Pete_Prisco

The Oakland Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes Monday, one year after signing him as a free agent.

Shocking? Not really.

Rhodes played well in the Indianapolis Colts' run to a Super Bowl two seasons ago, but this is the type of thing that happens when teams sign runners from other teams in free agency.

It doesn't work. Smart teams draft their running backs. They don't sign backs with wear and tear.

The Raiders drafted Darren McFadden Saturday with the fourth pick in the draft, helping to expedite the process of getting Rhodes out of town. They needed to release Rhodes for cap reasons., but production was the main reason. Rhodes rushed for 302 yards last season for the Raiders, missing the first four games for violating the leageu's substance-abuse program.

In addition to McFadden, the Raiders still have Justin Fargas, their leading rusher last season, LaMont Jordan, who might not be far behind Rhodes out the door, and Michael Bush as their backs.

Rhodes ran for 113 yards in the Colts' Super Bowl victory over the Chcago Bears two seasons ago, which made him some money in Oakland. As it turns out, this was corner Larry Brown all over again for the Raiders, a knee-jerk reaction to a good Super Bowl.

When will these teams learn?

The St. Louis Rams had a real battle inside their draft room. The coaches loved LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.  But in the end they decided on Virginia defensive end Chris Long because it was more of a need.

Long will be a great player for the Rams. Defensive coordiantor Jim Haslett will use his pass rush to amp up a defense that is getting better and better. Taking Long will be a move that pays off in a big way for the Rams.

Maybe he wasn't the guy they wanted, but he will be the guy they're glad they got 10 years from now.

If there's one thing to learn about the Dallas Cowboys acquiring hot-button corner Adam "Pacman" Jones Wednesday in a trade with the Tennessee Titans for draft picks, it's this:

Making a controversial deal, brining in a troubled player, is a lot easier to swallow when the owner is the general manager.

There aren't a lot of teams that would take a chance on a player like Jones like the Cowboys did. There is too much baggage. As good a corner as Jones is -- and he's one of the best when he's on the field -- he's one mistep away from another year-long suspension. Heck, he isn't even off his year-long suspension yet, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expected to act on lifting his later this summer.

But Dallas can make the deal because Jerry Jones is owner and general manager. He makes the football decisions. He pays the Bills. If it blows up, it blows up on him.

There is no general manager putting a neck on the line for this move. If it doesn't work for Jerry, so what? What's he going to do, fire himself as general manager? Not happening, as much as some Cowboys fans might want it to happen.

The Cowboys will give up a fourth-round pick for Jones, which is a steal if he's truly going to be a model citizen. With Jones, the Cowboys now have as good a starting duo as their is in the league. Jones will team with starter Terence Newman and Anthony Henry to give Dallas a nice threesome.

Jones can dominate a receiver in man coverage. The Titans coaches say he allowed seven completions while playing man coverage in 2006. And he played a lot of it. That's amazing.

Jerry Jones is moving to a new stadium. He's selling expensive seats and club seats and suites. It's a lot easier to ask for the big dollar with a Super Bowl title.

Pacman will give the Cowboys a better chance to make that a reality.

If he winds up making it rain at the local strip joint and finds himself in hot water again, Jerry Jones can get angry at his general manager.

Then he'll wink at the mirror and move on.

It sure must be good to be the king.

So the NFL is finally going to meet with Matt Walsh?

It's about time.

What the heck have they been waiting for? Don't you think this kid has blown a lot of hot air about producing a tape of the New England Patriots illegally taping the walk-through of the St. Louis Rams before Super Bowl XXXVI? Walsh, a former employee who worked for the Patriots viedo department, has told media outlets that he has evidence to back up his claims.

As much as I think there was more illegal taping done in the past by the New England Patriots -- more than we know --  I don't think Walsh has the goods. The Patriots sure act as if they know he doesn't.

Shortly after the league announced that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would meet with Walsh in New York on May 13, the Patriots sent out a statement with their viewpoint on the matter.

"The New England Patriots are pleased to learn that Matt Walsh is finally willing to come forward to meet with the NFL. We are eagerly anticipating his honest disclosures to Commissioner Goodell next month and the return of all the materials he took during his time of employment. We fully expect this meeting to conclude the league’s investigation into a damaging and false allegation that was originally levied against the team on the day before this year’s Super Bowl.

It is important to note that there has never been a confidentiality agreement restricting Matt Walsh and no legal protections were ever necessary for him to speak to the NFL, to media outlets or to anyone else regarding his employment with the Patriots. He demanded to be released from responsibility for his statements, and after a frustrating and lengthy negotiation period, a settlement has finally been reached. Walsh has been granted a significant number of privileges through this agreement, none of which the Patriots or the NFL were obligated to give.

At all times, we cooperated fully with the league’s investigation and stand by our initial public statement from Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008: “The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 is absolutely false.”

If Walsh has evidence to back up his claims of illegal taping for the Patriots, it could be career-damaging to Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

If he doesn't, at least this thing will go away -- for now.

Put up or shut up, Matt Walsh. The time has come.