NFL update(s)

Don't like what seems to be a done deal, the NFL soon adding a game or two to the regular season. Don't like it at all. Can't think the players like it. Can't even imagine it being wildly popular with the hardiest fans, in fact, since extra games -- plus the regular slate of playoffs, don't forget -- provides that much more chance for their team's key player or players to go down hurt. They can and they will get hurt and be lost. Bad move. Selfish move by the owners. Dumb move in general.

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So, I can't say I knew much about the NFL's "performance-based" pay ladder before I saw a news release about it the other day. I still can't say I understand the formula that determines who gets how much from a bonus pool that's somehow based on comparing a guy's playing time with his salary. I flunked formulas. Suffice to say the system -- the pool was $105 million for last season -- was negotiated into the last collective bargaining agreement and is divided up after every season. And this year's big winner is:

An offensive tackle on the San Diego Chargers named Jeromey Clary. Clary, drafted in the sixth round in 2006, picked up $405,859 in extra loot because of how much time he spent on the field. Second was Lyle Sendlein, the center for the Arizona Cardinals. He put an extra $348, 134 into the 401(k) or wherever.

In all, players from 19 teams collected. The other bonus babies in the top five were the Redskins' safety Chris Horton ($342,197), Saints guard Carl Nicks ($335,033) and Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald ($329,803).

                          

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As for the local and state free agents we're tracking, the biggest of the recent moves was Darren Sharper's signing with the New Orleans Saints. Sharper, a safety from Richmond and William and Mary, is the NFL's active leader in interceptions with 54. Sharper, 33, added only one to his career total, however, last year with Minnesota.

 

The scorecard so far:

LB James Anderson -- Chesapeake -- Carolina Panthers --  restricted

FB Darian Barnes -- Hampton U.  -- New Orleans Saints -- restricted

LB Darryl Blackstock -- U.Va. -- Cincinnati Bengals -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH CINCINNATI

CB Dre' Bly -- Chesapeake -- released by Denver Broncos

OG Elton Brown -- U.Va. -- Arizona Cardinals -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH ARIZONA

DE Chris Canty -- U.Va. -- Dallas Cowboys -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH NEW YORK GIANTS

S Chris Crocker -- Chesapeake -- Cincinnati Bengals -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH CINCINNATI

LB Angelo Crowell -- U.Va. -- Buffalo Bills -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH TAMPA BAY

WR Ronald Curry -- Hampton High -- released by Oakland Raiders

DE John Engelberger -- Va. Tech -- released by Denver Broncos

S Vincent Fuller -- Va. Tech -- Tennessee Titans -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH TENNESSEE

CB Eric Green -- Va. Tech -- Arizona Cardinals -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH MIAMI

C Jake Grove -- Va. Tech -- Oakland Raiders -- restricted -- SIGNED WITH MIAMI

RB Kevin Jones -- Va. Tech -- Chicago Bears -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH CHICAGO

TE Jeff King -- Va. Tech -- Carolina Panthers -- restricted -- SIGNED WITH CAROLINA

OG Matt Lehr -- Va. Tech -- New Orleans Saints -- unrestricted

LS Matt Leach -- William and Mary -- released by Denver Broncos -- SIGNED WITH ARIZONA

LB Paris Lenon -- U. of Richmond -- Detroit Lions -- unrestricted

C Will Montgomery -- Va. Tech -- Washington Redskins -- unrestricted

S Pierson Prioleau -- Va. Tech -- Jacksonville Jaguars -- unrestricted

S Darren Sharper -- William and Mary -- Minnesota Vikings -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH NEW ORLEANS

OT John St. Clair -- Virginia -- Chicago Bears -- unrestricted -- SIGNED WITH CLEVELAND  

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