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Hi Folks,
Remember that we've got the Footballguys Training Camp Update ready. The first one is FREE for everyone and then after that, they're just for the Footballguys Insider Subscribers. Dive in and get lost in all the Fantasy Football Information you need to Dominate Your Friends. Plus we've got the news and notes you need here as always so let's get to it. JSITE NEWS
A.
Training Camp Update #1 is LIVE
It's my favorite time of the year as Camps are rolling hard and everyone's a contender. Anticipation and optimism fill the air. Unfortunately, it can be hard to keep up with everything. Don't worry as we've got your back. One of the most ridiculously good features we do at Footballguys are our Training Camp Updates. Each week of camp we round up all the news and notes that you need to know about every team and condense and compile them into one incredible report. Read this and you'll (continue to) be the most knowledgeable owner in your league.
The Training Camp Updates are a part of our Footballguys Insider Subscription but for the first report, we're making it available to everyone. Why give it away? Because we feel that once you see the kind of quality and the depth of information we're producing, you'll agree with us that purchasing a Footballguys Insider Subscription is the best $28.95 you'll spend this summer.
B.
Footballguys $35,000 Subscriber Contest is LIVE
For years, one of the biggest and craziest things we do at Footballguys is offer a contest available to our Footballguys Insider Subscribers only where we put $35,000 in a prize pool and pay it all out to you guys at the end of the year. Lots of people purchase a Footballguys Insider Subscription just to get an entry into the $35,000 Contest. It's that good. The contest is LIVE and ready for your entry. C'mon.
C.
2nd Opinion Report on CLE RB Trent Richardson
Our Footballguys Resident MD / Football Guru Dr. Jene Bramel has a great perspective as he's a medical doctor that's just as knowledgeable about the NFL as he is fantasy football. Here's his take on the Trent Richardson goes to Dr. Andrews saga. You can also see Dr. Bramel's first take on the injury.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. CLE - Trent Richardson tentatively scheduled for surgery2. CLE - CB Joe Haden tests positive for banned substance
3. MIN - RB Adrian Peterson could practice next week
4. SEA - Teammate impressed with WR Terrell Owens
5. NO - TE Jimmy Graham injured in practice
6. STL - Brian Quick emerging in camp
7. SEA - QB Carson Palmer gave WR Terrell Owens a good reference
8. SD - TE Antonio Gates having strong camp
9. CLE - Josh Gordon adjusting to camp
10. GB - WR Jordy Nelson having strong camp
11. NYJ - Joe McKnight ahead of Bilal Powell
12. SEA - QB Matt Flynn feels good getting start
13. ARI - QB Kevin Kolb expected to play this week
14. OAK - QB Carson Palmer having issues with new scheme
15. DET - RB Kevin Smith injured during practice
16. SD - RB Ryan Mathews will have a big opportunity
17. MIA - Joe Philbin issues warning to QBs
18. STL - RB Steven Jackson getting a break in camp
19. TEN - QB Matt Hasselbeck working on pocket movement
CLE - Trent Richardson tentatively scheduled for surgery
Source: ESPN - Chris Mortensen
Cleveland Browns RB Trent Richardson (knee) is tentatively scheduled for arthroscopic surgery to clean up a loose particle of cartilage when he visits Dr. James Andrews.
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This will hopefully be minor surgery but it's huge news here as Richardson has been skyrocketing up cheatsheets. We don't anticipate trouble but it's still something to keep a very close eye on. Our resident MD, Dr. Jene Bramel has thoughts on Richardson and his injury.
CLE - CB Joe Haden tests positive for banned substance
Source: ESPNCleveland.com - Will Burge and Tony Grossi
Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden could be facing a four-game suspension for failing a drug test for Adderall, which is considered a banned substance. The league is reviewing the failed test.
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Bad news for the Browns secondary here. Haden is a shutdown Cornerback and effectively takes away one side of the field. The Browns defense is already banged up enough as they'll be playing without star DT Phil Taylor for part of the year.
MIN - RB Adrian Peterson could practice next week
Source: 1500ESPN.com - Tom Pelissero
Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (knee) could return to practice next week, and he does not plan to wear a knee brace when he returns.
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Peterson has been anxious to get back on the practice field for some time now. We expect the team to ease their superstar RB back into the swing of things.
SEA - Teammate impressed with WR Terrell Owens
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Sando
Seattle Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin thinks the addition of WR Terrell Owens will only help the team's depth at the position. 'Terrell Owens is an unbelievable talent. They brought him in because that's what Pete Carroll believes in is competition,' Baldwin said. 'He's going to come in immediately and compete for a job, and that's what we're all about here.'
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Owens is not a lock to make the final roster and has an even bigger chip on his shoulder after spending last year out of football. If he plays like he did with the Bills or the Bengals he could finish the year as the best WR on the Seahawks roster. He didn't cause problems in his last two stops and we don't expect any trouble now that he's in Seattle.
NO - TE Jimmy Graham injured in practice
Source: ESPN - Ed Werder
New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (back, hip) landed awkwardly during practice Wednesday, Aug. 8, and suffered an apparent back or hip injury. The injury, however, does not appear to be serious as Graham did sign autographs and pose for fan pictures following practice.
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The Saints need Graham to stay healthy because he's such an important part of their offense. He feels he left 30 catches on the field last year, and could have an even brighter season in 2012.
STL - Brian Quick emerging in camp
Source: StLouisRams.com - Nick Wagoner
St. Louis Rams WR Brian Quick is coming on after a slow start to training camp. Quick has been solid the last two days of practice.
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Good news for the Rams here. They have one of the most inexperienced WR corps in the league and need Quick to make a big impact as a rookie. He's big, and very fast in a straight line. However, his hands are inconsistent, he's not an aggressive catcher, and he doesn't use his large frame to shield the ball away from defenders.
SEA - QB Carson Palmer gave WR Terrell Owens a good reference
Source: The Associated Press
Before deciding to sign WR Terrell Owens, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll spoke with Oakland Raiders QB Carson Palmer, who played with Owens in Cincinnati in 2010, about the wide receiver's troubled relationships with quarterbacks in the past. Palmer has a high regard for Owens. 'He loved working with him, loved playing with him. He worked out with him, and knows him really well,' Carroll said. 'It was really pleasing to hear that.'
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Palmer has spent a lot of time around Owens and the boisterous WR has matured a lot over the last few years. Some say this move is disastrous for the Seahawks, but we feel it's a quality football move that upgrades a weak spot on the team. If Owens is focused it could pay off for Seattle. I'm on record here saying I think he'll not just be ok but good in Seattle. Owens is one of those players where people get way too emotional and let their personal feelings cloud reality. This guy can still play and Pete Carroll knows what he's doing with him.
SD - TE Antonio Gates having strong camp
Source: ESPN.com - Bill Williamson
San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates is turning heads on a daily basis in training camp. After dealing with foot-related injuries for four years, Gates is finally completely healthy and also slimmer.
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This matches the strong offseason workouts that he had. Norv Turner says Gates has worked out better than he has in the last few years. Great news for the Chargers and fantasy owners if Gates can stay healthy in 2012. He's the 3rd TE coming off the board and should finish in the top 5 this year. Gates could be in for a bigger role as the Chargers lost WR Vincent Jackson in free agency, and QB Philip Rivers doesn't have chemistry with guys like Eddie Royal and Robert Meachem yet.
CLE - Josh Gordon adjusting to camp
Source: Canton Repository - Steve Doerschuk
Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon has 'hit a wall' during training camp. 'You can see that some of these guys have got camp legs,' said head coach Pat Shurmur, who acknowledged that Gordon is a camp-legs sufferer. 'His mind and body are battling right now. This is unlike anything he's ever been through.'
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The team is expecting big things from Gordon after spending a second-round pick on him in the Supplemental Draft. Gordon's size/speed combination should work well with rookie QB Brandon Weeden. The rookie has a lot to prove after being out of football last year because he transferred from Baylor to Utah.
GB - WR Jordy Nelson having strong camp
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Bob McGinn
Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson has arguably been the team's best player in training camp so far. Nelson has reportedly been a dominating force.
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Nelson was incredible last year and finished the season as the 2nd best WR in fantasy football. His numbers (especially TD grabs) could slightly dip this year and he could still finish as a top 5 fantasy WR.
NYJ - Joe McKnight ahead of Bilal Powell
Source: NewYorkJets.com
New York Jets RB Joe McKnight is listed ahead of RB Bilal Powell on the team's initial preseason depth chart Tuesday, Aug. 7. McKnight is also listed as the team's top kickoff return man.
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The initial depth chart isn't as important as the regular season depth chart. Most observers out at Jets camp see Powell as the most talented back on the roster. He could emerge as the team's lead back if Shonn Greene fails to live up to expectations.
SEA - QB Matt Flynn feels good getting start
Source: Everett Herald - John Boyle
Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Flynn says it's a good feeling to get the start in the team's first preseason game, but he knows the quarterback competition is far from over.
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This is a competition that will last through the preseason, and we may see multiple starters during that time. Flynn is trying to beat out Tarvaris Jackson and rookie Russell Wilson.
ARI - QB Kevin Kolb expected to play this week
Source: The Associated Press
Arizona Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb (ribs) is expected to play in the preseason game Friday, Aug. 10, according to head coach Ken Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt called Kolb's injury minor.
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Kolb is battling John Skelton for the team's starting QB position and can't afford to lose much playing time in the preseason.
OAK - QB Carson Palmer having issues with new scheme
Source: NFL.com - Bucky Brooks
Oakland Raiders QB Carson Palmer is still struggling to master various parts of the West Coast offense. He has been inefficient with some of the movement-based passing concepts in the playbook. Palmer's struggles with bootlegs could be a significant problem, given their importance to the running game. Palmer has also had problems with his anticipation on timing routes. He has repeatedly delivered the football late to receivers coming out of their breaks.
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We have no doubts that Palmer will work through these issues before the start of the regular season.
DET - RB Kevin Smith injured during practice
Source: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
Detroit Lions RB Kevin Smith (quadriceps) took a knee to his quadriceps during practice Wednesday, Aug. 8. Head coach Jim Schwartz said Smith should be fine.
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Smith says he's feels better than ever and he'll likely open the season as the Lions starter. However, he's injury prone and has failed to stay healthy during his pro career. He'll begin the season as the starter but there's a good chance Mikel Leshoure takes over as the lead back when he returns from his two game suspension.
SD - RB Ryan Mathews will have a big opportunity
Source: ESPN.com - Bill Williamson
The San Diego Chargers want RB Ryan Mathews to become consistent and stay healthy in 2012. He will likely be given the chance to to carry the ball 25 times a game, catch several balls out of the backfield and be a factor on third down and in short yardage. Training camp has been designed to get him prepared for a heavy workload. 'He's working hard,' QB Philip Rivers said of Mathews. 'Ryan knows what is expected of him.'
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Norv Turner says Mathews will get 'everything he can handle' this year as the Chargers featured back. The loss of FB Mike Tolbert will mean an increase in touches, plus he could see more targets in the passing game as the Chargers try to adjust to their new weapons at the WR position. Mathews finished as the 7th best RB in fantasy football last year, and should finish in the top 5 if he can stay healthy this year.
MIA - Joe Philbin issues warning to QBs
Source: CBSSports.com
Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said the team's depth chart is not set in stone and at this point the quarterback battle between QBs David Garrard, Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill remains open. 'In no way is this competition over,' Philbin said on HBO's Hard Knocks. 'This is a reflection of what's gone on up to this point in time at training camp. Our minds are not made up at all. I hope you know, if you have a problem with that you should talk to (assistant quarterbacks coach) Zac (Taylor) about it, talk to Sherm (offensive coordinator Mike Sherman) about it, talk to me about it.'
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Yes, David Garrard is ahead in the competition and likely to win the starting job. We still expect the keys to the franchise to be handed over to rookie QB Ryan Tannehill at some point later in the season. Miami's lack of weapons in the passing game make their QB position a poor fantasy option.
STL - RB Steven Jackson getting a break in camp
Source: StLouisRams.com - Nick Wagoner
St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher did pull back the reins on RB Steven Jackson a bit in practice Tuesday, Aug. 7, just to make sure he stays fresh. 'We just kind of backed him down today,' Fisher said. 'Jack worked hard the first part of practice and we backed Jack down after that.'
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Jackson is a seasoned pro and doesn't need a ton of work in camp to get ready for the season. Fisher is making Jackson his new Eddie George and will run him into the ground in 2012. If Jackson can stay healthy he should perform like a high upside RB2 in fantasy football.
TEN - QB Matt Hasselbeck working on pocket movement
Source: ESPN.com - Paul Kuharsky
Tennessee Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck said he has been working on moving around in the pocket in order to adapt to the team's offensive scheme. Hasselbeck spent time during the offseason on rolling out, running bootlegs and throwing on the move. 'We ran them a lot in Seattle, but the ones we ran were different,' Hasselbeck said. 'Different launch point, different mindset, different goal in mind. With this offense I tried to just work on that stuff. We didn't really have the opportunity to work on that stuff last year.'
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This new scheme actually favors Jake Locker over Hasselbeck. The two are competing for the starting job and the decision won't be made until the end of the year. We think Locker will see most of the snaps as the starter this season even if he's not the starter right at the beginning of the year. He's the QB of the future and looked good in limited playing time as a rookie in 2011.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for lettting us be a part of your Fantasy Football season. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
Peace, J