By Bryan Douglass
June 29, 2009 7:30am CDT

The Fanball Sports Network, currently the home to more than 70 blogs about fantasy sports dealing with MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL, features some of the internet's best and most thought provoking team writers. This is the first of what will be a weekly series profiling the recent Fanball Sports Network NFL blog posts and news, as well as how this news and analysis impacts fantasy owners.

The Blog Breakdown will soon be arriving for the Fanball Sports Network suite of MLB, NBA and NHL blogs as well.

ChargingBolts.com: New Faces in the Right Places

San Diego Chargers correspondent Anthony Blake provides an introspective look at the roster additions harvested from this year's crop of rookies, including linebacker Larry English.

"All of these characteristics point towards English putting up some serious numbers in his rookie campaign. It's obvious on film that in addition to all of the things that Turner points out, English has a tireless motor that runs constantly as he never quits on a play and pursues the action all over the field."

Impact: For IDP heads this information could be rather beneficial. There aren't too many folks looking at English as a viable option, but it appears the traditional views of coach Norv Turner, known for offensive prowess and defensive frustration, may be falling short in terms of providing proper analysis for the potential English carries for this team. Blake also touches on fellow rookies Louis Vasquez and Vaughn Martin.


EaglesHaveLanded.com: Westbrook to miss 2-3 months

Our Philadelphia Eagles correspondent Joe Burt has been going above and beyond for the fans in the City of Brotherly Love. While this headline is a bit dated, the insights Joe offers most certainly are not, gathering the quotes and comments from various sources to bring the true questions surrounding Westbrook's health to light.

"Browsing around the blogosphere and on Eagles message boards we find aggravation that the Eagles and Westbrook have delayed the surgery for so long. If he had this problem since last year, why wait until June to get the surgery?"

Impact: Burt offers a wide smattering of comments and thoughts from various players, coaches, doctors, and other sources close to the situation that appear to offer no tangible conclusion that can be agreed upon, thus leaving fantasy owners to ponder just how damaging these events may be. Westbrook's value is already hampered by some, questioning the age and damage done by the carries earned over recent seasons. Now, with this procedure coming as if from nowhere, the fog thickens.


TurnOnTheJets.com: Get Leon Washington the ball!

Joe Caporoso has been spoiling the fans in New York as our correspondent for the Jets, and he offers this open letter to Brian Schottenheimer, the Jets offensive coordinator, with hopes of encouraging success.

"There is a player on your offense named Leon Washington, he is #29 on your roster. He is the impressive guy in the running back and kick return drills. This guy is a pretty good football player and probably your best overall playmaker… It would be in your best interest to find a way to get the ball into Mr. Washington's hands more frequently this year."

Impact: Joe (we prefer to call him 'Cappy' though he may not appreciate it) goes on to offer some statistical analysis that leads us to wonder how Washington has been left in the shadows for this long. It's an intriguing argument and formulated well by Cappy. Fantasy owners may be privy but they may also be mistaking Washington as a "sleeper." He's not, and now, thanks to Joe, the Jets should be on the alert as well.


ColtsChatter.com: More bad news for Joseph Addai apologists

Rick Browning, our Indianapolis Colts correspondent, paints a picture of stress for many of the world's fantasy owners.

"As I stated earlier, Diem did the right thing here and didn't call out Addai for being a wuss and failing to live up to the standards that have been set for him. This is a good thing, I applaud Diem for sticking up for his teammate. But the fact of the matter is, the offensive line wasn't the only problem. He knows this, I know this, and you know this."

Impact: Rick launches into a thorough investigation of Addai's "evolution" since his spectacular rookie season and suggests there are many more reasons for worry than optimism if you are hoping to target the Indianapolis rusher in fantasy leagues this season. He brings quotes from various players and team officials, stats, and personal insights that leave very little room for hope moving forward, outstanding food for thought for fans and fantasy owners alike.


FootballBaltimore.com: Sophomore seasons similar for Ray Rice

Kevin Hanson has been providing outstanding coverage of the Baltimore Ravens for the Fanball Sports Network and gives the fantasy faithful some valuable insights on their rushing corps.

"Rice, who is one of my four breakout players for 2009, said on Saturday that his 'confidence is through the roof. I needed that year to kind of gather myself and kind of get my things together,' Rice said. In the off-season, Rice added some extra muscle. He's been running with the first-team offense and says, 'This is my job now.'"

Impact: The Ravens enjoyed a surprisingly strong season considering all of the questions they faced last year and now, as Hanson notes, those questions are turning into answers. Rice is going be beeping bright and fast on the fantasy radars across the globe this season, and as Hanson notes, all signs point ot a breakout performance.


PatsChowder.com: Patriots Fantasy Forecasts

Eric Cunningham serves the fine community of Boston with powerful insights on the New England Patriots. In this post Eric discusses how fantasy owners might find benefit from the roster set to go to battle for Bill Belichick in New England.

"Despite the crowded backfield, (Sammy) Morris has really gained the trust of Belichick and the Patriots brass when he's been healthy. In 2007, he started taking time away from Maroney, and in 2008 he was clearly the go-to back until an injury ended his season. This year he'll be back, healthy, and ready to assume the role of featured back. Taylor will be able to help keep him healthy, but Morris could spring into 1000-yard/10 TD territory that fantasy owners covet. Most websites are projecting him as a middle round pick at best. The value he would bring you with that sort of pick would be immeasurable."

Impact: Cunningham predicts the injury woes will persist for Laurence Maroney, that (as noted above) Sammy Morris will be the answer, that Alex Smith will take the top spot at tight end, and, among other intriguing propositions, that Tom Brady will return to form and throw for 40 touchdowns. Eric offers quick-hit insights backed with numbers and reasonable conclusions, and while you may not agree with his hard-line predictions, you will enjoy the offering regardless.


TealPower.com: Better Passing Needed

Jacksonville Jaguars correspondent Nate Bruce offers a quick-yet-potent dose of reality for those hoping to see improved gains from the Jags' passing offense this season.

"The only good QB the Jags have is starter David Garrard. He has to greatly improve his passer rating from 81.7 last year to at least 95.0. Most of his passes last year were five-yard check downs to MoJo and curls to tight end Marcedes Lewis. Either Del Rio has to open up the passing game or they might as well get ready for the 2010 draft and get ready to sign a quarterback."

Impact: Bruce nails it. For all of the power this team carries in Maurice Jones-Drew and the offensive line, there are severe worries lurking behind center. Garrard has played well in the past but is coming off a horrendous year. His value as a fantasy commodity has been ruined, but the work needed to progress lies in the hands of the coach. If Garrard isn't given the opportunity to show-and-prove, the consequences could be deeper and more harmful than we might imagine.


GridironBrownies.com: Questions for the 2009 Season

Ward Peterson, the Cleveland Browns correspondent for the Fanball Sports Network, checks in with some of the questions being found in Brown town.

"After musical quarterbacks in 2008 where the starter for the first game was pretty much determined via coin toss, it's important that the Browns establish a clear leader for their offense. The fan favorite appears to be Brady Quinn…judging from the ovation he got just by being shown in the crowd at a Cavaliers playoff game. Being a first-round draft pick almost automatically made Quinn a favorite of the Browns faithful. The fact that Derek Anderson has struggled since his terrific season in 2007, only solidifies the love for Brady. According to Eric Mangini, the starter will be determined in training camp and pre-season. Let's hope, whoever it ends up being, that they play their way into an obvious nomination to being the starting quarterback for the Browns. Anything short of that will only cause speculation and doubt with the Browns faithful."

Impact: Besides the obvious question addressed above, Peterson also delves into the situation at running back (noting the likely arrival of running-back-by-committee), Braylon Edwards (will we get the Edwards of '07 or the Edwards of '08 this season?), and the financial ramifications of it all. Peterson delves into pending contract scenarios that may present trouble moving forward as well, giving fans a thorough review of the environment in Cleveland as training camp approaches.

Bryan Douglass is the Managing Editor for the Fanball Sports Network as well as an Associate Editor for Fanball.com, providing analysis and commentary for the NFL, NBA, and PGA neighborhoods of the world's preeminent sports community. Bryan also serves as the Fanball Sports Network Correspondent for the Denver Broncos, found at BroncosStable.com, and the Denver Nuggets, found at DunkingNuggets.com. You can contact Bryan via email, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and be sure to visit the Fanball Sports Network today!