Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 11 (Sunday, May 4th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Monday to you. Hope you're doing better than Cedric Benson this morning. We've got lots of news and notes for you plus tons of new Footballguys.com features ready. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Expert Rankings - Redraft Format
They're back. One of the cornerstone features for Footballguys is our Expert Rankings. We continue to give our readers not just what we feel is the best content, but the best content that can be tailored to what they want. You can sort and juggle the rankings to get just the look you want. Don't like some of the experts? No problem, you can click a box and exclude them from the consensus rankings. Want to see the rankings sorted by just one Expert. No problem. How about medians and adjusted average? You got it. Basically we want to give you what you need to Dominate Your League. And we'll be doing this all spring and summer long.
B.
Expert Rankings - Redraft with PPR Format
With lots of leagues using the PPR (points per reception) format, we wanted to break this out in a separate ranking for you. And as always, everything is sortable to see it how you want it.
C.
Expert Rankings - Dynasty Format
Footballguys is committed to providing you Dynasty league guys with the best content. So again, we'll be featuring our Expert Rankings for the Dynasty Format.
D.
Expert Rankings - Rookies
Want to see how our Experts rank the rookies? It's right here. And like we do all our rankings, everything is incredibly sortable.
E.
Coaching Matrix
The Coaching Grid is back. Our Mike Herman brings you an indispensable snapshot of every staff showing changes and experience. It's nuts. But that's what we do.
F.
The Bloom 100 - Post Draft Edition
Our Sigmund Bloom takes you through his top 100 players like nobody else.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CHI - Bears RB Benson Arrested; Released On Bond2. SD - TE Gates Says He'll Be Ready - But Not Sure When
3. IND - Agent For Colts WR Harrison Refutes Reports
4. MIA - Dolphins HC Sparano Advises OT Long To Befriend DE Taylor
5. CHI - Bears Rookie RB Forte Looking The Part
6. CHI - Undrafted QBs Hill, Hanie Have Shot At Bears Roster
7. TB - Bucs Rookie WR Jackson Strains Hamstring
8. PIT - Steelers Rookie RB Mendenhall Injures Hamstring
9. TB - Bucs QB Simms Remains In Limbo
10. ARZ - Cardinals WR Urban Misses Practice With Sore Foot
11. CIN - Bengals RB Perry, S Kilmer To Return To Practice Field On May 13
12. WAS - Redskins TE Davis Misses Mini-Camp Practice After Over-Sleeping
13. NYJ - Rookie QB Ainge Trying To Improve
14. SF - HC Nolan On Timetable For Naming Starting QB
15. DEF - NYG - Giants DE Strahan Remains Undecided On Future
16. DEF - PIT - Steelers Holding S Polamalu Out Of Offseason Practices
17. DEF - CAR - Panthers DE Peppers Getting Looks At Right Side
18. DEF - MIN - Vikings Place DE Udeze On Reserve-Non-Football-Illness List
CHI - Bears RB Benson Arrested; Released On Bond
Source: KVUE News
Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was arrested Saturday evening by officers with the Texas Park and Wildlife and Lower Colorado River Association. Benson is out on a $14,500 bail. Benson was arrested for boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. UPDATE: Further reports indicate Benson had to be pepper sprayed during the arrest.
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Can someone explain how the thought process works here? One of the most storied franchises in the league spends the #4 overall pick on you in 2005. You hold out and come up small. The team lets Thomas Jones go and hands the rushing duties to you in 2007. You come up small. The team drafts a strong competitor for your job in the 2008 draft. You're in a tough spot obviously needing to be the player you were drafted to be and deliver. So you get drunk and go boating? That makes a lot of sense.
To be fair, Benson is reporting a different story saying he did nothing wrong and cooperated fully with police. He is reportedly heading to Chicago soon to try and convince the team of his story and effectively try and keep his job with the team.SD - TE Gates Says He'll Be Ready - But Not Sure When
Source: Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune
Across the locker room, tight end Antonio Gates smiled when it was mentioned to him toe injuries can be tricky, proof just a few lockers down in wide receiver Parker, who missed the entire 2007 season following toe surgery. Gates conceded uncertainty at the timeline but was sanguine about his chances for suiting up in September.
"It's crazy how far I've come in this short period of time," said Gates, who had surgery on his big toe at the end of February. The initial prognosis was Gates will be recovered anywhere from before training camp to September. "It's just determining when I'm going to be ready," Gates said. "I know I'm going to be ready. It's just when."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Gates' toe will be one of the most watched injury situations of the summer. Big toes can be very tricky as Mr. Acee writes in the article. You have to love Gates as a player but this puts a pretty big question mark on how confidently one can project his stats for this season at this point. Hopefully we'll know more here soon but it sounds like it could be a while before any definitive news is out on this.
IND - Agent For Colts WR Harrison Refutes Reports
Source: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star
Marvin Harrison is not the target of an investigation into a shooting in Philadelphia earlier this week, according to the agent of the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver. Refuting Internet reports that cited unnamed sources, Tom Condon, Harrison's agent, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen: "I've spoken with Marvin and I've spoken with his attorney, and they say the reports are erroneous. Marvin was not involved in any shooting, and he is not the subject of this investigation.''
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Nothing really new but a little more talk from Harrison's agent, Tom Condon. Reports out of Philadelphia still are saying the gun involved in the shooting was Harrison's. So there is a little explaining to do there. Stay tuned.
MIA - Dolphins HC Sparano Advises OT Long To Befriend DE Taylor
Source: Omar Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano has advised Jake Long it would be in his best interest to become instant buddies with defensive ends Jason Taylor and Vonnie Holliday. Sparano's hope is that the Dolphins' two veteran pass rushers will take a liking to their new teammate and eventually mentor the draft's No. 1 overall pick, speeding up his development as the starting left tackle. "They need to be your best friends," Sparano said he told Long.
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With all the fuss over whether the new administration wants Jason Taylor in Miami, it was interesting to hear Sparano specifically mention Taylor as a guy Long should get to know. Remember, there was a story last week about Taylor visiting the team complex and Bill Parcells reportedly wouldn't even acknowledge Taylor's presence. The speculation was there was some friction about Taylor spending time doing his Dancing With The Stars show instead of some offseason workouts. How much of that is reality is unknown. What is known is that coach Sparano is telling his new first pick that he needs to get to know Jason Taylor. And that sounds like a good thing for Jason Taylor being in Miami.
CHI - Bears Rookie RB Forte Looking The Part
Source: Brad Biggs, Chicago Sun-Times
If there was a wow factor to the first Chicago Bears practice Friday, it was rookie running back Matt Forte. The 6-2, 222-pounder looks the part, as real as it gets in shells and shorts. The burst he ran with was legitimate. The Bears selected Forte from Tulane with the 44th pick, passing on a chance to grab quarterbacks Chad Henne of Michigan or Brian Brohm of Louisville, to fix a broken-down running game. Had the Bears skipped him, the Detroit Lions were poised to grab him with the next choice.
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Long time readers know there isn't a starting back in the league I think much less of than Cedric Benson. Even more so with Benson's latest episode and arrest. So when I see a guy like Forte making some noise, he definitely gets my attention. Granted, lots of guys look fantastic in shorts and shells. But if he can show the Bears something this spring and summer, I like his chances to be on the field this fall.
CHI - Undrafted QBs Hill, Hanie Have Shot At Bears Roster
Source: Bob LeGere, Daily Herald
Neither Southern Illinois' quarterback Nick Hill nor Colorado State's quarterback Caleb Hanie impressed NFL teams enough to get drafted, but both did show the Chicago Bears enough to warrant free-agent contracts. Each has an opportunity to make the final roster or at least the practice squad. Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton are the only other quarterbacks on the roster, and the Bears haven't gone into a season in recent memory with fewer than three.
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There's not a 3rd QB in the league that had better be more ready than the guy behind Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton...
TB - Bucs Rookie WR Jackson Strains Hamstring
Source: Stephen F. Holder, St. Petersburg Times
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Dexter Jackson is off to a slow start. Jackson is thought to have strained a hamstring Friday. He participated in a 60-play walkthrough Saturday but was held out of the team portion of the workout. "He's a little embarrassed about his personal issue right now," coach Jon Gruden said. "I don't think it's anything to be alarmed about. It's more of a precautionary thing."
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This is probably nothing to worry about although it's certainly not how Jackson wanted to get started.
PIT - Steelers Rookie RB Mendenhall Injures Hamstring
Source: Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The minicamp jinx struck another first-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As with linebacker Lawrence Timmons last year, halfback Rashard Mendenhall came down with an injury after his first day of minicamp and did not practice yesterday. Mendenhall has a hamstring injury, and coach Mike Tomlin believes the top rookies do have a problem with injuries in minicamps. Last year, Timmons left after one practice with a groin injury and No. 2 pick LaMarr Woodley came down with a hamstring injury in minicamp.
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A lot of these players get on the "draft circuit" traveling to different teams before the draft and can get out of their normal workout and nutrition routines. Then they come into their first camps and try a little too hard to impress and wind up with a tweaked hamstring or groin. It's probably not a big deal for Mendenhall but we'll keep an eye on this one. The team is pretty excited about the possibilities he brings to the table and how they can use him with Willie Parker.
TB - Bucs QB Simms Remains In Limbo
Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times
No team is buying what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are selling. At this point, it's very unlikely any will trade for quarterback Chris Simms. Tampa Bay shopped Simms and quarterback Bruce Gradkowski during the draft last weekend with no success. General manager Bruce Allen denied a report that two teams offered the Bucs a sixth- or seventh-round pick for Simms. Two other club officials confirmed no teams contacted the Bucs about Simms, who hasn't played since rupturing his spleen Sept. 24, 2006.
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This looks like more of the same for Chris Simms. Barring injury to guys above him on the depth charts, it's looking like more ball caps and clip boards.
ARZ - Cardinals WR Urban Misses Practice With Sore Foot
Source: Kent Somers, Arizona Republic
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jerheme Urban did not practice with the team during mini-camp activities on Saturday as the result of a sore foot. No additional information is currently available.
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We have no reason to believe this is a big deal. But just keep it in the file...
CIN - Bengals RB Perry, S Kilmer To Return To Practice Field On May 13
Source: Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said on Sunday that running back Chris Perry (ankle, shin) and safety Ethan Kilmer (knee), whom both missed the entire 2007 season as a result of their injuries, are expected to return to the practice field on May 13 with the team.
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I'm sure Perry's announcement had nothing to do with Shaun Alexander's visit...
WAS - Redskins TE Davis Misses Mini-Camp Practice After Over-Sleeping
Source: Associated Press, NFL.com
Washington Redskins tight end and second-round draft pick Fred Davis missed the team's mini-camp practice on Sunday after over-sleeping. "Everybody was scouring," head coach Jim Zorn said. "Nobody heard from him, so there was one of two scenarios: either there was some real trouble and we needed to find him, or he screwed up. I haven't even got to talk to him yet. I know he has been found. I believe it is more in the 'I screwed up' category."
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Because I know you guys need to know everything - Even if it's the rookie TE overslept for practice...
NYJ - Rookie QB Ainge Trying To Improve
Source: Dennis Waszak, Jr. , AP
The Jets saw enough positives to make Erik Ainge a fifth-round pick, the ninth quarterback selected in the draft.
"We're really excited to see what he could do," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said after the draft. "He's a tremendous worker, he has good size and can make all the throws. We thought the value in the fifth round was excellent, so we were happy to get him." Scouts liked his 6-foot-5 frame, his presence in the huddle, passing accuracy and ability to keep mistakes to a minimum. They weren't so kind with other aspects of his game, saying he was maddeningly inconsistent, isn't bulky or durable enough—some said he lacked physical and mental toughness—and didn't have the arm strength to be an effective NFL starter. "Honestly, the last thing I'm thinking about is a 14-year career and making $100 million," he said. "I'm concerning myself with practice in 45 minutes, and I'd be lying if I said I was thinking about anything but that. I'm going to go up here in a minute and let them tear me up real quick and tell me what I need to get better at."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I'm a little biased living in Knoxville but I like this kid. He's got a good head on his shoulders and he's got excellent physicals. He doesn't make mistakes and he's tough. He's too skinny but they can fix that. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see him as a starter in this league one day.
SF - HC Nolan On Timetable For Naming Starting QB
Source: Matt Maiocco, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
"In a perfect world, you'd have a one, a two and a three," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "But before you get to the perfect world, somebody has to win the job. And we need somebody to win the job."
Before training camp opens in late July, the 49ers will have 12 practices during organized team activities in June. Nolan said it is possible a starter will be established before any exhibition games are played. "If we can come to that point where we think at the beginning of training camp that this is where we're leaning, we'll show that," Nolan said. "I don't have any timetable on that. If we do (make a decision), I'll feel a little better. I think it'll raise the level of competition because the guys will know where they stand."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
With Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan in the mix, Mike Nolan and Mike Martz will have some work to do as they sort out their players. While it's possible a starter could be named before camp, it seems a little more likely they'll see how camp goes at least for a bit before naming their guy. Stay tuned.
DEF - NYG - Giants DE Strahan Remains Undecided On Future
Source: AP / New York Daily News
New York Giants DE Michael Strahan was interviewed on NBC's pre-Kentucky Derby show Saturday. Strahan reiterated what he recently told the Daily News' Gary Myers: He's undecided on retirement. This time, though, Strahan sounded a bit more pessimistic about the chances of his returning to Big Blue. "I have no idea - that's the announcement," Strahan said. "There are days I wake up and I want to play football, and there are days where I wake up and I don't want to play. Right now there are probably more days where I don't want to play than I do."
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This is pretty much where we were last year about this time with Strahan on the retirement fence. Although there is one huge difference - last year Strahan wasn't coming off a Super Bowl victory. I have no idea if Strahan puts any value on "going out on top" but if he does, you'd have to think now is the time to step out. I know I would. I'd be pulling a Jerome Bettis and getting on to the next thing.
DEF - PIT - Steelers Holding S Polamalu Out Of Offseason Practices
Source: Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Strong safety Troy Polamalu said he won't take part in any of the Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason practices as he recovers from knee surgery. When asked if he will be 100 percent by the start of training camp in late July, Polamalu said, "God willing, yeah." Polamalu, who watched both mini-camp practices Friday in street clothes, had surgery to correct a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
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This isn't a big surprise but file this one away for training camp in July. If Polamalu is still not ready then we'll start to worry some. He's obviously a key part of this defense and they're a different team when he's not in there.
DEF - CAR - Panthers DE Peppers Getting Looks At Right Side
Source: David Scott, Charlotte Observer
Julius Peppers spent time practicing at right defensive end during the Carolina Panthers' first mini-camp Friday. Peppers emerged as one the NFL's top defensive ends during his first six seasons in the league while lining up on the left side. But he slumped last season, managing 2.5 sacks. Panthers coach John Fox said Peppers' time on the right side Friday didn't necessarily indicate a position change was imminent. Peppers -- who declined to speak to the media Friday -- played on the right side in college at North Carolina and said that was his preferred place when he first came to the Panthers.
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Getting Julius Peppers back looking like Julius Peppers is one of the Panthers' biggest priorities this season. It's way too early to be reading too much into May practices but switching Peppers to the other side might be a help.
DEF - MIN - Vikings Place DE Udeze On Reserve-Non-Football-Illness List
Source: ESPN
The Minnesota Vikings want Kenechi Udeze to focus on his fight against leukemia and not worry about his financial situation. The defensive end was placed on the reserve-non-football-illness list Friday, coach Brad Childress announced. That makes him ineligible to participate in the 2008 season, but guarantees him his $807,500 salary for the year. Udeze revealed two weeks ago that the cancer was in remission, and that his older brother has matching bone marrow for a pending transplant.
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Stories like this one puts things in perspective. Best wishes to Mr. Udeze for a full and speedy recovery.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J