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Imagine telling your buddies in February that you'd be willing to bet them that Brett Favre would not be playing football for the Green Bay Packers in 2008 and, in order to guarantee that he wouldn't play, the Green Bay Packers would be willing to dish out $20 million over 10 years to the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. How rich would you be today?

Brett Favre was one of my favorite players. He played the game with the kind of child-like enthusiasm that made him seem "real". Although he was playing at the top of his game on a young team that was on the door step to the Super Bowl and he seemed to still have that fire to play, Brett Favre shocked the football world when he retired on March 6th.



And through the offseason, Favre has said and done things that has caused my opinion of him to deteriorate. He seemed to say several things that contradicted himself.

But as a 38 year old QB, Favre has shown that his skills haven't diminished. In fact, he had as good of a year in 2007 as he has had in his career. He finished second in MVP voting and received the only first-place vote that Brady did not. He completed a career-best 66.5% of his passes, threw for 4,155 yards (3rd best of his career and best since 1998) and had a QB Rating of 95.7 (3rd best of career and best since 1996).

And when Aaron Rodgers was drafted with the 24th overall pick (2nd QB taken) in the 2005 NFL Draft, the Packers signaled that Rodgers was the QB of the future. And in Rodgers' limited time on the field, he has performed well (106.0 QB Rating and completed 71% of passes in 2 games). But it makes sense to move in a new direction when (a) the current starter is no longer (or is only marginally) better than the back-up and/or (b) the team isn't competitive and is in re-building mode. As a 13-3 team that was minutes away from Super Bowl XLII, neither A nor B applies in this scenario.

I could understand if the Packers had a repeat of their 2006 8-8 season last year. But Favre gives the Green Bay Packers the best shot to win the Super Bowl this year. And with Favre, the Packers would be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Instead, they would prefer to pay this franchise's icon $20 million to NOT play. And since Favre is not willing to accept that deal, it's becoming increasingly likely that the Packers end up trading Favre within the division.

Posted by edsfootball at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What do they all have in common? (And it's not that they are three men who haven't been in Cliff Clavern's kitchen.) They are featured in very cool commercials found on You Tube.

Here is Jason Campbell's very cool NFL.com commercial:



If that doesn't make you want to play fantasy football and draft Jason Campbell, I don't know what will.

Check out this one of Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho hitting the the crossbar multiple times:



And who can forget Kobe Bryant jumping the car:

Posted by edsfootball at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Don't know anything about it..." is how Joe Paterno responded to ESPN research showing that 46 Penn State football players have been charged with 146 crimes since 2002.



Further in the interview, Paterno dismisses the accusation that he's less hands-on now. It's implausible to think that he doesn't "know anything" about the run-ins with the law that his players have had. So, one of two things are happening: (1) Paterno either is less hands-on and lacks control of his players or (2) Paterno is dishonest about his level of knowledge about his players' transgressions. More than likely, it's a combination of the two.



Granted Penn State players were not found guilty of all 146 charges. And it's to be expected that some problems will occur. However, there is definitely a problem with how the program is being run, whether it's the quality of "student-athletes" being recruited at Penn State or Joe Paterno's (and the coaching staff's) inability to keep his players in line.

Joe Paterno is on a year-by-year contract. When asked about his plans about retirement, Joe Pa said..."I don't know! I don't know! Do you want me to spell it? I-d-o-n-t-k-n-o-w. How many times can I say it?" While he is one of the greatest football coaches in college football history, there needs to be a change in leadership after this season. And it might make sense to replace him n-o-w.

Posted by edsfootball at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since last night, Glenn Dorsey, Chris Johnson, Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins and Jonathan Stewart, have signed deals.  The following 6 first-round draft picks haven't signed with their respective teams:

7. Sedrick Ellis, Saints
8. Derrick Harvey, Jaguars
9. Keith Rivers, Bengals
11. Leodis McKelvin, Bills

Here is a full list of first-rounders and their status/contract details. 

(Update: Leodis McKelvin signed a 5-year deal with the Buffalo Bills and Sedrick Ellis signed a 5-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.) 

Posted by edsfootball at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Heading into the 2008 NFL Draft, there was quite a bit of discussion surrounding the issue of whether West Point should allow Caleb Campbell to play in the NFL and stay local to recruit unlike the rest of his fellow cadets.   The powers-to-be argued that by Caleb Campbell playing professional football, he would be serving his country with a greater impact.  How?  The publicity that he would generate would be off the charts.

So, it was on to the NFL Combine for Caleb Campbell, where he performed reasonably well.  He was 2nd among safeties in Bench Press reps and ran well.

If you watched the 2008 NFL Draft, you saw how much of a crowd favorite Caleb Campbell was.  And let's face it: New Yorkers can be tough.  He was live at Madison Square Garden on Day 2 of the Draft.  There were multiple times that the crowd would chant his name. 

...the biggest applause was for Campbell. ESPN reported all day on Campbell because the 6-foot-2, 230 pounder would be spared having to serve in Iraq if he made a NFL roster. Halfway through the final round, he got the call from the Lions. The entire draft crowd erupted, jerseys from every NFL team represented.

The Detroit Lions selected Caleb Campbell with the 218th overall pick in the 7th round.

Fast forward 3 months and the military is singing a different tune:

In a letter to Lions president Matt Millen dated Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote that Campbell has been ordered to give up professional football for "full-time traditional military duties."

Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell may ask to be released from his active duty obligations in May 2010.

Due to the level discipline in the military, I am surprised by the flip-flopping on the matter.  Interestly enough, what would have the reason to allow Campbell to play is going to be what the Army gets now: publicity.  However, this time it won't be the good kind.

Posted by edsfootball at 01:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On one side of the coin, you have heads Rex Grossman.  On the other side, you have tails Kyle Orton.

Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman will gather in a meeting room at 8 this morning to determine their fate -- at least for one day -- with a flip of a coin to decide who runs with the first team during the opening practice of training camp this afternoon.

It's an unusual manner to determine who take reps with the first-team.  But when the choice is Grossman vs Orton, does it really matter if you're flipping a coin or playing rock, paper, scissors...?

Posted by edsfootball at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ever get that feeling when everything seems like it's flipped upside down?  Well, today is one of those days.  If you visit our forums, you'll notice that back-to-back posts made today involve Brett Favre and Terrell Owens.

If I told you one post was about an article mocking one of the two players, most would expect that player to be T.O.  And if I told you the other post was about one of the two acting heroically, most would expect that player to be Favre.  Not today.

Brett Favre: Minor League Baseball team to host Brett Favre Day

The GreenJackets will make fun of the retired, maybe now un-retired, quarterback legend, by giving away flip flops in honor of the flip flopper.

The first 100 fans through the gates for the team's August 4th game against the Savannah Sand Gnats will receive a pair of flip flops.

But that's not all. The GreenJackets plan on retiring Favre's jersey number (4), only to reinstate it the next day. Luckily, the team doesn't currently have a player wearing that number.

Granted the Minor League team plays in San Francisco.  But even 3 months ago, could you have imagined Favre being mocked like this? 

Terrell Owens: T.O. to the Rescue... 

Terrell Owens was standing over me. I'm told he was the first do-gooder on the scene of the accident. That he helped me to my feet and off the street to safe ground. That he didn't leave my side. It seems the mercurial Dallas Cowboys receiver is my hero. But my hero looks scared, and this scares me.

"Wow, you all right, man?" Owens kept asking me, but in a manner that would suggest there is no possible way that I, in fact, could be all right. "Don't move. Just sit there. Breathe. Don't move."

I mean, it was ESPYS night, people! A hot party was raging in a building not 20 feet away, and another one, Justin Timberlake's late-nighter, would soon kick off at a hotel nearby, and yet one of the biggest names in sports was spending his night curbside with me?

"So, T.O. was nice, huh?" says the medic who took my blood pressure inside the ambulance. "Boy, you think you know somebody, but the media doesn't tell you the whole story. You never know how they really are."

Like the cliche goes, "you can't judge a book by its cover".  Although I am a Cowboys fan, I'm certainly not T.O.'s biggest supporter.  And probably will never be since I can't forget the incident at midfield on the star.  But I think T.O. is much nicer guy than he's given credit for.

Posted by edsfootball at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Grammys don't do it.  The Oscars don't do it.  The Emmys don't do it.  The ESPYs do.

The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.  The game was played and aired on Sunday, February 3, 2008.  Maybe you taped the Super Bowl, but my guess is that you watched it "live".

Now let's say that the game was played but not televised on February 3rd.  And let's say that although it was not televised, you could read about it online.  And you read it was an incredible game with an incredible pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree.  In fact, so incredible that it won the ESPY for Best Game and Best Play.  However, you had to wait until Friday, February 8th to actually see the game and the play that won their respective awards.

Well, that's what the ESPYs are (sort-of) doing.  Except watching the Super Bowl again means you're going to see an amazing play and an amazing game again.  I could watch that play over and over (and I'm a Cowboys fan).  Re-watching an acceptance speech is not as fascinating.

Here is the list of all ESPYs won by NFL players/teams on Wednesday night:

Best Upset: Giants

Best Game: Super Bowl XLII

Best Play: Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree

Best NFL Player: Tom Brady

Best Breakthrough Player: Adrian Peterson

Best Record Breaking Performance: Brett Favre (In his acceptance speech, you might have seen the clip where Favre quips "watchin' that makes me want to play again."

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Kevin Everett 

In any event, here's a list of all winners of this year's ESPYs.  Without any of the suspense of who's going to win, is it worth watching?  I say no.

Posted by edsfootball at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Like weathermen and economists (i.e., experts in their fields), fantasy football experts vary widely in their outlooks.  That is why we believe in the saying, "two heads are better than one."  Actually, in our June 22nd Cheat Sheet, we used opinions from five different sources: ESPN, Sportsline, Fox Sports, NFL.com and KFFL.  Since then, we've grown another "head" including Yahoo! Sports' Big Board in our updated (7/13) Cheat Sheet.

Here are the Top 10:

Ladainian Tomlinson, Chargers

Adrian Peterson, Vikings

Brian Westbrook, Eagles

Tom Brady, Patriots

Steven Jackson, Rams

Joseph Addai, Colts

Randy Moss, Patriots

Clinton Portis, Redskins

Marion Barber III, Cowboys

Larry Johnson, Chiefs

Of the players in the Top 150, the 3 biggest risers are:

TJ Duckett (Seahawks) +18.5

Derrick Ward (Giants) +17.3

Ricky Williams (Dolphins) +17.2

Of the players in the Top 150, the 3 biggest decliners are:

Dominic Rhodes (Colts) -25.7

Jamaal Charles (Chiefs) -15.5

Giants Team Defense -13.3.

Posted by edsfootball at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to police, Jacksonville Jaguars WR Matt Jones "...was inside a car cutting up cocaine with a credit card."  The same Matt Jones that was drafted in the first-round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 because of his potential (6'6" frame and freakish athletic ability) was the same Matt Jones that lacked motivation.  The one that frustrated Jack Del Rio with his "...demeanor and work ethic, making him inactive for three games."

Matt's father, Steve Jones, issued this ridiculous statement:

“We want to make it clear that Matt was not in possession of any drugs, but that there were drugs in the vehicle and were located in the closest proximity to Matt," Jones added. "He does not claim any responsibility for the drugs.”

What a shock that he doesn't claim any "responsbility".  Usually cokeheads are pillars of accountability.  This is the type of excuse a kid uses at 14 when his parents catch him with pornography or alcohol or a condom.  Parents NEVER buy that excuse.  Apparently, Steve Jones is the exception to that rule. 

Posted by edsfootball at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jon Kitna did it for a whole season.  Anthony Smith and Joey Porter are examples of players who did it for one game.  Now, Donte Whitner has done it.

What did they all do?  They made guarantees about the outcome of a game or a season.

What do Kitna, Smith and Porter share in common?  They were all wrong.

Kitna guaranteed a 10-win season in 2007.  The Lions?  10 wins?  Most people laughed and shrugged it off.  But half-way through 2007, the Lions were poised to make good on Kitna's guarantee with a 6-2 record.  The Lions then went on to a 1-7 second half.

Smith's guarantee that the Steelers would beat the unbeaten Patriots was well-publicized.  Not only did Smith fall through on his guarantee, but he got burned (twice).

After an 0-2 start, Porter said about his Dolphins' week 3 game: "Write it how you want to write it: we will win on Sunday."

Since these guarantees never work out, I'm going to try reverse psychology and say here for the record that I GUARANTEE that Brazilian supermodel Giselle Bunchen won't leave Tom Brady for me!  (O.K.  I admit that it's probably not going to work, but it was worth a try, right?) 

But now Donte Whitner in a Sporting News column has said: "Do I expect us to make the playoffs?"..."I'm guaranteeing it."

Maybe Donte Whitner is right.  In fact, I think the Buffalo Bills are headed in the right direction and have a legitimate shot at the # 6 seed.

Having confidence is great.  Making guarantees is unnecessary.  There is absolutely no benefit derived from making a public guarantee.  Considering how tough the AFC is, Whitner should just shut up and let his and his teammates' play speak for them.

Posted by edsfootball at 03:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Before the 2007 season, Rudi Johnson was the model of consistency.  He rushed for exactly 12 TDs in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  A logical expectation for Johnson owners in 2007 was 12.  Instead, they got 3 due to several reasons including a hamstring injury that limited Rudi to 9 starts.

Heading into 2008, expectations for Johnson have been greatly reduced.  In ESPN fantasy football leagues, Johnson's average draft pick (ADP) is 52.9.  In Yahoo fantasy football leagues, Johnson's ADP is 96.2, more than 4 rounds lower than in ESPN leagues.  Johnson appears on ESPN's Berry's Players I Hate list for 2008.

Nobody seems to love Johnson.  That's partly why I do.

I'm NOT saying that Rudi Johnson will be more productive than LT, Marshawn Lynch or Brandon Jacobs.  But there is plenty of value in scooping up Johnson as your 3rd or even 4th RB.

According to Geoff Hobson at Bengals.com: "Johnson says he came in last month at 225 pounds, about 10 to 15 more than last year, and the word is he's regained the pop in his swivel."

After losing guys like Eric Steinbach, the Bengals offensive line is not as good as it was when Johnson was piling up (mind you in a very boring way) 1300-1450 yards and 12 TDs year in, year out.  But last year the Bengal's OL was plagued with injuries as well.  The OL should be much healthier heading into 2008.

In addition, Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline named Stacy Andrews as his #1 breakout player for 2008 saying: "He went into that season as a backup, but injuries gave him 13 starts. He now goes into this season listed as the starting right tackle, ahead of 13-year veteran Willie Anderson. By season's end, he just might be the best right tackle in the AFC."

Let me be clear: I do NOT expect 1400 yards and 12 TDs from Johnson in 2008.  But I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson bounces back with an 1100-yard and 9-TD season.  Not a bad return for a guy snagged in the 10th round of your Yahoo Fantasy draft.

Posted by edsfootball at 09:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In fantasy football seasons past, Steve Smith and Chad Johnson wouldn't be available at their 2008 average draft pick slots.

Steve Smith is the 7th and 6th WR drafted in ESPN and Yahoo Leagues, respectively. His ADP is 28th and 23rd, respectively.

• Last year, Steve Smith didn't have the kind of season you would expect from what was most likely the #1 WR taken in your draft, especially from weeks 8-15. In that span, his best game was 72 receiving yards. He didn't have a TD during that span.

• This year, Jake Delhomme is back. According to Smith, Delhomme's arm seems stronger although I'm sure Smith would probably say that he still can't be outthrown. Delhomme got hurt week 3 last year. What did Smith do weeks 1 and 2? 7 rec, 118 yds, 1 TD and 8 rec, 153 yds, 3 TDs.

Chad Johnson is the 11th and 10th WR drafted in ESPN and Yahoo Leagues, respectively. His ADP is 33rd and 32nd, respectively.

• Chad cried wolf. He made some strong demands and he was (like always really) very vocal about those demands. What's Ocho Cinco's tune these days: "I love you Cincinnati". On ESPN in an interview with Stephen A. Smith, Smith asked Johnson about his relationship with Carson Palmer and Chads response was "Carson loves me".

• If everything is as "normal" (I use that word loosely) with Chad and Cincy, he's been extremely consistent and extremely productive. Look at his last 3 years:

  • 2005: 97 rec, 1432 yds, 9 TDs

  • 2006: 87 rec, 1369 yds, 7 TDs

  • 2007: 93 rec, 1440 yds, 8 TDs

Looking back at the 2008 fantasy season, which WR will give you the greatest opportunity to say "I told you so" to all the doubters? 

Although I think both will, it will be especially so with Chad Johnson.  While he'll likely be a pain in the ass for Marvin Lewis and Carson Palmer all season, he's not likely to pester you or me to trade him to "The Kalamazoo Killers" or "The Steel Curtain".  And if he ever did, that's a much better story than telling people you won your fantasy football league.

But imagine a draft that gets you some combo of RB-WR-RB in the 1st 3 rounds and you take Chad Johnson in the 4th round as your 2nd WR.  Although the Bengals have standed their ground (which I admire), there's no chance (barring injury) that Johnson doesn't play at all.  Regardless of whether Johnson plays somewhere else (although not expected) or plays with a pout, what's the least an owner can expect from him?  1000 yards and 6 TDs.  That still would put him in the Top 20 (most likely).  I think 1300 / 7 is most likely.  But I wouldn't be surprised if he comes out and plays with a monster chip on his shoulder and puts up something like 1500 / 10.  Without the off-season debacle, Johnson would have been in the top 3-4 WRs taken in drafts.

Drew Rosenhaus, Chad's agent, won't let this situation develop into what happened with T.O. in Philly.  He knows firsthand how much of a mistake that would be.  So, if you can take Ocho Cinco where he's currently being drafted, get ready to say "Championship". 

Posted by edsfootball at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Matthew Berry of ESPN says this in his Players I Love / Players I Hate column: "My friend Merril Hoge tells me Davis can't run a route to save his life. Stats seem to back him up. And the Martz offense doesn't use a tight end all that much. Too much hype, too little production..."  You probably aren't surprised that Davis falls on his "Players I Hate" side.

Right now, Vernon Davis appears in the 8-10 range on most site's positional rankings for TEs.  Last season, I projected (and correctly for a change) that Jason Witten would finish in the Top 2 of fantasy TEs and that it would be smart to target him as a possible trade target before others realized his true value.  I think Vernon Davis will enjoy the same fate in 2008. 

Mike Martz sums up why:

"I don't know if anyone in the league can run like he can at that position," Martz, the 49ers' first-year offensive coordinator, said of Davis. "He gets down the field so fast. I don't know who beats him in a footrace."

Martz said none of his offensive players worked harder this spring than Davis, who was on the field before practice started and hung around after it ended to hone his receiving skills.

With the lack of a big-time WR (Bryant Young, Isaac Bruce, Ashley Lelie, Arnaz Battle are the top 4 WRs), I expect Martz to utilize Davis like and as a WR.  If he's working as hard as Martz says on his receiving skills, this 3rd-year TE might reach full stride in 2008.  And, once he does, there's no stopping him. 

Posted by edsfootball at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)