The Red Zone Lounge

The Cincinnati Bengals and former Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams, the free safety not the receiver, have agreed to terms to add to their rebuilding efforts.  Williams was released following the 2008 season by the Cowboys and will now join up with a familiar face.  Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, used to coach Williams while they were both in Dallas.  During that time, Williams had some of the best numbers of his career.

The terms of the deal aren’t yet known.  What is known is he will really add experience and talent to a struggling team looking for redemption.

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with linebacker Leroy Hill.  The multiyear deal worth $38 million came Thursday, right before Seattle’s minicamp this weekend.  The terms of the deal, as reported by the NFL, are that it’s a six year deal for $38 million with $15.5 million guaranteed.  The deal also includes preventing the Seahawks from going after Hill’s bonuses if he is suspended by the league.  Hill could be facing a suspension from an arrest in January over a misdemeanor marijuana possession in Georgia.

Hill had received the franchise tag from the Seahawks but following the 2009 NFL Draft, in which Seattle took linebacker Aaron Curry with the fourth pick overall, the recinded the tag as Hill refused to sign the $8.3 million tender.  It was expected Hill might have been released but that was put to rest with Thursday’s signing.

A new deal announced Thursday allows the New Orleans Saints to call the Louisiana Super Dome their home through at least 2025.  The deal also will create a Sports Development District by allowing Saints owner Tom Benson to purchased the surrounding structures, the New Orleans Centre and Dominion Tower.  These two were damaged during hurricane Katrina and were never repaired.  They currently remain unused.

The new agreement is good for the state as well, saving them $280 million compared to the current deal with the Saints.  This opens the door for New Orleans holding another Super Bowl in the near future and restoring the city to what it once was before the natural disaster stuck it down.

As expected, veteran running back Edgerrin James has been released from the Arizona Cardinals.  James’ request to be released was honored Tuesday allowing him to seek out another franchise.  Besides James, two other players were cut including Rod Hood and Travis LaBoy.  All three played in Super Bowl XLIII.

The releasing of all three players will create some breathing room under the salary cap for Arizona, the team has been a mere $1 million under the cap.  With the new found room the team can now focus on new contracts for linebacker Karlos Dansby, safety Adrian Wilson and if they’re smart, wideout Anquan Boldin.

According to NFL reports, several teams have immediately been in contact with James’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and is expected to be on another roster in the near future.  Two teams stand out as possibilities, the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.  James would be a valuable change of pace back and would compliment Steve Slaton of the Texans or tandem backs Bush and Pierre in New Orleans.

Over the last three seasons with the Cardinals, James has totalled 794 carries for 2,895 yards with 16 touchdowns.  Both 2006 and 2007 were 1,000 seasons for James but with Tim Hightower and less of a running game, his numbers suffered.  James did how ever bring life back to the running game in the post season to help carry the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.  He would only rush for 33 yards over nine carries in the loss to Pittsburgh.

Anyone think the NFL Draft is two long for just two days?  Well the NFL itself might.  Confirmed reports say that the NFL is thinking about changing the layout of the 2010 NFL Draft to extend over three days, instead of the usual two.    The possible change would start the draft in prime time with round 1 begining Thursday night, rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday.

The NFL feels it would be very appealing having the draft spread out, especially to the fans and audience of the event.  The decision to go to a three day draft would undoubtedly have mixed feelings amongst fans but would really help ratings.  The idea, and thats as far as it goes at this point, is still being discused and has no way been finalized but already has some support.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2010 Draft does go to the three day format.

The Arizona Cardinals releasing veteran running back Edgerrin James is expected to go down sometime this week, says an anonmyous NFL source.  The Cardinals picked up two running backs in this years draft including first round pick Chris “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State.  Already having Tim Hightower as a change of pace back, Wells is projected to take the starting roll and be the featured back in the desert. 

James sought an exit from Arizona during last season, after seeing a decreased roll in the offense due to the prolific passing game and introduction of Hightower.  James only put up 133 carries for 514 yards for the season, career lows for the 10-year veteran.  James could be released as early as Tuesday says the source and would be able to go to another team but with all the younger talent he may find the same situtation in another franchise.  He may find the role he’s looking for with a team that doesn’t yet have a defined running game, such as Cincinnati or perhaps Cleveland.  Kansas City wouldn’t be a stretch but what is almost certain is James will find a home rather quickly if he is indeed let go from Arizona.

The Draft has come and gone.  Miss the coverage and want to see who your team drafted?  You watched it but just want to recap?  Check out the full draft results here.

The mystery is over, the Lions will take Matthew Stafford with the number one overall pick.  Stafford agreed Friday night to a six-year $78 million contract with $41.7 million guaranteed money.  To put it into perspective, Matt Ryan signed a six-year, $72 million deal with $34.75 million guaranteed.  Experts debated who they though the Lions, the first 0-16 team in NFL history, would take with the first overal pick to help their team.

The Lions desperately needed a quarterback and taking Stafford was a very smart move.  The Lions will continue to rebuild with another first round pick, 20th overall, as well as a second round pick and two third round picks.  Stafford will formally be taken on Saturday when the Lions are on the clock. 

Stafford is ready to start in the NFL but the Lions will most likely sit him behind veteran quarterback Dante Culpepper as he has done well in team workouts this offseason.  Sitting behind a veteran in this league only helps rookie quarterbacks and will allow Stafford to come in and take over the team and become the face of the franchise in Detroit.

The focus of the Draft now turns to the St. Louis Rams, who have the second overall pick.  Sources have said the Rams have purchased a plane ticket for Mark Sanchez to arrive on Sunday, the day that the Rams will introduce their first round pick.  If this move isn’t a ploy, this could be a sign the Rams will be looking for quarterback help as well.  Many think the Rams desperately need a left tackle, but they have addressed that need with moving right tackle Alex Barron over to the left.  They will probably take an offensive tackle later in the draft but takeing Sanchez get’s them set up for years to come.

For the first time in Madden history, two players will be on the cover of the upcoming Madden 10.  Releasing on August 11th, Madden 10 features AFC defense against NFC offense on a cover that is unlike previous versions of the game.  Despite having one extra person, the cover art has effects never before seen from Madden games.   Other features included in Madden 10 haven’t been released except for the inclusion of new personalities and head/eye movement.  This feature will allow players heads to turn to track the ball in flight and will stop the issue with defenders jumping up and swating a ball away when they never even looked back to know it was there.

The players, Troy Polamlu and Larry Fitzgerald, both played in this year’s Super Bowl and make fine additions to the list of Madden cover models.

“Being on the cover of ‘Madden’ is a real honor,” Fitzgerald said on Friday, after Electronic Arts made the announcement. “And sharing it with a talent like Troy is really special.”

One thing they aren’t worried about is the so-called “Madden Curse”.  It seems that each year, the player featured on the cover of the hottest selling sports video game title has suffered an injury during the season following the release of the game.  Such has happend to Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander and Vince Young.  Last year featured Brett Favre and he never really suffered an injuries, unless you consider ‘arm fatigue’ to be an injury.  The curse may be broken or just hocus pocus but for two players that are cabable of MVP seasons this upcoming year, they better hope its not real.

The Carolina Panthers have locked up their starting quarterback, Jake Delhomme.  The Panthers signed the veteran signal caller to a five-year, $42.5 million extension which will provide valuable cap space.  Delhomme is now under contract until the 2014 season, when he will be 39.

The new deal come with $20 million guaranteed money and and comes after a horrible show in the NFC divisional playoffs against the surging Arizona Cardinals.  Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in that game, but didn’t shake the confidence of head coach John Fox.  Fox and GM Marty Hurney strongly support Delhomme as the starter, a gig he has held since the 2003 season.

“Jake Delhomme is incredibly excited to be able to finish his career in Carolina,” his agent, Rick Smith, said. “He felt there was unfinished business at the end of last year.”

Delhomme through for 3,288 yards and 15 touchdowns with 12 interceptions last season.