Guest Chappy Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/benga...t-ota-notes.asp Thurman The MLB? According to Bengals LB Ahmad Brooks, he has been moved to strong-side linebacker. This could be a shift that suggests the Bengals are counting on LB Odell Thurman to regain his spot at middle linebacker after two years of suspension. Thurman wasn't even at the OTAs due to a death in the family. This speaks volumes that the Bengals are already shifting Brooks to the outside, despite Thurman's absence. It is entirely feasible to see LB Keith Rivers at WLB, Thurman at MLB and Brooks at SLB on opening day. It appears that the MLB job may now be Thurman's to lose. | May 13, 2008 12:37 PM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2008/05/garcia-dismayed.html Garcia Furious with Bucs QB Jeff Garcia hinted that he might not continue to attend voluntary offseason practices. He is entering the final year of a two-year contract and will make a base salary of $2-million, which he considers a bargain for a quarterback coming off a Pro Bowl season. "This is a physical game and you want players to go out and give everything they have and lay their bodies on the line, lay their hearts on the line," Garcia said, in an apparent message to team management. "Well, we want you to lay something on the line." First off, when we define Pro Bowl season for a QB we don't think 2440 yards and 13 TD's (Garcia's 2007 numbers). We think more like 3500 yards and 30 TD's, so Garcia shouldn't really use that as a main point in his contract talks. He did help Tampa win games last year, but he's old and doesn't put up big numbers. Garcia is a game managing QB, but if you have him as one of your top two fantasy QB's you'll probably struggle to win your league. | May 13, 2008 11:36 AM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...bside11.article Orton Fighting to Start Bears QB Kyle Orton said if given a fair chance at the starting quarterback position, he's confident the job will be his. "It's the most excited I've been going into a season," Orton said. "I've put in a lot of work in the offseason and I'm just really excited where my game is at. I'm throwing the football really well." The Bears go back and forth with QB Rex Grossman, but he's never put the job away; so there is always a QB competition. Neither has put up great numbers, and with the Bears winning because of defense, ball control, and special teams no matter who wins the QB battle they will not help your fantasy team. | May 13, 2008 11:16 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?STORY_ID=4317 Super Mario Impressive Texans' DE Mario Williams showed up to minicamp and impressed everyone with his continued improvement. “It’s a way different Mario than I lined up against four years ago,” said rookie first round pick LT Duane Brown, who faced Williams in ACC play as a sophomore at Virginia Tech. “He’s a beast out there. Like I said, it’s good going against him. It can really help you out on Sundays.” Head Coach Gary Kubiak came away gushing praise about Williams and the prospects of his upcoming season. “That light went on for Mario somewhere last year about Week 7 or 8,” Kubiak said. “Everybody saw it, and if you watch practice right now you see him at another level. I think the sky’s the limit for him." "Football is very important to Mario, and he’s working his way toward a big, big year.” Expect Williams to continue progressing and to even build on his stellar 2007 numbers of 59 total tackles and 14.0 sacks. | May 13, 2008 8:58 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.carrollcounty.com/articles/2008...ports051308.txt Rice 3rd Down Back? The Ravens believe they may have found their backup running back and third down back in newly drafted second round pick RB Ray Rice. “We like the way he runs,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “He has a very low center of gravity, so he doesn’t take a lot of hits. He mainly delivers a blow instead of taking a blow.” Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times states that "He [Rice] also caught punts this weekend, and is expected to provide a third-down presence as a receiver out of the backfield during the regular season." It is believed that Ravens OC Cam Cameron would like to recreate the offensive scheme and success in Baltimore that he enjoyed in the backfield in San Diego with RB LaDainian Tomlinson and RB Michael Turner . Rice would be a big part of that in spelling starting RB Willis McGahee and also providing a receiving option out of the backfield on third down. | May 13, 2008 7:27 AM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../805130355/1100 Harrison Denies Involvement Again Colts WR Marvin Harrison has again reiterated that he was not involved in an April 29th shooting in Philadelphia.....this time to Colts HC Tony Dungy and GM Bill Polian. "At this point I'm keeping my fingers crossed," Colts owner Jim Irsay said. "We've done everything we could do in our diligence to try to discern what happened. He said he was not involved in that shooting and . . . the authorities have said there is nothing imminent." Still no further word on any developments in this situation. Harrison is said to be cooperating fully with the Philadelphia police department, while the Colts' security department has been in contact with NFL security in Philadelphia as well as with Philadelphia law enforcement. We will continue to update further as more details become available. | May 13, 2008 7:14 AM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports...=7&cxcat=21 Horn Requests Trade Falcons veteran wide receiver Joe Horn said Monday that he would like to be traded instead of remaining with the team as a "just-in-case guy." "I want to win a Super Bowl and I want to win a Super Bowl here in Atlanta, but I don't think I can help this team win a Super Bowl sitting on the bench, waiting for third down," Horn said. Horn had 27 catches for 243 yards with one TD last season. He is obviously the odd man out in Atlanta and will probably find that the case on most teams. He is past his prime and has no fantasy value anymore. | May 13, 2008 12:09 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some other news- JONES IN BOSTON? It's still early but there are rumors that the New England Patriots have shown some interest in free-agent RB Kevin Jones. Because he catches the ball so well, New England would love to insert him into their offensive sets on third downs. What does this mean for Kevin Faulk? Nothing, yet. A deal has not been reached between the two sides but if something were to take place in the next few weeks, Jones would be the best third-down back in all of football. ------------------------------------------------------------- RAVENS VOW TO "OPEN THINGS UP" Although they don't have a proven QB and their top three WRs combined to score five TDs last season, the Ravens (and new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron) have been rumored to be changing the offensive philosophy from a power running, I-formation offense to a three-wide base offense. This type of offense means Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason are going to have to be able to beat defenders' jams off the line of scrimmage and Demetrius Williams is going to need to be tougher over the middle. It also means Kyle Boller isn't going to be the starting QB in 2008. The best man for this job appears to be second-year QB Troy Smith as he played in a similar offense in college. Joe Flacco has the strongest arm of the three but hasn't shown the touch to run this sort of offense, especially since this is his first year. What's more, TE Todd Heap will see lots of one-on-one coverage from opposing LBs and I'm quite certain he can beat most of them. RB Willis McGahee might not have a lead fullback to open spaces this year, but with three wides the defenses will already be opened up enough for him to really excel. It's early, but things appear to be looking up in Baltimore. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SJAX WILL DOMINATE THIS YEAR, IF HEALTHY (just wanted to add to my other post) You don't have to look far to find RBs who, upon entering the final year of a contract, dominate statistically looking for that big payday. This can be said for Rams RB Steven Jackson who is entering the final year of his rookie contract and expects to be rewarded by the team for what he's done on and off the field. "I think I've been a good person on and off the field," Jackson said Saturday at minicamp, "so I expect to be rewarded." Jackson also says that St. Louis "is definitely where I want to be," and, "I'm pretty sure that we'll get something done." Jackson is coming off a season in which he spent a few weeks on the sidelines with an injury and the rest of it running from defenders who weren't blocked by the patchwork offensive line. Should Jackson stay healthy for the entire season, there's no doubt he'll post numbers similar to what we saw in 2006. With a new offensive coordinator (Al Saunders) and a healthy offense around him, Jackson will likely finish behind Torry Holt in receptions. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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