Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 54 (Friday, June 12th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Saturday to you. Hope you're feeling as good as Pittsburgh fans this morning (although that's a pretty high bar to set - congrats Penguins.) We've got the news and notes you need so let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CLE - QB Derek Anderson suffers leg injury2. TB - GM says no one ruled out of starting QB competition
3. DEN - WR Brandon Marshall a no-show at Friday's mandatory camp
4. MIA - WR Greg Camarillo working with first team Friday morning
5. CLE - WR Braylon Edwards missing time with unspecified injury
6. NYJ - QB Mark Sanchez has a stronger, more accurate arm than Clemens
7. SEA - TE John Carlson's role increasing
8. PIT - WR Limas Sweed does not have edge for No. 3 job
9. DEN - RB Ryan Torain participates in first practice since knee injury
10. HOU - QB Rex Grossman likely will compete for No. 2 job
11. CIN - OT Andre Smith adjusting to new position
12. NFL - WR Plaxico Burress expected to get another adjournment in case
13. BAL - OL Marshal Yanda likely to miss training camp
14. PIT - QB Dennis Dixon will get chance to win No. 2 job
15. NFL - QB Trent Green retiring
16. DEF - CHI - LB Jamar Williams having a great offseason
CLE - QB Derek Anderson suffers leg injury
Source: Marla Ridenour, The Akron Beacon-Journal
Marla Ridenour, of the Akron Beacon-Journal, reports that QB Derek Anderson missed practice after suffering an apparent leg injury.
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He finished the morning practice with a limp, and returned for the afternoon practice with his leg in a sleeve. Anderson had visible trouble jogging and did not participate in the second session. The team gave no details, but this can't be good for Anderson, who is locked in one of the tighter QB battles in the league with Brady Quinn.
TB - GM says no one ruled out of starting QB competition
Source: Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune
Ira Kaufman, of the Tampa Tribune, reports that Buccaneers GM Mark Domenik said he's not ruling anyone out of the competition to be the starting quarterback.
"Our starting quarterback has to be decided on the field of play and I'm not ruling out anyone,'' head coach Raheem Morris said. "I'm not ruling out the guy sitting here to my right. We're trying to win right now. My job is to win and I plan on doing it. We have a vision and we do have a plan. You cannot be a great team until you have a great quarterback. We want to develop here the same feeling Indianapolis has about Peyton Manning.''[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Domenik specifically mentioned Josh Freeman, who was sitting next to him at the luncheon where the comments were made, but this comment also applies to second year QB Josh Johnson. QB coach Greg Olson didn't exactly have high praise for the presumed leaders Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown, so stay tuned.
DEN - WR Brandon Marshall a no-show at Friday's mandatory camp
Source: Mike Klis, The Denver Post
Mike Klis, from the Denver Post, reports that Brandon Marshall is not present at Friday's mandatory minicamp.
Marshall later met with team owner Pat Bowlen Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., then left the property at 3:15 p.m. Coach Josh McDaniels said after minicamp practice that he planned to meet with Marshall. "It's something we're going to handle and take care of it in-house," McDaniels said after practice. "I've been through a number of these situations. Whether it does or doesn't get fixed, that's something that's going to play out in the future. But we're going to coach the guys that are here the best we can. When he's ready to go and we get him out here, we'll get him out here."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Marshall is recovering from hip surgery, and would not have been able to practice - but he's required to be at Dove Valley for treatment. The team could fine him for missing practice.
MIA - WR Greg Camarillo working with first team Friday morning
Source: Edgar Thompson, The Palm Beach Post
Edgar Thompson, of the Palm Beach Post, reports Miami Dolphins WR Greg Camarillo is working with the first-team offense at during morning practice Friday, June 12.
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A sign that Camarillo is ahead of schedule, giving him a better chance to be ready for training camp after an ACL cut short his breakout 2008 campaign. Camarillo will need to be healthy to hold off Davone Bess and rookie Patrick Turner, who has impressed in OTAs.
CLE - WR Braylon Edwards missing time with unspecified injury
Source: Mary Kay Cabot, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Mary Kay Cabot, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports that Braylon Edwards missed the first day of minicamp with an unspecified injury. Coach Eric Mangini said Edwards will be fine for the start of training camp.
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The injury is unspecified because Mangini doesn't like for players to discuss their injuries. Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mo Massaquoi are getting more time with the ones in Edwards absence.
NYJ - QB Mark Sanchez has a stronger, more accurate arm than Clemens
Source: Rich Cimini, The New York Daily News
Rich Cimini, from the New York Daily News, reports that Mark Sanchez has the edge in the Jets QB competition when it comes down to arm strength.
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Cimini says that Sanchez has a stronger, more accurate arm than Clemens and he throws better on the move. Some Jets players have told Cimini that the biggest knock on Sanchez is that sometimes he doesn't know where to go with the football. In the overall competition Clemens is in the lead right now, but a starter for the regular season won't be named until we're deep into the preseason.
SEA - TE John Carlson's role increasing
Source: Eric D. Williams, The Tacoma News-Tribune
Eric D. Williams, of the Tacoma News-Tribune, reports that offensive coordinator Greg Knapp is excited about using TE John Carlson in a variety of ways and moving him around the formation. Knapp also said Carlson's run blocking has improved.
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QB Matt Hasselbeck also chimed in, saying "This year, on third down, he's not on the sideline, he's on the field. There are a lot of situations where in the past we've had a wide receiver out there, but now we're treating him as a threat in the passing game, and we're giving him opportunities to make plays, and he's done a great job." With possible emergence of Carlson, Dustin Keller, Zach Miller, and Vernon Davis this year, it's starting to look like you can get away with being one of the last owners to take a tight end, even in TE premium leagues.
PIT - WR Limas Sweed does not have edge for No. 3 job
Source: Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said WR Limas Sweed does not have any edge over the other wide receivers for the No. 3 wide receiver job.
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Sweed still has a long way to go judging by how he looked last season, and veteran Shaun McDonald is a natural slot receiver, so Sweed will have to earn that #3 spot. That also assumes that third round draft pick Mike Wallace won't have a great camp and push Sweed. Sweed probably needs the competition, so this is good for his long term future, even if it limits his short term potential.
DEN - RB Ryan Torain participates in first practice since knee injury
Source: Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com
Zach Eisendrath, of DenverBroncos.com, reports that Ryan Torain participated in his first practice since tearing his ACL, albeit in a knee brace and "injured" orange practice jersey.
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With the offseason additions of Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, and LaMont Jordan, Torain will be lucky to make the team.
HOU - QB Rex Grossman likely will compete for No. 2 job
Source: Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Steve Wyche, of NFL.com, reports Houston Texans QB Rex Grossman likely will compete with QB Dan Orlovsky for the team's primary backup quarterback job.
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He can't be worse than Dan Orlovsky. (Can he?) Grossman actually led the Bears to a dramatic win over the Lions last year and accounted for four touchdowns, so maybe he'll have marginal fantasy value if (when?) Matt Schaub gets hurt.
CIN - OT Andre Smith adjusting to new position
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Yahoo! Sports reports that Andre Smith seems to be adjusting to right tackle after a rough first week of OTAs.
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"He's making the adjustment. You can see a bigger comfort level as far as assignments and he's getting help," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "It was a little awkward the first couple days but he's getting more comfortable." The Bengals will need Smith to make the same kind of instant impact he did as a freshman at Alabama if their piecemeal line is going to keep Carson Palmer upright and open holes for Cedric Benson.
NFL - WR Plaxico Burress expected to get another adjournment in case
Source: Tom Rock, Newsday
Tom Rock, of Newsday, reports Benjamin Brafman, attorney for unrestricted free-agent WR Plaxico Burress (Giants), said he will ask for and be granted another adjournment in Burress' felony case. It is not known how long the adjournment will last.
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While this may be a sound legal strategy, it won't get Burress back on the field any faster, because no team will want to commit to him until the outcome of his case is determined.
BAL - OL Marshal Yanda likely to miss training camp
Source: Mike Duffy, BaltimoreRavens.com
Mike Duffy, of BaltimoreRavens.com, reports Baltimore Ravens OL Marshal Yanda (knee) likely will miss training camp because he is rehabbing from knee surgery. 'I'm on schedule, which is about six to eight months from January, which is when I had my surgery. Hopefully, I can get on the early part of that, which would be around September. Right now, everything feels good. Most likely, I'll miss all of training camp,' Yanda said. He likely will be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list prior to the start of training camp.
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Some draft analysts thought Michael Oher projected better as a guard, and the Ravens might need to take a look at him there if Yanda's status for week 1 is in doubt well into August, and replacement Chris Chester isn't cutting it.
PIT - QB Dennis Dixon will get chance to win No. 2 job
Source: Ed Bouchette, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said QB Dennis Dixon will get the opportunity to compete for the team's primary backup quarterback job.
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Dixon is a dangerous runner and he can create plays with Houdini-esque escapes a la Vince Young. If he can win the backup job and Big Ben goes down, Dixon might have fantasy potential.
Source: Jay Glazer, FOXSports.com
Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports unrestricted free-agent QB Trent Green (Rams) has decided to retire from professional football.
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'I feel this is finally the right time. I've talked about it with (the family) for a while, especially with the concussions over the last few years. We all felt it was the time to do it,' Green said.
DEF - CHI - LB Jamar Williams having a great offseason
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Yahoo! Sports reports that LB Jamar Williams is having a terrific offseason after being replaced by Nick Roach late last season.
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GM Jerry Angelo praised Williams athleticism, awareness, confidence, and intelligence. He also called him a "three down player". Williams has stiff competition to start in the form of Roach, Hunter Hillenmeyer, and new acquisition Pisa Tinoisamoa, but if he keeps the momentum up through training camp, he will be hard to keep off the field.
That'll do it for today. Have a great Saturday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J