Ok let us review the recent moves.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mike Bell RB Signed
Mark Campbell TE Placed on injured reserve
Chris Francies WR Signed to practice squad

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Lavarus Giles RB Signed to practice squad
Darian Barnes FB Signed
Aaron Stecker RB Placed on injured reserve


We have talked all of the in other threads but Campbell to IR is new and so is the addition of X-GB WR Chris Francies. Ok are we picking this kids mind before the big game Monday night? Without a doubt. LOL

Chris Francies, WR, 6-1, 193, 4.56, Texas-El Paso

BIO: Three-year starter who posted career numbers of 44/774/5 as a senior after junior totals of 33/558/4.

POSITIVES: Natural pass-catcher with a polished game. Sharp route-runner, gets separation from defenders and comes back to the ball. Effectively uses his frame to shield away defenders. Consistently finds the open seam in the defense. Gets vertical and contorts to make the reception. Effectively body-catches when necessary.

NEGATIVES: Not strong, slowed by jams and gives marginal effort blocking. Lacks top-end speed and is not a sturdy receiver.

ANALYSIS: Showing improvement as a senior, Francis has potential as a fifth receiver for a timing offense.

PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent

SI.com - 2006 NFL Draft - Chris Francies

One receiver who was impressive was the Miners second leading pass catcher, Chris Francies. Measuring just under 6-1 and weighing 193-pounds, Francies clocked a 4.52-forty then posted a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot-6-inch broad. While those numbers were not out of the ordinary Francies pass catching workout was, as he caught everything thrown in his direction.
Scout.com: Pro-Day 3/3: UTEP

Saints Place TE Campbell and RB Stecker on IR

by Dave Lawrence, NewOrleansSaints.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 12:00 PM

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Wednesday that the team has placed tight end Mark Campbell and running back Aaron Stecker on the reserve/injured list, ending the season for both veteran players. The Saints have signed free agent running backs Darian Barnes and Mike Bell to take their places on the roster.

Campbell is a 10-year veteran tight end who signed with the Saints as a free agent prior to the 2006 season. The 32-year-old former University of Michigan Wolverine has played in 23 regular season games for New Orleans, making 15 starts, and caught 30 passes for 285 yards with two touchdowns. Campbell returned to action in 2008 after missing the entire 2007 season with a back injury and caught 12 passes for 121 yards and two scores in nine games before suffering an injury to his left knee in Sunday’s victory at Kansas City.

Stecker has battled a hamstring injury throughout the 2008 season and was limited to just six games, where he carried the ball eight times for 43 yards, caught nine passes for 52 yards and a touchdown and made three tackles on special teams. One of the club’s five season-long captains, Stecker has been a Saint since signing with the team as a free agent in 2004 and the nine-year veteran running back has played in 65 games for New Orleans, running for 1,109 yards and seven touchdowns along with 129 receptions for 908 yards and a score, averaging 22.4 yards on 67 kickoff returns with a touchdown and making 27 special teams stops.

Barnes is a 6-0, 255-pound veteran fullback who has been in the league since signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent out of Hampton University in 2002. In his seventh professional season, he has played in 71 career games (27 starts) in stints with Tampa Bay, Dallas, Miami, the New York Jets, Buffalo and Detroit. Known primarily as a blocking back, the Toms River, N.J. native has five career carries for 10 yards and has caught 16 passes for 121 yards with a touchdown along with 16 special teams tackles. Barnes played in three games this season with Buffalo and an additional two with Detroit before being waived by the Lions last week.

Bell is a third-year runner who spent his first two NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos after signing with them as an undrafted free agent from the University of Arizona. In 20 games with Denver, the 6-foot, 225-pound back gained 680 yards on 163 carries with eight touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 165 yards. He was waived by the Broncos during training camp this summer.

The team also signed a pair of players to their practice squad, inking wide receiver Chris Francies and running back Lavarus Giles to contracts. Francies is a second-year player from UTEP who split the 2006 and 2007 seasons between the active roster and practice squad of the Green Bay Packers. Giles is a rookie runner out of Jackson State who spent time in the training camps of the Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louis Rams this summer.

New Orleans Saints - Saints Place TE Campbell and RB Stecker on IR

Could you help me remember why Denver let this guy go?

Excellent, just what the doctor ordered, more WR prospects

Mike Bell finally has gone from the doghouse to the outhouse.

The one-time Denver Broncos starting running back, whose playing time diminished last season after a switch to fullback, was released Monday as the club began making room for rookie signings.

Denver inked fourth-round pick Kory Lichtensteiger, a center from Bowling Green, to a four-year, $2.19 million deal that includes a $484,250 signing bonus.

The team also was closing in on terms with the second of their fourth-round selections, Kent State cornerback Jack Williams. And with 80-man roster restrictions in place, Denver had to make some moves, since unsigned rookies were not counted toward the roster limit.

Rookie kicker Garrett Hartley was released along with Bell.

The Broncos now have seven of nine draft picks under contract leading up to Thursday's reporting date to training camp, with first-round pick Ryan Clady (Boise State) and second-round wideout Eddie Royal (Virginia Tech) the exceptions.

Bell, 24, wasn't drafted out of Arizona in 2006 but produced like a first-day selection. He ran for 677 yards and scored eight touchdowns, but after a promising start to the '07 preseason, hurt his shoulder, ended up getting passed by Selvin Young on the depth chart and then was switched to fullback. He appeared in just five games at his new position and notched only six overall carries.

After a critical fumble on his lone rushing attempt in a Nov. 25 loss at Chicago, Bell was declared inactive for the remainder of the season and any trade value was diminished.

"He put himself on the map with the Denver Broncos, and if not for them, wouldn't have had the opportunity to show what he's capable of in this league," said Josh Luchs, Bell's co-agent along with Steve Feldman. "Whether it's today, tomorrow or a week from now, we feel Mike will be on a team that gives him the chance to play the position he wants to play. But it's a rough time now."

The timing, three days before camp starts, could hinder Bell. There's also a glut of free-agent running backs still unsigned.

"He's a clean prospect without a lot of tread on his tires, and he's been productive in the not so distant past," Luchs added. "So I think he has value."

Hartley's departure leaves Matt Prater as the lone player at the position in wake of veteran Jason Elam's departure in free agency. Denver still could add a veteran leg if Prater falters during camp, but the team has been happy with his off-season showings to date.

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Broncos release ex-starter Mike Bell : Broncos : The Rocky Mountain News

Texans add OT Tucker as Salaam has knee scoped
Team waives recently acquired RB Mike Bell to clear roster spot for new lineman
By JOHN MCCLAIN Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 8, 2008, 12:01PM

Texans offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee and will be out from three to four weeks.

To replace Salaam, the Texans signed veteran free agent offensive tackle Torrin Tucker. They considered Houston native Fred Miller, who played at Baylor before moving to the NFL and playing for the Rams, Titans and Bears.

“Ephraim got up Thursday morning and felt something under his kneecap,” coach Gary Kubiak said today. “He got an MRI, and they did the scope after it. We expect him to be back for the start of the season.”

To clear a spot on the roster for Tucker, running back Mike Bell was placed on waivers.

Meanwhile, general manager Rick Smith said today that the Texans could bring back guard Charles Spencer and sign him to the practice squad. After the Texans waived Spencer in July, Carolina claimed him. The Panthers waived him Thursday, saying he was too out of shape to contribute.

“The door’s still open,” Smith said. “We’ve been in contact with him. If he gets in shape, then another chapter in the Charles Spencer story could be written with our team.”

Because offensive tackle Scott Jackson (foot) and guard Fred Weary (leg) also are out, the Texans are still shorthanded in the offensive line.

Rookie Duane Brown and veteran Eric Winston are the starting tackles. Backups Rashad Butler and Brandon Frye will get a lot of playing time in Saturday’s preseason game against Denver.

john.mcclain@chron.com

So Bell will be replacing Deuce it looks like.

I like the Bell signing

Hey ... he might play CB too!