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| Favre considering taking $20 million | Thursday 7/31, 11:30 PM CT |
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After all of the crowing by nearly every media member about how horrible, awful and disrespectful it was for the Packers to offer Brett Favre $20 million for doing nothing, he is now seriously considering taking the deal, according to ESPN.com. Favre texted ESPN reporter Ed Werder and said in part, "Mark Murphy is at least trying. We know what they want and where I stand. His solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end."
Our View: So apparently sitting around and collecting $20 million isn't the most awful proposal ever to come along. Someone should tell the talking heads at ESPN that. |
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| Thomas working hard | Thursday 7/31, 10:41 PM CT |
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Pierre Thomas is not taking anything for granted, and still believes he has to fight to make the roster despite his relative success last season, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Our View: Thomas was a nice story last year, and he had more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in Week 17, showing his potential. It would be a surprise if he didn't make the roster, as Deuce McAllister is still on the mend, Reggie Bush plays more like a receiver than a running back, and Aaron Stecker is 32 and coming off an injury. |
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| Simpson gets MRI | Thursday 7/31, 9:59 PM CT |
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Ko Simpson had an MRI to check on his left ankle, which he previously had had surgery on, according to BuffaloBills.com. "It was so we could put his mind at ease and our own about it," according to Bills head coach Dick Jauron.
Our View: Though Jauron said it was not official, he did not believe that the MRI showed anything wrong. Simpson is going to be an important part of the Bills defense this year, so it would behoove the team to sure he is healthy. |
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| Fasano in line to start | Thursday 7/31, 9:51 PM CT |
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Tight end Anthony Fasano is leading the battle to become the starter at that position as he has excelled during training camp, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Our View: David Martin caught 34 balls for the Dolphins at tight end last season, but Fasano is threatening to take his job. He could be a sleeper at the position, as he possesses solid athleticism and hands. |
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| Jets in serious talks with Favre | Thursday 7/31, 9:01 PM CT |
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The Brett Favre Situation is closer to ending. The New York Jets are in serious discussions with Favre's agent, Bus Cook, and his flight to Green Bay was cancelled, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Our View: Finally, the Story That Won't Go Away may finally, thankfully, be over. Favre in New York would be interesting, to say the least, but he is undoubtedly an upgrade over noodle-armed Chad Pennington and the unproven Kellen Clemens. |
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| Peek will miss preseason | Thursday 7/31, 8:48 PM CT |
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Linebacker Antwan Peek had surgery to remove cartilage from his right knee and will probably miss the remainder of the preseason, according to the AP.
Our View: Peek was a situational pass rusher who provided four sacks for the Browns. He could be healthy enough to play in the season opener on September 7. |
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| Bucs cancel practice | Thursday 7/31, 8:44 PM CT |
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Suffering from a rash of injuries, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided to scrap Friday's practice, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Our View: They will still hold one special teams practice later in the day, but that's all. The team has seen players like Garcia, Joey Galloway, Jeff Faine and others go down, and want to limit any more injuries. |
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| Jackson holdout hits week | Thursday 7/31, 8:16 PM CT |
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Lost amid the 24-hour updates of Brett Favre's whereabouts is the news that Rams running back Steven Jackson has now been holding out a week, and a deal does not seem imminent, according to the AP.
Our View: The dispute has not been a nasty back and forth, therefore the media holds little interest in reporting on the story. Jackson's absence is nothing for fantasy owners to worry about yet, but might be if he starts missing preseason games. |
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| Hackett making red zone plays | Thursday 7/31, 8:07 PM CT |
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Panthers wide receiver has been impressive as a threat in the red zone during training camp, according to CarolinaGrowl.com. "He does have a feel for it and he's a good possession receiver and he has a good feel for coverage," Carolina coach John Fox said.
Our View: It is difficult to get a good read on Hackett. Some in fantasy play love him, and some think he'll wind up being just another guy. But knowing he will be utilized in the red zone is certainly something to consider if you are thinking about drafting him. |
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| Shockley impressing at QB | Thursday 7/31, 8:02 PM CT |
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Atlanta quarterback D.J. Shockley has looked sharp in practice and did some work with the starting unit, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Shockley is in a competition with Matt Ryan, Chris Redman and Joey Harrington to be the starting QB. Drafting any one of these four will guarantee you place no better than eighth in your fantasy league. |
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| Drummond signed | Thursday 7/31, 7:56 PM CT |
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In an attempt to boost their special teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed kick returner Eddie Drummond, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Drummond was a Pro Bowl selection in 2004, and he could help in fantasy football if he can add a few scores to Pittsburgh's DEF/SPT unit. |
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| Bradshaw still has 30 days of jail left | Thursday 7/31, 7:52 PM CT |
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Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw still has to face 30 more days in prison, and received perks during his first stay, according to the Bristol Herald Courier. Bradshaw reportedly gets to serve his sentence in two parts - with the NFL season in between - and also got extra meals and recreational time while doling out autographs.
Our View: This is not surprising, of course. Athletes and others of some fame get special treatment on a regular basis. The Giants did not have knowledge of this however, and there is still an investigation pending by the NFL. |
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| Olivea admits painkiller addiction | Thursday 7/31, 7:41 PM CT |
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Shane Olivea admitted that he was addicted to painkillers last season, which is why he spent time at the Betty Ford Clinic, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Olivea said his family noticed changes in his behavior and subsequently intervened. He had a previous four-game suspension dropped and is starting over in New York. He is currently playing with the third-team, but he is just 26 and talented, so don't be surprised if he moves up the depth chart. |
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| Shanahanigans in the Mile High City? | Thursday 7/31, 7:00 PM CT |
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Rookie running back Ryan Torain enjoyed a few more repetitions with the first offense Thursday, according to the Rocky Mountain News. "Coming out to Denver to play running back is a huge opportunity," Torain said. "They have a good thing going out there with this offense. I just have to stay positive and focused. Have fun with it, and good things will come."
Our View: A fifth-round pick in the April draft, Torain was slowed by nagging injuries during his senior season last year, but he boasts the sort of north-south style Shanahan has always favored. It's imperative that you constantly track the Denver running back situation, because the depth chart tends to be fluid in nature. Stay tuned. |
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| Phillips running with first team | Thursday 7/31, 6:45 PM CT |
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Giants first-round pick, S Kenny Phillips, was practicing with the first-team defense today, moving Michael Johnson to the second team, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Our View: Phillips has been a hammer in practices so far, laying people out left and right. If he stays healthy, he very well could be the starter at safety in Week 1. |
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| Nalen will have MRI | Thursday 7/31, 6:34 PM CT |
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Broncos center Tom Nalen will undergo an MRI after he missed a third straight practice due to a sore knee, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: Nalen had surgery on his knee in June, and he has felt soreness in it for a few days, hence the need for a checkup. |
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| Ware sits out practice | Thursday 7/31, 6:31 PM CT |
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Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware did not practice on Thursday, one day after he left practice following a blow to the head, according to FoxSports.com.
Our View: The extent of the injury was not specified, but there is no reason for Ware to hurry back at this point in camp. |
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| Boller returns to practice | Thursday 7/31, 6:09 PM CT |
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Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller left the team's practice in the morning after suffering an apparent foot injury, but he was back on the field for the afternoon session, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Boller is one of three candidates fighting to become the Ravens starter at QB, so he needs to stay healthy and get as many reps as he possibly can. |
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| Haye will have MRI | Thursday 7/31, 5:12 PM CT |
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Though the Bucs do not believe the groin injury suffered by starting defensive tackle Jovan Haye is serious, he is going to have an MRI exam to be sure, according to PewterReport.com.
Our View: Haye was quietly one of the better defensive tackles in the league last season, racking up six sacks as an integral part of Tampa defense. |
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| Garcia has calf strain | Thursday 7/31, 5:09 PM CT |
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Updating a previous item, Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia suffered a strained calf, according to PewterReport.com. "We just have to get the information. [Garcia] might not miss anytime at all. Right now, I would say until we evaluate it further, I wouldn't say much at all," said head coach Jon Gruden.
Our View: The Bucs don't seem to be worried about it, with many teams now about a week into camp, this is about the time guys will go down with strains and pulls. |
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| Walker may get starting nod | Thursday 7/31, 5:02 PM CT |
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Jaguars wide receiver Mike Walker has turned heads in training camp this year because he simply does not drop any passes, and with other Jaguars receivers suffering from injuries, Walker could be in line to start, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: Walker was a third-round pick in 2007 but missed the season with an injured knee. He is certainly a sleeper in fantasy football and may be someone to take a flyer on late in drafts. |
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| Moss struggling to stand out | Thursday 7/31, 4:42 PM CT |
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Defensive end Jarvis Moss, the 17th overall pick of the Broncos a year ago, is having a difficult time on the practice field, and may wind up being just a situational pass rusher, according to Pro Football Weekly.
Our View: Moss only had one sack last season, and he has not been able to get to the quarterback in practice thus far. It's not looking good for Moss right now, but it's too early for the team to give up on him. |
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| Henry will suspended four games | Thursday 7/31, 3:50 PM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that Chris Henry has been suspended for the first four games of this season, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has given all clubs permission to sign him as free agent.
Our View: Henry could be picked up by a team willing to take a gamble. The Bengals are not interested but someone (we're guessing the Raiders) will take a chance on the speedy 6-foot-4 receiver. In the final eight games of last season, he hauled in 21 catches for 343 yards and two touchdowns. |
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| Wide receiver Williams is cut by Titans | Thursday 7/31, 3:41 PM CT |
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Former USC standout Mike Williams has been cut by the Tennessee Titans, according to the Tennessean. Despite losing weight before camp, he was still heavy and running slower than most.
Our View: Williams could still catch on somewhere, but don't expect any fantasy impact out of him. If the Titans are cutting a wideout this early, he can't be very good. |
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| Carr is struggling | Thursday 7/31, 3:36 PM CT |
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The AP reports that David Carr hurt his foot while working out a week before camp opened and missed some practice time. Since returning, he has thrown a couple of interceptions, fumbled two snaps and tossed a few questionable passes.
Our View: So far, not so good. It would almost be considered a surprise if the former No.1 overall pick stuck with the Giants. Carr has not fared well at all in the NFL. |
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| Sproles anticipates backup role | Thursday 7/31, 3:24 PM CT |
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Darren Sproles is longing to be LaDanian Tomlinson's primary backup this season, according to ESPN.com. He has looked good and he has a chance to be an impact player on third down. Sproles said, "I need to show people I can do it when we're on offense. Everyone thinks I am just a return guy. I can get it done on offense, too."
Our View: He is competing with rookie Jacob Hester for the role, but should have the edge due to his experience. Sure, he is tiny (5-foot-6, 181 pounds), but he is very explosive. However, this battle will likely brew throughout the preseason so we'll know a lot more the closer we get to Week 1. |
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| Quinn underperforming | Thursday 7/31, 3:12 PM CT |
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The Canton Repository reports that through seven days of training camp, Brady Quinn has been erratic. "He hasn't been as smooth as I think he wants to be," coach Romeo Crennel said.
Our View: The former first-round selection does not figure to pressure Derek Anderson for the starter's job, but the Browns were hoping for better from Quinn by now. |
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| Boldin to have an MRI | Thursday 7/31, 2:57 PM CT |
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Anquan Boldin will undergo an MRI according to the Arizona Republic. The MRI will be performed on Friday morning to make sure there is no significant damage to his strained hamstring. He's missed the past four practice days.
Our View: The MRI could reveal a bruised ego over his inability to get a contract of the same level as teammate Larry Fitzgerald. He has been disgruntled about his current contract throughout the summer. However, there has not been a major concern with his hammy reported until now. |
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| Clemons returns | Thursday 7/31, 2:52 PM CT |
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Chris Clemons has returned to practice two days after being hospitalized for dehydration, according to the AP. "He did a good job," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He looked like he was moving around well. I heard him talking a few times, which is always a good sign because he wasn’t talking a lot the other day."
Our View: Clemons is a situational pass-rusher who came up with eight sacks and 20 tackles last season. |
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| O'Sullivan could start in San Fran | Thursday 7/31, 2:33 PM CT |
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49ers coach Mike Nolan is saying J.T. O'Sullivan remains in the race for starting quarterback, according to the Sacramento Bee. O'Sullivan worked with the first team on Thursday while Alex Smith worked with the second team. Shaun Hill sat out to rest an arm that scarcely resembles that of an NFL quarterback's.
Our View: Dear God, the situation in San Francisco couldn't get any worse. We still believe they have to give this job to Alex Smith, but O'Sullivan did carry a 48.2 quarterback rating in four games with the Lions last season. That's just nine points behind incumbent Smith's rating. |
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| Jackson continues to run well while Grant sits | Thursday 7/31, 2:24 PM CT |
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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Brandon Jackson has made a strong case to be considered the Packers' starting tailback every time he touches the ball. Of course, Ryan Grant, who is holding out for more money after rushing a football in 14 NFL games, is still considered the starter. "As far as everything we thought (Jackson) was capable of being and doing, we’re starting to see more of that," running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "We saw that last year, but now you’re seeing it more on a consistent basis. The sky’s the limit for him. I’m not going to say it just to say it. I mean it."
Our View: In the final game of the regular season, Jackson ran for 113 yards on 20 carries. With only 188 career rushes, Grant is far from a polished running back. If you draft Grant early, be sure to handcuff him later with Jackson. |
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| Allen not likely to play against Chiefs on Thursday | Thursday 7/31, 2:10 PM CT |
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The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Jared Allen has a very good chance of being among the veterans who won’t be making the trip from Mankato to scrimmage the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.
Our View: That certainly deflates a lot of reports that were looking forward to the matchup of one of the league's best lineman against the team that traded him. Allen is completly healthy, but the Vikings probably don't want to risk him going overboard against his former teammates. |
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| From concrete pouring to first team reps | Thursday 7/31, 2:05 PM CT |
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Mere hours after working out for team officials and signing a one-year contract, tackle and former concrete layer Chad Slaughter attended his first Ravens offensive line meeting Wednesday evening, according to the Baltimore Sun. Little did he know that he would be playing with the starters the next morning. In his purple and black introduction, Slaughter was quickly inserted into the lineup when right tackle Oniel Cousins went down with an apparent leg injury. "I was actually home laying concrete when they called me up," said the Dallas native. "The wheels are spinning 100 miles an hour, but I’m just here to help any way I can...You know (laying concrete) is hard work too, it's just that you're not in competition with anyone. But, it's a pretty easy transition."
Our View: Slaughter, 6-foot-8, 340 pounds, has played in 43 career games with the Oakland Raiders. If he sticks as a starter, God bless him. We're rooting for him as this story sounds very Kurt Warner-ish. |
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| Favre turns down Tampa Bay and the Jets | Thursday 7/31, 1:56 PM CT |
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The Orlando Sentinel reports that both the Buccaneers and Jets received permission to speak with Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre , but the Packers icon has declined invitations from both teams. They point out that "it's become clearer and clearer the Favre, 38, wants to play for the Minnesota Vikings, where he has an element of familiarity with Coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell."
Our View: Why is the Orlando Sentinel weighing in on Favre? They are hundreds of miles from an NFL team but somehow are the first to point out that Favre has turned down the possibilities of playing in New York or Tampa Bay. This is getting ridiculous. |
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| Bell could land in Houston | Thursday 7/31, 1:47 PM CT |
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Yesterday we reported that the Houston Texans will bring in running back Mike Bell for a tryout on Friday but here is a report on Thursday from the Houston Chronicle saying that he has been signed.
Our View: Not sure if this is official or not, but Bell makes plenty of sense in Houston's offensive scheme. Chris Brown is injured, Ahman Green has not shown well and Steve Slaton is a rookie so Bell is not a complete longshot to make this club. He is still young and has produced in this style of offense before. |
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| Henderson could miss two more weeks | Thursday 7/31, 1:27 PM CT |
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The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Devery Henderson could miss another week or two of camp with a hamstring injury.
Our View: Henderson does not figure to have a whole lot of fantasy value yet he has 11 touchdowns in three seasons. He has yet to record more than 32 catches in any of those years but he's usually good for a big play or two. His absence will leave an opening for Robert Meachem to skip up the depth chart. |
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| Cadillac shows some progress | Thursday 7/31, 1:13 PM CT |
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The Tampa Tribune reports that Cadillac Williams was running with parachutes on Thursday. The drill is designed to help build strength and speed, and it’s a sign he is making good progress in his battle back from ACL surgery.
Our View: There is still no timetable for his return, but its doubtful he suits up for Week 1. At this point, the running back job in Tampa Bay is Earnest Graham's to lose. |
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| White continues to impress | Thursday 7/31, 1:04 PM CT |
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Roddy White is having a great camp according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He had been battling hamstring issues earlier this summer.
Our View: Contrary to popular belief, the DBs he has been lining up against are actually expected to play in the NFL this season. Roddy remains the great White hope in Atlanta and is one of maybe two things that Falcons' fans can look forward to this season. Chalk them up as this season's Dolphins. |
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| Moss is too skinny | Thursday 7/31, 12:59 PM CT |
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Jarvis Moss, who is currently the backup right defensive end in Denver, is about 15 pounds under his target weight, according to the Denver Post.
Our View: He could be having worse problems we assume. However, 245 is very lean for an NFL defensive end. Expect him to add weight at some point after two-a-days. |
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| Nakamura working with the first team | Thursday 7/31, 12:53 PM CT |
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The Carroll County Times reports that sixth-round selection Haruki Nakamura has been working with the Ravens' first team defense while Ed Reed sits out with a shoulder injury. He has intercepted roughly 10 passes during the past six days of training camp.
Our View: The Ravens do not want to have to go with a rookie in their secondary this year and are hoping Reed recovers ASAP. That said, no one's been a bigger surprise in the Ravens' camp than Nakamura who seems to be reading quarterback Kyle Boller's mind. |
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| Favre charters plane | Thursday 7/31, 12:48 PM CT |
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ESPNews reports Brett Favre has chartered a plane to Green Bay and is a threat to join training camp this weekend.
Our View: Oh bloody hell. We will be getting news on Favre on the hour from now until Week 3. Assuming he shows up at training camp on Friday (the team is off on Thursday) expect the media to hit Green Bay's training camp like Nagasaki. |
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| Kelly won't play Sunday | Thursday 7/31, 12:45 PM CT |
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The Washington Post reports that Malcolm Kelly (hamstring) will not participate in Sunday's game against the Colts. He should resume practicing next week.
Our View: Kelly says the hammy feels weak. Still, we expect him back and competing for playing time soon. Missing preseason games will hurt his climb on the depth chart. |
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| Giants' Smith sidelined | Thursday 7/31, 12:42 PM CT |
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The NY Daily News reports that Steve Smith has missed significant time with soreness in his groin.
Our View: The Giants are deep at wide receiver so the more time Smith misses the more likely are his chances of possibly losing his roster spot. He only appeared in four games last season, making eight catches. |
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| Johnson is sprinting | Thursday 7/31, 12:39 PM CT |
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The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Chad Johnson's contract will be reviewed after this season by the Bengals. Johnson rode a bicycle from the dorms to the locker room Wednesday morning, changed clothes and went onto the main stadium field to work out under the eye of a strength and conditioning coach. Johnson sprinted and ran lightly. He is recovering from late offseason ankle surgery.
Our View: Johnson still appears to be ready to start in Week 1 and we feel he has something to prove. He was good last season - 93-1440-8 - but he can be even better. |
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| Brooks moved to strong-side linebacker | Thursday 7/31, 12:21 PM CT |
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Ahmad Brooks is happy at his new outside linebacker position, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I think they're putting me in the right position, outside linebacker. It's going to be good, rushing the passer on pretty much every down. It's a good fit."
Our View: Brooks lasted just a game and a half at middle linebacker last season before a groin injury took him out for the remainder of the year. He could approach double-digit sacks with a healthy campaign. |
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| Cousins injures knee | Thursday 7/31, 12:16 PM CT |
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Rookie and starting right tackle Oniel Cousins suffered a right knee injury at Thursday's Ravens practice, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: No word yet how serious the injury is. He was not carted off and kept it on ice the rest of the practice. However, Ravens offensive linemen have getting dinged up left and right. We'll keep an eye on the situation, but come Week 1, if they are still missing regulars, the offense is in big trouble. |
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| Carter will workout for the Dolphins | Thursday 7/31, 11:13 AM CT |
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Tony Sparano confirmed that Quincy Carter, 30, is in Davie, Florida to showcase his talents for the Dolphins’ coaches and management, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Our View: This is just a workout, much like the Titans offered Byron Leftwich. However, whereas the Titans have reliable quarterbacks in place, the Dolphins have struggled at the position throughout training camp. Alas, Quincy Carter is certainly not the answer. Is he? |
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| Ginn shows vast improvement | Thursday 7/31, 11:04 AM CT |
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The Palm Beach Post reports that receivers coach Karl Dorrell said since the first voluntary practice of the spring, Ginn has grown tremendously, running better routes, showing more quickness during his routes and making cuts that gets defensive backs on their heels. Says head coach Tony Sparano, "Teddy is starting to play really fast and he's putting pressure on the defense, and I really like that. You can see it. It's jumping off the film how fast he's playing." Miami's quarterbacks are finding him more often in practice and that, Sparano said, is a sign Ginn is inching closer to fulfilling his promise. "All of a sudden, the ball's finding him," Sparano said. "That tells me the game's slowing down a little for Ted."
Our View: Ginn had among the most dismal first halfs of 2007 as any wideout, but looked respectable towards the end of the season which included a seven catch, 53 yard, one touchdown performance against the Bengals. The potential acquisition of Glenn makes brings his playing time into question, but Ginn is a deep sleeper if not a potential waiver wire pickup in 2008. |
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| Keller wowing Jets | Thursday 7/31, 10:56 AM CT |
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Rookie tight end Dustin Keller has been very impressive in the Jets camp, according to the NY Post. "The kid is showing some sparks," eight-year veteran tight end Bubba Franks said of the 30th overall pick. "It's pretty impressive to see him out there running his routes. He's fast. It's gonna be very interesting to see him play during the season." Keller constantly found ways to get open, but his most eye-catching play came when he was blanketed along the sideline by safety Cameron Worrell. Despite being interfered with, he hauled in a 30-yard pass.
Our View: The Jets tight end situation continues to get murkier. Veteran Bubba Franks was brough in to solidify the position, but then the Jets used their first-round selection on Keller. Furthermore, they still have Chris Baker who is currently whining about a contract extension as the rookie is climbing the depth chart. |
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| Liwienski signed in Jacksonville | Thursday 7/31, 10:35 AM CT |
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The Florida Times-Union reports that the Jaguars have brought in Chris Liwienski to add depth to their offensive line. Undrafted rookie free agent Paul Smith was waived.
Our View: The veteran played with the Miami Dolphins last season and enters his 10th NFL season. |
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| Rookie looking to start in Miami | Thursday 7/31, 10:31 AM CT |
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Rookie offensive lineman Donald Thomas is going on his third day as the starting right guard, and he's beginning to excel in the role, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "He moved people and played physical," coach Tony Sparano said of Thomas.
Our View: Ok, so now we have a former walk-on at Connecticut who was selected in the sixth round starting on a line that will protect Josh McCown. I would like to give Sparano the benefit of the doubt due to his tremendous work with the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line. However, things appear to be getting uglier in Miami. |
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| Haye suffers groin injury | Thursday 7/31, 10:19 AM CT |
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The Tampa Tribune reports that Jovan Haye left practice on Thursday morning with an apparent groin injury.
Our View: No word yet on how serious the injury is. Haye tallied 68 tackles last to go with six sacks and four fumble recoveries. |
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| Garcia goes down | Thursday 7/31, 10:15 AM CT |
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The Tampa Tribune reports that Jeff Garcia left a non-contact drill suddenly with an apparent leg injury. The injury appeared to be in his calf and, although limping noticeably, walked into the locker room under his own power after being carted off the field.
Our View: The severity of the injury is unknown but Luke McCown, Chris Simms or Brian Griese will likely battle for work with the first team until he can return. However, a serious injury to Garcia could cause Tampa to amp up its bid for Brett Favre. |
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| Forte putting his best foot forward | Thursday 7/31, 10:10 AM CT |
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The Chicago Bears' website reports that rookie Matt Forte has looked like a seasoned veteran in camp. Forte’s smooth transition is due in part to his intelligence and dedication, which has enabled him to gain a firm grasp of the offense. "This is a job," Forte said. "You’ve got to put time in the books, study film, come out here and do even more than 100 percent every day. It’s all in your mindset and what you want to be. I wanted to come out here and compete and go into the season starting and all that stuff." Forte continues to work with the second offense in practice, but it appears to be only a matter of time before he supplants veteran Adrian Peterson as the Bears’ No. 1 running back. The second-round pick from Tulane has excelled as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, consistently displaying power, speed and excellent hands. In a live goal-line drill in a recent practice, he blasted through the line for a touchdown and then dashed around right end for another score on the very next play.
Our View: Kevin Jones has yet to suit up and is still likely a couple weeks away. Forte is clearly taking advantage of his absence and appears to be on the cusp of surpassing Adrian Peterson as the Bears' No. 1 back. We'll follow the competition closely. |
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| Daily Favre note | Thursday 7/31, 9:47 AM CT |
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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that the Green Bay Packers have actually discussed internally the possibility of trading Brett Favre to either the Bears or Vikings "if backed into a corner by the National Football League and public sentiment."
Our View: It's hard to envision this happening. On Monday, general manager Ted Thompson said flatly that the Packers would not trade Favre within the division. Clearly they really, really like Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings would possibly become NFC favorites with such a move. |
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| McNabb fields praise | Thursday 7/31, 9:42 AM CT |
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PhillyBurbs.com reports that Marty Mornhinweg feels that Donovan McNabb "became a better quarterback because of his lack of mobility (last season). He learned many things during the course of his playing time, in game situations. And now he's got it all back, it appears. He's 100 percent healthy; he's running and gunning again. I'm sure he's pleased with his health." McNabb has certainly looked deserving of that praise so far in camp. He's in shape, his throwing arm has shown no lingering effects of the tendinitis that caused him to be shut down in the spring and, most importantly, he seems to have regained much of the mobility he didn't have last year.
Our View: As we all know, the biggest fear with McNabb is his health. He has missed a combined 15 games in the past three seasons, but he appears to be 100% going into 2008. Still, he has thrown more than 3400 yards in just one season out of nine and tossed over 20 touchdowns just once in the past six campaigns. A lot of his value comes from not turning the ball over much. A healthy McNabb is a top-10 fantasy quarterback. |
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| Landry to sit on Sunday | Thursday 7/31, 9:32 AM CT |
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The Washington Post reports that safety LaRon Landry will sit out Sunday's preseason game against the Colts because of a strained hamstring. "It's a hamstring so it's a time thing," Landry said. "I'm feeling better and everything, but I don't know how I'd be going full speed."
Our View: He does expect to be a go at some point next week. He came up with 95 tackles as a rookie in 2007 and looks to make a bigger impact in his second season. |
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| Chillar probably will not start | Thursday 7/31, 9:29 AM CT |
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The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and Winston Moss, who coaches linebackers, have decided not to use a rotation in order to evaluate Brady Poppinga and his main competition, free-agent pickup Brandon Chillar. Poppinga has been working with the first team.
Our View: The team will likely use Chillar in pass coverage, an area Poppinga struggled with last season. Whichever player wins the starting job, the Packers believe their depth is far better at the linebacker position than it was last year, when there wasn’t an experienced NFL linebacker behind the three starters. Chillar gives the Packers versatility because he played all three linebacker positions during his four years in St. Louis. |
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| Starting quarterback will not be named soon | Thursday 7/31, 9:23 AM CT |
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Falcons coach Mike Smith said Wednesday there is no timetable to name a starting quarterback, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "The time frame can move and change based on how the players perform," Smith said after training camp practice. "It may take a couple of preseason games prior to us making that decision. It could go even longer based on the competition. If some clarity comes to us as a coaching staff, we have to pull the trigger and make a decision."
Our View: Chris Redman, Joey Harrington, D.J. Shockley and first-round draft pick Matt Ryan are in competition. Don't count on the decsion being made until a week or so before the regular season.
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| Scott suffers sprained MCL | Thursday 7/31, 9:19 AM CT |
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The Charlotte Observer reports that Ian Scott's injury, that forced him to be carted off of the field on Wednesday, appears to be a sprain to his medial collateral ligament. He will miss a couple of weeks, but should be ready to return to practice by mid-August.
Our View: Scott was signed as a free agent to compete in the defensive tackle rotation and figured to be a primary backup. He should be 100% by Week 1. |
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| Peterson displays his talent | Thursday 7/31, 9:06 AM CT |
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The Star Tribune reports that Adrian Peterson has put on a show in the first week of training camp and reported in better shape than anyone on the team.
Our View: Not a big surprise here, but this bit of news re-enforces a lot of pundits that call All-Day the sound number two overall selection (behind LaDanian Tomlinson) in fantasy drafts. The biggest concern with Peterson will be his health, so be sure to handcuff him with his backup Chester Taylor, who had seven touchdowns last season, in later rounds of the draft. |
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| Hightower gains recognition | Thursday 7/31, 8:59 AM CT |
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The Arizona Republic reports that rookie Tim Hightower continues to look very good in camp. He is seeing most of his reps with the third and fourth teams, but that could change in time.
Our View: Currently, Edgerrin James, J.J. Arrington, and Marcel Shipp hold the spots ahead of him on the depth chart, but expect the 6-foot-1, 225 pound back out of Richmond to climb the chart throughout the preseason. Although very quick, Arrington has made his share of mistakes on and off the field (arrested for disorderly conduct in June) throughout the summer. |
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| Johnson to backup Romo | Thursday 7/31, 8:38 AM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that Cowboys' coach Wade Phillips is leaning toward keeping Brad Johnson as the primary backup to Tony Romo. He loves the fact that Johnson has led a team to a Super Bowl and thinks people make too much of his lack of arm strength.
Our View: We don't like his arm strength. Just kidding, Wade. Johnson doesn't figure to see too many snaps this season, as Romo has not missed a game in three straight seasons. A strong offensive line will once agains protect Dallas' golden boy. |
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| Lloyd performing well in Chicago | Thursday 7/31, 8:27 AM CT |
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Brandon Lloyd was impressive at OTA's in the spring, and so far in training camp he has gotten as many practice reps with the first team as any receiver on the roster. He has been a frequent target of both Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, according to the Chicago Daily Herald. Coach Ron Turner says, "He's working extremely hard, playing well, making some plays for us. Like anybody in camp has some good plays and bad plays. That's training camp, but his attitude's great, studying, working hard, doing a great job. . . he's going to help us."
Our View: Needless to say, he is having a successful reunion with his former Illini coach, Ron Turner, in Chicago. Turner recruited him and coached him in college. While there, Lloyd was the second-leading receiver in Illini history with 2,583 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons. |
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| 49ers passing attack struggles | Thursday 7/31, 8:19 AM CT |
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The San Francisco Chronicle's Kevin Lynch reports that in his 21 years of covering the 49ers, he's never seen the passing game look this bad. Balls hit the ground way too often, and there are too many missed and dropped passes. The running game, by the way, looks terrific, particularly when Frank Gore runs the ball.
Our View: This could be an adjustment to Martz's offense, but that feels like a stretch. It's still passing and catching and the Niners just have not shown much ability in those two departments at this point in camp. |
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| Little recovers his quickness | Thursday 7/31, 8:10 AM CT |
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Coming off of his worst season since 2000, Leonard Little is ready to rebound according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. During the first week of training camp, Little's surgically repaired toe hasn't flinched. Through nine practices over six days — with most of the work done on unforgiving artificial turf — Little says he has yet to need treatment on the toe. "I think Leonard looks just like he did two years ago," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. "I'm excited about it, because Leonard two years ago had (13) sacks, and we really never had a presence on the other side. So now you add Chris (Long) to it and James (Hall) and get Victor (Adeyanju) back, and I think Leonard's going to have a great year."
Our View: Little only played in seven games in 2007 due to the toe injury. His surgery appears to have been a success and, assuming he is back to 100%, he should tally double-digit sack totals once again. "It's just a toe," he said. "It stopped me from being the explosive player that I normally was. But I know how my body reacts to stuff like this. I knew if I got it fixed, my body would react in a positive way." |
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| Wilson is back to his old self | Thursday 7/31, 8:02 AM CT |
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The AP reports that Adrian Wilson believes he is the best safety in the NFL. Wilson says his heel feels good, and he is looking like his old self in the first week of workouts. "I'm more motivated," said Wilson, who made the Pro Bowl in 2006. "It's just for me to go out and prove that. Last year, I took a step back, and now I've got to kind of gain two steps to get back to where I was. I'm here to show everybody that I'm back."
Our View: Last year was a forgettable one for Wilson, who had only two interceptions and no sacks in nine games. For 2008, it is fair to anticipate him closing in on 100 tackles once again, to go along with a handful of sacks and a few interceptions. |
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| Hill not competing well | Thursday 7/31, 7:56 AM CT |
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Shaun Hill has been a disappointment in 49ers camp so far and does not look to compete with Alex Smith for the starting job according to ESPN.com. Coaches replaced him with J.T. O'Sullivan at one point because Hill's arm was wearing down, coach Mike Nolan said.
Our View: It looks like the job will go to Alex Smith, primarily out of default. |
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| Peppers set to dominate again | Thursday 7/31, 7:50 AM CT |
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Pro Football Weekly reports that Julius Peppers is lighting it up in the early stages of training camp and he has impressed observers and teammates alike as he attempts to bounce back following a woeful ’07 campaign. Word is Peppers has added even more muscle to his imposing frame and has been pushing OLT Jordan Gross back with his bull rush, which is something he struggled to do in the past. Gross knows Peppers well, having practiced against him for the past five-plus years, and he has been spreading the word that his teammate is better than ever before.
Our View: Gross should be taken at his word, which has to be encouraging for the Panthers, who are relying on Peppers’ turnaround to spark the defense and return it to its playoff form from a few seasons ago. We like Peppers, 28, to return to his double-digit sack totals he has posted in four seasons from 2002-2006. Last season was an aberration as he only came up with 2.5 sacks. |
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| Alama-Francis shows improvement | Thursday 7/31, 7:38 AM CT |
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Michigan Live reports that Ikaika Alama-Francis has shown significant improvement and will see a lot of playing time at left end.
Our View: Alama-Francis was an absolute beast for the University of Hawaii and likely went through a big adjustment last season while on the mainland. A consistent performance at camp could land him a starting spot at one of the Lions' weakest positions. |
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