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| Trial, testimony begins for Williams DUI charge | Wednesday 7/9, 7:41 PM CT |
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Jaguars defensive back Brian Williams entered court to answer charges of driving under the influence today, the first day of the court case that included testimony from the arresting officer, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: JSO officer Ernest Bridges said he pulled over Williams' Bentley on the morning of September 2, 2006 when the car was swerved into his lane on Bay Street downtown. He arrested Williams after he failed a field sobriety test. Bridges then testified Williams became loud and rude and verbally abusive calling the officer trailer trash, and stated that Williams had offered a sexual encounter with a female companion in the car with Williams if the officer would let him go. The defense will begin to call witnesses on Thursday. The 29-year-old football player first pleaded no contest and apologized to the community, but was allowed to withdraw his plea, saying he didn't understand the process. |
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| Phillips make or break season? | Wednesday 7/9, 6:00 PM CT |
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Jean-Jacques Taylor, who writes the Inside the Dallas Cowboys report for the Dallas News, suggests that this will be Wade Phillips' last season in Dallas. Taylor notes that while it isn't a make-or-break season for Phillips, he believes the head coach will either take Tony Romo and a loaded offense and win the Super Bowl, or the Cowboys will fall short of their goal and Jerry Jones will promote Jason Garrett to the top position.
Our View: If it's possible, Taylor says that Jones is ready to commit long-term to the Cowboys' offensive coordinator before he's hired away. |
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| Murphy says Favre will stay retired | Wednesday 7/9, 5:24 PM CT |
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According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, team president and CEO Mark Murphy believes that Brett Favre will remain retired, rather than come back for an 18th season in the NFL.
Our View: Every major media outlet in the free world, including ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported last week that Favre had communicated his potential desire to return to coach Mike McCarthy, but with the head coach on vacation everything that pertains to the return of Favre remains in limbo. |
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| Davis and Lawton to compete | Wednesday 7/9, 5:19 PM CT |
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According to the Philadelphia Eagles team website, Luke Lawton and rookie Jed Collins will compete with Jason Davis for the starting fullback role. Davis, who signed as a rookie free agent out of Illinois, spent the entire 2006 season on injured reserve after a preseason knee injury.
Our View: Davis spent the 2007 season on the practice squad and he will have to prove that he is a better fit than Lawton who appeared in 11 games for the Colts last year. |
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| Super Bowl QB Dilfer to retire | Wednesday 7/9, 5:14 PM CT |
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While taking part in a celebrity golf tournament, Trent Dilfer told the AP that he is retiring from football. The Super Bowl winning quarterback said a recent Achilles injury helped make up his mind. He will make a formal announcement in the coming days.
Our View: Dilfer played 13 NFL seasons, his final campaign with the 49ers last year. |
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| Jackson fully healthy | Wednesday 7/9, 2:23 PM CT |
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Steven Jackson stated that he is 100 percent healthy again heading into training camp, according to the Portland Tribune. He will be in the final year of his five-year contract, and said, "A contract year is big for anyone, but especially for the last year of a rookie deal. I’m looking to have a great year and lengthen my career with St. Louis. Hopefully, I’ll retire as a Ram."
Our View: He battled various injuries in 2007, but still managed to rack up 1,002 rushing yards and another 271 yards receiving. He looks to have a strong bounce back campaign in 2008 as he reclaims his crown as a fantasy king, especially with the motivation of a new contract on the horizon for him. |
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| Jordan visited the Lions | Wednesday 7/9, 2:16 PM CT |
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LaMont Jordan recently visited the Lions, according to ESPN. It was a pre-trade visit arranged by the Raiders and Lions. Oakland has been trying to deal Jordan in the past month. But the market was slow and the visit to Detroit was the only real movement in a possible trade.
Our View: If Oakland cannot find a trading partner, Jordan could go to training camp with the team. Other interested teams included New Orleans, Chicago, and New England. |
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| Denver signs Barrett | Wednesday 7/9, 2:11 PM CT |
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Seventh-round pick Josh Barrett (Arizona State) has signed a four-year deal with Denver worth $1.76 million, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: Barrett is big (6-2 225) and physical and has a solid rep as a playmaker, but needs work in attacking the line of scrimmage in order to challenge for a solid role with the team. |
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| McNabb feels fully recovered | Wednesday 7/9, 12:53 PM CT |
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Donovan McNabb indicated that he is fully recovered from the shoulder tendinitis that forced him to miss time during the Eagles' June minicamp, according to ProFootballTalk.com.
Our View: McNabb was expected to need 2-3 weeks of recovery time, but only took three days. McNabb is also determined to prove he is fully healthy. |
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| Rodgers not distracted by Favre | Wednesday 7/9, 12:48 PM CT |
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Aaron Rodgers is not distracted by the news swirling that Brett Favre wants to return to the NFL, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. He has not talked to Favre and said, "I’ve been up in the mountains hanging out with my family, so I’ve been pretty immune to any media reports out there. So, that’s basically what I’m doing."
Our View: In other words, Rodgers is preparing himself to be the Packers' starting quarterback this season and isn't changing anything in that regard. |
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| Burress unsure regarding camp | Wednesday 7/9, 12:23 PM CT |
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Plaxico Burress previously said he promises to participate in training camp regardless if he inks a new deal or not, but now he stated he is unsure if he will report to camp on time, according to ESPN.
Our View: He has received positive feedback in negotiations for a new deal, and still expects to get a raise within the next few weeks. |
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| Titans pleased with rookie Johnson | Wednesday 7/9, 11:51 AM CT |
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The Titans have been very pleased with rookie rusher Chris Johnson through the off-season, according to the Tennessean. He is displaying a burst through traffic, making sharp cuts, and consistently catching the ball. He has also picked up OC Mike Heimerdinger's playbook rather quickly, and has already added some formations that will feature Johnson in the slot and flanked out wide. Heimerdinger said, "I haven't had a back quite like him to work with. He can do a lot of things from a lot of spots. It gives you some options, some matchups."
Our View: Johnson has played some wide receiver at East Carolina, and runs solid routes as well as having good hands. He has been called a faster version of Brian Westbrook, and he clocked in at 4.24 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. He will add an explosive element to the Titans' offense this season, and should prove to be a strong complement to starter LenDale White. Johnson is worth a look in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, namely in PPR leagues. |
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| Packers comment on Favre | Wednesday 7/9, 10:12 AM CT |
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Packers' president and CEO Mark Murphy commented on Brett Favre, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Murphy said, "It's a very delicate situation, because he has such a special place in Packers history. No player leaves the game gracefully." Chairman Bob Harlan added, "What I remember about him is he was ready to retire, and that's how I feel today. I think down deep, that's exactly how he feels." James Jones also remarked, "I don't think he's coming back. Aaron Rodgers is the guy, OK? It was great playing with Brett Favre. He got out at a great time, he had a great career, and it's Aaron Rodgers' time now."
Our View: Favre is yet to make an official statement regarding his plans to return to the NFL, but it is clear the team had already planned to move on without him. |
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| Freeney expected for Week 1 | Wednesday 7/9, 10:04 AM CT |
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Dwight Freeney, who is coming off foot surgery, is expected to be ready for action in Week 1, according to ESPN. Coach Tony Dungy said, "We've got, fortunately, one of the best foot doctors in the country, Dr. Dave Porter, who's working on this. He tells us Dwight should make a complete recovery. But it's always kind of scary with a guy like that whose speed is his big asset. He needs to come back full strength, but everything right now indicates that he's going to do that."
Our View: He probably won't be ready for the start of training camp, but will be worked back in slowly, and is expected to be on the field in Week 1 at home against the Bears. |
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| Harrison expected for season opener? | Wednesday 7/9, 9:57 AM CT |
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Coach Tony Dungy expects Marvin Harrison to be ready for the season opener against the Bears, according to ESPN. Dungy said he is doing well and added, "Right before we closed out our OTAs he was there and he was running. For the first time in a long time I saw a smile on his face because he was running pain free. So we feel good about where he's going to be physically opening up this year. Everything we've heard and communicated from the Philadelphia police department, he's not a suspect in what's going on there. So again, we feel pretty good about where he's going to be."
Our View: Harrison remains an injury risk, but his fantasy stock went back up a bit following this news. |
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| Denver signs Larsen | Wednesday 7/9, 8:47 AM CT |
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Sixth-round linebacker Spencer Larsen (Arizona) has signed with the Broncos, according to the Denver Post. He received a $97,500 signing bonus.
Our View: Larsen is a high energy player, and a strong sideline-to-sideline tackler. He will work as a backup as a rookie, but could start down the road in his career. |
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| Powell signs with Denver | Wednesday 7/9, 8:42 AM CT |
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Fifth-round defensive tackle Carlton Powell (Virginia Tech) has signed with the Broncos, according to the Denver Post. He received a signing bonus slightly less than $180,000.
Our View: Powell is very athletic with the size and strength to be disruptive on the inside, but needs to work on his technique and play with better leverage. He will serve as a quality backup as a rookie. |
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| Broncos ink Torain | Wednesday 7/9, 8:37 AM CT |
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The Broncos have inked fifth round running back Ryan Torain (Arizona State), according to the Denver Post. He received a signing bonus for a little under $200,000.
Our View: Torain is well-built at 6-1 213 pounds, and would have been taken off the board higher than the fifth-round if not for a foot injury. He will fit in well in Denver as a strong one-cut running back, and is worth keeping tabs on, going by Denver's long track record of success at the position. |
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