FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

February 9th, 2008 11:27pm PST




[The Late Evening Edition]
Monday Morning Huddle

Remembering 2008

Sunday officially closed the books on the 2008-2009 NFL season with the annual Pro Bowl classic being played in Honolulu, likely for the last time or at least for a while. Not that I look forward to watching the game itself (I do watch it-I'm a football fan, gotta have my fix), but it does carry a certain significance marking the end of the calendar football season.

This happens every year. The build-up, the excitement of the 17-week season, then before you know it, it's gone. I had a lot of high hopes for the 2008 season, with my favorite team, to my fantasy teams, to jumping on a bandwagon to ride in the playoffs. Needless to say, my fantasy hopes came crashing with a horrendous thud with injuries to key players (as is always the case), my football team collapsed down the stretch, and wouldn't it figure that I would pick the wrong team in the Super Bowl.

All in all, there were a few personal frustrations, but the '08 season was hardly a disappointment. To the contrary, this past season had to be one of the more memorable with lots of promise looking ahead to 2009. Sure there is going to be some remorse with the season over and I expect to experience some post-football withdrawals, but I will do my best keep the football notes, spins, and numbers flowing as I continue to find my Daily Football Fixx!

Fantasy Fixx

The 2008 fantasy football season was nothing different than what fantasy fanatics have become use to seeing, but one thing worthy of note was the increased scoring from NFL as a whole. In week 12 of the 2008 season the NFL posted 837 points combined from all 32 teams, most ever for one weekend. For the year, the NFL averaged over 44 points per game, an increase from the 2007 season when the league average was 43.4 and higher than the 43.7 record set in 1983, after the league adapted the 16 game format.

So what does that mean? It means more points equals more fantasy points and if you play fantasy football, this is a good thing. And in 2008, no one scored more fantasy points than Saints quarterback Drew Brees!

Fantasy Stud of the Year: Drew Brees, QB (New Orleans)

There was no other player this season more dominant or consistent than the Saints Passer. This past season, Brees passed for over 300-yards in ten games, just missing an eleventh in Week 13 when he finished with 296-yards. Brees also threw at least two touchdowns in eleven of his starts, including four in weeks 12 and 17. What would set him apart from his competition were his big performances this year. Six times in 2008 the Saints passer would toss at least three touchdowns and throw for more than 300-yards ending the competition. Brees would finish his prolific season with over 5,000-yards passing and 34 touchdowns to snag these honors as my...

....2008 Stud of the year!

WHAT'S IN THE MIX
...Latest News, whispers, and tid-bits...


Cleaning House...

Looks like the Giant's have started their spring cleaning a little early. According the AP, on Monday the team has terminated the contract of several veteran players; Sam Madison, Sammy Knight, and Reuben Droughns. Oddly enough all three players suffered season ending injuries and did not participate in the post season. None of the three veterans were starters, yet Droughns was the team's highest paid running back last year. While there was not a huge load of money tied to these three, it sure does look as though the team is trying to free up some coin. Not to mention the team's current actions concerning wide receiver Plaxico Burress, it sure seems they are trying to collect all the nickels and dimes they're going to need to sign Jacobs and/or Ward. They'll need them all.


The word on the football street (Gridiron Blvd), according to the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys have released troubled cornerback Adam Jones. Last offseason Jones was signed by the team following a one year suspension that he served while with the Titans. There's little question that the signing was a huge risk and in the end had little reward and even less return. With Jones no longer a Cowboy, you have to wonder who could be next to leave Valley Ranch. Most football analysts would be willing to bet that T.O. would be a good candidate and we don't see quarterback Tony Romo shedding any tears to keep his receiver put. With the house cleaning now in progress it will be interesting to see who is next to


More news from the football world, the Cleveland Browns joined the party and cut loose some dead weight. With Brady Quinn emerging as a strong candidate to start at quarterback in 2009 and Derek Anderson still on the team, it was time for the franchise to hand out a couple of pink slips to back-ups Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski. Both quarterbacks started a few games for the club in 2008, but neither is a legitimate option to compete for the starting job in 2009. Now that there's a new sheriff in town, when it's time to go, show them the door and don't let it hit you on the way out.


Not to go unnoticed, although they did most of 2008 campaign during their imperfect 0-16 season, the Lions have decided to part ways with an $8 million price tag attached to cornerback Leigh Bodden according to the Associated Press. Along with Bodden the team has released several other players, including defensive back Dwight Smith and wide receiver Mike Furrey in keeping with the theme "starting over with a whole new look." There's no question that the Lions would like nothing better than to disassociate themselves from the team that was and look toward the team they hope to be. With the free-agency Palooza only weeks away, it looks like the organization is just getting their coin together for their 2009 makeover.


Now that several teams have begun to clean house, the coming weeks are going to be very interesting, especially as we get closer to the February 27th date that opens the free agent bazaar. One thing to watch as the coming days pass, who will be next to go?


Check back every Monday for more Monday Morning Huddle!