News and Views

Not much going on in the NFL other than the usual pre Super Bowl babble, but let’s see what I can find to ramble on about:

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The week long horse and pony show that is the Senior Bowl is over.  I find it funny that players’ draft stock seems to be affected so much more based on results of a glorified physical (Combine) than how they do in an actual game situation like the Senior Bowl.  This year it may be justified though as nobody really stood out to me.  The player who seems to be generating the most chatter is DE Ezekiel Ansah but I wasn’t that impressed.  He’s definitely a talented lineman and a genuine prospect but he won’t step into the NFL and make an impact right away.  Ignore the comparisons to Jason-Pierre Paul for now at least.  I really liked LB Vince Williams but his fantasy value will depend on if the team who drafts him plans to play him inside.  He won’t be effective on the outside in my opinion.

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Interesting quote from Buffalo Bills RB coach on their web site, regarding the plans for C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson next season: "If you're a guy that's happy with being a team player and a role player and you get rings instead of individual accolades, then you'll be happy with your role…”  Not sure if this was in response to a direct question but it sure makes it seem like someone in the Bills backfield has been griping about his lack of carries in 2012.  Keep an eye on this during the offseason, maybe there’s a controversy brewing?

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Speculation is rampant that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is planning to axe head coach Jason Garrett and replace him with none other than Jon Gruden.  There may be nothing to this but it sure appears to be the case with all the Gruden-ites the Cowboys have added to the coaching staff recently.  It’s purely someone trying to connect the dots here, I don’t believe there’s anything remotely factual.  Plus Gruden has said he’s not going back to the sidelines this season.

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Still with Dallas they brought in former University of Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley as their new WR coach.  I like the move for Dallas’ receiving core next season, bump them all up a notch in your rankings.

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Plenty of conflicting reports about the future of WR Kenny Britt in Tennessee.  Some are saying 2013 will be his last season with the Titans, while others say he’s definitely in their long term plans.  He’s certainly got the skills to be a top wideout.  With last year’s disappointing performance and now uncertainty about his future in Tennessee, Britt may end up undervalued come fantasy draft day.

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ESPN reports the Pats are “open” to re-signing RB Danny Woodhead.  Translation: Woodhead is as good as gone unless he agrees to a massive haircut on his paycheck.  “Open to re-signing” is miles away from “wanting him back”.  RB Shane Vereen (this columnist’s pick to be the Pats starting RB in 2012) showed late in the year he’s the real deal, and with he and Stevan Ridley under contract in 2013 Woodhead at his most recent contract amount is a luxury New England won’t want to pay for.

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It sounds like Ryan Grant’s second term with the Green Bay Packers is coming to an end.  He won’t end up starting anywhere but he might be able to sign on with someone.  Keep your expectations low though, if he’s picked up it will likely be purely a depth move.

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Will they or won’t they?  The NY Jets are said to be contemplating trading stud CB Darrelle Revis.  Recent reports though say coach Rex Ryan and others may want to trade fellow corner Antonio Cromartie instead.  The New York Post says the team was talking about trading Revis even before his week 2 injury.  Stay tuned, but my take is Revis ends up somewhere else.  Interesting rumor has him in a swap with San Fran for Alex Smith.  I don’t see it as a good fit.

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Cardinals lineman Darnell Dockett appears to be moving back inside in 2013.  For you IDP’ers expect a decent up tick in sacks and tackles, a nice buy-low candidate if your league requires the DL position.

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From another ESPN news item, speculation is the Minnesota Vikings may shop Joe Webb.  Apparently they feel his ability to run the now popular read-option makes him attractive to several teams.  While I don’t disagree, I think the Vikings would be smarter to keep Webb and put in some read-option plays of their own.  Especially if Ponder doesn’t rebound after an overall poor showing in 2012, Webb could become their guy as early as next season.  Webb and Adrian Peterson looked pretty good at the start of their playoff loss to Green Bay, and that was after only one week of practice.  Imagine what it could be with an entire offseason to work on it.

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So Mr. Humble himself, Randy Moss says he thinks he’s the best wide receiver in history.  That’s not surprising since I imagine he’s thought that about himself since he was ten years old.  I however would have to argue that, as I’m sure a great many others would as well.  These types of things are always a subjective debate but honestly I’ve never thought of him as being in the conversation as the best ever.  Moss himself argued ‘it’s not all about the stats’ when comparing himself to others.  He’s right.  In the same way I feel there are plenty of receivers better than him whose stats aren’t as good.  To me attitude and team-first counts for something.   Maybe I’ll do some research and come up with a column during the offseason to compare Moss with some of the other receiving greats.

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Still with the Niners, rumors are starting to circulate regarding backup QB Alex Smith.  Obviously he won’t be staying with San Fran – but who knows, a championship can sway a person’s mind I’m sure – but it will be interesting to see what the team can get for him.  I don’t see them releasing him outright, he has too much value for that.  Wherever he goes he will most likely be handed the job or have a good chance of winning it in camp.  But he’s shown over the years he maybe doesn’t handle change well.

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From The Providence Journal, Tom Brady is on the decline?  The article says ‘the only noticeable decline in games has been Brady's downfield passing ability, and there are stats that support this notion. Brady's 2012 completion rate was his lowest since 2006, and his YPA was his worst since 2008’.  It may be a valid point but it’s too easy to fall into this trap when any athlete gets over 30 and more so when he gets past 35.  Any time his stats go down it must be because he’s getting too old and is losing it.  Show me a pattern of decline over at least two years and preferable three and I can agree with an age related decline.  But it’s just as easy to blame Brady’s so-called down year on the fact he had a weak receiving corps.  In case you were worried based on this article, I still see Brady as being fantasy relevant in 2013.

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A couple of Chip Kelly items I have to comment on.  First, back at Oregon Kelly said that he believes big hands are an essential attribute for a quarterback.  "That is the biggest coaching point to finding a quarterback.  How big are his hands, and how well can he control the football? … The important thing is the size of their hands."  Really?  Color me embarrassed.  Here I’ve been looking at insignificant things like arm strength, accuracy, mobility, decision making ability.  And all this time I just needed to be checking his hand size to determine whether a QB will be successful.

Kelly also recently said quarterback sacks are the "cardinal sin" in his offense.  "The job of a quarterback is simple. He has to let it happen, and not make it happen…every sack is the quarterback's fault."

Has Chip Kelly always been saying stuff like this?  Have I been missing the sound bites?

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So it appears Reggie Bush will not be back in Miami.  That seems to be the consensus, along with the fact that it will be Lamar Miller and not Daniel Thomas who moves into the lead back role.  I wouldn’t be too quick to make that leap.  The situation to me looks more like it will be a time share between the two.  Let’s see how it unfolds but for now I have Thomas as potentially good value late in your 2013 fantasy draft.  As for Bush, he should find a home somewhere, but most likely he’ll also be in a time share primarily as the passing down back.  Don’t over value him but again we’ll see what happens over the offseason.

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According to The NFL Network, colossal bust JaMarcus Russell is planning on showing up at the Combine next month.  But apparently he needs to lose at least 40 pounds to get back to his playing weight.  Yeah dropping 40 pounds in a month should be a breeze.  According to The Newark Star-Ledger, the Jets have had "some very exploratory, informal discussions" regarding Russell.  File this one in the ‘You know you’re desperate for a QB when…’ file and forget about it.  Best case scenario is Russell finds a team dumb or desperate (or probably both) enough to sign him to a tryout and he ends up as a 3^rd string QB until he eats his way back onto the scrap heap.

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Seems like the Packers have indicated at least to WR Greg Jennings that he’s not in their plans, as he’s put his Green Bay home on the market.  As I mentioned last week he should be a good WR2 in 2013 somewhere.

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So Ray Lewis is shooting/snorting/smoking deer-antler velvet?  The story coming out during Super Bowl week is awfully convenient, sounds to me like the SWATS owner is looking for his 15 minutes of fame.  Still, has Lewis really come out and unequivocally said ‘No I never took deer-antler’.  No because he never gives a straight answer.  Still, whether he did or didn’t use it or deny using it, reports are that sales of the stuff have skyrocketed.  I didn’t realize there was an epidemic of muscle tears going on.

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Is Minnesota really that bad of a place to play?  No sooner do I read rumors that the Vikes are interested in free agent WR Donald Driver, then I read Driver’s announcement he’s retiring.  Coincidence?

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According to Fox Sports Wisconsin there’s a "40 percent chance" impending free agent Cedric Benson is back with the Packers in 2013. He, DuJuan Harris, James Starks, and Alex Green are all complementary backs.  I think Green Bay needs to try and find a number one guy.  Nothing wrong with using one or more of their current stable of backs in a situational capacity but they need that one guy who they can count on as the primary back.  Look for them to target someone in the draft.

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I love this, a player taking accountability for his own decisions regarding his health and safety.  Ed Reed has come out and said he has memory problems that are most likely due to the violent nature of pro football.  But he also says he knew what he was getting into when he decided to make a career out of playing football, and all the other players do too.  Hopefully this type of rational thinking comes into play during the Seau family lawsuit against the NFL.

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I’ll end today’s ramblings with this interesting item.  Dan Marino has admitted that he fathered a child with a production assistant he worked with at CBS.  Apparently he denied being the father at first, but didn’t even bother requesting a paternity test after the newborn threw his empty formula bottle to his Mom, 20 yards across the room in a perfect spiral.  And then chewed her out when she didn’t catch it.

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Enjoy the Super Bowl everyone

Comments (4)

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Steve Braun said:

	trade For sure no way the Jets do a 1-for-1 swap. As for the locker room, Ryan would probably think he can turn Young around. I'm not so sure but that locker room has been a mess for awhile, or seems like it anyway, so 1 more misfit probably wouldn't matter
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February 05, 2013
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Michael Amato said:

	... It would make sense for Detroit certainly, but you would have to think the Jets would want something more in return for Revis. Probably a 1st, or at the very least, 2nd round pick. Not to mention adding Titus Young to that messed up locker room would be counterproductive for the Jets.
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February 04, 2013
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Steve Braun said:

	Titus-Revis Agreed the trade's a good fit for both teams. Whoever the Jets QB ends up being, he'll look a lot better having a decent receiver to throw to. I think I'd buy tickets to Lions practices just to watch Revis against Megatron.
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February 02, 2013
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Dyv said:

	Editor Just going to say lol about the Marino situation What would you think about Revis for Titus Young? Detroit could sure as heck use a shut down DB... would the Jets benefit from another prima donna, especially if they still don't have a QB?
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February 02, 2013
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