Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 9 (Tuesday, April 28th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Wednesday to you. Teams are scrambling to fill draft holes with free agents as the new rookies get ready for their first camps. It's a great time in the league. Plus we've got some veteran news for you as well. So let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Footballguys Unveils Redesigned News Page
We're proud to unveil a completely redesigned News Page for Footballguys. We've partnered with our friends at KFFL.com to bring you every bit of pertinent news from across the league. And in typical Footballguys style, it's sortable and searchable so you can use it exactly like you want. You can view it by teams, or by positions. And you can also view it with the IDP players removed if you like if you just want to focus on offensive players news. Our Footballguys Media Guru Cecil Lammey will be heading up this project (providing the bulk of the commentaries on the bigger news items) and we're really excited to be bringing it to you. Additionally, an RSS feed will be available shortly.
B.
Early-bird Subscriptions available now
From now until May 15th, you can get a Footballguys subscription for just $22.95. After May 15th, a Footballguys.com subscription will cost $27.95.
C.
Draft Weekend Fantasy Winners and Losers
Our Draft Guru Sigmund Bloom takes a deep look at the players affected by this weekend's draft.
D.
The Rookie 100 - Post-Draft Fantasy Rankings
Our Draft Guru Sigmund Bloom with his always anticipated "Bloom Rookie 100" hot off the press.
E.
Notes From the 2009 Draft - Day 2
Our Draft Expert Matt Waldman with his thoughts live from the Draft on Saturday.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. ARZ - RB James Released2. ARZ - Team fielded and passed on two offers for WR Boldin
3. SF - 49er WR Crabtree's college coach blames CLE for sliding in draft
4. NO - Beat Writer Triplett expects RB Thomas to lead team in carries
5. MIN - NE - Patriots were interested in MIN WR Harvin?
6. ATL - Falcons sign eight more undrafted free agents
7. PIT - WR Lelie could sign with team says agent
8. ATL - QB Vick receives offer from Arena League team
9. SF - WR Battle will have to fight for roster spot
10. CLE - WR Drew Bennett to visit
11. DEF - DE Taylor reportedly considering TB, NE and MIA
12. NE - Randy Moss' motorsports team wins their first NASCAR truck race
Source: John Clayton, ESPN.com
John Clayton, of ESPN, reports the Arizona Cardinals have released RB Edgerrin James, according to a source.
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The handwriting has been on the wall for a while now. When the Cardinals selected both Chris Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling it was apparent that they were headed in a different direction with their RB corps. Age and injuries seem to have taken their toll on James, but he put up decent numbers in week 17 and on the Cardinals playoff run. He may have to wait until injuries hit in training camp to catch on with another team, and even though he's old there may still be a couple of good games left in those legs.
ARZ - Team fielded and passed on two offers for WR Boldin
Source: Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic
Kent Somers, of The Arizona Republic, reports the Arizona Cardinals received two firm trade offers for WR Anquan Boldin and neither involved a first-round draft pick. The Chicago Bears acknowledged offering a second-round pick, No. 49 overall, for Boldin. And Graves said another team offered a draft pick and players.
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There were reports before the draft that stated the Cardinals had dropped their asking price for Anquan Boldin. Apparently they thought that the 2nd rounder offered by the Bears was not enough. While the hype around this potential trade was immense, the substantial offers just didn't surface. This leads many to wonder how much value other NFL teams place on Boldin. Things can obviously change, but at this time it seems like Boldin is going to be a Cardinal in 2009.
SF - 49er WR Crabtree's college coach blames CLE for sliding in draft
Source: ESPN.com
ESPN.com reports Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach said Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini is to blame for San Francisco 49ers WR Michael Crabtree slipping in the first round of the NFL Draft. Reports out of Cleveland said that the Browns didn't like Crabtree's attitude when he visited the team prior to the NFL Draft. 'Michael Crabtree has been more successful as a receiver than that guy as a coach at this point,' Leach said of Mangini, according to media reports of a conference call. 'Part of the reason is (Crabtree's) too shy to be like that.'
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Mike Leach getting a little touchy here. The Browns weren't the only team that was put off by Crabtree's antics. Reports from Oakland revealed that the Raiders were not in love with his attitude either. Think about that...the Raiders didn't like his attitude. Throw in the reports that Crabtree made less than a sterling impression while at the ESPN studios and you seem to have a pattern. I wonder if Eric Mangini will take this out on the newly signed Priority Free Agent (and former Red Raider) QB Graham Harrell? I'm leaning toward chalking this up to Mike Leach ranting.
NO - Beat Writer Triplett expects RB Thomas to lead team in carries
Source: Mike Triplet, The New Orleans Times-Picayune
Mike Triplet of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that he thinks RB Pierre Thomas will wind up leading the Saints in carries this year.
Coach Sean Payton talked about RB depth earlier this year. "I just think you can never have enough of 'em," Payton said. "So you stack 'em up, and it's a long season, and it's a position obviously that takes a pounding. So obviously you want to have depth there, and versatility and flexibility and all those things. But it's certainly a position that you see year in and year out get nicked and get sidelined because of the pounding you take. Let's take a few of the teams, there's LenDale White and Chris Johnson. Were they both healthy together for all 16 regular-season games last year? I don't think they were. You look at the Giants' trio of backs, no they weren't either. And so, well we can go through this exercise and find maybe an exception. But these guys get hit, and the defenses aren't getting any slower, they get faster. And it's a long season as it is, so the attrition at that position makes it essential and vital that you have to have depth. "[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The real factor here seems to be how healthy we can expect Reggie Bush to be. He's given us plenty of reasons for concern so far. But even with a healthy Reggie Bush, Payton is right - teams are trending toward a multiple back rotation. And it seems to make sense. But even with that, it looks like Thomas is primed for a significant workload in New Orleans.
MIN - NE - Patriots were interested in MIN WR Harvin?
Source: Associated Press
Sid Hartman, of the Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress said he believed the New England Patriots would have selected WR Percy Harvin had the team not chosen him. 'New England was right in there. They were right behind us (with the 23rd pick),' Childress said. 'No, they didn't think we'd take him (because of off-the-field) issues. Remember, they have our receivers coach there now. So they thought they could hold ... and he'd come to them. They were down there working him out the day after I was there. And (Harvin) wasn't supposed to tell anybody, and I was trying to pull that out of him, who that was. So, it was a little cat-and-mouse game that occurred.'
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Brad Childress outsmarting Bill Belichick? The Patriots had one of the best drafts this year (again) and did it by trading down and picking up additional picks. While Harvin would make for a nice weapon on any offense we're not sold that the Patriots would have automatically drafted him. The real question about Harvin in 2009 is can Brad Childress be creative enough on offense to use Harvin the right way? And no offense to Vikings fans, but what must it feel like to Harvin knowing you could have been playing for Bill Belichick but instead got Brad Childress...
ATL - Falcons sign eight more undrafted free agents
The Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday, April 28, that they have signed undrafted free-agent WR Darren Mougey (San Diego State), QB John Parker Wilson (Alabama), DE Maurice Lucas (Colorado), LS Robert Shiver (Auburn), OL Jose Valdez (Arkansas), LB Derek Nicholson (Florida State), P Robbie Dehaze (Northern Arizona) and LB Brock Christopher (Missouri).
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Some people have called John Parker Wilson a "sleeper" QB in this draft class. Well he certainly did look asleep at the Senior Bowl and did not impress with his play. He does not have a good arm and holds the ball really low - leading to more fumbles and turnovers. His release is long and deliberate, and he tends to lock onto his primary receiver. He is a good leader on the field, and is stronger and more durable than former Crimson Tide QB Brodie Croyle. With only Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley battling for the #2 spot behind Matt Ryan there is actually a chance that J.P. Wilson could find a home in Atlanta.
PIT - WR Lelie could sign with team says agent
John Harris, of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers met with free-agent WR Ashley Lelie (Raiders) Monday, April 27, and could sign him, according to agent Peter Schaffer. 'He had a great visit. The Steelers and I are going to continue to have open dialogue,' Schaffer said. 'I think there's some mutual interest, and we're going to keep discussing it.'
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Ashley Lelie in a Steelers uniform isn't anything to get excited about. He would be 5th on the depth chart - at best - to start training camp. With Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, and rookie Mike Wallace in front of him it's doubtful that he would have many passes thrown his way. We'll see if the World Champions actually sign the one-route receiver.
ATL - QB Vick receives offer from Arena League team
Source: Associated Press
The Associated Press reports Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick has received a one-year contract from the Albany Firebirds of the arenafootball2 league. The contract would pay Vick $200 a week and $50 bonus for a win. The contract also calls for Vick to donate $100,000 to a local humane society.
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I guess the irony would be too much if the Nashville Kats were to make him an offer. The reality is that while folks that still hate Vick will smile at the $200 a week salary, Micheal Vick will likely be making a lot of money in the NFL in the not too distant future. It all hinges on Roger Goodell of course, but it's hard to imagine a player as talented as Vick not landing a spot somewhere in the league. Winning is what drives this league and Vick has the talent to help a team win. And please save the emails - I'm not endorsing what he did. Far from it. I'm offering commentary on what I think his future holds in the NFL.
SF - WR Battle will have to fight for roster spot
Source: Matt Maiocco, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers WR Arnaz Battle will have to compete for a roster spot during training camp.
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The 49ers WR corps is jam packed with Michael Crabtree, Isaac Bruce, Brandon Jones, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle, and Dominique Zeigler. Arnaz has flashed some playmaking ability during his time in San Francisco, but he has trouble staying healthy and could find it difficult to make the team.
CLE - WR Drew Bennett to visit
Source: Mary Kay Cabot, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Mary Kay Cabot, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports the Cleveland Browns will meet with unrestricted free-agent WR Drew Bennett (Rams) Wednesday, April 29, according to a source.
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The Browns addressed their need for WRs in the 2009 NFL Draft where they selected Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoui in the 2nd round. They also signed Jordan Norwood, and Brent Casteel as Undrafted Free Agents after the draft. Drew Bennett hasn't been the same player since he and Billy Volek were racking up huge points in the fantasy playoffs several years ago. However, the Browns are largely unproven behind WR Braylon Edwards so if Bennett does sign he may have a chance to make the team.
DEF - DE Taylor reportedly considering TB, NE and MIA
Source: Stephen Holder, The St. Petersburg Times
Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times is reporting that DE Jason Taylor is narrowing his choices of teams as he prepares to play another season, and that Tampa Bay is among the teams interested. They are said to be joined by the Patriots and Dolphins, his original team.
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It'll be interesting to see how much Taylor has left in the tank and where he might fit in. Tampa makes sense. New England would also be a fit and be consistent with other players they've brought in that have extended their careers in New England.
NE - Randy Moss' motorsports team wins their first NASCAR truck race
Source: Sporting News Wire Service
Sporting News Wire Service reports that Mike Skinner drove Randy Moss Motorsports to its first Camping World Truck Series victory Monday in the rain-delayed and -shortened O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.
Skinner's win was his first of the season and 26th of his career. He joined the team, formed when NFL star Moss became partners with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports owner David Dollar this past July, in January to form a two-truck effort with rookie Tayler Malsam.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Because I know you guys need to know this kind of stuff...
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and have a great Wednesday. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J