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Volume 8, Issue 82 (Sunday, July 15th)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS THIS WEEK ONLY: 5% off of FantasyHeadquarters.com fantasy football league entry fees! Click Here!Your Mantra, "DOMINATE IN 2007". Your Action... Purchase Excellent FF Book with 40% Discount code... FBG Hi Folks, Welcome to another week. You an feel training camps just around the corner. It's a great time of the year. Let me start your week off right with a Link Of The Day. The Office has nothing on these guys. It's a fantasy football "rap" (and I use that word loosely here) video featuring a couple of office guys. There are a couple of not safe for work words but it's pretty good. To check it out, click here. We've got our News and Notes, but first, the Quote Of The Day: "For some reason I wanted to collect Kerry Collins and Napoleon Kaufman cards. I don't really know why." -- Philadelphia Rookie QB Kevin Kolb on trading cards he liked as a kid. Thanks for reading and have a great Monday. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
Footballguys Mock Draft Site Setup
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. KC - Price Goes Up For RB Johnson2. SF - 49ers Backup QB Dilfer Wants More Playing Time 3. NYG - Giants Instruct HC Coughlin To Change Ways 4. TB - QB Garcia Looks Like A Lock 5. DAL - QB Romo Finishes 11th In American Century Celebrity Golf Championship 6. DEF - NE - Patriots, CB Samuel Close In On Deal 7. DEF - DET - Lions, DT Redding 'Close' On Long-Term Contract 8. DEF - KC - Suspension Of Chiefs' Allen Reduced To Two Games 9. DEF - MIA - Dolphins May Try To Grab DT Walker KC - Price Goes Up For RB Johnson Source: Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star The record contract the Colts handed defensive end Dwight Freeney late last week is yet another new wrinkle in the Larry Johnson-Chiefs contract saga. Freeney's $72 million deal, which includes $30 million in bonuses and $37.5 million over the first three years, raised the roof on all future contract demands across the league. The Colts treated Freeney, the game's second-best defensive end after Julius Peppers, like a quarterback. And by doing so, the Colts hammered the point that you can't compare 2007 contracts by the standards established under the old collective-bargaining agreement. The franchise-tag value for defensive ends had been around $8.6 million. Once Peppers inks a new deal, an agreement that should surpass Freeney's, the franchise number for pass rushers will begin to approach $10 million. My point in bringing this up is it is being made abundantly clear that the deal that LaDainian Tomlinson, the league's best running back, signed in 2004 is obsolete when talking about Larry Johnson's value in today's market. If the Chargers signed LT today, he would garner a $30 million signing bonus and $36 million over the first three years of the contract.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Mr. Whitlock's point (and I think it's a good one) is to illustrate salary inflation in the league. There will be some that question Larry Johnson asking for more money than what LaDainian Tomlinson agreed to on his contract. The truth is that if LaDainian Tomlinson were negotiating today, he would have landed a much bigger deal. Whitlock follows the team very closely and it was interesting to see him say that he thinks the Chiefs trading Johnson is still a legitimate possibility. In my opinion, that would be disastrous. Larry Johnson is the one constant they have to build this offense around. With offensive line losses and swapping a veteran QB for Brodie Croyle / Damon Huard, the team needs to lean on Larry Johnson. Kansas City is notoriously tight when it comes to negotiating with players but I hope they don't mess this one up.SF - 49ers Backup QB Dilfer Wants More Playing Time Source: Dennis Georgatos, Santa Cruz Sentinel While starting QB Alex Smith became the first 49ers quarterback to take every offensive snap in a season last year, Trent Dilfer didn't play at all, and the team's veteran backup says he hopes to play more in upcoming exhibitions to help ensure his readiness this season. "I'm just going to express that I would like to play a little more in the preseason, just to make sure I'm sharp. In my opinion, it's in the best interest of the football team that I'm on my 'A' game come opening day and something were to happen to Alex", Dilfer said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Not much of a story here. Dilfer wants to stay sharp but this is Alex Smith's team. And as a young QB, Smith needs as many reps as the team can get him without risking injury. So expect Dilfer to see time in the preseason, but I wouldn't expect it to be any more time than most #2 QBs would see. NYG - Giants Instruct HC Coughlin To Change Ways Source: Paul Schwartz, New York Post New York Giants HC Tom Coughlin was told by ownership to change his demeanor and communicate better with his players. Giants ownership is not demanding a kinder and gentler Tom Coughlin, but it stipulates a more reasonable Tom Coughlin. The man in charge does not have to be revered, but the acrimony leveled at Coughlin down the stretch of last season did no one any good. The perception of Coughlin was as a beleaguered captain at the helm of a ship gone adrift, complete with the requisite mutinous crew. "I think there's no question I can improve," Coughlin admitted. "I'm going to try to be more patient." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I've always said no coach in the NFL does a better Captain Queeg than Tom Coughlin. For you young guys, Queeg is the main character in The Caine Mutiny, an old Humphrey Bogart movie where the captain loses it and the crew bails on him. Get more info by clicking here. Will Coughlin change? I'm not sure he can. But if he doesn't, and the Giants don't make the playoffs, I wouldn't expect to be talking about him in New York in 2008. TB - QB Garcia Looks Like A Lock Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times For the next six months or so, quarterback Jeff Garcia and coach Jon Gruden will be inseparable. They will share more than initials. In fact, their futures will be intertwined. It's the 37-year-old quarterback with his fourth job in as many years and the coach trying desperately to hold onto one. If you think another player has a chance to win a starting job under center in training camp, which begins July 26, think again. "I love Garcia," Gruden said recently. "I like what he's doing a lot. I just think he's got some traits we haven't had around here - his mobility, his experience." Those are exactly the two traits Gruden values the most in a quarterback. Garcia will be the eighth starting quarterback since Gruden arrived in Tampa Bay in 2002, but he is the only one who brings both qualities to the party. Brad Johnson had the experience and used it to get the ball out of his hand quickly, but he moved like he was in quicksand. Bruce Gradkowski made some plays with his feet but was green as grass. Chris Simms had some of both but not enough of either trait.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I'm not sure it's quite as set in stone as Mr. Stroud writes, but it looks pretty clear that Garcia is the guy in Tampa for now. Things move pretty quickly though. We'll see if the magic from Philadelphia last season was for real soon enough. DAL - QB Romo Finishes 11th In American Century Celebrity Golf Championship Source: Pete Aldrich, Cowboys Blog Tony Romo finished 11th in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe. Romo shot a final-round 77 and finished with 54 points in the event, which used the Modified Stableford scoring system Former NFL quarterback Chris Chandler won the tournament with 78 points.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Because I know you guys haven't been able to sleep not knowing how Romo fared here... DEF - NE - Patriots, CB Samuel Close In On Deal Source: Eric McHugh, The Patriot Ledger The final piece of the puzzle (or so they hope) could fall into place for the New England Patriots this weekend. One of Asante Samuel's agents on Friday expressed optimism that the cornerback and the team could agree on a long-term contract before Monday's deadline for franchise-tagged players. "We're a lot closer than we were before," said Glenn Toby. "We're not adversaries; we're not fighting (the Patriots). We're fighting to get it done collectively." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] More confirmation on the story from yesterday where we told you there were rumblings a deal was close. Time is running out though so they'll have to hurry if it's going to be done. DEF - DET - Lions, DT Redding 'Close' On Long-Term Contract Source: The Detroit Lions are continuing contract negotiations through the weekend with defensive tackle Cory Redding. A source close to the negotiations said Saturday the two sides were "close" to an agreement, but there is no certainty a deal can be struck before the deadline on Monday at 4:00pm EDT. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Redding has a similar situation as Asante Samuel in New England. Both players are facing the clock as their agents and teams try to hammer out a deal before the deadline. DEF - KC - Suspension Of Chiefs' Allen Reduced To Two Games Source: Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star Jared Allen was planning to treat the first month of the Chiefs' schedule as the offseason. He was going to head back to Arizona and work out with a trainer much as he did during the spring. Allen, a starting defensive end, will have to rethink that strategy after learning that the NFL — after hearing his appeal — reduced his season-opening suspension from four games to two. Allen will still miss the Sept. 9 season opener in Houston and the following Sunday's game at Chicago. But he will now be available to play in the Sept. 23 home opener against Minnesota and, more important, the Chiefs' first division game the following Sunday at San Diego. "My whole approach has changed now," Allen said. "With the whole four weeks, I was going to head back to Arizona and train as if I was in the offseason. Four weeks is quite a long time. Two weeks is a totally different game. Most likely I'll just stay in Kansas City and stay ready to play. "I'm excited about this. It changes training camp for me. It will change the way I approach preseason."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Excellent news for Allen and the Chiefs. He'll still have to deal with the two games but that's a lot better than what he was facing. DEF - MIA - Dolphins May Try To Grab DT Walker Source: Barry Jackson, Miami Herald The Miami Dolphins could pursue veteran defensive tackle Darwin Walker if he's released. His agent, Albert Irbe, said Walker won't report to the Buffalo Bills' camp without a new deal (he's due to make $1.3 million). Buffalo, under that scenario, would return Walker to Philadelphia by Aug. 5 for a sixth-rounder, and the Eagles probably would release him. Walker then would go to the highest bidder, Irbe said. Miami will have significant cap space once QB Daunte Culpepper is gone. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] With the way Dolphin players are being arrested lately, they probably could use Walker. Walker's a solid player and will be a contributor somewhere. The Bills and Eagles didn't feel he was worth the money. But it looks like the Dolphins might. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Monday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
