|
Volume 8, Issue 89 (Sunday, July 22nd) FantasyHeadquarters.com is NOW RESERVING TEAMS IN THEIR 2007 ONLINE FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUES! Teams are NOW AVAILABLE in over 40 very different styles of leagues! League structures include: *** "Immediate Draft" Leagues", which begin drafting 48 hours after they've filled, so you don't have to wait until August or early September to draft if you don't want to! For a limited time, anyone that joins a league and mentions this Footballguys.com Email upon joining, will receive 5% off of their entry fees!*Up to 93% of entry fees are kicked back, with one-time entry fees ranging from as little as $49, all the way up to $4999! (*The $999 and $4999 leagues will be awarded a 3% refund, rather than 5%.) LIMITED TIME OFFERS DISCOUNT EXTENDED! 5% off of FantasyHeadquarters.com fantasy football league entry fees! Click Here!Hi Folks, It's the week we've been waiting for - Training Camps will start kicking off this week and the action won't slow much until the Pro Bowl. The Hall of Fame game is around the corner and the regular season will be kicking off before you know it. There's going to be a ton of football news you'll need to know between now and then but don't worry - we've got your back. Let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
Footballguys Accepting Guest Articles
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. NYJ - Jets May Release G Kendall2. MIA - Hadnot Surprised With Move To Guard But Won't Complain 3. DEN - QB Cutler Talks About Expectations For Team And Himself 4. SF - 49ers Expect More Improvement From QB Smith 5. DEN - RB Travis Henry Wants The Ball Often 6. SF - OG Smiley Will Be Looking For Payday 7. HOU - Texans Concerned With Receiver Position 8. HOU - Texans Impressed With New QB Schaub 9. CLE - QB Quinn's Agent Meeting With Team 10. DEF - PIT - Steelers Sign 1st-Round Pick LB Timmons 11. DEF - STL - Overhauled Rams Defense Looking To Improve 12. DEF - CAR - DT Jenkins Expected To Be At Training Camp 13. DEF - NYG - DE Strahan Reportedly Has Not Threatened To Hold Out NYJ - Jets May Release G Kendall Source: Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post New York Jets starting left guard Pete Kendall, who's embroiled in a contract dispute with the team and has been very vocal about it, is a question mark at best to show up for training camp. He most likely will be released at some point, because the situation appears to have reached a point of no return. Kendall has been a mentor for left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold. That leaves the question not only who'll replace Kendall if he doesn't show and is released, but how that'll affect his line mates. Adrien Clarke worked in Kendall's spot in minicamp, but is not highly regarded around the league. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] When the two guys on either side of him have exactly one year of NFL experience under their belts, you'd think the Jets might try a little harder to keep Kendall. He's an anchor on that left side of the line. If he's not there, Thomas Jones and Chad Pennington both deserve a slight downtick on the charts. MIA - Hadnot Surprised With Move To Guard But Won't Complain Source: Carl Kotala, Florida Today When Rex Hadnot looks in the mirror, he sees himself as a center but the Miami Dolphins plan on moving him back to the starting right guard position. Hadnot has started 39 NFL games, the past 19 of them at center. But prior to that, he had an 18-game streak as the Dolphins starting right guard. "I was a little surprised, but it's not anything I'm not comfortable with or nothing that's going to cause a rift or anything like that," Hadnot said. "It's just me getting a chance to show everybody in the league that I can play right guard as well." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Miami offensive line is in transition. With rookie center (and BlackEyedJoe.com All Name Team guy) Samson Satele hoping to see time, that means Hadnot can move over to guard. L.J. Shelton played there last year but he may move to tackle. There will be a lot of guys in new positions so how quickly they gel will be key. DEN - QB Cutler Talks About Expectations For Team And Himself Source: Mike Klis, Denver Post The Denver Broncos have serious Super Bowl aspirations but can 2nd-year QB Jay Cutler overcome that pressure and perform well with his limited experience. Winning a Super Bowl with a second-year pro quarterback has happened twice in the past six years but having such lofty goals must get heavy at times for a youngster who has yet to hear his first boo. "Yeah, I've heard if I play well, the team's going to do well, and if I play badly, the team's going to do badly. How I go is how the team goes," Cutler said. "I think that's a little ridiculous. I mean, I don't think I have to throw for 300 yards every game for us to win football games. I need to manage the game and limit turnovers. I think our running game and our defense will be enough for us to put up enough points." It's Cutler's calm and confident disposition - whether in moments of crisis between the lines or casual encounters along the sidewalk - that has the Broncos believing he can live through the mistakes, and perhaps the occasional boos, and bounce back to become the third second- year pro quarterback in history to win a Super Bowl. "This team definitely has Super Bowl talent," Cutler said. "I think we're in a good position to have a good record, get in the playoffs and then see what happens. As far as how I'm taking things, I'm taking it in stride. This team could have a great year, we could have a bad year. I can't tell the future. All I can do is prepare as hard as I can to have the best season possible. There's a lot of guys here who are going to help me." One area that's often overlooked is starting field position. After ranking last in the NFL in that category last season, the Broncos brought in a new coach (Scott O'Brien), a new punter (Todd Sauerbrun) and will break in a new returner (Domenik Hixon).[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Living in Knoxville, I had the good fortune to see Cutler a good bit while he was at Vandy in Nashville. People that saw him play regularly in college aren't surprised in the least with the success he's having. Having a great team around him is a luxury he did not have in college and I think he'll make the most of it. SF - 49ers Expect More Improvement From QB Smith Source: John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco 49ers 3rd-year QB Alex Smith improved significantly in his 2nd season after a terrible rookie season. The 49ers organization believes he will continue to grow as a player in 2007. "I expect him to keep getting better," Nolan said. "I will be disappointed if he doesn't have a better year (than '06). Alex is real steady and consistent. He's not a hot-and-cold guy. Alex plays well for real good reasons: He works hard, he's extremely intelligent and he's tough as hell." Keeping an offense in which most starting positions are set going into camp percolating is the responsibility of new coordinator Jim Hostler, who was Smith's quarterbacks coach the last two years. Making the transition easier is the fact Hostler will keep the same system and terminology that Norv Turner used as coordinator last year before he left for San Diego to become the Chargers' head coach.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] There's quite a bit of buzz around Smith this summer as those close to him say he's made nice strides in improving his game. The 49ers have made positive improvements in coach Nolan's first two seasons going from awful to average. Entering his 3rd year, the expectations are for this team to be good. How well Alex Smith plays obviously will have a big say in that. TE Vernon Davis is a guy they need a big year from as well. He was limited with injury last year but showed flashes of being the impact player they drafted. DEN - RB Travis Henry Wants The Ball Often Source: Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News Denver Broncos new RB Travis Henry doesn't want to just embrace the idea of being the guy. He wants to grab it and lug it as many times as Shanahan lets him. "Me, personally, I'm from the old school," Henry said. "From watching Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, all those guys, it was one back. That's it. One guy got the ball. It's good to have the backup in case something goes wrong, but as far as rotating during the game, that takes away from a premier back trying to get in a rhythm. So, a two-back rotation? I guess I don't see it." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Unfortunately for Henry and fantasy football fans around the country, how Henry sees it really doesn't make much difference. How a guy named Mike Shanahan sees it is much more pertinent to us. Shanahan gets a sometimes undeserved reputation for shuffling running backs. In the Terrell Davis days, he obviously liked feeding one guy the ball. It'll really boil down to how well Henry can produce. And we like his chances. To see how we project all the running backs, click here.SF - OG Smiley Will Be Looking For Payday Source: Chris Walsh, Tuscaloosa News, 49ersWebZone.com San Francisco 49ers starting RG Justin Smiley is going into the last year of his contract, and is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season where he is expected to make some serious coin. "This is really happening," Smiley said. "The opportunity to really make a name for myself among the guards in the league, and hopefully make a pretty penny. It's really something. If they come to the table, and they make an honest attempt ... they have not made it interesting,. Of course I would love to stay in San Francisco. I'm going to bleed crimson and gold this year. Come January, I'm going to have to start thinking about my family and how it's going to affect the future." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Like Alan Faneca, Smiley will be looking to showcase himself this season and then let the chips fall where they may for 2008. It's a good spot to be in for the running backs and quarterback playing behind him. HOU - Texans Concerned With Receiver Position Source: Associated Press, NY Times The Houston Texans are set at the WR1 position with veteran Andre Johnson a very good receiver for the club. The Texans want 25-year old WR Kevin Walter to emerge as a legitimate second receiving threat, but he has totaled only 456 yards receiving in four seasons. "It's a concern of mine because we're so young after Andre," Kubiak said. "We're going to find out if we have a couple of young players that are going to step up and be big-time pros. I'm going to give them the opportunity to do that." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The team likes new QB Matt Schaub but he does need some receivers. We think TE Owen Daniels is going to be a factor. To see how we project the entire team, click here. HOU - Texans Impressed With New QB Schaub Source: Associated Press, NY Times Houston Texans new starting QB Matt Schaub has already ingratiated himself to the veterans, most notably the Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson, by spending the spring and summer working out with his teammates. "I've been impressed with the way he handles himself," HC Gary Kubiak said. "That's a lot to handle. You go and make a trade like that for a kid and the pressure to come in here and take over this football team is great, but he's handled himself tremendously this off-season. He's been a great worker, very confident kid about his opportunity and what he's fixing to go take on." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Falcons trading Matt Schaub is one of the more interesting moves of the off season. It's not like Vick was a rock solid citizen even before the dog fighting disaster (Ron Mexico, anyone?) so it says something about Schaub that the Falcons felt comfortable in letting him go. It's been a while since I've seen this much hype on a guy with this little NFL experience but most accounts from Houston are that Schaub's been excellent. He won't amaze anyone with his athleticism but that can be said for plenty of good QBs. He does what's asked of him and looks to be a smart decision maker. We'll see soon enough.CLE - QB Quinn's Agent Meeting With Team Source: Tony Grossi, Cleveland Plain Dealer Agent Tom Condon was scheduled to arrive in Berea today to continue contract talks for quarterback Brady Quinn. Although nobody expects Quinn to be signed in time for the start of rookie orientation on Monday - or even for the official start of training camp on Thursday - Condon's visit is a good sign. It would be his third face-to-face meeting with Browns officials since Quinn was drafted 22nd overall in April. A year ago, Condon did not have his first negotiating session for quarterback Matt Leinart until the first day of Arizona's training camp. Leinart was the last first-round pick to sign a contract last year.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] I wouldn't get too excited about this but it is a good sign I suppose that they're already meeting. As noted in the article, it's ahead of schedule for what Condon did for Leinart last year. Derek Anderson seems to have the inside track on the starting QB job but it's really up in the air right now. DEF - PIT - Steelers Sign 1st-Round Pick LB Timmons Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN The Pittsburgh Steelers reached an agreement with 1st-round draft pick LB Lawrence Timmons on Sunday, signing him to a 5-year deal. The Steelers have now signed all of their draft choices prior to camp opening on Monday. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Kudos to Pittsburgh for wrapping up all their rookies before camp starts. Coach Mike Tomlin will have plenty of challenges ahead of him this year, but it looks like getting rookies signed won't be one of them. DEF - STL - Overhauled Rams Defense Looking To Improve Source: Bill Coats, St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis Rams 2nd-year DC Jim Haslett task of rebuilding the Rams defense was daunting from the outset. He arrived after the 2005 season in which the club wound up 30th in total defense. Haslett's group made incremental improvement last year, when the Rams finished 8-8. They moved up to 23rd in total offense, were eighth against the pass and were No. 2 in turnover ratio (plus 14). The number of defensive players who have left after spending at least part of last season with the Rams has reached double figures. In total there are 16 new faces under Haslett's charge. "We picked up some vital parts," he said. "We're going to be a better team for having all those parts." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's obvious the Rams will be different this year. All the new faces will ensure that. What's not certain is whether they'll be better. You have to think the defensive minded Haslett will get them on the right track. DEF - CAR - DT Jenkins Expected To Be At Training Camp Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN Despite ongoing unhappiness with his contract situation, DT Kris Jenkins is expected to be on hand when the Carolina Panthers report for training camp when it opens this Friday. He skipped the Panthers' voluntary workouts this spring, but did participate in a mandatory three-day minicamp. "We expect Kris to be there, no question," GM Marty Hurney said. This has been a typically tumultuous offseason for Jenkins, a three-time Pro Bowl defender whose productivity has been reduced by injuries of late, but who did manage to appear in all 16 games in 2006. Because of their depth at tackle, and salary cap elements as well, the Panthers floated the possibility of trading Jenkins this spring, and let other teams know he was available for the right price. But the Panthers never got close to trading Jenkins, in part because it's believed no club offered the high-round draft choice they wanted in return, and it's likely now that the former University of Maryland star will remain in Carolina for another season.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Panther defense is solid and Jenkins is a nice part of that. They ranked #11 last season against the rush. Look for Jenkins to be a part of that again this season. DEF - NYG - DE Strahan Reportedly Has Not Threatened To Hold Out Source: Mike Garafolo, NJ.com As I (Garafolo) noted yesterday, Strahan asked the team for more money back in the spring and the front office said no. He wasn't happy but, according to our source, he HASN'T threatened to hold out. That doesn't mean he's not thinking about it, just that he hasn't told the Giants about it. Those I spoke to yesterday indicated the team is aware of the possibility of a holdout but they were simply talking about the fact that Strahan isn't happy with his contract and that anything could happen. Looking back at yesterday's blog, I'm realizing now I didn't make that clear enough. My bad. Again, to repeat, Strahan HAS NOT sent any kind of holdout vibes toward the Giants. Now, a bit of a disclaimer: This doesn't mean Strahan won't hold out. For all we know, he could wake up on Friday and say, "You know what, I don't feel like going to Albany yet." I still believe he's at least considered staying home. And once more, just because he hasn't threatened the Giants yet doesn't mean he won't do it.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Just some input from Mr. Garafolo after it was pretty widely reported that Strahan was threatening a holdout. Let's hope he doesn't and gets in there to camp on time. The Giants have enough drama already without adding this to it. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Monday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. J |
