Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 97 (Saturday, July 25th)
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Hi Folks,
Good Sunday to you. Hope you're into a great weekend. Camps are HERE as Buffalo opened things up today. Lots more to follow. I love this time of year. We've got plenty of news to get to so let's go.
J
SITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. BUF - WRs Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed in top WR group2. BUF - RB Marshawn Lynch sees bulk of work in backfield
3. JAC - WR Mike Thomas penciled in as the starting slot receiver?
4. BUF - WR Terrell Owens mania
5. NYJ - Mystery receiver emerging for the Jets?
6. GB - No decision on No. 3 receiver job
7. SF - WR Michael Crabtree may not be signed before camp
8. DET - Battle at quarterback about to begin
9. CAR - If it isn't broke, don't fix it? RBs to split carries again?
10. KC - RB Larry Johnson could get traded?
11. BUF - RB Fred Jackson splits out wide as receiver
12. BUF - RB Justise Hairston injured Saturday
13. CIN - Denzel Washington's tough love helped WR Chad Ochocinco
14. CIN - Bengals are ready for their closeup
15. CHI - WR Juaquin Iglesias confident about his role
16. STL - WR Ronald Curry passes physical; trade official
17. BAL - Ravens likely won't add another receiver
18. DEF - BUF - LB John DiGiorgio to miss season with a knee injury
BUF - WRs Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed in top WR group
Source: Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports the Buffalo Bills had WRs Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed working with the first-string offense when they worked with three-receiver sets during training camp practice Saturday, July 25.
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Terrell Owens is going to constantly draw double teams which should leave Lee Evans with single coverage most of the time. Quarterback Trent Edwards should be able to hit Evans deep and Josh Reed should work the underneath routes. Reed was a converted RB at LSU and has natural run after the catch ability.
BUF - RB Marshawn Lynch sees bulk of work in backfield
Source: Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports that RB Marshawn Lynch got the bulk of the work and had "some good burst in his step" in the training camp practice on Saturday.
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There has been some talk that Fred Jackson would get more work this year and push the Buffalo backfield to a full-blown committee, but there was no sign of that on Saturday.
JAC - WR Mike Thomas penciled in as the starting slot receiver?
Source: Matt Sohn, from ProFootballWeekly.com
Matt Sohn, from ProFootballWeekly.com, reports the club has already penciled in 5-foot-8 rookie Mike Thomas for the slot job, believing he has dynamite open-field agility with receivers flanking him on both sides.
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With Torry Holt and Mike Walker likely starting for the Jaguars it will be up to rookie Mike Thomas to do his damage from the slot position. Thomas is the perfect slot receiver with cat-like quickness, good speed, and fantastic run after the catch ability. Thomas could also be a security blanket for QB David Garrard on hot reads when the blitz is coming.
Source: Tim Graham, of ESPN.com
Tim Graham, of ESPN.com, reports any time Buffalo Bills WR Terrell Owens did anything on the field Saturday, July 25, the crowd of fans in attendance erupted in cheers for Owens.
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Ever the showman, T.O. entertained the group by flashing an occasional smile as well as peace signs toward the stands. And he couldn't stop laughing when one fan, 32-year-old Steven Lasek, held up a box of 'T.O's' and began yelling, "This cereal is delicious." "Yeah," Owens said afterward with a smile. "He's part of my P.R. team."
NYJ - Mystery receiver emerging for the Jets?
Source: Jane McManus, The Jets Journal
Jane McManus, from the Jets Journal, recently interviewed Jets head coach Rex Ryan and asked him about the open competition for the #2 WR job opposite of Jerricho Cotchery. Ryan extolled the virtues of Chansi Stuckey in the slot, David Clowney's speed and Brad Smith's versatility. Then he said: "And I think there will be a surprise come out as a receiver as well, and I'm not going to say it but this one kid, all he does is make plays."
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McManus thinks that it could be Wallace Wright, or the little used second-year wide receiver Marcus Henry. There is also some speculation that TE Dustin Keller may actually split out wide this season. We shall see if the mystery receiver reveals himself in training camp and preseason.
GB - No decision on No. 3 receiver job
Source: Bob McGinn, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bob McGinn, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports, even though Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson was impressive during offseason workouts, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said the team has not made a decision on whether Nelson or WR James Jones will be the No. 3 wide receiver.
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The winner might be worth an end of the bench roster spot in start 3 WR PPR leagues, but we're not sure that the Packers would slot one of Jones or Nelson full-time if Donald Driver or Greg Jennings got hurt.
SF - WR Michael Crabtree may not be signed before camp
Source: Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports there are indications that it will be a challenge for the San Francisco 49ers to get first-round draft pick WR Michael Crabtree signed before the start of training camp. The 49ers and Crabtree are currently far apart in their negotiations.
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We see Crabtree possibly being the kind of player that demands more than his draft slot dictates, because #10 was later than Crabtree was expected to go. Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, doesn't seem have a problem playing contract chicken if he thinks his clients aren't getting the compensation they deserve. Between the foot injury that caused Crabtree to miss all of minicamp and OTAs and this potential contract issue, it is looking smarter and smarter to err on the side of passing Crabtree in the mid-rounds of your redraft league.
DET - Battle at quarterback about to begin
Source: Skip Wood, of USA Today
Skip Wood, of USA Today, reports Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said the Lions are going to have a competitive battle at quarterback between Daunte Culpepper and rookie Matthew Stafford.
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Culpepper may have put himself in a very good position because of his weight loss and offseason training program. CPepp is focused on being better than he's ever been, but it might not be enough to hold off the #1 overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft Matthew Stafford. Nearly every report about Stafford in minicamp was positive, but we'll see if he can carry over that momentum into training camp. If Stafford has a good preseason he could easily start in week one of the regular season. If the Lions decide to go with Culpepper, he may be replaced after their week 7 bye, if the season is lost.
CAR - If it isn't broke, don't fix it? RBs to split carries again?
Source: Pat Yasinskas, of ESPN.com
Pat Yasinskas, of ESPN.com, reports the Carolina Panthers will likely split their rushing attempts between RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in 2009 much like they did during the 2008 season.
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DeAngelo Williams got 274 carries and Jonathan Stewart got 183 carries in 2008. The Panthers were a winning team last year, with the sixth most carries in the NFL at 504. That means Williams got about 54% of the carries and Stewart about 37%, with 9% coming from the QBs, FBs, and Steve Smith. If they have a less successful season in 2009 and have a number like their 2007 total of 451 carries, that means Williams would have around 243 carries - food for thought if Yasinskas is correct.
KC - RB Larry Johnson could get traded?
Source: Nick Athan, of Warpaint Illustrated
Nick Athan, of Warpaint Illustrated, reports that the Chiefs could deal RB Larry Johnson for multiple picks if a contender loses a top running back in August.
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This would obviously cause Jamaal Charles value to spike, but the Chiefs could still bring in a vet like Edgerrin James to be the bridge to a young back they draft next year. It's not a huge stretch to see Johnson traded if the price is right because the team is in a rebuilding mode, and he is not a great fit in the Todd Haley offense.
BUF - RB Fred Jackson splits out wide as receiver
Source: Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports that RB Fred Jackson split out wide as a receiver at least four times in the morning practice on Saturday, July 25.
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Jackson should be a nice RB4 or RB5 in PPR leagues with his added value during Marshawn Lynch's early suspension and the likelihood that he'll catch at least 40 balls if the Bills continue to use him this way.
BUF - RB Justise Hairston injured Saturday
Source: Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports Buffalo Bills RB Justise Hairston (undisclosed) suffered an apparent injury during practice Saturday, July 25, and went directly to the locker room.
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This is the first raindrop in a storm of camp injuries to come that will change the landscape of our draft boards. Hairston was very unlikely to make the Bills roster for the long haul because of the signing of Dominic Rhodes, but there was an opening for the RB3 spot during Marshawn Lynch's suspension if he could beat out Xavier Omon.
CIN - Denzel Washington's tough love helped WR Chad Ochocinco
Source: Michael Silver, from Yahoo Sports
Michael Silver, from Yahoo Sports, reports when Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chad Ochocinco met Denzel Washington at a Los Angeles Lakers game this past spring, it wasn't the mutual fawning session you might expect. Rather than compliment the receiver formerly known as Johnson for his athletic excellence, Washington called him out, portraying Ochocinco's lost 2008 season as a self-inflicted nightmare. "He got on me about the way I handled myself last offseason," Ochocinco recalled in a phone conversation last week. "He wasn't being gentle. He said, ‘You know what? You need to straighten up and stop fussin' about something you have no control over. Make it fun again because it sure looks better when you do it that way.' That's all I needed to hear, especially from somebody like him."
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We picture Denzel going off on Ochocinco like he did Ethan Hawke at the end of Training Day.
CIN - Bengals are ready for their closeup
Source: Joe Reedy, from the Cincinnati Enquirer
Joe Reedy, from the Cincinnati Enquirer, notes that after an offseason that included some player changes, but was mostly devoid of distracting drama, the Cincinnati Bengals are ready for their national close-up. When the team reports to Georgetown College on Thursday to begin training camp for the 2009 season, NFL Films crews will document every move. The Bengals are the subject of this year's Hard Knocks: Training Camp series on Home Box Office.
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Hard Knocks is always great television for football fans, and with the characters in Cincinnati it could be the best season ever.
CHI - WR Juaquin Iglesias confident about his role
Source: Vaughn McClure, from the Chicago Tribune
Vaughn McClure, from the Chicago Tribune, reports Juaquin Iglesias, the third-round pick from Oklahoma, remains confident about his role this coming season. He expressed his thoughts during an interview with nflplayers.com. "They said I have to work for it, but that I have a chance to play on the field just like everybody else," Iglesias told the Web site when asked about the possibility of cracking the starting lineup. "So, I'm excited to get to work. I plan on playing."
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He led the Sooners in catches and receiving yards the last 2 seasons, but will have to work his way up the depth chart in Chicago. He will battle fellow rookie Johnny Knox and veteran Rashied Davis for the starting slot receiver job.
STL - WR Ronald Curry passes physical; trade official
Source: Associated Press
WR Ronald Curry passed his physical with the St. Louis Rams, which officially completed his trade to St. Louis from the Detroit Lions. The Rams sent DT Orien Harris to the Lions in exchange for him.
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Another solid move by the Lions in the post-Millen era. Harris gives the Lions another much needed big body for their rotation on the defensive line. This move could work out nicely for the Rams as well. Curry will compete with Keenan Burton and Laurent Robinson for the starting job opposite Donnie Avery.
BAL - Ravens likely won't add another receiver
Source: James Walker, of ESPN.com
James Walker, of ESPN.com, reports after signing free-agent WR Drew Bennett (Rams), the Baltimore Ravens will likely not pursue another wide receiver, either through free agency or the trade market.
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Ravens coach John Harbaugh is hoping that Derrick Mason will return from his retirement and rejoin the team, but they feel the receivers they have are enough to get the job done. The Ravens have some veteran leadership in their WR corps, and they have some younger receivers with potential. The one thing both sides have in common is the fact that they struggle with injury. Baltimore may have a different outlook about adding another receiver if injuries hit in training camp.
DEF - BUF - LB John DiGiorgio to miss season with a knee injury
Source: John Wawrow, from the Associated Press
John Wawrow, from the Associated Press, reports Buffalo Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio will miss the season after having surgery to repair bone damage in his right knee. DiGiorgio had surgery two weeks ago in Vail, Colo., his agent, Chris Murray, told The Associated Press on Saturday. Murray said the surgery went well, but that DiGiorgio isn't expected to be fully healthy until January.
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DiGiorgio had a great run as a surprise solid IDP in 2007 after Paul Posluszny went down, and he would have been poised to do it again in the event of an injury to Posluszny this year. This news means former KC linebacker Pat Thomas should have a good chance to win the backup MLB job.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great Sunday. See you tomorrow with the update.
J