Rookie trades draw concern from union
The NFL players' union is looking into whether trades made by four teams this week — including two by the Rams — are attempts to avoid paying money into a rookie pool, a source said.
The source said Wednesday that the NFL Players Association is reviewing trades made by the Rams, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.
In an odd pair of trades on Monday, the Redskins sent sixth-round selection Dennis Morris to the Rams for a conditional, undisclosed draft pick, and the Rams sent fifth-round pick Hall Davis to Washington, also for a conditional, undisclosed pick.
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan at the time said that Morris was traded because he wasn't going to make the 53-man roster. Then, once Davis arrived in Washington, the Redskins cut him after one practice.
Also on Monday, the Eagles traded Charles Scott to the Cardinals for Jorrick Calvin. Both players were taken in the sixth round of this year's draft.
The trades have the union's attention because, under collective bargaining rules, if a drafted rookie is cut by the team that drafted him, that team is required to pay 85 percent of that player's salary into a rookie pool. The money from that pool will be distributed to rookies early next year based on the number of downs played in the 2010 season.
The way the rule is written, teams could circumvent the rookie pool payment by trading a drafted player they were going to cut to another team — and have that team cut the player.
While the Redskins quickly cut Morris, the other three players are still with their new teams. However, all teams have until Saturday to make their final preseason cuts, when the 53-man regular season rosters are set.
NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said the union is "monitoring this situation very closely" in regard to the Redskins-Rams trades.
Dockett gets an extension • The Arizona Cardinals signed Pro Bowl defensive tackle Darnell Dockett to a four-year, $48 million contract extension with $30 million guaranteed.
Dockett had two years left on his previous contract, so the new deal keeps him under contract through the 2015 season. His seven sacks last season were the most for an NFL defensive tackle.
Raiders deny Leinart discussions • The Oakland Raiders are denying a report saying the team has had discussions about trading for Matt Leinart.
The Raiders said in a statement they have never discussed acquiring Leinart in a trade from Arizona and that they are "very happy" about their quarterback situation.
Jason Campbell goes into the season as the starter in Oakland. He sustained a stinger and an injured right wrist last week in an exhibition game but is expected to be ready for the season opener Sept. 12 in Tennessee.
Bruce Gradkowski and Kyle Boller are expected to be the backups.
Umpire positioning adjusted • The NFL said it will move umpires back to their old spots during the final five minutes of tonight's preseason games.
Previously they were in the old spot for only the final two minutes of each half.
League officials decided to move umpires from the old spot, in the middle of the defense, to behind the deepest running back for safety reasons. But Peyton Manning complained about the switch after being called twice for illegal snaps when the umpire couldn't get into position quickly enough last week at Green Bay.
The NFL will again re-evaluate the new policy after this week's preseason finales.
Associated Press
