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| Cedric Benson's recent run-in with law enforcement could be the final straw for him in Chicago, according to ESPN. Per John Clayton, the former first-round pick started walking the plank when the Bears selected Matt Forte in the second round. And the Bears aren't too tolerant of players with off-the-field issues. To make matters worse for Benson, Forte was the star of Bears rookie camp. Benson plans to attend voluntary workouts Tuesday but knows management won't be happy to see him. |
Our View: We consider this report speculation at this juncture. The Bears would incur a $6 million salary cap hit if they were to part ways with Benson.
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| Rob Sims, expected to be the Seahawks' starting right guard this season, will not participate in the four-day veteran camp that began this morning because he is having arthroscopic knee surgery, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. |
Our View: Sims was the starter at left guard last season, but moved to the right side after the team signed former Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle during the offseason. With Sims sidelined, Mansfield Wrotto, a fourth-round draft choice, was working at right guard with the No. 1 line. Three-fifths of the starting unit is now sidelined, as left tackle Walter Jones and center Chris Spencer are recovering from shoulder surgery.
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| Adding James Hardy to the Buffalo Bills receiving corps has safety Donte Whitner excited. He believes that a receiver with the size and ability of Hardy will force opposing defenses to make tough choices when it comes to coverage, according to BuffaloBills.com. "Any time you have a guy [Hardy] that's 6'5" or 6'6" with the speed that he has and with Lee (Evans) on the other side and guys like Roscoe (Parrish) and Josh (Reed) in the slot, you have a dangerous receiving corps," Whitner said. "So now when we get down in the red zone we don't have to come up with little schemes or tricks to try to get in the end zone. You can just throw the ball up to him and if he's double covered that means Lee is probably singled up. And I'm taking Lee 95 percent of the time against any corner in the league one-on-one. If you try to double both of them you have a guy like Roscoe in the slot. And I don't believe that anybody can cover him one-on-one in the slot in true man to man. I truly don't believe it. So now you have a very dangerous receiving corps." |
Our View: Hardy compiled 79 receptions for 1,125 yards during his senior season, and scored 36 touchdowns during his three-year career at Indiana. He has No.1 receiver potential and will alleviate the doubles on Evans, while providing quarterback Trent Edwards with an imposing red zone target.
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| University of Illinois star running back Rashard Mendenhall -- who was just drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers -- was robbed at gunpoint early Monday along the South Side Chicago lakefront, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Mendenhall, 20, was walking along the lake near 39th Street at 2 a.m. with another person when two people robbed him of his phone, cash and wallet, sources familiar with the investigation said. "It was obviously a scary moment," said his agent, Mike McCartney of Priority Sports. "But he is fine. He is doing great. He said he doesn't have anything that is worth his life." |
Our View: No arrests have been made, and Mendenhall was not injured in the robbery.
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| LaDainian Tomlinson suggested that he might walk away from the game in a recent interview with Colleen Dominiguez of ESPN. The topic came up after Dominguez estimated that L.T. is roughly five solid seasons away from toppling Emmitt Smith’s all-time rushing mark. “It comes a time where you gotta walk away from the game,” Tomlinson said. “I really would like to walk away from the game on top. I dont want to be a player that’s declining and have to be kicked out of the league and not getting picked up by a team.” |
Our View: Tomlinson turns 29 years of age in June, and is entering the trailing edge of his prime as a NFL running back. LT will be the first choice in 99 percent of the fantasy football drafts in 2008, but his impressive run as the consensus number one fantasy football draft pick could be drawing to a close within the next couple of seasons.
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| Sixth-round draft pick Geno Hayes (Florida State) hopes to make an impact with the Buccaneers, according to the AP. Hayes said, "Everybody says they are going to come in with a chip on their shoulder. I don’t do the chip thing. I’m happy to be here. If you play with anger, you’re going to mess up some kind of way." He also thinks he has the tools to be a great NFL player, and Coach Jon Gruden said, "He has athletic ability. He’s what’s advertised. He’s going to be a good contact player, I think, when we start putting the pads on. He’s instinctive. He has good functional speed. He appears natural and comfortable in this defense. We’re excited by that. But for all these guys, it’s a big learning curve."
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Our View: At only 6-foot-1, 226 pounds, Hayes lacks the size some teams require in linebackers. But he’s viewed as a good fit for the Buccaneers Tampa Two defensive scheme, which thrives on speed and quickness rather than bulk. His fantasy value will be limited as a rookie as Cato June, Barrett Ruud, and Derrick Brooks are firmly planted in their starting roles, but Hayes could make an impact in the future if he puts in the hard work and dedication. He should learn a lot from the talented group of aforementioned linebackers.
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| Head coach Mike McCarthy will adjust the offense to mesh with quarterback Aaron Rodgers' strengths and weaknesses as they become more apparent; however, he suggested the changes will be relatively minor, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. His comments about Rodgers' athleticism suggest he might run more bootleg-type passes than he did with Favre. Also, drafting Jordy Nelson with the top pick suggests the spread passing attack with four and five receivers will remain a staple in the offense to take advantage of the team's best playmakers in Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and, perhaps now, Nelson. "(The spread personnel) is not the starting point of our offense," McCarthy said. "But we definitely have the players to do that, and it takes advantage of the strength of our perimeter players, because it puts the ball in their hands quickly and gives them the ability to make yards after the catch." |
Our View: Whether the scheme changes are minor or not, Rodgers has a steep hill to climb in replacing Favre, who is a first ballot Hall of Famer and a legendary figure in Green Bay.
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| The New England Patriots have signed second-year nose tackle Steve Fifita, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: The Miami Dolphins waived Fifita during the offseason. He played in 13 games with one start for the organization last year.
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| Alex Smith and Shaun Hill took the majority of plays with the first offense through five practices in the San Francisco 49ers weekend minicamp. But head coach Mike Nolan said J.T. O'Sullivan likely will work with the starting unit some when the team reconvene for a series of organized team activities in June, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "In order to call that a three-man race, some of that has to happen," Nolan said. At this point, offensive coordinator Mike Martz does not profess to have a favorite to run his offense. "He has an excellent chance," Martz said O'Sullivan. "If Mike [Nolan] said any one of the three can be your starting quarterback, I'd be happy. ... They all have a pretty good grasp of what we're doing." Martz added that O'Sullivan is "accurate and quick with the ball," two essential qualities for a quarterback in his offense. |
Our View: We consider O’Sullivan, who is a journeyman that has played with seven different teams, a long shot in the competition.
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| Shaun Alexander is expected to visit the Saints on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. Alexander stated, "I will be playing for another NFL team this fall, and doing everything I can to contribute. I am healthy, energized and looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my NFL career."
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Our View: He wants to play for his home town Bengals, but he would have a better chance to contribute and potentially make an impact in New Orleans. Deuce McAllister is 29 years old and has missed 25 games over his last three seasons. Reggie Bush also proved he is not capable of maintaining a heavy workload, and is best suited as a receiver out of the backfield.
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| Rookie tight end Fred Davis has spoken with head coach Jim Zorn, apologizing for oversleeping and missing the team’s final minicamp practice on Sunday. The organization said the matter would be handled internally, according to the Washington Post. After the Redskins completed their first OTA on Monday at Redskins Park, Vinny Cerrato, Washington's executive vice president of football operations, said that Davis got the message. "The biggest thing is, as long as they learn from their mistakes, that's the biggest thing," Cerrato said. "The kid felt awful. Jim got a chance to talk to him and Jim's handling it internally. I've talked to his agents and the kid feels horrible, which he should. Anytime you miss anything, to me it's important. Especially when you're here to ... he's making his first impression. Do what's right. He made a mistake. Now, he's got to fight back from the mistake." |
Our View: Davis isn’t exactly getting off on the right foot in Washington, but looking at the glass as half full, he did look good when he did participate, making several nifty grabs in 7-on-7 drills.
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| After months of legal wrangling, running back Reggie Bush finally will have to testify under oath about allegations that he received $291,000 in illegal cash and benefits from San Diego businessman and fledgling sports marketer Lloyd Lake, according to USA Today. Superior Court Judge Joan Lewis has ordered Bush to give his deposition June 23, LaMar Griffin on June 27 and Denise Griffin on June 30. Lewis denied Bush's request to have armed security at the depositions. Furthermore, Lewis denied Bush's request for his deposition to remain confidential, which means it could be released to the NCAA and the news media. If Bush admits wrongdoing while he was a student-athlete, it could have major repercussions for USC's football program. "We're very pleased the judge put a stop to Bush's ducking and dodging," said Brian Watkins, Lake's lawyer. Lake's deposition is scheduled for June 5 and 6. |
Our View: Lake is suing Bush and his parents for reimbursement of the $291,000 he says he gave to Bush, stepfather LaMar Griffin and mother Denise Griffin while Bush was a student-athlete at Southern California. He has already spent several hours telling his side of the story to NCAA investigators.
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| Jason Campbell fits the profile to be the Washington Redskins quarterback; however, this match is not apparent because of his prototype size or live arm, but due to the fact that he is familiar with the West Coast scheme, according to USA Today. "I ran the West Coast my senior year at Auburn," Campbell said after the first minicamp practice on Friday. "A lot of the things we're doing, I've seen it before." |
Our View: Campbell, 26, is quarterbacking in his seventh offensive system in nine years. He has already been named the starter, and is currently being remolded by head coach Jim Zorn, who is working with Campbell on his footwork and the verbiage of the new playbook.
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| Despite the rumors, the Carolina Panthers never guaranteed new receiver D.J. Hackett a starting spot to persuade him to sign on the dotted line, according to the Charlotte Observer. "Nah," Hackett said when asked if that had been part of the deal. "That's not my job; my job is just to play, so I don't worry about that." Hackett, who made several fine catches over the course of the five weekend workouts, was talking at the conclusion of Carolina's minicamp practices. He did say that the chance to get considerable playing time figured into his decision. "Definitely, especially when you've got a good quarterback [Jake Delhomme] to throw you the ball. When you go somewhere and you're the only guy and the quarterback's not putting it on the money, he can't really help you." |
Our View: Muhsin Muhammad ran with the first team during the weekend minicamp, but the competition to start opposite Steve Smith will remain intense all the way through training camp.
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| Eagles' offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said that the best thing for the team could be to use Brian Westbrook less, according to the PhillyBurbs.com. Mornhinweg commented, "We really leaned on him hard last year. We had to. We had no choice. We were forced to because of injuries. Donovan McNabb was just coming back, L.J. Smith was hurt, and Brian had such an unbelievable season. Two-thousand yards rushing and receiving. He did everything." Westbrook added, "I wouldn't mind it being the same. I think I've been very productive with the ball in my hands with that many touches. I think I can continue to do that. Of course, with us adding more playmakers like DeSean Jackson and guys like that, you need to get the ball in his hands, and Booker as well. You can try and do some different things that might take the ball a little bit out of my hands."
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Our View: As dynamic and versatile as Westbrook is, Mornhinweg believes the Eagles grew predictable last year. Westbrook racked up 2104 total yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007, but the Eagles only finished 17th in the NFL in scoring. That's why Mornhinweg thinks more balance will not only help the offense become less predictable but will also make Westbrook more dangerous. While Westbrook will be hard-pressed to put up the numbers he did last year, he should still remain an elite fantasy back. Less touches also limit the risk of injury, as Westbrook is still only 5-10 203 pounds.
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| First-round draft pick Keith Rivers, a linebacker from Southern Cal, worked on the weak-side position - which he played in college - and impressed coaches with his fluid play and work ethic during the Cincinnati Bengals’ three-day (five practice) rookie minicamp this past weekend, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Coaches were impressed, too, with Rivers' natural leadership and ability to call his position players together. "He showed things that are innate," Lewis said. "Every time he was not in a meeting, he was upstairs watching tape on his own. He already gets it." |
Our View: Rivers is penciled in to start on the weak-side, and possesses the sideline-to-sideline athletic ability to make an impact in the IDP world in 2008.
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| The San Diego Chargers are concerned enough about center Nick Hardwick not being able to start the season that they are targeting veteran center Jeremy Newberry for a possible signing after June 1, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hardwick is currently recovering from surgery on his severely sprained right foot. |
Our View: Newberry is an unrestricted free agent, but he would not count against San Diego when it comes to receiving compensatory draft picks next year, if they sign him after June 1.
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| Leodis McKelvin's first weekend as a NFL player went as smooth as he expected. There was a lot to learn, but he is confident in his ability to handle the transition, according to the Buffalo News. "I feel like I can compete against anybody," McKelvin said. "I feel like I'm getting better every practice and every day. It's been real good." McKelvin reiterated that he's aware of the high expectations of being the 11th overall pick, but he also expects to live up to them. "That's the goal I set for myself coming in, especially being drafted No. 11," he said. "If you're going to draft somebody at No. 11 you don't want him sitting on the bench or waiting for somebody. You want him to come in and play early. I'm going to come in and learn the defense and get better and better." |
Our View: McKelvin is expected to start on day one opposite Terrence McGee. In the IDP world there is the rookie cornerback rule, which states the youngsters get picked on until they prove they belong in the league. In the Bills cover 2 scheme, McKelvin could make for a solid selection in leagues required to start cornerbacks.
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| Antonio Gates, who is recovering from toe surgery (in February), will begin running later this month, according to CBSsports. His recovery was expected to take 4-6 months, so it is unlikely he will be ready for training camp in late July. |
Our View: He expects to be ready for the season opener against Carolina on September 7, and is already the best TE in the league, so missing training camp won't hurt him, other than from a conditioning standpoint.
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| The addition of second-round pick Curtis Lofton gives the Atlanta Falcons some flexibility in their linebacker corps, according to Pro Football Weekly. Lofton is perceived as the heir apparent to Keith Brooking at middle linebacker but could also back up Michael Boley on the strong side, where he played for part of his career at Oklahoma. |
Our View: On the surface it “appears” that Lofton is a year away from making an impact in the IDP world. If he's a quick study, Lofton could start in the middle, bumping Brooking over to the weakside where he is more comfortable. Stay tuned.
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| Rookie tight end Gary Barnidge has a very good shot of unseating Jeff King, as the Carolina Panthers starter if he’s able to grasp the offense quickly, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: Barnidge would help himself by adding some weight to his frame in the next few months and improving as a blocker. Dante Rosario ran with the first team in this weekend’s minicamp, so it appears King is in danger of losing his job.
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| The addition of fifth-round draft choice, running back Tim Hightower, has Marcell Shipp and J.J. Arrington on the roster bubble in Arizona, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: Running backs coach Maurice Carthon is high on Hightower, a bruiser who could provide a breather for Edgerrin James in short yardage and goal line situations.
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| Brandon Jackson is expected to serve as Ryan Grant's primary backup this season, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. |
Our View: Jackson couldn't go through the offseason training program last season because (as a rookie) he didn't join the team until late April. Coach Mike McCarthy said, "Some guys make huge gains, and it tells you a little bit about their history. Brandon was one of those guys. He's so young (22), very raw, but he has made some big gains in the weight room, has tremendous lower-half strength, and I think it's all part of his maturity. He's just a young guy and has so much more upside." There is a growing trend in the NFL to use a two-back system, like in Dallas and Carolina, and Green Bay could go that route with Jackson on the rise. They will want to keep Grant healthier as well, and may not want to wear him down like they previously did with Ahman Green.
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| The more San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz works with QB Alex Smith, the more excited he gets. Martz apparently has told some of his confidantes that Smith could be the best quarterback he’s worked with on the professional level, according to Pro Football Weekly. |
Our View: Smith is the frontrunner to start in San Francisco, and keep in mind following a dismal rookie campaign, he progressed nicely in 2006, before last year’s injury riddled 2007 campaign.
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| The Cleveland Browns biggest surprise on the draft’s second day was their decision to trade up in Round Four to select Missouri tight end Martin Rucker, according to Pro Football Weekly. That trade, which required the Browns to give up their 2009 third-round selection, is a hedge against the uncertainty surrounding Winslow on a couple of fronts. Winslow had another knee surgery in the offseason, and he would like a new contract. General Manager Phil Savage has been in contact with Winslow’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, but no deal is imminent. “We’ve kept open lines of communication in terms of talking through some things,” Savage said. “You’re talking about a player that has three years left on his deal, one year was added after the motorcycle accident, so I guess that would be up for discussion, but there’s no real indication one way or the other. We’re in the offseason, several months away from the real season, so we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” |
Our View: Winslow is coming off a career year, but his first two seasons were shelved by knee injuries, and he had knee surgery on the problematic right knee again this offseason. Rucker, who is a terrific athlete and has great hands and ball skills, really came on his senior season with eight touchdown catches. He provides some leverage should Winslow turn into a problem child over money issues, or if his knee doesn’t respond during rehab.
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| The decision about the Philadelphia Eagles' linebackers has been made. Stewart Bradley is in the middle and will be calling the signals. Omar Gaither has returned to weakside linebacker, the position he played as a rookie, and Chris Gocong remains the strong-side linebacker, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is excited about Bradley playing middle linebacker after he finished with strong games against New Orleans and Buffalo as a rookie last season. "He's smart," Johnson said. "He's picked things up and done a heck of a job in the off-season. He was here almost every day. The thing I never knew when we drafted him as a [strong-side] linebacker is how good he was going to be inside. All of a sudden we put him inside in that [Saints] game, and he makes a couple of plays. He'll keep getting better." |
Our View: This has been rumored all during the offseason, but this is the first time it has been verified by a member of the Eagles coaching staff. This news increases the IDP stock of Bradley, who started only one game last season as a rookie.
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| The Philadelphia police department advises there were no new developments in the case involving receiver Marvin Harrison, according to the Indianapolis Star. Harrison was questioned by police about a shooting near a bar he owns in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where he grew up. A man was shot in the hand and a young boy sustained a cut under his eye after a bullet shattered a car windshield. |
Our View: Thus far, Harrison has denied being involved and hasn't been charged with a crime.
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| Donovan McNabb showed up to minicamp in good shape, according to the Philadelphia Enquirer. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said, "There is no comparison he is in better shape. Donovan looks sharp, quick. He's throwing the ball well. Last year at this time, there was still a lot of work to be done physically with his injury."
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Our View: McNabb was recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last season, and posted decent numbers with 3324 passing yards and 19 scoring strikes. Tight end (and favorite safety valve) LJ Smith also battled injuries. Both are healthy for this season, and McNabb could challenge his former MVP-type numbers in 2008, assuming receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown carry their weight as playmakers. Rookie DeSean Jackson will provide a spark to the offense as well.
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| Further details have been released in Michael Boley's arrest, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Boley has been charged with battery on Saturday for becoming physical with his wife, and is currently out on bond ($1,200). Boley was the primary aggressor in the fight.
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Our View: The Falcons have no comment at this time, and the franchise is still trying to recover following last year's incident with Michael Vick.
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| Competition began on the field this weekend at inside linebacker, where 2007 first-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons is trying to wrest the starting job away from Larry Foote, who has held it the past four seasons, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "That potentially could be intense because Lawrence has put himself in position to compete," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "It's been a good weekend for him, it's the difference between night and day between what he showed us this weekend and what he showed us last year. The pedigree is still there, and we're excited about what he brings to the table.” |
Our View: Foote is a proud veteran, who won’t give up the job without a serious fight, but Timmons was the 15th overall pick last year’s draft, which gives him some juice as the organization will want to start realizing some return on that investment.
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| Robert Royal is safe as the starting tight end this year in Buffalo, leaving rookie Derek Fine to compete with free-agent pickups Teyo Johnson and Courtney Anderson as well as second-year pro Derek Schouman for playing time, according to the Buffalo Bills News. Derek Fine’s receiving numbers at the University of Kansas weren’t jaw-dropping last season. But his 46 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns weren’t that bad for a tight end playing in a spread offense that used multiple wide receivers and moved him all over the field. |
Our View: Royal might be the starter for 2008, but he hasn’t been very impressive during his six-year career. Meanwhile, Fine is a player to keep an eye on, especially in dynasty leagues, because Johnson and Anderson are career underachievers, who don’t pose much of a threat in the competition for the backup job.
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| Wide receiver Shaun McDonald had knee surgery after the season and has been rehabbing in Arizona while the Detroit Lions have been going through their off-season conditioning program, according to the Detroit Free Press. Head coach Rod Marinelli said McDonald should be in Detroit this week. "When he comes in, hopefully we'll have a chance to recheck him," Marinelli said. |
Our View: McDonald led the team in several receiving categories last year, but with the Lions expected to use less multiple receiver sets this year, he could see his fantasy value decline significantly.
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| Cornerback Richard Marshall stepped in and started at cornerback late in 2007 after Chris Gamble was forced to play with a cast on his injured right wrist. Now healthy, Gamble is back with the first team at cornerback along with Ken Lucas, while Marshall returns to being the No. 3 corner. However, that could change, according to the Charlotte Observer. “I think Richard is a fine player,” Fox said. “In our base defense only two of them get to start. We’ll see how that develops. We have great competition there and those guys will settle that.” |
Our View: For all of the IDP heads in the audience, Marshall should definitely be on your radar. He possesses excellent ball skills and has proven himself to be a playmaker when given the chance to start. Despite starting only six games last year, Marshall posted 5+ solo tackes in eight different games. During the last three games of the 2007 season he compiled 24 solo tackles and an interception.
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| Although he won’t say it, it’s pretty clear that head coach John Fox views the acquisitions of veteran wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett as a dramatic upgrade over last year’s twosome of Keary Colbert and Drew Carter, according to the Charlotte Observer. “That’s what you try to do is regroup in the off-season,” Fox said. “That was an area where we felt like we needed to add some depth. Not just good players, but good guys, too. I think we hit on both of those guys.” Muhammad ran with the starters during minicamp while Hackett was the No. 3 receiver. Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson continue to battle for the No. 4 spot, but the receiver who really impressed this weekend was Jason Carter. Carter spent most of last year on the team’s practice squad before being called up late in the season. He made two nice receptions during Saturday’s practice. |
Our View: Carolina is a team that could return to prominence with a few breaks. The organization has stockpiled offensive linemen during the offseason, expecting to feature a power running game behind Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. They have also provided Jake Delhomme with some new weapons in the passing game, which could really allow the offense to fire on all cylinders.
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| Jake Delhomme continued to look strong throwing the ball on Sunday, even stepping up the length of some of his throws on the final day of minicamp, according to the Charlotte Observer. Delhomme, who’d been mostly limited to 15- and 20-yard tosses during the first two days, made a handful of 30- and 40-yard throws under the watchful eye of trainer Ryan Vermillion. Delhomme’s right arm didn’t seem to bother him at all during the three-day minicamp, leaving coach John Fox feeling optimistic that he won’t have any problems this season. “He’s looked very, very good,” Fox said. “His arm looks stronger than it has ever looked.” |
Our View: Delhomme hopes to begin throwing in team drills when players return for three weeks of organized training activities in June. He participated in individual drills only in minicamp.
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| Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans isn't used to hearing voices in his helmet. But that's about to change. When Ryans takes the field next fall, he will be the Houston Texans player designated to wear the new defensive transmitter, which was approved by the NFL's head coaches this offseason, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: The new rule states only one defensive player can wear the transmitter, which is why Ryans is the obvious candidate. He is a three-down linebacker who rarely leaves the field.
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| League sources indicate the New Orleans Saints' pursuit of New York tight end Jeremy Shockey did not end when a draft-day deal between the clubs could not be reached, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Head coach Sean Payton believes Shockey is a perfect fit for the Saints' offense, and he still desperately wants the player to be wearing a black-and-gold uniform this season. |
Our View: The NFL trading deadline is Oct. 16, so this story could hang around for a while.
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| Head Coach Mike Nolan said it is possible that the San Francisco 49ers will name a starting quarterback before any exhibition games are played, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. "In a perfect world, you'd have a one, a two and a three," Nolan said. "But before you get to the perfect world, somebody has to win the job. And we need somebody to win the job." Before training camp opens in late July, the 49ers will have 12 practices during organized team activities in June. The 49ers have three quarterbacks - Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan - competing for the No. 1 job. |
Our View: Smith, who has the pedigree and is the most athletically gifted of the three, is the frontrunner to nail down the job, and he could be a sleeper candidate at the position given the past history of signal callers in Martz’s offensive scheme.
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| Jay Cutler will wear an insulin pump during practices and pre-game warm-ups to regulate his blood-sugar level, once he gets back to his 238-pound playing weight and his condition fully stabilizes, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Then he'll take the device off for the three hours he plays in games, keeping a close eye on his glucose levels - either between quarters or at halftime - and drinking Gatorade to give his body a boost rather than letting the machine do the work for him. "We wish we would have caught it towards the end of the season, and that's probably my fault, because we were trying to schedule a blood test but I had a lot of things going on. And once the season ended, everybody kind of scatters around here," Cutler said. "But I think we caught it relatively soon. And talking to the doctors, if I get this under control, there shouldn't be any long-term damage." |
Our View: Cutler has become educated far beyond his cursory knowledge of the disease. He has regained about 18 of the 30 to 35 pounds he had lost during a five-month span following the 2007 season.
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| Running back Frank Gore is excited about the changes in store for him in offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s new offense, according to Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Gore looks forward to being a bigger part of the passing game, where he will get an opportunity run routes while lining up in the slot. |
Our View: From 1999-2002, Marshall Faulk posted four 80+-reception seasons under Martz, so it’s conceivable that Gore could have the best receiving season of his career in 2008.
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| Undrafted receiver Davone Bess displayed the best hands of the young receivers at the Miami Dolphins weekend minicamp, according to South Florida Sun-Sentinel. |
Our View: Bess, who posted 293 receptions and 41 touchdowns during three years at Hawaii, will likely be a long shot to make the final roster, but he’s a young player to keep an eye on as the Dolphins are looking for a reliable slot receiver.
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| Derek Smith spent the weekend working with the first and second team defense, according to Chargers.com. With Stephen Cooper scheduled to miss the first four games of the season, there's a strong chance that Smith will be the starter at the "Mike" linebacker position for the first month. Smith impressed Norv Turner in his first weekend on the field with the Chargers. Turner said, "Veteran players just have a presence about them. He’s come in and picked up what we’re doing. He’s very, very sudden and very, very quick. He’s got a lot of confidence and a lot of experience. It gives us depth at the linebacker position."
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Our View: Smith was a productive and reliable linebacker over his career with the 49ers, and should post solid numbers while Cooper is off the field. He will provide strong depth to the position for San Diego.
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| Antonio Cromartie was practicing as a punt returner during practice over the weekend, but Coach Norv Turner said he won't be used in that role this season, according to Chargers.com. Turner said, "We’ve got good punt returners. We’ve got Darren Sproles and Buster Davis. The fact that Cro can do it, that’s a bonus. He’s done the kickoff returns and he’s always available for that. We’ll let him keep catching and some day he may bail us out."
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Our View: Cromartie made 10 interceptions in 2007, and scored two defensive touchdowns, and will make plenty of plays this season to keep him ranked high among fantasy IDP's at the position.
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| Tony Sparano stated that the feud between Jason Taylor and the Dolphins, namely with Bill Parcells, was "overblown", according to the Sun Sentinel. Sparano added that as long as he and Taylor continue to communicate everything is fine. |
Our View: Taylor should be done with 'Dancing with the Stars,' in time to show up for the next organized team activity on May 21.
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