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Volume 8, Issue 119 (Tuesday, August 21st)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS Hi Folks, Good Wednesday to you. Hope you're having a great week - we are here as News and Notes are flying everywhere. We've got lots of new features on the website plus our Footballguys Podcast moved up to #7 on iTunes in all of their Sports and Recreation category for podcasts. It's rolling and we know you are too. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
New Staff Rankings
B.
New Stat Projections
C.
New Draft Dominator
D.
New VBD App
E.
The Big Picture - Version #4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. KC - Chiefs RB Johnson Agrees To Five-Year Extension2. IND - Manning Says RB Addai Will Carry The Load 3. NYJ - Jets RB Jones Begins Riding Stationary Bike 4. TEN - Titans RB Brown Leaving Competition Behind 5. NO - MRI On Saints WR Colston Negative 6. DAL - WR Glenn Will Miss Rest Of Preseason - Could Be Ready Week 1 7. NE - RB Maroney Expected To Play Friday 8. DET - QB Kitna Forced From Practice With Back Spasms 9. NE - Patriots WRs Moss, Gaffney Miss Practice 10. MIN - WR Ferguson Sign With Vikings 11. ATL - RB Norwood May Miss Remainder Of Preseason? 12. ARZ - Rookie OT Brown Has Long Way To Go, Fast 13. NYG - Giants QB Manning In Verbal Battle With Former Giant 14. GB - HC McCarthy: RB Committee Could Be Committee Of One 15. CLE - Browns HC Crennel Mum On Starting QB 16. PHI - Eagles Hope To Have TE Smith Soon 17. KC - QB Huard's Injury To Benefit QB Croyle 18. NYG - WR Burress Back On Practice Field 19. CAR - Rookie WR Jarrett Opening Day Starter? 20. DEF - CAR - Panthers DE Peppers Returns To Practice 21. DEF - TEN - DT Simon Visits Titans KC - Chiefs RB Johnson Agrees To Five-Year Extension Source: Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star Running back Larry Johnson agreed to a contract extension with the Chiefs this morning. Johnson signed a five-year extension, which locks him up with the Chiefs through the 2012 season — the extension plus the year remaining on his old contract. Johnson will make $45 million over the next six years. As for Johnson's five-year extension, he will earn $43.2 million, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL based on average salary per year. Johnson is guaranteed $19 million and will make $27.7 million over the first three years of the extension. Johnson ended a nearly monthlong holdout and joined the Chiefs during the middle of their practice session. Johnson wasn't just watching practice, either. He took carries with the starting unit, and was pass-blocking during live work.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We've been talking about this for a while and it looks like the two sides finally got together. The worry now is Larry Johnson getting into "football shape". API is one of the premier facilities of it's kind. When players are preparing for the NBA draft or the NFL combine or rehabbing a back injury, Athletes Performance Institute is where they go. It's not like Johnson's been sitting on a couch as there isn't anywhere he could be training solo any better. But it's not like working with his team mates in Wisconsin. He may be working in the Arizona heat, but he's not banging off linebackers or pushing the pile. The worry I have is not so much him getting into the flow, but of an injury early on that comes from trying to do too much too quickly. It's a different kind of "shape". We've all seen it before where a guy holds out and then is injured coming back to soon. To be fair though there are plenty of cases where a guy hold out and is fine. Bottom line is that it looks like he's back. Priest Holmes served his purpose for Carl Peterson and he'll likely fade out of the picture. Definitely move Johnson back up the charts if you'd lowered him due to the worry about his contract. And keep your fingers crossed he stays healthy. Coach Herm Edwards said the Johnson was in "great" shape but not yet in "football" shape. He also said that Johnson would not play in Thursday's preseason game. He said Johnson would be "standing over there by me."IND - Manning Says RB Addai Will Carry The Load Source: Terrell Davis, NFL Network NFL Network's Terrell Davis asked Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning if running back Joseph Addai was ready to carry the load this season. Manning's answer: "I think he can, TD. As you know, he rotated last year with Dominic Rhodes. And the reason they rotated is that we had two players that needed to get on the field. But this year, Joseph Addai is ready to carry that load and be that one back starter and be able to come out whenever he wants to come out. But he deserves the chance to be the feature back to be in there on the goal line drives, the red zone situations, the key two minute drills. He will be on the field. And I've been proud of him. He was here every day in the offseason. He's really trying to elevate his role in the passing game, running routes with the receivers. I think he's ready for a breakout year."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This is significant given Manning's role in this offense. This isn't like Charlie Frye saying Jamal Lewis will do something. Manning has his hands (both literally and figuratively) in every aspect of the Colts offense. Especially the RBs and WRs. When he says that Addai will not have to share time with another RB, that's pretty close to offensive coordinator Tom Moore saying it. NYJ - Jets RB Jones Begins Riding Stationary Bike Source: Rich Cimini, New York Daily News New York Jets RB Thomas Jones, sidelined nine days with a strained calf, started working yesterday on the stationary bike - his first real leg work since the injury. Jones is expected to be ready for the Sept. 9 opener, although medical experts say there's no guarantee it will be healed. A Grade I strain has a recovery time of two to three weeks; it takes one to two months for a Grade II strain to heal. The extent of Jones' injury is unclear. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I don't want to be negative, but riding the stationary bike tells us virtually nothing about his calf and Achilles. He can still be struggling with the injury and be able to ride the bike. This is purely a conditioning thing to at least stay a little active. We want to see him running and cutting. Until then, count us as concerned. TEN - Titans RB Brown Leaving Competition Behind Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper Tennessee RB Chris Brown hasn't officially been named the starting running back, but he's well out in front of the pack and has been given a strong endorsement from RB coach Sherman Smith. "I think it's Chris Brown. This guy is showing that he's been consistent." said Smith. "I think it's starting to clear itself out. We've had two preseason games, and LenDale hasn't played in one of them," Smith said. "That kind of puts him in a position where you can't say you're competing for a starting job if you're not practicing and not playing.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Under performing and injuries have been the story of LenDale White's brief career so far in Tennessee. White talked about how this was going to change for 2007 and it looks like things aren't much different. NO - MRI On Saints WR Colston Negative Source: Jimmy Smith, New Orleans Times-Picayune New Orleans WR Marques Colston underwent an MRI on his sore right knee and the news was good as it revealed no structural damage. Colston hurt his knee in the preseason opener against Pittsburgh. "If this was the regular season, I'd be able to play, but I think the coaches just want to take precautionary (measures) and keep me out," Colston said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Relatively good news for Colston. He's missed quite a bit of valuable time this summer but it looks like he'll be OK to go for Week 1. The thing we'll be watching is to see if he plays against Miami next week as coach Sean Payton said he would. If he misses that game, we'll start to be concerned. DAL - WR Glenn Will Miss Rest Of Preseason - Could Be Ready Week 1 Source: Associated Press, Sporting News Cowboys WR Terry Glenn won't play in the preseason, but could be ready for the regular season opener. Glenn hurt his right knee on the fifth day of training camp and had arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove loose cartilage. HC Wade Phillips said Tuesday that Glenn "probably will practice the day after we play Minnesota." Dallas plays the Vikings in its last preseason game Aug. 30, which is 10 days before the Sept. 9 season opener against the Giants. "Everything has been going according to plan, so Terry should be all right," Phillips said. "He knows what to do and he knows how to do it. And as long as he's ready physically, I think he'll be ready to do it."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] This was supposed to be a 10 day recovery. It now looks like it'll be three times that long. Terry Glenn was 37 years old last month. As we've seen with old warriors like Rod Smith in Denver, the toughest thing about age is how it slows the ability to recover. I'm very leery of what Glenn will do here. On the flip side, Glenn's struggles open the door for Patrick Crayton who's been productive with Glenn out. NE - RB Maroney Expected To Play Friday Source: Associated Press, NFL.com RB Laurence Maroney, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, practiced for a second straight day Tuesday without wearing the red "non-contact" jersey. He is expected to make his preseason debut Friday at Carolina. "You can't simulate game speed out there in practice, no matter how fast you go," he said. "I need the games." Despite the risk of injury, HC Bill Belichick said holding Maroney out of the entire preseason isn't feasible. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] There will be lots of fantasy owners watching Maroney Friday night. All signs point to him being ready to go and many will get to see it for themselves Friday. But we know he's been practicing with full contact lately so we're feeling pretty good about him. DET - QB Kitna Forced From Practice With Back Spasms Source: Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press QB Jon Kitna left practice Tuesday with back spasms. HC Rod Marinelli said they were minor. Still, that left the Lions with only QB J.T. O'Sullivan and QB Phil Horvath under center. Horvath, was released in the off-season in favor of O'Sullivan, but he is back because QB Dan Orlovsky has turf toe. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We're not worried. Kitna is still a guy I love for this year. He's still undervalued in lots of drafts and I expect him to flourish in Mike Martz' system. NE - Patriots WRs Moss, Gaffney Miss Practice Source: Mike Reiss, Boston Globe Wide receivers Jabar Gaffney and Randy Moss, S Rashad Baker, DB Larry Anam, OL Russ Hochstein, TE Kyle Brady and DE Ty Warren all missed practice today for the New England Patriots. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's a good thing New England has added a whole crew of wide receivers as it seems like they've had trouble staying on the field. Moss, especially, is starting to concern me. Stay tuned. MIN - WR Ferguson Sign With Vikings Source: Judd Zulgad, Minneapolis Star-Tribune Free-agent WR signed a deal to join the Minnesota Vikings today. Ferguson was cut by the Packers on Friday. To make room for Ferguson, the Vikings waived/injured offensive lineman Adam O'Connor. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The good news for Ferguson is he's only got guys like Bobby Wade, Troy Williamson, Billy McMullen and Sidney Rice in front of him. We're not talking about trying to crack the Cardinals or Colts WR lineup here. ATL - RB Norwood May Miss Remainder Of Preseason? Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sporting News RB Jerious Norwood suffered a stomach injury and could miss most of the remaining preseason. With RB Warrick Dunn rehabilitating from back surgery, the Falcons are already thin at the position. Rookie RB Jason Snelling, a combination fullback/tailback, will get a good look. Also, RB Justin Vincent will get an opportunity. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Falcons fans have to wonder when it'll stop. Norwood had the opportunity to stake his claim with Dunn out but he can't do that from the training room. ARZ - Rookie OT Brown Has Long Way To Go, Fast Source: Kent Somers, Arizona Republic, Sporting News First-round pick OT Levi Brown's education was put on the fast track with the injury to OT Oliver Ross. Brown is now the starter and judging by the early weeks in camp, he has a long way to go. Veteran DE Bertrand Berry has consistently beaten him in pass rush drills, which isn't unexpected since Berry is one of the league's premier rushers when healthy. At this point, Brown is a much better run blocker and he needs to come a long way fast in pass protection. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] There's been a lot of talk about the Cardinals moving their focus more to the running game. A rookie tackle that's much better in the run blocking game than his pass blocking just adds credence to that idea. NYG - Giants QB Manning In Verbal Battle With Former Giant Source: Mike Garafolo, Newark Star-Ledger Going into year three for New York Giants QB Eli Manning, it has been said he was not a vocal leader. That all may have just changed. Former Giants RB Tiki Barber, who debuted as an analyst for NBC's Sunday Night Football, began by ripping Eli Manning's ability to lead the team. Today, Manning responded with force: "I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the media world. It'll be interesting to see if he has anything else to say (about anything) besides the Giants and what his comments will be on that. It's one of those deals; I'm not going to lose any sleep (over) what Tiki has to say. I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season and (how) he's lost the heart. As a quarterback, you're reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week. Well, I could see that a little bit at times. But I'm not going to get concerned and I'm going to go out there and play ball. It's just one of those deals. The guy goes to the media and he's got to say stuff. He's been put in a situation where he's got to talk. That's just the way it is. That's the world we live in and you have to deal with it."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's not even September yet, and I'm already sick of Tiki Barber the analyst. Manning is on the money here - with the way Barber handled last season, and the way he's already whining this year about coach Coughlin not "respecting" him as a player, Barber has zero room to talk. But he seems to enjoy hearing himself talk so I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard of this. For players that matter this year (read not Barber), it's good to see Manning finally say something. Maybe this is the spark he needs.GB - HC McCarthy: RB Committee Could Be Committee Of One Source: Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press Gazette Green Bay Packers HC Mike McCarthy plans on RBs Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency sharing the load at halfback this season, but even if the injured Morency returns in early September, he'll have missed all of training camp. That means that Jackson will be the primary ball-carrier early in the season, and perhaps longer. "If our committee (of backs) is not healthy, then it goes to a committee of one," said Reggie McKenzie, the Packers' director of pro personnel. "Coach Mike will figure out a way to get (Jackson) to be productive." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] More of what we've been seeing with Jackson. He clearly has an edge over Vernand Morency. If he can jump out and produce early, he could hold onto the primary job for a while. As it is with any team, it'll be all about production. CLE - Browns HC Crennel Mum On Starting QB Source: Zac Jackson, ClevelandBrowns.com Cleveland HC Romeo Crennel said he might not announce a starting quarterback right up until the team hosts Pittsburgh in the season opener, September 9. "With the competition we've had, which has been good, not announcing a starter is a possibility," Crennel said. "Our first opponent might have to wonder who the quarterback is going to be. They might have to prepare for two guys which could be an advantage for us." The only thing that is certain; QB Charlie Frye will start the team's next preseason game. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I would have loved to have seen Quinn start this week's preseason game and get work with the #1 guys. I don't need to see another game of Charlie Frye or Derek Anderson to know they're not very good. I don't know how good Brady Quinn is right now. And the way it looks like Crennel is going to play Quinn again this week ensures we'll go another week without knowing. Unreal. PHI - Eagles Hope To Have TE Smith Soon Source: Josh Wheeling, PhiladelphiaEagles.com Not as serious as originally thought, Eagles TE L.J. Smith's groin injury is on the mend and could heal before the regular season. Smith began running on a treadmill last week, and even participated in individual workouts on Monday. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for Smith. We'll be watching him closely to see if he can see contact over the next week or so. KC - QB Huard's Injury To Benefit QB Croyle Source: Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star The quarterback competition appeared to be tipping toward QB Brodie Croyle anyway, but QB Damon Huard's sore leg could end all of the suspense. Huard didn't practice Monday. He stood close by with an ice pack on his chronically sore right calf. This was the first time he missed a practice because of it. There was no indications the injury would keep him out long term, but the Chiefs were unsure whether he would practice today or play in Thursday night's preseason game. HC Herm Edwards said Croyle would start against the Saints and play the entire first half and perhaps into the third quarter. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Another big factor in this decision is having running back Larry Johnson back in the fold. Every QB in the league is significantly better once Larry Johnson lines up behind them. Defenses suddenly shift their focus and have to allow for Johnson. The news of Johnson signing his contract extension and getting into camp is another factor in Croyle's favor. NYG - WR Burress Back On Practice Field Source: Mike Garafolo, Newark Star-Ledger WR Plaxico Burress practiced for the first time since he sprained his ankle on Aug. 2 and promptly caught a pass in front of CB R.W. McQuarters, a fade past CB Gerrick McPhearson and an in route while covered by McPhearson again. Burress also caught a quick screen from QB Eli Manning at the line and juked CB Corey Webster out of his cleats. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Great news for Manning and the Giants. If they're going to be successful this year, they need solid production from Plaxico Burress and TE Jeremy Shockey. CAR - Rookie WR Jarrett Opening Day Starter? Source: Pat Yasinskas, Charlotte Observer, Sporting News Although rookie WR Dwayne Jarrett has missed some of camp with an injury, WR Drew Carter and WR Keary Colbert haven't done much toward claiming the starting job. If Jarrett can show he's comfortable with the playbook in the last two preseason games, he likely will be the opening day starter opposite WR Steve Smith. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] He hasn't made a lot of noise, but Dwayne Jarrett has steadily had a nice rookie training camp. That coupled with the uninspired play of Carter and Colbert may be the ticket to Jarrett earning a starting nod. Watch these last two preseason games (especially the next one) to see what kind of impact he makes. DEF - CAR - Panthers DE Peppers Returns To Practice Source: Pat Yasinskas, Charlotte Observer Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers was back at practice Tuesday. Peppers had been out for nearly a week as he dealt with a fever, team officials said. But Peppers went through a full practice Tuesday as the team returned to its Bank of America Stadium practice fields after closing training camp in Spartanburg on Monday. HC John Fox wouldn't say if Peppers will play in Friday's preseason game against New England. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Peppers is obviously a key part of this Panther defense. So it's great to see him back out there. It'll take a lot more than a fever to keep Peppers off the field when it matters. DEF - TEN - DT Simon Visits Titans Source: Paul Kuharsky, Tennessean, Associated Press Former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Corey Simon's attempt to restart his NFL career took him to Nashville Monday for a physical with the Tennessee Titans. "We had him in for a physical, and we worked Corey out and he seemed to be in good shape," Titans HC Jeff Fisher said. Simon's agent Roosevelt Barnes did not immediately return a message left at his office Monday night by The Associated Press. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Corey Simon apparently was in pretty good shape which is sort of surprising. We'll see if the Titans decide to take a chance on him. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great rest of your day and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
