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Volume 8, Issue 132 (Monday, September 3rd)LIMITED TIME OFFERS Hi Folks, Welcome to Tuesday. As in the last Tuesday before NFL FOOTBALL STARTS. I'm ready and I know you are too. So let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
Redraft Overall Rankings
B.
New Projections Released
C.
New Draft Dominator Application
D.
New VBD App
E.
Footballguys Podcast - The Audible - 2007 WR College Football Preview
F.
Footballguys Podcast - The Audible - 2007 RB College Football Preview
G.
Footballguys Podcast - The Audible - 2007 QB College Football Preview
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. MIA - HC Cameron Says Both RBs Will Play2. DAL - Cowboys Add Richardson As Interim Coach 3. CLE - Browns QB Frye To Start Against Steelers 4. DAL - WR Glenn On Playing Week One: 'I Don't Know' 5. BAL - Ravens Take A Look At Free-Agent QB Leftwich 6. NE - Patriots WR Moss Returns To Field 7. WAS - Redskins RB Portis Expected To Start Week 1, Though Carries May Be Limited 8. DET - Lions RB Jones Practices In Pads 9. CHI - Bears TE Olsen Says MRI Negative 10. BAL - Ravens Appear To Be At Full Strength 11. NE - Patriots Cut WR Caldwell 12. NYJ - Jets RB Jones To Practice 13. OAK - Raiders RB Bush Placed On Reserve PUP List 14. PHI - Eagles TE Smith Says Groin Injury At 75 Percent 15. DEF - DEN - Broncos Sign DE Rice 16. DEF - MIA - Dolphins LB Porter Expected To Play Sunday 17. DEF - NYG - Giants DE Strahan Reports To Giants Stadium 18. DEF - TB - LB Trotter Agrees To Terms With Bucs 19. DEF - JAX - Jaguars Sign CB Glenn MIA - HC Cameron Says Both RBs Will Play Source: Armando Salguero, Miami Herald Ronnie Brown wasn't returning kicks in practice. So much for that preseason head game. Cameron has confirmed what I wrote last week about the running back competition: Brown and Jesse Chatman will share the load this year, regardless of which one starts from week to week. In that regard, the committee meeting of the Dolphins running attack is in session. "You need two backs in this business," Cameron said. "You can't interpret that as a negative. But you'll see both those backs in a game."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Cameron certainly downplayed what was supposed to be a big announcement Monday naming his starting RB. I guess it's a positive that at least Brown isn't returning kicks. But that's hardly enough to make Brown owners feel better. I don't know that I'd agree with Salguero in calling it a true "share" situation. What Cameron said is right, every team needs that second RB. But let's be honest, some use them a lot more than others. How much Miami uses Chatman is the big question. No one knows for sure but the gut feel for me right now is that it'll be something like a 65:35 split with Brown getting the majority of carries. That can obviously change though as the game unfolds and one back gets hot. The bottom line is that Ronnie Brown has some serious time share competition that didn't seem to be there six weeks ago.DAL - Cowboys Add Richardson As Interim Coach Source: Associated Press, NFL.com The Dallas Cowboys announced on Monday that they have added Harold Richardson to their coaching staff on an interim basis while quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson serves a five-game suspension. Richardson, who was in private business in Atlanta, has worked with Phillips four other times. "He's not a quarterbacks coach, but he will help, an extra set of eyes in the press box, quite a few things," head coach Wade Phillips said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Just for you guys keeping up with the coaching depth chart... CLE - Browns QB Frye To Start Against Steelers Source: Associated Press, ESPN The Cleveland Browns have named QB Charlie Frye the starter for their week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. HC Romeo Crennel indicated the position would be evaluated on a weekly basis and said Frye would start week 1 because of his experience playing against Pittsburgh. Crennel would not say whether QB Derek Anderson or QB Brady Quinn would backup Frye. "I think that gives us the best chance to win," Crennel said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I was critical of Crennel not playing Brady Quinn in more meaningful series during the preseason but given what we saw of him, this makes sense. Frye will face the tough Steelers in Week 1 and the schedule doesn't get any easier. Crennel was very clear that Frye's on a week to week starter basis here but that was a given already with first round draft pick Quinn there. DAL - WR Glenn On Playing Week One: 'I Don't Know' Source: Tim McMahon, Dallas Morning News Dallas Cowboys WR Terry Glenn, who is a month removed from a knee scope, ran some routes during a workout on Saturday, but when asked if he will play in the season opener, Glenn replied, "I don't know." The speculation is the Patrick Crayton will need to step in and start, even if Glenn is active. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We've been yelling about Patrick Crayton for a while and I hope you stashed him on the roster somewhere. I don't like how Glenn's recovered from this surgery and I don't like the "no Bill Parcells" factor for Glenn. BAL - Ravens Take A Look At Free-Agent QB Leftwich Source: Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Sun Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said today that the team has had "a couple of small conversations" with the agent for former Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich. The Ravens are believed to be one of seven teams to have preliminary talks with Leftwich. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Ravens are a team that makes sense for Leftwich. I can see him in Atlanta as well. Although with the way Atlanta seemed to not even consider Daunte Culpepper, they may not want to rock the boat for Joey Harrington. There were reportedly several more teams interested in signing Leftwich. NE - Patriots WR Moss Returns To Field Source: Mike Reiss, Boston Globe New England Patriots WR Randy Moss returned to the practice field Monday morning but is unsure if he will play opening day. When asked what his chances are for playing Sunday, Moss replied, "I guess nobody is telling you anything, so I'll just hold it a question mark too. My thing is that I want to play. Will I play? I don't know. We'll just leave it at that." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] And so it begins... There isn't a team in the league that's less forthcoming about injury than New England so expect this to be worrisome with Moss until he shows he's totally healthy. We'll be digging on this one all week but for now, it looks pretty iffy for Moss this week. WAS - Redskins RB Portis Expected To Start Week 1, Though Carries May Be Limited Source: Gary Fitzgerald, Redskins.com Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis took part in a full regular practice with the team on Monday. Head coach Joe Gibbs indicated that Portis is expected to start the team's Week One game, although running back Ladell Betts is expected to see significant action as well. "He'll start off and he and Ladell [Betts] will take the load," Gibbs said. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] "[Portis] and Ladell [Betts] will take the load" are not the words that Portis owners wanted to hear. But it looks like that's where we are with Portis. He's not only dealing with the injury but also a guy in Betts who could steal time. DET - Lions RB Jones Practices In Pads Source: Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones will start the season on the active roster but has no idea when he will play. "I want to definitely be back before six (games)," Jones said Monday, after his first practice in pads. "But I can start practicing now and take it day by day." Jones missed the final three games with the injury, which required offseason surgery. "Orthopedically, everything's fine with my foot," he said. "I felt good and the doctors reassured them." Starting QB Jon Kitna praised Jones saying, "He looked good. It's a gradual process, but he said he feels great and that's the key."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] So far so good with Jones. You can't rule anything out but I'd expect it to be a couple of weeks before we see much from Jones. We'll be watching how he practices and how quickly he can get back into "football shape". CHI - Bears TE Olsen Says MRI Negative Source: Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune Chicago Bears rookie TE Greg Olsen was seen leaving the locker room limping but using no special equipment to support his injured knee on Monday. "Everything is good, it's just going to take a little time to get it back to full strength," Olsen said. "But it's nothing too serious. It's just a matter of rehabbing it. Basically, any time you do anything to the ligaments, technically it's a sprain. You've got to let the inflammation go down and try to get back [the] range of motion. But as far as the ligaments and the cartilage, everything was fine." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for Olsen. It helps that he's a young guy and should bounce back a little faster than some of the older guys we've seen struggle lately. BAL - Ravens Appear To Be At Full Strength Source: Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun Every starter practiced for the Baltimore Ravens today as they prepare for their opener. DBs Samari Rolle and Ed Reed, WR Mark Clayton, and LT Jonathan Ogden all practiced at full speed after nursing injuries, giving the Ravens a boost as they start their season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] You always want to "peak" at the right time and it looks like Baltimore is doing that here. They've had a few players at less than full strength but it looks like they're getting healthy at the right time. Source: Mike Reiss, Boston Globe The New England Patriots released WR Reche Caldwell today. "They made a lot of moves, and it got crowded over there, and we knew someone would be the odd man out," said Tony Fleming, Caldwell's agent. "We weren't totally shocked." The release of Caldwell might be tied to the return of WR Randy Moss to the practice field. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Caldwell was a starter last year for New England last year. It's a pretty good indication of how upside down they've turned their receiving corps to see that Caldwell couldn't even make the team in 2007. NYJ - Jets RB Jones To Practice Source: Mark, Cannizzaro, New York Post New York Jets running back Thomas Jones, who sat out the final three preseason games since pulling a calf muscle in the first preseason game, is believed to be ready to go this week in practice and for the opener. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for Jones. Calf injuries are notoriously tough to heal but it looks like he's recovered well. We'll know for sure watching him in practice this week. OAK - Raiders RB Bush Placed On Reserve PUP List Source: Associated Press, NFL.com The Oakland Raiders announced on Sunday that they have placed running back Michael Bush on the reserve physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He will not be able to practice or play for the team for a minimum of six weeks during the regular season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Not a big surprise here but newsworthy nonetheless. With Dominic Rhodes missing the first four games due to suspension, and Bush out, Lamont Jordan is going to be sort of lonely back there. PHI - Eagles TE Smith Says Groin Injury At 75 Percent Source: Bob Kent, PhiladelphiaEagles.com Philadelphia Eagles tight end L.J. Smith said on Monday that he is only at 75 percent related to his recovery from his injured groin. His status for the team's Week One opener is currently under question. "It's a big test for me," Smith said. "By the end of the week, we'll see if my body's reacting well to practice. Hopefully it's able to hold up in a game." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Smith is one of those guys we'll be watching closely this week to see how he holds up to practice. We're cautiously optimistic. DEF - DEN - Broncos Sign DE Rice Source: Associated Press, CBS Sportsline The Denver Broncos signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneer DE Simeon Rice to a one-year deal on Monday. Safety John Lynch was a former team mate of Rice's and loved the signing. "He's a teammate who I loved playing with and one of the great pass rushers of all time. So, we'd be -- anyone would be -- fortunate to get him," Lynch said Monday while the sides were signing the one-year deal at Broncos headquarters. Rice, whose 121 career sacks rank second to Michael Strahan among active players, was released by Tampa Bay this summer after the Buccaneers signed first-round draft pick Gaines Adams.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Rice isn't the guy he used to be but if the Broncos can get him into the right situations, he can still be productive. DEF - MIA - Dolphins LB Porter Expected To Play Sunday Source: Associated Press, ESPN Miami Dolphins LB Joey Porter is expected to play in the season opener against the Washington Redskins. "He had a nice practice today," HC Cam Cameron said Monday. "It looks like he's ready to play." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for Porter and the Dolphins. He said he'd be ready to play and it looks like he's on that pace. DEF - NYG - Giants DE Strahan Reports To Giants Stadium Source: Sporting News, Kansas City Star New York Giants DE Michael Strahan officially ended his holdout today, reporting to Giants Stadium. The team still needs to determine Strahan's level of conditioning before deciding if he'll play in Sunday's opening game against the Dallas Cowboys. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Giants and Strahan worked out a compromise on how much he'd be fined for missing camp. Strahan visited with coach Tom Coughlin and everyone was pretty much all smiles. They'll see how ready he is and he'll likely see some at least some action this week. DEF - TB - LB Trotter Agrees To Terms With Bucs Source: Roy Cummings, Tampa Tribune The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a big splash today as they agreed to terms with former Eagles MLB Jeremiah Trotter on a one-year deal. Trotter is expected to arrive in Tampa and sign the deal tonight, according to his agent Jimmy Sexton. Sexton said the deal is worth more than the league minimum salary. Sexton also said the plans call for Trotter to work primarily at middle linebacker. What this means for LB Barrett Ruud, who was slated to start at MLB, is unknown. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Trotter may not have as much on the field as he used to but he brings a lot of leadership and intangibles that Tampa can use. DEF - JAX - Jaguars Sign CB Glenn Source: Kansas City Star, Sports Network The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran CB Aaron Glenn on Monday. Glenn spent the previous two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before being released in the final cut-down on September 1. To make room for Glenn on the roster, the Jaguars released guard Tutan Reyes. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Glenn is another veteran let go by their team and forced to find a new home. He lands in Jacksonville and will be intent on showing the league he can still play. At the very least, he'll provide some experience and leadership. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Tuesday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
