The most interesting thing I heard this morning was that the New York Jets might be on to quarterback Matt Ryan. The Jets choose sixth, which is two places ahead of Baltimore which desperately wants Ryan. According to one guy I trust, the Jets have all but given up on Kellen Clemens and are looking for their next franchise quarterback. That would jibe with what I heard at the owners' meetings when I asked coach Eric Mangini about Chad Pennington, and he said Pennington would go into camp with as much a chance of winning the starter's job as Clemens. Say what? That told me there was no conviction about Clemens, and his future -- apparently, that's accurate. That doesn't mean the Jets take Ryan, of course, but if they do don't say you weren't warned.
69 reasons to watch Vikes' Allen
Finally, Walsh to meet with Pats
So the NFL is scheduled to meet with Matt Walsh next month. I think I speak for all 32 teams when I say, "Hallelujah." I wasn't sure what would be longer: Waiting for a Matt Walsh sighting or the end of the Pennsylvania Democractic primary. Anyway, it's time the league closed the chapter on Spygate, and the stakes here are clear: If the league finds the Patriots were guilty of more videotaping -- whcih they insist they're not -- then Bill Belichick must be suspended indefinitely; if the league finds the Patriots are innocent of all charges then it can put this to rest and move on. I wouldn't know Matt Walsh if he were sitting next to me, but I can't wait to hear what he has to offer -- if, that is, he has anything to say.
Chiefs say no to Sheppard
The Philadelphia Eagles insist that cornerback Lito Sheppard is in their plans for the future, but that hasn't stopped them from shopping him around the league. The latest stop was Kansas City, with the Eagles offering the former Pro Bowl cornerback to the Chiefs straight up for defensivd end Jared Allen. The Chiefs turned the deal down and sent Allen to Minnesota for a package of draft picks -- including the Vikings' first selection, the 17th choice in the draft. The feeling here is that something happens with Sheppard on Draft Day, with the Eagles trading him away to resolve a potentially flammable situation.
Earth to Chad: It's not your move
So the Cincinnati Bengals reportedly rejected an offer from Washington for unhappy wide receiver Chad Johnson.
So what?
If there's one thing we've learned of the Bengals through this mess it's that they're consistent. From the outset they said they would not trade or release Johnson, and they've stuck to their plan. And they stuck to it because owner Mike Brown is not about to be bullied into a move by one of his players ... especially this player. Brown will make a move when he wants to, not when Chad decides he wants to leave.
Apparently that message is lost on Ocho Cinco, who keeps lobbying for a ticket to out of town. The harder Johnson pushes the more steadfast Brown becomes that he will keep the wide receiver, and you'd think Johnson -- or the people advising him -- would get the idea by now.
Anyway, I had to laugh when I saw that Marvin Lewis said he thinks Johnson should live up to his threat of not pl