Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 45 (Wednesday, June 3rd)
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Hi Folks,
I feel like Santa on Christmas morning here. I got to tell you about the Rate My Team App that you folks are loving. Now I get to throw out another super cool feature I think you're going to love. Keep reading and let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Get the Footballguys 2009 Strategy Guide Magazine for FREE
I told you we had TWO big surprises for this season. First one was the Rate My Team App that judging from the server reports, you guys are loving it as much as I thought you would. Keep that rolling and please help us spread the word with that app.
It's time for the other shoe to drop with the second feature: David and I have decided to produce our Footballguys 2009 Strategy Guide Magazine in a pdf that you can download online instead of printing the magazine and selling from the newsstand. The price to download this pdf online? NONE. NADA. ZIP. As in FREE. The magazine that we would have normally written in May, printed in June and put on the newsstand in July is now available to you on June 5th. For FREE. We figured if we were going to write the magazine in June, we might as well make it available to you as soon as we finished writing it. Pretty much like we do everything else. It's not conventional wisdom to give away a product we used to charge $8 bucks for. But we know things are tight out there. Call it our Footballguys Stimulus Package. You get the 2009 Footballguys Magazine for FREE. Then you take it from there.
Click on the magazine graphic to get your FREE MAGAZINE. Let us know what you think. Share it with your friends if you really want to help us. But mostly, enjoy.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. PHI - RB Brian Westbrook to undergo ankle surgery2. CIN - WR Chad Ochocinco says motivation is back
3. CIN - WR Chad Ochocinco to attend minicamp
4. NFL - Jim Fassel says that he would pick up Vick in the UFL
5. NYJ - Rex Ryan sees RB Shonn Greene as a 4th Quarter weapon
6. TEN - HC Fisher downplays QB Vince Young talk - Will remain a Titan
7. PIT - QB Ben Roethlisberger injures knee Wednesday
8. PHI - RB Leonard Weaver could be short yardage back for Philly
9. IND - WR Pierre Garcon keeps impressing in practice
10. DAL - QB Kitna content as team's backup
11. NFL - Rodney Harrison, Tony Dungy joining NBC
12. OAK - WR Heyward-Bey misses practice Wednesday
13. ARZ - OT Herman Johnson to play right tackle for now
14. DEF - ATL - S William William Moore to wear No 25 in honor of teammate
PHI - RB Brian Westbrook to undergo ankle surgery
Source: Sal Paolantonio and John Clayton, of ESPN.com,
Sal Paolantonio and John Clayton, of ESPN.com, report Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (ankle) will undergo a minor procedure to clean up some bone spurs in his right ankle, according to agent Todd France.
Westbrook aggravated a previous sprain in his right ankle while working out in the past few weeks, a team source said. It is the same ankle that Westbrook injured last year and bothered him throughout the 2008 season. "It has nothing to do with the high ankle sprain," France said. "It's just some bone spurs."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
France had no timetable for Westbrook's return, but another source said the surgery could sideline him well into training camp. There are some in the media that are proclaiming that Westbrook won't be ready until the regular season. His fantasy value takes a hit, and this makes LeSean McCoy very valuable to all Westbrook owners.
CIN - WR Chad Ochocinco says motivation is back
Source: Joe Reedy, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Joe Reedy, of The Cincinnati Enquirer, reports Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco said he is once again motivated to have a strong season, something he claims to have been lacking for the last decade.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
'From 1997-99, I was hungry. Since then it got a little too easy for me,' Ochocinco said. 'I wouldn't say I stopped working hard but that hunger wasn't like it used to be. Right now it's back. It's back 10 times worse than what it was before I got to the league.' Ochocinco is certainly motivated to prove that he's more than just a punchline in the NFL.
CIN - WR Chad Ochocinco to attend minicamp
Source: Joe Reedy, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Joe Reedy, of The Cincinnati Enquirer, reports Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco said he will be at the team's mandatory minicamp when it begins June 18.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
'Of course, why not go and show off the product?' said Ochocinco of the upcoming minicamp. 'Why not leave my coaches mouths wide open? I'm sure all the people in Cincinnati think I'm really not doing that much but you'll see the results with the work I'm putting in right now.' It's all lip service until we see it on the field.
NFL - Jim Fassel says that he would pick up Vick in the UFL
Source: Bob Glauber, Newsday
Newsday football columnist Bob Glauber reports that former Giants coach Jim Fassel, now coaching the Las Vegas/Los Angeles franchise in the United Football League, said he would have no problem signing quarterback Michael Vick in the event no NFL team wants him.
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Of course he would. So would most NFL coaches that have the political clout to weather the public relations storm. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell must first reinstate Vick before we can speculate where he'll play in 2009.
NYJ - Rex Ryan sees RB Shonn Greene as a 4th Quarter weapon
Source: Rich Cimini, The New York Daily News
Rich Cimini from the New York Daily news reports that Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan sees rookie power RB Shonn Greene as a 4th quarter weapon.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The RB situation for the Jets is an interesting one to say the least. Thomas Jones is back at OTAs - looking more rocked up than ever before - even though he doesn't have the new contract that he wants. Leon Washington wants a new deal as well, and it appears like the team will deal with him before Jones. Shonn Greene has been dinged up throughout OTAs so far and recently injured his ribs in practice. Rex Ryan saw what the Ravens did with a 3-headed RBBC last season, and he may try the same offensive formula with the Jets this year.
TEN - HC Fisher downplays QB Vince Young talk - Will remain a Titan
Source: Paul Kuharsky, ESPN.com
Paul Kuharsky, of ESPN.com, reports Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher downplayed QB Vince Young's recent comment during an interview on The Zone in Nashville. Young recently said that he would like to play elsewhere if he can't take back the starting job.
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Fisher said, "I didn't bat an eye at it, when I saw Vince today we didn't bring it up. He was in the weight room working out, had a great workout." Fisher added, "He's been here just about every day and he's having a great offseason. That's really the only thing that's important to me. I would expect everyone on our football team to want to start. You need that attitude. I think he may have been led on a little bit in the interview, but I'm not paying attention to it, he knows there is no potential for us to move him and I am not backing down off of what I said at the end of that ball game or the Monday or Tuesday after Jacksonville."
PIT - QB Ben Roethlisberger injures knee Wednesday
Source:
Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee) tweaked his knee during practice Wednesday, June 3.
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A little more followup on yesterday's story. Roethlisberger was limping heavily but it did not appear to be a serious injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin declined to discuss the injury. Roethlisberger needs to stay healthy if the Steelers want to defend their title. Byron Leftwich is now in Tampa Bay, so the #2 QB in Pittsburgh is Charlie Batch. The Steelers could win a few games with Batch calling the signals, but would have a hard time making a serious run in the playoffs without Roethlisberger.
PHI - RB Leonard Weaver could be short yardage back for Philly
Source: Associated Press
The Eagles are hoping Leonard Weaver is the answer to their short-yardage woes. A team that couldn't pick up a yard near the goal line in a loss to Chicago last season, or at midfield near the end of a defeat to the Giants, is hoping one of its least-heralded offseason acquisitions could return the biggest dividends. "I already told the guys we'll be good in short-yardage (situations)," Weaver said on Wednesday after the team finished a morning workout as part of an organized team activity. "We're going to go north and south, none of that east-west stuff."
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Weaver is a capable inside runner, and could also be a consistent receiver out of the backfield for the Eagles. We don't anticipate that he'll be a TD vulture that approaches double digit rushing TDs, but he could run for about 175 yards with 3TDs and snare 20-25 receptions on the season.
IND - WR Pierre Garcon keeps impressing in practice
Source: John Oehser, Colts.com
John Oehser from Colts.com reports that Pierre Garcon – a second-year wide receiver for the Colts and one of several receivers vying for increased playing time at the position next season – had what Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell later said was an impressive workout.
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Garcon was a 6th round pick out of Mount Union in 2008 and is trying to take advantage of the opportunity in front of him in 2009. He has great quickness, agility, and at the very least will be a contributor as a return man on special teams. Garcon is a strong receiver that has improved beating the jam at the line of scrimmage. In practice he is making deep catches, tough catches in traffic, and has been wowing teammates and coaches with his consistent hands. Garcon, Roy Hall, and Austin Collie are all battling for the 3rd WR spot. At this time it sounds like Garcon has the edge in that competition.
DAL - QB Kitna content as team's backup
Source: Mac Engel, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Mac Engel, of Fort Worth Star-Telegram, reports Dallas Cowboys QB Jon Kitna is content with his role as the team's backup quarterback.
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Kitna said, "I completely recognize that the best thing for this team is for me to never play a down this season. I know that and I'm perfectly OK with that." Jon Kitna is an upgrade over last year's backup Brad Johnson, but his best days are behind him.
NFL - Rodney Harrison, Tony Dungy joining NBC
Source: Rachel Cohen, The Associated Press
Updating previous reports, Rachel Cohen, of The Associated Press, reports retired SS Rodney Harrison and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy have been added to NBC's pregame program as analysts.
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Harrison got an early start on smack talking players from the booth when he slammed Peyton Manning at his press conference. He claimed Manning "panicked" when he voiced his frustration over the coaching changes. Dungy politely disagreed that "panicked" was the right word. Nice grasp, Rodney. We'll see if this backfires on him like it did when Tiki Barber ran his mouth about Eli Manning.
OAK - WR Heyward-Bey misses practice Wednesday
Source: David White, The San Francisco Chronicle,
David White, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports Oakland Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday, June 3, because of continued soreness in his right hamstring.
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While last year's 1st-round pick Darren McFadden signed on June 6th, DHB has yet to get a contract signed. Heyward-Bey said his agents have yet to open talks with the Raiders and does not know when those talks will begin.
ARZ - OT Herman Johnson to play right tackle for now
Source: Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic
Kent Somers, of The Arizona Republic, reports Arizona Cardinals OT Herman Johnson, who played guard in college, will be playing at right tackle for the team for the time being.
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The Cardinals are going to have Johnson playing behind Levi Brown and it may be difficult for the rookie to find playing time once the regular season is here. The team is hoping that his footwork improves so he can stay at Right Tackle but he could easily move back inside to Guard if need be.
DEF - ATL - S William William Moore to wear No 25 in honor of teammate
Source: J. Michael Moore, AtlantaFalcons.com
When William Moore needs a boost of energy or a shot of inspiration he looks to his wristband, sock, or another piece of equipment that he's marked with the No. 25. That's the number of a friend and teammate, Aaron O'Neal, who died in July 2005. The rookie has only worn the number to honor his friend once. But well before the Falcons drafted him he planned on using the jersey in the NFL. That opportunity will come sooner rather than later.
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"Whenever I feel like I can't go the extra step, I think about Aaron and what he put on the line," the Falcons safety said. Von Hutchins was willing to give up the #25 to Moore in exchange for the rookie donating money to the Lupus Foundation of America.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy our 2009 Footballguys Strategy Guide.
And remember, if you want to keep up with Footballguys on our official Footballguys Facebook page, just click here. If you'd like to keep up with all that I'm doing on Twitter, plus breaking news and Footballguys site info, just click here. And if you want to keep up with me on Facebook, click here and send me a friend request. Have a great Thursday. We'll see you tomorrow with the update. J