WEDNESDAY WATERCOOLER
There's no question that the business of the NFL is a tough one; just ask Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Vonnie Holiday, and Marvin Harrison. These players learned the harsh realities of playing in the NFL when they were recently released. And now the leagues incumbent pariah Terrell Owens has joined the list of the NFL's homeless, although he's likely in lone company judging by reactions across the internet.
Life in the NFL can not be easy, especially when you suddenly find out you are without a job, without a team, and without a home. Many of today's NFL's stars pushing the mid-thirties and up are finding themselves joining this inauspicious list. Players like Deuce McAllister and Jason Taylor are on the decline of productive careers, but one has to wonder if any of these players have much left to contribute.
Players like Harrison, McAllister, and Brooks have had long and prestigious careers, but don't figure to be a part of any team's future plans. While they may hang around looking for opportunities that may arise (player injuries, future releases), none figure to make much of a splash in fantasy football for 2009.
Taylor and Dunn could actually be reshuffled back into the mix somewhere as teams continue to fill needs and look for help. Dunn came off a pretty productive 2008 and could be a nice change-of-pace or 3rd down back in the right situation. With most teams implementing more of a committee system, he has a chance to still play. Taylor, now healthy has been receiving many call and could find a new home very soon. The former Redskin and Dolphin has lost a step, but again in the right system as a situational pass rusher he could be effective and productive.
A couple of names that have surfaced recently as possible releases are wide receiver Torry Holt and running back Edgerrin James. Both players are on the decline and finding themselves in not-so suitable positions. With both players asking for their release, it sounds like each is just looking for a new start somewhere fresh in 2009. For fantasy leaguers, until they land somewhere befitting, both are probably best left as free agents.
The GM Game.
Life in the NFL can not be easy, especially when you suddenly find out you are without a job, without a team, and without a home. Many of today's NFL's stars pushing the mid-thirties and up are finding themselves joining this inauspicious list. Players like Deuce McAllister and Jason Taylor are on the decline of productive careers, but one has to wonder if any of these players have much left to contribute.
Players like Harrison, McAllister, and Brooks have had long and prestigious careers, but don't figure to be a part of any team's future plans. While they may hang around looking for opportunities that may arise (player injuries, future releases), none figure to make much of a splash in fantasy football for 2009.
Taylor and Dunn could actually be reshuffled back into the mix somewhere as teams continue to fill needs and look for help. Dunn came off a pretty productive 2008 and could be a nice change-of-pace or 3rd down back in the right situation. With most teams implementing more of a committee system, he has a chance to still play. Taylor, now healthy has been receiving many call and could find a new home very soon. The former Redskin and Dolphin has lost a step, but again in the right system as a situational pass rusher he could be effective and productive.
A couple of names that have surfaced recently as possible releases are wide receiver Torry Holt and running back Edgerrin James. Both players are on the decline and finding themselves in not-so suitable positions. With both players asking for their release, it sounds like each is just looking for a new start somewhere fresh in 2009. For fantasy leaguers, until they land somewhere befitting, both are probably best left as free agents.
The GM Game.
Dilbert by Scott Adams
Let's Play GM...
Re-Making a Winner...
There are a couple of ways to build a winner in the NFL. You can draft the right players, develop your core group into a dynamic mix of skill and talent, and create this fantastic on-field chemistry that will beget you many wins. That would be the Steelers 1970's formula for success. In the era of the free agent, with salary caps, signing bonuses, and primadonnas this formula has been a tough mix to follow.
Even one of last year's Super Bowl contenders was a roster filled with rehashed players; the Cardinal's Warner came from the Giants/Rams, Edgerrin James from the Colts, Roderick Hood from the Eagles, Bert Berry from the Broncos, and Travis LaBoy from the Titans.
The 2008 Cardinals came up just short of winning an NFL title, but it's enough to make a believer of other teams that will try to fill the holes and solve their needs through free agency.
Looking for a soft landing...
The Jets were flying high at one point last season, sitting at 8-3, first place in the East, and gearing up for a soft landing in the postseason, but the propeller came flying off and the team stumbled down the stretch missing the playoffs. One of the keys to it's collapse was the play of a tired defense. One that new head coach Rex Ryan has made the move to bolster, strengthen and add some proven talent. The team will have some big issues to face at the quarterback position going forward, but this offseason Ryan has really addressed some of the teams biggest needs on defense. By adding former Raven linebacker Bart Scott, the Jets get more inside playmaking ability to help improve the teams 18th ranked run defense. Rookie corner Darrelle Revis quickly blossomed into a solid cover corner and now will be joined in the secondary by former Eagles corner Lito Sheppard. Ryan has also added another former Raven to join the secondary, safety Jim Leonhard who will be expected to compete for the starting job along side Kerri Rhodes. They say defense wins championships and Ryan is wasting little time to remake his defense and build a winner.
The Jets were flying high at one point last season, sitting at 8-3, first place in the East, and gearing up for a soft landing in the postseason, but the propeller came flying off and the team stumbled down the stretch missing the playoffs. One of the keys to it's collapse was the play of a tired defense. One that new head coach Rex Ryan has made the move to bolster, strengthen and add some proven talent. The team will have some big issues to face at the quarterback position going forward, but this offseason Ryan has really addressed some of the teams biggest needs on defense. By adding former Raven linebacker Bart Scott, the Jets get more inside playmaking ability to help improve the teams 18th ranked run defense. Rookie corner Darrelle Revis quickly blossomed into a solid cover corner and now will be joined in the secondary by former Eagles corner Lito Sheppard. Ryan has also added another former Raven to join the secondary, safety Jim Leonhard who will be expected to compete for the starting job along side Kerri Rhodes. They say defense wins championships and Ryan is wasting little time to remake his defense and build a winner.
The Road to success a Mile High..
Surprisingly when the Broncos hired new head coach Josh McDaniels, it was thought he was brought in for his offensive mind and prowess, but it has been the defense where he has made the most noise. For Denver fans that is good, because last season was not kind on the other side of the ball. The new coach's first big move was landing free agent safety Brian Dawkins. A charismatic team leader that can invoke the kind of winning attitude on defense this team needs. With the defense converting to the 3-4, the Broncos have added inside linebacker Andra Davis to the mix, signed defensive lineman Darrell Reid, cornerback Andre Goodman, and to give their big playmaking safety help the team also signed former Dolphins safety Renaldo Hill. On paper it certainly looks like McDaniels is carefully piecing together a winning puzzle that could find this team farther from the bottom of the list of good defenses and closer to being a contender in the AFC West. That is only one half of the formula. On offense the team has had its first brush with controversy, but once the waves settle McDaniels has added some talent that is typical of the personnel he carried in New England. Players like Buckhalter, Jordan, and Gaffney will fill specific roles that the Broncos new head coach hopes can help the teams core of talent (Culter, Royal, and Marshall) elevate to the next level; a championship caliber team.
T.O. may be gone from Dallas, but that doesn't mean we can't get our popcorn ready for what will be an exciting 2009 season, once we get past the draft, the offseason OTA's and preseason.
So stay tuned.
Keep checking back for more football....
By David G. Ortega
Surprisingly when the Broncos hired new head coach Josh McDaniels, it was thought he was brought in for his offensive mind and prowess, but it has been the defense where he has made the most noise. For Denver fans that is good, because last season was not kind on the other side of the ball. The new coach's first big move was landing free agent safety Brian Dawkins. A charismatic team leader that can invoke the kind of winning attitude on defense this team needs. With the defense converting to the 3-4, the Broncos have added inside linebacker Andra Davis to the mix, signed defensive lineman Darrell Reid, cornerback Andre Goodman, and to give their big playmaking safety help the team also signed former Dolphins safety Renaldo Hill. On paper it certainly looks like McDaniels is carefully piecing together a winning puzzle that could find this team farther from the bottom of the list of good defenses and closer to being a contender in the AFC West. That is only one half of the formula. On offense the team has had its first brush with controversy, but once the waves settle McDaniels has added some talent that is typical of the personnel he carried in New England. Players like Buckhalter, Jordan, and Gaffney will fill specific roles that the Broncos new head coach hopes can help the teams core of talent (Culter, Royal, and Marshall) elevate to the next level; a championship caliber team.
T.O. may be gone from Dallas, but that doesn't mean we can't get our popcorn ready for what will be an exciting 2009 season, once we get past the draft, the offseason OTA's and preseason.
So stay tuned.
Keep checking back for more football....
By David G. Ortega
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