Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 69 (Tuesday, July 1st)
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Hi Folks,
Good Wednesday to you. We're speeding toward the 4th here and we've got you loaded for reading material on the Holiday weekend. We've got tons of new content on the website plus our Footballguys magazine is shipping. And we've got the news and notes you want so let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Footballguys Magazine Shipping Now
The Footballguys Magazine will be hitting the newsstands this weekend but you've still got time to order yours and have it delivered right to your house. Check out the link in the headline and get a copy headed your way.
B.
Footballguys Magazine Correction
While I'm talking about the magazine, one quick correction for you folks that have bought. Our publisher had a hiccup on a couple of the top 220 players. You can click on the headline to see the corrected version. One thing worth noting too - everyone that purchases a magazine is entitled to a FREE August Update. That way you don't wind up drafting Cedric Benson as a Bear or Travis Henry as a Bronco...
C.
Draft Dominator - My Fantasy League Import Application
For all you MFL League guys, here is the import app you've been looking for.
D.
New VBD Excel App
With new stat projections, comes the new Value Based Drafting (VBD) app. It's the highest powered spreadsheet based drafting app you'll see out there. Often imitated but never duplicated.
E.
New Draft Dominator App
You know the drill - new projections means a new Draft Dominator with all the latest tweaks factored in. Let the other guys draft off old information while you have the latest scoop.
F.
New Projections Dominator
With our different staff guys projecting stats, users asked for a way to customize their view of these projections. With the Projections Dominator you can sort and weight the numbers the way you want.
G.
Survivor Strategy - Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Our Footballguy Jeff Pasquino takes you through the best strategies for winning a Survivor format.
H.
Incorporating IDP Concepts
Our Footballguys Jene Bramel and Bob Magaw offer some helpful ideas on how to incorporate IDP (Individual Defensive Players) into your league.
I.
Mark Schlereth Interview Transcript
We pointed you to our Footballguys Audible podcast the other day where our Footballguys Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom interviewed ESPN's Mark Schlereth. Now we have it in written form as well.
J.
Matt Barrows Interview Transcript
Our Footballguys Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom interviewed Matt Barrows the other day on our Footballguys Audible podcast but now we have the written version.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CLE - WR Jurevicius Has Another Knee Surgery2. MIA - Rookie OT Long Likely To Play Left Side
3. DET - RB Calhoun Could See Field On Third Downs
4. Judge Declares A Mistrial In WR Henry Case
5. DEF - NE - Patriots Release DB Andrews After Arrest
6. DEF - CAR - LB Diggs Early Favorite To Start
7. DEF - NE - LB Bruschi Feeling Good
8. DEF - GB - LB Barnett Cleared Of Nightclub Incident
9. DEF - BAL - Ravens and LB Lewis Closing In On New Deal
CLE - WR Jurevicius Has Another Knee Surgery
Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland Browns WR Joe Jurevicius recently had another surgery to clean up tissue in his injured right knee. This is the fourth knee surgery for Jurevicius and his status for training camp is now in question.
In a team news release, the Browns did not disclose the nature of the most recent surgery. The release said he had experienced "ongoing swelling and discomfort in his knee" and "had a further clean out to help him in his recovery and control his symptoms."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I've always like Jurevicius but this isn't looking too great for him. He'll be entering his 11th season and it looks like he'll have a battle in camp to be ready. Stay tuned.
MIA - Rookie OT Long Likely To Play Left Side
Source: Harvey Fialkov, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Dolphins rookie OT Jake Long was evasive when asked where he will play on the offensive line, but HC Tony Sparano quickly put an end to the speculation shortly after the draft. "We see Jake as a left tackle. Left tackle is our need, and that's where he's going to be playing for us," Sparano said. But there are several pundits and NFL personnel who have mixed reviews as to where Long best fits in.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Outside of jumping in at the QB position as a rookie, there aren't many positions tougher for the new guy than left offensive tackle. But they didn't draft him in this slot to sit around and learn. They'll throw him in there and see how he responds in camp.
DET - RB Calhoun Could See Field On Third Downs
Source: Tom Kowalski, MLive.com
Despite playing in only four games last season the Detroit Lions coaching staff is still high on third-year RB Brian Calhoun. Calhoun, whose speed is his biggest asset, will get an opportunity to become a third-down threat along with his duties as a kick returner and special-teamer.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
With just Tatum Bell and Kevin Smith ahead of Calhoun, it's very possible he could log some carries. Especially on third down as the article states. The Lions running back corps will be very much a "go out and prove what you can do" type of situation in camp.
Judge Declares A Mistrial In WR Henry Case
Source: Associated Press via Houston Chronicle
The judge hearing the assault case of ex-Bengals WR Chris Henry declared a mistrial after the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision. A second hearing has been set for July 8th for Henry, who has been suspended indefinitely from the NFL.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I'm not sure what it says about Chris Henry that the best news he's had in a while is that one of his cases was thrown out. But looks like that's the case.
DEF - NE - Patriots Release DB Andrews After Arrest
Source: Shalise Manza Young, Providence Journal
The New England Patriots have released DB Willie Andrews, one day after his arrest for illegal possession of a large-capacity firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon. He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Thursday.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The harsh reality: Andrews isn't a good enough player to keep his job after allegedly holding a gun to his girlfriend's head. If this had been a star player, they'd need to "look into this further" and "let the legal system run it's course"...
DEF - CAR - LB Diggs Early Favorite To Start
Source: Darin Gantt, Sporting News
Panthers LB Na'il Diggs will get preference towards the starting job at weak-side linebacker over Landon Johnson and rookie Dan Conner. Diggs gives the team an added veterans presence and recently signed a three-year extension. He'll also be counted on for more responsibilities while DT Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu line up as a one-gap pass rusher and over the nose respectively, allowing more blockers to reach the second level.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Just something to take note of for you IDP guys. Diggs looks to have the inside track here at least until the newer guys get some experience.
DEF - NE - LB Bruschi Feeling Good
Source: Robert Lee, Providence Journal
35-year old LB Tedy Bruschi said he made it through the Patriots offseason workout programs in good shape and he is looking forward to another season in the league. The 12-year veteran says he's been careful to follow a process that includes talking to his family and listening to his body, both physically and mentally. "Do I feel good? Yes," Bruschi said. "Do I still have the fire? Of course I do. The offseason program, the training, is my body responding? Yes it is. I feel great."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This isn't really all that surprising. Bruschi is a guy that majors in positive thinking. The reality though is that no matter how good he feels, he's 35. And he can't play at 35 like he could at 28. This was evident last season in games where the offense was able to mount a drive against New England. I said it then and I believe it still. On snaps 1-3 in a series, the Patriot LBs were as good as anyone. On snaps 5-8, they start to get average. On snaps 9+, they start to look bad. Every defender fades a little on the long drives. But it was markedly different with the Patriots linebacking corps. They looked like old guys out there. Because they are old guys.
DEF - GB - LB Barnett Cleared Of Nightclub Incident
Source: Green Bay Press Gazette
Packers LB Nick Barnett has completed a deferred prosecution agreement, allowing him to avoid a criminal conviction stemming from a nightclub incident in June 2007. He was originally charged with criminal disorderly conduct but entered into a deferred-prosecution agreement that offered to reduce the criminal count to a civil ordinance offense if he complied with terms and stayed out of further trouble with the law.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I wonder what the cumulative legal bill would be for NFL players this season? I probably don't want to know...
DEF - BAL - Ravens and LB Lewis Closing In On New Deal
Source: Mike Preston, Sporting News
The Ravens and LB Ray Lewis are getting closer to a contract agreement that would enable to all-pro to retire in Baltimore. The deal is believed to be two-years which is how long the team feels Lewis, who is entering his 13th season, can still be a dominate player.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I think I'm getting old as it doesn't seem that long ago to me when Ray Lewis was just coming into the league. He's up there in years and he's not the player he once was but he can still be a force. There is definitely some value to the team to have him finish his career as a Raven. There is also some major political capital to be earned for a new coach to have a vocal leader like Lewis happy and in your corner.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Wednesday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J