Report: Colts want to acquire Mike Jenkins from Dallas; Cowboys might be interested

Posted: 05:37 PM ET May 25, 2012

By Josh Katzowitz | NFL Blogger

Is Dallas interested in trading Jenkins? Some say yes, some say no. (US Presswire) We told you a couple days ago that Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins is not happy with his current place of employment.

In fact, he's skipped Dallas' OTAs so far because he wants to be traded (probably because the Cowboys went out and got cornerback Brandon Carr in free agency -- and paid him $50 million to do so -- and then traded up to draft Morris Claiborne).

The Cowboys have said they're not interested in trading their 2008 first-round draft pick (after all, a secondary featuring Carr, Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick and Jenkins would be pretty sweet for Dallas' defense), but that might have changed.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Colts have made multiple trade offers and the Cowboys might be wavering on whether they'd accept a swap. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, though, talked to a high-ranking Cowboys official who said Dallas still isn't interested.

Already the Colts have traded for a cornerback this week -- they acquired Cassius Vaughn from the Broncos -- but Jenkins would upgrade their secondary even more. Right now, it looks like Jerraud Powers and Kevin Thomas would be the starting corners in Indianapolis, and Jenkins likely would finagle his way into a starting spot if he lands with the Colts.

As Jenkins enters the final year of his contract, he's set to make a base salary of $1.052 million, which obviously makes him even more marketable for 2011. According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins ranked in the middle of the pack last year among the league's cornerbacks (40th out of 109), and quarterbacks had a rating of 88.5 when throwing at the receiver he covered.

Still, it's not a surprise the Colts would be interested. After all, he's still young, and he still has potential. Oh, and one other thing.

#NFL personnel execs are split on Mike Jenkins as a player but they all love his contract. #CheapStarter #Cowboys

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) May 25, 2012

Of course, if Dallas still isn't interested, I suppose none of this matters.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz.

Tags: Brandon Carr, Cassius Vaughn, Jerraud Powers, Kevin Thomas, Mike Jenkins, Morris Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, NFL

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Chargers reportedly interested in Panthers' WR Smith

Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith cleared out his locker and packed his belongings from the Carolina Panthers' team facility last month.

Was it the first step in the next phase of his career? He has two years remaining on his current contract and is owed $7 million for 2011 and $7.75 million for '12.

Smith, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, wants to be traded and the Los Angeles native prefers a California landing spot. The paper, citing sources close to the situation, indicates the Chargers are extremely interested in acquiring Smith if he becomes available at the conclusion of the NFL lockout. At present, player movement is not allowed because the league is, technically, closed for official business.

Coach Ron Rivera, entering his first season as a head coach, has maintained that Smith is part of the team's future in Carolina.

"Steve's a Carolina Panther. That's a situation where as we go further on we'll address. We'll talk and he knows how I feel about things. My biggest thing is let us put it all together and see how it works, see if it's something that can work for all of us. That's probably the most important thing. But we have to do what's best for the Carolina Panthers," Rivera said in February.

Smith, 32, has played 10 NFL seasons, all with the Panthers, and has 52 touchdowns. But he began last season with a broken arm that kept him out of the preseason and never found a groove amidst a season-long quarterback issue in 2010. The Panthers went 2-14, leaning on rookie Jimmy Clausen after veterans Matt Moore and street free agent Brian St. Pierre went down with injuries.

In December, Smith said Clausen should apologize to the veterans in the huddle and said he had a lot to learn. Clausen had issued an apology to defensive captain Jon Beason for a poor peformance in a 31-10 loss to the Saints.

"I'm the last guy to tell anybody to be apologizing, but if you're going to apologize, you know, you should apologize to the people in the huddle with you," Smith said. "But he has a lot to learn. He ain't in Notre Dame anymore, that's for sure."

The Panthers used the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft on Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Whether Newton, a junior who won the Heisman Trophy and national championship in his lone season as a starter, can contribute immediately is open to debate. The current lockout, also prohibiting rookies from hands-on learning at the team facility, would seem to favor Clausen returning as the team's starter with Newton learning for most or all of his rookie season.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

View the original article here

Chargers reportedly interested in Panthers' WR Smith

Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith cleared out his locker and packed his belongings from the Carolina Panthers' team facility last month.

Was it the first step in the next phase of his career? He has two years remaining on his current contract and is owed $7 million for 2011 and $7.75 million for '12.

Smith, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, wants to be traded and the Los Angeles native prefers a California landing spot. The paper, citing sources close to the situation, indicates the Chargers are extremely interested in acquiring Smith if he becomes available at the conclusion of the NFL lockout. At present, player movement is not allowed because the league is, technically, closed for official business.

Coach Ron Rivera, entering his first season as a head coach, has maintained that Smith is part of the team's future in Carolina.

"Steve's a Carolina Panther. That's a situation where as we go further on we'll address. We'll talk and he knows how I feel about things. My biggest thing is let us put it all together and see how it works, see if it's something that can work for all of us. That's probably the most important thing. But we have to do what's best for the Carolina Panthers," Rivera said in February.

Smith, 32, has played 10 NFL seasons, all with the Panthers, and has 52 touchdowns. But he began last season with a broken arm that kept him out of the preseason and never found a groove amidst a season-long quarterback issue in 2010. The Panthers went 2-14, leaning on rookie Jimmy Clausen after veterans Matt Moore and street free agent Brian St. Pierre went down with injuries.

In December, Smith said Clausen should apologize to the veterans in the huddle and said he had a lot to learn. Clausen had issued an apology to defensive captain Jon Beason for a poor peformance in a 31-10 loss to the Saints.

"I'm the last guy to tell anybody to be apologizing, but if you're going to apologize, you know, you should apologize to the people in the huddle with you," Smith said. "But he has a lot to learn. He ain't in Notre Dame anymore, that's for sure."

The Panthers used the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft on Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Whether Newton, a junior who won the Heisman Trophy and national championship in his lone season as a starter, can contribute immediately is open to debate. The current lockout, also prohibiting rookies from hands-on learning at the team facility, would seem to favor Clausen returning as the team's starter with Newton learning for most or all of his rookie season.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

View the original article here