Jason Cravens THE Fantasy Football Blogger

Week 4 Round-Up!

2009-10-06T15:15:00.002-05:00

Top 10 QB
1) Peyton Manning -117.54
2) Aaron Rodgers -107.72
3) Joe Flacco -104.92
4) Drew Brees -104.84
5) Ben Roethlisberger - 100.02
6) Matt Schaub - 98.28
7) Philip Rivers - 95.90
8) Brett Favre - 95.38
9) Eli Manning - 94.16
10) Jay Cutler - 92.84

Top 10 RB
1) Chris Johnson - 74.90
2) MJD - 72.50
3) Adrian Peterson - 72.40
4) Ronnie Brown - 67.10
5) Willis McGahee - 65.90
6) Fred Jackson - 55.90
7) Frank Gore - 55.40
8) Cedric Benson - 54.80
9) Ray Rice - 52.10
10) Julius Jones - 51.80

Top 10 WR
1) Steve Smith NYG - 71.90
2) Reggie Wayne - 63.10
3) Dallas Clark - 54.30
4) Vincent Jackson - 53.30
5) Antonio Gates - 51.70
6) DeSean Jackson - 51.10
7) Andre Johnson - 49.60
8) Chad Ochocinco - 48.00
9) Mike Sims-Walker - 46.60
10)Calvin Johnson - 46.20

Top 10 DEF
1) Denver - 107.00
2) New Orleans - 98.00
3) San Fransisco - 96.00
4) NY Jets - 77.00
5) Minnesota - 76.00
6) NY Giants - 73.00
7) Cincinnati - 64.00
8) Philadelphia - 62.00
9) Indianapolis - 61.00
10) Green Bay - 59.00

Brandon Marshall to the Jets?

2009-09-03T08:10:00.001-05:00

The Denver Broncos would want New York Jets linebacker David Harris in any trade scenario for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, two NFL sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

There is no indication that the Jets would surrender Harris, who was fifth on the team in tackles last season despite playing only 11 games due to groin surgery. He led the Jets in tackles the previous season.

Marshall has requested a trade from the Broncos, and new coach Josh McDaniels finally suspended him this week for conduct detrimental to the team.

In any trade for Marshall, Denver would reportedly like a player who could contribute to its team this season and a draft pick that would help later on. But the Broncos aren't making any deal if they don't think it improves them now. That has left them without a viable deal. McDaniels went so far as to say that the Broncos aren't shopping their disgruntled receiver.

"There are no discussions whatsoever taking place between the Denver Broncos and any team in the National Football League regarding Brandon Marshall," McDaniels said Wednesday. "We are looking forward to having Brandon back on the sixth of September and starting our preparation for Cincinnati with him."

Matt Cassel out 3-4 Weeks!!!

2009-08-31T09:39:00.000-05:00

Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel has a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss the Chiefs' season opener and beyond, Yahoo Sports! reported on Monday.

Cassel

Citing a source within the organization, Yahoo Sports! reported Cassel could miss two to four weeks. He was hurt Saturday night when sacked on the third play of a 14-10 preseason loss to Seattle.

The Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 13 at Baltimore. They return to practice Monday and are expected to have injury updates on Cassel and others, including wide receiver Devard Darling (leg).

Tyler Thigpen is Cassel's primary backup.

Cassel was acquired by Kansas City in an offseason trade with New England and signed a $63 million, six-year contract with the Chiefs. The contract contains $28 million in guaranteed money.

Cassel replaced injured Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the first week of the 2008 season and threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Brady Quinn looking good for the Browns!

2009-08-31T09:38:00.001-05:00

One Cleveland Browns quarterback threw a touchdown pass. The other did not.

And for Brady Quinn, that perfect pass may have pushed him over the top.

Quinn threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards and outplayed Derek Anderson in perhaps their final auditions for coach Eric Mangini to be Cleveland's starting quarterback, and the Browns beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in an exhibition game Saturday night.

Quinn and Anderson entered the third preseason game in a virtual dead heat. Earlier this week, Mangini described their summer-long competition as "very close" and it remains that way. They've posted similar stats with Quinn's TD pass -- the only one by a Cleveland QB in the preseason -- as the only thing separating the pair.

Mangini said he is no nearer to naming his starter for the Sept. 13 opener against Minnesota.

"I'll look at the tape tomorrow, talk to the coaches and continue to evaluate it," Mangini said. "When the decision is made, I'll let everyone know."

After coming off the bench last week, Quinn got the start and finished 11-of-15 for 128 yards. He led the Browns to one TD and two field goals in his four series.

Anderson went 7-of-11 for 77 yards and led the Browns to one field goal on two possessions. He didn't have an interception, but one poorly thrown ball was dropped by Tennessee cornerback Tenard Davis.

Both QBs were happy with their performances and both did their best to sidestep questions about who they think will win their race.

"It's out of my hands," Anderson said. "Let the chips fall."

Quinn was asked if he expected a decision to come this week.

"I expect to practice on Monday," he said. "Derek and I are mentally tough guys. If our coach wants us to go forever, I'm sure we can go forever."

Quinn was given a short field to work with in the third quarter when the Browns recovered a Tennessee fumble on a kickoff at the Titans' 34. On first down, Quinn threw underneath to Jamal Lewis who weaved 14 yards on a screen.

Quinn then fired his TD pass on an inside slant to Edwards, who moments earlier made a sensational one-handed catch in the end zone on a pass from Anderson but could only get one foot down.

Edwards refused to handicap the Browns' quarterback derby.

"That's up to coach," he said. "Whatever decision he makes we'll support. Right now, they both look good."

While Cleveland's quarterbacks were under the microscope, Tennessee's Kerry Collins looked best.

Collins went 11-of-14 for 102 yards and threw a 6-yard TD pass to Justin Gage in the first quarter. The 36-year-old Collins can still throw it as hard and far as always and he showed soft touch on several balls.

"Kerry spread the ball around quite a bit," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We got some things accomplished that we didn't see last week. I was pleased with the drives. We gave up a couple of plays, but I thought we handled the run with the starters"

With Patrick Ramsey nursing sore ribs, Vince Young played three quarters and went 17-of-24 for 174 yards. He threw a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Matthew Mulligan but also threw an interception that was returned 11 yards for a TD by Browns linebacker Alex Hall.

Young accepted blame for the pick.

"It was my fault," he said. "[Hall] made a great play. I threw a ball behind him [Mulligan]. I should have thrown it into the ground."

Collins threw a touchdown pass and played the whole first half last week in a loss at Dallas. But Tennessee's first-team offense managed just 78 yards. The Titans nearly equaled that the second time they had the ball as Collins capped a 75-yard drive with his TD pass to Gage.

Quinn displayed nice arm strength on an 18-yard pass to Mike Furrey and later stepped up and drilled a pass to Joshua Cribbs on third down for another 18 as Cleveland moved to the Titans' 10. But the Browns had to settle for Phil Dawson's 21-yard field goal to pull within 7-3.

Anderson impacted the game in a strange way before it was his turn to play.

On Tennessee's first play after Dawson's kick, Collins threw a deep pass down the right side that fell incomplete. However, field judge Terry Brown called a 15-yard penalty on Anderson, who was standing on the Browns sideline, for being outside the restricted bench area.

Brown tripped and fell over Anderson, who appeared to be trying to get out of the official's way.

Anderson admitted he was watching the play on the scoreboard and the next thing he knew the play was on top of him.

Donald Brown to gain bigger role in offense!

2009-08-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

Under the Tony Dungy regime, censorship reigned supreme. Emulating Bill Beezlechick, the soft spoken coach exhibited guardedness whenever pressed about player roles or injuries. The often limited information presented drove many fantasy freaks to seek consultation from a certain spiced Captain.

Unsurprisingly, Jim Caldwell has adopted the old coach's prudent diplomacy.

This year, owners who invest in the Indy backfield better have a straight-jacket within arm's reach. It's sure to be infuriating. Incumbent Joseph Addai(notes), who was wildly inconsistent last season running behind a disheveled offensive line while battling through constant nicks and scrapes, and flashy newcomer Donald Brown(notes) are expected to be involved in an unspecified platoon, a situation Caldwell appropriately danced around earlier this month:

"Looking back at our history, it has always been a part of what we've done," Caldwell said of using two running backs. "The years when we've been really effective, we've had someone who could take a little load off of the guy who was carrying it a majority of the time. It depends on who you face and the type of defensive structure that you have to deal with. But one thing we know for sure is there will be some type of rotation."

How exactly the carries will be divided is anyone's guess. If Addai's balky knee doesn't flare up, he will begin the season as the starter. But make no mistake, it's a loose designation.

A season ago the fantasy heartbreaker followed a banner 1,436-total yard, 15-TD campaign with a Benson-esque effort. Over 12 games he averaged a mere 3.5 yards per carry, 62.5 total yards and 9.8 points per game, a mark which ranked one spot behind Earnest Graham(notes) or 28th overall at his position. With Brown breathing down his neck, it's safe to assume the pressure on the veteran to perform is massive. Even though his mid-40s ADP is sizably discounted, employing the Indy rusher as an RB2 is an enhanced risk.

Drawing rave reviews from Caldwell for his studious preparation, maturity and skill set, Brown will likely be the more valuable of the two by midseason. The Colts selected the Connecticut product in Round 1 for a reason.

Equipped with dodgy elusiveness, hole-penetrating explosiveness and terrific vision, the shifty rookie's tools blend perfectly with Tom Moore's spread scheme. However, caught from behind by Minnesota defensive end Jayme Mitchell(notes) last week (See the scamper here), he doesn't possess a second gear to outrun defenders. But his balance across-the-board will prove effective, especially with Peyton Manning(notes) stretching out defenses. After rushing impressively for 58 yards on five carries against the Vikings in his preseason debut, Brown has already gained the admiration of his teammates, especially center Jeff Saturday(notes):

"I thought he did a great job. Got through the hole, was shifty, made big runs, got outside, showed his speed. You've got to be impressed with the way he ran the ball. He did a good job when he ran the ball. He did a good job when he got the opportunity to make a big play."

Because Addai is composed of 45 percent papier-mâche, 55 percent wuss, Brown is a tremendous value selection in the middle rounds. His odds of developing into a viable deep-league RB2 are strong. For the thrifty-minded, his 85.21 ADP (RB34) is certainly attractive. But if he shines against a stingy Eagles defense tonight on national TV, it's a foregone conclusion his stock will march north.

Preseason updates

2009-08-20T10:21:00.001-05:00

Carolina's Jonathan Stewart(notes) has been sidelined for most of camp by Achilles soreness, and it's allowed rookie fourth-rounder Mike Goodson(notes) a bit more visibility. That dude is dangerous. In the Panthers' preseason opener versus the Giants, Goodson had eight touches for 59 total yards and a TD. If Stewart's issues persist, remember Goodson's name. Here's a key quote from a local source: "This rookie is a big-play guy who will shake up Carolina's offense." [Charlotte Observer]

Chris Wells(notes) (ankle) is back at practice. Sort of. He's going through individual drills, then watching when the grown-ups take the field. "[Ken] Whisenhunt said Wells looked good. Wells' play will be progressed as the week goes, Whisenhunt said, as long as his ankle responds well daily." And of course there's no reason to doubt that Wells' ankle will respond superbly, right? [AZCardinals.com]

This is bad news for all Seahawks, past and present: Seattle LT Walter Jones(notes) needs another knee procedure. Ignore offensive lines at your own peril, fantasy owner. This is bad for Matt Hasselbeck(notes), bad for the ground game, bad for Funston … just bad, period. When asked about the amount of time Jones is expected to miss, coach Jim Mora had this to say: "I don't know. We'll have more information in the morning. We don't think that it's anything mind-blowing serious, but we want to be sure." [Seattle Times]

John Hansen delivered a collection of notes from the opening preseason games, and it's definitely worth a review. (Please note that it's pre-Favre). Here's a quick blurb on America's favorite Bengal: "I thought Cedric Benson(notes) ran hard, which is good. But I was really impressed with Bernard Scott(notes). He came in off the bench second, and I think if he continues to do well Scott will be the backup. If Benson goes down, Scott’s a major, major sleeper. He’s very talented and has a lot to offer. [Fantasy Guru]

Lions already winning! :)

2009-08-17T08:38:00.001-05:00

Matthew Stafford took his first snap as a pro and perfectly executed a play-action pass.

The problem: Keary Colbert dropped the ball.

Welcome to the Detroit Lions, kid.

Stafford threw a touchdown, an interception and had some passes dropped in his pro debut that Detroit rallied to win 27-26 over the Atlanta Falcons on Jason Hanson's 47-yard field goal as time expired.

"They're going to drop some balls just like I'm going to miss some," he said. "I was excited. I felt like I had a good day."

Stafford, the No. 1 pick of the NFL's first 0-16 team, completed half of his 14 passes for 114 yards.

He was pressured into making a poor pass, which was intercepted and returned by Tony Gilbert for a score. He responded by leading an 80-yard drive that ended with him looking left, throwing right and taking a hit on a 25-yard TD pass to fellow rookie Derrick Williams.

Detroit coach Jim Schwartz was impressed with how Stafford bounced back quickly after making a mistake.

Schwartz plans to start Stafford in the second exhibition game, but told reporters not to read into anything regarding the QB competition.

"They don't put preseason games on your tombstone or your resume," Schwartz said.

Detroit's Daunte Culpepper was 5-of-6 for 41 yards and moved around enough to show he's healthy after a knee injury stunted his career.

"I feel like I've finally gotten back to the player I want to be," he said.

The Falcons, meanwhile, just hope Matt Ryan and Michael Turner perform as they did last year for them and 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez and veteran linebacker Mike Peterson prove to be valuable additions.

In limited chances, each looked good.

Ryan was 5-of-7 for 33 yards. Turner ran for a 40-yard TD. Gonzalez caught a pass to convert a third down on the opening drive. Peterson had a team-high three tackles in the first quarter.

"We just didn't get the outcome that we wanted," coach Mike Smith said. "But I think there were some good things, some bad things and some ugly things."

The Lions scratched 16 players, including six projected starters and two of the team's top three picks, from the lineup with injuries. Schwartz said about half of those players would've played if it was the regular season.

Culpepper and Stafford didn't have any of their top three receivers, including Calvin Johnson, and were without first-round tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

That created opportunities and Colbert failed to take advantage, dropping three of Stafford's passes.

"I feel like I could have made every one of those plays," Colbert said. "That would have made his day look better from the outside, but he had a good day anyway."

Ryan is clearly the man under center for Atlanta after being drafted No. 3 overall, starting every game last season, becoming Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading the team to the playoffs.

"We were a little bit rusty," he said. "But that's what the preseason is for."

Turner, who also had a lot to do with Atlanta's surprising season, had 63 yards rushing on six carries and ran into a hole and through a couple defenders on a long TD that put Atlanta ahead 7-3.

"It always feels good to get back into the groove of things," he said.

Detroit took an early lead on Hanson's field goal. Sixth-round pick Aaron Brown gave the Lions a chance to go ahead again with a 32-yard run for a score in the third period and a 45-yard TD reception with 2:05 left, when he was flagged for celebrating with a flip.

"I don't have the size," the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Brown said. "But I make up for it with speed."

The Lions got the ball back with no timeouts at their 27 with 1:36 remainder and third-string quarterback Drew Stanton ran for 18 yards to set up Hanson's winning kick.

"I got goosebumps when Jason hit that," Schwartz said after his first game as a head coach at any level.

Edwards shines and Cutler looks terrible in debut!

2009-08-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

Trent Edwards has plenty to be happy about with the new-look, no-huddle offense that's working to near perfection for Buffalo.

It's a much different story for Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears.

Those expecting Cutler to immediately transform the Bears into anything resembling a pass-happy offense had better be patient. As Cutler was inconsistent in his Bears preseason debut, the Bills' passing game was nearly unstoppable and got plenty of help from an opportunistic defense in a 27-20 victory Saturday night.

"I'm extremely encouraged because it's pressing the defense," Edwards said of the no-huddle attack the Bills have used exclusively since opening the preseason with a 21-18 loss to Tennessee in the Hall of Fame game last weekend. "We improved from last week's game. And now we have to take another step next week."

Except for settling for field goals in the first half, the Bills offense can't get much more efficient, even without Terrell Owens, who's nursing a sprained toe.

Edwards went 10 of 10 for 79 yards to key an efficient outing for the entire Bills quarterback corps, which went a combined 29 of 34 for 265 yards and a touchdown. Third-stringer Gibran Hamdan's 3-yard pass to Shawn Nelson put the Bills up for good 20-13 a minute into the third quarter.

"Efficiency is certainly a good word to describe it," right tackle Brad Butler said. "I would certainly say we're cautiously optimistic."

The defense did its part, too. Aside from limiting Cutler to 3 points and two first downs in four series, Buffalo (1-1) forced five turnovers, including two interceptions by rookie Ellis Lankster on consecutive drives. Both interceptions were thrown by third-stringer Brett Basanez, and led to Buffalo scoring twice in 34-second span.

Many eyes, though, were on Cutler, who failed to meet the much-anticipated offseason buzz he's generated since Chicago acquired him in a blockbuster offseason trade with Denver.

He went 5 of 10 for 64 yards and an interception on a poorly underthrown pass up the left sideline that was picked off by Leodis McKelvin. Cutler nearly threw another interception, but cornerback Reggie Corner dropped the ball that hit him squarely in the chest.

"It's too early to start to panic. It's preseason," Cutler said. "I feel fine about it."

Cutler also noted that the Bears rested starting running back Matt Forte and starting tight end Greg Olsen.

"We're just calling base stuff and seeing what happens out there right now," Cutler said at the half. "As soon as we start getting into the game plan, really nailing stuff down, that's when it's really going to count."

Cutler keyed mostly on Devin Hester, who caught only two of six passes thrown his way for 22 yards. Cutler's best throw came when he hit Desmond Clark in stride up the right hash mark for a 30-yard completion that set up Robbie Gould's opening 23-yard field goal.

"It's a lot of new guys on the field," Hester said, referring to the rough start. "The preseason games are going to help us see where we're at, so that by when the season starts we'll know what we're working with."

Cutler couldn't take advantage against Buffalo's second-string defense and facing a short field after the drive began at the Bills 43 after Dominic Rhodes muffed a punt.

Rhodes made up for that miscue by scoring on a 3-yard run. Bruce Hall also scored on a 4-yard plunge, one play after Lankster's second interception.

The Bills' defense was encouraged by its strong start after giving up two touchdowns on Tennessee's first two possessions last week.

"It's really a big point of emphasis to start fast and finish fast, because I think our team feeds off it, I think we feed off it," linebacker Kawika Mitchell said. "All in all, I think we just played them tough and that was a part of our success."

The Bills defeated Chicago for only the second time in 14 preseason meetings (2-11-1).

Bears backup Caleb Hanie went 8 of 11 for 87 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Will Ta'ufo'ou. Basanez bounced back, hitting Juaquin Iglesias for a 10-yard touchdown. Gould hit two field goals, including a 50-yarder.

Sanchez to start for Jets!

2009-08-17T08:35:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the NFL, Mark Sanchez. Now, let's see what you can do against one of the league's toughest defenses.

The New York Jets rookie quarterback will get his first career start against Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens -- coach Rex Ryan's former team -- in a preseason Monday Night Football game on Aug. 24 (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET).

"I have my work cut out for me," Sanchez said Sunday with a laugh. "That's why it wouldn't be right of me or anyone else to make this a make-or-break game."

After all, it's still just the preseason and the Jets' quarterback competition between Sanchez and Kellen Clemens is far from being decided.

Or is it?

Ryan previously determined that Clemens would start the preseason opener against St. Louis on Friday and the quarterbacks would flip-flop against Baltimore. But after Sanchez, the fifth overall draft pick, sparkled in his debut against St. Louis on Friday, Ryan spoke glowingly of the rookie and did so again Sunday.

"I think he earned the reps with the 1s and all that," Ryan said. "It might have been done on paper that way in pencil, but he had to earn it. The guy had to earn his reps, and I think he's done that. Without question, he's done that."

Sanchez came into the 23-20 loss with 28 seconds left in the first quarter and threw a 48-yard pass to David Clowney on his opening play. He completed three of four passes for 88 yards in one series that was capped by Thomas Jones' 1-yard touchdown dive.

"He actually performed like I thought he would," Ryan said of Sanchez. "He's cool, doesn't get rattled and just went in there and did a great job. He was part of the solution. He let his teammates work and, shoot, they drove it right down the field."

Sanchez, told earlier Sunday that he'd start next Monday night's game, downplayed the decision.

"It's just a matter of the rotation, though," he said. "Nothing's changed yet and it's just the way things shake out, but of course I'm excited."

Meanwhile, Clemens, entering his fourth season, was 4 of 4 for 24 yards and was sacked once -- and lost a fumble -- in two series. He was solid, but lacked the big plays or star presence that Sanchez had; the rookie received a loud ovation when he came in.

"Mark is a very talented player," Clemens said. "I'm in a competition with a guy who obviously has some pretty serious ability. I don't rank myself all that low, either."

But many fans and media believe Sanchez has already taken a significant -- and maybe insurmountable -- lead in the competition.

"I'd say the good thing about that is that it's an outsider's opinion," Clemens said. "It's an insider who's going to make the ultimate decision. Rex has the ultimate decision."

How the quarterbacks perform against the Ravens could go a long way in helping Ryan make that determination.

"Well, yeah, if you do anything against that bunch, you could move it against anybody," Ryan said. "Baltimore and Pittsburgh have been the best defenses in this league for a long time, so if we can move the ball -- and I have confidence in our offense -- but it's going to be a great challenge. It would count more than moving it against St. Louis. No disrespect to St. Louis, but they ain't the Ravens and they're not Pittsburgh."

Ryan said he hadn't yet decided how many plays or series Sanchez and Clemens would play against Baltimore. He previously has said he'd like to have a regular-season starter selected by the third preseason game against the New York Giants on Aug. 29.

"I know I want to have it done then, but I'm not saying that 100 percent it will be," he said. "I'm assuming it will. I'm not going to guarantee that I'm going to have it done at that time."

One factor in playing time next Monday will be how much of the starting offensive line is healthy. The Jets were without center Nick Mangold (right knee), right tackle Damien Woody (head) and left guard Alan Faneca (broken finger) against St. Louis.

Faneca will be sidelined for the Ravens game after having surgery to repair the middle finger on his left hand. Ryan said Faneca had "a screw or two, or four, maybe," inserted, but added that the Pro Bowl lineman will be ready when the regular season begins.

Notes
FB Jehuu Caulcrick (left knee) is questionable for the Ravens game, but Ryan added "he probably will play." ... Stanley Daniels, who started at LG for Faneca vs. St. Louis, was excused from practice for personal reasons. ... Ryan wants his third-team units to scrimmage during practice all week to eliminate mistakes during the Rams game that he said were "embarrassing to me."

Roy Williams latest WR injury...

2009-08-17T08:34:00.001-05:00

Dallas Cowboys receiver Roy Williams missed the team's second practice Sunday because of a sprained left wrist sustained when he came down hard earlier in the day.

The Cowboys said X-rays were negative and that Williams, expected to be the team's No. 1 receiver after the departure of Terrell Owens, is day to day. The Cowboys have one practice session Monday.

Williams

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Williams got hurt during the morning practice, and that the concern was that the wrist was still so sore when he returned for the afternoon session. That is when the Cowboys sent Williams for tests.

When Jones cut Owens last spring, the path was cleared for Williams to become quarterback Tony Romo's top target.

"I'm particularly pleased with how focused Roy is, and how conditioned he is," Jones said. "He's having a good camp."

Williams arrived from winless Detroit in mid-October and got a $45 million, five-year contract extension right after Romo sustained a broken pinkie on his throwing hand and missed three games. Williams was then bothered by a foot problem later in the season, plus T.O. was still there.

Williams and Romo started working together several weeks before summer practices, then had OTAs and a mandatory minicamp. And they have been coming together during training camp.

Romo said he wasn't concerned that the injury would stunt their progress.

"Nah, that's part of training camp, little nicks here and there," Romo said. "He's worked his butt off. If anything, it will help him have fresh legs."

Williams caught only 16 passes for 160 yards and no touchdowns in seven games with Romo last season. The lone touchdown pass Williams caught for Dallas was thrown by Brad Johnson during his first two games, when Romo was injured

Michael Crabtree could sit the entire year!

2009-08-07T08:42:00.001-05:00

San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree is prepared to sit out this season and re-enter the NFL draft in 2010, David Wells, Crabtree's cousin and adviser, said Thursday.

"We are prepared to do it," Wells said. "Michael just wants fair market value. They took him with the 10th pick and you have Darrius Heyward-Bey [the seventh overall pick by the Oakland Raiders] getting $38 million? This week is crucial. Michael was one of the best players in the draft and he just wants to be paid like one of the best players. This week is very crucial."

However, Crabtree's agent told ESPN.com that no such threat has been made on his part.

Addressing the report, agent Eugene Parker told ESPN.com on Thursday afternoon: "You've known me a long time and I'm not a guy who makes threats. Nor am I a guy who negotiates in the public. I don't know where this came from but no such threat has been made."

The 49ers on Thursday released a statement saying that the team does not negotiate in the media. "In our view, there have been open and positive conversations on both sides," the statement says.

Wells said he believes the Niners have made an offer but that it is not acceptable. Wells said Crabtree is ready to start practicing and was held out of organized team activities this spring by coaches only for precautionary reasons.

Crabtree, who turns 22 next month, also missed the 49ers' offseason minicamps while recovering from a foot injury but was a regular presence at team headquarters for rehabilitation and strengthening workouts.

When quarterback Alex Smith was told about the report, he shook his head.

"I haven't spoken to him since the summer," said Smith. "It's something I haven't thought about to tell you the truth. We're pretty focused on the guys we have here right now. I'm not worried about it."

If Crabtree does show up, he'll do so having missed all the OTAs and a growing chunk of training camp. "As a rookie, you're already behind the eight ball," Smith said. "You're just trying to catch up, all the timing that goes with it and trying to know your position, it's hard."

Crabtree caught 97 passes for 1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns last year during his sophomore season at Texas Tech. He finished his collegiate career with 231 receptions, 3,127 yards and 41 TDs.

Reggie Bush suffers setback!

2009-08-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

Even after going through a full practice, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush had to answer questions about his left knee.

"The knee is fine," Bush said Wednesday night. "It's great. You saw me running."

Bush went through the afternoon session after concerns about his knee swirled due to a report that he left the morning practice early, iced his knee and then returned with a limp. While the story implied that Bush had suffered a setback, the Saints said that was not correct, that it was all part of the daily plan.

"I warmed up and ran through stretches with the team and then [went inside and] put ice on it," Bush said. "That was it, so I guess they suspected I came out, but I never even started practice."

The Saints have been cautious with Bush since the start of camp, often giving him practices off.

"That's been the protocol since Day 1," Bush said.

Reggie Bush injured!

2009-08-05T14:45:00.001-05:00

After Reggie Bush left New Orleans Saints practice on Tuesday morning to ice his surgically repaired left knee, the running back said that he wasn't worried.

"I iced it just as a precaution, so when I ice it, that means I'm just maintaining," Bush said. "I've got to stay on top of it and treat it as if it was the first day I injured it."

Bush discarded the ice after a while and continued to stand with the running backs, still wearing his jersey and shoulder pads, for the remainder of practice. But he did not participate in drills and looked stiff as he walked with a slight limp.

Bush had surgery on his left knee last December to repair cartilage. Drafted second overall in 2006, the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Southern California has missed 10 games in his past two NFL seasons.

Head coach Sean Payton has already held Bush out of a couple practices on days when the Saints practice twice, limiting the star running back to one practice a day.

The Saints had two practices scheduled on Wednesday, and Bush said he planned to practice in the afternoon. Payton said that was the plan as well.

When Bush has practiced, he has done so vigorously. As recently as Tuesday afternoon, he turned an end run into a 15-yard touchdown during 11-on-11 drills.

Bush said he's had one MRI performed since training camp began late last week and said "everything came back great."

"Now it's just about getting myself back to football shape and getting my knee back to carrying the load again," Bush said.

Payton stressed that the Saints need to be careful with Bush and added he was confident the star running back is healthy enough to play in a regular-season game now.

"He's doing well," Payton said. "I'm just trying to be smart about the amount of work I give him so that it doesn't become a bigger factor when we get ready to play in the season. But he'd play this evening if we were playing. ... I'm not concerned with Reggie at all.

Matt Cassel gets another weapon!

2009-08-04T13:33:00.000-05:00

Amani Toomer has signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to source.

Toomer, who has played all 13 of his seasons with the New York Giants, has 668 career receptions for 9,497 yards and 54 touchdowns.

Last season, Toomer caught 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns.

Marshawn Lynch suspension upheld!

2009-08-04T08:06:00.000-05:00

Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch's three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy will stand.

The league announced that Lynch's appeal was denied in a statement released Monday afternoon.

Lynch's suspension begins on Sept. 5 and ends on Sept. 28, a day after the Bills play the New Orleans Saints in their third regular-season game.

Lynch, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons with the Bills, will be allowed to participate in all preseason practices and games before Sept. 5.

Lynch pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and three years probation.

"We are disappointed, obviously," Bills head coach Dick Jauron said after the team's afternoon practice at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, N.Y. "We'll lose a real good football player for three games. But, hopefully, Marshawn has learned a good deal from it."

The suspension resulted from the player's arrest in Culver City, Calif., on Feb. 11, when police searched a parked car Lynch was in and found a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in a backpack in the trunk. Police also found four marijuana cigarettes in the car, but no drug charges were filed.

It was Lynch's second run-in with the law following a hit-and run-accident in Buffalo in May 2008. In that incident, he pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted to driving off after striking a female pedestrian with his car near Buffalo's downtown bar district.

The Bills signed veteran running back Dominic Rhodes and re-signed Fred Jackson in the offseason.

Derrick Mason is back!

2009-08-03T10:08:00.002-05:00

Baltimore Ravens receiver Derrick Mason has shown up to training camp at McDaniels College in Westminster, Md., and is going to end his retirement.

Mason, who met with coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome on Saturday to discuss the matter, was expected to send a letter to the NFL stating his intentions to rejoin the team.

"It was a tough decision, but I think it was a good decision for me to come back," Mason said in a statement. "I needed to evaluate my life, football and my career.

"I still have an intense fire inside me, and I want to play. … I felt like I had left something undone, and I wanted to finish it. I believe this is a good example for my son and my daughter on how to be thoughtful and also follow through."

He called Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti on Saturday morning to express his decision to return.

He was taking a physical Saturday afternoon and was set for a conditioning test afterward, with intention to suiting up for practice Sunday.

Mason retired less than a week after the murder of close friend Steve McNair.

The loss of his friend, family pressure, and the team's unwillingness to adjust his $3 million salary combined to lead to a surprise retirement announcement July 13.

Harbaugh talked to Mason after the announcement and said he was optimistic that Mason would return. Camp started without Mason, but Harbaugh left the door open for Mason's arrival.

The 35-year-old played a key role in helping Baltimore reach the AFC Championship Game last season. He started all 16 games and led the Ravens in receptions (80) and yards receiving (1,037). He then added 12 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown in three playoff games.

Before Mason's retirement, the Ravens had been in the market for another veteran receiver. His retirement had put them in need of two receivers.

With Mason gone, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams were the only receivers on the roster with catches last season. Clayton and Williams combined for 55 catches last season.

Percy Harvin signs!

2009-08-03T10:08:00.001-05:00

While many rookies who hold out of training camp fall dangerously behind as their teams practice without them, Percy Harvin took advantage of a luxury that few others enjoy: his friendship with Tim Tebow.

While Harvin's agent Joel Segal negotiated with the Minnesota Vikings, the speedy receiver spent his days on the campus of his alma mater catching passes from Tebow, his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate the past three seasons at Florida.

"He's probably the best thing other than a pro quarterback," Harvin said Sunday, after signing a five-year deal with the Vikings. "Of course he's not a pro quarterback, but I got the best work in I could do without actually being here."

Harvin, the 22nd overall pick, missed the first two days and four practices of training camp, but hopped an early flight from Florida to the Twin Cities to make sure he got there in time for Sunday's practice.

"I don't think anybody was more anxious to get on the field than me today," Harvin said.

Well, maybe there was one.

Coach Brad Childress said that it was important for Harvin to get into camp as soon as possible so he didn't fall too far behind. He'll be asked to play a variety of roles for the Vikings, including wide receiver, running back and return man, so he has plenty of studying to do.

"We're going to challenge him," Childress said. "It's not like we're going to spoon feed him."

While many scouts and draft analysts said Harvin had top-10 talent, he slipped to the Vikings due to concerns about his durability and a failed drug test at the NFL combine.

Childress had some of the same concerns, so he flew to Florida and met personally with Harvin and his family before the draft. The coach came away impressed by his willingness to take responsibility for past mistakes and didn't hesitate to draft Harvin when the Vikings came on the clock.

"It's a dream come true," Harvin said after his first official practice. "For me, there was a lot of bumps that prevented myself from getting to this point. It seemed to be a little farther than it actually was.

"But to actually get here, everything's behind me. I can kind of start over here. I'm just glad to be here and thankful and ready to hit the ground running."

The versatile playmaker is expected to complement Adrian Peterson in Minnesota's ramped-up offense. During minicamps earlier this summer, Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell began experimenting with their new toy. They lined up Harvin at receiver out wide, in the slot, and motioned him into the backfield on reverses and other running plays.

His arrival could also bring a version of the Wildcat offense to Minnesota. Harvin and Peterson in the same backfield would give the Vikings a dynamic element that's been missing since Childress took over in 2006.

Harvin also could bolster the team's mediocre return game. His quickness and ability to change directions in a heartbeat make him ideal for the job.

"Return man. Slot. A little bit in the backfield," Harvin said. "The motions. The screens. I'm looking to be all over."

The Vikings threw him right into the mix on Sunday, giving him some time with the No. 1 offense during a goal-line installation and running reverses, catching passes and fielding kickoffs.

"He's playing big, he's playing fast, making turns like on the drop of a dime," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said, "and he's catching everything."

Beanie Wells is injured!

2009-08-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

Rookie running back Beanie Wells sprained his right ankle in his first training camp practice with the Arizona Cardinals.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Sunday the injury doesn't appear serious but it's uncertain how much practice time Arizona's first-round draft pick will miss.

"We'll see how he progresses through the week," Whisenhunt said. "I don't anticipate it will be what everybody's reacting to, saying he's out for a month or something like that."

Wells agreed on a five-year, $11.8 million contract, with $6.3 million guaranteed, on Saturday. He was hurt later in the day when he was carrying the ball in a drill near the end of the workout.

"It was a little pain but I got up and walked off with it," he said. "It wasn't anything too serious. They just wanted to get an MRI and get it checked out."

Wells watched Sunday's practice and afterward acknowledged his frustration.

"I'm definitely disappointed about it," he said. "I've been going through the injury thing quite a while now and yesterday was just a fluke. It could have happened to anybody. Somebody just rolled up on my ankle."

Wells, who missed the first three games of his final season at Ohio State with a foot problem, was grateful this injury wasn't more serious.

"If you guys saw it it was a bad play and I'm just fortunate to walk away from it with nothing but an ankle sprain," he said.

Wells already was behind after missing the team's summer voluntary workouts because his Ohio State classes were still in session.

"I'm still staying caught up with Coach [Curtis] Modkins and the rest of the running backs in the film room," Wells said.

After he arrived Saturday, Wells said it was his goal to win the No. 1 running back job by the start of regular season. Second-year pro Tim Hightower is listed as the starter. Wells said his feelings haven't changed.

"I think an ankle sprain is nothing too major," he said. "If I get on top of it, it will go away quickly."

Whisenhunt downplayed the significance of the injury to Wells' status on the team.

"Unfortunately for Beanie, he's a rookie and it would have been nice to get him some reps," the coach said, "but we still have plenty of time to do that."

Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson

2009-08-03T10:06:00.002-05:00

Once Eric Mangini picks a starting quarterback, the new Cleveland Browns coach intends to stick with him.

Mangini said Sunday that he will not rotate his QBs, that he has no timetable on picking between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and that he envisions both players staying on the Browns' roster once the regular season begins.

Mangini, who will spend the bulk of training camp evaluating them, shot down any thought of switching starters on a weekly basis. He also said that once he declares Anderson or Quinn as the No. 1 quarterback, he intends to stay with his choice.

"Once you make that decision and go with that decision, then at that point you're moving forward with that group," Mangini said.

There's a chance the Browns could be approached by other teams looking for a quarterback later this summer, but Mangini also sees both Anderson and Quinn staying with the team for the foreseeable future.

"In my mind, Brady and D.A. will both be here," Mangini said.

Anderson and Quinn are expected to split playing time and practice reps over the next few weeks. The Browns play their first preseason game Aug. 15 in Green Bay.

On Sunday, Anderson appeared to make better passes than Quinn during practice. Mangini said the twosome came into camp in a dead heat for the starting job.

Carson Palmer back to 100%

2009-08-03T10:06:00.001-05:00

After a two-day hiatus, Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback Carson Palmer rejoined his team at training camp and participated in a Monday morning practice.

Palmer felt ill Saturday and missed the Bengals' last two sessions. According to a source, he was dealing with flu-like symptoms over the weekend. Backups J.T. O'Sullivan and Jordan Palmer took over the duties at quarterback for Cincinnati.

Carson Palmer, who is coming off an elbow injury that cut short his 2008 season, needs all the reps he can get in training camp. He hasn't played in an NFL game since last Oct. 5 as the Bengals finished 4-11-1.

Brett Favre on a deadline!

2009-07-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

Brett Favre acknowledged he's "running out of time" to decide whether he'll play for the Minnesota Vikings this season.

The quarterback told The Associated Press that he'll give the Vikings an answer on whether he'll play by the July 30 start of training camp. Favre has been working out with the Oak Grove High School football team three days a week all summer, but added a Sunday workout this week.

“

There's two weeks left and I'm doing everything I can. I was down here Sunday morning working out. I'm trying to get everything to where I feel 100 percent when I go in. I can't go in any less. When you're 39 years old, it's hard enough. But it's getting there.
” -- Brett Favre

"There's two weeks left and I'm doing everything I can," Favre said. "I was down here Sunday morning working out. I'm trying to get everything to where I feel 100 percent when I go in. I can't go in any less. When you're 39 years old, it's hard enough. But it's getting there."

The former Packers and Jets quarterback said surgery to repair a biceps tendon in his throwing arm was successful and that he has enough velocity to return to the NFL. He's just not sure whether that means he'll be able to compete for an entire season.

"I felt like going to New York last year that I still had it," Favre said. "I didn't know my arm was hurt at the time. So that's what I try to get across to people. I had that fixed, the surgery to fix that. So I'm trying to make sure that if I go back that that part is completely resolved."

It sure looked like it Wednesday morning, when a jovial Favre hit a variety of passes to high school and college wide receivers. He was crisp on short timing passes and was hitting receivers in the end zone from about 50 yards away. He attempted a few deep passes off bootlegs and usually hit his targets in stride.

Favre's spirals held true and he proved he still has plenty of zip when he tossed a deep pass to a college receiver who dropped by to work out. The pass split the receiver's hands and hit him in the face.

"He's a senior from Southeastern Louisiana, so I put a little more on it," Favre said with a smile.

Favre said if the arm strength wasn't there, he wouldn't be making a bid to return for his 19th season in the league.

"I don't think Minnesota would even consider it if I didn't have it," Favre said. "Second of all, I wouldn't even think about it if I didn't have it. Now, having it here and having in on the field on Sundays is two different things, I know that for a fact. I know what it takes to play on Sunday and I still believe I have that."

Favre said his hesitation is more about what those watching him practice might not see. He used a golfing analogy to explain his situation. What if, he asked, Tiger Woods came back and found he didn't have the same game?

"He goes out and hits a 2 iron and he thinks it will go the normal distance it has all his life, then all of a sudden it's 13 yards short, and he says, 'I don't know why that is because everything felt perfect,' so that's what I have to get through," Favre said.

"If you're throwing and it's a little off and you have a little pain, it's a little bit understandable. If there's no pain and there's no excuse, that's where you've got a problem. So I want to go out and have one of those days throwing and then have another where all of those throws you make, every warmup throw you make or just in general, feels perfect."

Favre was released by the Jets earlier this year, clearing the way for him to sign with any team willing to take him. Dr. James Andrews performed surgery May 22 to address the injured biceps tendon, which hampered Favre down the stretch last season.

The Vikings have remained mostly quiet on the topic in recent weeks, preferring to let Favre work through his rehabilitation from the surgery and make up his own mind.

At a fan forum in June, owner Zygi Wilf made it clear officials were receptive to Favre joining the team and the decision was Favre's to make.

"Right now, it's all up to Brett Favre in terms of where his future is at," Wilf told about 1,200 fans gathered at the State Theatre. "I'll just leave it at that."

Coach Brad Childress has had sporadic conversations with Favre throughout the summer.

"He's trying to make a push to get back," Childress said in June. "I just know this, he won't play unless he feels like he's able to play at the level that he's played over the course of the years. I know he's working hard."

Is Matt Ryan a top 5 Fantasy QB?

2009-06-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

Matt Ryan’s(notes) teammates say the quarterback will be even better in 2009 than he was when he won widespread acclaim as the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year last season.

“By leaps and bounds,” Atlanta fullback Ovie Mughelli(notes) said of Ryan on Wednesday as the Falcons approached the end of their organized team activities. “It’s actually scary how much he’s improved and it’s only his second year. People thought he couldn’t get much better than last year.

“In the weight room, what he’s done out here, his arm strength, the way he reads plays, he’s gotten better in every aspect.”

The Falcons will have their last day of workouts Thursday and begin training camp on Aug. 1.

Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 record—an unexpected jump from a 4-12 finish in 2007—and a playoff spot last season. Michael Turner(notes) rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first season as a full-time starter, and Roddy White(notes) had 88 receptions for 1,382 yards.

Ryan, Turner, White and Mughelli have been joined by 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez(notes), who was acquired from Kansas City.

The Falcons, who a year ago were a popular pick to finish last in the NFC South, now look like a rising force, especially on offense.

“The thing you see out there across the board is confidence, starting with Matt at quarterback, all the way down,” said center Todd McClure(notes). “Everybody just has a different confidence than we had even last year, because we were trying to learn a new system. Now we have a year under our belt and that confidence can take us a long way if we can just stay together.”

Coach Mike Smith(notes) says he has focused on the Falcons’ passing game in the organized workouts.

“Matt is making good decisions and being accurate with the football,” Smith said. “I don’t think those two traits can be overlooked. That’s what we’ve emphasized with Matt, make better decisions and to be more accurate throwing the football.”

Ryan says the Falcons already are preparing to deal with increased expectations.

“I heard a quote from coach Smith, ‘expect to win but don’t get caught up in expectations,”’ Ryan said. “I think that’s pretty pertinent because you can’t worry about all the long-term stuff. You just have to go out there and have confidence in yourself and not worry about all the long-term stuff that goes with it.”

Ryan said he began studying film after the Falcons’ playoff loss to Arizona as he focused on making better decisions in key situations.

“The No. 1 thing going into the offseason for me was to improve the decision making and so I’ve watched a ton of film, just trying to get better and to sharpen up for next season,” he said. “I’m going to continue to do that for the next two or three months.”

Ryan completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He said there’s much room to reach the levels of improvement that Mughelli sees.

“Quarterbacks make their living on third down and in the red zone, so those are areas I felt I could improve on from last year,” he said. “You also make your living at the end of the game so you want to make good plays and make good decisions in two-minute situations, so those are areas I definitely focused on.”

Carson Palmer back to 100%

2009-06-19T08:33:00.002-05:00

Carson Palmer(notes) squinted into the harsh afternoon sun, sizing up the defense. He pointed to the middle of the field with both index fingers, took the snap and threw a quick pass to rookie receiver Quan Cosby, a crisp spiral that zipped over defenders’ outstretched hands.

Perfect. Just what the Cincinnati Bengals have been missing.

Their franchise quarterback, the one with the balky elbow, was back at the center of the offense Thursday, running the show during the first day of minicamp. He wore long, white sleeves and black sweat pants, keeping his California cool in the midday heat.

It looked and felt like old times.

“Carson, he’s sweet,” receiver Chad Ochocinco said. “He’s on top of his stuff. As far as the elbow (injury), it’s got to be gone because all of the balls had the normal zip. He’s on point.”

Not quite, but close. Certainly close enough for the Bengals to think that they have a chance to become respectable again.

Palmer missed a dozen games during Cincinnati’s 4-11-1 season last year. He partially tore a ligament and tendon from the bone in his passing elbow, and got conflicting medical advice on what to do about it. He could have gotten reconstructive surgery, but chose to see if it would heal on its own.

So far, it’s apparent he made the right choice. Palmer has been throwing informally and during voluntary team workouts, slowly building back his strength.

“It’s getting stronger in the sense that I can throw for longer,” Palmer said after the morning practice. “I have the same speed on the ball at the end of practice. I’m starting to get to the point now where the ball’s not dying at the end of practice.”

The Bengals are keeping Palmer on the equivalent of a pitch count, limiting the number of throws he makes in practice until the season begins. After his completion to Cosby in the afternoon session, Palmer removed his helmet, covered his head with a white towel and turned spectator.

Palmer’s return to form—and Ochocinco’s return to the fold—buoyed a team still smarting from its worst showing under seventh-year coach Marvin Lewis. Palmer got hurt in the third game last season, a loss to the Giants in which his arm was hit while he threw. He played one more game, sensed the elbow wasn’t right and went for tests that detected the season-ending injury.

While Palmer recovered, Ochocinco groused. He caught only 53 passes for 540 yards last season, after failing to force a trade. He skipped most of the voluntary workouts in the offseason, but showed up last week with a smile and an upbeat demeanor.

“I’m back,” Ochocinco said. “I can’t explain it any other way. Before last year, this is how I was. I was good. I was happy. I’m good. It’s going to be a great year. We’re going to the playoffs. We’re going, man.”

To get themselves turned around, they’ll have to protect Palmer and get the flamboyant Ochocinco to be more of a team player. During workouts Thursday, everyone wore black shorts or sweat pants except Ochocinco, who ran around in flashy orange shorts.

When he caught a pass down the sideline and went for a touchdown during an 11-on-11 drill, Ochocinco raised both arms in jubilation, let out a scream and did a hip bump with receiver Chris Henry.

Palmer didn’t mind the excess enthusiasm.

“I hope it lasts all the way through Super Bowl weekend,” Palmer said. “And I think he is sincere. He’s excited to be here. He’s excited to be back playing football at a high level, at the level he used to play at when he was leading the AFC in yards. He’s in way better shape than I’ve seen him in a couple of years.”

But Palmer drew a line at becoming a roommate.

Ochocinco told reporters last week that he’ll be moving in with Palmer, his wife and two young children for a week or two in July, giving them a chance to bond and catch up on missed time.

“He doesn’t really have a choice,” the receiver repeated on Thursday.

Oh, yes he does. When Palmer’s wife, Shaelyn, heard about Ochocinco’s plan, she wasn’t thrilled with her husband.

“I think she got an e-mail or something and as soon as I walked in the door from work the other day, she just gave me that look,” Palmer said. “And I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, calm down. It’s just media stuff. It’s just Chad being Chad. Don’t worry.”’

More on Brandon Marshall

2009-06-19T08:33:00.001-05:00

Holdout wide receiver Brandon Marshall(notes) reported to camp— his own.

The Denver Broncos Pro Bowl receiver who skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp last weekend in a contract dispute is holding a two-day youth football camp for 500 kids ages 7-18 at a local high school.

Marshall declined to answer questions about his status with the Broncos on Thursday, other than to say he and his agent are communicating with the team.

Asked if he thought this youth football camp was his grand goodbye to the community that’s embraced him, Marshall said basically that nothing good lasts forever.

“I think we saw this past year as far as change, as for changes in our front office. Coach Shanahan being here 13 years. Gone! I think that’s part of life. You know it’s just change,” Marshall said.

“You can control what you can control and what you can’t control you don’t worry about. So I’m here to show my wisdom, to give wisdom and get a feel for the kids.”

Marshall said he does plan to hold the camp again next summer in Denver but also in Pittsburgh, where he grew up, and Orlando, Fla., where he lives.

If he gets his way, Marshall’s camp in Colorado next summer will be as a visiting player.

“I want him to stay. We aren’t as good a team without him,” said 14-year-old camper Jaylen McDonald of Denver.

Marshall, who said he’s been working out at his alma mater, Central Florida, participated in some of the on-field work at his camp, which consisted strictly of no-contact drills.

Dressed in red sweats, Marshall jogged a lap with the kids and took part in some stretching before helping teach football skills to the enthusiastic boys and girls.

This week, Marshall posted a farewell to Denver fans on his blog even as coach Josh McDaniels was saying he looked forward to seeing Marshall at training camp next month. And Marshall’s agent, Kennard McGuire, said team owner Pat Bowlen had told his client that he would try to accommodate his trade request.

Bowlen hasn’t spoken publicly about the matter.

Marshall has precious little leverage, however, to force his way out of town like quarterback Jay Cutler(notes) did this spring when he got into a feud with McDaniels and was dealt to Chicago.

Marshall, who is set to make $2.2 million in 2009, faces legal and health issues that would seem to prevent him from cashing in with a huge contract anytime soon.

He’s coming off hip surgery and faces a trial this summer on misdemeanor battery charges; a conviction could lead to his second suspension from the NFL in just over a year.

Plus, with next season being an uncapped year, Marshall is set to be a restricted free agent in 2010 rather than an unrestricted free agent, after which the Broncos could slap the franchise tag on him to keep him in Denver for years to come.

Of course, they may decide it’s not worth it to force a disgruntled star to stick around.

Marshall is entering the final season of the four-year deal he signed as a fourth-round draft pick in 2006 and he could be quite a bargain for a player who’s had consecutive 100-catch seasons while playing more like a top-10 pick than a fourth-rounder.

Yet, nobody knows how he’ll bounce back from April 1 hip surgery or whether he’ll start the season on the suspended list again.

Marshall is prepping for a big year—wherever that may be.

“I feel great. I’m working out at Central Florida with the team, running routes, doing pass (drills). I’m not 100 percent. (But) I’m 10 times better than I was for the first game last year,” he said.

Despite putting up Pro Bowl numbers last season, Marshall had several crucial fumbles and also dropped an astonishing number of passes, something he blamed on the nerve damage in his right arm, which he said he put through a television set while horsing around with his brother in March 2008.

On Thursday, Marshall said the numbness in his arm was “just the nerve regenerating. I’m fine. I went through a whole year (with it). It’s almost there. The doctor said it should take a year or two and we’re right there.”

Mock Version #2

2009-06-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

My Mock Version #2 (June 17th 2009) Top 50

1) Adrian Peterson
2) Michael Turner
3) LaDanian Tomlinson
4) Maurice Jones-Drew
5) Matt Forte
6) Frank Gore
7) Steven Jackson
8) Drew Brees
9) Larry Fitzgerald
10) DeAngelo Williams
11) Clinton Portis
12) Chris Johnson
13) Andre Johnson
14) Brandon Jacobs
15) Steve Slaton
16) Tom Brady
17) Marion Barber
18) Peyton Manning
19) Calvin Johnson
20) Brian Westbrook
21) Randy Moss
22) Steve Smith
23) Anquan Boldin
24) Philip Rivers
25) Reggie Wayne
26) Greg Jennings
27) Roddy White
28) Ronnie Brown
29) Terrell Owens
30) Joseph Addai
31) Kevin Smith
32) Ryan Grant
33) Marshawn Lynch
34) Aaron Rodgers
35) Braylon Edwards
36) Wes Welker
37) Roy Williams
38) Dwayne Bowe
39) Tony Romo
40) Kurt Warner
41) Marques Colston
42) Knowshon Moreno
43) Chris Wells
44) Brandon Marshall
45) Thomas Jones
46) Matt Ryan
47) Reggie Bush
48) Darren McFadden
49) Jay Cutler
50) Pierre Thomas

Brandon Marshall stock is dropping

2009-06-16T10:02:00.002-05:00

The Denver Broncos said they are aware of a radio report that said holdout receiver Brandon Marshall asked team owner Pat Bowlen for a trade during a meeting Friday.

However, a team spokesman said Denver does not have any comment on the report. Adam Schefter, who will join ESPN in August, reported Monday on KOA in Denver that Marshall requested the trade during a meeting Friday. Marshall's agent, Kennard McGuire, did not return phone messages Monday.

Marshall skipped Denver's mandatory minicamp Friday-Sunday. He is protesting because he has medical trust issues and he wants a pay raise. Marshall's contract expires after next season. Marshall had hip surgery in March and he won't be able to practice until training camp starts late next month. Still, he was required to rehabilitate at the camp. Denver can fine him for missing the sessions.

Marshall is entering his fourth season and made his first Pro Bowl in 2008. He has had back-to-back 100-plus catch seasons.

The Marshall situation is another issue for new Denver coach Josh McDaniels. The former New England offensive coordinator took over for the fired Mike Shanahan after 14 years. McDaniels' tenure in Denver got off to a rocky start when Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler was traded to Chicago. The saga began when Cutler caught wind that the new coach was considering trading him in a package for Matt Cassel, who starred for McDaniels in New England last season.

More Brett Favre news...is...isn't he?

2009-06-16T09:52:00.000-05:00

Brett Favre will know in several weeks whether his surgically repaired arm will allow him to come out of retirement again.

The quarterback made his first public comments since retiring from the New York Jets in February in an interview Monday night on "Joe Buck Live." He said the only team he has spoken to is the Minnesota Vikings -- and that they would be a perfect fit because he's familiar with their offense.

The three-time NFL MVP said Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery 2½ weeks ago on his throwing arm. Andrews told him it would take 4-5 weeks to know if he'll be able to make all the throws he needs to.

"If it ever gets to the point where it feels like it did before it started hurting, then the biggest question mark is out of the way," Favre said.

Favre said Vikings coach Brad Childress wanted him to attend Minnesota's recent organized team activities, but he declined.

"I figured there would be a media frenzy if I was there," he said. "And there would be a media frenzy if I couldn't play, if we had to say three weeks later, 'You know, his arm's just not up to par. He can't play.'

"So why not have just one media frenzy, and that be later on?"

HBO said Favre agreed in April to appear on the show at the request of Buck, the longtime baseball and football announcer. That was before his release from the Jets, which prompted Minnesota's pursuit of the NFL's career leader in touchdown passes.

Asked by Buck if he would play this season, Favre replied, "Um ... " After a pause, he said, "Maybe."

"I know people are tired of it, really," Favre said earlier of the drama that accompanies his annual waffling over retirement. "My intentions are not to -- although it's good for you -- create controversy."

The Vikings were a presumed suitor last summer when Favre renounced his retirement from the Packers and was told Green Bay was going with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. But the Packers weren't going to let him go to their NFC North rivals, and after a messy divorce with Green Bay, Favre was shipped to the Jets.

He threw 22 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions last season. The team finished out 1-4 and missed the playoffs, as Favre was bothered by a torn biceps tendon.

The Vikings won their division without him, but have been unsettled at the sport's most important position for the past three-plus years. Quarterback continues to be viewed as one of the team's few weak spots on an otherwise talent-laden roster.

"It makes a lot of sense because the pieces are in place," Favre said.

He said he met with a Vikings trainer Sunday to go over some arm exercises as part of his rehab, but the team has not made plans to evaluate his readiness to play. Favre said his conversations with Vikings officials have been infrequent and limited.

"Nothing other than, 'Are you interested?'" he said. "And vice versa."

My Mock Version #1

2009-06-10T10:59:00.001-05:00

My Mock Version #1 (June 10th 2009) Top 50

1) Adrian Peterson
2) Michael Turner
3) Matt Forte
4) Drew Brees
5) LaDanian Tomlinson
6) Frank Gore
7) Chris Johnson
8) Maurice Jones-Drew
9) Clinton Portis
10) DeAngelo Williams
11) Larry Fitzgerald
12) Steven Jackson
13) Brandon Jacobs
14) Marion Barber
15) Steve Slaton
16) Tom Brady
17) Andre Johnson
18) Peyton Manning
19) Calvin Johnson
20) Brian Westbrook
21) Steve Smith
22) Randy Moss
23) Anquan Boldin
24) Philip Rivers
25) Reggie Wayne
26) Aaron Rodgers
27) Greg Jennings
28) Roddy White
29) Ronnie Brown
30) Terrell Owens
31) Kevin Smith
32) Joseph Addai
33) Ryan Grant
34) Marshawn Lynch
35) Braylon Edwards
36) Wes Welker
37) Pierre Thomas
38) Dwayne Bowe
39) Tony Romo
40) Kurt Warner
41) Marques Colston
42) Knowshon Moreno
43) Chris Wells
44) Brandon Marshall
45) Thomas Jones
46) Matt Ryan
47) Reggie Bush
48) Darren McFadden
49) Jay Cutler
50) Roy Williams

2009-06-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress has imposed a deadline of this week for Brett Favre to decide whether he will be the team's quarterback for the upcoming season, according to two sources.

Favre, however, is apparently reluctant to commit to playing a 19th NFL season without first being more confident the arthroscopic surgery performed recently on his throwing shoulder has succeeded in eliminating all of the problems related to a torn biceps tendon.

It would seem reasonable that both Favre and the Vikings want to know his shoulder is healthy before reaching an agreement, and the team is virtually certain to insist on seeing the 39-year-old quarterback throw before any contract is signed. Minnesota has four organized team activity sessions this week, beginning Tuesday.

While sources say Favre has done some throwing since the surgery, they describe him as being unconvinced that his passing arm is game-ready. Favre has always been unpredictable when making major career decisions, so only he would know what he will do if he believes the Vikings are forcing him to make a decision before he is fully prepared. Favre has claimed he did that two years ago in retiring from the Green Bay Packers even though he had doubts at the time, and he made a decision to leave the game that he began to regret even as he was announcing it.

According to sources, Favre is conflicted between his desire to provide the Vikings with the quarterback he believes is the only thing they lack to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender and his resolve to feel confident enough in his shoulder that it will not undermine his performance, which eroded under a league-high nine interceptions the final month of last season when the Jets faded from playoff contention. Favre took personal responsibility for the Jets' failure, blaming his painful shoulder for creating a random lack of arm strength and throwing accuracy.

The Vikings are the Packers' rivals in the NFC North, and the team that Favre wanted to play for last season after deciding to come out of retirement. But the Packers controlled Favre's rights, and general manager Ted Thompson refused to consider trading Favre to Minnesota. Not only that, but Thompson was so determined to ensure the Green Bay icon could not play for the Packers' hated rival twice a year that he included a clause in the trade agreement with the Jets that the Packers would be compensated with three first-round draft choices if Favre were dealt to the Vikings.

But Favre effectively circumvented that when he retired in February for a second time and later received his unconditional release from the Jets after they traded up to select USC quarterback Mark Sanchez in the first round of the draft in April. That created the opportunity for Favre and the Vikings to discuss a partnership that could damage the quarterback's legacy in Green Bay.

My Top 10 QB predictions for this coming season!

2009-06-05T13:21:00.001-05:00

I have been in the fantasy football mood since Yahoo released their leagues yesterday. I think I will post my top 10 fantasy players for the upcoming season. I am going to rank the top 10 quarterback, running back, and receivers according to my draft strategy and reasoning.

QB
1) Peyton Manning
a. Easily the most consistent QB of our generation. I think he will have his average 3800+ yds and 25+ TD. That is hard to bet against in any given year.
2) Drew Brees
a. I have a hard time believing he will match last year’s stats. With that said he is still a fantasy given at the top of this list.
3) Philip Rivers
a. He has been on the brink of breaking through for a couple years and I think this year is it. Fantasy wise, the Chargers are going to bounce back this year.
4) Aaron Rodgers
a. He was in the top 10 in any league last year. This is his second year at the helm and he will become top 5 I guarantee this!
5) Tom Brady
a. He will have another Brady year, but it will not be top tier this season. I think next season he is back in the top 3.
6) Tony Romo
a. He ,like Brees, is a typical fantasy QB. He puts up the ball whether it is a touchdown or INT he throws it.
7) Jay Cutler
a. He is going to prove he is the top tier QB that he is. I think he is mad the Denver saga looked as if they didn’t want him. He is hungry!
8) Matt Ryan
a. He is the real deal. Atlanta got better in its passing game by acquiring Tony Gonzalez and that will help Ryan very much.
9) Carson Palmer
a. He will bounce back to the top QB he was a couple years back. Bringing in Coles should help with the loss of TJH. I think Palmer is a prototypical QB.
10) Kurt Warner
a. He is also a passer, no matter what the defense gives him, a pass can be thrown.

QB merry-go-round

2009-06-04T15:15:00.000-05:00

Browns coach Eric Mangini says he will not decide on Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson as Cleveland's starting quarterback until late in the preseason.

Mangini said before Thursday's voluntary practice that he will take his time evaluating the two quarterbacks and wants to see how they play in preseason games before making his choice.

Anderson was a Pro Bowl selection in 2007, but lost his job midway through last season to Quinn, the former Notre Dame star and first-round draft pick. Both Quinn (finger) and Anderson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries last season, when the Browns offense failed to score a touchdown in the club's final six games. Cleveland finished 4-12 and replaced coach Romeo Crennel with Mangini.

Cowboys release pro bowl LB

2009-06-02T15:01:00.000-05:00

The Dallas Cowboys, perhaps wanting to avoid any more offseason turmoil with veteran Greg Ellis, released the Pro Bowl linebacker Tuesday.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had acknowledged last week that the 12th-year pro, who has a recent history of complaining about his role, his contract, or both, likely would be playing elsewhere this fall.

But the writing already was on the wall by April's NFL draft, when the Cowboys focused on players who could help them on the pass rush, and Ellis, 33, did not participate in the team's May 21 organized team activities session.

By releasing him, the Cowboys save the $4.15 million he was scheduled to make in 2009. But they're also losing a team leader, and Ellis is the players' union team representative.

Ellis, the Cowboys' first-round pick in 1998, played in 162 games -- all with Dallas -- and started 156 of them.

Ellis complained in 2006 about moving from defensive end to linebacker, saying the Cowboys and former coach Bill Parcells were setting him up to fail in the new 3-4 defensive alignment.

After that turned out OK, Ellis squawked again a year later when the Cowboys drafted Anthony Spencer, another college defensive end they planned to move to outside linebacker.

Back then, Ellis said he was sure they were trying to replace him and demanded a new contract that showed the team's commitment. He got the new deal in 2007 and responded with his best season, a Pro Bowl year with a career-high 12½ sacks despite missing the first three games recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2007.

Ellis finished his Cowboys career with 634 tackles, 36 tackles for losses, 197 quarterback pressures and 77 sacks.

Anquan Boldin still may move teams before preseason

2009-06-02T15:00:00.001-05:00

Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves says he looks forward to working with Anquan Boldin's new agent, Tom Condon.

Condon has not confirmed multiple reports he was hired by Boldin, but Graves ended any doubt with his comments after the Cardinals practiced on Monday.

"I look forward to working with him on this deal whenever we can get the opportunity to concentrate on it," Graves said.

Graves said he's already had contact with Condon.

"I anticipate a meeting with him sometime later this month," Graves said.

Condon, who represents such NFL stars as Peyton and Eli Manning and Marvin Harrison, did not return messages left at his office and on his cell phone. Condon's clients also include Cardinals backup quarterback Matt Leinart.

Boldin, embroiled in a long contract fight with the Cardinals, fired Drew Rosenhaus. The wide receiver has had a number of representatives since being drafted out of Florida State in 2003. Boldin sat out minicamp last month, citing a sore hamstring. He has been a no-show in the subsequent voluntary workouts.

Graves said the Cardinals are working on new contracts for safety Adrian Wilson and linebacker Karlos Dansby before turning their attention to Boldin.

Asked if there would be enough money under the salary cap to sign Boldin this year, Graves said, "It will have some challenges. There's certainly cause for some give and take and creativity on both sides, but Tom's been noted for that. Again, I just look forward to sitting with him and we'll find out where we are at that point."

Will Boldin's switch to Condon make it easier to reach an agreement?

"I don't know, we'll see," Graves said. "I look forward to talking with him. We've had a history of being able to get deals done with Tom Condon."

Boldin, who has made the Pro Bowl three of his six NFL seasons, has two years left on his contract but says the Cardinals lied to him when they failed to follow through on what he says was a promise for a new contract a year ago. Through Rosenhaus, Boldin asked to be traded, but the Cardinals say they won't make any deal without getting sufficient compensation and prefer to re-sign him.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals got a scare when their other Pro Bowl receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, landed awkwardly while stretching to make a catch in Monday's practice, hurting his groin. After a few moments, he got up and rejoined the practice.

He walked past reporters as he left the field, saying he needed to get treatment.

"It was a little something," Fitzgerald said. "I'll be OK."

Vince Young : Play me or else!

2009-06-02T14:59:00.001-05:00

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young isn't saying "play me or trade me," but he's coming pretty close.

In an interview with Baltimore's WMAR-TV, Young said if he doesn't win back his starting job, he wants to move on. The problem is that Kerry Collins is still the starter.

"I definitely want to get back out there playing ball and picking up where I left off, winning games and having a good time with my teammates and with the fans," Young said, according to the television station. "At the same time, if them guys don't want me to be in there, it's time for me to make a career change for myself. Because the fact is I'm ready to play ball. If they're not ready for me to play ball, then somebody is."

The former rookie of the year suffered a knee injury in the first game of the season last year. Veteran Kerry Collins stepped in and was the starter for the remainder of the year, leading the Titans to a 13-3 record and the playoffs.

Young's season was further marred by an incident after that first game against Jacksonville in which the quarterback was reported missing. He was later found and there was some question as to his state of mind.

This offseason, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said that Young would have to unseat Collins as the starter.

"I'm still focused, staying focused," Young said, according to WMAR. "I got a lot of people that look up to me. I got a lot of fans that love me and want to see me back out on the football field."

Tom Brady is on the field!

2009-05-28T12:45:00.001-05:00

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is back on the field and throwing the football.

Brady, 31, took part in the team's practice on Thursday, stretching and tossing the ball around in a light rain. It's the third and final day of the Patriots' organized team activities, and the only one open to the media. The team held voluntary workouts last week for younger players and free agents. Brady and nearly the entire team have participated in this week's practices.

Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2008 season opener. He had surgery in October and later had another procedure to treat an infection in the knee. He is expected to be ready to play this season.

Best Available Players unsigned....

2009-05-14T10:14:00.000-05:00

With the annual case of Favre Fixation occupying the minds of many throughout the NFL, it’s worth noting that many high-profile players who could help teams are still out of work. Call it the All-Available Team.

From Favre to linebacker Derrick Brooks(notes) to wide receiver Plaxico Burress(notes), there are a number of prominent players available who could provide a helping hand in 2009. There’s enough to even make up an entire team that would have been better than what the Detroit Lions trotted out last season on the way to 0-16.

“This is the time of the year when everybody has a chance to really sit back and study their team and figure out what’s that one missing piece or try to patch up a position that you just don’t like,” San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said. “It really depends on what you’re looking for.

“You can name guys right off the top of your head who can help a team: … Edgerrin James(notes), Derrick Brooks, Brett Favre(notes), Jon Runyan(notes). But so much of it is about how a guy fits in your system. Are you looking for a good, solid backup or are you desperate and you’re looking for a stop-gap guy to get you through a season?”

From now until the beginning of training camp in late July, that’s a question that almost every team in the NFL will be evaluating. Those teams will pore over their depth charts and evaluate the rookies who looked so good on the draft board in April, but then looked pretty lost when they got to minicamp in May and June.

“For a lot of teams, once you get past the draft and you really start thinking about going into the season, you ask yourself, ‘Am I really confident going into next season with this rookie playing or do I want a veteran?’ Smith said. “That’s the really hard question that GMs and coaches have to ask themselves.”

With that in mind, here’s a look at the top players, by position, who are still on the market:

Offense

QB: Brett Favre – America’s favorite vagabond passer continues his mid-life crisis. Other options: Rex Grossman(notes) and J.P. Losman(notes).
RB: Edgerrin James – His once-great burst is gone, but he’s still workmanlike. Other options: Warrick Dunn(notes), Deuce McAllister(notes) and Rudi Johnson(notes).
FB: Cecil Sapp(notes) – Better athlete than most fullbacks, but still nothing special.
TE: Ben Troupe(notes) – Best from a mediocre offering. Other options: Mark Campbell(notes) and Dan Campbell(notes).
No. 1 WR: Plaxico Burress – Legal issues are holding him up, but he’ll play.
No. 2 WR: Amani Toomer(notes) – Only 16 months ago, Toomer and Burress helped win a Super Bowl. Other options: Marvin Harrison(notes), Drew Bennett(notes) and Joe Jurevicius(notes).
LT: Levi Jones(notes) – Injuries curtailed a nice career, but he’s still only 29.
LG: Mark Tauscher(notes) – He’s a tackle, but could easily switch inside.
C: Jeremy Newberry(notes) – His knees are bad, but they have been forever.
RG: Pete Kendall(notes) – Smart, tough, but a lot of mileage.
RT: Jon Runyan – Biggest if of an iffy group. His knee still isn’t healthy. Other O-line options: Fred Miller(notes), Jonas Jennings(notes), Wayne Gandy(notes), Melvin Fowler(notes) and Jason Whittle(notes).

Defense

DE: Kalimba Edwards(notes) – He’s 33 and banged up, but still has some pass-rush skill.
DE: Ebenezer Ekuban(notes) – Pretty nice pass rusher still out there on the market.
DT: Kevin Carter(notes) – Amazing longevity, productivity and versatility.
DT: Ellis Wyms(notes) – Has his limitations, but is a very tough player.Other D-line options: Dewayne Robertson(notes), John Engelberger(notes) and La’Roi Glover(notes).
LB: Morlon Greenwood(notes) – At 31, he’s one of the youngest starters.
LB: Pisa Tinoisamoa(notes) – A tackle machine, but he better play in a two-gap system.
LB: Derrick Brooks – Still can bring great leadership to a young defense. Other options: Napoleon Harris(notes), Paris Lenon(notes), Antwan Peek(notes) and Nate Webster(notes).
CB: Chris McAlister(notes) – Coming off injury and has lost speed, but still very physical.
CB: Ty Law(notes) – Perennial late-signee can still make a couple of plays if the offense isn’t careful. Other options: Jason Craft(notes), Dre Bly, Deltha O’Neal(notes) and Roderick Hood(notes).
SS: Lawyer Milloy(notes) – Years of physical play have taken their toll, but he’s really smart.
FS: Dexter Jackson – Has lost a step, but who on this team hasn’t? Other safety options: Mike Brown(notes), Michael Boulware(notes), Kevin Kaesviharn(notes) and Will Demps(notes).

NY Jets have some RB issues that need addressed!

2009-05-12T15:24:00.000-05:00

Two of the New York Jets' top running backs -- Leon Washington and Thomas Jones -- are reportedly unhappy with their contracts and are skipping offseason workouts.

That's bad news for Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, the team's top draft pick who will need a strong running game if he starts from day one.

Washington, the Jets' dynamic running back/kick returner, skipped the first day of the Jets' organized team activities Monday amid reports he's unhappy with his current contract, which has a base salary of $535,000.

Jones, 30, the team's No. 1 running back, has been a no-show for all of the team's workouts this offseason. Jones is scheduled to make $900,000 in 2009, the third season of a four-year, $20 million contract he agreed to when he was acquired from the Bears in 2007. He made $13.1 million in the first two seasons of his contract.

Washington, 26, is entering the final season of his initial rookie contract. He reportedly is seeking a new contract that averages $6 million per season. The Jets have been negotiating a new contract with Washington this offseason, but according to The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., those talks hit a snag. A source told the newspaper that the team's initial offer to Washington was "insulting."

Washington led the NFL with 2,337 all-purpose yards in 2008 and scored nine touchdowns. Jones also enjoyed a standout 2008 season, rushing for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Jets also drafted another running back, Shonn Greene, with the first pick of the third round -- trading three draft picks to move up 11 spots to select him.

All of the Jets' workouts so far have been voluntary. Their first mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 9-11.

6 NFL teams that might not make the playoffs this year!

2009-05-11T13:24:00.000-05:00

When picking the teams that will make the playoffs in a given year, the so-called experts (as opposed to the so-called idiots, of which I proudly am one) typically play it safe.

They look at the dozen franchises that made it a year ago, and they replace maybe the bottom team in each conference's playoff field with a team that was close to qualifying.

But the reality is that, typically, half of the teams that played in the postseason last year won't be back the next time around.

In 2008, more than half of the 2007 playoff teams didn't return for an encore.

Seven of the 12 franchises didn't qualify again. In the AFC, only two of the six from the year before were bounced; in the NFC, the turnover rate was 83.3 percent as five of the six teams that qualified in 2007 were left holding a big bag of nothing in '08.
For present purposes, we'll assume that six of the teams will make it back and six won't.

Today's challenge? Identifying the six teams that will play only 16 games that count this season.

1. Miami Dolphins

No one saw the Dolphins coming in 2008. This year, everyone does.

Their reward for winning the AFC East last year includes a first-place schedule, which features games against the Steelers and the Chargers, and games against every team in the AFC South and NFC South.

Oh, and two against the Patriots.

Last year, New England racked up 48 points against the Fins in Miami. With Matt Cassel(notes) at quarterback. With Tom Brady(notes) back, the Pats could score 70.

The '08 Dolphins also benefited from the absence of injuries. This season, chances are the Dolphins will be dealing with many more major and minor sprains and strains and snaps and cracks. And a harder schedule. And an improved Patriots team. And a bigger target on their backs.

So, yeah, it might be too much to expect the Dolphins to match last year's unlikely feat.

2. Tennessee Titans

Last year, the Titans' season started with a thud. Sure, they beat the Jaguars. But quarterback Vince Young(notes) suffered a sprained knee and a fractured ego.

Enter Kerry Collins(notes), who did just enough to complement a great defense and a strong running game to propel the Titans to the best regular-season record in the league.

This year, however, the guy who made that defense go—defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth(notes)—is long gone.

And Kerry Collins is still the starter.

And the receivers really aren't all that much better.

And defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is coaching the Lions.

And the up-and-down Jaguars are due to be up again.

And the Texans seem poised to finally make the playoffs.

Odd men out? Yep, the Titans.

3. San Diego Chargers

Last year, the San Diego Chargers needed a miracle to capture the watered-down AFC West and make it to the playoffs.

This year, lightning might not strike again.

On paper, the Chargers have the talent. But questions persist regarding whether Norv Turner is the right man for this or any NFL head-coaching job.

So even with Philip Rivers(notes), LaDainian Tomlinson(notes), Darren Sproles(notes) and a healthy Shawne Merriman(notes) and a healthy Jyles Tucker(notes) and a rookie first-rounder who does the same thing that both of them do, it might not be enough to make it four straight division titles in a wide-open AFC West featuring teams in Kansas City and Oakland that might be more dangerous than expected. (We can forget about the Broncos.)

4. New York Giants

I know, I know. I said last year that the Giants wouldn't follow their Super Bowl title with another playoff appearance.

So maybe, if I say it again, the odds will be in my favor.

This time around, my confidence is bolstered by the fact that the Giants can't consistently move the ball without a high-end wideout like Plaxico Burress(notes). Apart from what he does when he catches the ball, his mere presence opens up the rest of the offense by requiring teams to devote two defenders to him at all times.

So, once he was gone for the year due to an unfortunate incident involving a gun, a bullet and his leg, the Giants weren't the same.

He's now gone for good, and even though rookies Hakeem Nicks(notes) and Ramses Barden(notes) might replace his production, they won't command the same respect that essentially reduces the field to 10-on-9.

5. Minnesota Vikings

Once every few years, the Vikings are the trendy pick to get back to the Super Bowl.

Thirty-three years and counting, they've yet to deliver on the expectations.

This year, many will dub the Vikings as a potential Super Bowl team.

And for good reason. Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game. The defense remains solid, especially against the run. Defensive end Jared Allen(notes) punctuates a great pass rush.

The biggest question mark—the passing game—could become an exclamation point if Brett Favre(notes) ends up becoming the quarterback.

With or without Favre, there's something about this team that just doesn't click. Plenty of their fans sense it, even if they won't admit it to themselves during the high-hopes phase of the calendar, when everyone is 0-0.

Frankly, it's the coach. And if the Vikings don't make it back to the playoffs in 2009, there will be a new one in Minnesota next year at this time.

6. Arizona Cardinals

I've said it before, I'll say it again—the fact that the Cardinals have finally made it to a Super Bowl doesn't mean they finally know how to run a successful football operation.

Yes, they've re-signed quarterback Kurt Warner(notes) after basically inviting him to find another job. And they've addressed one of the primary weaknesses on the roster by taking running back Chris "Beanie" Wells at the bottom of round one.

But this team has issues. Multiple assistant coaches are gone, including the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.

Receiver Anquan Boldin(notes) still wants out, and the team has engaged in a half-hearted effort to create the impression that meaningful trade talks occurred.

They didn't. The Cardinals dragged their feet and didn't give Boldin's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, permission to work out a contract with a new team. So, now, the Cardinals likely are shrugging their shoulders (do birds have shoulders?) and taking the position that, well, they tried.

Meanwhile, they likely don't want to give Boldin the kind of raise he wants.

He behaved in 2008; he might try a different approach in 2009. And the Cardinals might regret not dealing with the situation differently.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals are the hunted, for the first time in a very long time. And so every week they'll see the best that the opponents have to offer, and when the dust settles they'll likely be back in a more familiar position—out of the running for the silver trophy they almost won in February.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

2009-04-29T09:56:00.001-05:00

The Arizona Cardinals granted running back Edgerrin James' wish to be released on Tuesday and cut two others who played significant roles in the team's run to the Super Bowl.

While James' move was anticipated, the release of cornerback Rod Hood and defensive end Travis LaBoy was not.

The moves clear salary cap space for the Cardinals, who want to sign new deals with linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Adrian Wilson, and eventually with unhappy wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

James, Hood and LaBoy combined were to have made $10 million next season, but because of the $7.5 million signing bonus given to LaBoy a year ago, the cap savings will be several million dollars less than what the three would have earned. Still, it gives spending room to a franchise that had been just below the salary ceiling.

"Edgerrin James had a great run in Arizona and now it is time for him to continue his Hall of Fame career elsewhere," James' agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN.com's John Clayton. "One of his goals was to help the Cardinals get to a Super Bowl and he is eager to help another team get to that same level. Edgerrin is excited about signing with a new team. So far, several teams have expressed interest and we may have a deal in place in the very near future."

James had 794 carries for 2,895 yards and 16 touchdowns in his three seasons in Arizona. He topped 1,000 yards in 2006 and 2007, and his resurgence during last season's playoffs gave Arizona the running game it had sorely lacked.

He was benched for seven games earlier in 2008, the first time that's happened in his career, and he asked the team to release him then. The Cardinals refused, and he was reinserted into the lineup late in the season.

Despite it being such a difficult year, it led to James' only Super Bowl.

James had sought his release early in the free agency period, but the Cardinals held off until after last weekend's draft, where they chose Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells in the first round, the No. 31 pick overall. Wells and second-year pro Tim Hightower are expected to be Arizona's featured backs in the coming season.

James, 30, had one year left, at $5 million, on the four-year, $40 million deal he signed with Arizona before the 2006 season. He recently experienced a personal tragedy with the death of his longtime girlfriend, and mother of his four children, of leukemia at age 30.

In his 10-year career, James has rushed for 12,121 yards, 11th on the NFL career list and first among active players.

Hood appeared in 31 games, 30 as a starter, since signing with Arizona as a free agent in 2007. He had 105 tackles and six interceptions. The Cardinals added a cornerback in free agency by signing Bryant McFadden, then drafted Greg Toler out of tiny St. Paul's College of Virginia in the fourth round on Sunday.

I hope the Titans land Boldin today!

2009-04-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

Maybe the Arizona Cardinals will deal wide receiver Anquan Boldin Saturday. A potention trade partner, according to Scout.com, might be the Tennessee Titans. The web site reports the Cardinals have been gathering information on Tennessee running backs LenDale White and Chris Henry according to the report.

The Titans have interest in WR Anquan Boldin so Arizona's potential interest in either back could signal that trade discussions could intensify over the next 24 hours.

White, who led the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season, is on the final year of his contract. Henry, who was selected in the second round of the 2007 season and created a lot of pre-draft buzz two years ago because of his speed and size, only played in one game last season and only in eight over his first two seasons.

Lions will select Stafford at #1 after deal reached!

2009-04-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Lions reached an agreement Friday night with Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford to make him the first pick in the NFL draft on Saturday.
According to a source, Stafford will receive a six-year, $72 million deal with $41.7 million guaranteed. The contract could be worth as much as $78 million if Stafford achieves all of his playing incentives. The guaranteed money tops the $41 million in guarantees Albert Haynesworth received from the Washington Redskins earlier this offseason.

Stafford said he was out to dinner with his parents in Manhattan when he got the news from his agent. "I'm pretty pumped," he told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. Now he just wants to "get that playbook and learn it as fast as possible."

The Lions intensified negotiations for Stafford the past three days, knowing they also could reach a less expensive deal with Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. After Curry's agents visited Detroit's minicamp during the weekend, Lions president Tom Lewand focused on Stafford.

The Stafford deal is the richest given to a draft choice in history, topping the five-year, $57.5 million contract the Dolphins gave to tackle Jake Long last season, and the six-year, $72 million contract Matt Ryan received from the Atlanta Falcons.
The language of the contract must still be agreed upon and approved by the management council.

As the week began, the Lions were down to three choices -- Stafford, Curry and Baylor tackle Jason Smith, but the team was insistent on having a contract in place with the first-round pick before the draft started Saturday.

Detroit desperately needs a quarterback to help turn around the NFL's first 0-16 team, and is turning to Stafford after he was a starter in each of his three seasons at Georgia.

Stafford will not be able to fix all of the problems associated with a franchise that has gone 31-97 since 2001 in what has been the worst eight-year stretch by an NFL team since the Chicago Cardinals won 23 percent of their games from 1936 to 1943.

But the Lions can't afford to draft another bust.

Tony Gonzalez is on the move!

2009-04-23T15:21:00.001-05:00

The Atlanta Falcons obtained tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday for a draft pick next year.
The Falcons will send a second-round pick in 2010 to Kansas City in exchange for Gonzalez, the only tight end in NFL history selected to 10 Pro Bowls, the Chiefs announced.

Gonzalez caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008. He owns NFL career records for tight ends with 916 receptions, 10,940 yards receiving, 76 TDs receiving and 26 100-yard receiving games.

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt called Gonzalez "one of the finest players in Chiefs history."

A person with knowledge of the negotiations said the Falcons have reached agreement with Gonzalez on a new contract. The person requested anonymity because the agreement has not been announced.

"It's somewhat bittersweet," Gonzalez told FOXSports.com. "I love Kansas City. I grew up in Kansas City. The city means a lot to me. I got there when I turned 21. It will be sad to leave a city I love.
But I'm looking forward to making a Super Bowl run in Atlanta every year for the next three or four years. With Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and now myself, we have the chance to be in the top five in the league in offense every year. How could I not be excited to join that team?"

The 33-year-old Gonzalez asked to be traded last October. But then-general manager Carl Peterson said no team Gonzalez was willing to go to made a good enough offer.

General manager Scott Pioli said it wasn't easy to trade the star, who played in 188 regular-season games for Kansas City.

"From an organizational as well as personal standpoint there are mixed emotions," Pioli said. "I have the highest personal and professional respect for Tony and consider him to be a future Pro Football Hall of Famer."

Torry Holt disappoints me....

2009-04-21T09:06:00.002-05:00

I was hoping he would sign with my Titans, but alas he did not!

Former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt agreed to a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday that could be worth as much as $20 million.

The 32-year-old Holt agreed to a creative contract that grows financially based on the way he plays. The deal, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton, calls for three years with base salaries totaling $13 million. While there is no signing bonus, the first year of the contract is guaranteed.

The Jaguars worked a similar deal with left tackle Tra Thomas that rewards him with bigger salaries based on his playing time and his performance.

Holt chose the Jaguars over the Tennessee Titans, among other teams that were interested. He was released by the Rams and was considered one of the top receivers available via free agency.

The deal lessens the need for Jacksonville to get a receiver early in this weekend's NFL draft and gives the franchise its biggest weapon at the position since Jimmy Smith retired in 2006.

The Jaguars still might select a receiver with the No. 8 pick, especially since Holt will be 33 years old this summer and has been slowed by knee problems in recent years. Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin are expected to be top-10 picks.

Jacksonville has been searching for a No. 1 receiver since Smith's retirement. The team selected Reggie Williams (2004) and Matt Jones (2005) in the first round in consecutive years, but parted ways with the troubled receivers this offseason. The Jaguars chose not to re-sign Williams after five disappointing seasons and released Jones after he violated a plea agreement stemming from a drug charge.

Jacksonville also got rid of Jerry Porter in February. The Jags paid Porter $11 million last season, but he finished with 11 catches and got blamed for chemistry issues in the locker room.

Without those three, the team's top returning receivers were Dennis Northcutt, Mike Walker and Troy Williamson.

Northcutt has never shown he could be a go-to receiver. Walker hasn't been fully healthy during his two years in the league. And Williamson, a former first-round pick, played sparingly last season after getting trading to Jacksonville following three miserable years in Minnesota.

Holt certainly boosts the Jaguars' wideout position. The seven-time Pro Bowler ranks 11th on the NFL's career list with 869 receptions. He caught 64 passes for 796 yards and three touchdowns for St. Louis last season. The Rams released him in March days before he was due a $1.25 million roster bonus.

Anquan Boldin on the move!!!

2009-04-16T14:24:00.000-05:00

If a team's looking for a young, legitimate number one receiver, they certainly have options right now. The Browns are looking to trade Braylon Edwards, and now the Cardinals are open to offers for Anquan Boldin. Both are relatively young, both are very good, and maybe most importantly for a wide receiver, neither appears to be clinically insane.

So where might they end up? Let's look at the contenders:

• Philadelphia Eagles. Naturally. Anytime a receiver's available -- and I mean absolutely any receiver -- the Eagles are always the first team anyone mentions. This makes sense, because the Eagles don't have very good wide receivers, and they haven't for some time.

But here's why I'd bet against Philadelphia: Because it never, ever happens. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, and the Eagles past behavior indicates that they just don't care about adding a big-time wideout. They don't think it's worth the price they'd have to pay. History says the Eagles might pretend to be interested, but they won't be pulling the trigger.

• New York Giants. They were in the Braylon Edwards business, and that deal isn't quite done yet. I'm sure they'll give Arizona a call, kick the tires on Anquan, and compare prices. Clearly, they're after a new number one receiver after the departure and possible incarceration of Plaxico Burress. Both guys would fit the bill perfectly.

• Baltimore Ravens. Joe Flacco needs targets, and Derrick Mason isn't going to last forever (I don't think). They can try to snag one in the draft, but this year's class is not thought of as one that's particularly good for receivers, and the Ravens don't pick until pretty late in the first round. Whatever receiver they get there isn't likely to be tremendously productive in his rookie year.

• Tennessee Titans. They need the help at receiver, and there have been indications that they know it and are willing to go get it.

NFL schedules are released...

2009-04-15T09:30:00.001-05:00

1. Tough flying for Falcons
Maybe I missed it, but the Atlanta Falcons must have done something to tick off the guy who makes the schedule. A year after a stunning worst-to-contender season, they face a difficult climb.

They start with back-to-back home games against 2008 playoff teams and a road trip to New England before taking an earlier-than-needed bye. After playing the Dolphins, Panthers and Pats, the Falcons could have two weeks to stare at a record of 1-2 or worse.

In contrast, the 2008 Falcons built confidence with homes games against the Lions and Chiefs in the season's first three weeks—between them, Detroit and Kansas City had two wins for the season.

And it gets worse. The Falcons play four teams coming off bye weeks: the Bears, Cowboys, Redskins and Giants. As to three of those games, the Falcons play on the road in the week before playing the team that has had a week off.

2. Quinn's potential homecoming
Amid rumors that Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn is on the trading block and in light of the fact that the Vikings still need a good one, a trade of Quinn to Minnesota would give interesting flavor to Week 1.

On Sept. 13, the Vikings play in Cleveland. It would make for an interesting homecoming, to say the least.

Even without Quinn playing for the Vikes, the Browns face another possible 0-3 start, with the home game against the defending NFC North champs followed by trips to Denver and Baltimore.

3. Not much respect for the Cardinals
Apparently, the NFL doesn't think that the Arizona Cardinals' Super Bowl run has transformed the long-suffering franchise into a national attraction.

After the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, the Cardinals have one Monday night game, on Dec. 14 at San Francisco. The Cardinals also have two Sunday night games—at home against the Colts and on the road against the Giants. Both games land before the annual "flex schedule" feature launches, which means that Arizona's potential blowout losses in each of the games is guaranteed to be seen by a national audience.

4. Lions get early crack at a win
During their historic 0-16 season, the Detroit Lions had near-miss games against their NFC North nemesis—the Vikings.

This season, the Lions get a crack at the Vikings in Week 2 at Detroit.

So the Lions could be at .500, a year after their finished at .000.

But it won't be their only shot at getting that elusive victory. With games from last season against AFC South and NFC South teams replaced by games with AFC North and NFC West teams, the Lions get a crack at 2008 also-rans the Browns, Bengals, Seahawks, Rams and 49ers.

5. Merry Christmas from NFLN
This year, Christmas lands on a Friday. And Christmas night will feature a special gift from the NFL.

But you'll need access to the NFL Network in order to unwrap the prime-time present between the San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

In other words, Comcast customers will be getting a lump of coal in their stockings.

Though it would be nice to see the NFL and Comcast (and every other major cable company) work out their differences by Dec. 25, there's a greater chance of Santa Claus sliding down the chimney, pulling up a seat next to you on the couch and chugging Coronas while taking in the game via satellite.

6. ESPN's schedule still leaves much to be desired
As ESPN enters the fourth season of a deal that pays the league $1.1 billion for the privilege of airing the Monday night package, the folks in Bristol continue to get games that are less than stellar.

One of the 17 games features two playoff teams from 2008. Two of the games involve two teams that didn't make it to the playoffs last season.

There aren't many appearances from the teams that carry a rabid national following. The Patriots appear twice. The Cowboys, once. The Steelers and Colts land on ESPN one time each. Also, the New York teams—the Jets the Giants—play on Monday night one time each as well.

Meanwhile, the NBC schedule has eight games featuring two 2008 playoff teams and three games featuring the Cowboys, Giants, Colts and Steelers.

And the flex scheduling.

NBC is paying roughly half the amount that ESPN forks over.

7. NFL still fears baseball
One of my major pet peeves regarding the NFL schedule is the inevitable October open Sunday night, coinciding with a World Series game.

Why won't the NFL go toe-to-toe with baseball? Even the most humdrum NFL regular-season game would draw more eyeballs than postseason baseball.

Maybe it's a professional courtesy. Or maybe the NFL wants the baseball folks to continue to fall under the grossly mistaken impression that their sport is still the national pastime.

It isn't, and the folks who run baseball seem to be the only ones who have yet to figure that out.

8. Bye weeks could see several teams saying "buh-bye" to their coaches
Every year, a stumbling team considers the possibility of dumping a coach on the Monday before their bye week.

This season, several bye weeks could result in one or more coaches bidding farewell to their employment.

After five weeks, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones could decide to send Wade Phillips packing. In the days preceding Week 8, the Redskins could cut short the Jim Zorn experiment.

Week 9 could be the worst. Depending on how their respective teams finish the season's first half, Brad Childress of the Vikings, Dick Jauron of the Bills and Tom Cable of the Raiders could be in trouble.

Then there's Gary Kubiak of the Texans, who could be in serious danger of being bumped if his team is stuck in the AFC South basement after nine games.

9. Several key teams don't have to fret "bye" weeks
With the Falcons facing four teams who'll have two weeks to prepare, several franchises won't play a single team coming off a bye week.

The list includes the participants in Super Bowl 43—the Steelers and Cardinals.

The Eagles, Vikings, Colts and Patriots also get the benefit of playing no teams whose prior week involved no game.

Though the league is taking steps to make the schedule more equitable, this is one area that requires immediate and meaningful attention.

10. Dawkins' homecoming could be anticlimactic
One of the most anticipated games on the 2009 schedule features safety Brian Dawkins' return to Philadelphia.

But the game comes late in the season—in Week 16 to be precise, the Eagles' regular-season home finale.

A cynical mind might wonder whether the Eagles asked the league to delay the game. In late December, there's a greater chance that Dawkins will be injured and unable to play than if the game had been set for September.

Also, the passage of time could make the home crowd less inclined to make a huge fuss.

Besides, if it's really cold out that day, all those orange Broncos jerseys will be covered by winter coats.

Chicago Bears acquire Jay Cutler from Denver!

2009-04-03T08:34:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Bears acquired disgruntled Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler in a trade on Thursday afternoon, giving up quarterback Kyle Orton and first-round picks in 2009 (18th overall) and 2010, along with a third-round pick (84th overall) in 2009 to do it.

To complete the trade, the Broncos had to give back a fifth-round pick (140th overall) in 2009. That pick was acquired by the Broncos from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade for wide receiver Keary Colbert.

The Bears beat out the Redskins, Buccaneers, Lions, Titans and other teams to land the 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback. The Broncos had made it clear they were asking for at least two first-round choices.

Cutler had asked to be traded when he found out first-year Denver coach Josh McDaniels tried to acquire Matt Cassel in a trade with the Patriots.

"I don't have any concerns," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said. "[Coach Lovie Smith] and I talked about that. We did, like a lot of people who were interested in Jay, a lot of work going back to not just when he was with Denver [but] but going back to his days at Vanderbilt."

Angelo said area scout Rex Hogan lives in the Nashville area and developed a "great rapport" with Cutler coming out of Vanderbilt in 2006.

"We felt that [Cutler] is a very good person, a good leader," Angelo said. "He had some things that happened in Denver. We recognized those, but we treated them as just speed bumps, part of the growing process. He's highly competitive, he's highly emotional. That just comes with the territory."

Although Cutler is 17-20 as a starter, he's been victimized by dismal defenses in Denver, and he was an impressive 13-1 when the Broncos held opponents to 21 points or fewer.

Last year, Cutler threw for a franchise record 4,526 yards, 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. In his 37-game career in Denver, he completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 9,024 yards, 54 TDs and 37 interceptions.

Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, upon hearing that Cutler was now his teammate, was stunned by the news.

"I guess the Bears felt like we needed another quarterback, so they made a move," Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune. "They gave up a lot. Cutler must be pretty good."

"I guess we got better as a team," Urlacher added, according to the newspaper. "You get a quarterback who is a Pro Bowl guy. But I will say this: I think Kyle Orton is a good quarterback. He's a great teammate. I hope he does really well in Denver."

Cutler is scheduled to travel to Chicago, where he must pass a physical exam before the trade becomes official. He could not be immediately reached for comment. But Bus Cook, Cutler's agent, told ESPN that Cutler is pleased that the team he followed while growing up in northern Indiana had acquired him.

"I know Jay's choices would have been Chicago and Tennessee simply because that's where he grew up and went to school,'' Cook said. "It's unfortunate from one standpoint, but once it got to the point where a trade had to happen, it couldn't have turned out better for Jay, and I think the Broncos got a great compensation package for him.''

Cook said the Bears have not made Cutler any promises about renegotiating his contract. "That wasn't what this was about,'' Cook said. "This was not about a new deal. It was never mentioned to Denver, never suggested, and that wasn't part of this. It was a matter of some personalities that weren't going to get along too well. It was not about a new contract.''

On Tuesday, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement saying both he and McDaniels had been unable to get Cutler to call them back during the past 10 days. Cutler also had been staying away from the offseason program.

As a result, the Broncos decided to trade Cutler, whom they were convinced "no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos."

According to NFL senior analyst Chris Mortensen, however, Cutler replied, "No," in a text message when asked whether Bowlen had directly tried to contact him.

Cook said the Broncos first got in touch with him on Tuesday.

"The perception that they've been burning the phone lines the last 10 days is wrong," Cook said. "In fact, the other day, I asked Jay if he had heard from them and he said, 'No.' I didn't hear from them until yesterday [Tuesday] morning when [GM] Brian Xanders called me and said that Mr. Bowlen needs to speak with Jay now. I told him all I can do is leave Jay a message.

"I didn't reach Jay directly -- I don't know what he was doing -- but I left a message. Then Brian called at the end of the day and asked me if I had heard from him. I hadn't. I heard from Jay when he called to tell me he just saw on TV he was being traded. They can spin it the way they want to spin it."

Jay Cutler on the move again....

2009-04-02T10:28:00.001-05:00

This could be the scenario Rex Ryan and the New York Jets were waiting for – not to mention several other teams that have been silently circling the Jay Cutler/Denver Broncos duel.

While he couldn’t speak specifically about Cutler, Ryan went to great lengths to downplay media reports that the Jets were in the running for the disgruntled Pro Bowler. And while much of his time was spent talking up his current quarterbacks, he failed to close the door when asked directly if he would consider adding a veteran to that mix. Instead, Ryan opted for the tried and true fallback of saying he’d consider “all options.”

He’s not alone. Several teams have failed to squash the Cutler speculation, hiding behind league tampering rules when all it truly would have taken is six definitive words: “We won’t trade for a quarterback.” And now that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has officially put Cutler back on the market, most of the league’s quarterback-needy teams will be thrust back into the mix. According to multiple league sources, six teams have shown previous interest and are expected to take part in talks again: the Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

Super Bowl rematch headlines new season!

2009-03-31T09:09:00.001-05:00

Also the Titans have a few big games on their schedule including the Hall of Fame game and the first game in the new Cowboys stadium!

ESPN will kick off its 2009 Monday Night Football preseason schedule with a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII when the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.

ESPN's Mike Tirico and analysts Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser will call four NFL preseason games during the month of August -- one on Thursday and three on Mondays -- before their regular-season debut on Monday, Sept. 14. All MNF preseason games will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

The NFL's exhibition season begins Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio, where the Buffalo Bills will play the Tennessee Titans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. The Dallas Cowboys will play for the first time in their new $1.1 billion stadium Aug. 21, facing the Titans.

Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald -- who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh -- will lead the defending NFC champion Cardinals against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers at Heinz Field in the August 13 game.

On Monday, Aug. 17, Eli Manning and the NFC East champion New York Giants will host the Carolina Panthers, winners of the NFC South in 2008, at Giants Stadium on ESPN.

A week later, the Baltimore Ravens will host the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium as Jets first-year coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan returns to Baltimore.

On August 31, ESPN will close out its preseason schedule when the Minnesota Vikings face the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

Carson Palmer back for fantasy owners?

2009-03-31T09:08:00.001-05:00

Bengals starting quarterback Carson Palmer says his elbow is "100 percent" and ready to go for the 2009 season.

Cincinnati started offseason workouts on Monday, which was the first opportunity for Palmer to work with the team since his injury last fall that caused him to miss 12 games but didn't require surgery. The Bengals will keep Palmer on a "pitch count" all the way through training camp only as a precautionary measure.

"I'm 100 percent," Palmer said. "I've been cleared. My elbow feels great and I just have to keep going and get the small mechanical things that I normally do this time of year."

Palmer is coming off a season-ending injury for the second time in four seasons. But Palmer says his body feels rejuvenated with the additional rest, and that he is ready to try to lead the Bengals to a successful season.

Palmer has been throwing three times a week near his home in Southern California. Several of the Bengals' young receivers have joined him for the sessions, including Jerome Simpson, a second-round draft pick last year.

"I saw that old Carson Palmer I used to look at when I was younger," Simpson said. "He has that strong arm, and he's just throwing the ball around and having fun. There was some zip on it. He overthrew me one time, and I hadn't seen that for a long time. I was surprised, but it showed me he's getting back to the old Carson now."

Palmer's younger brother, Jordan, is a backup Bengals quarterback and worked out with him at the sessions in California. Jordan Palmer was reminded of how his brother overcame injuries in the past, including a severe knee injury in the 2005 playoffs that required reconstructive surgery. Palmer left knee was hurt on his first pass in a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, but he didn't miss any games in 2006.

"It's in his nature," Jordan Palmer said. "And that's why he's the man. He's ready to roll, and I think he'll be back and stronger than ever. I think he's really excited about this year. It was important for him to come into it healthy, and that's where he is now."

Palmer, 29, threw for just 731 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions in four games in 2008. The Bengals finished 4-11-1 as a team last season.

Titans vs. Steelers open 2009 season!

2009-03-24T07:54:00.001-05:00

The Pittsburgh Steelers get their opening-night showcase as Super Bowl champions. The oldest rivalry in football has a first-week renewal in prime time. An old AFL-style doubleheader closes out the weekend.

That's how the NFL will begin the 2009 season, starting with as juicy a matchup as possible: Pittsburgh hosting the Tennessee Titans, who merely had the league's best record in 2008 and who beat the Steelers 31-14 at Heinz Field in the 15th game of the season.

Opening kickoff is Thursday night, Sept. 10 on NBC, which also gets the 178th meeting between the Bears and Packers, in Green Bay on Sunday night, Sept. 13.

For those surprised that the Cowboys, who open their palatial new stadium this season, are not featured in a night game in Week 1, well, baseball got in the way. So Dallas, the NFL's biggest TV draw, which is moving to Arlington, Texas, near the Rangers' ballpark -- the Rangers are home that weekend -- will have to wait until the second week, when the Cowboys are expected to host the Sunday nighter.

"We have the chance to get on the national game the second weekend with not being able to get on the first weekend," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Monday at the owners meetings. "We're having to work with the league on some things."

The Cowboys and Lions get to keep their traditional Thanksgiving hosting slots.

The Lions go back to meeting the Packers that day, a matchup that occurred every year from 1951-63 and will happen for the 19th time. The Raiders will be at the Cowboys following that, and the NFL Network night game will feature the New York Giants at Denver.

"The Thanksgiving game is a tradition and we're proud to have it and to continue it in the new stadium," Jones said. "It's very important to us."

Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged there continues to be discussions about rotating the Thanksgiving afternoon contests.

"We did not feel it was appropriate at this time," he said, adding the league's competition and broadcast committees were looking into the matter.

The Monday night doubleheader on ESPN on Sept. 14 will feature Buffalo, with Terrell Owens, at New England, with, the Patriots hope, a returning Tom Brady. That game will be followed by San Diego at Oakland -- all original AFL franchises.

While the AFL began play in 1960 and is not 50 years old until 2010, the NFL has chosen to observe the 50th season of play by those franchises. The celebration of that league, which merged with the NFL in 1966 and began play as one entity in 1970, begins with the Sept. 14 doubleheader.

Goodell said he was hopeful a proposal for an expansion of the regular season to either 17 or 18 games could be presented to the owners at the May league meetings in Fort Lauderdale. The league is considering dropping one or two preseason games and extending the regular schedule, but remaining within the current 20-game format, although not likely before 2011.

To do so will involve discussions with the players union and the league's media partners. Of course, the collective bargaining agreement with the players expires after the 2010 season, so a longer schedule is just one of many issues in getting a deal done with the NFLPA.

"I haven't made a decision on whether we'll have a 17-game or 18-game season. We'll have a good feeling on it when we come out of these meetings," Goodell said. "We have to sit down with our partners and go through negotiations. We think our content continues to be more valuable to our partners."

In other news, Goodell announced Monday the parameters of the league's new TV deal with DirecTV. According to ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen, the NFL will receive $1 billion per year for four years, up $700 million from the previous deal.

In the new deal, DirecTV is expected to add expanded elements to its NFL Sunday Ticket package.

Also, the Titans and Bengals each were awarded four compensatory picks in April's draft for free agents they lost in 2008.

In all, half of the 32 teams received compensatory selections, which are given from the third through seventh rounds of the draft.

Goodell also mentioned possibly creating a developmental league: "I would like to explore that in the next negotiations."

The commissioner does not expect an uncapped season to occur next year; the current CBA calls for one.

"I don't believe that will be the case," he said, noting the NFL's calendar for a CBA begins in March.

He noted that nearly three-quarters of the teams did not raise ticket prices this year, and that the NFL has been hit by the economic downturn. The league trimmed its staff by 15 percent and many teams have laid off employees -- even as free agents reap millions in guaranteed salary.

"It's definitely hitting us on our revenue side," he said of the economy. "The risks become greater in that kind of a climate and your revenues become challenged. There's a lot of uncertainty out there."

Titans lose CB Chris Carr to Baltimore

2009-03-18T10:34:00.000-05:00

Carr signed a 2-year, $5 million deal Wednesday, while cutting Rolle saves the team $4.1 million under the salary cap.

Carr is expected to back up Fabian Washington and Domonique Foxworth and return kicks. The four-year veteran played for the Oakland Raiders from 2005-07 and the Tennessee Titans last year.

Rolle has spent the past four seasons with the Ravens, playing 48 games. He was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2007 but returned to play in six games that season.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says he expects other teams to be interested in Rolle, but he hasn't ruled out bringing him back to Baltimore.

Tennessee Vols land the nation's top recruit!

2009-03-16T17:18:00.001-05:00

When Lane Kiffin was announced as the new coach at Tennessee, he vowed that he and his staff would go out and get the best players in the country.

Little did anyone expect that Kiffin and Co. would go out in three months and sign the nation's No. 1 player.

But in a press conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Vols did just that in landing running back Bryce Brown.

"I asked God to reveal it to me," Brown said. "He gave me the sign. When I first went there (on official visit) I wasn't feeling it. I had a lot of concerns about Tennessee and the offense. When I went back, I got the sign. God told me that I was a Volunteer. I just felt it."

Bryce Brown picked Tennessee on Monday.

That feel came mostly from seeing Tennessee work out Friday night inside Neyland Stadium.

"It was very important," Brown said of his unofficial visit over the weekend. "When I went there the first time, I just didn't get a good feel offensively of what they wanted to do. Seeing spring practice and seeing the offense work, it's exactly what I was looking for. They have a lot of coaches with NFL experience and I felt that they could help me best get prepared for the next level."

Like Brown's entire recruitment, Monday's announcement was full of suspense and some drama. It started 10 minutes late and Brown pulled out a Miami hat that he had been seen wearing Sunday and Monday.

But as it appeared he might be saying he was a Hurricane, Brown turned and handed the hat to his older brother Arthur Brown and donned a Tennessee hat declaring he was a Vol.

The quest for Brown, who said Kansas State finished second, has centered mostly around friend/handler Brian Butler. But the Vols, led by offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and running backs coach Eddie Gran, took a different approach recruiting Brown and his parents.

Brown, who said his position coach would be was a key element to his decision, obviously likes Gran.

"I like Coach Gran a lot," Brown said. "His philosophy is a lot like Brian's [Butler]. He expects nothing but the best from you, and that is what I am used to.

"I wanted to go to a place where I knew the coaches would push me and make me work the hardest every day. I learned yesterday at church when there is a lot of pressure on me, that is when I am at my best."

And Tennessee fans hope Brown is at his best on the field this fall.

Titans sign another defensive back

2009-03-16T08:47:00.001-05:00

Tennessee signed restricted free agent cornerback Jarrett Bush to an offer sheet Friday, giving the Green Bay Packers seven days to either match the contract or allow him to go to the Titans.

If the Packers don’t match, signing Bush won’t cost the Titans a draft pick as compensation. Green Bay had tendered Bush so low that the team only asked for right of first refusal.

Bush has one start in 46 games in three seasons with the Packers. He would provide depth to a Titans secondary that lost Eric King to free agency and could lose Chris Carr to free agency.

Bush was signed by Carolina as an undrafted free agent out of Utah State in 2006 and claimed by Green Bay off waivers in September 2006.

The Cutler/Denver Saga continues...

2009-03-16T08:45:00.001-05:00

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said Sunday night that he will not report to the team's first meeting on Monday and has formally asked to be traded. He confirmed that a Saturday meeting with first-year coach Josh McDaniels ended badly from his perspective while McDaniels offered another viewpoint on Sunday night.

"I went in there with every intention of solving the issue, being a Bronco, moving forward as a Bronco," Cutler said. "We weren't in there but about 20 minutes, [McDaniels] did most of the talking and as far as I'm concerned, he made it clear he wants his own guy. He admitted he wanted Matt Cassel because he said he has raised him up from the ground as a quarterback. He said he wasn't sorry about it. He made it clear that he could still entertain trading me because, as he put it, he'll do whatever he feels is in the best interest of the organization.

"At the end of the meeting, he wasn't like, 'Jay, I want you as our quarterback, you're our guy.' It felt like the opposite. He basically said that I needed to tell him if we can't work this out, to let him know," Cutler added. "I thought he was antagonizing me and that was disappointing because I was ready to move on, committed as a Bronco. Really, I figured we'd hash things out, shake hands, laugh a little and move forward. What happened [Saturday] was the last thing I expected. If I didn't think it could be fixed, I never would have come back to Denver. It was painfully obvious to me and Bus [Cook, his agent] it's not something they want to fix."

Consequently, Cutler instructed Cook, who also attended the meeting, to formally request a trade. The quarterback said he left town late Sunday and would skip McDaniels' first team meeting on Monday as they begin their offseason program.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told the Denver Post on Sunday that he was disappointed with how Cutler has handled the situation. In a telephone interview with ESPN, McDaniels was reluctantly expansive on the story.

"I really have wanted to avoid a he-said, she-said thing but it's only fair for us to present the Bronco side of the story rather than let things get taken out of context," McDaniels said. "There's been a pattern here for the past two weeks the way things [have been represented] in our communications. I don't think anythng that happened [Saturday] was out of the ordinary. At the end of the meeting, Jay said he had thought about things quite a bit and requested a few more hours to mull things over. He said he wanted to talk to Bus on how to proceed. He was gonna call me on my cell phone and that never happened. Instead, Bus called [GM] Brian [Xanders].

"Again, I think that's been a pattern. I couldn't get [Cutler] to talk to me for two weeks or to talk to Mr. Bowlen. Then when he came here this weekend, we couldn't get a one-on-one meeting, just me and him alone. He wanted Bus in there, so I had Brian sit in, too. And it was the four of us. There wasn't any yelling, none of that. I can't believe we get to a totally different [interpretation].

"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances that has cropped up, a potential distraction and we've done our best to limit that. The main message I want to get out is that we're excited to start our offseason program [Monday]. It's an exciting time for us."

Cutler won't be present at the team meeting.

"I certainly went back there, expecting I'd be there [Monday] but not now," Cutler said. "It's not mandatory. I'll attend every mandatory mini-camp and training camp but that's it. Really, it's best for me to move on. As coach said, he needs every eye in the meeting room to be on him and not me."

As McDaniels pointed out, Cutler had a completely different expectation when he left their private meeting on Saturday.

Cutler said: "You know, even after the meeting, I hung around town, kind of expecting him to call me and say, 'Hey, let's just me and you get away and have lunch or a cup of coffee' and mend things, but that didn't happen. So, I get it, really, it's a business. I'm disappointed beause I love being a Bronco but I think it's run its course."

McDaniels admitted that the team got involved in trade discussions for Cassel, who instead was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he said any perception Cutler felt that the team could still trade him was misleading.

"That's what we have communicated ever since the deal with Cassel didn't happen," McDaniels said. "Other teams have called but we're not interested in getting draft picks for Jay. I never made a statement [Saturday] that 'you can be traded at any time.' They asked a question and I told them it was the time of year when people inquire about your team. Your job, as a head coach and general manager, is to listen and not bypass any opportunity to help your team improve. I think most people [in the NFL] feel the same way. You make smart, educated decisions that are best for your football team."

Cutler feels like McDaniels lost his credibility with him when he initially denied to the quarterback that the Broncos tried to acquire Cassel only to admit it later.

"Before this trade for Cassel thing ever came up, in the two weeks or so I had spent with McDaniels, he was basically telling me that he came to Denver because he wanted to coach me and that we needed to trust each other," Cutler said. "He's never been critical to me. But trust now? How can I trust him now?"

He also explained that his house being put up for sale was "nothing more than a coincidence."

"I had already shown my house privately to some interested buyers a couple of months ago," Cutler said. "I've really been looking to buy 40 to 70 acres of land there."

As for ignoring phone calls from McDaniels and Bowlen, Cutler said: "Josh and I have exchanged text messages. We had a conference call. And if Pat wanted to speak to me, why didn't he come to the meeting on Saturday?"

Cook said that as an agent he was "totally in shock" that it has gotten so ugly.

"I would have bet my house going into Saturday's meeting that everyone would be shaking hands and smiling," Cook said. "I thought it was going to get worked out. But it was very clear to me that Jay Cutler is not their choice to be quarterback of that team."

Yet Cook admitted that when he called Xanders to request a trade on Saturday night, the team's general manager said it wasn't going to happen and that "Jay should show up Monday."

That wasn't going to happen, either.

The Days of our Lives (Denver Edition)

2009-03-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

After a contentious conference call between quarterback Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos' brass on Monday, the situation has gone "from bad to worse", according to a source close to the situation. The call was supposed to be a meeting of the minds between Cutler and the Broncos' brass, in particular new head coach Josh McDaniels. The two got sideways Feb. 28 when word broke that McDaniels, the former New England offensive coordinator who replaced Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons, engaged in discussions about acquiring Matt Cassel from the Patriots in a three-way trade. Cutler had maintained the Broncos initiated the talks. McDaniels publicly said he was approached about a deal.

The conference call was anything but genial and the two sides are now further apart than prior to it, the source said. The source added that the Broncos' tone of the conference call was as if Cutler created the situation by asking for the trade and not the other way around.

A Broncos source with knowledge of the discussions said that two sides did not grow further apart in Monday's conference call and that issues were discussed openly and it was re-emphasized to Cutler he will not be traded.

The first source said McDaniels wouldn't confirm or deny whether the Broncos initiated the trade talks. The Broncos did, though, tell Cutler that every player on the team could be traded and he could be traded at any time. Still, Denver owner Pat Bowlen also stated in the conversation that Cutler will not be traded. The Broncos publicly said Cutler will not be traded last week as the Cutler trade frenzy was in full force.

After the phone call, the first source said Cutler would rather be traded now if Denver isn't going to commit to him long-term. The first source maintains Cutler was totally on board with McDaniels until the trade talks story broke and that trust is Cutler's biggest problem with McDaniels and the organization.

The first source said Cutler is still mulling over whether he will show up for the team's offseason conditioning program, which begins Monday. The Broncos' source stated that Cutler needs to meet with McDaniels in person to keep the situation moving in the right direction.

Bill Williamson covers the AFC West for ESPN.com.

L.T. signs 3-year deal with the Chargers!

2009-03-11T10:39:00.001-05:00

Tomlinson will be a Charger for three more years after signing a contract extension this morning.

In addition to not taking a pay cut in 2009, Tomlinson receives an unspecified guaranteed amount of money in 2010, the source said. The amount might not be large enough to guarantee Tomlinson can't be cut next year, but it gives him some security for the 2010 season.

A trade off, Tomlinson reduced his salaries in 2010 and 2011. He was scheduled to make $8 million next year and $9.275 million in 2011. The final three years of his old contract was worth $24 million over three years.

"This is a good day for the Chargers and for Chargers fans," owner Dean Spanos said. "It was important for me to get this done so L.T. could continue his career here in San Diego where he means so much to our team, our fans and our community. The alternative was just unthinkable. He belongs in San Diego."

Tomlinson said, "I love San Diego and being a part of this team with my teammates. My No. 1 priority was to stay here in San Diego. I truly believe this is the place that gives me the best chance to be successful and win a championship. I want to finish the job we started when I got here eight years ago. My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn't imagine putting on another uniform.

"I really appreciate the role Dean played throughout this process. He made it work for everyone and I appreciate his friendship more than he knows."

Tomlinson was slowed during the regular season with a toe injury, then hurt his groin in the season finale. He was forced out of an overtime playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts and sat out against the Steelers, the first game he'd missed due to injury in his brilliant eight-year career.

It was the second straight year his postseason was cut short by injury. That, coupled with the fact Tomlinson turns 30 this summer, raised questions about how long he would be a Charger. The team said it needed salary cap relief in order to sign other players to contract extensions, and it zeroed in on Tomlinson's deal.

Ravens make promises...

2009-03-09T13:58:00.001-05:00

Baltimore says it will go get a big name free agent and speculation is revolving around top notch receivers. Rumor has it, Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison have been asked to speak to the GM Ozzie Newsome. Baltimore could be a dangerous team by adding a top receiver to pair with Derrick Mason. Joe Flacco is really happy right now!

T.O. finds new home in Buffalo!

2009-03-08T12:58:00.002-05:00

Owens only took two days to find a new home. His departure from Dallas and arrival in Buffalo only shows everyone that if you are talented and one of the top five guys at your position, you can find a place to play. For everything negative Owens brings to the table, he produces results everywhere he goes. Statistically speaking he is in the top three in nearly every receiving category for his career. My honest opinion is he will produce in Buffalo also and be a good fantasy option. Lee Evans is either smiling because T.O. will take his double coverage or upset that Owens will want the ball every play. Either way, Buffalo just gained one of the best producers receivers ever!

more T.O. drama...

2009-03-05T15:41:00.000-06:00

A news article from my blog reader at ESPN.com

Terrell Owens has been on three different NFL teams, and despite the fact that he's been tremendously productive with all of them, they have all eventually decided that he's just not worth the trouble.

So here's the big question: Will there be a fourth team for Owens?

My knee-jerk reaction is that yes, of course there will be a fourth team, because NFL history has shown time and time again that no matter how much of a disruption, nuisance, or attention whore someone happens to be, there's always someone out there who will roll the dice on immense talent.

But keep a few things in mind. First, Terrell Owens is 35 years old, and if this offseason has shown us anything, it's that old guys don't always get the money they want. I can see a lot of teams saying, "Hey, it might be fun to have Terrell Owens out there catching passes for us," but I can't see a lot of teams who will guarantee him big-time dollars to do it. That could be an issue.

Owens has also said that he wanted to end his career with the Cowboys. He's shown time and time again that he's very sensitive to criticism. Maybe this is the thing that makes him say to himself, "This just isn't worth it anymore."

I don't know. Again, I tend to think that some team out there will convince themselves he's worth a shot, but I see a lot of stumbling blocks along the way. I think it's likely, though not necessarily a given, that Terrell Owens plays football for someone in '09.

As for who that might be, one team immediately comes to mind, and it might be the one team in the NFL with an owner crazier than Jerry Jones. I speak, of course, of the Oakland Raiders. Al Davis loves to make a splash, he loves a vertical passing game, he has a high tolerance for guys with behavioral issues, and he will spend money. Cap room would be an issue, but it seems like teams always find a way to figure these things out.

Just a thought. I'm sure we'll mention this once or twice again before the day is over.

Top Players on the move

2009-03-05T10:49:00.002-06:00

Kurt Warner signs two-year deal worth $23M with Arizona, Laverneus Coles signs deal with Cincinnati to replace TJH. Ray Lewis also stayed in Baltimore for another three years. The news for players on the way out, Terrell Owens was cut this morning by the Cowboys, and the rumor mill is churning with reports St. Louis will cut Torry Holt this week after he asked to be released. The rumored destination is of course Dallas!

More free agent news!

2009-03-03T11:01:00.002-06:00

Tennessee Titans missed out the big free agent I thought they should have pursued in TJH. TJ signed with Seattle yesterday filling a huge void they had at receiver. The Titans however signed free agent Nate Washington from Pittsburgh ti fill the receiver hole. I think this is a big help for us. We also signed Jevon Haye from Tampa to become our new defensive tackle. Haye is a three year starter from a good Tampa defense.

Tampa signed Derrick Ward from NYG, and to me this was a great sign. Tampa should get immediate impact at running back from him.

Titans free agent news!

2009-03-02T09:00:00.003-06:00

The Titans have lost another free agent this morning. Brandon Jones has signed with the 49ers, making the Titans wide receiving corp more depleted than before.

In some good free agent news, the Titans resigned Kerry Collins for two more years as well as nickle back Vincent Fuller. The Titans also have two bigger name free agents coming to Nashville this week. Nate Washington, wide receiver, from the Steelers will be her today and Chris Canty, starting defensive tackle, for the Cowboys will also be here this week.

I really hope they take some of that Haynesworth money and get a big name WR like maybe TJH from Cincinnati!

Off-Season 2009

2009-02-27T13:14:00.001-06:00

Haynesworth leaves the Titans for the Redskins. Boooooo!

Matt Cassel gets playoffs player of the Week

2008-12-23T11:44:00.002-06:00

He had 345 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Patriots one step closer to the playoffs. He gets my vote for the player of the week this week.

Cumberland Football League Playoff Update

2008-12-23T11:36:00.002-06:00

Micah has become the juggernaut in the playoffs knocking off top seed Craig. Micah and Jason S. will play for the Super Bowl this coming weekend with Craig and I battling for third place. Eddie bested Danny for the fifth place in a route. I think the match up between Micah and Jason will be a good one. I have some interesting ideas for our draft order for next year. I am proposing the draft be he order of finish from the previous year, giving the super bowl champ the first pick and so on. The will give the teams an incentive to play even if they are not in the super bowl and rewards the champ for winning. I know most leagues the worst team drafts one, but since we do not keep players or teams, that doesn't make sense. What do you guys think?

Out of the Loop

2008-12-23T11:32:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the lack of updates last week, I have been out of the loop and little under the weather. I will try to catch back up. The fantasy leagues either wrapped up this past weekend of will be playing the Super Bowl this coming weekend. I finished third in a live draft league featuring 12 teams. Not bad considering I picked 11 out of 12. I finished fifth in our office auto-draft league. I had a good team just played bad at the worst time (playoffs). I just got beat in the semis of my live draft league I host. I will playing for third place this weekend.

Antonio Bryant Week 14 Player of the Week

2008-12-14T09:49:00.001-06:00

Antonio had 9 catches for 200 yards and 2 TD's. One of the better receiving performances of the year and has moved him into must start category.

Cumberland Football League ends regular season!

2008-12-14T09:30:00.002-06:00

The Cumberland League ended the regular season with Craig finishing as the top seed. Jason S. -2, Jason C. (me) -3, Micah -4, Eddie -5, and Danny -6. The playoffs start this week with the top two seeds getting byes. I thought I would do the post regular season awards.

League MVP
-Drew Brees - He finished the fantasy regular season with the most points and in the fantasy business, that is what counts. He is playing for a fantasy playoff team , made the difference getting his fantasy owner into the playoffs.

Comeback Player of the Year
- Peyton Manning - Started of the season in a slump, did not play well the first four weeks, but after week 5 was the highest fantasy scorer per week the rest of the year.

Rookie of the Year
- Matt Forte - He has been a fantasy must start his entire rookie campaign. He did not out score Matt Ryan as a rookie, but Ryan played a better scoring position. Forte is a top 5 back this year and I predict to be a first rounder next year.

Surprise Fantasy Player of the Year
- Matt Cassel/Chad Pennington - Both players had top 10 quarterback years without anyone thinking they would even start. Cassel stepped in fro Brady has played great considering he hadn't started a game in like 9 years. Pennington has resurrected his career in Miami.

Week 14 Recap

2008-12-14T09:23:00.002-06:00

My starters were not very good, but my sitters were dead on. All five of my sitters play poorly, so I guess I was half right this week. My locks were two for three missing on the Washington pick. For the year, I am doing very well on the locks. This week was last in most leagues and the first round of the playoffs in others. My record for the playoff leagues were not good, losing in the first in each one. I have two leagues that start the playoffs this week. One league I have a first round bye and the other I am the #3 seed playing today. Good luck

Week 14 Locks!!

2008-12-07T08:27:00.002-06:00

I am back again to hopefully get you some locks this week.

1) Tennessee -10.5 vs. Cleveland. I really believe Cleveland will have their worse game of the season. Tennessee is great at defense, and very solid on offense. The have one of the best running games, and mix that with Cleveland starting a quarterback that hasn't played all year equals certain doom for the Browns.

2) Washington +7 vs. Baltimore. It's not that I think the ravens will not win, just not by more than a touch down. Washington can win, and with the points should cover.

3) Chicago -6.5 vs. Jacksonville. I think the Bears take a good step forward in their division with a solid win against the Jags. Forte will have a good day on the ground.

Good Luck!

Week 14 start/sits!

2008-12-07T08:02:00.003-06:00

This is the first playoff game in some leagues and the last regular season games in others, so the start/sits become so important. I think this is where it will make the difference on whether you keep playing or go home.

Starts

1) Dominik Hixon vs. Eagles. With Burress out for the season I expect the other receivers to pick up the slack. Last week I went with Toomer and he had a big game, this week it will be Hixon.

2) Eddie Royal vs. Chiefs. Cutler and company have been doing better each week, and they will want to punish their AFC West rival.

3) Leon Washington vs. 49ers. The Jets will be upset after last week disappointing loss. Leon is very good at scoring out of the backfield and the 49ers and bad at covering RB's on the pass.

4) Matt Cassel vs. Seahawks. Seattle is terrible and the Patriots are trying to make a playoff push. I think the will blow out Seattle to keep up with the Jets.

5) Lendale White vs. Browns. Tennessee will dominate Cleveland all day, clinch a playoff spot, and along with Chris Johnson, White will run all over them.

Sits

1) Jamal Lewis vs. Titans. No quarterback = no help for Lewis. Not to mention the defense is very good against the run.

2) Matt Hasselbeck vs. Patriots. New England has a great defense and Matt has had a very sub par season, I think New England will win this game handily.

3) Tony Romo vs. Steelers. I have Romo in a league that the playoffs begin today. i am true to my word and will sit my star in favor of my back up. I think without Barber in he line up and against the number one defense, he will struggle.

4) Clinton Portis vs. Ravens. He is injured and facing a great run defense. I have to start him because I do not have a quality reserve, but if you can... sit him.

5) David Garrard vs. Bears. Chicago has a stingy defense and will make it hard for Jacksonville to move the ball.

DeAngelo Williams (Week 13 Player of the Week)

2008-12-03T19:37:00.001-06:00

Williams ran for 72 yards and 4 touchdowns making fantasy owners very happy I am sure.

Cumberland Football League Week 13 updates

2008-12-03T19:20:00.002-06:00

Craig and I are heading into the last week of the regular season pitted against each other with the winner getting the first seed and a bye in the playoffs. Five of the six playoff spots have been decided and the last remaining spot is up for grabs. Four teams actually have a chance at getting the last spot. Eddie has the inside track, he needs only to win to get in, and after that John has the best chance due to having a total point lead, which breaks most ties.

Top 5 QB
1) Drew Brees - Micah - 316.10
2) Kurt Warner - Gary - 307.24
3) Aaron Rodgers - Craig - 295.08
4) Jay Cutler - Jason C. - 287.42
5) Philip Rivers - Darren - 272.10

Top 5 RB
1) Thomas Jones - Craig - 205.30
2) Matt Forte - Jason S. - 203.60
3) Michael Turner - Jason C. - 197.70
4) DeAngelo Williams - Gary - 190.30
5) Adrian Peterson - Craig - 189.10

Top 5 WR
1) Anquan Boldin - Danny - 176.50
2) Larry Fitzgerald - John - 170.90
3) Greg Jennings - Craig - 162.50
4) Roddy White - Jason C. - 155.50
5) Calvin Johnson - Craig - 154.60

Good Luck

Week 13 Recap

2008-12-03T19:15:00.002-06:00

I will start with grading my starters and sitters for the week. I had a couple good games (Toomer and Flacco) and only one bad game in McFadden. None of my sitters had a very good game so I guess I did alright. As far as my locks go, I only got one out of three right, that being the Colts games by 0.5. so I guess my lucky streak came to an end, better luck next week.

Week 13 LOCKS!

2008-11-29T16:14:00.003-06:00

I have been three for three the last two weeks, and I am going to try to continue the good run with these three selections.

1) Indianapolis -3.5 vs. Cleveland. The Browns lost Brady Quinn to a season-ending injury, and with the distractions of a QB controversy, Cleveland will not be on their game. Oh yeah, the Colts may be the hottest team in football right now and plowing the playoffs again.

2) Miami -8 vs. St. Louis. The Dolphins are the surprise team of the year. They are playing great and trying to stay in the AFC East title run as well. The Rams are very bad at every part of the game, look for the Dolphins to keep up with the pace in the AFC.

3) Oakland -3 vs. Kansas City. The Raiders are playing well and getting McFadden back will improve the team balance. They are not a top or even middle tier team, but I think at home will beat the Chiefs handily.

Good luck and mark them down!

Week 13 Starters/Sitters

2008-11-29T15:53:00.002-06:00

As the fantasy regular season nears the end and the playoffs begin, the starts and sits of your normal line up is crucial. The playoffs is when the match ups determine the line up, with the exception of maybe ten players league wise who should never sit. This is my five start/sits for the upcoming weekend.

Starts

1) Joe Flacco - vs. Cincinnati. Joe is looking better each week and the Bengals are just plain terrible. Their pass defense is one of the leagues worst and Baltimore is in the hunt to win the division and/or wildcard in the AFC. I think Flacco plays very good this week.

2) Darren McFadden - vs. Kansas City. DMC ran the ball well last week and with the Chiefs coming to Oakland, I see him going for 100 yards and two TD's.

3) Amani Toomer - vs. Washington. With Burress missing a second consecutive and possibly out for the season, Toomer will be the go to receiver for the Giants.

4) Warrick Dunn vs. New Orleans. Graham is out for the year and Dunn will be the option in the backfield. He is also a great receiver out of the back field.

5) Ted Ginn Jr. vs. St. Louis. Rams give up more points and big plays than any other team this year. I can see Ginn making a long touch down catch and returning a punt all the way.

Sitters

1) Chad Johnson vs. Baltimore. Chad missed last game with issues within the team and will play this week. I think against the Raven defense and missing last week, bench him.

2) Braylon Edwards vs. Indianapolis. Derek Anderson will back behind center this week, and I think that will be a distraction again and production will suffer.

3) Jason Campbell vs. NY Giants. The defense will sack, pressure and intercept Campbell all day Sunday. I think he will have a fumble and an interception Sunday.

4) Randy Moss vs. Pittsburgh. Moss had three touchdowns last Sunday and the Steelers excellent defensive back field will eliminate his touches. I think Cassel and company's high power offense will be cooled down this week.

5) Deuce McAllister vs. Tampa Bay. Big defensive unit will hold the rush to less than 75 yards and the Saints pass 65% of time anyway. Deuce will also loose touches if Reggie Bush returns as suspected.

Terrell Owens (Week 12 Player of the Week)

2008-11-26T10:17:00.001-06:00

T.O. had 7 catches for 213 yards and 1 touchdown. As much as I think Michael Turner had a better game, Owens has played so bad this year compared to last, that his game is what has stuck out for me. Therefore, Owens, you the man!

Cumberland Football League Week 12 Update

2008-11-26T09:32:00.002-06:00

Look slike Craig has some company at the the top! Team Jason's took control of the lead and made a three way tie for the best record. Two weeks remain in the regular season and three teams out of the six spots have clinched. Jason, Craig, and Jason are in with a win this week giving Danny a spot for sure. He looks like he is trying to squeeze into the playoffs and make a deep run like last year. A win this would go a long way in getting Micah into the playoffs. The rest of the field is playing catch up and has to win out to make the post season. Also, Dusty and Darren are planning for next year after losing last week.

Top 5 QB
1) Drew Brees - Micah - 296.26
2) Kurt Warner - Gary - 284.64
3) Philip Rivers - Darren - 260.94
4) Peyton Manning - Eddie - 260.02
5) Jay Cutler - Jason C. - 258.94

Top 5 RB
1) Michael Turner - Jason C. - 188.70
2) Matt Forte - Jason S. - 184.50
3) Clinton Portis - Jason C. - 181.20
4) Thomas Jones - Craig - 177.00
5) Marion Barber - Danny - 170.30

Top 5 WR
1) Anquan Boldin - Danny - 171.40
2) Larry Fitzgerald - John - 151.40
3) Calvin Johnson - Craig - 147.00
4) Greg Jennings - Craig - 143.80
5) Roddy White - Jason C. - 143.10

Good Luck!!!

Week 12 Recap

2008-11-26T09:18:00.002-06:00

ok, I will start with my start/sits from last week. I think I did pretty good with the starters. Romo, McFadden, and Addai all had really good games. My sitters did not look so good, I missed on a couple, but got Brian Westbrook right, so give me some credit.

My locks were again 3-3, so that puts me eight out of the last nine correct! That is good in Vegas! I may have to lay some bigger wagers down?

Well first off, my Titans did not play very good Sunday, actually looking very bad. I think though, they will bounce back with a big win on Thanksgiving vs. Detroit, and at 11-1 still be a front runner in the playoffs. Coach Fisher knows how to prepare players and teams, this should pay big dividends during the playoffs.

Thanksgiving games will be good to watch as all football games are, but I don't think close games are what we will see. This is not my locks, but I predict Tennessee to win easily vs. Detroit, Dallas to win big vs. Seattle, and Arizona to bounce back from the loss to the Giants, and beat Philly. I do think that game will be closer than the others.

Week 12 LOCKS!

2008-11-22T07:52:00.002-06:00

I went 3-3 last week getting all games correct, so mark these down and place your wagers.

1) Indianapolis + 2.5 vs. San Diego - First off how can the chargers be a favorite in this game? Anyway, the Colts are syncing together and playing to regain the dominance. San Diego is going downhill and will again lose this week.

2) Oakland +9 vs. Denver - Oakland has played close games all year against better teams. Denver defense is not good, so I think Oakland will cover the nine points.

3) New England +1 vs. Miami - Bill will not be surprised by the wildcat formation this time and will do anything to avenge the first loss to the dolphins. I think the Patriots will easily this time and will definitely cover.

Lock them!

Week 12 Start/Sits

2008-11-22T07:16:00.002-06:00

Starters

1) Tony Romo - After missing several games with an injury, I think Romo goes back to full speed against the 49ers. They are in a slump, gave up a lot of fantasy points to Kurt Warner, and I expect Tony to do the same.

2) Bernard Berrian - Jacksonville gives up everything on the pass and Tennessee took advantage of that last week. I think the Vikings play great and Berrian scores 10+

3) Antonio Bryant - Tampa will beat Detroit in the air, and Bryant will have a big game against the same team everyone plays big against.

4) Darren McFadden - If he makes it back this week at full speed like reports are saying, he will make a big difference in a huge rivalry game against a Denver defense who has given up anything and everything this year.

5) Joseph Addai - He finally look like a first round fantasy pick last week and playing the chargers this week should make him another fantasy must start.

Sitters

1) Brian Westbrook - I think he has been playing injured the last few weeks and will probably still play Sunday, but the Ravens have a tough defense and will limit his scoring opportunity.

2) Thomas Jones - I think the Titan defense will slow down Jones, and I think Tennessee will be ahead in this game forcing Brett to throw the ball later in the game.

3) Fred Taylor - Jones-Drew is getting most of the carries in the red zone and Minnesota has one of the best rush defenses. Sit Freddy

4) Calvin Johnson - Normally I would never sit my stud, but Detroit's passing offense is terrible along with the whole team and Tampa has an excellent defense.

5) Tim Hightower, JJ Arrington, and Edgerrin James - NY Giants defense will stop the run, Arizona will go to the pass first, pass second, and the pass 80% on third type offense.

Anquan Boldin (Week 11 Player of the Week)

2008-11-19T14:34:00.002-06:00

Anquan Boldin is one of the most underrated players of the last few years. He is the # 1 receiver this year and missed 2 1/2 games. Fantasy Stud for sure!

This week he had 13 catches for 186 yards.

Cumberland Football League Updates

2008-11-19T14:22:00.002-06:00

Craig let his lead slip back down to one game over Mayland and myself this week.With only six teams going to playoffs, no one has clinched yet, that usually means the league is fairly equal, with the exception of a couple of teams who will remain nameless.A few good match ups this week, but the biggest has to be Claysville vs. Crossville. The loser of this contest in mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and is well on their way to the first pick of next years draft. The trade deadline is over, but the leagues is allowing drop/adds to be made. We voted for the drop/adds to stop the same week as the trades , so even if it will allow you to drop/add, it is past time and is not allowed.

Top 5 QB
1) Kurt Warner - Dorton - 264.20
2) Drew Brees - Hoodtown - 255.34
3) Jay Cutler - Mutiny - 251.13
4) Peyton Manning - Claysville - 234.42
5) Philip Rivers - Crossville - 233.92

Top 5 RB
1) Clinton Portis - Mutiny - 164.90
2) Frank Gore - Bomberz - 160.90
3) Matt Forte - Mayland - 160.10
4) Thomas Jones - Ozone - 158.70
5) Marion Barber - Rinnie - 158.00

Top 5 WR
1) Anquan Boldin - Rinnie - 154.60
2) Larry Fitzgerald - Bomberz - 143.30
3) Roddy White - Mutiny - 138.30
4) Calvin Johnson - Ozone - 133.80
5) Greg Jennings - Ozone - 126.10

Good Luck next week!!!

Week 11 Wrap-up

2008-11-19T14:11:00.002-06:00

So let's go over John's start/sits for last week.His running backs were dead on, as the had two of the best performances, 50% with the receivers and one out of three on the passers.His sitters were good except for Justin Gage who had a big game for the Titans. My locks, three for three, Detroit, Green Bay, and Arizona all covered for me. I have a recipe for success with my locks so far, only getting under .500 once. We will see if this weeks locks are good, if I hit another good week, you might want to lay down some money... LOL.

Several big match ups this week heading into the last couple weeks of the fantasy regular season. The Titans and Jets game followed by the Giants and Cardinals should both be great games to watch and have playoffs like feel to them.

I am sure John will do another start/sit, but I am going to throw out three names I think are worthy of sitting this week. Tim Hightower, who was the second coming a few weeks back, came back to Earth. I wouldn't risk starting him. Brian Westbrook, who I have in a few leagues, has played not so good the last few weeks and looks injured.Also, Earnest Graham looks to be done for the season with injuries paving the way for Dunn to be a fantasy starter again.

I also think with the emergence of Ryan Grant this last week, GB should really look good for the fantasy playoffs. I like Rodgers, Grant, and Jennings down the stretch as they will be fighting for the playoffs and giving fantasy owners big points in the process.

Week 11 Locks!!!

2008-11-13T13:56:00.002-06:00

I went 67% last week with a total of 17 predictions, that's not bad. I have three more locks this I think will be good bets.

1) Detroit +14 against Carolina. I think Carolina will win, but this season so far any team getting double digit points are 88% to win. 14 points is a lot to give up to any NFL team. Not to mention Carolina did not look good last week.

2) Green Bay +3.5 against Chicago. Rex is not a good start at QB. Green Bay has a top 10 defense and they have to put together some wins to make the playoffs, I think Green Bay covers and wins the game.

3) Arizona -3 against Seattle. Arizona has a great offense and has been playing excellent, throw out the close game with the 49ers, because they had two TD's called back for penalties. That game was not that close. Hasselbeck is back for Seattle, but he will not be 100% and Arizona will show they are the new captain of the NFC west.

Mark them down and lock them .

Start/Sit for Week 11 by John Scherer

2008-11-13T13:52:00.001-06:00

Start 'Em

QB
Donovan McNabb QB, Philadelphia Eagles
McNabb has scored 18 or more fantasy points in four straight contests. As has been in recent years, the guy is a decent start when healthy. Well, he is healthy right now and playing well. This week he faces a middle of the road Bengals pass defense. They rank 10th against the pass, however, they have allowed 14 total touchdowns to quarterbacks.

Jake Delhomme QB, Carolina
We’ll forget last week’s performance and remember that Delhomme’s up against the Lions this week.

Matt Ryan QB, Atlanta
The Round table come full circle on Ryan. Initially a hater, dude’s averaging 250 yards and two TDs a game. At home this week, should go right through Denver’s pass defense.

RB
Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
In recent weeks he’s been moving from RB1 to RB2, and in some cases, a flex play. People have started to lose faith with the Bills floundering and Jackson stealing touches. Get him back into that starting lineup with confidence this week. He hasn’t topped 100 yards yet, but this week should be the week. Cleveland has the 26th ranked run defense and gives up yards and touchdowns in bunches to running backs.
Deuce McAllister RB, New Orleans
Going with Deuce for an unprecedented third straight week. Even if Reggie Bush is back, they’ll take it easy with him.

Steve Slaton RB, Houston
Slaton put up 93 yards and two TDs in the first game of the season against the Colts. Would look for something similar this week.

WR
Dwayne Bowe WR, Kansas City
Another dude we hated on early this season. Should get his against a below average New Orleans secondary.

Koren Robinson WR, Seattle
Robinson’s had a nice couple of games in a row. Hasselbeck will be back, Arizona’s secondary isn’t the greatest, his luck should continue.

Sit ‘Em

QB
Phillip Rivers QB, San Diego Chargers
Although Rivers has been a solid performer this season and near the top of fantasy rankings, this is the one week you should turn to your backup if he’s a solid option. Last week Peyton Manning turned in the best performance of the year against Rivers’ opponent this week, the Steelers. The Steelers have only allowed 9 passing touchdowns, and 3 were from Manning last week. They allow 15 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks which ranks as the 3rd toughest.

Joe Flacco QB, Baltimore
Has put up some decent days recently, but he got the Giants in New Jersey this week and won’t be able to put up any decent numbers.

Sage Rosenfels QB, Houston
The Colts still have only given up two passing TDs this year. Houston will have to run the ball to have a chance.

RB

Willis McGahee RB, Baltimore Ravens
I know, I know, he had a huge week last week. Many say if he’s healthy he is the guy and he performs. Well that may be true, but there is no guarantee he dominates the carries this week. Not to mention his opponent is the New York Giants. The Giants have only given up 3 rushing touchdowns in nine weeks. They are only giving 87 rushing yards a game and haven’t allowed any running backs to top 90 yards. Sit Willis.

Julius Jones RB, Seattle
Has gone downhill the last few weeks and the Cards rush D is pretty tough.

WR

Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams
This once elite WR has had trouble getting anything going this year, even when the Rams’ offense was moving the ball. That offense seems to have hit a slump again however, due in part to missing running back Steven Jackson. Holt can’t do anything if his offense is not clicking, and the possibility of drawing Niners’ corner back Nate Clements would not help matters. Until St. Louis wakes up again on offense, Holt should be left on your bench.

Ted Ginn Jr WR, Miami
Ginn’s put it together the last couple games, but Oakland has really only one good player, CB Nnamdi Asomugha. He’s shut down the oppositions #1 WR this season and teams have been running all over the place on the Raiders.

Justin Gage WR, Tennessee
Gage got in the end zone last week, but the Bears put the kibosh on Titans rushing game, forcing Tennessee to the air. A much weaker rush d in Jacksonville this week.

Player of the week Week 10 Thomas Jones

2008-11-11T10:45:00.002-06:00

Thomas Jones had 26 carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns in a blow out win over the Rams. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves, so his picture with grace us this week.

Cumberland Football League Week 10 update

2008-11-11T10:06:00.002-06:00

Craig (Dealers) has stretched his lead to two games with four weeks remaining in the regular season.He could lock up a playoff spot with a win this week. Five teams are stuck at the bottom, this means it is still anyones race. Craig is riding a five game winning streak into Brookhaven in a showdown with the Bomberz. Hoodtown is also on the move winning two straight to move into playoff picture. Rinnie needs to have a couple big games here as the tie breaker is total points and they are struggling in that category. Also, do not forget this Friday the 14th is the last day for trades and/or pick ups. After Friday the roster will be set for the rest of this season.

Top 5 QB
1) Kurt Warner - Dorton - 242.30
2) Drew Brees - Hoodtown - 236.90
3) Jay Cutler - Mutiny - 232.34
4) Philip Rivers - Crossville - 230.06
5) Donovan McNabb - Rinnie - 206.28

Top 5 RB
1) Clinton Portis - Mutiny - 157.10
2) Matt Forte - Mayland - 148.90
3) Adrian Peterson - Dealers - 147.30
4) Thomas Jones - Dealers - 140.40
5) Frank Gore - Bomberz - 140.10

Top 5 WR
1) Anquan Boldin - Rinnie - 133.10
2) Roddy White - Mutiny - 127.10
3) Larry Fitzgerald - Bomberz - 126.50
4) Calvin Johnson - Dealers - 120.10
5) Andre Johnson - Bomberz - 118.40

Top 5 Defense
1) Tennessee - Hoodtown - 203.00
2) Baltimore - Dealers - 199.00
3) Tampa Bay - Bomberz - 193.00
4) Pittsburgh - Crushers - 191.00
5) Green Bay - Phenom - 180.00

Good Luck next week!!!!!!

Tuesday Recap for Week 10

2008-11-11T09:56:00.002-06:00

I went 2-1 again on my weekly locks. Tennessee continues to cover the spread every week and did not let me down this week. I also won the KC vs. Chargers game. I think at this point in the season you should take any team with double digit points. I lost the Green Bay game and I am very disappointed with the way they have played lately. I was really in to them after about 6 weeks thinking they could b e a contender for the NFC title, but now they will be lucky to make the playoffs. I gave 7 starters last week and 5 of them played good to great with only Berrian and Coles letting me down. The jets scored over 50 points and Coles still couldn't get any fantasy points? 3 of my 5 sitters played badly and Forte had mild success against the Titans. Welker had a break out game, so I missed that one.

67% correct on start/sit and my Locks. Thats winning!

On the injury round up, Willie Parker looks to be done for the fantasy regular season, even if he returns, I don't foresee him breaking into anyones starting line up. Tony Romo, Felix Jones, and Reggie Bush should be back this hopefully as most owners are gearing up for the last week and trades and pick ups. Your playoff roster should be set after this week and hanging to injured players is hard to do.

Week 10 Locks!

2008-11-07T15:42:00.002-06:00

I went 2-1 last week and am slight above .500 for the year. This weeks locks are:

1) Tennessee -3 vs. Chicago No Orton, no wins for Grossman!

2) Green Bay +2.5 vs. Minnesota I think the Packers bounce back with a big win

3) Kansas City +14.5 vs. San Deigo Chargers are not playing good, the Chiefs are looking better and 14.5 is a big cushion!

My locks!

Start 'em/ Sit 'em Week 10

2008-11-07T14:45:00.003-06:00

Since my staff hasn't turned in their blogs yet, I will do the starters/sitters this week. I also want to throw in some injury reports and player news.

Willie Parker is out again with a shoulder injury, Steven Jackson is 90% to sit the weeks game and Roethlisberger is not looking good as a must start this week either.

Week 10 Starters
1) Chad Pennington- Chad is playing Seattle and one of the worst pass defenses this year. Miami has a solid run offense and that should free up some good opportunities to pass the ball.

2) David Garrard- Playing Detroit and looking to try to get into the playoff push, the Jags should play very well this week and their rush attack should also free up some big passes.

3) Jake Delhomme- Playing like the comeback player of the year, Jake is playing great and really finding rhythm with Steve Smith. It doesn't hurt that Carolina is playing Oakland, so look for Jake to score big.

4) DeAngelo Williams- Jonathan Stewart is injured and Williams should carry the load against the Raiders. I think he will score around 16 pts. in most leagues.

5) Ronnie Brown- I think Seattle's poor offense will pave the way for Brown to pound the ball away and gain over 100 yards.

6) Bernard Berrian- Has played several good games and Green Bay has a bottom 5 pass defense, I think he does well this week.

7) Laveraues Coles- Brett Favre will pick apart St. Louis this week and Coles should benefit from the long ball

Sitters this week
1) Matt Forte- Hard to sit a top 5 RB this year, but Tennessee's defense has been stellar, and will hold Forte to under 100 yeards.

2) Ben Roethlisberger- Injured and without Parker again, Ben will also be playing the Colts who are in must win mode the rest of the regular season. The Colts defense will step up and play D like they do every year towards the end.

3) Julius Jones- Seattle cannot move the ball and will get beaten on the line every down against Miami.

4) Wes Welker- hasn't played well this year, and although I think the Patriots squeeze this game out, the passing game will suffer.

5) Edgerrin James- drop him in every league, Hightower is taking his carries and does not look like he cares. The beginning of the end for James.

Also I want to point out the Washington redskins signed DeAngelo Hall today really boosting their defensive backfield. Is Al Davis really this stupid? I think so!

Kurt Warner (Player of the Week 9)

2008-11-04T10:49:00.001-06:00

23-34 342 yds and 2 TD and player rating of 119.9. He is this week's POTW. Pic Uploaded!

Tuesday NFL Recap

2008-11-04T10:28:00.003-06:00

ok, so lets see how Matthew Berry from ESPN, John Scherer, and I did on our picks an dlocks from week 9.

Matthew Berry, his two starters (Matt Jones and Earnest Graham) neither produced very much, so I would say he missed on the starters. His sitters were (Brett Favre, Terrell Owens, and Ryan Grant). Favre had a bad game, TO and Grant both had decent games, so I think Berry was 1-5....not very good. LOL

John Scherer was 5-12 from his starters list with Hightower, Warner, Calvin J., Lendale, and Pennington had good/decent games. the rest flopped. 6 of his sitters had a TD and/or great game, so that means he was less than 50% and his picks....

I went 2 out of 3 on my game locks (winning Indy and Arizona, losing Houston). My three player locks were all good with Warner and Forte having big games and Slaton was decent.

Look for our locks and picks for week 10 coming soon!

Presidential NFL Debate

2008-11-04T10:26:00.001-06:00

This is cut from ESPN NFL Blog, thought it was interesting and humorous.

I heard that there's some kind of an election today, so to get it on the spirit of things, we're going to help you celebrate with some election-themed posts. Don't like politics mixed in with your football? Don't worry, baby birds, MJD hears you, and he'll do you right. These posts will be more NFL than electoral college. It'll be OK. First, a list of NFL people who might be comfortable in the shoes of a man running for office.

Tom Brady. He's a little bit JFK'ish, no? Of course, there's the connection to Massachusetts, there's the fact that he's young and handsome, and they both enjoyed the occasional dalliance with a beautiful and willing young lady.

Clinton Portis. Always opinionated, and he's been around for a while. "Portis Pockets Straight" (translation here, if necessary) could serve as a nice jumping off point for a campaign slogan. "Clinton Portis. Getting America's pockets straight." Campaign t-shirts have already been made.

Drew Brees. I don't think anyone dislikes Drew Brees. The birthmark on his face could turn into a negative, though, as some underhanded opposing strategist could suggest that it's some kind of marking indicating affiliation with a terrorist group. People seem to believe that kind of nonsense these days.

Pacman Jones. Don't laugh. Given our current economic troubles, couldn't Pacman gather some support by promising to make it rain on the middle class? And he might not have the same concern for Joe The Plumer, but Cinnamon the Exotic Dancer would gather lots of attention.

Tank Johnson. The perfect running mate for Pacman. An anti-gun control campaign could be very effective.

Kellen Winslow. Like John McCain, he can continually reference his days as a soldier.

Al Davis. I see Al running as some kind of insane third-party candidate with a bizarre platform, like legalizing hemp and murder. His economic policy? No one gets any money except Tommy Kelly.

Adrian Peterson. The nickname "Purple Jesus" would attract some of the religious vote, but you'd have to think it would turn off porphyrophobics. At the very least, you'd have to think that he could carry the state of Minnesota. If they'll vote the former tag team partner of Adrian Adonis governor, they'll vote for Peterson as president.

Matt Ryan. He's probably not ready for the big chair in the oval office just yet, but he shows tremendous potential. Might be more suitable as a young running mate who could take over in 2016.

Donovan McNabb. When he was drafted, he was booed by a group of ignorant and hateful people, and he eventually won them over. The ignorant and hateful demographic is very important in American politics right now.

Bill Parcells. Actually reminds me a lot of John McCain. Old, crotchety, wise, and pasty.

LaDainian Tomlinson. Bright smile, very personable, very sincere. Pretty well-liked around the league, and he comes from a small, Texas town so he can play up that "I'm just like you" bit that's so popular these days.

Peyton Manning. A safe and obvious candidate. If corporate America feels like he has broad appeal across the country (and obviously, they do), they're probably right. Friendship with Marvin Harrison could turn out to be a liability, as could the fact that he can't win in Florida.

Herm Edwards. You RUN ... to win the ELECTION. A good, compassionate and honorable man who makes everyone to whom he speaks feel good. He'd be a fantastic candidate. And his clock management problems wouldn't be an issue. In fact, it might be a positive. You know how when a president is leaving office, and on their last day, they do a bunch of crazy things because he won't have that opportunity again? No problem here. Herm wouldn't even realize his term was over until about a month after the fact.

Kurt Warner. Could run as an uber-religious third-party candidate who wants to make prayer mandatory in schools, prisons, strip clubs, treehouses, and public restrooms. Running mate, Jon Kitna. And I do believe that Brenda Warner would make a fantastic first lady.

Hines Ward. A little Obama-esque here. He's always smiling, he's involved in the community, the kids love him, and he brings the multiculturalism. Will likely lose points in any election when he elects to blindside his opponent with a unnecessarily vicious (but legal!) hit.

Ray Lewis. He's also got a little Obama in him. He was once involved with some nefarious characters (you and I call them "murderers), but now he's living the clean life.

Brett Favre. He could run some absurd "I'm just a regular guy" campaign, which would probably effectively fool our populace. Once elected, though, every bill that came across his desk would get signed and whited-out approximately 928 times before he made an actual decision. John Kerry would accuse him of being too flip-floppy.

Mark Schlereth. The ESPN analyst and former Denver Bronco was born in Alaska, obviously making him a foreign relations expect.

Mike Singletary. Would be an exciting candidate and could really get the people motivated, but would probably flame out when he dropped his pants and delivered a speech with his manhood free and dangling, just to make a point.

Cumberland Football League Week 9 Update

2008-11-04T09:26:00.002-06:00

Craig (Ozone) reigns supreme in first place (7-2), while John (Brookhaven) and Gary (Dorton) is at the bottom (3-6). They need to pick it up this week, only 5 weeks left until the playoffs start. Don't forget that November 14th is the last day for trades or pick-ups. That is next Friday, and after that your rosters are set for the duration of this season. This is the last week for bye weeks and this Thursday starts the Thursday night games.Adjust your starting line up accordingly.

Top 5 QB
1) Drew Brees - Razorbacks - 209.82
2) Philip Rivers - Crossville - 206.12
3) Kurt Warner - Dorton - 204.94
4) Aaron Rodgers - Phenom - 197.08
5) Jay Cutler - Mutiny - 191.76

Top 5 RB
1) Clinton Portis - Mutiny - 157.10
2) Marion Barber - Lizards - 135.50
3) Frank Gore - Bomberz - 129.40
4) Matt Forte - Mayland - 128.90
5) Chris Johnson - Dealers - 128.70

Top 5 WR
1) Santana Moss - Lizards - 114.70
2) Larry Fitzgerald - Bomberz - 114.00
3) Roddy White - Mutiny - 113.10
4) Calvin Johnson - Dealers - 110.50
5) Andre Johnson - Bomberz - 110.40

Good luck this week!!!

Matthew Berry's ESPN Blog

2008-11-02T11:11:00.002-06:00

Matthew Berry from ESPN gave his emergency start 'em/sit 'em for Week 9. He suggested to start Earnest Graham against the Chiefs (KC has the worst rush defense) Matt Jones against the Bengals (2nd worst pass defense).

His sitters were: Brett Favre (2+ INT in three straight games). Ryan Grant (Titans monster rush defense), and Terrell Owens (Zero 100yd games this year and playing NYG)

Let's see how a professional fantasy expert stacks up against Mr. John Scherer of his column.

Good Luck!

Week 9 Locks!

2008-10-31T14:51:00.002-05:00

I am going to try this again. My locks for last week were 1-2, not very good. This week I am going to lock 3 games again, and add a lock at each position for fantasy owners.

#1) Arizona -4 at St. Louis. I think Warner will have a big week at his former home. Arizona is looking to take control of the NFC West, and this win will go along ways in doing just that,

#2) Houston -1.5 at Minnesota. Houston offense is looking great. Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton both look like the real deal and Minnesota has not lived up to any of the high expectations they had for the defense this year.

#3) Indianapolis EVEN against New England. I think this is do or die for the Colts, if they lose this game the season is just about over at 3-6. Therefore, I am going out on a limb, and take them to win against the Patriots.

Player Locks
#1) Kurt Warner vs. Rams
#2) Matt Forte vs. Lions
#3) Steve Slaton vs. Vikings

I also want to throw Ryan Torain's name out there. He won the starting job in the preseason then went down with an injury. All the Broncos RB's are injured and he is back at 100%. I look for him to make an impact maybe not this week, but definitely before the playoffs start.

Week 9 Injury Report

2008-10-31T13:26:00.001-05:00

Week 9 Injury Report Updated

Tony Romo - OUT at least until week 11
Matt Hasselbeck- OUT at least two more weeks
Trent Edwards- Expected to start, but has sprained ankle
Ben Roethlisberger- expected to start, has shoulder soreness in throwing arm
Jamal Lewis- Has not practiced all week, dehydration
Warrick Dunn- Back Spasms, very questionable for Sunday
Felix Jones- OUT hamstring
Sammy Morris- Knee sprain, doubtful
Darren McFadden- broken toe, very questionable
Steven Jackson- game time decision with strained quadriceps
Donte Stallworth- questionable with quadriceps
Tony Scheffler- limited in practice (groin), but expected to play
Jason Witten- broken ribs, game time decision, but questionable

Injury Returns

Joseph Addai- Will start for the Colts in a must win game against the Patriots
Willie Parker- Expected to make his first start since injury had him sidelined

Start 'em/ Sit 'em Week 9 by John Scherer

2008-10-30T14:22:00.001-05:00

Start’em

QB’s
Kyle Orton QB, Chicago
He has had a very good year statistically with 10 TDs to only 4 interceptions. He has a great matchup this week against the Lions’ 31st ranked passing defense. Detroit has surrendered 10 passing touchdowns this year and only come up with one interception. Orton also had his best game of the season last time he faced the Lions (334 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs).

Kurt Warner QB, Arizona
Facing the Rams this week should be your typical NFC West shootout. With Boldin & Fitzgerald back in the mix, Warner is a great start!

Chad Pennington QB, Miami
He has managed the Dolphins offense intelligently, and although he is never going impress you by throwing a 40 yard frozen rope, he has achieved marginal starter status this year. He should be a decent start against Denver, as the Broncos continue to have problems defending the pass, and have been typically allowing 254 pass yards per game

RB’s
Ernest Graham RB, Tampa Bay
Graham has lost carries to Warrick Dunn this season, but has still managed to put up decent numbers to this point. He should have the opportunity to make a big fantasy impact this week against the Chiefs, owners of the worst run defense in the league. Kansas City has given up almost 200 rushing yards a game and 14 rushing touchdowns to their opponents in 7 games. Ouch.

Tim Hightower RB, Arizona
He has all but replaced Edgerrin James as #1 RB in Arizona. Look for Hightower to see more touches and end zone carries this Week.

LenDale White RB, Tennessee
He is a goal line beast. When Tennessee gets in the red zone, you can bet that LenDale White will get the ball. Chris Johnson is a beast in himself, but White seems to get the call in the red zone, thus making him the leader in TD’s amongst RB’s w/10. Run LenDale RUN!!!

WR’s
Ted Ginn, Jr. WR, Miami
There is no one in the Bronco’s secondary healthy enough to keep pace with the speedster Ginn. Ginn will be able to run behind this secondary at will, and if Pennington can connect, Ginn should have no problems posting his second career 100 yard receiving game.

Calvin Johnson WR, Detroit
It's hard to believe, but the Chicago Bears are last in the league against the wide receiver position, and have been giving up about 16 catches, and 191 yards per game to opposing wide outs. While Dan Orlovsky is not the ideal guy you want throwing the ball, Johnson should still get enough opportunities this Week to make an impact.

Matt Jones WR, Jacksonville
Jones has seen his targets (and production) go up in three consecutive Weeks accumulating into a 16 target effort in Week 8. That is the type of one-sided dedication I like to see from a QB to a WR. I’m not expecting to see Jones continue to improve on his fantasy performance in Week 9, but I am still seeing him carving out a decent game.

Kevin Curtis WR, Philadelphia
Call this one a gamble but start Curtis this Sunday. Weak match-up vs. Seattle defense. McNabb will look to get him the ball.

Sit’em

QB’s
Jason Campbell QB, Washington
He has a had a better year than anyone expected. He has tossed eight touchdown passes and has yet to throw a single interception. He does not have a great match up this Week against the Steelers, however. The Steelers have the top passing defense in the NFL. This will likely be a defensive, low-scoring affair. Campbell’s job will be to stay mistake free and effective, but he will not necessarily be putting up big numbers.

Derek Anderson QB, Cleveland
The Ravens defense has been equally unforgiving against both the run and the pass this season. Against opposing QBs, they have an average of 196 yards per game, and against opposing RBs, only 55 yards per game. While the Browns offense has been showing some signs of a turnaround in recent Weeks, a matchup against Baltimore has really crimped fantasy prospects for almost all opposing players this year.

Tyler Thigpen QB, Kansas City
Thigpen had a great performance in Week 8. I don’t see that happening again in Week 9. Tampa Bay is great at baiting QBs into turnovers. I expect that to be the case again.

RB’s
Ryan Grant RB, GB
In his last game, Grant had his biggest fantasy game of the season. But, move that thought right out of your head because the Tennessee Titans are a tough group against the run. If you don’t have a reliable starter to throw in there, you can stick with Grant. However, we want you to look over your roster pretty hard before challenging the Titans.

Cedric Benson RB, Cincinnati
Cedric Benson has been playing fairly well as the new Bengals starter, but the Cincinnati offense is in such a state of disarray, it's probably best to steer clear for now. The Jaguars defense is nothing special, so Benson is a decent reach if you need him, but there are likely better options out on the waiver wire.

Steve Slaton RB, Houston
Slaton has been surprisingly (at least to me) effective in his rookie season, but I would not expect much from him this week. The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best run defenses in the NFL. The Vikes allow just over 70 rushing yards per game.

Edgerrin James RB, Arizona
- see Tim Hightower explanation on START’EM list.

WR’s
Roy Williams WR, Dallas
The newest Cowboy wide receiver caught his first touchdown pass with his new team last week, but I would not expect to see him putting up big numbers all of a sudden. The Cowboys still have noodle-armed Brad Johnson at quarterback, and this week they face one of the NFL’s best defenses in the New York Giants. Brad Johnson will have enough to worry about just trying to stay upright. I don’t expect to see him take many shots down field. Even when he does, I suspect TO will be the recipient of the majority of these passes.

Terrell Owens WR, Dallas
Don't hate the player, hate the lack of a quality 2nd string QB that can't get the ball down field. Don't expect much vs. NYG.

Chad Johnson WR, Cincinnati
See above (Terrell Owens).

Steve Breaston WR, Arizona
With Boldin back in the mix, Breaston moves to #3 WR. Less targets.

Cumberland Football League Week 8 Update

2008-10-28T15:34:00.002-05:00

Top 5 QB
1) Drew Brees - Razorbacks - 209.82
2) Philip Rivers - Crossville - 206.12
3) Aaron Rodgers - Phenom - 179.02
4) Kurt Warner - Hounds - 174.86
5) Jay Cutler - Mutiny - 171.48

Top 5 RB
1) Clinton Portis - Mutiny - 143.30
2) Marion Barber - Lizards - 131.10
3) Frank Gore - Bomberz - 129.40
4) Reggie Bush - Razorbacks - 119.40
5) Matt Forte - Mayland - 115.60

Top 5 WR
1) Santana Moss - Lizards - 112.90
2) Roddy White - Mutiny - 106.70
3) Larry Fitzgerald - Bomberz - 104.70
4) Greg Jennings - Phenom - 99.90
5) Andre Johnson - Bomberz - 97.40

Top 5 Defense
1) Tampa Bay - Mutiny - 178.00
2) Tennessee - Razorbacks - 168.00
3) Pittsburgh - Crushers - 151.00
4) Baltimore - Dealers - 150.00
5) Philadelphia - Mutiny - 148.00

Craig sits all alone at the top with a 6-2 record. Good luck next week!

Jason