The NFL dropped the hammer on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger by suspending him six games. The move comes as a result of an alleged sexual assault that took place in a nightclub.

Amid the report of the suspension is a report that states the Steelers attempted to trade Roethlisberger to St. Louis. The Rams declined, suggesting Sam Bradford will indeed be the top pick in the draft.

But what is perhaps most telling of the Rams decision is the fact a struggling franchise dodged a Pro Bowl quarterback in favor of someone either average, if the team sticks with Mark Bulger or signs a free agent, or unproven, in the case of Bradford or another rookie quarterback.

One potential suitor may be the Raiders, who were rumored to be front in line for Donovan McNabb before he was traded to Washington. The Raiders have few options at quarterback, and JaMarcus Russell is dreadful. Nabbing a player with a history of immaturity wouldn’t be out of character for Al Davis. Furthermore, Roethlisberger represents what Davis loves: a big, physical quarterback who can throw the deep ball.

It’s a perfect match, and it may be Pittsburgh’s only option.

Aside from Buffalo, that is. Unless the Bills want to spin their wheels in mediocrity for another 16 games (or relocate to Canada in the near future), trading for Roethlisberger is a good bet. He brings baggage, but he also wears two Super Bowl rings.

Sources: ESPN (video) and NFL.com

Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Dez Bryant

According to a Fox31 news report, Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant will visit the Denver Broncos Wednesday. Bryant was suspended after the first three games of 2010 for not disclosing interactions with Deion Sanders. Denver has the 11th overall pick in the draft.

Dez Bryant is a top wide receiver prospect and he’s been tied to the Broncos in numerous mock drafts. His visit is far from unexpected, and the Broncos will likely be in a position to pull the trigger on draft day. He has been criticized, and some contend he may end up another Brandon Marshall: an incredible talent with a bad attitude.


Or the Broncos may wind up with the best wide receiver in the draft. Regardless, this may be a sign Dez Bryant is moving up some draft boards.

Source: Fox31

Santonio Holmes’ reputation took a beating in recent weeks with allegations he threw a glass in a woman’s face in a nightclub. Twitter followers also read all kinds of quotables from the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, including “kill urself” — sent to a follower who didn’t approve of the nightclub situation — and a “wake and bake” announcement.

Tired of it, the Steelers have sent Holmes packing to the New York Jets in exchange for a fifth round draft pick, a staggering reflection of how he has destroyed his value, despite good on-field performances.

Holmes will still be suspended the first four weeks of the season by the league.

The Cleveland Browns missed an opportunity in some minds when they passed on Donvan McNabb, but head coach Mike Holmgren wants to assure you the Eagles price tag was too high.

“The only way I was going to take all those early draft picks in rounds 1, 2 and 3 and use them would be for a young draft choice that I thought could be the quarterback for the next 15 years,” Holmgren said. “Otherwise, we have too many needs that those picks are going to help us with.”

Was he hinting the Browns would be willing to move up and draft Sam Bradford number one overall by offering a first, second, and third round draft package? Perhaps. Certainly Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat would contend so.

On the other hand, Michael Lombardi’s sources have told him that Holmgren is warming up to Jimmy Clausen at seven overall:

My sources tell me that Browns president Mike Holmgren talked to Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and told him that he has not ruled him out as the seventh overall pick, despite what he’s told the media. It was Holmgren who said he “wished he liked Jimmy Clausen more,” but after Clausen’s workout Friday, he does.

Given the send-off of Brady Quinn and the current “starter” Seneca Wallace, it is likely the Browns will move to acquire a first round quarterback. The question is, who does Holmgren have his eye on?

Although nothing is imminent (per Adam Schefter), the Minnesota Vikings appear to have genuine interest in LaDainian Tomlinson, 30, as do several other unnamed teams. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune adds, “The fact Tomlinson remains on the market is evidence of the fact his best years are behind him. But he could play a valuable role as the backup to Adrian Peterson. ”

Tomlinson would replace Chester Taylor, now in Chicago, as the running back in Minnesota’s offense who doesn’t fumble. Although Taylor didn’t serve a great role as a ball carrier, he was very important in passing situations. Tomlinson, despite recent injuries and a decline in ability, remains one of the league’s most capable receivers at running back.

He has 530 career receptions for 3,955 yards and 15 touchdowns. Last season was the first in his career in which he had 50 or fewer receptions (he had 20).

The Cleveland Browns have a new starting quarterback in town: Seneca Wallace. Mike Holmgren is very familiar with Wallace, having coached him for years in Seattle, and he believes Wallace is capable of being the Browns starting quarterback from day one.

“He’s accurate, he’s decisive, he’s got a strong arm and drives defenses crazy because he’s very mobile,” a league source told Tony Grossi. He went on to say, “… Seneca is one of the best locker room guys in the league, an unbelievable leader. Very athletic and has a much stronger arm and is more accurate than people think.”

In seven NFL seasons Wallace has passed for 3,547 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. The Browns quarterbacks last season combined for 2,076 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions.

The two players standing in Wallace’s way? They likely won’t be there long. According to Grossi, Derek Anderson is likely to be cut within the next two weeks. Brady Quinn has a chance to stay, but he’ll likely be shipped out as well. If he does happen to stay, however, don’t expect him to start. He’ll need to learn a new offensive system, one Wallace is already familiar with.

Chad Pennington wants to pull a Kurt Warner. The 33-year old quarterback plans to play five more seasons, at least the first of which will be spent on the sidelines in Miami.

The plan is to rehab his shoulder and get back to a level of health acceptable for a starting quarterback. In the meantime, Pennington will be most valuable as a veteran presence at a position in Miami that is oozing with inexperience. Warner made similar moves in St. Louis, stepping aside for Marc Bulger; in New York, letting Eli Manning take the reigns midway through the 2004 season; and in Arizona, giving the Cardinals time to develop Matt Leinart.

Miami’s projected starter this season is Chad Henne, and his expected backup is Tyler Thigpen. Henne started 13 games for the Dolphins last season, passing for just shy of 2,900 yards and throwing 12 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. Thigpen threw only eight passes, four of which were completed; he finished with one touchdown and two interceptions.

The Denver Post is reporting today that JJ Arrington is more important to the Broncos than most fans may realize. The Post cites “many [anonymous] personnel executives” around the league who believe Knowshon Moreno wore down last season. Whether this argument is accurate is hard to say. Moreno was carrying 19+ times per game between weeks 12-15; in weeks 12-13 he put up great numbers and in weeks 14-15 his numbers dipped significantly. Whether that’s a sign of him wearing down is a matter of debate.

On the other hand, Moreno didn’t prove himself to be a terrific receiver out of the backfield. His 7.6 yards per reception average is respectable, but there were only five games in which he caught three or more passes. Josh McDaniels loves what Arrington did in Arizona in passing situations, but injuries and surgery kept him from playing in 2009. The Broncos have signed him again this offseason at a very modest price, but if he can be a successful third-down back and someone who can sometimes spell Moreno, he’ll be regarded as one of the most important signings for the Broncos in 2010.

The Jaguars reached a deal in principle with three-time Pro Bowl defensive end and 3-4 linebacker Aaron Kampman early Sunday morning. Kampman, who flew to Jacksonville Friday night, will be a step towards rebuilding a defensive pass rush that managed to produce just 14 sacks last season, by far the worst mark in the league.

Last season was Kampman’s first as a linebacker in Green Bay’s new 3-4 scheme. He played just nine games before a season-ending injury sidelined for the final seven games of the regular season. But between 2006-2008, Kampman’s prime as a pass rushing defensive end, he tallied 37.0 sacks and wrecked havoc on opposing offenses. Kampman, 30, is at the tail end of his prime but is still be a nice upgrade for the Jaguars.

Defensive end Julius Peppers is paying a visit to the Chicago Bears today, increasing the likelihood he’ll sign with the franchise sometime in the near future, perhaps as soon as later today. Peppers, who recorded 10.5 sacks last season, will no doubt demand a high salary. Chicago’s desperation for help on the defensive line could drive them to pay Peppers, who turned 30 in January, more than he’s worth.

That said, Julius Peppers has tremendous size and athleticism. He has 25 sacks the past two seasons and will immediately make an impact on the Bears’ defense, which ranked middle of the pack in sacks last season. In a division with weak pass protection — Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Matt Stafford combined for 108 sacks in 42 games last season — getting Peppers to harass opposing quarterbacks could give the Bears an advantage.

In addition to Peppers, ex-Vikings running back Chester Taylor is also visiting the Bears. Taylor, who has excelled in his role as a 3rd down back with the Minnesota Vikings, turns 31 this season. But due to his role in Minnesota (and previously Baltimore), Taylor has only carried 1,028 times in his eight-year career. In other words, he still has tread on the tires and gas in the tank. If the Bears do offer Taylor a contract, expect him to start at running back after Matt Forte’s disappointing 2008 season.