PEYTON MANNING UPDATE
The Indianapolis Colts are confident their Pro Bowl QB Peyton Manning will be ready when it matters most -- the Sept. 7 regular-season opener in Lucas Oil Stadium against the Chicago Bears. "That's our expectation," team president Bill Polian said Tuesday. Manning underwent surgery Monday afternoon to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee. "Everything went well and the doctors are very confident that everything will go well," Polian said. Polian declined to speculate on a target date for Manning's return to practice but insisted "no one's losing any sleep over this." He also said they should know more next week when everyone huddles in Terre Haute. "Don't forget, he's had every practice for 11 years," Polian said. "I don't know that missing some practice time is going to do any harm at all, to be truthful with you."

Mancini's Take: What? Polian, truthful? One thing I've learned as a long-time sports enthusiast is to never trust GMs and head coaches. That being said, the reason why I think Manning will be back by week one is because there's no player I know who's more committed or who's loves football more. In the event that number 18 does miss the first game versus Chicago, the Colts can put together a conservative game plan and defeat the Bears at home. Things won't be as easy, however, versus the Vikes in Minny a week later, but as I said before, I count on the furure Hall of Famer being there once the lights go on.

 

Mandel's Take: For Polian to say "no one is losing sleep over this" is simply disingenuous. NO ONE is sleeping well in the organization with Peyton Manning going under the knife. How-ev-ah, Manning has been the very definition of durability and if anyone can come back without missing a beat, it's him. Besides, I'm sure all the Manningites will be singing the "It'll end up being a good thing because he'll be more rested" song before too long. My guess is that Manning will be back before week one, probably seeing action in the last exhibition game before he shreds the Bears.

FLACCO SIGNED
The Baltimore Ravens and rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco agreed to a five-year contract worth up to $30 million, agent Joe Linta said Wednesday night. The deal includes $8.75 million in guaranteed money. The signing ensures that Flacco will have a fair chance to compete for the starting quarterback job in Baltimore when the team reports to training camp next week. The rookie from the University of Delaware will battle Troy Smith and Kyle Boller in a three-way race this summer. "The most important part of this contract is that it is done before July 21st," Linta said. "They're excited, Joe's excited, I'm excited. I don't know anybody that is not excited."

Mancini's Take: Hey Ross, what about you? Are you as excited as the rest of us! Well, maybe not as much as Joe Linta who's probabaly going to be due a healthy percentage of that money, but hey, we're talking about Baltimore's future. Sadly, the Ravens have no future with Smith or Boller at the helm. From everything you read, Smith has the upperhand so far in the battle for the starting quarterback's position. While Smith adds some playmaking ability to the mix, his less-than-ideal height will prevent him from seeing over most of his linemen, especially the gargantuan Jared Gaither who checks in at 6'9" 350 lbs. The Ohio State product must also quicken his release. The smart money is on the Ravens struggling to win games this year, and inserting Flacco into the lineup during the last quarter of the season. That may be the only thing that Baltimore fans will be looking forward to this year.

 

Mandel's Take: That's a lot of excitement. Joe Flacco is The Future...or at least the Ravens hope he is. As the Rev said, Baltimore isn't going anywhere with the tomato cans they have other than Flacco and I'd look for the former Fightin' Blue Hen to take the reins much sooner than week 12. Once the team realizes it has no chance to win anything, they'll have no choice but to insert The Future--why not let him learn sooner rather than later when nothing is on the line?

RYAN GRANT UPDATE
The agent for Green Bay Packer RB Ryan Grant says his client will not sign the minimum second year player tender that would pay Grant $370,000 for the upcoming season. Grant and the Packers have been in negotiations this offseason on a new long term deal for the breakout RB. Grant does not plan to report to training camp until a deal gets done.

Mancini's Take: Here's a storyline that's been pushed way into the background by Favregate, but is no less important. In fact, locking up the young back before the start of training camp may be far more pressing than any decision made on SchizoFavre. The stage is set for Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but Green Bay's situation at running back isn't as clear cut. It took Green Bay half the season to find a competent runner because none of the players behind Grant are capable of carrying the load on offense. Last year's revelation is a classic downhill runner who knows how to quickly cut into the gaps provided by Green Bay's zone blocking schemes. Brandon Jackon, DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency (gag!) are bit players. The Packers don't need another distraction. They need to huddle up with Grant and his agent in a room and not come out until a new deal is agreed upon.

 

Mandel's Take: I wouldn't sign that tender either and there's no way that the Packers expect Grant--by far their best RB--to sign that deal. The Favre debacle is going to end up helping Grant in a weird way--they need to take care of Grant to avoid more bad PR. Imagine if they blew it with Grant after Favre ran them in circles? Can't happen. Grant's going to get paid, and he deserves it.

JAMES HARDY UPDATE
Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports Buffalo Bills WR James Hardy said he is not going into training camp thinking he will win the starting job. However, Hardy thinks he will be able to make a contribution in his first game with the team. "I feel I'll be able to do the same thing," said Hardy. "I'll be trying to focus on contributing right away the first game. So I'm going to do whatever I can to make that happen."

Mancini's Take: Many may look at James Hardy with a jaundiced eye due to the fact that a number of extremely tall receivers have disappointed in recent years. The names of Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett immediately come to mind. The difference with Hardy is that he can actually run. Not only is he a smooth receiver, but he also fights for the ball and goes across the middle. Hardy will definitely be a factor for the Bills. It's too bad that Rosstradamus is so down on Hardy's quarterback. Mandel is perhaps pining for the return of Kelly Holcomb.

 

Mandel's Take: This is the welcome back I get? For shame! No, I'm not searching for Kelly Holcomb, but the Rev is correct in that I'm not a big fan of Trent Edwards. I like Hardy a lot as a receiver, but when you combine subpar QB play with the inevitable rookie blues all WRs seem to suffer, his impact is going to be minimal in year one. If there's an Orchard Park miracle and Edwards is able to stay healthy and somehow learned how to throw a deep pass, then I'll happily admit I'm wrong. But until then...

TE TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN LIONS OFFENSE
According to Pro Football Weekly, the new design of the Lions’ offense should have the TE position contributing more than it did last season, when it was an afterthought in the passing game (a league-low 19 receptions by true tight ends) and little-used in run blocking because the Lions chose to throw so often. The return of Dan Campbell should be a big boost. He’s a first-class run blocker, and though he’s coming off elbow surgery, he’s expected to be ready to go at the start of camp. Free-agent addition Michael Gaines arrives with a reputation as a good blocker, but he has spoken often about his ability to catch the ball and should get a chance to do so in a scheme that will involve more passing routes than former coordinator Mike Martz chose to utilize. Casey FitzSimmons and Sean McHugh are more H-back types (they played fullback in Martz’s offense but are considered tight ends now), and neither is an outstanding blocker, but they can catch the ball.

Mancini's Take: Well, there's a reason why the Lions have secured $3 million in guaranteed money to Michael Gaines. The former Panther will play a significant role in this offense which will no longer see all those four and five receiver formations drawn up by the mad genius, Mike Martz. Gaines is a much better receiver than Campbell is and should end up with with somewhere around 40 to 45 catches for about 425 yards and three to four touchdowns. Do you agree with that projection, Ross? He's good, but he's no Jason Witten.

 

Mandel's Take: I can see those numbers happening, but is Gaines really a receiving threat? It's one thing to be competent and quite another to be a threat, which is what is required here. I'm not sure they're going to get the major contribution they're counting on from this guy in the receiving area, but his all around play (read: blocking for the running game) when paired with Campbell could justify the guaranteed money.

49ERS SECONDARY UPDATE
According to Pro Football Weekly the winds of change may be blowing briskly in the Niners’ defensive backfield, with both RCB Walt Harris and FS Mark Roman facing increasingly serious challenges for the starting jobs they held down last season with mixed success. After a career campaign two years ago, Harris, who will turn 34 in August, really started to show his age last season and is expected to be looking over his shoulder frequently in training camp at a host of challengers, led by third-round draft pick Reggie Smith. “They (the Niners) wouldn’t mind a more physical presence at the CB spot opposite Nate Clements who can stone a guy at the line of scrimmage, with Clements continuing to play mostly man coverage,” a team insider told PFW.

Mancini's Take: Harris will also be pushed by Shawntae Spencer who is a very physical specimen. Rookie Reggie Smith is a very good tackler and may contribute covering slot receivers, but ultimately his best position will probably be free safety. The former Sooner, however, will need some time before seeing an expanded role. In college, he had a habit of taking some poor angles to the ball. I know my man Ross is high on this Niners defense. Let's hear your prognostication, o great omniscient one.

 

Mandel's Take: Well, I think Spencer--or someone--should get a shot to replace the mediocre-at-best Harris. The Niners want us to believe Harris' physical ailments were the reason for his poor play...I'm not convinced. And I'm not that high on the overall defense, but I think they'll take a small step forward this season. A better pass rush is the key.