Chargers rookie RB Ryan Mathews plans to hold out training camp

While all other San Diego Chargers rookies reported for training camp on time on Sunday, the only unsigned rookie, first-round pick Ryan Mathews was staying at home in his favorite Brett Favre jersey, claiming that he would hold out the whole training camp and even skip regular-season games if the Chargers do not offer a satisfying long-term contract.

If Mathews really means it, he will join veterans like wide receiver Vincent Jackson, left tackle Marcus McNeil and linebacker Shawne Merriman to hold out the training camp because of contract disputes. However, the rookie is expected to return earlier than Jackson, because the Chargers are likely to offer a rookie contract to him during the training camp, while a veteran like Jackson still has to fulfill the last year of his current contract before it expires. A rookie contract will surely cost much less than a veteran’s contract extension.

Wearing his favorite Michael Irvin jersey hanging around with his friends, Jackson is determined to get something from the team before wear back his team uniform. It’s hard to say which side will win and Jackson might be risking his career by doing so.

Ravens rookie LB Kindle will miss training camp with head injury

As a second-round draft pick of the 2010 NFL Draft but being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens as the team’s first pick, rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle was mentioned little during this offseason. And when he was first mentioned in headline, it was unfortunately bad news about his non-football injury.

The Ravens reported on its website Sunday afternoon that Kindle fell down two flights of stairs and sustained a head injury while visiting a friend in Austin, Texas. When he was immediately sent to hospital, Kindle was wearing a Brett Favre jersey and lost his consciousness. He is now in stable condition and being treated, but it’s unlikely for him to attend the Ravens’ training camp on Monday. And it’s still unsure when he will be able to return on field or whether he would have to skip his entire rookie season.

The outside linebacker from Texas had been dreaming of put on Saints jersey before being drafted by the Ravens. So the only good thing with the injury could be that he could be stay as a Saints fan for a longer time before having to play for the Ravens.

Giants WR Smith wants a raise

The New York Giant wide receiver Steve Smith was recognized with his ability much later than another wide receiver with a same name from the Carolina Panthers. But once he got wide recognition after having a breakout 2009 season, the receiver thought it is time to get a better pay.

According to reports, the young giant is now asking for new deal to match his performance. Finishing last season with 107 catches, 1,220 yards and 7 touchdowns, Smith is now one of the key players of the team but his salary for 2010 season is $550,000, much less than other NFL receivers. For example, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings got a four-year contract worth $26.8 million last year. Smith felt unfair and said that he at least deserved getting what Jennings is getting.

It seems that Smith is regretting that the Giants do not have a quarterback wearing No.4 Brett Favre jersey, and the team is even worse without paying much attention to wide receivers. But Smith himself much have the recognition that the Giants have more receivers than him and other receivers could just do as well even if he is not available.

Vikings DE Allen supports Redskins DT Haynesworth

The Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen became one of the people who watched Albert Haynesworth drama with great interests, and according the his recent comments, he seemed to be supporting Haynesworth for holdout against team’s switch to a 3-4 defense.

“I tell you what, I'd show up and just drink water for $30 million,” Allen told KTAR, an interview transcribed by SportsRadioInterviews.com. “Honestly, I don't know the circumstances so I can't judge anybody. I mean, obviously there are some uncertainties there. I'm sure both sides are a little bit at fault. It's one of those things, I'm a firm believer, you sign a contract, and obviously they are doing their part by paying you. Honor the contract by showing up and play it out.”

The Redskins have threatened that if Haynesworth wants to leave he will have to pay the $32 million he received from the team during the past one year back. And Haynesworth did announce that he would appear for the training camp but would do nothing but sit in his beloved Brett Favre jersey watching others working out. I guess he would be glad if he gets to know that Favre’s teammate is supporting him.

Working at home could be hard, too

Many people may think those earning money by working at home could have much easier life than themselves. But not all at-home jobs are easy and cost only brain cells. But considering that you can have your own time schedule so that you will not miss the NFL season and waste your money on Brett Favre jersey, working at home is still a better idea than commuting everyday to workplace.

Self-employed massage therapists should be taken as manual workers and their job really requires of hard physical efforts as well as good techniques. But in modern society, therapists are popular and needed by many people as they can help clients reduce stress, relax overworked muscles and recover from injury through various massage techniques. Still, manual workers earn much less than brainworker and a massage therapists average annual salary is around $40,000.

Comparing to massage therapist, self-employed customer service representatives is even a harder at-home job as we all know dealing with complaining customers is far from easy to do. Besides, companies hire at-home customer service representatives to cut cost so doing such a job means you earn less than those working in company offices. Their average annual salary is about $32,000.

Vikings Coach does not take Twitter trash talk seriously

It’s been quite a few days since the New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper started the twitter trash talks with his former Minnesota Vikings teammates, however, the trash talk could be only for fun, as the Vikings head coach Brad Childress recently said that he was not concerned with the verbal war.

Childress said that the word exchanges in cyberspace was mostly for fun and he know well that Sharper had a good relationship with Visanthe Shiancoe, Sharper’s major rival in the verbal war. Besides, Sharper also used to be Brett Favre’s teammate in the Green Bay Packers, and he could not be serious when saying that Favre’s surgically repaired ankle had been an X Mark to him. “He should be happy for seeing the quarterback wearing back his No.4 Brett Favre jersey,” Childress said. “He was joking about the ankle because he knew that would attract attention.”

Childress did not seem worried at all that the twitter fight could affect Shiancoe’s playing status, even though the tight end missed Wednesday’s optional team practice. Inevitably, Childress was asked about Favre’s playing status, and the coach said that they were still waiting for the quarterback’s final decision.

Brett Favre was told not to retire by former teammate

Brett Favre’s struggle with retirement actually began in 2006 offseason, after the Green Bay Packers finished the previous 4-12. At that time Favre was undecided for real sense and asked his former teammates for advices. He eventually returned as all his most respected teammates told him not to retire.

Frank Winters, Antonio Freeman and Santana Dotson were playing with Favre when he led the Packers to a Super Bowl XXXI championship. They all knew well that Favre loves fishing, hunting, golfing and especially football so much that retirement would cause him to fall into depression. They understood that Favre actually did not like the idea of walking away but he was only worrying about whether he was still able to win as people expected him to do. These former teammates’ advices worked well and Favre eventually work back his Brett Favre jersey for 2006 season as they made him to be more confident with what he could still do at age 37.

Nowadays, Favre needs no more advice from friends or teammates on his decision to retire or return. He has already proved that he could still win at age 40, so he is likely to return for his 20th NFL season, with different teammates. That could be the only thing his former teammates unwilling to see.

Brett Favre wants a salary raise for return

With so many people waiting for his decision, Brett Favre seems to enjoy the attentions paid to him and the discussions about him. We are not sure how longer he will go on with this game, but the real thing he wants is very likely to be more money.

While the Minnesota Vikings said that they had enough patience to wait for Favre’s decision, their patience was actually used for the negotiation on contract modifying. Leading the Vikings to the playoffs last season, Favre proved what he could still do at age 40 and wanted the team to reconsider the original contract terms they signed during the 2009 offseason. However, as we know, heavy investment on an over-aged quarterback is extremely risky and both the quarterback and the team needs long enough time to reach something that is for both sides’ most possible benefits.

What’s odd here is that the Vikings still have two other quarterbacks available for a starting role even if the No. 4 Brett Favre jersey is not to be with the team for the 2010 season, but they still focus on Favre only. If the team really thinks Favre the best starting quarterback they could have, why are they hesitating to make more generous offer? Well, that’s the team’s logic to give less than they could afford unless they lose their advantages.