Last week’s draft provided a certain amount of excitement that only one year’s worth of anticipation can create. Fans wait an entire year to witness the selection of new talent for their teams, and when they select little known players or “make a reach” in the draft for a player that arguably shouldn’t go as high as they’re about to be picked, understandably some fans get quite cheesed. While others celebrate knowing their team’s front office has just outsmarted all 31 others in the league. Here is a quick look at who I believe were the 5 biggest reaches of the 2010 NFL entry draft in order of their selection.
DE, Tyson Alaulu, 1st round 10th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
To the surprise of most observers the first DE taken in the draft was not Derrick Morgan, not Jason Pierre Paul, and not even Brandon Graham. It was California’s Tyson Alaulu. In Alaulu the Jaguars have found themselves a powerful “tweener” rush as he displays the size and strength capable of …Continue reading The 5 Biggest Reaches of the Draft
Tuesday Trades And Signings Torry Holt Signed a one year 1.7 million dollar deal with the New England Patriots on Tuesday. Holt is a name we all know from his days in St Louis, but his fantasy value is no more exciting than the Patriots adding a late round receiver in the draft. While the Patriots are notorious for spreading the ball around, Moss & Welker are the starters and have seen a majority of the wealth in the last couple years. With Welker’s injury in question Holt may see a fair share of balls thrown his way early in the season, but at this point I wouldn’t dub him very high as a fantasy option at all.
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-acquired QB Byron Leftwich on Tuesday by trading a seventh-round draft pick (225th overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rumors are that Big Ben is likely to see around 3-4 game suspension, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Leftwich is the guy. Dennis Dixon was a star at Oregon, and if it wasn’t for an injury late into his senior season, the Ducks had a chance to play for a national title. Some even thought Dixon (if he had stayed healthy) would have had a shot at the Heisman. The Steelers will load up on QB’s this offseason, as they don’t expect to head into the start of the season unprepared.
LB Jason Taylor agreed to a contract with the New York Jets on Tuesday worth 13 million over 2 years. The Jets have made more aggressive moves this offseason than over the last 5 years combined. With a veteran vocal leader on defense the Jets are easy favorites for the best defense in the NFL.
The free agent market hits us like a tidal wave of possibilities. Fans are eagerly waiting and wondering how their team is going to make an upgrade quickly, while others want to know the affects it will have on fantasy football. The following is a quick list of players I think are flying under the radar who could have a huge year with a change of scenery.
#5 WRAntonio Bryant
Bryant had an amazing season in 2008, racking up 1,248 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, but was franchise tagged last year to play on a team he wanted out of. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were desperate to keep this unhappy wide receiver around for another year, but now they are letting him loose. Before playing two seasons in Tampa, Bryant bounced around the league, playing in Cleveland and in San Fransisco after the three seasons in Dallas in which he was drafted from.
At 28, this receiver is a lot more in tune with what he wants and where he thinks could be the best possible destination for his skills. Bryant still has a few more good years left in him, and a team looking to add an instant starter could land themselves a great wide receiver weapon.
4) DE Aaron Kampman
I am not Kampman’s doctor, but if the light is green, teams would be stupid not to gamble on this sack monster. Aaron suffered a knee injury earlier in the year, forcing him to miss time and play somewhat average football for the Packers. If you look at the three previous years in …Continue reading 5 Underrated Free Agents Worthy Of Respect
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels celebrates after beating New England in an overtime win. The Patriots were shut out in the second half of the game and blew a ten point lead (which you never see).
Patriots Always Find a Way to Win
It only takes one mistake in a game against the Patriots. One play and it’s over; you give Tom Brady an open window, and he’ll stuff an elephant through it. A couple years back, Tom Brady threw an INT in a playoff game against the Chargers on 4th down, and all that had to happen in order for the Chargers to win was for the defender to get to the ground or even
swat the ball down and not pick it off, but instead a fumble was caused and New England had life again. In the last decade of watching football I have never seen so many meltdowns against this team. For some reason NFL players forget how to play the game; simple plays become rocket science, like last nights kick return fumble. The Pats lined up for what looked like an onside kick, but ended up kicking it deep. One knee in the end zone and a couple first downs and the Bills could have flown home with a win. I found this clip on You Tube, watch for yourself.
To say this game will prove to be a difficult match up for the Bills is putting it mildly. The Patriots are highly motivated this season with the return of Tom Brady, who has proven on the practice field and in preseason that he is ready to go and has shaken off any rust that may have accumulated over his time off. The addition of Fred Taylor to an already plentiful platoon of running backs should keep the Bills defence’s hands full and vulnerable to the passing game. To make things tougher for the Bills, the Patriots have bolstered their much disciplined defence this year with the additions of Derrick Burgess, Shawn Springs, and Leigh Bodden. The Patriots defence may be older, but this is typically not a problem on opening week.
Trent Edwards and the Bills offence are not going to have it easy in this one. The suspension of Marshawn Lynch (weeks 1-3) is sure to hurt the team, even though Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes have proven to be adequate backups. Everyone in Buffalo has been itching to ask one question, is your popcorn ready? We all know that T.O. has his kernels popped, but are …Continue reading Monday Night Football Preview
With only days before the NFL season begins, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested Sunday. Merriman was accused of choking and restraining his girlfriend, reality TV star Tila Tequila. Police responded to a call around 4 a.m. to Merriman’s house in Poway, north of San Diego, after a woman called to say she was choked and thrown to the ground when she tried to leave. Tequila was taken to a hospital, her condition was not immediately available, while Merriman was released from jail this morning on bail.
Oakland trades away 1st round pick for Pats Seymour
The Patriots received a first-round draft choice in 2011 for the 29 year old Richard Seymour. Seymour is in the final year of the four-year extension he signed in 2006. He was due to make $3.685 million but the Raiders will no doubt try to lock him up long term. The Raiders are looking to get good fast, where the Patriots want to get younger. This season New England has had a bit of a youth movement, trading away Mike Vrabel and Seymour and losing Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi to retirement. Of all the stupid trades the Raiders have made over the years (Randy Moss for a 4th round pick) this deal for Seymour is a smart one and should add instant leadership to the Raiders defense.
The leagues dirtiest player (you heard me), safety Rodney Harrison announced his retirement on Wednesday after a 15-year career for the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers. This hard hitting safety won two Super Bowls with the Patriots but has missed the last 10 games after tearing a muscle in his right thigh. Harrison has been fined more than $200,000 in his career, including a one-game suspension in 2002 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Oakland’s Jerry Rice that cost him a game check of $111,764. Not to mention he was voted amongst fellow players as the dirtiest/cheapest player in the game. Let’s just say I’m not about to shed a tear for this announcement.
This series of articles focuses on how the new breed of talent from the NFL draft plans to affect overall fantasy football player value.
AFC: NORTH | EAST | SOUTH | WEST
NFC: NORTH | EAST | SOUTH | WEST
