| Grant contract update | Saturday 8/2, 11:19 PM CT |
|
Updating a previous report, Ryan Grant will be given a four-year deal that could earn him $30 million, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Grant will receive a $3 million roster bonus when he inks the contract and another $1.25 million for the 2008 season. The $1.25 million consists of a $750,000 base salary and another $500,000 roster bonus. Grant will earn $4.25 million in 2008 and $8 million over the first two years of the contract. There are layers of incentives and escalators in the contract that will pay Grant well. If he rushes for 1,500 yards this year, he will earn another $4 million in 2009. If he rushes for 1,000 yards, he will earn another $1 million. Based on how well Grant plays, he could earn $18 million, $24 million or $30 million over the life of the contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2012.
Our View: Grant will be highly motivated to reach the performance incentives of his new deal, and could finish the season as a top-10 fantasy running back, if he remains healthy. |
|
| Dorsey sprains knee | Saturday 8/2, 9:57 PM CT |
|
Glenn Dorsey sprained his left knee during Saturday night's practice, according to the KC Star. Dorsey went down during a running play about midway through the practice. He was able to get up and walk off the field without assistance, which is a positive sign the injury isn't too serious.
Our View: The club is listing their prized first-round pick as week-to-week, but the exact severity of the injury will not be known until he undergoes tests. |
|
| King dealing with tight hamstring | Saturday 8/2, 8:51 PM CT |
|
Justin King left Saturday's morning workout early due to tightness in his hamstring, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He watched the afternoon session from the sideline.
Our View: King has the skills to develop into a quality starter with the Rams, but looks to hold a backup role as a rookie. The team is yet to disclose the severity of his ailment. |
|
| Peterson is confident | Saturday 8/2, 8:38 PM CT |
|
Adrian Peterson is confident and comfortable as the Vikings' offensive leader as he prepares for his second NFL campaign, according to the Star Tribune. He feels like a more complete back, capable of playing on every down. He has worked hard to gain a better understanding of blocking schemes, as well as working on being a more patient runner. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said, "He's stepping up his game professionally. He's taking his playbook home. Things are starting to make a little bit more sense to him. I think that's the giant step he's taking forward."
Our View: Peterson has also stated on several occasions that he set a personal goal to reach the 2,000-yard mark this season. He is confident, and fantasy owners should feel confident taking him off the board with a high first-round pick on draft day. |
|
| Roethlisberger is day-to-day | Saturday 8/2, 8:14 PM CT |
|
Ben Roethlisberger is day-to-day with a sore groin, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Our View: "Big Ben" is among the toughest players in the NFL at the position, and fantasy owners shouldn't be concerned with his ailment. |
|
| Hardy eager to make impact | Saturday 8/2, 8:01 PM CT |
|
Rookie receiver James Hardy is eager to make an immediate impact with the Bills, according to the AP. He said, "I'm trying to be Trent's best friend. Whatever I have to do, if I have to go to his house, I'll be there. I want to make a difference as soon as I can."
Our View: Hardy has been spending extra time after practices going over plays and asking for advice from Trent Edwards and Lee Evans. He should be a first-round pick in rookie drafts, and could hold solid value at the bottom of your depth chart in traditional leagues this season. |
|
| Holmes expected back Sunday | Saturday 8/2, 7:54 PM CT |
|
Santonio Holmes remained out of camp Saturday after leaving Friday due to a death in the family, but is expected back on Sunday, according to the AP.
Our View: Holmes is not going to be pushed for his starting job at receiver opposite Hines Ward, so he can afford to miss a day or two early in camp. |
|
| Grant agrees to extension | Saturday 8/2, 7:29 PM CT |
|
Ryan Grant has agreed to a contract extension with the Packers, according to Fox Sports. Terms of the deal are yet to be disclosed.
Our View: Grant is once again a safe fantasy prospect, and shouldn't be pushed by Brandon Jackson for the starting role at running back now that his holdout has ended. |
|
| Pennington holds off Clemens | Saturday 8/2, 7:24 PM CT |
|
Chad Pennington outperformed Kellen Clemens during practice Saturday, and continues to hold him off for the starting job at quarterback, according to ESPN. Pennington's green team beat Clemens' white squad 10-7. Each threw a touchdown pass and had no turnovers in the annual event. Pennington finished the scrimmage 8-of-14 for 115 yards, including a 27-yard scoring dart to Jerricho Cotchery. Clemens was 8-of-22 for 137 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Dustin Keller.
Our View: Pennington remains ahead of Clemens, but there is still a long way to go in the competition for the starting gig at quarterback. |
|
| Patriots sign Stokes | Saturday 8/2, 5:12 PM CT |
|
The Patriots have signed veteran offensive lineman Barry Stokes, according to the AP. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Our View: The 34-year-old provides the versatility to play either guard or tackle, and has made 44 career starts. He replaces Anthony Clement, who the club placed on the IR due to a knee injury. |
|
| Jones praises Stanback | Saturday 8/2, 5:08 PM CT |
|
Jerry Jones is praising Isaiah Stanback, according to the Dallas Morning News. Jones said, "Look at him. That's a big guy. There's another part of him that we saw in the fall that just absolutely goes out there and makes some of the most phenomenal, athletic plays. He's got the hands. He's got the natural instincts to go up. He's straightaway fast, but he's got that make-you-miss stuff to go."
Our View: Stanback still needs to learn the ropes of playing receiver as a converted quarterback, but Jones believes he has big potential, and will be worth the wait. Stanback is worth targeting in keeper leagues following Jones' comments. |
|
| Simpson returns to practice | Saturday 8/2, 5:02 PM CT |
|
Ko Simpson returned to practice after his MRI on his ankle only showed a bone bruise, according to the Rochester Democrat.
Our View: If healthy, Simpson projects to be the Bills' starting free safety, which would make him a favorable late-round fantasy prospect in IDP leagues. |
|
| Galloway expected back Monday | Saturday 8/2, 4:54 PM CT |
|
Coach Jon Gruden stated that Joey Galloway will likely return to practice Monday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He missed the first week of camp due to a groin ailment.
Our View: The injury is minor and the Buccaneers' No.1 receiver should not be dropped down fantasy draft boards. |
|
| Clayton ailing | Saturday 8/2, 4:47 PM CT |
|
Mark Clayton did not practice Saturday as he is nursing a sprained right shoulder, according to TSN.
Our View: Clayton would not rule out playing in the Ravens' pre-season opener Thursday night against the Patriots, and the ailment seems to be minor.
|
|
| Coe may need surgery | Saturday 8/2, 4:42 PM CT |
|
The Colts revealed that Michael Coe sustained a knee injury during practice Thursday, which may require surgery, according to the Indianapolis Star. Coach Tony Dungy commented that Coe is going to be out for a while.
Our View: He wasn't expected to see the field much this season, and his injury has no fantasy significance. |
|
| Wheeler to undergo surgery | Saturday 8/2, 4:38 PM CT |
|
The Indianapolis Star indicates that Philip Wheeler will undergo knee surgery after aggravating an old injury.
Our View: Coach Tony Dungy is hopeful he will only miss a couple of weeks. He projects to be a future starter at strong-side linebacker. |
|
| Keller injures leg | Saturday 8/2, 3:54 PM CT |
|
Jets tight end Dustin Keller left the team's scrimmage with a leg injury, though it did not appear to be serious, according to Scout.com.
Our View: Keller will be utilized on passing downs, but his blocking remains suspect at the NFL level, likely limiting the number of snaps he will take in the regular season. |
|
| Heap suffers calf injury | Saturday 8/2, 3:46 PM CT |
|
Though the injury did not seem to be serious, Ravens tight end Todd Heap left the practice field limping from an apparent calf injury, according to the AP.
Our View: You can only be warned so many times about someone. Todd Heap is a walking injury, and drafting him for your fantasy football team is a real risk. If you do pick him up, drafting another quality tight end is mandatory. |
|
| Grant wants $40 million | Saturday 8/2, 3:42 PM CT |
|
Packers running back Ryan Grant wants a contract worth $40 million over six years, something Green Bay is unwilling to do, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Grant is seeking $4.5 million in bonus money this season while the Packers are offering $1.75
Our View: Grant has all of 10 productive games in the NFL. Understandably, it is difficult for Green Bay to be completely convinced that he is worth such a large investment. This standoff has lasted a week, and does not appear close to being over. Grant's is still a second-round type of back in fantasy drafts, but spending that high of a pick on a guy who may not be there in Week 1 is a gamble. |
|
| Favre to be reinstated Monday | Saturday 8/2, 3:32 PM CT |
|
Roger Goodell will reinstate quarterback Brett Favre on Monday, giving the Packers until Tuesday to figure out what to do with him, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: Favre is still deciding whether or not he will take the Packers $25 million marketing offer. His decision will need to come soon so Green Bay knows what they are dealing with. The Brett Favre Situation continues. |
|
| Peterson wants more money | Saturday 8/2, 3:15 PM CT |
|
Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson has gone public with his desire for a new contract, according to the AP. I want to get paid for it because this is my job. If I was playing the game and had another job, it would be different. I don't want no more than I'm worth," Peterson said.
Our View: Peterson is undoubtedly a good player, but at 32-years-old, the chances of him signing a new lucrative contract are not large. He would make a useful player in IDP leagues should he stay healthy. |
|
| Groves showing well | Saturday 8/2, 3:10 PM CT |
|
Jacksonville's second-round selection, Quentin Groves, has been playing great in training camp, making the late arrival of first-round pick Derrick Harvey a little easier to digest, according to Pro Football Weekly.
Our View: Groves will give the Jaguars another pass rush threat off the edge, but getting Harvey into camp will make that two rookies who can get after the quarterback. |
|
| Clement's season is over | Saturday 8/2, 2:41 PM CT |
|
Offensive tackle Anthony Clement's season is over after the New England Patriots placed him on IR with an injured knee, according to Patriots.com.
Our View: Clement was a solid backup who had been a starter for the Jets each of the last two seasons, so the team will miss him as depth. |
|
| Welker taken off PUP | Saturday 8/2, 2:34 PM CT |
|
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker was taken off the phycially-unable-to-perform list today, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: Welker is being counted on to be a big part of fantasy teams, so his return is welcome news. |
|
| Bell out of shape | Saturday 8/2, 2:29 PM CT |
|
Running back Mike Bell will have to work on his conditioning as he had a problem getting through Houston's practice today, according to HoustonTexans.com. “To be honest with you, he’s not in the shape the rest of our football team is and we found that out real fast,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.
Our View: That's not the best way for Bell to start with a new team, but it is something that can be corrected with time. |
|
| Balmer back in a few days | Saturday 8/2, 2:26 PM CT |
|
San Francisco first-round pick Kentwan Balmer was running and doing rehabilitation on his sprained ankle today, and he should be back practicing with the team in just a few days, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Our View: Balmer has been out since Tuesday when he sprained his ankle. He is expected to play a big role at defensive end in the team's 3-4 alignment. |
|
| Harrison says he is not dirty | Saturday 8/2, 1:50 PM CT |
|
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, in one of the more amusing diatribes of anybody's training camp, maintained he was not a dirty player, and invoked the name of Jesus Christ in his defense, according to ESPN.com. He ripped people who called him dirty by saying, "They're ignorant. They don't know me. ... It's unfortunate that you have stigma like that, but what can you say? They crucified Jesus Christ, too. So -- and I'm not comparing myself to him -- but people are going to say things. They're going to slander you."
Our View: Ah yes, the "I'm Not Comparing Myself to Jesus Even Though I Am" argument. A classic. Somebody should ask Trent Green's right knee if it thinks Harrison lays cheap shots. |
|
| Little performing for Rams | Saturday 8/2, 1:21 PM CT |
|
Rams defensive end Leonard Little is completely recovered from his toe injury and has been impressive with his quickness, and could have another double-digit sack campaign in him, according to Pro Football Weekly.
Our View: The Rams need Little to get to the quarterback if they want to dramatically improve on last season's 3-13 record. He had only one sack last season after being one of the premier pass rushers in the league prior to that. |
|
| Steve Smith suspended two games | Saturday 8/2, 12:50 PM CT |
|
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith was suspended two regular season games without pay by the team for punching teammate Ken Lucas yesterday during practice, according to the Charlotte Observer. "He's being punished severely. ... It's an act that's inexcusable and it can't happen," Panthers coach John Fox said. Lucas suffered a broken nose as a result of Smith's outburst.
Our View: This not only hurts the Panthers, of course, but fantasy players as well. Smith was a top option at wide receiver, but two games without him hurts his value. He should be bumped down a few notches on fantasy wide receiver rankings as a result. |
|
| Johnson hurts groin | Saturday 8/2, 12:36 PM CT |
|
Texans wide out Andre Johnson hurt his groin at the end of practice on Saturday, but maintains it is not anything to be concerned about, according to HoustonTexans.com. “I just tweaked my groin a little bit. That’s about it. Nothing really major. I’ll go in and get some treatment over the next two days and I’ll be fine," Johnson remarked.
Our View: A big sigh of relief just came over Texans fans and fantasy football players alike. When healthy, Johnson is one of the most explosive receivers in the league, and capable of giving fantasy players big points. One need only to look at last season's eight touchdown catches in nine games as an example. |
|
| Albert could miss remainder of camp | Saturday 8/2, 12:32 PM CT |
|
In a bit of bad news, one of the Chiefs first-round selections, offensive lineman Branden Albert, could miss the rest of training camp with a sprained foot, according to the AP.
Our View: Albert did not play tackle in college, so transitioning him there was going to take a lot of work in camp. This will obviously slow that process down, and weaken the team's offensive line. |
|
| No damage to Nalen's knee | Saturday 8/2, 12:17 PM CT |
|
Broncos center Tom Nalen's MRI showed no significant damage to his knee, according to the Denver Post. "Tom is such a tough guy, so when he feels like he's ready to go, he'll go," Denver head coach Mike Shanahan said.
Our View: Nalen had been missing practices and wanted to get the MRI just to make sure nothing was structurally wrong after having surgery twice in two months on the knee. Casey Wiegmann will take over until Nalen returns. |
|
| Javon Walker nearly retired | Saturday 8/2, 12:13 PM CT |
|
Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker was talked out of retiring on Thursday by team owner Al Davis, according to ESPN.com. The wide out offered to return the $11 million signing bonus he received after signing as a free agent.
Our View: It was well known that Walker was struggling, but this still comes as a surprise. He has had a difficult time recovering from his knee injuries, and was beaten in Las Vegas in the offseason. You have to wonder how much a guy who offered to give back $11 million dollars really wants to play, and if he'll be out there giving maximum effort every down. Not that Walker was high on fantasy draft boards to begin with, but bump him down a few notches because of the threat of him deciding he no longer wants to play after the season starts. |
|
| Bills sign Spragan | Saturday 8/2, 12:01 PM CT |
|
After losing rookie linebacker Alvin Bowen for the year, the Buffalo Bills signed free agent Donnie Spragan, according to TSN.com.
Our View: Spragan made a few starts with the Dolphins last season and collected 37 tackles. He is strictly depth for Buffalo. |
|
| Peters remains quiet in holdout | Saturday 8/2, 11:38 AM CT |
|
Bills offensive tackle Jason Peters is continuing his holdout, and he is not speaking with anybody, including team officials and teammates, according to the Buffalo News.
Our View: The team has no plans to give Peters a new deal, and with no real talks taking place, it's hard to figure when this might end. There is no doubt the team needs Peters at left tackle, however, and fantasy players sure wouldn't mind him out there blocking for Marshawn Lynch and giving QB Trent Edwards time to throw Lee Evans the ball. |
|
| Ryan plays with first team | Saturday 8/2, 11:32 AM CT |
|
Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan played with the first team offense and connected with wide receiver Roddy White on a 65-yard touchdown strike in the team's scrimmage, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Ryan may be the starter, but rookie QB's and fantasy football go together like ice cream and spinach - poorly. |
|
| Grossman booed | Saturday 8/2, 11:20 AM CT |
|
Rex Grossman got booed by Bears fans after tossing the ball away inside the 20-yard-line during a scrimmage, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: There were nearly 25,000 fans at the scrimmage inside Soldier Field, and it's safe to say most of them are rooting for Kyle Orton to win the job. Not that it will make much difference to fantasy players, who should completely ignore these two at all times. |
|
| Jackson fulfilling expectations | Saturday 8/2, 11:09 AM CT |
|
Vincent Jackson was great in the 2007 playoffs, and so far he has been one of the best players in training camp, showing new explosiveness, according to the San Deigo Union-Tribune.
Our View: Fantasy owners across the nation were disappointed in Jackson's regular season performance in 2007, but maybe his play in the postseason will elevate him. He still gets drafted in fantasy leagues, but most players see him as depth, and not someone to count on weekly. |
|
| Winslow misses practice | Saturday 8/2, 10:38 AM CT |
|
Kellen Winslow Jr did not practice yesterday because of a sore hamstring, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
Our View: It is not a serious injury, and Winslow will be back in no time, which is good news for fantasy players who wish to enjoy the benefits of his vast receiving potential. |
|
| Flowers likely to start | Saturday 8/2, 10:03 AM CT |
|
The Kansas City Chiefs second-round selection, cornerback Brandon Flowers, is in line to be a starter this season, according to the Kansas City Star.
Our View: That Flowers will start isn't a big surprise, but it would be if two other rookies, corner Brandon Carr and safety DaJuan Morgan also earn starting jobs, as the paper suggests is possible. Usually, starting three rookies in the secondary is a recipe for disaster, but the Chiefs are going to be bad this year, and everybody is aware of that, so maybe it would help speed the growth process of these players. |
|
| Edwards getting more reps | Saturday 8/2, 9:48 AM CT |
|
Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards is getting more and more repetitions as he continues his recovery from a lower-back injury, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Our View: Edwards should be a starter at defensive end opposite Jared Allen, and with double teams certain to come Allen's way, Edwards should be able to take advantage and increase his sack total from last year's 4.5. |
|
| Rivers holdout continues | Saturday 8/2, 9:29 AM CT |
|
Linebacker Keith Rivers, the ninth overall pick in the draft and one of two first-rounders still unsigned, missed a scrimmage and his seventh practice of camp, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Our View: Rivers is expected to be a big part of the Bengals defense, which has not been good during head coach Marvin Lewis' time there. His holdout is costing him the chance to play a big role early on, which will hurt the Cincinnati defense. |
|
| Langford hitting his stride | Saturday 8/2, 9:17 AM CT |
|
The Dolphins third-round draft pick, Kendall Langford, has been playing very well and has made vast improvements since the offseason, according to the Palm Beach Post. "He made tremendous gains in the weight room strength-wise and really, his conditioning, all those things. I've been impressed with him," said Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano.
Our View: Langford could wind up contributing for the Dolphins defense in the regular season, but he'll certainly have to keep it up. Many rookies have looked great in the first week of training camp only to lose ground later on. |
|
| Clemens starting to heat up | Saturday 8/2, 9:11 AM CT |
|
Kellen Clemens is starting to play much better and has become a serious threat to Chad Pennington in the battle for the starting quarterback job in New York, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Our View: Clemens was a below average QB last season, throwing twice the amount of picks (10) than touchdown passes (5). Neither he nor Pennington should be counted on for fantasy squads. |
|
| Holland still too fat | Saturday 8/2, 8:58 AM CT |
|
Broncos guard Montrae Holland has still not joined the team for practices nearly a week after camp started because he has yet to shed the proper amount of weight, according to the Denver Post.
Our View: Holland figured to battle for the starting job at right guard, but every day of practice he misses is one that somebody else gets an opportunity to show what they can do. |
|
| Cutler excellent in red zone drills | Saturday 8/2, 8:56 AM CT |
|
Jay Cutler was outstanding during the team's red zone drills in training camp on Friday, throwing a number of impressive touchdown passes, according to the Denver Post.
Our View: Cutler is arguably a top-10 quarterback this season, so it's good to see him performing well in the most critical area of the field for the team and fantasy players alike. |
|
| Smith can't get college number | Saturday 8/2, 8:05 AM CT |
|
Rookie running back Kevin Smith wanted to wear the same number he wore in college, 24, but he wasn't willing to pay the exorbitant price to obtain it from safety Greg Blue, according to the Detroit Free-Press. Safety Dwight Smith is also clamoring for it. "Too much money. ... I was willing to pay, like, ten thousand, and I heard rumors it's going to cost, like, 50. I ain't buying nobody no car, now," Kevin Smith said.
Our View: Fifty thousand for a number seems a bit much. Hopefully this will have no bearing on how well he plays. Smith is a legit depth guy for fantasy football players, but since his playing time is unknown, relying on his as a No. 2 back could be costly. |
|
| Belichick praises Gaffney | Saturday 8/2, 7:52 AM CT |
|
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick continues to throw praise the way of wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, who will likely man the third receiver position this year, according to the Boston Herald. “He is a guy that picks up things quickly. Quarterbacks have a lot of confidence in him. He has been a very dependable player for us,” Belichick said
Our View: Gaffney should be more of a factor than he was last season, when he was the fourth option but still caught 36 passes and five touchdowns. He certainly has the opportunity to help a fantasy team should he maintain his standing as the number three wide out. |
|
| Mendenhall looking good | Saturday 8/2, 7:47 AM CT |
|
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has looked good in training camp, and the Steelers are using some formations featuring he and Willie Parker in the backfield together, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Our View: Mendenhall has the size, speed and strength to be a potent offensive weapon. Willie Parker may see more carries, but it would not be a surprise if Mendenhall got the ball near the goal line. |
|
|
|
