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Volume 8, Issue 102 (Saturday, August 4th)LIMITED TIME OFFERS
Hi Folks, It's the Hall of Fame Weekend so you know that means it's time for the first game of the year. I don't care if it's a preseason game played on a high school field, it's the first game of the season and I can't wait. The Hall of Fame inductions were awesome Saturday night. If you didn't get to catch the speeches, make sure you catch a replay online somewhere. I'm not particularly a Michael Irvin fan, but he delivered one of the best speeches I've heard in quite some time. It's well worth the 25 minutes. Enough from me. We've got lots of News and Notes so let's get to it. Have a great Sunday. JSITE NEWS A.
Staff Re-Draft Rankings
B.
Draft Dominator Version 8.0g
C.
VBD Excel App Version 2007-H1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. SD - WR Parker Has Surgery, Out 10 Weeks2. SF - QB Smith Expects To Run More In 2007 3. NO - Saints Starters To Play A Quarter 4. OAK - WR Williams Getting Noticed In Oakland 5. IND - Colts 5th-Round Pick, WR Hall Garnering Attention 6. OAK - Raiders QB Russell Talks Still Stalled 7. IND - Rookie WR Gonzalez As Good As Advertised 8. KC - WR Gardner Having Good Camp For Chiefs 9. GB - Packers TE Franks Injures Eye 10. NYJ - WR Coles May Become Team Captain 11. MIA - QB Green Sparkles Under The Lights 12. CIN - WR McNeal Receiving Attention 13. HC Kubiak Compares RB Green To Terrell Davis 14. DEF - MIA - LB Porter Continues To Rest Knee 15. DEF - OAK - Raiders DE Burgess Close To Returning 16. DEF - KC - Chiefs CB Law In Tremendous Shape 17. DEF - NYG - DE Strahan To Address Holdout Situation SD - WR Parker Has Surgery, Out 10 Weeks Source: Kevin Acee, Union-Tribune The Chargers will be without starting receiver Eric Parker for the start of the season and perhaps as many as six games after he had surgery on his right big toe Friday afternoon. "I want to get Eric back as quick as we can because he provides a lot of things to this football team besides his ability to go out and play," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "We've got to get the young guys to step up and do what he was doing." Parker had a cracked sesamoid bone near his right big toe. The Chargers expect he could miss up to 10 weeks from Friday, which means he likely would not be able to play until Oct. 28 against Houston. "You coach the guys who are here and you get them going," Turner said. "There are probably a bunch of guys getting big-eyed and thinking that's their spot. So this will make these next four weeks interesting for those guys." First-round pick Craig Davis has been working in Parker's absence and is the front-runner to get most of his playing time, though Camarillo perhaps benefits most immediately as it all but cements his place on the roster. He also will be vying for playing time after spending last season on the roster but playing only special teams. "It provides opportunity to step up," Camarillo said. "So I'll try to step up and fill a role."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Huge news here for the Chargers, Parker and Craig Davis. As I always say, Fantasy Football success is about talent meeting opportunity. Davis has the talent. Davis now has the opportunity. I think he'll deliver. You clearly need to move him up your charts on this news. SF - QB Smith Expects To Run More In 2007 Source: Matthew Barrows, Sacramento Bee San Francisco 49ers starting QB Alex Smith says he wants to be an even more dangerous rusher in 2007. He ran for only 147 yards last year but put up 631 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in his final season at Utah. "You look at what Steve Young did when he was here," Smith said. "There were two or three times in a game when he was able to take off and run. Those were big plays." And although Michael Vick-like numbers are unrealistic in the 49ers' offense, the idea is to keep defenses on their heels by breaking off a long run here and there. "That's what it's all about," new offensive coordinator Jim Hostler said. "Five or six times a game, he's going to have to come alive with his feet. He's going to have to come out of the pocket and make a play running or by finding a receiver downfield after a scramble. And that's five or six (times) guaranteed. "Last year, it was one or two here and there." The question then is: When the pocket is breaking down and Smith buys himself an extra second, does he look for an open receiver like he did against the Rams, or does he take off and run like Young did so well when he was the 49ers' quarterback? Said Hostler with a wide grin on his face: "I don't know. That's why we pay him all that money."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Interesting words from Hostler there. He's shown from his college days that he's capable of running. So it's not out of the question he could markedly improve last year's rushing totals. NO - Saints Starters To Play A Quarter Source: Sheldon Mickles, Advocate New Orleans Saints HC Sean Payton said Thursday he expects his starters to work about a quarter or a little less in the Hall of Fame game on Sunday night in Canton, Ohio. The starting units will likely get about 15 plays in the exhibition opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said veterans with several years in the NFL might get fewer snaps. "My thought is to give 15 plays to the starters and go from there as I work the young guys in," Payton said. "We're going to meet on that matter tonight as it pertains to the second group and third group." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Sure it's "just" a preseason game but it's the first NFL game of the 2007 season and I'm sure you'll be like me and be glued to the TV. It's finally here. OAK - WR Williams Getting Noticed In Oakland Source: Detroit Free Press News Services WR Mike Williams beat star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for a touchdown twice in three plays and is showing signs of why he was so heralded when he came out of college two years ago. HC Lane Kiffin, who was Williams' position coach at USC, said the receiver still has work to do to get into shape. But the weight target the Raiders have set for him of 235 pounds is 15 more than the Lions wanted him to weigh and better suits his style. "That is a value, obviously -- his size and being able to keep people away from him," Kiffin said. "That goes back to when he's right, he's a dangerous red-zone player. He played for us two years, he caught 30 touchdowns in two years for us. There is good ways to use him down there. But he's got to get better." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I said the other day that I'd love to see some good news regarding Mike Williams. Finally we have some. There likely isn't another coach in the league with a better idea of what Williams can do than Lane Kiffin. He still has plenty of room to improve but news like this gives us a glimmer of hope that Williams might actually produce something this year. IND - Colts 5th-Round Pick, WR Hall Garnering Attention Source: Tom Jones, Terre Haute News, Tribune-Star Indianapolis Colts 5th-round selection, WR Roy Hall has been commanding quite a bit of interest during training camp. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound receiver has been noticeable during training camp for his overall size and the speed (4.35 in 40) that goes with it. "We're really finding out things that Roy can do. I have a feeling he's going to be an excellent special teams player." Colts coach Tony Dungy said earlier this week. "He might be a [former Colts tight end] Marcus Pollard-type of guy. I don't know what Marcus looked like when he first got here, but he was probably very similar. We are working him basically on the outside on Reggie [Wayne's] side. We are still find out exactly what he's going to be able to do." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] For you guys in dynasty leagues, Hall's a guy to keep filed away. Anytime you have a guy Peyton Manning throwing the passes, a receiver has a leg up. We don't see him doing much this season barring some type of injury to the players above him but Hall's a guy to remember. OAK - Raiders QB Russell Talks Still Stalled Source: David White, San Francisco Chronicle Despite the Detroit Lions coming to terms with 2nd overall pick WR Calvin Johnson, the Oakland Raiders are no closer to a deal with their number 1 overall pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, then they were before camp started. If one side concedes significant ground this weekend, a deal could be done quickly enough to get Russell in practice as soon as Monday. Raiders HC Lane Kiffin, for one, isn't sure Johnson's deal will have an immediate impact on the Russell talks. "Sometimes it does," Kiffin said after a morning practice Friday. "If he signs for a lot, then it works for one side. If he doesn't, it works for the other side. That does somewhat have to do with it, but it's just another contract being posted." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Once Calvin Johnson signed, there's no excuse for the team and Russell's agent not getting together. I don't expect Russell to do a lot this season but still, he desperately needs to be in camp. And soon. IND - Rookie WR Gonzalez As Good As Advertised Source: Tom Jones, Terre Haute News, Tribune-Star Indianapolis Colts 1st-round draft pick Anthony Gonzalez is expected to fight for a starting role as the Colts' slot receiver as he has been as good as advertised so far during camp. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Many are saying that Gonzalez is exactly the right guy to fill the void left by Brandon Stokley. It's a crowded receiver corps there obviously but Gonzalez is a guy I like a lot in this offense. To see how we project the entire team, click here. KC - WR Gardner Having Good Camp For Chiefs Source: KCChiefs.com Forgotten veteran WR Rod Gardner has been a pleasant surprise in Chiefs training camp so far and continues to make some nice catches through camp. "He does and his first couple of years in the league he was a very, very good receiver. I'm hoping he continues to do that and really challenges." HC Herm Edwards said, "I thought our receivers made some good catches today. I thought they made some on the other field, too, today. We'll look at it all." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The bad news for Gardner is that he plays for the Chiefs. It's not exactly a passing powerhouse. But the good news for Gardner is that he plays for the Chiefs. It's not like he's got Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in front of him. There are always guys that emerge from "nowhere". And they're often the guys we talked about in August as "pleasant surprises" in camp. So keep Gardner in mind. GB - Packers TE Franks Injures Eye Source: Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Green Bay Packers tight end Bubba Franks suffered a scratched cornea in his right eye Tuesday night at City Stadium and hasn't worked since. "I still can't see real good out of it," Franks said. "In my line of work you need both eyes, especially with Brett (Favre) throwing the ball." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I've been down on Franks for a while. The last thing he needs is trouble seeing the ball. If he's limited here, Donald Lee would see more time at TE. NYJ - WR Coles May Become Team Captain Source: Tom Rock, Newsday With the Jets soon to be voting for team captain, there's a good chance that WR Laverneus Coles, selected by teammates as last year's MVP, will fill the post. "I don't view myself as one of those guys who is real vocal," Coles said. "I try to keep things light because I think that's what my job is." Still, there are others who think he'd be a perfect fit as team captain. "He's a true leader," WR Jerricho Cotchery said. "He's a guy who works hard and keeps the team level-headed. He talks a lot of smack in the locker room, but when it's time to go out and perform, he does it." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good for Coles. It wasn't that long ago that Laveranues Coles was living up to his nickname of "Trub" (short for trouble) at Florida State with Peter Warrick. Now he's in the running for team captain with the Jets. Very cool. MIA - QB Green Sparkles Under The Lights Source: Harvey Fialkov & Kevin Clark, Florida Sun-Sentinel QB Trent Green sparkled in the evening session under the lights on Friday, drilling two straight passes in traffic to WR Chris Chambers. He then hit wide-open RB Ronnie Brown in the flat for an easy TD. Green finished off the evening with a 20-yard strike down the middle to WR Marty Booker for a TD. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Just a few days after looking very unimpressive, Green rebounded nicely with a solid performance Friday. I think Green is absolutely on the steep downside of his career but it also won't surprise me to see him flash a few nice performances here and there. But overall, I don't like his value among the QBs this year. CIN - WR McNeal Receiving Attention Source: Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer Due to injuries to Bengals WRs Tab Perry and Antonio Chapman, ex-quarterback turned receiver, Reggie McNeal has been working with the team as the #3 wideout. "He sees things conceptually, big-picture, like a QB," Bengals WR coach Mike Sheppard said. McNeal also has good size for a receiver. And he can run. He ran for 1,889 yards and 15 touchdowns in his college career. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's the Chris Henry sweepstakes here as one Bengal WR will have the opportunity to shine in Henry's absence. I keep thinking it'll be Tab Perry but don't rule McNeal out. HC Kubiak Compares RB Green To Terrell Davis Source: Will Flaherty, HoustonTexans.com Texans HC Gary Kubiak believes that RB Ahman Green has the same sort of big-play ability that Terrell Davis had, and he can't wait to see his newest rushing weapon out on the field. "He reminds me of Terrell (Davis), when I watch the way he runs," Kubiak said. "He's a downhill runner. He's bigger than you think. He likes the physical part of football. He likes to bang around, and if he gets a big enough crack, he's capable of going the distance. He reminds me of him quite a bit." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's always a danger when one player is compared to a former great and Kubiak is a guy that knows a thing or two about Terrell Davis. We're not projecting Davis type numbers for him but we're cautiously optimistic with Green here. DEF - MIA - LB Porter Continues To Rest Knee Source: Edgar Thompson, Palm Beach Post Miami Dolphins new staring LB Joey Porter missed the second straight practice to rest his sore right knee, HC Cam Cameron said. Cameron said doctors will evaluate Porter's knee - the same one that need arthroscopic surgery last May. The first-year coach said the team doesn't think the problem is serious. Porter, 30, has experienced soreness in his knee dating to off-season mini-camps. He has looked good during training camp, showing flashes of the speed as a pass rusher and cover LB that earned him three trips to the Pro Bowl. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Porter's given the team reason for optimism over the past few months showing encouraging flashes that he can be the player we knew in Pittsburgh. So this isn't too worrisome. But it's still something to give us pause. We'll stay on it for you. DEF - OAK - Raiders DE Burgess Close To Returning Source: David White, San Francisco Chronicle Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess continues to recover from offseason hernia surgery, and could be back in time for next week's exhibition opener. "Burgess is really close and he'll be here within the next couple of days," Kiffin said. Rookie Quentin Moses has gotten many of Burgess' first-team snaps. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Raiders already have a strong defense. A healthy Burgess will make it even better. Let's keep our fingers crossed he's ready for next week's game. DEF - KC - Chiefs CB Law In Tremendous Shape Source: KCChiefs.com Kansas City Chiefs DC Gunther Cunningham is impressed with the conditioning of Ty Law this year. "The only thing that I can say is that Ty Law got on the airplane and I didn't recognize him. He has lost a lot of weight and he told me that during the end of the OTAs that he was going to St. Louis to a private workout guy." Cunningham said, "‘Ty, all of the years that you've been in the league you deserve to do that.' He came in and he's in the best shape that he's been in a long time." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] As we said about Law earlier this week, he's not the player he once was but he's a savvy veteran. And one of the things veterans know is the importance of being in great shape. Looks like Law has that dialed in. DEF - NYG - DE Strahan To Address Holdout Situation Source: Associated Press Giants DE Michael Strahan probably will release a statement on his holdout within two days, his agent said on Friday afternoon. "I don't know what he plans to do," agent Tony Agnone said. When asked to speculate on what Strahan planned to do, Agnone said his gut told him Strahan will retire, but added quickly that he might play. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We'll be waiting. I have a hard time believing that Strahan would pull a Barry Sanders and bail out in August. Hopefully we'll know more here soon. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Sunday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
