NFL.

The news that an announcement is imminent was first reported by The New York Post.

The Jets open training camp Friday and are expected to hold a news conference before camp begins to announce the running back's retirement.

Last month, Martin re-worked his contract for a second straight year to provide the team more salary cap room.

Martin tore cartilage in his right knee in Week 2 of the 2005 season against Miami, and aggravated it two games later against Baltimore. He played through the pain, but ended his season after the Jets' 12th game.

The five-time Pro Bowler said the knee became a "bone-on-bone" situation when the damaged cartilage was surgically removed in December 2005. He was slow to recover and was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list before training camp so he could rehabilitate the knee and did not play last season.

Martin spent his first three seasons with New England, and came to the Jets as a restricted free agent in 1998. His best year was his last healthy season in 2004, when he led the league in rushing with 1,697 yards and tied Barry Sanders' record of 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons to start a career.

Martin, 34, has carried 3,518 times for 14,101 yards and 70 touchdowns in 168 games. Only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Sanders have compiled more rushing yards.

After using three different starters at tailback in 2006, and finishing 20th in the league in rushing offense, the Jets acquired Thomas Jones in a trade with the Chicago Bears this spring, and he is the projected starter.

Here are the all-time leading rushers:

Emmitt Smith 18,355
Walter Payton 16,726
Barry Sanders 15,269
Curtis Martin 14,101
Jerome Bettis 13,662
Eric Dickerson 13,259
Tony Dorsett 12,739
Jim Brown 12,312
Marshall Faulk 12,279
Marcus Allen 12,243

NFL Preview for 2007 to Begin Wednesday

Thanks to the Michael Vick situation and some issues going on with the Fanatics blog, the 2007 NFL previews have been put on hold for the past couple of days.

We are going to start running them, absolutely, positively for sure on Wednesday. We will post previews of one team each day, starting with a re-posting of the Buffalo Bills preview.

Sorry for the delay.

Goodell Tells Vick to Stay Away

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons not to report to the team’s training camp pending the completion of an NFL review of his recent indictment by a federal grand jury in Richmond, Va., for allegedly participating in an interstate dog-fighting enterprise.

Goodell informed Vick that the review would be completed as soon as possible and that Vick’s full cooperation is expected.

In a letter to Vick, Goodell said: "While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy."

Vick will not forfeit his preseason pay during his excused absence from training camp.

The commissioner also directed the Falcons today to withhold any contemplated team discipline regarding the Vick matter until the NFL review is completed.

NFL, Falcons May Ask Vick to Take Paid Leave

(The Fanatics will be return to its NFL preview Saturday, right now we want to talk more about the poster boy for PETA, Michael Vick).

The NFL wants Michael Vick to take a vacation for awhile and apparently the NFLPA and maybe even Atlanta owner, Arthur Blank, do as well.

In what has quickly evolved into a collaborative effort that includes input of officials from the NFL, NFL Players Association and Atlanta Falcons, embattled quarterback Michael Vick could be urged to take a voluntary leave of absence to focus his energy on the legal challenges from a federal dogfighting indictment confronting him.

There are, however, two critical components that must be resolved: Falcons owner Arthur Blank must be on board with a plan that has generated considerable discussion at the league level the past two days. And Vick, who might be reluctant to accept even a paid hiatus from the game, might have to be convinced that the leave could be his best option.

Blank and the Falcons might also be considering other options.

Under the leave-of-absence scenario, and given the projected timeline of any trial that could ensue from the federal indictments brought against the quarterback Tuesday, all parties would enter into the agreement, if it is consummated, with the expectation that Vick would probably miss the entire 2007 season.

As incentive for Vick to consider a leave, the union is hopeful that Blank will offer to guarantee the player's $6 million base salary for 2007. That could be a sticking point in negotiations. No one will try to bully Vick into accepting the leave, but he might be reminded that while the league and Falcons are inclined for now to allow due process to play out in the courts, that stance is not an unalterable one, and unfolding events could possibly change the approach of Blank and commissioner Roger Goodell.

Intensive talks continued Thursday with Goodell, Blank, Falcons team president and general manager Rich McKay and Upshaw. They discussed the various options available to them, and those discussions are expected to continue Friday.

If convicted on all counts, Vick could face a prison sentence of six years.

NFL 2007: Buffalo Bills

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2007 season. We start in the AFC and the Buffalo Bills.)

The Bills managed a 7-9 mark last season in Dick Jauron's first year at the helm. Better than most imagined. Major house cleaning was done in Buffalo during the offseason as London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes, Nate Clements and Willis McGahee are all gone. To top it off, the Bills have failed to reach agreement with DT Darwin Walker, who was traded to them from the Eagles for Spikes and Holcomb. This is a squad that has taken a step back in the AFC East.

Offense: J.P. Losman grew into the role of number one quarterback and looked more and more comfortable leading the Bills as the season went along. He threw for 3,051 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions. Losman needs to stay healthy and keep improving if Buffalo wants to have a decent season. Kelly Holcomb is gone and that leaves Craig Nall and rookie Trent Edwards as the backups. Not good.

Willis McGahee took his 990 yards and nine touchdowns in a trade to Baltimore, which means rookie Marshawn Lynch will be asked to carry the load for the Bills. Veteran Anthony Thomas (378 yards, 2 TDs) provides depth, while fullback Damion Shelton is a solid blocker. The development of Lynch will determine how potent the Buffalo offense will be.

Lee Evans (82-1,292-8) leads a receiving corps that is weak at best and possibly a disaster in the making at the worst. After Evans, there isn't much. Josh Reed (34-410-2), who has never lived up to his rep, is the number two man with Peerless Price (49-402-3) in the slot and Roscoe Parrish (23-320-2) is the fourth receiver. Robert Royal (23-233-2) returns at TE. Watch out for Kevin Everett, who returns from a season-ending knee injury in 2006, to make a statement.

Jauron has completely rebuilt his offensive line by adding guards Derrick Dockery (Redskins) and Jason Whittle (Giants) and left tackle Langston Walker (Raiders). They will pair with holdovers Melvin Fowler at center and Jason Peters at right tackle. Chris Villarial, Duke Preston and Aaron Merz will battle for playing time.

Defense: The Bills were hit hard on defense. Fletcher, Clements and Spikes combined for 286 tackles and three sacks and will be missed. Fortunately, the defensive line, the strength of the defense, returns intact.

DE Aaron Schobel had an All-Pro season with 53 tackles and 14 sacks in 2006. He will be paired with Chris Kelsey, who came through with 61 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season. Anthony Hargrove serves as a capable backup. At tackle, Tim Anderson, Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams are strong. The position will be even stronger if 2006 first rounder John McCargo can bounce back from injury. If they can sign Walker, the Bills will be tough to run on.

All is not lost at linebacker despite the loss of Fletcher and Spikes. Angelo Crowell (82 tackles) and Keith Ellison (65 tackles) return on the outside with rookie Paul Posluszny manning the middle. Mario Haggan, Coy Wire and John DiGigorio provide depth.

The loss of Clements hurts the secondary but there are some decent pieces in the Buffalo puzzle. Donte Whitner had an excellent rookie season at strong safety with 104 tackles. Ko Simpson (76 tackles, 2 INT) is the free safety with Jim Leonhard backing up both spots. Terrence McGee is at one corner with Jason Webster and Kiwaukee Thomas battling for Clements' slot.

Special Teams: Rian Lindell (102 points, 23-of-25 field goals) and Brian Moorman (43.6 avg) make up a strong kicking game for the Bills. McGee (26.1) is the kick returner and Parrish (11.4) returns punts. The strength of this team is the special teams.

Outlook: The Bills are solid on the defensive line and special teams, but Jauron has lost too much on both sides of the ball for this team to improve much from last season. McGahee's absence means a rookie must lead them. Losman, while improving, doesn't have the best targets to throw too and will be running for his life, thanks to a rebuilt offensive line. The defense lost too much experience and talent to be better than it was last season.

Prediction: Buffalo has dropped back a bit in the AFC East compared with the Patriots and the Jets. Look for the Bills to battle Miami for third. Record: 6-10.

NFL News and Notes

(The Football Fanatics NFL Preview will begin on Thursday).

The Atlanta Falcons were hoping that beleagured quarterback Michael Vick wouldn't have to deal with the courts until after the season....wrong!

According to a summons issued Wednesday, the Falcons' quarterback is scheduled to make his first court appearance after being indicted by a federal grand jury on July 26. Vick faces multiple charges related to an alleged dogfighting ring at a home he owned in Virginia. July 26 is the same day the Falcons are scheduled for the initial on-field practice under first-year coach Bobby Petrino.

So instead of being in the huddle for the first training camp practice of what many NFL observers contend is the most crucial season of his career, Vick will be in a Richmond, Va., courtroom.

The quarterback is to appear for a 3:30 p.m. bond hearing in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Dohnal. That will be followed by a 4 p.m. arraignment before U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who would likely be the presiding judge if Vick goes to trial.

The Falcons are scheduled to practice at 3 p.m. The court proceedings are expected to be brief. Bond will likely be set, and Vick will pay it and then be released. The expectation is that he will rejoin his teammates for the Friday practice, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.

*****
Daunte Culpepper finally has what he asked the Miami Dolphins for weeks ago - a chance to start over with a new team.

Miami released the former Pro Bowl quarterback Tuesday, wrapping up a contentious split between player and team. The move came one day before a breach-of-contract grievance filed by the NFL Players Association on Culpepper's behalf against the Dolphins was scheduled to be heard, and after Miami unsuccessfully tried for weeks to trade the 30-year-old.

Culpepper became expendable once the Dolphins made a trade six weeks ago with Kansas City for Trent Green, who'll be Miami's starter entering this season.

With training camps set to open in the next couple days, Culpepper -- who, in 84 games as a starter, has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 21,091 yards and 137 touchdowns -- will be moving quickly to find a new club.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are thought to be among his potential suitors; coaches there told quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and David Garrard earlier this offseason that they would consider acquiring him before training camp if he was available. Culpepper had his best NFL seasons with the Vikings under coach Mike Tice, now an assistant head coach in Jacksonville under Jack Del Rio.

****
Despite his continuing unhappiness with his contract status, six-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca will report to the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp on time next Monday afternoon, for what he reiterated will be his final season with the franchise.

The Steelers' top lineman, a team captain and a fixture at left guard since moving into the starting lineup midway through his rookie campaign, Faneca is entering the final year of his contract. Barring an extension, Faneca will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2007 season. It is doubtful the Steelers would use the franchise tag to retain Faneca's rights.

The nine-year veteran skipped all of the Steelers' organized team activities (OTAs) sessions under first-year coach Mike Tomlin this spring. He did attend the mandatory minicamp in mid-May. But he missed one practice of that weekend session when he became upset at a comment one Pittsburgh official reportedly made and left the team's complex. Faneca then returned to the minicamp after a chat with Tomlin but made it clear he would not be back with the club until it convened for training camp at St. Vincent College.

Faneca said he will not allow his contract situation to become a distraction.

Vick Indicted In Dogfighting Probe

The Michael Vick Experience could be grinding to a crashing hault.

Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation so grisly the losers either died in the pit or sometimes were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three others were charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.

The 18-page federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began the dogfighting operation in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.

The indictment states that dogs fought to the death -- or close to it.

If convicted, Vick and the others -- Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor -- could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.

Vick and the others are accused of "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture" and conducting a business enterprise involving gambling, as well as buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture.

About eight young dogs were put to death at the Surry County home after they were found not ready to fight in April 2007, the indictment said. They were killed "by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."

After a police raid on the property in April, Vick said he was rarely at the house, had no idea it may have been used in a criminal enterprise. He blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.

On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, "a.k.a. BadNews."

Purses for the fights ranged from hundreds of dollars to the thousands, and participants and spectators placed side bets, the document said.

At the start, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting. About half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact -- an arrangement typical for fighting dogs, according to the search warrant affidavit.

The indictment said dogfights were held at the Virginia property and dog owners brought animals from six states, including New York and Texas.

In a search warrant executed July 6, the government said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours.

Before fights, participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance.

Sometimes, dogs weren't fed to "make it more hungry for the other dog," it said.

Redding Gets Big Contract; Briggs, Samuel Don't

Last week, Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney signed the richest deal in NFL history for a defensive end. Actually, it was the richest for a defensive lineman, period.

Now comes Lions DT Cory Redding setting financial records as well.

Last year, Rod Marinelli moved Redding from defensive end to defensive tackle. The move was a good one.

On Monday, the Lions made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in football. Redding, the team's franchise player in 2007, agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract that included $16 million in guarantees, including $13 million in signing bonus and roster guarantees.

Redding will receive a little more than $20 million over the first three years of his contract.

Now, he will be present for the start of camp and will work with Shaun Rogers in what should be one of the more dominating interior defensive lines in football.

The Redding deal tops the five-year, $33.24 million contract given to Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Redding was taken in the third round of the 2003 draft and started nine games as a defensive end as a rookie. In the past three years, he had 48 starts. Last year, he had career highs in tackles (47) and sacks (eight).

Also, neither New England cornerback Asante Samuel nor Chicago weakside linebacker Lance Briggs reached a contract agreement before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline for franchise players to sign multi-year deals. Now, the two standout defenders are limited by league rules to signing just a one-year tender.

The one-year tender for Samuel is $7.79 million, and for Briggs it is $7.206 million.

Once a player signs the tender, the money becomes guaranteed. A team can also rescind the qualifying offer, but there have been no indications the Bears or Patriots plan to do so.

There were seven veterans designated as franchise players this year. Three of those players -- Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney (six years, $72 million), New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant (seven years, $63 million) and Redding -- signed long-term contracts. Cincinnati defensive end Justin Smith ($8.64 million) and Seattle kicker Josh Brown ($2.078 million) signed the one-year tenders for their respective positions.

The List: NFL Service Time

ESPN is reporting that Vinny Testaverde will return for a 21st NFL season, agreeing to a one-year deal with the New England Patriots.

Testaverde becomes only the eighth player in NFL history to play 20 or more seasons in the league. Below are those eight.

Most Service Time:

1. George Blanda, QB/K, 26 years
2. Morten Andersen, K, 24 years
3. Gary Anderson, K, 23 years
4. Earl Morral, QB, 21 years
4t. Vinny Testaverde, QB, 21 years
5. Jim Marshall, DE, 20 years
5t. Jackie Slater, OT, 20 years
5t. Darrell Green, CB, 20 years

Freeney Laughing All the Way to the Bank

He who laughs last laughs best.

It's a great old saying, don't have clue who came up with it, but I know one man who's having a glorious last laugh.

Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney, who many said was too small to play in the NFL, is now the highest paid defensive lineman in history after signing a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus.

Freeney was drafted in the first round in 2002 and developed into one of the game's most disruptive defensive players. Freeney registered 56½ sacks during his first five seasons with the Colts and has forced 27 fumbles during his career.

Freeney and the Colts had until Monday to hammer out a long-term deal. Had that not happened, Freeney and the Colts would have been forced to settle for the one-year tender at $9.43 million, which would have left Freeney to decide whether or not to hold out.

The question is, does he deserve the money? Based on his first five seasons, yes. Based on last year, no.

Freeney is still young at 27, but his production fell significantly last year. In 2006, he recorded only 29 tackles with a career low six sacks. His size (6-1, 268) is a concern. As he gets older, the possibility of wearing down increase.

But the Colts are willing to overlook last season and write it off as an aberration. Freeney, when on his game, is a prolific pass rusher and an expert at disrupting the quarterback. He is the leader of the defense. The glue that holds the unit together.

In the end, the Colts did the right thing. You can't let a premier pass rusher move on. That's tantamount to committing franchise suicide.

This deal will have a significant impact on other top pass-rushers in negotiations to re-sign with their teams. New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith, Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs are premier pass-rushers who were waiting to see how Freeney's negotiations turned out.

A Super Bowl ring and now a big, fat, record-breaking contract. It must be nice to be in Dwight Freeney's shoes.

Football Fanatics NFL Preview Begins Next Week

Just a short note today to let everyone know that starting next week, Monday, July 16, the Football Fanatics blog will preview all 32 NFL teams for the upcoming season.

The Fanatics will preview two teams per day, starting with the AFC East, and end with our annual predictions for each division, championship game and Super Bowl.

Last year, this blog took the Colts over the Panthers in the Super Bowl. Hey, we had two out of three right and that's not bad.

Also, the Football Fanatics Fantasy Football Guide will be available as a free, that's free people, for download on either July 31 or August 1. The guide is jam-packed with all sorts of goodies, just you wait and see. BTW, the same strategies I teach in the draft tactics section, have allowed me to win my fantasy league five times in seven years. They work people, trust me. There's gold in this here guide.

In August, we will be running down our annual college previews and predictions as well. We start with the major conference projections and work our way to who will be playing for the national championship in January.

In case you're wondering, we selected West Virginia last season. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

Overall, we have an exciting month ahead of us here and we hope you join us as we prepare for another exciting season of pro and college football.

Two Selected In Supplemental Draft

Georgia corner Paul Oliver and Maryland tackle Jared Gaither were the only winners in this years supplemental draft.

Oliver was selected in the fourth round by the San Diego Chargers and Gaither was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round. Both teams will have to surrender a draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft in the same rounds that Oliver and Gaither were selected.

Oliver, who left Georgia early because of grade problems, was expected to be one of the top corners in the 2008 draft.

His recent 40 time in the high 4.5s may have scared away a couple teams, but the Chargers were looking for depth at the cornerback position. Starting cornerback Drayton Florence is a free agent after this season.

The Chargers liked the player skills. They recently did a background check and liked what they learned.

The Ravens worked Gaither out right before the draft. They liked his size and speed. He's around 6-feet-9 and 325 pounds. He ran well at a workout Tuesday, timing around five seconds.

Mark Washington, a DE/LB tweener from Texas State, wasn't selected in the supplemental draft but did sign a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers after the draft.

The 49ers want to use him at linebacker instead of end and believe he has the ability and size to challenge for a position as a strongside outside linebacker.

Supplemental Draft Is Risky Proposition

The supplemental draft is the ultimate risk-reward game. It's high stakes gambling for NFL franchises and just like playing the odds in Atlantic City or Vegas, sometimes you hit the jackpot and other times you go broke.

The supplemental draft began in 1977. It was set up for players who, for one reason or the other, lost their remaining eligibility in college.

Since its inception there have been many more busts then gems, but some true diamonds have been found and that's what keeps the supplemental draft intriguing, NFL clubs never know when gold will be found so they keep prospecting looking for those nuggets.

The results have not been outstanding to say the least.

Of the 34 prospects from the supplemental drafts between 1977 and 2005, nine never played a single snap in a regular-season game and 16 never started. Only four made a Pro Bowl appearance. Just five carved out careers that included 100 or more games. The average career span for those 34 players is 44.1 regular-season appearances, the equivalent of less than three full seasons in the league.

None has been elected to the Hall of Fame, although wide receiver Cris Carter, who ranks second in NFL history in career receptions, should become the first in the next few years. A fourth-round choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1987 supplemental draft, Carter is a rare success story from the summertime lottery.

There are 10 prospects in Thursday's supplemental draft. From that group, there probably are three viable candidates -- Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver, and offensive tackles Jared Gaither of Maryland and Nebraska's Chris Patrick -- to be selected. Any team that uses a pick in the supplemental draft must forfeit its corresponding choice in the April 2008 draft and be able to fit the player into its 2007 rookie pool allocation.

It is, for sure, a dicey proposition.

For every great pick (Carter, Bernie Kosar, Rob Moore, Mike Wahle or Jamal Williams) there are many more Manny Wright's or Brian Bosworth's.

That's the chance you take in the supplemental draft. You roll the dice and hope for seven or eleven, but sometimes you get a 2, 3 or 12 instead.

Signing Darius Makes Oakland Stronger

The Oakland Raiders defense got even better with the signing of safety Donovin Darius on Tuesday.

Darius, who was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars for salary reasons, makes an already impressive Raider secondary even stronger in 2008.

Despite a 2-14 record last season the Oakland defense finished third in the league statistically, including a number one ranking in pass defense.

Darius, who turns 32 next month, had been a mainstay in Jacksonville's secondary since he was the club's first-round pick in the 1998 draft. But the Jaguars released him in June as they try to get younger, cheaper and faster on defense.

The Raiders are set at corner with youngsters Fabian Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha. Michael Huff mans the strong safety spot, while Darius will challenge incumbent Stuart Schweigert at free safety.

The offense is still the weak link of this team and the defense will have to keep Oakland in games for most of the season. One thing is for sure, the addition of Darius should allow the Raiders to maintain their number one pass defense.

Darius finished his career in Jacksonville with 614 tackles, 14 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and two sacks. He has had injury problems recently - missing 14 games in 2005 with a torn knee ligament and six games last season with a broken leg.

NFL News and Notes

Some news, notes and rumors around the NFL....

Kansas City Chiefs QB Brodie Croyle appears to have the edge over veteran Damon Huard after the summer minicamps. Croyle has looked good and is throwing the ball with zip.

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Chicago Bears WR Mark Bradley has been particularly impressive this offseason and Lovie Smith is looking to give the former Oklahoma standout more playing time, provided he can stay healthy.

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Trade rumors in the air: It appears the Rams are still interested in Carolina Panthers DT Kris Jenkins, despite how late in the offseason it is. St. Louis is moving top draft pick Adam Carriker inside, but with the trade of Jimmy Kennedy, the Rams are very thin at nose tackle.

Also, the Denver Broncos are looking to strike a deal for Kansas City CB Greg Wesley. The Broncos need help in the secondary and the Chiefs, who have good looking prospects in Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page, would love to unload Wesley's $2.7 million salary.

Finally, word out of Vikings camp is that head coach Brad Childress is interested in picking up Kelly Holcomb from Philadelphia for a 2008 pick. The Eagles are going with Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and rookie Kevin Kolb, so Holcomb is the odd man out. Minnesota has unproven Tarvaris Jackson starting with Brooks Bollinger backing up. Holcomb would be a nice addition for the Vikings.

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The Rams have been very pleased with free agent signee Lenny Walls in the offseason. Walls is a big corner who performed very well with the number one unit during minicamp, while Tye Hill was out with a staph infection.

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The Cowboys are hoping Greg Ellis gets healthy in a hurry because the coaching staff hasn't been too impressed by the play of top pick DE Anthony Spencer.

Football Fanatics Fantasy Football Guide

Just a little post today to announce our first annual Football Fanatics Fantasy Football Guide.

The guide will be released online on July 31 as a PDF downloadable file. The guide is jam-packed with winning fantasy strategies, draft day tactics that guarantee a winning team, cheat sheets and player rankings and team analysis.

Best of all the Football Fanatics Fantasy Football Guide is 100% absolutely, positively free!

You heard right, no money needed. Zip, zilch, nada.

Details for downloading the guide will be available soon as well as a complete description of all the stuffed to the gills information inside.

Vick May Not Be Indicted After All

It appears Michael Vick is out of the hot seat after all.

Federal authorities have filed court documents outlining an alleged dogfighting operation at a property owned by Vick, The Associated Press reported Friday. Vick is not named in the documents.

Sources have told the AP and ESPN that Vick will not be indicted because of a lack of evidence. The law enforcement authorities have privately told league and team officials that at least three people are expected to be indicted but the identities of those individuals were unknown.

The filing comes on a day when federal agents searched the wooded property Vick is currently selling in southeastern Virginia on Friday. Fifteen vehicles were on the property, including a rental truck and a Virginia State Police evidence collections truck.

According to the documents, dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.

Members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered and received dogs for animal fighting, the documents state.

Fifty-four animals were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.

The property was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture," according to the filings.

The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours. The winning dog would win from "100's up to 1,000's of dollars," and participants and spectators also would place bets on the fight.

Before fights, the participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance. Sometimes participants would not feed a dog before the fight to "make it more hungry for the other dog," the documents said.

Fights would end when one dog died or the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents.

Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, the filings said.

Vick has claimed he rarely visits the home and was unaware it could be involved in a criminal enterprise. He also has blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. Vick's cousin, Davon Boddie, was living at the home at the time of the raids.

College Football Notes

Police have labeled as "suspicious" the death of a former University of Florida cornerback whose body was discovered inside his car Thursday morning.

Avery Atkins, 20, was a notable player in Florida coach Urban Meyer's first recruiting class. Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy Thursday to determine the cause of death.

"Any death of a young, healthy man 20 years of age is going to be deemed suspicious," Port Orange Sgt. Wayne Dorman said. "This is a new and ongoing investigation.

"It doesn't appear anyone else is involved at this point," Dorman told the Orlando Sentinel.

A relative who lived with Atkins made the discovery and immediately called 911 for assistance, according to details of the police report. Responding officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but Atkins never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 9:24 a.m. at Halifax Medical Center.

According to the Sentinel, Dorman said there were no visible signs of trauma to Atkins' body. The car was parked in the garage of his home and the garage door was open, Dorman told the newspaper.

Atkins was arrested Monday in Ormond Beach and charged with possession of crack cocaine, the Sentinel and the Gainesville Sun reported. The Sentinel said Atkins had been arrested three times -- twice for drugs -- in the past three months.

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Former Notre Dame quarterback Zach Frazer will transfer to the University of Connecticut, his father Dave said Sunday.

Frazer chose UConn over Cincinnati.

A strong-armed, 6-foot-5, 226-pound redshirt freshman, Frazer was considered a blue-chip recruit after passing for 3,647 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior at Mechanicsburg (Pa.).

Last month, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis announced true freshman Jimmy Clausen, redshirt freshman Demetrius Jones and junior Evan Sharpley would compete for the starting position in the fall.

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The Big Ten Network will launch Aug. 30 with a highlight show and follow two days later with its first football games.

The network will go on the air at 8 p.m. ET on a Thursday. On Saturday, there will be regional coverage of Appalachian State-Michigan, Youngstown State-Ohio State, Florida International-Penn State and Northeastern-Northwestern.

The conference Monday also announced distribution commitments for more than 75 local cable systems serving viewers in the eight states in which there are Big Ten schools.

The Big Ten also has an agreement with DirecTV. The conference has been feuding with Comcast over whether the cable provider, which has 5.7 million subscribers in the eight states, will carry the network.

Happy July 4th!

Football takes a back seat to celebration today.

I'm writing just a short little post wishing everyone a happy, healthy and safe Independence Day celebration.

This is a time for friends, family, barbecue and reflection.

Reflection on the sacrifices our Founding Father's made to create the personal freedom, opportunity and liberty we have here in the United States.

So, forget your problems and anxieties, at least for today, and enjoy the many freedoms this country brings us.

Happy Fourth of July everyone.

Rhodes Suspended Four Games

The Oakland Raiders suffered a blow to their ground game on Tuesday when Domenic Rhodes was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Rhodes will miss the first four games of the season.

The league does not disclose reasons for substance abuse suspensions, but Rhodes pleaded guilty in the offseason to reckless driving charges in Indiana after prosecutors agreed to drop drunken driving charges against him.

Rhodes, who spent his six years in Indianapolis, signed a two-year contract in the offseason with the Raiders that could be worth up to $7.5 million. He is expected to split time with last year's starter LaMont Jordan as the Raiders try to improve a running game that averaged 3.9 yards per carry in 2006.

Because of the suspension, Rhodes will forfeit $352,941 of his scheduled $1.5 million base salary for 2007.

Rhodes started all 16 regular-season games last season, rushing for 641 yards and five touchdowns. After backing up Edgerrin James since entering the league, Rhodes shared the job last season with rookie Joseph Addai. He has 2,274 yards rushing in his career.

Rhodes had one of his best performances in the Colts' Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears, rushing for 113 yards in Indianapolis' 29-17 victory.

Rhodes will be able to participate in training camp and in all preseason games. His suspension will begin Aug. 31, the day after Oakland's final exhibition game, and he will be eligible to return Oct. 1, following the fourth game of the season against Miami. Rhodes will also miss games against Detroit, Denver and Cleveland.

Rhodes was pulled over by an Indiana state trooper in February for driving 81 mph in a 55-mph zone. He was originally charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.

Rhodes pleaded guilty in March to reckless driving and was sentenced to 180 days in jail. But 178 were suspended and he received credit for two days.

Raiders Lawsuit Finally Ends

After more than two decades, Al Davis' suit against the NFL is over.

The Oakland Raiders lost their case in highest court in the state of California after contending in a lawsuit that the National Football League sabotaged the team's effort to build a stadium at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

The case dates back more than 20 years, when Davis accused the league of purposely not doing enough to help the team move from the antiquated Memorial Coliseum to a new stadium complete with revenue-generating luxury suites.

The Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995 after spending 13 years in Los Angeles.

The NFL won a 9-3 verdict in 2001, but Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Richard Hubbell ordered a new trial amid accusations that one juror was biased against the team and Davis, and that another juror committed misconduct.

A state appeals court overturned that decision, and the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled the verdict against the Raiders stands.

The ruling was the last of several lawsuits the Raiders had outstanding against the league and its stadium landlords.

In November, the Raiders and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority ended a decade of legal acrimony by dropping existing lawsuits and ending the seat-licensing plan known as personal seat licenses or "PSLs."

Now the Raiders will try to put this behind them and rebuild the product on the field. Last season, Oakland finished 3-13, the worst record in franchise history.