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Volume 8, Issue 124 (Sunday, August 26th)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS Hi Folks, Welcome to Monday. And it's not just any Monday. It's the last Monday before the first week of the NFL season. The Saints and Colts kick off a week from this Thursday and it's on from there. It's been a fun spring and summer but I'm ready for the real games to start. I'm sure you are too. I'm just as excited about the Fantasy Football season. More specifically, about YOUR fantasy football season. These email updates will stop once the regular season kicks off. But we're just getting started. We hope you've enjoyed the content all spring and summer. If you'd like to keep it rolling all year long, a Footballguys.com subscription is what you need. For information about subscribing to the Footballguys website click here. It's everything you'll need to Dominate Your League. From detailed weekly projections and cheatsheets to breakdowns of upcoming matchups to alerting you to all the right free agent and waiver wire moves you need to cover - we've got it all for you. And you can have it for the price of a couple of pizzas. We think it's the best value in sports. And if you're not fully satisfied, we have a money back guarantee so there's nothing to lose. I hope you'll continue to hang with us all season long. Enough talk there. We've got plenty of News and Notes for you so let's get to it. JINSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. STL - Rams WR Holt May Be Questionable For Opener2. SD - RB Turner Leaves Game With High Ankle Sprain 3. DET - RB Bell Injures Leg 4. TEN - Titans May Go With RB By Committee 5. CHI - Bears DB/KR/WR Hester Injury Not Serious 6. KC - Chiefs Sign WE/KR Drummond 7. NYG - Giants Kickers Inconsistent 8. GB - Packers Injury Updates - WR Driver & RB Morency 9. CIN - Bengals 3rd Receiver Options Remain Inconsistent 10. DAL - Cowboys PK Gramatica Strains Hamstring 11. MIN - Vikings QB Jackson Impresses HC Childress 12. CLE - QB Quinn Leads Browns To Exhibition Win - Won't Start Week 1 13. CHI - Bears QB Grossman Still Inconsistent 14. DEF - NYG - Giants DE Tuck Benefits From Strahan's Absence 15. DEF - IND - Colts DE Freeney Bruises Thigh STL - Rams WR Holt May Be Questionable For Opener Source: Jim Thomas, St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis Rams WR Torry Holt took part in pregame warm-ups Friday but didn't play a down in the game. "Last week (in practice), I didn't see the fresh legs that I like to see," HC Scott Linehan said. Holt apparently experienced some swelling in his repaired knee after a hard practice earlier in the week. It has been nearly seven months since Holt underwent surgery to repair meniscus cartilage in the knee, but it's becoming increasingly evident that he will not be 100 percent for Carolina. Holt insists his rehab and recovery are on schedule for the knee. But he added, "It has its good days; it has its bad days. There's been swelling in there that I have to continue to control. There's still some tenderness in there. So if I can manage that, I'll be all right."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I'm not liking this much here. Players are rarely fully 100% once the season gets going. But you hate to start the season at less than full strength. Holt's entering his 9th season and isn't the young guy he used to be. What's worrisome to us is that this isn't a Terry Glenn type deal where he had surgery last month and isn't ready to go. Holt had surgery seven months ago. And he's still not ready after being able to take it easier than normal in training camp. Once the regular season starts, it's a race each week to the next Sunday and it'll be a lot harder to get healthy. SD - RB Turner Leaves Game With High Ankle Sprain Source: Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune Chargers RB Michael Turner started, as usual, in place of league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, who does not play in the preseason. But he left the game in the second quarter with a high sprain of his right ankle. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The severity of Turner's injury is still to be determined but we all know a high ankle sprain is bad news. Obviously, LaDainian Tomlinson is the man in San Diego but when you spend the #1 pick on Tomlinson, it's smart to grab his backup later. Some reports have Turner's injury as not very serious but others are fearing he could miss some significant time. Right this second, I'd have to say that Darren Sproles is probably the guy that would back up Tomlinson. Hopefully, you LT guys won't need either Turner or Sproles but insurance is never a bad idea.Source: Source: Yahoo! Sports Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell left Saturday night's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts with an injury to his lower right leg. Bell, who was acquired from the Denver Broncos in an offseason trade, was expected to open the season as the Lions' starter. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We're hearing this is a calf injury and not a shin injury as earlier reported. Either way, coach Rod Marinelli said after the game that Bell would be fine. We're watching Bell closely as we continue to get a bad vibe about the other Lions running back - Kevin Jones. The team is still saying it's 50-50 as to whether Jones starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP) but I'm hearing it's more pessimistic than that. I think he'll start off on the PUP and it'll be Tatum Bell carrying the load. TEN - Titans May Go With RB By Committee Source: ESPN LenDale White or Chris Brown? Coach Jeff Fisher insists he hasn't decided on his starting running back in a situation where both will play for Tennessee. "We have a good problem either way we decide," Fisher said Saturday. "We're going to be good." If the decision is based on production, then White takes the lead after his first NFL start. He ran 11 times for 51 yards in Friday night's 28-17 exhibition victory at Buffalo -- an average of 4.6 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 23 yards and showed how well he can block for QB Vince Young. Brown also played well, carrying six times for 42 yards with a long of 19 with a couple catches for 25 yards. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I've been down on LenDale White but he did finally see some game action Friday and played well. Chris Brown's been solid too. I'm afraid we're going to see another musical chairs type rotation in Nashville this season with both players producing just enough and inconsistently enough to make them both very frustrating players. CHI - Bears DB/KR/WR Hester Injury Not Serious Source: Larry Mayer, ChicagoBears.com With WR Muhsin Muhammad held out of Saturday night's game, Devin Hester started at wide receiver opposite Bernard Berrian. That the dynamic playmaker sustained only a bruise was a huge relief for the Bears fans, players and coaches who held their collective breath when the All-Pro return specialist went down. "He should be fine," Bears HC Lovie Smith said after the game. Hester was injured when he delivered a low block on a running play and his shoulder slammed into safety Michael Lewis' knee. "He'll learn proper technique and keep his head up," said offensive coordinator Ron Turner. "He's just new at the position." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for Hester here. But it's a good reminder for us all that it takes more than good hands and quick feet to play WR at this level. Hester's inexperience with blocking technique was a factor with this injury. It's also a possible worry with how much Lovie Smith will want to use him at WR. The team desperately needs his return duty work. They could live without his WR contributions. This might have been enough of a scare for Smith that Hester sees less time at WR. KC - Chiefs Sign WE/KR Drummond Source: C.E. Wendler, Warpaint Illustrated The Kansas City Chiefs have signed wide receiver/kick returner Eddie Drummond. He is now one of the leading candidates to return kicks for the team this season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Can Drummond play the Dante Hall role in Kansas City? We'll see soon enough. NYG - Giants Kickers Inconsistent Source: Associated Press, SportsIllustrated.com New York Giants HC Tom Coughlin said the Giants would evaluate kickers around the league, but the team probably will go with Lawrence Tynes and Josh Huston this week. The two have been inconsistent in training camp. Tynes missed two field goal attempts against the Jets Saturday night and Huston missed one. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's a good thing the team didn't have a blood pressure monitor on Coughlin Saturday as his kickers looked pretty bad. Tynes finally made one but this position looks pretty shaky right now. Wait till it gets cold and the wind starts swirling... GB - Packers Injury Updates - WR Driver & RB Morency Source: Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson has now given the impression that WR Donald Driver would be available when the team opens the regular season against Philadelphia. Driver has been wearing a boot to protect his sprained right foot. RB Vernand Morency, who has been out since July 28 with a patellar strain, will sit out another week of practice. Meanwhile, DE Mike Montgomery underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to repair medial collateral ligament damage in his right knee. Montgomery is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This is not definitive but still good news for Donald Driver. It looked like the foot injury was more serious when he left the field. Morency is still struggling to get back. The team needs him as it looks like rookie RB Brandon Jackson will need some help carrying the load. CIN - Bengals 3rd Receiver Options Remain Inconsistent Source: Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch The void left by suspended Cincinnati Bengals WR Chris Henry has not been filled so far in camp. Tab Perry missed time in camp tending to his injured hip. Antonio Chatman suffered a pulled hamstring the first day of camp and has practiced sparingly. Bennie Brazell, who has world-class speed, has shown inconsistent hands. He dropped a touchdown pass last week. Reggie McNeal also has had shaky hands. "Everybody has been a little inconsistent in some respect," receivers coach Mike Sheppard said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Chris Henry dropped a great opportunity into the lap of these WRs and nobody seems to be able to seize it. We still think Tab Perry will be the guy but it's not like he's jumped out and taken control of anything here. DAL - Cowboys PK Gramatica Strains Hamstring Source: Rick Herrin, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Dallas Cowboys PK Martin Gramatica had a setback in the battle to beat out rookie sixth-round draft pick Nick Folk. Gramatica suffered a strained right hamstring on his first-half kickoff last night at Houston. He said he might need an MRI exam but will decide today. Gramatica missed a second-quarter extra point and had a short kickoff after the Cowboys' opening touchdown. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Definitely stay with us on this one. If Nick Folk wins the job, he may be under the radar of some owners in your league. And we think the Cowboys should be able to move the ball making their kicker a value. We'll know here soon so stay tuned. MIN - Vikings QB Jackson Impresses HC Childress Source: Judd Zulgad, Minneapolis Star Tribune Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, who along with several other members of the Vikings first team played into the third quarter, completed nine of 18 passes for 117 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns. Five of those balls went to receiver Bobby Wade, who also threw for only the second touchdown produced by the offense this preseason. "I thought he did a good job of throwing the ball up the field," HC Brad Childress said of Jackson. "They were coming after him [on blitzes], and he didn't stand and hold the football. He had the answers." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] For better or for worse, the Vikings are going with Jackson. Expect there to be some rough patches but I think this guy can be an NFL QB. He'll have a solid rushing game with Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson to take some heat off of him. And he should get better as he learns the defenses. CLE - QB Quinn Leads Browns To Exhibition Win - Won't Start Week 1 Source: Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press, via Yahoo! Sports QB Brady Quinn was efficient and effective for the second straight game, leading the Cleveland Browns past the Denver Broncos 17-16, although it probably wasn't enough to win him the starting job over Charlie Frye. Quinn threw a pass in the left flat that WR Joshua Cribbs turned into a nifty 20-yard touchdown to break a 10-10 tie in the third quarter. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Quinn didn't get the start as we'd hoped and it didn't seem to faze him. He took what the defense gave him with lots of short passes but also had no problem going deeper when he needed to. One incompletion could have been ruled a touchdown as Joe Jurevicius caught the long pass in the endzone but was ruled just barely out of bounds. Not surprisingly, this didn't deter general manager Phil Savage who said that he wasn't sure who would start in Week 1 except that he knew it wouldn't be Quinn. I'd expect we'll see him around Week 4 or so. CHI - Bears QB Grossman Still Inconsistent Source: Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears QB Rex Grossman fumbled another snap and had an interception returned 52 yards for a touchdown Saturday night against. the 49ers. Along with the mistakes came the moments of brilliance that have teased the Chicago Bears the past few seasons. Grossman played the first half and passed for 211 yards and two touchdowns, and the defending NFC champions held off San Francisco 31-28 in a preseason game on Saturday night. Bears backup QB Brian Griese was 3-of-4 for 10 yards. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Tease is a great way to describe Grossman. He has just enough positives to keep some people hopeful he'll turn it around. I'm not one of them. But he's going to the be Bears starter barring some sort of disaster so we'd might as well get used to it. DEF - NYG - Giants DE Tuck Benefits From Strahan's Absence Source: Associated Press, SportsIllustrated.com If there has been a positive side to New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan's month-long holdout, it's been the play of Justin Tuck at left end. Since being inserted into the starting lineup in the second preseason game, Tuck has been outstanding and the Giants' first-team defense has given up just one touchdown. "I'm trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get," Tuck said. "So far, things have been going pretty good." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's pretty amazing that it's August 27 and Michael Strahan still hasn't decided whether he'll be participating this season. The Giants have a season to play here and it's good to see Tuck step in to the void created by Strahan and excel. You IDP guys need to keep an eye on him as he looks like he can play. DEF - IND - Colts DE Freeney Bruises Thigh Source: Associated Press, SportsIllustrated.com Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney bruised his right thigh during the Indianapolis Colts' Saturday night win over Detroit and isn't expected to play Friday at Cincinnati. Freeney went to the locker room before halftime Saturday night and watched the second half of the game from the sidelines in street clothes. Colts HC Tony Dungy said Sunday that the injury is not serious and that if it were a regular-season game, Freeney would probably play. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Colts defense already has question marks and they're counting on Freeney to be an anchor. This doesn't sound like it's serious but we'll keep an eye on it for you. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Monday and remember if you'd like more information about subscribing to the Footballguys website click here. Have a great one and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
