EMQB's Fantasy Sleepers - AFC West

It's now on to the AFC West and their fantasy sleepers.  Most of the names here are familiar and could harvest big dividends for the fantasy owner willing to take a risk on them.  Eddie Royal is looking to return to fantasy stardom.  Malcolm Floyd and Michael Bush are looking to finally have their breakout seasons. Tony Moeki is a rookie tight end on a Chiefs' team starved for talent at the position.  Fortunately if these guys don't come through, you can cut them and get somebody who can play.  EMQB is always putting the "ex" in expert.

Denver Broncos - Eddie Royal, WR:  With Brandon Marshall traded to Miami, Royal seems too obvious to be a sleeper. The selection of Demaryius Thomas in the first round and Royal's disappointing 2009 season (37 receptions, 345 yards, no touchdowns) doesn't guarantee that Royal will be the number one receiver in Denver.  If Royal is put in the slot with Thomas and Jabar Gaffney playing the outside receiver positions, Royal could post numbers much closer to his 2008 season (91 catches, 980 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns).  He also has great ability as a kick returner.  Look for Royal to possibly bounce back big.  He will be available somewhere around the 9th round or possibly later, but his upside at WR3 is worth the risk.


San Diego Chargers - Malcolm Floyd, WR:  Floyd's number of receptions rose from 27 in '08 to 36 in '09.  That doesn't seem like a lot, but in the Chargers' down field passing game, Floyd could develop into a scoring threat.  As the pass attempts rise for the Chargers, the number of targets for Floyd will rise with them.  Floyd is a late round pick at best and would probably be available as a priority free agent.

Kansas City Chiefs - Tony Moeki, TE:  Rookies can be the best sleepers, and Moeki is a true sleeper.  He has impressed in mini camps (in his shorts and t-shirts) and should add a threat in the middle of the field that the Chiefs have been lacking since the Tony Gonzalez trade.  Todd Haley doesn't call the tight end's number often (Sean Ryan lead the Chiefs in tight end receptions with 14 last season), and Moeki may be the fifth best receiving option on the team.  None the less, Moeki could surprise.  Though he is not worth a draft pick at this point, he is definitely worth a look in dynasty leagues and as player to keep tabs on for bye week replacements.

Oakland Raiders - Michael Bush, RB:  Bush isn't a huge sleeper, but when you consider that Darren McFadden was a high draft pick and still has great expectations attached to his immense physical talent, Bush maybe available after McFadden.  With the distinct possibility of McFadden getting injured, Bush seems like a great option in the Raiders' run first offense.  Reports are he is already running with the first team offense in mini camp and that bodes well for a possible 1,000 yard rushing season. View Bush as a RB3 with huge upside and look to select him around the fifth round.






 


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EMQB's Fantasy Sleepers - AFC South

The Colts, Jags, Texans, and Titans are all deep offensive teams with defined roles. Finding sleepers will be no easy chore. But talent is always buried on even the most talented rosters, and all these players need is opportunity.

Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzales, WR: Nothing will get you forgotten as quickly as being injured. Gonzales was injured in week 1 of last season and never returned to the field during the Colts' Super Bowl run. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie emerged, and fantasy owners will probably have Gonzales fighting for the 3rd wide receiver.  However, if he can fully recover, he could reclaim that second receiver spot. The training camp battle should be watched closely as the second receiver spot on the Colts can be easily worth around 1,000 yards and 6-8 touchdowns. If Gonzales wins this spot, he could be had for a mid round pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Jarrett Dillard, WR: The 5'10", 187 pound Dillard was a star at Rice and can win a wide open competition for the Jags' second receiver spot. The Jags love to run the football, so the expectations of the player who wins that spot should be tempered. Dillard's competition (Troy Williamson and Mike Thomas) have their limitations, and Dillard is ultra-competitive, tough, and catches the football in traffic. I like him to win this job, and if he does, because of the run oriented offense he is in, he could be available in the late rounds or as a high priority free agent.

Houston Texans - Jacoby Jones, WR: Jones is an explosive return man and has shown the same potential as a receiver. He had 5 touchdown receptions in his 22 catches last season. Jones has the speed and ability to get behind NFL defenses. The resigning of Kevin Walters will bring down Jones value, but Walters could be moved to the slot, and Jones to the outside position opposite Andre Johnson. If this is the case, Jones would be an excellent late round value because of the Texans downfield passing offense.

Tennessee Titans - Jared Cook, TE: Cook is an athletic tight end (like Jermichael Finley), and the Titans would love to feature him much more in their offense this season. Bo Scaife is ahead of him on the depth chart but isn't much better of a blocker, and he definitely does not have the playmaking ability that Cook does. Though Scaife might start out the season getting more snaps, there is a strong chance that Cook could work his way up to a starter and a major red zone threat. Cook is not worth a draft pick at this point, but should be one of the first tight ends consider as an injury or fantasy bust replacement.

EMQB will next look at the wild AFC West and see what Oakland, Kansas City, Denver, and San Diego have hidden in the cupboard.






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EMQB's Fantasy Sleepers - AFC North

Today's fantasy sleepers come to us via the AFC North, which was known for its hard-nosed, run- first mentality, but is slowly evolving into a more passer friendly group. With the great defenses in the division, these sleepers better keep their eyes open and their head on a swivel.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Wallace, WR: Considering the trade of Santonio Holmes, Wallace might not be a guy many owners are sleeping on. With bigger "name" wide receivers on the roster, like Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle-El, Wallace could be overlooked and be an awesome value pick. Wallace is a speedster who is adept at making plays down the field. He averaged 75 receiving yards a game the last three games of last season and added 3 touchdowns in those contests. If he could keep that up over a full season, that would be more than 1200 receiving yards. He could be available for sixth or seventh round draft pick and could far out produce guys drafted ahead of him.

Cleveland Browns - James Davis, RB: A rookie who had an awesome pre-season last year but was sidelined after week three for the entire remainder of the 2009 season. With the drafting of Montario Hardesty and the strong finish of Jerome Harrison last season, Davis will be an afterthought in many draft magazines and websites. He fought off C.J. Spiller for a starting job for three years and has as much physical talent as Hardesty or Harrison. Don't sleep on this guy. If he wins the starting job in Cleveland, he is a solid no. 3 running back, and if he doesn't, he will be a top name to watch in case of injury.

Baltimore Ravens - Donte' Stallworth, WR: After being suspended for the entire 2009, Stallworth gets a new opportunity with the Ravens. Existing starters Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are still on the roster, and Baltimore made a big trade for Anquan Boldin, so Stallworth is facing a tough battle to get reps. He could surpass Clayton, who has been a disappointment and is coming off a knee injury. He will never be a number one but has nice run after the catch ability, and this Ravens wide receiver corps is lacking blazing speed. Stallworth is not drafting at this point, but if he moves up the depth chart in the pre-season, he could fill in nicely as a bye week replacement.

Cincinnati Bengals - Matt Jones, WR: Another player looking to revive his career, Jones has elite physical talent. He is on a team that is filled with wide receivers (Chad Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant, Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, and Jordan Shipley) so he could have trouble making the roster. Jones has never had a huge season (65 catches, 761 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns are his career highs) so my optimism is guarded. But if he wins the fourth receiver job and an injury occurs, Jones suddenly becomes a nice player to stash on your roster. Jones is the biggest long shot I have profiled so far, but a player with his ability should always be on your radar.

Tomorrow we will explore the hidden gems on the Texans, Colts, Jags, and Titans. With all the offensive firepower, it's going to be hard to find guys who aren't high on everybody's cheat sheet. The Every Morning Quarterback is up to the challenge. Prepare to dominate your league in your knowledge of third string wide receivers and developmental quarterbacks.






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Cushing's Bad Joke

Eddie Murphy once made a joke, in the movie "Raw", about a man who was caught red handed coming out of another women's house. The punchline of the joke is the confrontation of the man by his wife and his response of, "It wasn't me". Laughter insued.


Two - time NFL Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing held a press conference in Houston today. He stated that he never ingested the drug HCG - which is a female fertility drug that masks hormone levels after taking steroids. 


According to NFL.com, he made the statement, “It’s something I’m very concerned about. The fact that how it’s there, and what’s going to determine it from happening again. That’s going to be something that we’re going to medically investigate.”


The song and dance sounds a lot much like the argument that many baseball players used in their sport's steroid scandal.  However, the more information that came out, the less probable it was they were telling the truth. At least, Cushing didn't try the "I'm not here to talk about the past" defense.


If Cushing thinks that this press conference improved his image or answered any questions - he is sadly mistaken. His reputation is damaged beyond repair. If he is dominant, then it is because of PEDs. If he is no longer dominant, it is because of the lack of performance enhancers. Trust is something that is earned, and Cushing has made his athletic ability questionable forever.


If there is a positive from this situation, it is that the NFL has egg on its face. The AP re-voting, and Cushing's less than stellar reasons for having a fertility drug in his system have shined a light on the NFL Steroid Policy. The lack of consequences for players that cheat their way to fortune and fame has been overlooked and excepted for far too long. Perhaps this will inspire some real change.


Cushing can look us all in the face and say, "It wasn't me". That doesn't mean we have to laugh at his bad joke.






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EMQB's Fantasy Sleepers - AFC East

I love fantasy football. I really like winning (I have some sort of allergic reaction to losing). Here is my sleeper player for each NFL team. I'll be going division by division and giving my reasons for watching these players closely through training camp and the regular season. Not that my reasons will be any good, but since you're here......

Miami Dolphins - Davone Bess, WR - The acquisition of Brandon Marshall means one thing: the Dolphins are looking to throw the ball more. Bess is a great slot receiver and could be a monster in points per reception leagues. He will have a legitimate shot at 100 receptions and a chance to score more touchdowns than the 2 total he has scored in his two NFL seasons. If there is an injury in the Dolphins' receiving corps, his value will be much higher.  Bess is a safe pick and should be a great steal in the late rounds.

New York Jets - David Clowney, WR - The trades for Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards have bumped the pre-season star Clowney down the depth chart and out of fantasy owners' minds. While he does has an uphill fight, Clowney could be the one to capitalize on an injury or inconsistent play by the receivers ahead of him. Clowney has blazing speed but hasn't had the chance to show it in the regular season because of his own injury issues. Clowney is not draftable at this point but should be on fantasy owners' radars if the right situation arises.

New England Patriots - Brandon Tate, WR - Tate is not a polished route runner and has had knee problems that have prevented him from being an impact receiver at the college and NFL level. He has first round physical talent, and the Patriots are in bad need of an outside threat opposite Randy Moss. Tate is my favorite to win that job if he can stay healthy. He also is a huge threat in the return game and could add a touchdown or two in that department. You will need to pay close attention to the depth chart as the pre-season comes to a close, but if your draft is early in the preseason, take the risk on a guy like Tate with one of your last picks. He has big time potential in that offense.

Buffalo Bills - Shawn Nelson, TE - Nelson has the most potential out of this group of players to become a starter this season. The problem is Buffalo struggled mightly to move the ball last season and may do so again this season. Mike Mayock was big on Nelson's receiving capabilities coming into the League last season. Buffalo's other tight end options (Derek Schouman, Jonathan Stupar, and Joe Klopfenstein) are not threats in the passing game. C.J. Spiller may help to open up the passing game, and the Bills are in serious need of playmakers, so I expect Nelson to win the starting tight end job. Nelson should be a late round pick or priority bye week replacement in leagues that require a tight end.


We will be going over the AFC North tomorrow and trying to find the gems in a division shifting from run oriented offenses to a more wide open game. 






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Tainted Love - Cushing Wins ROY Again

Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing has done what no other player has done before. He has been recognized as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year twice by the Associated Press. After Cushing failed a test for steroids last September and was suspended by the NFL on Monday, the AP ordered a re-vote for the 2009 award that Cushing had won.

The giving of an already tainted award to another player would have done nothing to solve the real issue. The voters understood that stripping Cushing of the award wouldn't actually have made the new recipient the winner, it would have made him "the guy who got the award because Cushing cheated."  There was no satisfactory outcome to the issue. The award will stay Cushing's and so will the controversy surrounding it.

The use of anabolic steroids, HGH, and masking agents is happening in the NFL more than we care to know. Is it fair to strip a guy who got caught using and possibly give it to player who used and didn't get caught? The AP voters are simply sending us a message - Brian Cushing is not the only person in the NFL using these substances. The limitless contradictions are a can of worms best left unopened. Performance enhancing drugs have robbed fans of enough faith.





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Don't Ever Sleep On the Bengals

Is former Raiders' quarterback Jamarcus Russell going to be a Cincinnati Bengal? Chad Ocho Cinco has proclaimed that he "would see Jamarcus Russell in mini camp" via Twitter. Take it with a grain of salt but OCNN broke the signing of Adam Jones and the visit of Terrell Owens. This has the Twitter world all a flutter.

Even though I pretty much guaranteed that Russell would never play in the NFL again, I obviously forgot that the Cincinnati Bengals are still an NFL franchise. They are always looking to snatch up physically talented players at dollar store prices, and Russell fits that description. He also fits a need as the Bengals need a solid backup. 

The question is: can Russell develop into a dependable back up? How will he fit into a locker room that already has guys who have made questionable decisions in the past? For the money he'll get, getting a look at Jamarcus will be cost effective. Fortunately for Russell, Cincy is a long ways away from Vegas.





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It's Complicated

Talented Rams' safety O.J. Atogwe is faced with a not -so-difficult decision. He can either take the restricted free agent offer from the Rams for roughly about $4.5 million less than he made last season, or he could wait until the first of June and force the Rams to give him a one million dollar pay increase from his pay last season (sounds like a tough decision). The Rams, if they don't want to pay him, could let him become an unrestricted free agent.

Is it just me or did all of that information sound really complicated? That's because Atogwe is a victim of the NFL's "restricted" free agent system. It was designed to allow teams to keep young players from entering unrestricted free agency for one more season (cheaply of course) or give their former teams compensation in the form of draft picks if they decided to sign somewhere else.

The fact is the NFL needs to improve this situation. No team has traded for a restricted player in the three previous off-seasons, and the owners were the only party reaping the reward. I'm hoping that in the new CBA, between the owners and players, makes it easier on both parties.

Until then, the talented Atogwe is faced with sitting around and watching Boomerang all day like the rest of us. Okay, maybe that's just me.




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Craig's List Trade - NFL Style

The Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams have completed a trade by swapping linebacker Bobby Carpenter for Alex Barron.  That in itself is not big news.

The bigger story is the fact that these guys couldn't have been traded for anybody but themselves. Having the conversation: "I'll trade you Bobby Carpenter for Alex Barron" is like saying "I'll trade you my broken leaf blower for your Atari 5200 that has no controllers." Just remember that these guys are "as is".

Barron is an awesome athlete that struggles with in-game adjustments and sometimes plays down to his competition. Carpenter has 3 starts in four seasons and has basically been a special teams player. He has acquired the nickname "Barbie" from his teammates because of his lack of physical play and because of his long flowing blonde mane. This was documented in HBO's 2008's Hard Knocks and is an interesting watch if you have the time.

The fact of the matter is that both players will be free agents after this season and both seem to fit a need for their new teams. Tackles as athletic as Barron are hard to find, and Carpenter is much better suited for a 4-3 defense. 

Having the free agency eligibility moved from four years to six years in the League has allowed for much more trading this off season. Though this trade doesn't look like a big deal, the fact that so many trades have transpired is keeping things interesting. These trades have replaced traditional free agency in a sense, and teams can get a draft pick in return for a player they would have released or let go in free agency in a standard capped year.  It's definitely keeping me busy.






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A Policy That Needs Enhancement

Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing is being stripped of the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors he was awarded last season because he failed a test for steroids last September. He is also losing any credibility he has as an NFL player.

The issue is the double-edged sword that is known as the NFL steroid policy. Per the collective bargaining agreement, the results of the testing are confidential. Though hardcore performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids are the main focus of this policy, the NFL has a list of banned over the counter substances that fall under the policy also. It is equivalent to grouping together the crime of selling fifty pounds of meth with the crime of public drunkenness and giving them the same legal name and punishment.

The players who use steroids and get caught can always claim that it was simply an over the counter supplement. The players who are careless enough to buy the wrong bottle from GNC are automatically given the "steroid abuser" label.

  

I happen to be one of the people that automatically assumes it was steroids. The NFL is a competitive league and some players are looking to gain an edge. And if I can find out if an over the counter supplement is allowed under the policy, then any NFL player with an Internet connection and a telephone can too. Here is an excerpt from the policy at nflplayers.com:

"Players are responsible for what is in their bodies, and a positive test result will not be excused because a player was unaware that he was taking a Prohibited Substance. If you have questions or concerns about a particular dietary supplement or other product, you should contact Dr. John Lombardo at (614) 442-0106. As the Independent Administrator, Dr. Lombardo is authorized to respond to players’ questions regarding specific supplements. You may also contact the NFL/NFLPA Supplement Hotline at (866) NFL-SUPP or NFLSupp@DrugFreeSport.com. Having your Club's medical or training staff approve a supplement will not excuse a positive test result."

If players want to shed the "cheater" reputation that comes with a steroid policy violation, then the NFL and the Players' Association need to create separate policies or allow the players to consent to release the test results. If the player truly did drink a sports drink laced with a banned stimulant and releases the test results, then we will know. If the player doesn't consent to release the test, then we will also know. The players and the fans deserve better. 

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What Happens in Vegas Doesn't Always Stay in Vegas

 Courtest of TMZ.com

After an exciting mini camp performance following the Jason Campbell trade, Jamarcus Russell was promptly rewarded by being released last Thursday.


I'm not afraid to say it now: Jamarcus Russell will never play in the NFL again. The stories of his lack of passion for the game, such as him missing a team meeting so he could hit the casinos in Vegas, have left him as an outcast. 


Football is a game, but playing in the NFL is a job. Being a knuckle head and having off the field issues may get a player suspended, but if he can still play and also takes practice, meetings, and film study seriously, he might be given another chance. However, not caring about football is the ultimate sin in the National Football League. The only reason Jamarcus wasn't cut after his first season was because of where he was drafted. He may have been the first overall pick, but the effort he put into making himself better wasn't even worthy of Mr. Irrelevant. 


Was it TMZ or the local Las Vegas paper that turned him in for skipping out on his meeting so he could lose Al Davis' money? No, it was one of his own teammates.


Jamarcus has 39 million reasons not to care about my opinion. His greatest contribution to the NFL is still yet to come. As a direct result of his lack of performance, future top rookie salaries will be much cheaper when the next collective bargaining agreement is reached between the players and owners. Jamarcus didn't turn out to be a great player. Apparently, the Raiders had to get over it.





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Gigantic Mess

There isn't a whole lot I could add to the recent story of former New York Giant and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor's arrest. There is not one detail that is positive.


It saddens me that with one bad decision Taylor has wiped away any perception that his life had made a change for the positive. He was honored as one of the greatest all time draft picks at last month's NFL draft and was appearing in those annoying Nutrisystem commercials. It seemed that Taylor had turned a corner. 

Now Taylor faces the possibility of being a registered sex offender. Unfortunately, he will now be remembered more for his struggles with drug addition and legal problems than for being one of the greatest players in the history of football.


LT was a feared opponent. Unfortunately he has turned that persona against himself.






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Pacman Yes, T.O. No

The announcement came last Thursday that Adam "Pacman" Jones signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. This is not a shock as the Bengals are known to take risks with players that other teams have deemed "damaged goods".

Jones is probably better known for his season long suspension in 2007 and his numerous run-ins with the law than he has been for his on the field accomplishments in the NFL.

If someone who didn't even play last season and has a questionable legal past like Jones can get an NFL job, what does that say about the playing future of wide receiver Terrell Owens?

The Bengals brought Owens in for a visit in early March and was very close to signing him but ended up signing the younger Antonio Bryant to a four year contract.

Adam Jones understands one thing that Owens doesn't. Your only monetary worth as an employee is what someone is willing to pay you. Jones most likely took a deal at the league minimum and was given playing incentives to increase the total amount of the contract. Owens, and his agent Drew Rosenhaus, reportedly want at least 5 million dollars for Terrell's services this next season.

The reality is Owens is a 36 year old who is coming off his worst season since 1999. He turned the 49ers locker room on its head and tried to create dissent amongst his teammates in Philadelphia. Then there was his  Romo-Witten writing secret plays on table napkins incident in Dallas. T.O. was quiet last season in Buffalo, but if he would have spoken up, would anybody have listened to him anyway?

Adam Jones has had his problems off the field, but by all accounts has been a decent "locker room" guy. Owens, like Barry Bonds, will never shake the reputation as a locker room cancer and still believes he is an elite player. The Bengals obviously felt that Jones was worth the risk and Owens wasn't. "Pacman" seems to realize this is his last chance to play in the NFL. It seems that Owens last chance may have come to pass.




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Top 12 Fantasy Football Rookies

It's never too early for fantasy predictions. Here are EMQB's top 12 rookies based on my fantasy projections. I based them on opportunity and environment along with their draft position. This system hasn't failed me in the four years I've used it. It also helps if you have a poor disposition to losing.

1. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers - Mathews will get plenty of carries and plenty of chances to score touchdowns in the Chargers' high flying offense. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield and, therefore, doesn't need to be replaced on passing downs. If he can stay healthy the entire season, he could make letting Darren Sproles enter free agency a lot easier. Look to draft Mathews in the 3rd or 4th round of seasonal fantasy drafts.


2. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions - C.J. Spiller was the back in this draft whose name was mentioned with the likes of the Titans' Chris Johnson, but I believe Best is a closer example because of his toughness between the tackles. If he can endure NFL hits and if the Lions can block (which is a huge amount of "if"s), Best could be the runaway (pun fully intended) Rookie of Year. Draft Best around the 4th or 5th round in seasonal drafts.


3. Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans - When Steve Slaton struggled last season, the Texans became a one dimensional passing team. Houston drafted Tate with the intention of resolving that problem. While he will split carries with Slaton, look for the Texans to use Tate as a goal line back and their main running option with a fourth quarter lead. Tate could be available from the 6th - 8th rounds of the seasonal draft and has sleeper pick written all over him.


4. Montario Hardesty, RB, Cleveland Browns - Despite incumbent starter Jerome Harrison's huge last three games of the 2009 season (including 282 yards rushing in a meaningless game against Kansas City Chiefs), the Browns traded up for Hardesty. He is a big back (6'0", 220 lbs) and could instantly become the Browns' short yardage and goal line runner.  He has the potential to be the full-time guy in Cleveland this season. He plays for an awful Browns' team and that will drop his draft stock to the later rounds of seasonal drafts, but he will get touches and should out-perform some rookies that were drafted higher.


5. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys - Bryant is the most talented rookie in this group and goes to a team where he is surrounded with talent. He will not be the focus of attention and could become a force because of single coverage. I rank him this low because wide receivers usually requires some time (a season or two) to adjust from the college game. I tend to think rookies are the rule and not the exception, but Bryant is worth drafting in the 5th - 7th rounds based on a potential Randy Moss-like rookie campaign.


6. C.J. Spiller, RB/RS, Buffalo Bills - Spiller is the next Reggie Bush - minus the great quarterback, excellent offensive line, and creative play calling. Spiller is dynamic and will create some big plays for this Bills' team. I have a hard time believing he will make a game in / game out contribution because of his tendency to bounce most of his runs to the outside and the lack of talent surrounding him. Many people, like my friend Jay "the Bills' homer", will disagree with my notion that Spiller is a real value around the 8th or 9th round. However, he could go as high as the 2nd or 3rd round in seasonal drafts. Just be thankful that someone else takes on the risk of picking Spiller that high. Go ahead, Jay, he's all yours.


7. Golden Tate, WR/KR, Seattle Seahawks - Tate gets ranked this high because he has a veteran quarterback and some decent talent surrounding him at the position. If your league gives extra points for return yards, his value is even higher. Tate is great after the catch, and I believe he has a legitimate chance to be the top rookie receiver in fantasy this season because of his experience in the pro style offense, route running ability, and toughness. He probably will go undrafted in seasonal leagues but could be worth a late round flier.

8. Dexter McCluster, WR/RB/RS, Kansas City Chiefs - McCluster has a lot of things going against him: lack of size, has to learn the receiver position at the pro level, and having big expectations based on his status as a high round draft pick. McCluster is an instinctive playmaker who will be given chances to make plays. Based on his potential to score 6-7 touchdowns and make big plays, McCluster is a high-priority free agent who should be monitored through out training camp and the pre-season.

9. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos - Thomas has a long way to go in his route running capabilities but should be able to make an impact based on a lack of depth at the receiver postion and his raw physical talent. Thomas could be drafted late in seasonal drafts based on being a first round pick but expectations should be tempered as Thomas is a developmental prospect.

10. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals - If your league requires you to have a starting tight end like mine does, then Gresham should be on your radar as a potential bye week replacement. He has talent surrounding him on the Bengals' offense and should get some chances to catch goal line touchdowns and exploit matchups against slower linebackers. The Bengals will probably continue to be a run first team, so his targets in the passing game could be sporatic.


11. Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Somebody has to be the number one for the Bucs, and it very well could be Benn. A lock for the first round even before the start of his junior season in '09, Benn struggled with the poor quarterback play at Illinois. Tampa could be behind in a lot of games this season, and Benn could benefit from the increased passing. Not draftable at this point, he should be looked at as a priority free agent.


12. Toby Gerhart, RB, Minnesota Vikings - If Gerhart could fill the Chester Taylor role, he will make for a viable bye week replacement. Adrian Peterson could see more carries if Brett Farve retires, and more carries means a higher risk of injury. That would the point were Gerhart would have real fantasy value. Look for him to be a late round flier or a priority free agent.


Keep an eye on........


Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers


Joe McKnight, RB, New York Jets


Anthony Dixon, RB, San Francisco 49ers


Jordan Shipley, WR, Cincinnati Bengals


Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 


Armanti Edwards, WR, Carolina Panthers

 


Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.everymorningqb.com.

Shedding A Reputation

The recent buzz over Jamarcus Russell's mini camp performance has raised some questions about the Oakland Raiders' quarterback situation.


Multiple sources made the observation that Russell,  and not the newly acquired Jason Campbell, performed the best in drills and scrimmages. In spite of the rumors that Russell was nearing the 300 pound mark, Russell moved well and was pretty accurate.


I documented my belief a month ago (which seems like ten years ago) that Russell would become the greatest draft bust in NFL history because the Raiders had already given up on him by pursuing another starting caliber quarterback. The recent reports have done nothing to change that opinion.


I don't wish any ill will on Russell. He is an immensely talented player from a physical standpoint and could be a difference maker on the NFL level.


Before Russell entered the NFL, he had been one of the biggest, strongest, and best players on every team for which he had played.


Entering the NFL, Russell entered a world where everyone has elite physical ability. Preparation is what separates players at the highest level of football. Roger Staubach was quoted as saying, "Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." Russell has gained a reputation for being the last in the office and the first one out. Perhaps the ease with which Russell dominated at the collegiate level has hindered his development as a legitimate NFL quarterback.


You can blame a lot of things on the Raiders:  not giving him enough talent to work with, having a carousel of position coaches, and having an overall lack of organizational leadership. The fact remains that John Elway and Peyton Manning led their franchises to multiple Super Bowls and championships coming from NFL beginnings similar to Russell. They are the standard that Russell is held to as the first pick - fair or not.


Jason Campbell will win this job. The fact that Jamarcus Russell needed internal competition for motivation is not a problem. The problem lies in the reputation that Russell isn't motivated to beat his NFL opponents day in and day out when he had the job all to himself. 





Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
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One Question Leads To Another

The hot topic in NFL news this last week has been the question Miami Dolphins' G.M. Jeff Ireland asked new Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Dez Bryant during a pre-draft interview: "Is your mother a prostitute?" will forever go down in NFL infamy.

I don't think it was an appropriate comment in any context.  However, for the sake of journalistic integrity (of which I have none), I wasn't there and do not know the exact situation.

The NFL is well-known for objectifying players. They are viewed as commidities and are discarded with ease. This incident shines a light on a much bigger problem. It is safe to assume that the question during Bryant's interview is not the worst question that a prospect has ever been asked.

The rising contracts and available resources for NFL rookies has helped to further this attitude. With the top picks getting coached on interviews and receiving the top salaries in the entire League, the pressure has been put on NFL general managers to get production out of their draft picks or quickly be replaced. The employment world outside of the NFL is no different.  A $40 per hour employee is going to be scrutinized in the interview process much more than a $10 an hour employee.

These types of interviewing methods are accepted by the prospective draftees because of the money at stake. The NFL minimum for rookies is $285,000 and that is an exceptional salary in any industry. They view the chance to play in the NFL and make a great salary as far outweighing being treated in way that we might believe to be degrading or dehumanizing. The players have the choice to not be subjected to this type of behavior and enter the regular work world like the rest of us (where you can be treated poorly in also) or to deal with the scrutiny of the NFL.

The NFL has proposed to cut the rising cost of rookie salaries by about 75% and reduce the lengths of their contract from 5-6 years to 3 years.  (I brought up the subject in a previous post.) This would solve the problem of the teams being tied to busts with long term contracts and big money.

This change wouldn't effect the overall attitude of NFL toward the treatment of players, but could change the paranoia and anxiety related to paying huge salaries to top prospects with issues like Bryant. The interview process would not be as important because the player would be more disposable.

The ugly side of the NFL has shown its face. Now the NFL needs to figure out how to put some makeup on it.



Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.everymorningqb.com.