After Albert Breer of NFL Network reported that the Eagles had agreed to terms on a one-year deal with quarterback Vince Young, Adam Schefter of ESPN pointed out that the Eagles had jumped the gun, given that Young has yet to appear on the NFL’s official transaction report.
Ironically, a separate report from Schefter should trigger similar scrutiny.
Schefter reported earlier this morning that the Bears have agreed to terms with former Cowboys receiver Roy Williams, who like Young was cut after 4:00 p.m. ET Thursday and who like Young has yet to appear on the official transaction report, which will be published on or not long after 4:00 p.m. ET Friday.
Schefter has now backed off, reporting only that Williams wants to do a deal with the Bears. “ESPN.com initially reported Williams and the Bears had agreed to a deal,” Schefter writes. “However, Williams cannot begin talks with the Bears until after he appears on the league’s waiver wire at 4 p.m. ET.”
All due respect to our friend Schefty (and that’s not sarcasm, I like him), we don’t understand how the rule technically prohibiting contact before Williams appears on the transaction report makes Schefter’s initial report that an agreement is in place wrong.
It feels like Schefter is taking the bullet unnecessarily on this one. In order to throw a bone to the Bears, Schefter is admitting that he badly whiffed. He reported that the Bears have a deal with Williams. He’s now reporting, essentially, that there has been no contact between the Bears and Williams.
Even if, you know, there has been.