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Volume 8, Issue 55 (Monday, June 18th)

World Championship of Fantasy Football

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Hi Folks,

Good Tuesday to you. Hope you're day's going as well as Chris Brown's. Let's get going here as we have plenty of News and Notes.

But first, a Quote Of The Day:

"I just spit on you. Are we live? I just spit on you live."

-- John Madden to Steve Mariucci during an NFL Network interview from Madden and Mariucci's Bocce Ball Tournament after he accidentally spit on Mariucci while talking.

Now let's get to it.

SITE NEWS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. TEN - Titans Sign RB Chris Brown
2. SI.com's Peter King Ranks The QBs
3. CAR - Panthers Reward P Jason Baker With Extension
4. WAS - RB Betts More Than A #2 RB
5. ATL - QB Vick Cancels Camp Appearance
6. CIN - RB Quincy Wilson Arrested For Disorderly Conduct
7. DEF - TEN - CB Jones Questioned About Entourage's Involvement In Shooting
8. DEF - LB Arrington Suffers Multiple Injuries
9. DEF - TEN - Coach Fisher Has 'Moved On' From Adam Jones
10. DEF - WAS - CB Smoot Content With Role

TEN - Titans Sign RB Chris Brown

Source: Teresa M. Walker, AP

Chris Brown, the running back who lost his starting job to Travis Henry last season, has agreed to a one-year deal bringing him back to the Tennessee Titans.

Brown, who found himself on the bench watching Henry rush for 1,211 yards in 2006, spent the offseason visiting with other teams and had narrowed his choices down to his hometown Chicago Bears and Tennessee. Agent Ryan Morgan said the Titans offer an opportunity.

"I wouldn't have necessarily predicted this when the free agency period started," agent Ryan Morgan said Monday. "But we're constantly evaluating things. It really comes down to opportunity, and we're hoping Chris can go in there and compete and contribute."

The deal includes performance incentives for the four-year veteran who has 2,295 yards rushing in his career, 10th all-time in team history. He was a third-round draft pick out of Colorado in 2003.

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Big news for Brown. We told you it was between Chicago and Tennessee and it looks like after missing out on WR Keyshawn Johnson earlier this year, the Titans added a free agent that will matter.

I've said from the beginning that the closer Tennessee looked at LenDale White, the better Chris Brown started looking to them. Look for Brown and White to battle in training camp. Obviously, on draft boards today, Brown moves up and LenDale White moves down.

But there is more. This also means Chicago's Cedric Benson gets an uptick. There was some discussion about how much of Chicago's interest was real and how much was hype to strengthen Brown's bargaining position but the reality is that Chicago could have made a play for Brown and clearly felt content enough with Benson to not make a move.

The other player that gets a "read between the lines" uptick is Patriots RB Laurence Maroney. At one time, Brown was a fairly warm topic with the Patriots raising concerns about Maroney's shoulder. Apparently, the team felt confident enough in Maroney that they didn't make a serious run for Brown.

Bottom line is Brown is again a Titan. He has the rare advantage of a free agent returning to a system he already is totally familiar with. Move him up. Move White down. And feel better about Benson and Maroney.

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SI.com's Peter King Ranks The QBs

Source: Peter King, SI.com

Sports Illustrated's Peter King always has an interesting take on things. This week, he takes a look at the quarterbacks and offers a ranking of how he sees them finishing the 2007 season.

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The fun thing about rankings is kicking them around and debating them. King has some nice backup in his article for why he thinks what he thinks. It's a good read. For another perspective, here's how we see the QBs shaking out this season http://subscribers.footballguys.com/2007/currentproj-qb.php

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CAR - Panthers Reward P Jason Baker With Extension

Source: Darin Gantt, Rock Hill Herald

The Carolina Panthers have finished a five-year contract extension with punter Jason Baker, according to his agent. The deal was finalized Monday afternoon. The deal will make Baker the league's highest-paid punter over the next four seasons. There are guarantees worth $2 million, with the deal worth a total of $8.5 million.

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That's nice money for a punter. Not surprising though to see the Panthers pony up the cash here. The kicking game, especially punting is an often overlooked key part of the game.

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WAS - RB Betts More Than A #2 RB

Source: Howard Bryant, Washington Post

With the Redskins' three-day minicamp over, the hierarchy is clear: Clinton Portis is back, and he is the starter. Ladell Betts is the second running back, followed by the reserve group of Rock Cartwright, Derrick Blaylock and Mike Sellers.

"I like the group of guys we have in the locker room. I like the coaching staff. I didn't feel like relocating," Betts said. "There are a lot of things that go into starting over with another team. I just felt comfortable here. To me, being comfortable is more important than the money. That's just me, though. Everybody's different."

Betts has always played down his success and role on the team, and said he had no expectations after last season. He said he understood well his chance to go with testing the open market, but wanted to remain in Washington.

"Clinton is the starter, but I still feel like I can be an impact player here," he said. "I still prepare as if I'm the number one, and when you work hard and focus on your preparation, there are going to be opportunities for you to make an impact on this team."

Associate head coach-offense Al Saunders said there was nothing specific that he asked Betts to concentrate on during the offseason, but Betts has his own goals. He says he clearly wants to be better with the ball. As his workload increased last season, Betts committed costly mistakes, fumbling in his final three games and five of the final eight. Two of those fumbles -- against Tampa Bay and at St. Louis -- were critical and contributed directly to the Redskins losing those games.

"That goes with the territory as a running back," Betts said. "The more you play, the more you carry the ball, and running backs have the ball in their hands more than anybody except the quarterback. You just have to concentrate. Ball security is very important to me."

Saunders said he wanted to continue finding ways to get the ball to Betts in the open field, and saw different scenarios where Betts and Portis could be in the backfield at the same time. But just because Portis will reclaim his spot as the starting tailback doesn't mean that Saunders doesn't believe Betts will be an impact player.

"It's been mandated that Clinton is the starter, yes, but certainly we'll find ways that accentuate the dynamic things that Ladell can do," Saunders said. "He just the kind of player you can put into an offense that will flourish. The offense is governed by what players can do. And being part of the passing game is one Ladell's strengths."

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Don't sleep on Betts. If you're a Portis owner, Betts is likely cheap insurance. And if you're a guy that's betting Portis won't be able to stay healthy, then Betts could be a steal.

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ATL - QB Vick Cancels Camp Appearance

Source: Associated Press, USA Today

Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick has cancelled a scheduled appearance at a youth football camp to be held at the College of William & Mary. Vick will be replaced by Washington Redskins QB Jason Campbell.

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Vick cancelled his own camp earlier this year. Now he's cancelled another appearance. He cited a schedule conflict.

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CIN - RB Quincy Wilson Arrested For Disorderly Conduct

Source: WSAZ-TV in West Virginia

Cincinnati Bengals RB Quincy Wilson was part of a wedding party celebrating at a Huntington nightclub, and he was arrested for disorderly conduct after leaving the club. Wilson is friends with the couple that got married on Saturday. The couple was also among those arrested.

Police say they refused to leave the area of the nightclub after officers ordered the crowd to disperse.

Family members say those arrested did nothing wrong -- that the arrests were racially motivated. All members of the wedding party were black and still in their tuxedos when taken to jail -- the bride is white.

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Just passing along this information.

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DEF - TEN - CB Jones Questioned About Entourage's Involvement In Shooting

Source: AP

Suspended NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones was being sought by police for questioning about a shooting early Monday involving members of his entourage after a fight at an Atlanta strip club.

Jones, his group and three other people got into a fight, apparently over a woman, at a club around 4 a.m., officer Ariel Toledo said.

After everyone involved left the strip club -- the three people in one car, and Jones and his entourage in three other cars _ someone in Jones' group shot at the car, and the others returned fire, Toledo said.

Toledo said Jones was not present when the shots were fired.

"We believe he knows some of his entourage who were involved in the shooting," Toledo said. "On himself, we do not have any charges on him. He wasn't there when the shooting occurred."

Manny Arora, Jones' attorney, said he expects Jones will give the police whatever help he can.

"I've got to sit down with him and sit down with the police and figure out what we're looking at or if in fact he can even help them," Arora said. "Once we agree to do that, I will do it very privately and we'll take care of it."

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As you know, Jones is already suspended for the 2007 season. But it's still a story worth keeping up with as it could have long term implications for Jones' future.

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DEF - LB Arrington Suffers Multiple Injuries

Source: ESPN

Earlier Monday former New York Giants and Washington Redskins LB LaVar Arrington lost control of his motorcycle and hit a guardrail, according to the Maryland State Police. Authorities haven't determined how fast Arrington was going when the accident occurred. Arrington's agent, Carl Poston, indicated that LaVar had suffered a broken bone in his arm, three broken bones in his leg, as well as various cuts and bruises. Arrington, who was wearing a helmet, was issued two citations; one for operating the motorcycle without a proper license and another for the crash.

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Good to hear that Arrington's injuries are not life threatening. We wish him the best for a full and quick recovery.

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DEF - TEN - Coach Fisher Has 'Moved On' From Adam Jones

Source: NFL Network

Coach Jeff Fisher was asked about Adam Jones and his latest issue:

"I've moved on. If it's true, it's Pac's issue. If it's not true, it's Pac's issue. It's no longer our issue. So we've moved on. And we'll just wait and see what happens."

A reporter asked Fisher, "Do you think there's any chance that he'll play again in this league?"

Fisher said, "Again, this is... I've moved on. The initial suspension that the commissioner levied, we thought it was good. Everything has fallen into place. So we've moved on. I don't know. It's unfortunate if he was involved in something but I don't have details. There again, those are his problems."

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It doesn't take a lot to read between the lines there. Fisher has pretty much cut himself loose from the Jones distraction. He won't be there this year and this year is all Fisher is worried about.

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DEF - WAS - CB Smoot Content With Role

Source: David Elfin, Washington Times

Washington Redskins CB Fred Smoot is looking to redeem himself this season in his return. "I want to prove to people that I'm the same Fred Smoot who left here," he said. "Some people doubt I'm a good corner anymore. I like being doubted." Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers are expected to remain the starting corners with Smoot the nickel back. However, Smoot is too happy to be with the Redskins again to complain about being a backup. "I'll play my role," he said. "This is home. This is where I want to be. I can see living here for a long time after I'm done with football."

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Smoot sounds happy. And that's hard to put a price on. It also translates more to the field than many people will admit. Here's hoping he can put some of the old issues behind him and get back to being a good football player.

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That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.