NFL 2008 Season

[Leg]

Oh, and it looks like the World Champions are close to signing journeyman safety Sammy Knight. Old and slow, yes. But he's also cheap, and there's a reason that he has stuck around the league for so long. He'll compete for a starting job, but I see him as an acceptable "floor" at the position-- one that will hopefully be exceeded by the likes of James Butler, Michael Johnson, and/or whoever they bring in at the postiion in the draft.

 

I like that, and I think it's similar to what the Giants did with Madison and McQuarters. Bring in some well-traveled vets, that can still play but are past their prime (and thus not demanding of ridiculous money) and then get the young guys to try to beat them out of a job, rather than just decide the position is filled. It seems to make the young guys and the old guys alike play better. And thats good news for my New York Football Giants.

 

I'd like to see them either get this linebacker from Penn State, or move up to try to get one of the stud, can't miss Tackles that this draft seems to be yielding a ton of. But I'm not really going to question whatever Reese does in the draft... actually, whatever off season moves are made or not made, I'll trust them. When they replaced Short and Arrington with Mitchell, dropped Penalty-gout I was worried, but clearly, we are in good hands.

 

I think any football fan, especially any Giants fan, should read the book 'The GM' which chronicles Accorsi's last year as the team's GM. Of course, now they have to write a follow up.

 

GO BIG BLUE!

[Dragon Lord Jones]

packer fans worry about our QB Aaron Rodgers being injury prone ...

 

 

[insert+joke?] GREEN BAY..'S AARON RODGERS....

 

SO.......everyone feels our back up quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injury prone, but on the contrary, I think he is very healthy and can lead our team to success! I think in fact he is pumped and ready for this position...........

 

Story goes...........

When the news broke early this week, the phone rang, while he was sleeping and it was Mike on the phone Aaron was still sleeping, but obviously woke up quickly, and paid attention to the conversation....

 

After they hung up, he said to himself "ITS ABOUT TIME, I CAN PROOVE MYSELF TO EVERYONE THAT I AM NOT INJURY PRONE!!! So he decided to get his morning off on the right foot, HE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUTTA BED, AND TO HIS SURPISE.......... TRIPPED OVER HIS FEET & FELL ON THE FLOOR............. SHOCKINGLY, HE BROKE HIS ANKLE & TORE HIS KNEE TENDANT!!!!!!!!!!

 

WE ALL WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY!!!!!! [/joke?]

[Laozi]

Anyone who played in the same college system as David Carr would have to be awesome, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

right?

[Kelverin]

NFL network has started to re-air last years games every Sunday. Yesterday was the first day showcasing week one games

 

Matt Walsh is close to an agreement to turn over information to the NFL.

 

Giants reward Coughlin

 

Signings/cuts/retirements

 

Denver Broncos Marlon McCree (S) signed/unrestricted free agent. See ya twice a year

Marquand Manuel (S) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Detroit Lions Brian Kelly (CB) signed/unrestricted free agent

Chuck Darby (DT) signed/unrestricted free agent

Kalvin Pearson (S) signed/offer sheet

 

Seattle Seahawks 3/8 Julius Jones (RB) signed/unrestricted free agent. There you go Gifted

 

St. Louis Rams Anthony Becht (TE) signed/unrestricted free agent.

Brandon Gorin (T) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ben Troupe (TE) signed/unrestricted free agent

Sammy Davis (CB) re-signed/unrestricted free agent.

 

Buffalo Bills Steve Christie (K) retired. ?

Jason Whittle (G) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

Steve Christie (K) signed/unrestricted free agent (one-day contract).

 

Carolina Panthers Landon Johnson (LB) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Atlanta Falcons Rashad Moore (DT) signed/unrestricted free agent.

Simon Fraser (DE) signed/unrestricted free agent.

Kindal Moorehead (DT) signed/unrestricted free agent.

 

Tennessee Titans Kelly Herndon (CB) cut.

Signed (DE) Jevon Kearse

 

Washington Redskins Rock Cartwright (RB) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Chicago Bears Brandon Lloyd (WR) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Pittsburgh Steelers Andre Frazier (LB) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

 

New Orleans Saints Dan Morgan (LB) signed.

 

Miami Dolphins Michael Lehan (CB) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Kansas City Chiefs Boomer Grigsby (RB) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

New York Giants Sean Landeta (P) retired.

 

New York Jets Tony Richardson (RB) signed/unrestricted free agent.

Signed (RB) Jessie Chatman - (I can not find confirmation on this yet)

 

Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Williams (T) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

Charles Sharon (WR) cut.

 

Arizona Cardinals Dirk Johnson (P) signed/unrestricted free agent.

 

St. Louis Rams Adam Goldberg (T) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

[Gfted1]

Seattle Seahawks 3/8 Julius Jones (RB) signed/unrestricted free agent. There you go Gifted

 

I saw that but thank you. A mistake by the Cowboys imo as the two headed attach was working well but I understand you cant "have a steak on every plate" money wise.

[kumquatq3]

It was working well, but Jones was having less and less to due with that. Did Warrick Dunn Sign anywhere yet? Would be as good a fit as any, I would think.

[Kelverin]

Did Warrick Dunn Sign anywhere yet?

Tampa Bay

[Enoch]

It was working well, but Jones was having less and less to due with that.

Agreed. As a Giants fan, I was always relieved to see that they were playing Jones instead of the far more frightening Marion Barber. He'll end up backing up Maurice Morris in Seattle.

 

 

The other RB acquisition that I liked much better than this one was the Jets signing Jesse Chatman. It was only a 1-year deal, so he probably came pretty cheaply, and he has shown that he can be a solid starter. They needed a strong #2, since their change-of-pace guy, Leon Washington, isn't really built to take 20 carries every week.

[kumquatq3]

I too am a Jesse Chatman fan, he can do so damage catching the ball out of the backfield

[Dragon Lord Jones]

I don't know why the Packers aren't using free agency to strengthen the team ... and now with the extra 12 mil from Favre's retirement it's not like they don't have the fonds.

 

What are they thinking? You can't tell me they don't need help ... and the draft isn't going to give 'em all they need.

[Gfted1]

I wonder if Dallas would give up both its #1 picks (one from Cleveland) to pick up McFadden. I kinda doubt it though as they just paid Barber well. I just dont think he will be nearly as effective carrying the full load.

[kumquatq3]

I wonder if Dallas would give up both its #1 picks (one from Cleveland) to pick up McFadden. I kinda doubt it though as they just paid Barber well. I just dont think he will be nearly as effective carrying the full load.

 

The word is it would take both picks and Barber

 

 

 

 

As for the Pack, what "needs" do they really need to address? The offensive line, WRs, RB, and (one assumes) QB are covered. They are pretty solid on defense as well, maybe a safety? A pass rush specialist?

[Kelverin]

If you look at the teams in the conference championship games, they have not really done anything in free agency, New England is the only exception, but they also lost a lot of players as well. The pack is the youngest team in football and do not really need all that much. Free agency is fun to talk about and discuss, but you can't really buy a Super Bowl ring, in the salary cap era.

 

Keeping your core players and building through the draft with an occasional free agent signing, for depth or to fill a need is the way to go.

 

 

 

St. Louis Rams sign QB Trent Green. This guy should just retire.

 

Tennessee Titans Jake Scott (G) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Detroit Lions Tatum Bell (RB) re-signed/unrestricted free agent (.

George Foster (T) re-signed/unrestricted free agent (

 

Cleveland Browns Lennie Friedman (G) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

Rex Hadnot © signed/unrestricted free agent (two-year contract).

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Antonio Bryant (WR) signed.

Warrick Dunn (RB) signed (two-year contract).

 

Buffalo Bills Courtney Anderson (TE) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Atlanta Falcons Tim Anderson (DT) re-signed/unrestricted free agent.

Alex Stepanovich © signed/unrestricted free agent.

 

New Orleans Saints Eric Johnson (TE) re-signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Denver Broncos Doug Nienhuis (T) cut.

 

Cincinnati Bengals Darryl Blackstock (LB) signed/unrestricted free agent

 

Houston Texans Glenn Earl (S) re-signed/unrestricted free agent.

Mark Bruener (TE) re-signed/unrestricted free agent.

Edited March 11, 2008 by Kelverin

[Enoch]

I wonder if Dallas would give up both its #1 picks (one from Cleveland) to pick up McFadden. I kinda doubt it though as they just paid Barber well. I just dont think he will be nearly as effective carrying the full load.

The word is it would take both picks and Barber

Depends on how long McFadden stays on the board. I don't really see a team in the top-8 with a big need at running back. And, even then, it'd be a very dumb thing for Dallas to do. RBs have high injury rates, don't have a particularly long shelf-life (very few backs are productive for more than 4-5 peak seasons), and the difference between a star RB and an average one is less significant than it is at other positions. Investing so much draft and salary resources at the RB position might help them for a season or two, but, long-term, it would make the team worse.

 

As for the Pack, what "needs" do they really need to address? The offensive line, WRs, RB, and (one assumes) QB are covered. They are pretty solid on defense as well, maybe a safety? A pass rush specialist?

Sure, they were a FG away from being the NFC Champions, but that doesn't mean that they didn't have some weaknesses. They could use some help on the interior of the OL, and depth in the secondary is another immediate need (whoever their nickel corner was this past season, he wasn't good). Another rotational DT to replace Corey Williams would be nice, too. More long-term, their starting CBs and OTs are getting rather long in the tooth, so it would make sense to get some young developmental players at those positions (most likely in the draft).

[kumquatq3]

Depends on how long McFadden stays on the board. I don't really see a team in the top-8 with a big need at running back. And, even then, it'd be a very dumb thing for Dallas to do. RBs have high injury rates, don't have a particularly long shelf-life (very few backs are productive for more than 4-5 peak seasons), and the difference between a star RB and an average one is less significant than it is at other positions. Investing so much draft and salary resources at the RB position might help them for a season or two, but, long-term, it would make the team worse.

 

First thing that pops into my mind is: Tell that to the teams that passed on Adrian Peterson. Not that McFadden is the...third coming but...

 

Teams that will/should take him in the top 8:

 

4 Oakland

6 N.Y. Jets

 

Teams that should at least consider it:

 

5 Kansas City - Larry can't stay healthy, but maybe a one two punch will help you out

7 New England - They prolly need CBs more, but might be too good to pass up.

 

 

As for the pack, there are always needs, but my point is that their immediate needs can be addressed in the draft still or even free agency. You can draft on your OL in the first round and find a nickel back in the second, if they so choose. Meaning, they're a team setup to win now, if Rogers can play. They just need to iron out the edges a bit.

[Enoch]

True, Oakland's RBs are no great shakes, but a blue-chip OL would help their running game far more than a top-flight RB would. (If Adrian Peterson had gone to the Raiders last season, nobody would be considering him as one of the top backs in the league.) The Jets already have Thomas Jones, Leon Washington (whose style is quite similar to McFadden's) and Jesse Chatman-- no room there.

 

I see your point about KC, but, despite LJ's injury risk, he's paid so much that giving a top-5-pick salary to another RB would throw their salary cap calculus even further out of whack. McFadden would do well in NE, but Belichick and Pioli have shown that the only positions they like to give big money to are QB and Defensive Line (with OLB considered as a quasi-DL, given their 3-4 base). Plus, they used a (low) 1st round pick on Maroney 2 years ago, and it doesn't make much sense to double-up on that investment, especially given the pass-first nature of their offense lately.

 

 

By the way, I do agree that GB is well-situated to sit out the early free agency period. Some good decisions on draft day(s) would go a long way toward filling most of their needs. Then it all depends on Rogers and the gods of injury luck...

[kumquatq3]

The Jets already have Thomas Jones, Leon Washington (whose style is quite similar to McFadden's) and Jesse Chatman-- no room there.

 

Look, I like Jesse Chatman, but he's not a game changing back. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington were non-existent last year (if you take away Washingtons returns). I'm not so sure they won't try and move Thomas Jones or release him dependent on the cap situation. McFadden is potentially a franchise player. The Jets need someone that can bring some excitement to the team, especially with the Giants winning the Superbowl.

 

As for the Pats, having Mcfadden would help there pass first offense . IIRC McFadden was know for playing WR and even quarterback (not to mention a stronger run game could have helped the Pats against the Giants). As for not paying players, I said they would be smart to consider it, I can account for their personal tastes.

[Enoch]

Jones and Washington were non-existant last season because the OL stunk, Pennington has no range (thus, the safeties had no reason to not play close to the line of scrimmage), and the defense kept letting opponents score enough to put them in pass-first situations. They've addressed the OL by overpaying a pair of old (but very good) Guards, and Pennington might well lose his starting job to Clemens. With the #6 pick, they can get a potential franchise player on the defensive side of the ball, where it will do them much more good. Yeah, DEs or LBs don't bring as much "excitement," but the difference between a top rookie at one of those positions and what they have now is greater than the difference between McFadden and their RBs.

[kumquatq3]

A good RB goes a long way to helping out a mediocre QB.

 

However, while I agree that one should build up ones lines to make a successful team, this comes down to whether or not you think that DE is going to be close to the potential impact player McFadden (maybe) is (I'm doubting that they would go LB in this draft). You already signed Calvin Pace (DE/LB), do you take Vernon Gholston or Derrick Harvey instead of McFadden? Cuz your not getting Chris Long. Both of those guys are reaches at that pick, and sometimes you need to take the best available player rather than fill a need that early in the draft.

 

Again, lets not under-value the impact of putting butts in the seats.

[kumquatq3]

I just want to play fantasy football again

[Enoch]

I just want to play fantasy football again

I hear that. Although I still haven't gotten paid for my 2nd place finish in my brother-in-law's league...

[kumquatq3]

I just want to play fantasy football again

I hear that. Although I still haven't gotten paid for my 2nd place finish in my brother-in-law's league...

 

I played last year (and won!) after taking the year before off. Thank you Brian Westbrook and Wes Welker in my PPR league!

[Gfted1]

I romped last year in my fantasy league to an 11-3 record....then lost in the first round of the playoffs. I really lucked out with several picks im my draft by aquiring Adrian Peterson (RB), Ronnie Brown (RB)(nobody knew about them), TO, Moss and the Dallas offence (which benefitted my K, Folk and TE Whitten).

Edited March 12, 2008 by Gfted1

[Enoch]

I romped last year in my fantasy league to an 11-3 record....then lost in the first round of the playoffs. I really lucked out with several picks im my draft by aquiring Adrian Peterson (RB), Ronnie Brown (RB)(nobody knew about them), TO, Moss and the Dallas offence (which benefitted my K, Folk and TE Whitten).

Heh... I was the opposite-- the team that just snuck into the playoffs and proceeded to upset several 2 more highly-seeded teams. My team was decent, but not dominant: Hasselbeck, Addai, J. Lewis (drafted specifically because of his cupcake playoff schedule), B. Jacobs, B. Marshall (a brilliant waiver pickup around week 3), K. Winslow, Gostkowski, GB and Tenn Defenses. My problem is that the league starts 3 WRs, and apart from Marshall, I had crap: L. Coles, L. Evans, S. Moss, and (late-season pickup) A. Gonzalez. I ran up against our league's juggernaut team (Brady, Tomlinson, Owens, Houshmandzadeh, Jennings, et al.) and lost a squeaker in the finals.

[Enoch]

Ha! The Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that the NY Giants will shortly be signing... David Carr!

 

So, the 2002 #1 overall pick will be backing up the 2004 #1 overall pick! The move makes sense in at least one way-- the Giants' QB coach is Chris Palmer, who was Carr's Offensive Coordinator for a several years in Houston.

Edited March 12, 2008 by Enoch