|
Volume 8, Issue 103 (Sunday, August 5th) FantasyHeadquarters.com is NOW RESERVING TEAMS IN THEIR 2007 ONLINE FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUES! Teams are NOW AVAILABLE in over 40 very different styles of leagues! League structures include: *** "Immediate Draft" Leagues", which begin drafting 48 hours after they've filled, so you don't have to wait until August or early September to draft if you don't want to! For a limited time, anyone that joins a league and mentions this Footballguys.com Email upon joining, will receive 5% off of their entry fees!*Up to 93% of entry fees are kicked back, with one-time entry fees ranging from as little as $49, all the way up to $4999! (*The $999 and $4999 leagues will be awarded a 3% refund, rather than 5%.) LIMITED TIME OFFERS
Hi Folks, It's on. The NFL Preseason kicked off Sunday and we're rolling. Lots of News and Notes to hit so let's get to it. Have a great Monday. JSITE NEWS A.
Footballguys Podcast - The Audible - NFCW RBs Preseason Watch List
B.
Footballguys Podcast - The Audible - NFCW WRs Preseason Watch List
C.
Footballguys Podcast - The Audible - NFCW QBs Preseason Watch List
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. KC - Chiefs WR Bowe Ends Holdout2. SD - Rookie WR Davis Making Most Of Opportunity 3. DAL - Cowboys RT Colombo's Return Completes Line 4. DEN - Broncos RB Henry Suffers Hip Pointer 5. SF - TE Davis, OG Allen Get Into Scrap On Sidelines 6. NE - Patriots TE Watson Won't Be Forgotten 7. TEN - Commissioner Goodell Meets With Titans 8. WAS - Redskins QB Campbell Gets Reps During Scrimmage 9. DAL - Cowboys WR Owens Misses Practice 10. DAL - Cowboys HC Phillips Angered By Tardiness 11. OAK - QB Russell Holdout Could Be Lengthy 12. ATL - Atlanta QB Harrington To Improve Passing Game? 13. DEF - MIA - Dolphins LB Porter Has Sore Knee Evaluated 14. DEF - NYG - Giants SS Butler Put In Starting Role - Demps Demoted 15. DEF - IND - DT McFarland Knee Injury 16. DEF - NYG - DE Strahan 50-50 To Return KC - Chiefs WR Bowe Ends Holdout Source: John Clayton, ESPN The Kansas City Chiefs have come to terms with their 1st round pick, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, the 23rd overall pick in the draft, on Sunday, sources told ESPN's John Clayton. Bowe is expected in camp Monday. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bowe finally gets in. Doesn't make much sense to take this long to sign the 23rd pick but better late than never I guess. Now the team can put their focus on taking care of RB Larry Johnson. SD - Rookie WR Davis Making Most Of Opportunity Source: Sports Illustrated One day after the San Diego Chargers lost starting receiver Eric Parker for up to 10 weeks after toe surgery, first-round pick Craig Davis had a solid performance during a public practice at Qualcomm Stadium. The rookie from LSU took first-team repetitions on Saturday since Parker and projected starter Vincent Jackson (lower leg) were both out. Davis made an impressive leaping touchdown catch over safety Marlon McCree and linebacker Matt Wilhelm during a two-minute drill near the end of practice. The exhibition season could determine whether Davis makes the starting lineup. Davis also is in the mix to be the team's punt returner. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] As you know, this game is all about seizing opportunity. And Davis has a great opportunity with Eric Parker out. This was just one practice but it's one practice in exactly the right direction Davis needs to go if he's to earn a starting job. DAL - Cowboys RT Colombo's Return Completes Line Source: Rob Phillips, DallasCowboys.com Dallas Cowboys right tackle Marc Colombo's training camp debut Saturday afternoon provided the first complete snapshot of an offensive line that should prove menacing for opponents this season. Barring injury, this year's line will pose problems for opponents because of its sheer size. The projected starters' average weight is 321 pounds, with LG Kyle Kosier the only player listed below 300. "That's the biggest line I've seen in a long time," HC Wade Phillips said. "Two 6-7 tackles and a guard (who's) 6-6 1/2, and the center is the second-biggest in the league." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Cowboys line is unquestionably big. What's not yet decided yet is how good they'll be. The expectation is that they'll be improved over last year's unit and that's a welcome sign for Tony Romo and the rushing game. DEN - Broncos RB Henry Suffers Hip Pointer Source: CBS4 Broncos Insiders The Denver Broncos had a bit of a scare Saturday when Travis Henry had to sit out most of the morning drills. The running back took a sharp hit to his hip, stretched out and came back for three plays, before retiring to the sideline for the rest of the morning. "I had a little hip pointer yesterday," Henry said. "I kind of re-aggravated it today but I'm cool. I nicked it up again and didn't feel like I could go the way I wanted today." He said he'll get it treated and should be ready for practice Monday. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Travis Henry is one of my must have players this year. I think he'll be a fantastic value. That's assuming of course he's healthy. We don't think this is anything serious but we'll be watching for you. SF - TE Davis, OG Allen Get Into Scrap On Sidelines Source: Matthew Barrows, Sacramento Bee There are often scraps in the heat of the moment during training camp but it is usually offensive player against defensive player. In the 49ers scrimmage today, G Larry Allen got into it with TE Vernon Davis and had to be separated by a contingent of players, coaches and staff Players and coaches downplayed the incident following the scrimmage. Afterward coach Mike Nolan was asked if it was a concern that he had two offensive starters fighting each other. "I don't like guys fighting for someone to get hurt but if you're fighting about something, it means something to you. And that's really important." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This is more interesting than important. Davis is a high profile 2nd year player with a lot of flash and Allen is the savvy veteran. I wouldn't worry about it. NE - Patriots TE Watson Won't Be Forgotten Source: Shalise Manza Young, Providence Journal New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has a plethora of new receivers to throw the ball to this year, but don't expect him to forget about tight end Ben Watson. Brady is well aware of Watson's presence. "I don't care what anyone else says, I'm not forgetting about him," Brady said of Watson last week. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The great news for Tom Brady with all the new receivers added means that there may not be enough balls to go around. That's just a reality. Brady can say all he wants about not forgetting about Watson but he's got a lot of new and attractive options that he didn't have last year. I still like Watson but he's going to have to fight for passes. TEN - Commissioner Goodell Meets With Titans Source: Associated Press, USA Today NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell paid a visit to the Tennessee Titans training camp Saturday to meet with the players. Discipline, which has defined Goodell's reputation, was not the primary reason for his Nashville trip. It was, he said, just another step to fulfill his pledge when he became commissioner last September to visit all 32 teams. Goodell did discuss suspended Titans DB/KR Adam "Pacman" Jones during the meeting. "I wanted to address all the issues, but it was natural because this is the team he played for," Goodell said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] No real story here other than the Commissioner is trying to stay in touch with the players and make sure they know where he's coming from. Seems to be working pretty well so far. WAS - Redskins QB Campbell Gets Reps During Scrimmage Source: Joseph White, Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell took most of the 7-on-7 snaps in Saturday's scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens, but most of his passes were short because the Ravens had Redskins receivers blanketed down field. HC Joe Gibbs didn't have much of an evaluation to give, when asked. "For Jason, it's about getting the right reads," Gibbs said. "He was checking down a bunch." The first good chance to gauge Campbell's work comes Saturday when the Redskins visit Tennessee in their preseason opener. "We're happy with the progress," Campbell said. "But we're not satisfied." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It'll be a progression for Campbell as he continues to learn the QB position at this level. He'll likely see some good work in the Tennessee game which is what he needs the most. DAL - Cowboys WR Owens Misses Practice Source: Associated Press, Sports Illustrated Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens missed practice Sunday because of tightness in his lower back. Owner Jerry Jones said Owens was getting treatment instead of standing around on the field during the two-hour workout. Jones said he wasn't worried about Owens' absence, and that the team didn't consider the muscle stiffness to be serious. "It's nothing structural. He just has a tight back," said Jones. "It's nothing that I deem to be serious at all, or we deem to be serious. ... It's not something that we should be concerned about." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's Terrell Owens so we make a big deal of it. But for today, I'm not worried. Let's see how he does early in the week. DAL - Cowboys HC Phillips Angered By Tardiness Source: Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News Dallas Cowboys HC Wade Phillips was angered Saturday by several players who arrived late for special teams drills at the start of the afternoon session. Phillips, who was visibly animated, addressed the team with a profanity laced passionate speech about personal accountability. His anger didn't end there. After practice, he made the offenders stand in front of the team and explain their tardiness. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] So much for the "nice guy" Wade Phillips. He's setting a tone early in camp and it sounds like the message was heard. OAK - QB Russell Holdout Could Be Lengthy Source: Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports The holdout of No. 1 overall pick and quarterback JaMarcus Russell over contract talks with the Oakland Raiders figures to be a lengthy one, according to two sources with knowledge of the negotiations. "This could go to September, easily, with the way the Raiders have approached it," a source said. "Their approach has been from the start of this that it's their way or the highway. They were told before the (NFL) draft that if that's how they wanted to do it, they shouldn't draft (Russell) … Look, this could be done in two days if they'd just realize it's not going to happen the way they think." Moreover, the talks have grown increasingly tense after Raiders managing general partner Al Davis insinuated to the media on Thursday that part of the cause of the holdout was the inexperience of Russell's agents, Eric Metz and Ethan Lock. However, the agents have spent more than 30 years combined in the business. Metz has been certified by the NFLPA since 1986. Lock has been certified since 1994. Together they have represented more than 25 first-round picks. By contrast, Raiders negotiator Marc Badain never had negotiated a contract for a first-round pick until this year.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] You have to love Al Davis criticizing the guys with 30 years of experience as being green while his guy has never negotiated a first round contract. I wouldn't get too discouraged about this though as these things have a way of working out quickly once they finally start moving. We haven't been expecting much out of Russell this year anyway. It's a shame though as an extended holdout could ensure he's not effective this year. ATL - Atlanta QB Harrington To Improve Passing Game? Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Believe it or not, an evaluation of the past three seasons indicates that the Atlanta Falcons' passing attack – which ranked 32nd in the league last season – should improve under Joey Harrington. "Based on our numbers Joey Harrington was a better passer than Michael Vick in two of the last three seasons and they were basically equal in 2005 as passers," said Aaron Schatz, the lead writer of Pro Football Prospectus 2007, which does a statistical analysis of the NFL. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I guess ranking 32nd last year, it's a safe bet to think the Falcons should at least be as good as they were last year. At least in a ranking. What this highlights is really just how bad a passer Mike Vick is. It's not news to most of you but some are still having a tough time accepting. Of course, rushing yards aren't factored here and Vick has no peer when it comes to rushing quarterbacks. But passing is what we're looking at and the bottom line is that Harrington will have the opportunity here. At least for a little while. DEF - MIA - Dolphins LB Porter Has Sore Knee Evaluated Source: Craig Barnes, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Miami Dolphins LB Joey Porter missed his second straight practice Saturday, and Dolphins HC Cam Cameron said the team is having the linebacker's right knee evaluated. "We will be able to tell you more on Monday," Cameron said. "We don't think that it is anything significant, but we want to make sure." Porter, entering his ninth season, wore a brace on the knee during the last weekend of organized team activity practices June 8-10, and he didn't practice on the final day. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Stay tuned Monday where hopefully we'll know more. DEF - NYG - Giants SS Butler Put In Starting Role - Demps Demoted Source: John Branch, New York Times In their most surprising depth-chart maneuver, the New York Giants handed James Butler a starting job and demoted Will Demps, a high-priced free agent signed in 2006. Butler, befitting his personality, remained reluctant to talk about it. "We'll see, man," said Butler, who said he felt no effects from last year's kidney ailment. "We ain't even had one game yet. We ain't started a preseason game yet. So just be quiet and play the game." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] An interesting move for the Giants. They're already dealing with the possibility of life without Michael Strahan. Now they're shuffling the safeties and putting a high priced free agent acquisition from 2006 on the bench. At least for now. As Butler said, there's a lot of football to be played. DEF - IND - DT McFarland Knee Injury Source: John Oehser, Colts.com Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy said several players missed Saturday morning's scrimmage undergoing MRIs in Indianapolis – defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, linebacker Rob Morris and defensive end Robert Mathis. This is significant in that the Colts had just terminated the contract of DT Corey Simon. More specifically, a source close to the situation believes McFarland's injury is serious, and likely season-ending. The Colts aren't announcing the severity of the injury, if it indeed is severe. Stay tuned. This could spell trouble for the defending champs. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Colts defense does not need any trouble here. They've been suspect as it is and losing McFarland would definitely be a blow. Sunday night, NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported from the Hall of Fame game that he had been told that McFarland had suffered a torn ACL and would be lost for the season. Other reports from Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star are saying it might be a patella tendon injury. Either way, it sounds serious. This puts them awfully thin at tackle. DEF - NYG - DE Strahan 50-50 To Return Source: Newsday.com / Adam Schefter, NFL Network Adam Schefter, reporting live from the Hall of Fame game in Canton Ohio reported that he'd spoken to Giants defensive end Michael Strahan Sunday evening and that at this point, Strahan said he was about 50-50. He said he could easily go either way with retiring or returning. He said that his holdout had absolutely nothing to do with money. He was just looking for inspiration to get into camp and to decide if he had the drive to play another season. Later Sunday night, Strahan released this statement: To the New York Giants' Fans: As many of you know, I am contemplating one of the biggest decisions of my football career, whether I should retire or continue playing. Like all athletes, I knew this day would come when I would have to stand before that proverbial fork in the road. But I must admit that it's not until you're actually staring at the two diverging paths do you really grasp how impactful and painful this decision can be. I was hoping to make this personal decision quietly and without much hoopla, but given the recent torrent of erroneous media reports and totally inaccurate assumptions, I feel that I have to come forward and publicly set the record straight with those for whom I have toiled the last fourteen years--you fans. This off season has been one of the best in my professional career. I have worked extremely hard to make sure that I'm in shape and ready to tackle the rigors of another physical season. I am proud to say that at my body feels years younger and ready to compete at the highest level. I love training and preparation, and this off season has made it clear to me that this is one aspect of the game that I will miss tremendously when I decide to one day unstrap the helmet for the last time. I went into this off season with every intention of entering a 15th season with the Giants, the only team I've ever played for during my career. But I am human, and despite the images of me grimacing and tackling opposing quarterbacks and running backs, I have to face my mortality like anyone else. When an athlete like myself who does what I do for a living starts having doubts, then it's time to take a step back and seriously consider my future. Anyone who plays in the NFL with doubts or second guessing is not only putting themselves at risk, but their teammates also. I will never do that. What's been most disappointing has been all of this nonsense that I'm holding out for more money. The truth is that football has been very good to me and I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by advisors who have ensured that my family and I will live comfortably for the rest of my life.You deserve to know what's really going on. My agent met with the Giants earlier in the year and discussed many things including my contract.Money is not the reason that I have not reported to training camp and it will not be a factor for my return. This has already been communicated to the Giants and while the reports may indicate a"hard line" taken by the team regarding money , it is not necessary, as this issue had been decided well before July Despite what some might believe there are those of us who make decisions that have nothing to do with money. Many athletes ask themselves daily if they are emotionally and psychologically at the level where they can compete at the highest level for twenty-four weeks. For them also it isn't about the money, rather a serious athlete asking serious questions about his future. All that I ask, after fourteen seasons,is that you afford me the patience so that I might arrive at my decision on my own terms. As GM Jerry Reese has said, the Giants are not going to hold a spot for me. I completely understand his stance as football is a business and he must do what is in the best interest of the team. I know that I am only one player. I want to express my thanks to the owners and coaches for their extremely kind words about my career as a Giant to date. I have been proud to wear the Giant uniform thoughout my professional career.You have my word that I will try to make the correct decision as quickly as possible. If I decide to play, I hope that you will continue to cheer me on like you have for all of these years. If I decide to hang up the cleats, then I will bid you all a tremendous thank you for the privilege to play a game that has blessed me in so many ways and created memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. I humbly thank you for your understanding and being the best fans in the world. Michael Strahan #92[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Stay tuned to see what Strahan does. I'd expect him to make a decision here pretty soon as this is positively not the time to be deciding whether you're going to play or not this season. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Monday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
