Ten Cent Wings

Reggie Wayne

You have to respect the comments made by Reggie Wayne implying Kerry Collins cannot just come into a sophisticated offense like the Colts and fill the shoes of a legend that easily. And he is right with the fact that everyone thinks some retired vet can just take a job from a backup like Painter in 1 day without knowing the playbook. Collins is strictly there for security, and not in the future, whereas Painter may be.

Stand up Reggie!

PS: Fantasy owners may get a late second to third round steal in Wayne, one of the best receivers of our era, and not even on too much of a decline.

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Math of the Day: Fantasy Football Positions

Tier 1 QB’s (Rodgers, Vick, Manning, Brees, Phillips, and Brady) compared to getting stuck with a tier 2 QB (Freeman, Ryan Schaub, Manning, Flacco, Roethlisberger, Romo) is about 55 points.

Tier 1 RB’s compared to getting stuck with a tier 2 RB  will be about 38 points.

Tier 1 WR’s compared to getting stuck with a tier 2 WR will be about 35 points.

Obviously QBs score more points than runningbacks, and runningbacks more than receivers, so this article is just an understanding.

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Backfield Watch

I am interested to see how the Browns, Texans and Cowboys use there respected backfields this season.

The Browns, lacking in the WR department, will be forced to lean heavy on Hillis early and often in games. Reports he began to break down at the end of last year, as well as his playing through constant pain (being the bruiser that he is), lead me to believe coaches will really want to see what Montario Hardesty can do. If he gets 5-10 touches a game as well as Brandon Jackson getting a few downs here and there, pressure could be taken off Hillis, leading to less work. Hillis will be the redzone/ goal line back every time though, and well deserved.

Arian Fosters MVP type season last year literally came out of nowhere, and when he begins to run like he did it will be hard to get other backs involved. Derrick Ward, Steve Slaton, and Ben Tate (who has impressed) are banged up but all hungry to get some work and take some of the 393 touches off the back of Foster. Keep an eye on who takes that backup spot.

Finally, Jerry Jones doesn’t spend early draft picks on electric players to just have them sit. Felix Jones has shown signs of greatness at times, but has also disappointed. Tashard Choice is a solid backup who, when he has the hot hand, can become the vocal point in the run game. The rookie Murray has also ran well and should get involved early in the season. We will see how Garret juggles these backs and keeps everyone in Dallas happy, including his owner.

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LARRRRRRRYYYY

The more and more I look at Larry Fitzgeralds situation, the more I drool. A lower end second round pick in fantasy leagues, I think Larry’s stock is on the serious incline. First round talent for the happy receiver from Pitt.

1) Get quarterback. CHECK

2) Get paid. CHECK

3) Playoff experience. CHECK

4) Weak division. CHECK

5) Healthy. CHECK

6) Pearly white, perfect teeth. CHECK

Larry is a different type of athlete as well: highly respected with a amazing urge to win and play hard on every down, blocking or receiving. To think Larry would just take the money and run is absolutely ridiculous, and he will make even larger strides now that he really wants to prove he was worth the contract (and Kolb’s contract as well).

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ESPN Scouts Top 200- SUSPECT

Nice rankings ESPN… Not.

One that really stuck out to me was Quintin Mikell. Is anyone as overrated as this guy? I would know as I watched Mikell in every game he played with the Eagles. What a disappointing replacement to Dawkins. Dude just never stepped up.

He is ranked 75th on ESPNs scouts top 200 (right behind players like Nicks, Beason, Arian Foster, and Desean Jackson.

Adrian Wilson is ranked 172.

Wilson: over 100 tackles twice, 775 total, 2 scores, BIG HITTER, 12 forced fumbles, 8 recoveries, and 25 interceptions.

Mikell: 348 tackles, 7 forced, 7 recovered, 10 ints. Soft hitter, 0 tds.

I know Wilson played 3 more years than Mikell, but Mikell was not a player we miss in Philly, and Wilson has done more damage already than Mikell ever will.

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Future Stars you probably don’t know much about

T.J. Ward, S- Cleveland

• Ward is a second year player from Oregon. His studly years at school earned him to be a second rounder last year by the Browns and immediate starter in the secondary. He thrived, and the numbers are very impressive. 123 tackles for a safety(!), with 10 passes defensed, a forced fumble and 2 picks, he pairs up with Joe Haden as one of the more promising secondary duos in the league. First cousin to Maurice Jones-Drew, the bloodline player is ALWAYS around the ball and will be a phenomenal safety in the NFL for many years. Watch this guy.

Curtis Lofton,MLB- Atlanta

• You probably remember Lofton getting drafted in the first round 2 years back when he was recongnized as the best MLB prospect in the draft. After 2 years and 223 tackles, the athletic backer finds ball carriers and can run sideline to sideline. You cannot ask for much more from your middle linebacker, and Curtis has been able to get to the QB a few times as well, which is rare from a run stopper like Lofton.

Brent Grimes, CB- Atlanta

• A Shippensburg University product (SHIP stand up! what-what), Grimes, undrafted, made his way through the ranks and impressed coaches to a starting job two years ago. Opposing teams decided to pick on the young bull they have never heard of, only to realize that this kid is the real thing. Great feet, good cover corner, and physical, Grimes made the Pro-Bowl last year and will not be picked on too much longer.

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Stock Market

Maurice Jones-Drew-UP: He says he is healthy. Do you believe him?

Peyton Manning-DOWN: As Cat stated earlier, he will slide a few picks, but still top tier.

Knowshon Moreno-UP: Expect work and 300 touches.

Michael Turner-DOWN: Not too much from Turner Camp this offseason. Maybe a good thing?

Larry Fitzgerald- The happiest man in the NFL. First round pick.

Beanie Wells-UP.

Ryan Mathews-UP: Noone knows what to expect. But he ran well last game.

Brandon Marshall-UP: Will score more than 3 times.

Chad Ochocinco-UP: Could be 900 yards and 8 scores or more.

Tony Romo-DOWN: 2 Receivers and some questions in the backfield.

Jeremy Maclin-UP: Get on the field kid. If not for early drama, would have predicted an even bigger season than last.

James Starks-DOWN: Grant is looking more and more like he wants the sole position.

Dallas Clark- DOWN: When your QB is questionable, and 4 solid receivers are healthy, your stock isn’t rising. But do not be afraid of Clark, he is money.

Jared Cook-UP: Yet another impressive camp.

Mike Thomas-UP: Number 1 receiver and coaches love him.

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What’s the Deal with Peyton Manning?

Neck surgery has clouded the future of top QB Peyton Manning this off-season. I do believe he will be ready for the start of the regular season but that doesn’t mean he will be as effective a Fantasy QB as he has been in the past. Do you take a chance on Manning being every bit the fantasy stud that he has been the last 10 years? I think so. As far as top tier QBs go I believe Manning will fall the farthest in drafts and will be just as valuable as players going in the first and second rounds. The most encouraging signs for Manning would be Tony Dungy and Jeff Saturday both stating on separate occasions that Manning would be ready to start in week 1. With Dungy going as far as saying that Manning will start in week 1 “unless he’s dead”. Those are pretty good endorsements coming from pretty trustworthy guys. I believe Manning will slide in drafts, and you could get a steal late second round or early third round.

- Cat

Rebuild through the draft

Two teams caught my eye with spending some money this offseason. The Carolina Panthers had an awful season last year but made news this off season by handing out some huge contracts (mostly all part of the 2010 team).  The Cardinals did the same with locking up a QB as well as Larry Fitz for an eye-popping 120 million dollar deal. Both teams in the upcoming years will be forced to take a page out of the Giants and Patriots playbook- rebuilding through the draft. The Panthers have to be excited about their run game, their new QB Cam, and that fierce middle linebacker (Beason) to lead the way for the rest. The Cards have been good at drafting in past years (Dansby, Larry, Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, DRC, Darnell Dockett to name a few) but have lost all but two of those names to free agency and bigger contracts elsewhere. The Fitzgerald deal needed to happen, and having that stud in the lineup for the next 8 years is commendable. But with cap issues lingering in the next few years, expect the Cards and Panthers to stockpile picks, draft well, gain depth, and coach young players up to contend for division titles.

PS. How does Desean feel about that Larry deal?

PSS. How do the Eagles feel about that Larry deal?

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Beanie’s time is now.

While electric Rook Ryan William was turning heads in Cardinals Camp, Beanie Wells was fighting for the starting job that he has wanted since he was drafted. With Tim Hightower traded away to Washington, and watching Williams go down with season ending surgery after a preseason game, Wells got his wish and is listed atop the RB depth chart alone. I got to watch Beanie at Ohio State more than I watch most college backs, and coming out I thought he would have been a great NFL back, yet wasn’t convinced that AZ was the right landing spot (high-powered pass offense at the time and they never invest in a decent O-line). But I am definitely going to keep an eye on Beanie early and he could be a steal in fantasy drafts as a number 2 back.

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