Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 9, Issue 70 (Wednesday, July 2nd)
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Hi Folks,
We're almost to the 4th here and it's not a minute too soon if you're like me. Hope you have had a great week but I'm ready to kick back with some BBQ and fireworks. But you know we've got the news and notes for you so let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Footballguys Podcast - Giants Insider - Mike Garafolo Interview
In This Episode: Cecil Lammey interviews Mike Garafolo, Giants beat writer from the Newark Star-Ledger. Topics Include: how much of a distraction will Ahmad Bradshaws legal trouble be, is a disgruntled Jeremy Shockey going to be a productive player in 2008, how much does Amani Toomer have left in the tank, who will win the backup job behind Eli Manning, plus more!
B.
Announcing The Ultimate Survivor League - Take Your Best Shot
I've long said that one of our biggest strengths is that our Footballguys readers are some of the smartest and most competitive fantasy football owners on the planet. So obviously we have lots of guys that look at our Footballguys staff and say, "I could take those guys". Now here's your chance. We've tweaked our Ultimate Survivor League to offer 120 spots to compete against 24 staff in twelve leagues. And earning a spot is as easy as captioning a photo, submitting a fake email or limerick. To check out the details, click here and you can read the Shark Pool thread outlining what we're doing. It doesn't cost a penny. It's just a seriously cool thing and I hope you'll join us.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CHI - Bears Sign 2nd Round Pick RB Forte2. Retired QB Favre Having Second Thoughts
3. Retired QB Favre Dismisses Comeback Talk
4. SF - 49ers OC Martz Wants 25 Touches Per Game For RB Gore
5. MIA - RB Brown Staying Optimistic
6. RB Davenport Interested In Lions, Cardinals
7. CAR - Panthers RB Williams Improves Pass Blocking Skills
8. GB - QB Rodgers Tells Fans To Get On Board, Or Keep Their Mouths Shut
9. DEF - IND - DE Freeney, DB Sanders Expected To Begin Training Camp On PUP List
CHI - Bears Sign 2nd Round Pick RB Forte
Source: NFL.com
The Chicago Bears have signed second round pick RB Matt Forte to a four year contract. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Forte becomes the 11th of the 12 Chicago draft picks to sign a contract or agree to terms.
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Excellent news that Footballguy Favorite Matt Forte is signed and ready to go for camp. He's the clear favorite to carry the running back load for Chicago and the only thing standing in his way it looked like was some kind of long holdout. (like Cedric Benson...cough, cough) He's ready to go and is positioned to be the guy. Now it's just up to him to deliver.
Retired QB Favre Having Second Thoughts
Source: Chris Mortensen, ESPN
According to Mortensen's source, retired QB Brett Favre has an "itch" to come out of retirement and report to training camp with the Green Bay Packers later this month. The source also said that his family has been "tugging" on him to play. Favre has communicated his desire to HC Mike McCarthy, but talks have not advanced to a substantive stage. The source said the Packers would be reluctant to open the door for Favre because "Brett retired for the right reasons." Favre's agent downplayed the likelihood that his client could un-retire. "As far as I know, right now, Brett Favre is retired and until he tells me something different, that's what it is," James Cook said.
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Mortensen is a guy that has obtained scoops from Favre before so this is not something to dismiss.
According to an article on Madison.com, Packers cornerback Al Harris was asked on "NFL Live" what he knew of Favre's intentions, Harris replied: "I've talked to Brett and I know he has the itch to come back and play. If he will or not, I don't know. But I know he's feeling he wants to play." Reached later Wednesday by the State Journal, Harris said his last conversation with Favre had been "a while ago." "Everybody, retired or not, has the itch to play at this time of year," Harris said. "I'm not sure what he's going to do. It's totally up to Brett. If he wants to play, he should play." Asked if he could picture Favre playing for another team, Harris replied, "I can't (picture that). I don't think he could either. But it could happen." Favre responded to talk about this in the next article calling it a "rumor".Retired QB Favre Dismisses Comeback Talk
Source: Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports
Retired QB Brett Favre has dismissed a report that he is considering a return to the NFL. Favre reportedly told the online newspaper SunHerald.com that his possible return is "all rumor" and that there is "no reason" for a media frenzy. His comments come as the result of a report earlier in the day that claimed Favre has an interest to play football again.
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I wouldn't be surprised to see this story die and revive itself throughout the summer. And who really knows with Favre? I do think the smart money though is that he stays retired.
SF - 49ers OC Martz Wants 25 Touches Per Game For RB Gore
Source: Kevin Lynch, San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco 49ers OC Mike Martz has laid out a plan to have RB Frank Gore get 25 touches per game this season. This involves roughly 20 carries and five receptions per game. While it is a great plan, the prevailing thought is that unless the team can avoid the slow starts that plagued them in 2007, the plan will fail.
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We told you earlier about how Martz envisioned Gore as the core of his offense. Now he's being a little more specific putting projected carries and receptions out there. We like that. It's been a little while since Martz was behind a powerhouse offense but when it was good, it was really good. It's exciting to think what Gore might do here.
MIA - RB Brown Staying Optimistic
Source: Barry Jackson, Miami Herald
Miami Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown is optimistic that he will be cleared for contact by the time training camp opens, and back to 100% by the start of the regular season. Although other RBs who have suffered the same injury as Brown did last year are encouraging him to take his time coming back and focus on rehabbing his injured knee.
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The league is full of RBs who've returned from this injury with mixed results. The conventional wisdom seems to be that Brown should take it slow coming back. If Ricky Williams can stay sane, the Dolphins will have a viable RB allowing them the luxury of not having to rush Brown back. This might be a strategy to have in your back pocket as you don't draft Brown but instead make a trade for him about Week 4 or so as he starts to feel more comfortable. Just a thought.
RB Davenport Interested In Lions, Cardinals
Source: Detroit Free Press
Free agent RB Najeh Davenport, who was dumped by the Pittsburgh Steelers, is reportedly interested in playing for either the Detroit Lions of the Arizona Cardinals. Davenport has had off the field trouble and also struggled down the stretch last season while filling in for the injured Willie Parker.
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Davenport will latch on somewhere and make a decent situational or even #2 RB for some NFL team. The guy can play when he's motivated and used properly.
CAR - Panthers RB Williams Improves Pass Blocking Skills
Source: Darin Gantt, Sporting News
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams has reportedly shown substantial improvement in his pass protecting skills this off-season, to the point where the team feels it can trust him in that role.
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Let's be honest. A team puts a different value on their RB pass blocking when Jake Delhomme is under center compared to what they would when it's David Carr or Matt Moore as your QB. Keeping Delhomme upright is of prime importance so the bar is raised on pass protection. Sounds like Williams is up to the challenge.
GB - QB Rodgers Tells Fans To Get On Board, Or Keep Their Mouths Shut
Source: AP
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has stirred up controversy this week. In a Sports Illustrated article, the quarterback said he didn't feel pressure to connect with fans the way Brett Favre did.
"I don't feel I need to sell myself to the fans," he said in the article. "They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
I'm sure there have been some less helpful things said by players this summer than this gem from Rodgers. But I can't think of any right now...
DEF - IND - DE Freeney, DB Sanders Expected To Begin Training Camp On PUP List
Source: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis Colts star defenders DE Dwight Freeney and DB Bob Sanders are both expected to begin training camp on the PUP list. Sanders is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, while Freeney is still dealing with the Lisfranc foot that cost him seven regular season games last year. Both players are still expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
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You IDP guys will definitely want to keep an eye on these two guys through the summer. The word is that they're supposed to be ready for the start of the regular season but that remains to be seen.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Thursday and we'll see you tomorrow with our annual 4th of July email.
J