According to reports by Tampa-area media outlets, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released linebacker Derrick Brooks, wide receiver Joey Galloway and three other veteran players.

Also cut were tailback Warrick Dunn, linebacker Cato June and wide receiver Ike Hilliard, according to the reports.

Wow - Now that is a shake up.  Free Agency just got more interesting.  I expect a lot more guys hitting the streets in the next few days.

See the story here.

COMBINE From NFL.com Maualuga comes up limping at end of 40

Posted: Combine | Frank Tadych | Tags: 2009 NFL Scouting Combine, Rey Maualuga

 University of Southern California linebacker Rey Maualuga’s scouting combine workouts were cut short by a leg injury near the end of Monday’s 40-yard dash.

Maualuga came up limping on his right leg at the end of his first attempt at the 40 when he took an awkward step after the finish line. He suffered the injury after his run — as he was deccelerating — and immediately took weight off the leg before kneeling down on the turf. Maualuga was able to walk gingerly off the field with a trainer.

“I could feel it for the past two weeks,” Mauluga told the NFL Network’s Scott Hanson in an on-field interview during NFL.com/Live. “I just wanted to come out here and compete with the very best. I wanted to show the coaches and scouts I could do everything. Now I’m just going to go to the trainer and get right and hopefully be able to do the Pro Day (April 1).

“I didn’t want to come out here and use my hamstring as an excuse. Unfortunatley, it’s been bothering me, but I felt I could go. I wasn’t pressured to do it. I thought I could go out and do the 40 and do it in a good time.”

With the exceptions of the folks in Laalaa-Land (I visited a few times myself), we all knew at the beginning of the season, that we were not a super bowl team as of yet.

Here are of couple of our goals from the start:

1. Get to the playoffs. Most of us thought this would be through a wild card spot. Who knew the Chargers would collapse like they have.

2. A lofty goal was to win the division. See above. (Reference the paper tiger)

Where are we now?

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With the recent signing and promotions from the practice squad,  the question of who the featured RB for the Broncos remains in question.

Leading off in this revolving door postion is Hillis.  Can the two big brusiers Larson at full back and Hillis at half back move enough to the Falcons interior linemen and MLB to gain enough yards?  Does Hillis have the speed to get around the corner?  We know that Hillis can catch, as evident from 2 weeks ago.  However, he still has blocking problems and that is why Larson is still a FB instead of a MLB.   I ask the MHR faithful, can this be our featured back?  I love Hillis and want it to work, but I questions my logic.

Second in line, I believe goes to T.Bell.  Does he know our "new" play book?  Is he in shape?  Does he still have the speed to hit the corner and turn on the juice.  We know he will be be winded after a few plays but how many carries do we think he can handle, if any?  Maybe a ploy to make the Falcons D game plan for him.

Third in line, P.J. Pope, see BroncoBear's excellent write up.  I think Pope sees the field.  Said to have excellent hands and be a between the tackles runner.  Maybe we see some Hillis and Pope in a double RB set where they both go out for a pass.

Third and one third.  Alex Haynes.  Don't want to hurt feelings... So I won't say anything here.

Fourth is the option of an empty back field.  I see two TE sets maybe even three TE sets.  Pass Blocking has been excellent and we have the targets to make it happen.

Let me know what the MHR faithful think... Happy musing.

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