February 16th, 2008 9:27pm PST
Monday Morning Huddle
2009 season has already started
Sure there isn't any football on any channels at this time of year, but we still have the NFL Replay and with all the current offseason activity, there's never a dull moment. We mustn't forget Wednesday starts the scouting combine, which basically starts the countdown to kick-off for 2009. Over 300 NFL prospects will be gathering soon in Indianapolis, making ready to chase a dream to one day play in the NFL and many of us fanatics will be tuning in this weekend and taking a front seat as we watch it all unfold on the NFL Network.
While the combine will draw a lot of interest from many football scouts and NFL executives, it won't take long for before their attention will quickly turn to the free agent market. We've already seen a lot of movement by teams across the league placing the franchise tag on several high-profile players such as; RB Brandon Jacobs (NYG) and LB Karlos Dansby (Ari). Players like the Panther's defensive lineman Julius Peppers and the Charger's running back Darren Sproles could be facing the same as teams plan their offseason strategy.
With 24/7 Total Access, we are seeing NFL GM's making cuts, releasing over-priced commodities, and remaking their teams for the 2009 season. Sure this is not hard hitting action, but watching some of our gridiron heroes of yesterday say goodbye to the game or move on to new pastures is never easy. It is often considered the cold hard reality of business in the NFL.
With all this talk of reality, it's time to take a look at the fantasy.
Monday Morning Huddle
2009 season has already started
Sure there isn't any football on any channels at this time of year, but we still have the NFL Replay and with all the current offseason activity, there's never a dull moment. We mustn't forget Wednesday starts the scouting combine, which basically starts the countdown to kick-off for 2009. Over 300 NFL prospects will be gathering soon in Indianapolis, making ready to chase a dream to one day play in the NFL and many of us fanatics will be tuning in this weekend and taking a front seat as we watch it all unfold on the NFL Network.
While the combine will draw a lot of interest from many football scouts and NFL executives, it won't take long for before their attention will quickly turn to the free agent market. We've already seen a lot of movement by teams across the league placing the franchise tag on several high-profile players such as; RB Brandon Jacobs (NYG) and LB Karlos Dansby (Ari). Players like the Panther's defensive lineman Julius Peppers and the Charger's running back Darren Sproles could be facing the same as teams plan their offseason strategy.
With 24/7 Total Access, we are seeing NFL GM's making cuts, releasing over-priced commodities, and remaking their teams for the 2009 season. Sure this is not hard hitting action, but watching some of our gridiron heroes of yesterday say goodbye to the game or move on to new pastures is never easy. It is often considered the cold hard reality of business in the NFL.
With all this talk of reality, it's time to take a look at the fantasy.
Fantasy Fixx
The 2008 Fantasy football season, brought about many highs, moments of glory, and exciting times for many owners that rode the legs of running back DeAngelo Williams, the arm of Drew Brees, and the hands of Larry Fitzgerald. Your weeks of preparation and studying paid off and you were rewarded with best of the bunch for 2008.
But what about those less fortunate fantasy owners that were once again snake bitten by this past season's frauds. It was just another turbulent season of fantasy football casualties and misfortune. It happens to the best of us.
So what side of the fence did you fall on?
If you had any of the three players I just mentioned, you probably had a successful 2008 campaign worth reminiscing about over the coming summer. But if you found yourself with a whole different set of players, you probably bought into the hype and used a high pick to grab one of these ballers, that 2008 would show us, were very costly picks.
Bust of the Year:
While there were many qualified candidates to fit the bill, it was tough to narrow my choice to just one. In St. Louis, quarterback Marc Bulger's early struggles with just three touchdown passes in his first six games put him on the list. In Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer's elbow struggles that eventually sidelined him, made him an early favorite. After his 2007 strong showing, watching the Brown's quarterback Derek Anderson's awful play with six picks in just four games put him into serious contention.
There were others that struggled in 2008; Raven's tight end Todd Heap (just 35 receptions and three touchdowns), the Cowboys wide receiver Roy E. Williams (just two touchdowns last season), the Bengal's wide receiver Chad Johnson (played like "Ocho Stinko" in '08 with just four touchdowns), and Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens (drafted as high the number two receiver overall) who barely finished in the top ten.
But my selection for 2008 must go to the Colt's running back Joseph Addai. In 2008 Addai had an average-draft-position of just under the six position. In most cases Addai was the fifth or sixth running back selected in most fantasy leagues. Unfortunately for such a high pick, fantasy owners were not rewarded with big production.
Addai started slow this past season and was slowed down even more with lingering injuries. He barely finished inside the top 40 running backs for 2008 and just made the top 100 (99th) with his 504-yards rushing, 206-yards receiving and seven total touchdowns. This was quite a drop from his 2007 season, where he totaled over 1,400-yards and scored a total of 15 touchdowns.
The 2008 Fantasy football season, brought about many highs, moments of glory, and exciting times for many owners that rode the legs of running back DeAngelo Williams, the arm of Drew Brees, and the hands of Larry Fitzgerald. Your weeks of preparation and studying paid off and you were rewarded with best of the bunch for 2008.
But what about those less fortunate fantasy owners that were once again snake bitten by this past season's frauds. It was just another turbulent season of fantasy football casualties and misfortune. It happens to the best of us.
So what side of the fence did you fall on?
If you had any of the three players I just mentioned, you probably had a successful 2008 campaign worth reminiscing about over the coming summer. But if you found yourself with a whole different set of players, you probably bought into the hype and used a high pick to grab one of these ballers, that 2008 would show us, were very costly picks.
Bust of the Year:
While there were many qualified candidates to fit the bill, it was tough to narrow my choice to just one. In St. Louis, quarterback Marc Bulger's early struggles with just three touchdown passes in his first six games put him on the list. In Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer's elbow struggles that eventually sidelined him, made him an early favorite. After his 2007 strong showing, watching the Brown's quarterback Derek Anderson's awful play with six picks in just four games put him into serious contention.
There were others that struggled in 2008; Raven's tight end Todd Heap (just 35 receptions and three touchdowns), the Cowboys wide receiver Roy E. Williams (just two touchdowns last season), the Bengal's wide receiver Chad Johnson (played like "Ocho Stinko" in '08 with just four touchdowns), and Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens (drafted as high the number two receiver overall) who barely finished in the top ten.
But my selection for 2008 must go to the Colt's running back Joseph Addai. In 2008 Addai had an average-draft-position of just under the six position. In most cases Addai was the fifth or sixth running back selected in most fantasy leagues. Unfortunately for such a high pick, fantasy owners were not rewarded with big production.
Addai started slow this past season and was slowed down even more with lingering injuries. He barely finished inside the top 40 running backs for 2008 and just made the top 100 (99th) with his 504-yards rushing, 206-yards receiving and seven total touchdowns. This was quite a drop from his 2007 season, where he totaled over 1,400-yards and scored a total of 15 touchdowns.
(photo by Getty Images)
Joseph Addai, my 2008 Bust of the Year.
Disappointment of the Year:
Is there really any surprise here that the Chief's running back Larry Johnson was the biggest disappointment in 2008. Johnson not only disappointed countless fantasy owners last season, but he let down a franchise along with a city for his actions of the field. As a result he missed four games and had another poor showing in fantasy. Johnson finished 2008 with 874-yards and just five total touchdowns barely ranking in the top 30 of running backs
(photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Larry Johnson, my 2008 Biggest Disappointment of the Year.
Casualty of the Year:
Having played fantasy football for many years now, I can easily sympathize with those owners last season that jumped on the Tom Brady wagon early, only to see it derail in Week one. It happens to the best of us, ask owners riding the Ronnie Brown train in 2007, and the Clinton Portis disaster ride of 2006. Granted neither Portis or Brown were selected as high as Brady was likely taken in most drafts this season, but their pain is still shared. For many Brady owners (not all), their run for a championship ended just after 18 offensive plays from scrimmage.
(photo by Jim Davis / Globe Staff)
Better luck next season Tom Brady.
WHAT'S IN THE MIX
...Latest News, whispers, and tid-bits...
Gearing up for free agency...
More teams across the board are gearing up for the impending free agency shopping spree that is expected to commence as early as Feb. 27. With more cuts made over the weekend and on Monday, the league is starting to turn pink as aging veterans, busts, and cap casualties are handed their walking (pink-slips) papers.
The latest teams to empty the closet are the Denver Broncos, who cut six players on Monday including veteran defensive players, LB Jamie Winborn and Dewayne Robertson. The Saints also joined the movement by releasing veteran running back Deuce McAllister. McAllister joined wide receiver David Patten as one of the team's early casualties. With the offseason moving full speed ahead, more cuts and releases are expected around the league in the coming weeks.
Looking back at the latest to hit the cutting room floor...
...Latest News, whispers, and tid-bits...
Gearing up for free agency...
More teams across the board are gearing up for the impending free agency shopping spree that is expected to commence as early as Feb. 27. With more cuts made over the weekend and on Monday, the league is starting to turn pink as aging veterans, busts, and cap casualties are handed their walking (pink-slips) papers.
The latest teams to empty the closet are the Denver Broncos, who cut six players on Monday including veteran defensive players, LB Jamie Winborn and Dewayne Robertson. The Saints also joined the movement by releasing veteran running back Deuce McAllister. McAllister joined wide receiver David Patten as one of the team's early casualties. With the offseason moving full speed ahead, more cuts and releases are expected around the league in the coming weeks.
Looking back at the latest to hit the cutting room floor...
Notable Players handed their Pink slips;
DB Mike Brown (Chi)
DB Chris McAlister (Bal)
RB Deuce McAllister (NO)
DB Dre Bly (Den)
TE Nate Jackson (Den)
RB Fred Taylor (Jax)
DB Corey Chavous (Stl)
DL Dewayne Robertson (Den)
DL John Engelberger (Den)
LB Jamie Winborn (Den)
WR David Patten (NO)
WR Marty Booker (Chi)
RB P.J. Pope (Den)
WR Jerry Porter (Jax)
RB Ahman Green (Hou)
LB Morlon Greenwood (Hou)
WR Mike Furrey (Det)
DB Leigh Bodden (Det)
TE Dan Campbell (Det)
LB David Barrett (NYJ)
RB Reuben Droughns (NYG)
DB Sam Madison (NYG)
DB Sammy Knight (NYG)
Expected to be released or not re-signed..
QB Jeff Garcia (TB)
QB J.P. Losman (Buf)
QB Joey Harrington (NO)
QB Rex Grossman (Chi)
QB Jon Kitna (Det)
RB Edgerrin James (Ari)
RB Lamont Jordan (NE)
WR Darrell Jackson (Den)
WR Reggie Williams (Jax)
LB Bart Scott (Bal)
LB Andra Davis (Cle)
LB Mike Peterson (Jax)
Check back every Monday for more Monday Morning Huddle!
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