Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 116 (Thursday, August 13th)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Friday. We were already cruising along but with a Mike Vick signing and Tom Brady looking like he's back, the NFL just kicked it into another gear. I bet you're loving it as much as we are. We've got a ton of new content (again) for you including our world beating Training Camp Reports. Plus lots of news and notes you'll need to stay up with. Let's get to it.
J
SITE NEWS
A.
Start Dominating Your Competition With A Footballguys Subscription
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B.
The Perfect Draft - 12 Teams
I'm starting to see other sites copy this one but my partner David Dodds' Perfect Draft article still sets the bar. It's always one of our most popular features. David walks you through a 12 team league draft and details what the "Perfect Draft" might look like.
C.
Week 2 Training Camp Reports Ready
I leaked this one in the Michael Vick Breaking News email I sent last night - but big site news today. The second round of our training camp reports are ready. This thing is insanely detailed with 43 fact filled pages detailing everything you need to know about every situation in every camp from every team. You could read nothing but this report and be the most informed owner in your league. Check it out.
D.
The Weekly Gut Check - Teasers (2009 Anti-Sleepers) and Updated Crank Projections
Our Matt Waldman with another fantastic "Gut Check" column. In this one, he looks at the "Anti-Sleepers" or guys that will tease us. It's a must read to make sure you don't fall victim to the hype.
E.
Draft Slot Study - From the #2 Position
Our Chris Smith is back with his look at his thoughts on how you should draft out of the #2 spot for a 12 team league.
F.
Draft Slot Study - From the #1 Position
Our Chris Smith is back with his look at his thoughts on how you should draft out of the #1 spot for a 12 team league.
G.
Deep Sleepers
Everyone knows the key to winning your league is unearthing those gems in the late rounds. We take at look at some of those guys with our Deep Sleepers.
H.
IDP Spotlight: DT Albert Haynesworth, Washington Redskins
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at WAS DT Albert Haynesworth.
I.
IDP Spotlight: S Brian Dawkins, Denver Broncos
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at DEN S Brian Dawkins.
J.
IDP Spotlight: S Chris Horton, Washington Redskins
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at WAS S Chris Horton.
K.
IDP Spotlight: Green Bay Linebackers
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at the Green Bay Linebackers.
L.
IDP Spotlight: OLB James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at PIT OLB James Harrison.
M.
IDP Spotlight: Miami Dolphins Safeties
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at the Miami Dolphins Safeties.
N.
IDP Spotlight: DE Chris Long, St. Louis Rams
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at STL DE Chris Long.
O.
IDP Spotlight: ILB D.J. Williams, Denver Broncos
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at ILB D.J. Williams.
P.
IDP Spotlight: SS Roman Harper, New Orleans Saints
Our Footballguys Player Spotlights are the most detailed analysis you'll find anywhere on a player. Our staff guys break things down and we pick some of the better insights from our Message Board Gurus. In this one, we look at SS Roman Harper.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. PHI - QB Michael Vick signs two-year deal2. IND - Rotation at RB
3. NE - QB Tom Brady throws two TDs Thursday
4. PHI - RB Brian Westbrook sits out Thursday
5. CHI - QB Jay Cutler would like say in final roster
6. CLE - WR Donte Stallworth suspended for 2009 season
7. PHI - TE Brent Celek injured
8. GB - RB DeShawn Wynn ahead of RB Brandon Jackson on the depth chart?
9. TEN - Team loves what Jared RB Jameel Cook can do
10. PIT - RB Rashard Mendenhall looks ordinary
11. NE - QB Tom Brady sharp in first preseason action
12. BAL - Watch out for WR Justin Harper and WR Marcus Smith
13. BAL - RB Jalen Parmele a player to watch
14. MIN - WR Percy Harvin listed with third team on depth chart
15. MIN - WR Sidney Rice working on getting better
16. SF - RB Glen Coffee to start Friday
17. SF - QB Shaun Hill to start Friday
18. KC - QB Matt Cassel seeing a lot of work in training camp
19. WAS - QB Colt Brennan struggles Thursday
20. DEF - PIT - S Troy Polamalu preparing for a big season
PHI - QB Michael Vick signs two-year deal
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports the Philadelphia Eagles have signed free-agent QB Michael Vick (Falcons) to a two-year deal. The Eagles will hold a news conference on Friday morning to announce his signing.The first year of the deal is for $1.6 million deal with an option for the second year at $5.2 million, FoxSports.com reports.
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So Tony Dungy and Vick's agent Joel Segal were right. A deal did get done before the end of the week, and the Eagles are his new team. While he is not a threat to Donovan McNabb's starting job, the Eagles did add yet another weapon to the arsenal. Andy Reid would be smart to use Vick in a number of ways. He could line up at running back, Wildcat quarterback, or even wide receiver. The Eagles have sustained quite a few injuries in training camp, but they are serious about making a Super Bowl run and adding a player like Vick helps that. We knew that Vick would have to go to a team with a strong fan base, and the Eagles have some of the best fans in the game. It will be interesting to see how they receive their new quarterback.
Footballguys staffer and Eagles fanatic had this on the signing: "I'm surprised by the signing, but it's not illogical. Vick's success came in the West Coast offense. Sure, he improvised a lot and thus Knapp's offense was limited in ways, but the playbook, formations, cadences, etc...are all very similar to Reid's system; so Vick won't have the learning curve he might have otherwise. Depending on his conditioning and length of suspension, I suspect Vick will be QB2 for the Birds sooner rather than later."
Source: Matt Dollinger - Colts.com
Matt Dollinger, of Colts.com, reports that head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed that the team will use a rotation at running back. "When (Edgerrin James) was here, Dominic (Rhodes) sort of helped him with that part of the game, and Joseph and 'Dom' teamed together and worked well. We anticipate the same thing will happen with the backs we have present as well. It depends on who you face and the type of defensive structure that you have to deal with," Caldwell said. "But one thing we know for sure is there will be some type of rotation."
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There should be enough to go around for Addai to be a solid RB2 and Brown to be a solid flex, but if Addai gets dinged (as he usually does), we think Brown could seize a bigger part of the backfield and become the more valuable Colts back for the remainder of the season.
NE - QB Tom Brady throws two TDs Thursday
Source: Chris Forsberg - The Boston Globe
Updating a previous item, Chris Forsberg, of The Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (knee) finished the team's preseason opener 10-for-15 for 100 yards with two touchdowns and an interception Thursday, Aug. 13.
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Brady is back, and showed no ill-effects from the knee injury that forced him to miss all of last season. Fantasy owners need to take note, and realize that he could easily throw for 35+ touchdowns this year.
PHI - RB Brian Westbrook sits out Thursday
Source: Shalise Manza Young - the Providence Journal
Shalise Manza Young, of the Providence Journal, reports Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (ankle) sat out the team's preseason opener Thursday, Aug. 13.
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This is not surprising as Westbrook tries to come back from his latest ankle injury. LeSean McCoy looked quick and elusive as Westy's replacement.
CHI - QB Jay Cutler would like say in final roster
Source: Bob LeGere - the Daily Herald
Bob LeGere, of the Daily Herald, reports Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler said he would like to have input on which players make the final roster. 'I think they're definitely going to ask me. If they don't ask me, I'm going to tell them what I think because I've got to be the one throwing to them on game day, and I've got to trust them. But [offensive coordinator Ron Turner] and I have been on the same page since the start of training camp in what guys we wanted to see working in with me and what guys have stepped up and what direction we want to go with this group,' Cutler said.
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Pretty bold statement by Cutler. The Bears can't rebuke him publicly without risking a problem, but we find it hard to believe that they're ok with the starting QB asserting a right to have a voice in personnel decisions.
CLE - WR Donte Stallworth suspended for 2009 season
Source: NFL.com
NFL.com reports NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Cleveland Browns WR Donte' Stallworth for the entire 2009 season without pay for violating both the NFL's policy on substances of abuse and the personal conduct policy. Stallworth is not allowed to participate in any team activities and will be reinstated after the Super Bowl.
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Just in case anyone was holding out hope for this season...
Source: Dave Spadaro - Eagles Television Network
Dave Spadaro, of the Eagles Television Network, reports Philadelphia Eagles TE Brent Celek (shoulder) was seen heading to the locker room in the second quarter of the team's preseason opener Thursday, Aug. 13, with a right shoulder strain. He will not return to the game.
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The Eagles have already lost rookie TE Cornelius Ingram for the entire season, and do not want to lose Celek for an extended period either. Eagles fans are hoping this injury isn't serious because Celek was in line to be very involved in the offense.
GB - RB DeShawn Wynn ahead of RB Brandon Jackson on the depth chart?
Source: Greg Bedard - the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Greg Bedard, from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, writes on his twitter page that DeShawn Wynn is ahead of Brandon Jackson.
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Wynn's fantastic camp continues, and this is big news for fantasy owners - especially Ryan Grant owners. If Grant gets off to a slow start this season the team may be willing to turn over most of the carries to DeShawn Wynn. Brandon Jackson still provides good value to the team as a pass receiving option out of the backfield, but doesn't run with the same type of power and instinct that Wynn does.
TEN - Team loves what Jared RB Jameel Cook can do
Source: Don Banks - SI.com
Don Banks, from SI.com, reports the real playmaker in the Titans draft class might wind up being Jared Cook, a 6-foot-5, 246-pound former South Carolina standout. Cook is athletic enough to line up at wideout, could present huge matchup problems for defenses, and some expect him to emerge as Tennessee's third-best receiver. "He's got that ability [to play outside],'' Fisher told me. "It's another weapon. It's Chris Johnson at the tight end position."
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So far in his playing career Cook has been compared to Calvin Johnson (by his college coach Steve Spurrier), and now Jeff Fisher compares him to Chris Johnson. Obviously, Jared Cook is an extremely athletic player that is too big for safeties to cover, and too fast for linebackers to cover. He's not the world's best blocker, so the Titans may line him up out wide, like a super-sized receiver. Because of his leaping ability, Cook also makes for a great red zone target.
PIT - RB Rashard Mendenhall looks ordinary
Source: Ed Bouchette - the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ed Bouchette, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, notes it often is difficult to fully evaluate running backs in modern training camps because of the lack of live hitting. Rashard Mendenhall has gone through two live snaps in camp, two runs from the 1-yard line in a goal-line team drill Sunday against the first-team defense. He was stuffed once and thrown for a 3-yard loss the other time. That drill is traditionally unfair to the offense. The Steelers still are not sure what they have in Mendenhall. "The key for him, like all young guys, they have to play," said Kirby Wilson, who coaches the Steelers' backs. "He's still trying to develop a style -- who he is, what kind of runner he's going to be in this league, his style, and the whole key."
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This is not a good sign for fantasy owners who are expecting big things from Rashard Mendenhall. He was able to take advantage of defenses in college because he played out of a zone-read offense. The holes are much bigger in that type of offense, and the reads for a running back are much easier as defenses are keying on the quarterback running the option. So far in the NFL he's ran with a little bit of power, but has build up speed and runs too upright. He has a long way to go before he proves that he was worth a first-round pick.
NE - QB Tom Brady sharp in first preseason action
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (knee) went 4 of 5 during the team's first two preseason drives. During the second drive, he led the team to a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Aug. 13.
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What else would you expect from arguably the game's greatest quarterback? This is a great sign for his 2009 outlook. While we're not expecting 2007 numbers (50 TDs) from Brady, we could easily see him throw for 35+ touchdowns in 2009.
BAL - Watch out for WR Justin Harper and WR Marcus Smith
Source: Dan Kolko - Masnsports.com
Masnsports.com notes that if you're interested in keeping close tabs on a wide receiver or two, watch Marcus Smith and Justin Harper. Both are second-year guys who have impressed at different points throughout the offseason. Smith, a fourth-round pick in '08, looked great in OTAs but his play has dipped a bit in camp (possibly because of dehydration issues that caused him to lose nearly 35 pounds in three days). The New Mexico product (6-foot-1, 215) is a strong, physical possession receiver who usually has good hands but has struggled with drops the last few days in camp. Harper (a seventh-round choice out of Virginia Tech) held his own in OTAs but has really come on since reporting to Westminster. The 6-foot-3, 215 pound receiver is more of a deep threat than his friend and fellow wide receiver, and he's shown the ability to make big-time plays throughout camp.
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Smith has strong run after the catch ability and plays like a "lite" version of Anquan Boldin. The player we really like here is Justin Harper. He is a big, fast, and physical wide receiver that will stretch the defense. The Ravens have been looking for a deep threat to complement Joe Flacco's strong arm, and Justin Harper may be just the guy they're looking for. With Mark Clayton banged up (again) Harper is getting a chance to shine.
BAL - RB Jalen Parmele a player to watch
Source: Dan Kolko - Masnsports.com
Masnsports.com is reporting that with all the questions surrounding the Ravens' backfield this offseason, not much attention has been given to the guys battling for roster spots behind Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain. After all, the way the three-headed monster ran the rock last season, the Ravens might not need much else in the way of running back play. Don't try telling that to Jalen Parmele. That name might sound a little familiar; the second-year back out of Toledo spent some time in Baltimore last season when the Ravens signed him off the Dolphins' practice squad in December.
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Parmele is one of the better deep backups in the league, and is an extremely versatile player. He has been having a very good training camp, and has even been having success against the vaunted Ravens first-team defense. Dynasty league players need to already have this talented young running back on their roster. Redraft players only need to remember the name, because he's currently buried on the Ravens' depth chart. However, if Jalen Parmele gets an opportunity he could prove to be a very capable player in this league.
MIN - WR Percy Harvin listed with third team on depth chart
Source: Sean Jensen - the St. Paul Pioneer Press
Sean Jensen, of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Percy Harvin is listed as a third-team wide receiver on the team's first depth chart.
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Bobby Wade is listed as the second-team WR ahead of Harvin, and he is a dependable presence for the Vikings. This is really not that important when it comes to eventual playing time for Harvin, because his game defies being shoehorned into one position.
MIN - WR Sidney Rice working on getting better
Source: Sean Jensen - the St. Paul Pioneer Press
Sean Jensen, of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Vikings WR Sidney Rice has been working on his catching and blocking ability and hopes to be more productive in his third season. 'I do notice that it is a receiver's third year when they do start to blossom,' Rice said. 'Hopefully, this can be my year, and I'm going to do everything I can to stay on that field and help my team succeed.'
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Rice has a lot of pressure on him to perform because first-round pick Percy Harvin has created a ton of positive buzz. Rice basically lost last season because of a lingering knee injury, so he can't afford any more missed time if he wants to remain a starter.
SF - RB Glen Coffee to start Friday
Source: Matt Maiocco - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers RB Glen Coffee will start in the team's first preseason game Friday, Aug. 14.
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It will be good to see how Coffee does against a first-team defense. Most of the rookie backup RBs won't get that kind of shot to prove themselves in the preseason.
SF - QB Shaun Hill to start Friday
Source: Matt Maiocco - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers QB Shaun Hill will start the team's preseason game Friday, Aug. 14. Head coach Mike Singletary said this does not mean Hill is leading in the starting quarterback race.
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Good for Coach Sing for making that clear. This race is very close because both QBs have had good camps. Play in the preseason games will likely determine the winner.
KC - QB Matt Cassel seeing a lot of work in training camp
Source: Kent Babb - The Kansas City Star
Kent Babb, of The Kansas City Star, reports Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel said his arm is about ready to fall off. While he may have been half-joking, it is based off of the amount of throwing he has done during training camp.
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We'll see whether this affects Cassel as the season goes on. For now, we're pleased to hear that Haley is working the young team to the bone.
WAS - QB Colt Brennan struggles Thursday
Source: Associated Press
The Associated Press reports Washington Redskins QB Colt Brennan was 4-for-12 for 43 yards with an interception during the team's preseason opener Thursday, Aug. 13.
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This won't help him as he tries to beat out Todd Collins for the backup job behind Jason Campbell.
DEF - PIT - S Troy Polamalu preparing for a big season
Source: Brad Biggs - National Football Post
Brad Biggs, from the National Football Post, notes that Troy Polamalu, the five-time Pro Bowl strong safety, says he's much more prepared for this season than he was the last one. "I am light years ahead of where I was last year when I didn't practice at all during camp," Polamalu told ESPN Radio in Pittsburgh.
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A hamstring injury bothered Polamalu for most of the preseason in 2008, but he was able to play in all 16 games last season. The Steelers didn't allow a 300-yard passer, or a 100-yard rusher during the regular season last year - and could be in for another strong season this year.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading.
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Have a great Friday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J
