Gridiron Experts

Fred Jackson Hurt

What do you do with 3 running backs in the NFL? the answer: wait for one to get hurt.

Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson suffered a hand injury in the first half of the Skins/Bills first pre-season game and will now miss up to a month.“Fred hurt his hand and we hope to be able to get him back for the first game,” said Chan Gailey. “We’re not sure.”

Ty Warren Done in 2010

New England Patroits Ty Warren is out for the 2010 season with a hip injury. Ty Warren knew that if played in 2010 with a labral tear in his hip, he wasn’t just risking performance, he was risking long-term mobility. Read More

Haynesworth is starting to like 3-4 defense

The big man wasn’t very popluar a couple weeks back, but on Friday night he lead the Skins on to the field and looked very much apart of the team. Of course, he is easing back into the depth chart and played with the second team defense against the Bills Friday night.

Haynesworth says he likes the defense now because he realizes the Redskins will allow him to rush the passer, “which is really important to me.” -Read more

WTF? Glen Coffee Retires

Second-year backup running back Glen Coffee was nowhere to be seen at Thursday afternoon’s practice, and was missing again on Friday morning.  Usually, that means an injury, but it turns out Coffee is bitter. ProFootballTalk.com leans in on reasons why (Link)

Gridiron Experts Power Rankings AUG. 2nd

32. Buffalo Bills
CJ Spiller has all the tools to be a playmaker in this league, well except for an offensive line in front of him, a quarterback to take the pressure off, and well you see where I’m going with this. The Bills are going to need a franchise quarterback before they move on this list.
31.St. Louis Rams
The Rams, in theory, should be a better team this year, but it’s still up in the air and truly depends on how NFL ready Sam Bradford is by the start of the season. Steven Jackson has always been the Rams workhorse, and that won’t change this year, expect another grand out of him in 2010.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are still rebuilding. This process can sometimes be long a frustrating, yet in the forseeable future they’ll find themselves on day on the outside looking in on any power rankings list. Every team must rebuild sooner or later but for this season ahead, the Buc’s will be leaning on too many young players and the inexperience will show.
29. Cleveland Browns
The Browns biggest flaw is their division, it’s just too hard to be competitive against perennial powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. They did have a great draft and made some key off-season additions, with a revamped secondary expect them to move up this list in a year.
28. Detroit Lions
The Lions were the movers and shakers of the off-season, making some key additions. If only for the next few years, adding Jahvid Best to a backfield commandeered by Matt Stafford could be just what the Lions needed. Best will make plays and take some of the focus off of Calvin Johnson.
27. Oakland Raiders
For the first time in years, the Raiders impressed us all during the draft, adding a top-tier middle linebacker and shipping Kirk Morrison to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not to mention ditching JaMarcus Russell in favor of Jason Campbell, an automatic upgrade. Although for now, they’re still on the outside looking in.
26.Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have revamped their coaching staff and drafted (and paid) a play making safety in Eric Berry. Dexter McCluster will give add that x-factor to the offense and give Jamaal Charles some relief at the running back spot. Matt Cassell will get one more chance to show that he’s worth the money they’re paying him.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a team that can never seem to get it together when it truly counts, their first rounder is considered a huge reach by the entire NFL community and if he doesn’t pan out, Jags fans can happily say goodbye to Jack Del Rio. Maurice Jones-Drew will set the pace for the offense once more. …Continue reading NFL Power Rankings

Chargers Camp

Tired of Hearing About Jackson and McNeill? So is Norv Turner Annually, San Diego Union-Tribune Charger beat writer Kevin Acee sits down the Chargers’ head coach Norv Turner and discusses the outlook on training camp, the season to come, and some of the issues that surround the team at this time of year. So here’s some of what Turner had to say…ChargersGab

• Philip Rivers showed up to Chargers training camp sporting a new, aerodynamic ‘do- Chargers Blue-Pic

• Charger Training Camp Links- Chargers Blue

• Pictures of a cool, cloudy day at Chargers Park greeted the 42 rookies, young veterans and players returning from injury Monday as training camp began.-blogchargers.com

Eagles Camp

Andy Reid opened camp today with his first press conference of the new season and unfortunately spent the majority of it fielding questions about Michael Vick. Most of these questions were ones we already knew answers to, but they were asked anyway.  I’m sure more Vick stories will increase page views and make national news, but there’s about a billion things…link

• Andy Reid defends “very nice person” Michael Vick- ProfootballTalk.com …Continue reading Training Camp News: Chargers Eagles, Ravens, Pat’s

Patriots Camp

• WR Wes Welker is likely to be on the field for the start of training camp and might be full-go for the Sept. 12 season opener against the Bengals. Lets hope there are no set-backs. Boston Globe writer Albert Breer confirmed Welker is good to go, and can even participate in full contact drills. Boston Herald writer Karen Guregian also confirmed Welker was OK, but noted he “more likely” would start training camp on the PUP list.

Cowboys Camp

• 1st round pick WR Dez Bryant took the field 45 minutes early for the first Dallas Cowboys training camp. Local media are blown away by this kids skill level and potential. Some think it will be only a matter of time before he earns the second WR spot, snatching it away from Roy Williams.
• Dez Bryant won’t carry Roy Williams’ pads -Profootballtalk.com

• TE Martellus Bennett, who has a lot to prove after a disappointing 2009 season, is on the non-football injury list with an ankle sprain
• Camp Battle: Fourth receiver spot between Crayton and Kevin Ogletree and possibly Sam Hurd.
• LT Doug Free had a rough first day. On a speed rush during team drills linebacker Curtis Johnson blew by left tackle, making him look out of place.

Falcons Scare

• Ravens linebacker Sergio Kindle has been hospitalized with a head injury suffered on Thursday night. Kindle, currently in stable condition, is expected to make a full recovery according to the Baltimore Sun and Carroll County Times. Baltimore Sun Article

Every year we head into training camp with our eye on key positions and rookies who could add that extra push. Nobody cares who steps up, as long as the job gets done and the weak links are filled. Focusing on fantasy football, we are going to overlook some of the less important roster spots, and instead fire off questions and predictions for each team in the eyes of the fantasy football fan.

Arizona Cardinals
Spotlight Is On: Matt Leinart- A former first round pick who lost his job and found a comfortable spot on the bench is all of a sudden getting his second chance. The NFL usually chews you up and spits you out, so for Leinart a do-over is a real gift. Frankly, we see more attention spent on the running game this season to relieve some of the pressure. Regardless, this second chance could be the last chance for number 7. Can the shoes be filled? Or is Matt about to trip?
Camp Sleeper: Steve Breaston
Star-Brewing: Chris Wells

Atlanta Falcons
What’s the Deal with Michael Turner? A power running back who was a yard shy of 1700 yards two seasons ago just fell off the map in 2009. A high ankle sprain left fantasy owners angry and kicking furniture over, with his vanilla type numbers. Is he back? Can we move him up the fantasy boards? What’s the deal?
Camp Sleeper: Harry Douglas

Baltimore Ravens
Is there Bonding Going on Here? The Anquan Boldin and Joe Flacco combo is one we’re all not sure of. Flacco has needed a player who can stretch the field for some time, as Mason is more of tough possession wide receiver. The running game is counting on some sort of passing attack, and so are keeper league owners of the recently traded Cardinal.
Camp Sleeper:  TE Ed Dickson
Take a Seat: Todd Heap

Buffalo Bills
So You Have 3 Running Backs…Really? Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and C.J. Spiller are apparently going to be used in a very creative offense that we can already predict to be a failure. There are a million questions with this team, but for now let’s just try to figure out who’s going to be the guy at RB. All the other fantasy options shouldn’t be a concern to you right now, or at all this season.
Camp Sleeper: Brain Brohm- our vote to win the $10 beauty contest.

Carolina Panthers
Moore or Clausen to lead? After booting Delhomme to the curb, Matt Moore stepped in and looked very much the part…or at least that’s what he thought. The Panthers found a fallen gem in the draft and couldn’t help themselves with one of this years highest ranked QB rookies. Jimmy Clausen should do his best to overthrow Moore’s spot.
Gimme the Ball- DeAngelo Williams is in a contract year and will be pressing.
WR Numero dos- Our early guess is Brandon LaFell from LSU.

Chicago Bears
Who’s Cutler Going to Ask to the Big Dance? With a slew of average at best wide receivers, and a master-mind commander calling the plays from the sidelines, Jay Cutler is going to pick and choose his targets carefully. Who will best suit this new offense in Chicago? We will have eyes in training camp all summer.
So Who Does What? -After a breakout rookie season, Matt Forte now has an on the field roommate to share his carries. Chester Taylor wasn’t brought in to get coffee, so the percentage of carries will be watched carefully as well.
Sleeper Brewing In Martz’s System- Johnny Knox …Continue reading NFL Training Camp Fantasy Questions (All 32 Teams)

With only one year remaining on his contract, could New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady call it a career after the 2010 season?

Yes, he is only thirty-two years old (33 on August 3rd), which is considered young in life, but in football it is the age nearing the end of a career. If Brady does decide to hang up the cleats and move on to another aspect of his life, he will not be leaving without permanently placing his name in the history books as one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game of football.

Most people know the story of Tom Brady. He grew up in Santa Mateo, California, attended the University of Michigan where he struggled for playing time for two years before getting the chance to start for two years. After a solid college career, Brady was drafted in the sixth round in the 2000 NFL Draft to the Patriots. From there, history began to be written one season after another. Only in his second season, Brady took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe and led the Patriots to a Super Bowl win. Through ten seasons as a NFL quarterback Brady has picked up a number of accomplishments including three Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVP awards, a NFL MVP award, four Pro Bowl selections, and holds a number of NFL records. In his personal life, Brady also has had a lot of success. He dated actress Bridget Moynahan in which he had a son with her. After their relationship ended, Brady moved on to date and eventually marry …Continue reading Could Tom Brady Call it Quits Early?

NFL News & Updates

• Steve Smith – WR, Carolina Panthers
  Panthers WR Steve Smith fractured his left arm playing flag football over the weekend and is in danger missing all of training camp. He had surgery on Sunday night and was expected to be ready in time for the Panthers’ regular-season opener. Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt expects Kenneth Moore to take Steve Smith’s (broken arm) place with the first-team offense in training camp.

• Vincent Jackson – WR, San Diego Chargers
  NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora speculates that the Seahawks could be interested if the Chargers put unsigned restricted free agent Vincent Jackson on the trade block.

• Wes Welker – WR, New England Patriots
  Beat writer Mike Reiss thinks that Wes Welker (ACL, shoulder surgeries) will open training camp on the PUP lists and stay there for at least the first six weeks of the regular season.

• Joshua Cribbs – WR, Cleveland Browns
  Josh Cribbs revealed on Twitter Monday that he intends to lose 13 pounds before the start of training camp.
• Steve Slaton – RB, Houston Texans …Continue reading NFL News & Updates

Keep’em Drop’em Trade’em

Scenario: You’re in a 12 man 2 player keeper pool with strict trade rules. Your commissioner has put in a “one trade only” rule to avoid a summer headache of off-season trades. You have Chris Johnson and are not afraid of a hold-out and have made him a lock for one of your two keepers. You’re other options are: Tom Brady, Ryan Grant and Steven Jackson. All three players have had trade inquiries, all ranging around the same level of draft picks. Who would you Keep? Trade? Drop?