|
|
| The Baltimore Ravens have ushered in the John Harbaugh era by engaging in a "knockdown drag-out midfield brawl," according to the Baltimore Sun. |
Our View: Reports indicate OT Oniel Cousins and DT Amon Gordon began fist fighting at the end of a running play, at which point nearly 85 players got involved and engaged in a heated brawl. Notes of worth other than the drama are few at this time. If resulting injuries or suspensions from the team come as a result, we will update as needed.
|
|
|
|
| The New York Giants report two of their top rookies, QB Andre Woodson and WR Mario Manningham , are both missing this week's rookie practices due to injury, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Manningham suffered a hip flexor on his left side running a pull-up pattern early in the morning workout. Woodson is nursing a pulled quad muscle in his left leg, suffered shortly after Manningham walked off the field. Woodson was scrambling to his left during an 11-on-11 drill. Neither injury is considered serious and updates will come as facts are revealed.
|
|
|
|
| Atlanta's 1st-round draft pick QB Matt Ryan made his debut with the team today while wearing a brace on his left knee, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. |
Our View: Ryan reports the brace is "precautionary" saying his coaches at Boston College made all team QBs wear braces on their plant legs. He now wears the brace out of habit. Ryan also noted a newly-signed agreement with Nike, though deals have not been disclosed.
|
|
|
|
| Rookie Thomas Brown (Georgia) will compete with Jerrious Norwood for the top backup role behind starter Michael Turner in Atlanta, according to ProFootballTalk.com. |
Our View: Brown is undersized at 5-8 198, but is a great athlete and has break-away speed. He is elusive in the open field and accelerates to full speed quickly. He also possesses solid hands as a receiver out of the backfield. So, while he lacks durability to be a starter, he could develop into an excellent third-down back, and may ultimately hold that role as a rookie. Norwood also has big-play ability and has better size (and NFL experience) than Brown, and has an edge to earn the top backup job in 2008.
|
|
|
|
| Rookie Terrell Thomas (USC) commented on his potential role in the Giants' secondary, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Thomas Said, "I know they have some great corners, but why wouldn’t I want to come in here and start? That's what they drafted me for." |
Our View: Aaron Ross should be locked into one starting spot, but Thomas could compete with aging vet Sam Madison and Corey Webster for the other spot. Thomas has the talent to be an excellent NFL cornerback, but needs work on his footwork. He excels in zone coverage and makes quick reads.
|
|
|
|
| Michael Strahan worked out at the team facility on Thursday, and talked to Coach Tom Coughlin, but did not tell him if he plans to retire, according to ProFootballTalk.com. |
Our View: Strahan is reportedly leaning toward retirement, but could be talked into returning if the Giants pay him a $3 million raise for the 2008 season.
|
|
|
|
| The older brother of Jets' safety Abram Elam has been fatally shot in Florida, according to the NY Daily News. Riviera Beach police officers were called to the scene of a shooting at about 12:35 p.m. Friday, and found Donald Charles Elam shot in the lower back. The 33-year was taken to the hospital, and later pronounced dead. |
Our View: Donald was the third sibling in the family to die by gunfire since 1987. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Abram Elam and his family.
|
|
|
|
| Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan (Boston College) is set to begin minicamp, according to Macon.com. Coach Mike Smith said, "I want them to have the mind-set that they're going to come in here and compete to play from day one. I think it's very, very important as a football player that you compete to be the starter. If he's the best player, whether he's a rookie quarterback or rookie offensive lineman or rookie linebacker, we want those guys to come in here and compete. We're going to put the best player out there on the field." Ryan said, "I just can't wait to get this thing started."
|
Our View: Ryan has a bright future with the Falcons, and that future may start as early as this season, going by coach Smith's thoughts regarding starting a rookie. Ryan will compete with Chris and Joey Harrington for the starting gig.
|
|
|
|
| Chris Perry is healthy and ready to play this season, and that is the reason why the Bengals didn't take a running back in the draft, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. |
Our View: Rudi Johnson will start this season, and Perry will compete with Kenny Watson for the top backup role. Second year pro Kenny Irons should be in the mix as well.
|
|
|
|
| Defensive lineman Marcus Thomas was arrested for possession of a controlled substance on March 1, and on May 9, he was cleared of any charges, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Agent Richard Burnoski said, "Thomas was embarrassed by this. The people that supported him, the Broncos and coach Mike Shanahan, his family and a lot of the fans on the message boards, he thanks them. It’s good to be proven right."
|
Our View: Now Thomas can put this matter behind him and focus on earning a role along the defensive line this season with the Broncos.
|
|
|
|
| Rookie wide receiver Mario Manningham (Michigan) injured himself while running a deep hook route in rookie minicamp, and suffered a hip flexor injury, according to the Star Ledger. Coach Tom Coughlin said, "It's unfortunate, but hopefully it is a good lesson for these guys. The twisting, the turning, the stopping and the starting, that's what this game is about. You do have to have cardiovascular conditioning, but you do have to also work on the short bursts and change of directions and all those kinds of things so that you don't have injuries."
|
Our View: The severity of his ailment is yet to be revealed.
|
|
|
|
| Veteran Derrick Mason has been impressed by rookie Joe Flacco in the early going, according to the Baltimore Sun. Mason said, "He can throw the ball. The one he threw to Clayton I think was about 50 yards down the field in the air on target. The way he commanded the huddle with the team that was in there with him, I think that speaks volumes of him." Flacco stated, "I'm here to play football. I'm a first-round draft pick, but I don't look at myself as that. I'm looking at myself as a guy whose coming in here to prove he can play quarterback in the National Football League. I am definitely going out there to prove something, and that these coaches made the right decision. I'm going to take it day by day and hopefully get better with each of these practices. I have confidence in my ability. Obviously things are going to take care of itself. I've got a lot of learning to do and after being here for a day, I can see that. It's been a lot of fun so, and hopefully that will continue."
|
Our View: Flacco will battle Kyle Boller and Troy Smith for the starting QB gig this season. Boller has failed to live up to high expectations as a first round draft pick in 2003, and has struggled with consistency and decision making. Troy Smith is also better at making plays with his feet than he is with his arm. Flacco displays a very strong arm and could develop into a star in Baltimore, and is off to a good start so far.
|
|
|
|
| Ahman Green is fully healthy for minicamp, according to the Houston Chronicle. He suffered a knee injury in Week 1 last season, and was limited to only six games. The Texans now have a logjam at the position as Domanick Williams is also healthy, and the team added Chris Brown, formerly of the Titans. Darius Walker looked good as a rookie, namely at banging out tough yards and as a receiver out of the backfield, and he will be in the mix for playing time as well. On top of that, the team drafted West Virginia rusher Steve Slaton in the third round. |
Our View: Green racked up 260 rushing yards over his six injury plagued games in 2007, with 14 receptions for another 123 yards. He is the acting starter and will get his chance to stay on top of the depth chart, but going by his poor track record with durability, another back will emerge in Houston in 2008. Who that may be remains to be seen. Chris Brown ran their zone scheme (compliments of new assistant head coach Alex Gibbs) while at Colorado and that would give him a leg up on the other backs for the number two spot, but the race is still going to be wide open.
|
|
|
|
| Chris Hope was able to practice fully this week, according to the Nashville City Paper. Coach Jeff Fisher said, "Chris is here six hours a day, five days a week. He’s really excited about being back and having that put behind him." |
Our View: His season ended last November due to a spine injury. He racked up 49 tackles (37 solo) and two interceptions before going down, and is making favorable progress as he attempts to bounce back in 2008.
|
|
|
|
| There is a very good chance that rookie James Hardy (Indiana) can nail down the starting role opposite Lee Evans this season, according to BuffaloBills.com. Veteran Peerless Price is no longer on the roster and Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish are primarily inside players. Parrish also lacks size. |
Our View: Hardy will provide the Bills with a big red-zone target at 6-5 220, and could prove to be dangerous in that area to opposing defenses. He lacks quickness and needs work on his routes, but he is strong and has long arms to fight off jams. He is also aggressive after the catch, and fights for extra yards. The Bills have lacked a receiver like him, and he could prove to be a good compliment to speed demon Evans.
|
|
|
|
| Darren McFadden didn't handle the ball very much during minicamp, but did look good in limited work, according to the Oakland Tribune. McFadden made a couple of nice bursts up the middle and once was trapped on the outside before breaking free (as defenders are not allowed to make tackles).
|
Our View: McFadden has a knack for gaining tough yards after contact and also excels as a receiver out of the backfield. Justin Fargas was able to top 1000 yards in the Raiders' offense last season, and McFadden will have a chance to excel and post strong numbers as a rookie.
|
|
|
|
| Michael Bush looked good during minicamp, according to the Oakland Tribune. Bush reportedly ran with a smooth athleticism, and looked natural catching a pass over the middle and pulling away from a linebacker. He burst through holes, and moved very well for a 250-pound back.
|
Our View: Bush had a chance to eventually fight for a starting gig in Oakland, but the addition of prized rookie Darren McFadden really kills his fantasy value. He will be left to fight for scraps with Justin Fargas, who is coming off a breakout campaign with 1009 rushing yards.
|
|
|
|
| Koren Robinson could land in Oakland, according to ESPN. John Clayton states that the Raiders could be a strong possibility for two reasons. K-Rob is a big receiving target and a former number one pick. Second, Robinson could help out in the return game, which the Raiders need after losing Chris Carr to the Titans. |
Our View: Robinson would benefit from a fresh start in Oakland, but wouldn't likely resurrect his career. Robinson has a bone-on-bone knee problem that likely isn't going to go away, and he would be hard-pressed to stay healthy.
|
|
|
|
| John Clayton of ESPN stated that it is "now clear" that Cedric Benson will go to training camp with the Bears. |
Our View: The Bears would be hurt by a cap hit if they cut him, and the team is actually hoping he heals slowly from his broken ankle, so they can hold him on injured reserve. It does not seem like they have much faith in him leading the team as the starter, and they continue to praise rookie Matt Forte. Benson's fantasy stock will continue to decline while in Chicago.
|
|
|
|
| Alex Smith said he has yet to launch very many deep passes with his surgically reconstructed shoulder, but on Saturday he fired a half dozen, 45-to-50-yard fly patterns, all of which were seemingly on target.
|
Our View: Smith should be the starting quarterback for the 49ers in 2008, and will have potential to rack up solid numbers while under the direction of OC Mike Martz. Smith has one of the most exciting young tight ends at his disposal with Vernon Davis, and the team added reliable vet Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson, who has good hands and doesn't mind going over the middle.
|
|
|
|
| Arnaz Battle is among the top three receivers for the 49ers during practice, according to the Sacramento Bee. Isaac Bruce (formerly of the Rams) and Bryant Johnson (formerly of the Cardinals) round out the trio. Ashley Lelie is being featured in four receiver sets. |
Our View: The passing game struggled and lacked an identity in 2007, but Battle still had a productive campaign as he hauled in 50 balls for 600 yards and five scores. He should see more action this season with offensive guru Mike Martz leading the way, and could ultimately rank as a sleeper for 2008.
|
|
|
|
| The Associated Press reports New England Patriots cornerback Willie Andrews entered a plea to a marijuana possession charge, but he will not face any prison time. |
Our View: Andrews admitted there was enough evidence to convict him at trial, but he did not plead guilty. Lowell (Mass.) District Court Judge Neil Walker continued the case without a finding for a year. During that time, Andrews must speak to student athletes about the dangers of narcotics, pay a $1,000 fine and complete an NFL substance abuse program.
|
|
|
|
| The Green Bay Packers released Koren Robinson on Friday, this according to the AP. Robinson previously played four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and one with the Minnesota Vikings.
|
Our View: Robinson has been able to stave his off-field issues, so it's expected he will find a suitor before training camp begins.
|
|
