Wildman

Yep that Elway-Montana game and the Bucs-Colts game were better. Last night was very good.

O'Sullivan will have the bigger days, so I think he's more promising. At the same time he was sacked 12 times in the past two games, not something that can continue happening. Edwards has been nothing short of magnificent in terms of making good decisions and playing within the offense. He has a better offensive line, too. He just might not experience the highs O'Sullivan will...

Mike, It's Mr. Soilost to you...

This team is built around the run. Collins is a better deep ball thrower than Young, so the play action pass will be more effective as long as the line can protect him. Because Collins is more of a sitting target than Young, defenses may choose to blitz him more than they did with Young. I do think McCareins and Gage benefit a little more. But I wouldn't adjust stats for the receivers considering what little Young was able to do with them. Collins will fulfill what people expected production-wise from Young. I think Collins will be effective, because of his veteran presence but he's still the same Kerry Collins: a) Waits too long to release the ball on deep routes which can cause them to be under thrown. Holds onto the ball too long in the face of a pass rush. c) Immobile. d) Can get pressured into poor throws. Tennessee is a dangerous team because they have enough offense win it in the 4th QTR because they can run, stop the run, and rush the passer.

Thanks for the info...that makes more sense.

Just read Paul Hubbard was released today. The only way that happens is Hubbard did something wrong and the team decided he wasn't worth the headache. Think about it: you make the team and they cut a guy (Sanders) that they had on their roster for 2 years and put him on the practice squad, but then the night before the opener they cut you and add Sanders back to the regular roster? Makes no sense unless Hubbard was late to meetings, failed a some sort of league mandated test, violated a discipline policy, or got hurt.

Thankfully so. All in good fun...

Fixed...

Dang...after five years, a couple hundred articles, and a few online publications all it took was an article where the purpose of it is to do some speculation for me to finally be exposed as the hack that I am. I guess I should be lumped in the same group as professional wrestlers, Carlos Mencia, and the telephone psychic with the phony Jamaican accent! Congratulations, John Stossel, you've done it again! And to think I was able to fool everyone for this long....I better call up my uncle in the fantasy sports industry and see if he has any connections in fantasy bass fishing, because the football gig is up.

It is really simple writing. It's supposed to be fun. You know. F-U-N, fun ? It's supposed to make you think and consider something you may have not considered before. It's not neuroscience, it's fantasy football. I don't mind the "put down the pipe" comments. It's akin to having a lunch hour conversation with a co-worker buddy about fantasy football: Them: What do you think of Calvin Johnson? Me: He could be great, I could see him outproducing Moss? Them: Santana Moss? Me: No, Randy... Them: Get outta here... Me: No, really. Look at the receiver situation with both teams (explain the rest) Them: Put that pipe down will ya? Me: F-U! Them and Me: (Laughter) What's happening with this thread is no different

McFadden and Gholston Busts? This is an article written by Greg Cosell. If you don't know this guy, here's his profile (you should already be familiar with his work even if you didn't know the name): In 28 years with NFL Films, senior producer Greg Cosell has been both a documentary filmmaker, helping to shape and expand the writing and editing style that defines NFL Films, and executive producer of network sports television programs, most notably "State Farm NFL Matchup." After creating the matchup concept along with NFL Films president Steve Sabol in 1984, Greg has guided the show's evolution. Greg, the nephew of broadcasting icon Howard Cosell, studies and evaluates "coaching tape" -- the same tape used by coaches and players in the NFL to game plan each week -- along with hosts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge, making him uniquely equipped to analyze the NFL game. Greg also uses his expansive list of NFL contacts to discuss the game from both a tactical and personnel standpoint. Greg echoes my thoughts on McFadden, which is why I found this piece very interesting.

Wow... Thanks to those of you who enjoy the columns. For those of you who think I need to put down the pipe, I think I'll take another hit! bold /boʊld/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[bohld] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective, -er, -est. 1. not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring: a bold hero. 2. not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent: He apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor. 3. necessitating courage and daring; challenging: a bold adventure. 4. beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative: Einstein was a bold mathematician. a difficult problem needing a bold answer. 5. striking or conspicuous to the eye; flashy; showy: a bold pattern.

A rookie QB AND a rookie RB? No A rookie QB AND THIS rookie RB? Yes...especially with McGahee not getting on the field enough to prove he is the best RB on the team right now. Realistically, McGahee still is the best RB, but not by much.

I read this morning that Jerome Harrison will be the back up to Lewis. I liked Harrison coming out of school. His style reminds me of Priest Holmes, although I wouldn't say he'll ever be as talented. He'll be the 1st and 2nd down back and Wright would be the 3rd down guy according Crennell

Thx

Nope. Harrison has improved each year and he's at a point where Wright and Harrison would likely split time. Harrison is the more talented runner. He reminded me of Priest Holmes in terms of his height-size dimensions, quickness, and style of running. He's not that talented, but he could be a 1-2 year surprise if called up on to play.

Edwards is for real. He won't likely "break out" this year, but I expect better numbers and quality plays that show he's moving in the right direction. This will help Lynch, who will be more involved in the passing game, too.

Players notably kept on final rosters thus far...they may still see the chopping block, but only if their team adds someone else cut from another team: RB Xavier Omon - they cut Wright because they like Omon's potential once he adjusts to the NFL. RB Kregg Lumpkin - I'm going to talk about him more in next week's column, but they cut Morency, Wynn, and Herron to keep Lumpkin as the #3 to Grant and Jackson. Lumpkin is a very good player who just couldn't stay healthy in college. If you have a deep roster in a dynasty league, get him if you can afford a luxury pick. WR Paul Hubbard - they release Travis Wilson, Steptoe, and Sanders. See posts above QB Josh Johnson - luxury pick here, too, but he's going to get a much bigger chance to show something in 2009. WR Lavelle Hawkins - for the Titans to release Roydell Williams and Biren Early it means Hawkins was impressive enough to contribute (and Williams was too banged up) RB Kenneth Darby - I've talked about Darby before. He and Lumpkin are runners I believe have the talent to produce if given the opportunity. Despite a depth chart with Graham, Bennett, and Dunn, it looks like Darby will stick at least until Cadillac can return from the PUP list, if at all. WR Devon Bess - The Dolphins say he has Wes Welker-like potential.

Steptoe is a nifty player. When I watched Arizona a few years ago, the two best players on that offense were Steptoe and Mike Bell. That said, I think Hubbard's height, leaping ability, and size make him a more promising long term candidate. With Jurevicius' career going south it would seem to me that Donte Stallworth will need a big year for him to give the Browns a reason not to give Hubbard every opportunity to develop for 2009 and beyond.

I think so. The Bills RB coach said Omon has a lot of upside, but he's a bit raw because of the level of competition he faced allowed him to be a man among boys. He said Omon had excellent acceleration/burst through the hole and runs hard. They like his size/quickness/toughness. I think another team will nab him if he gets cut.

Yeah, I just read that about Hill, too! Shocker, considering how well he's playing. I have to believe that's a really poorly reported piece, but the Mercury News isn't exactly a rag, either. I think Lelie would be gone way before Hill who not only acquitted himself well during the preseason, but Mike Martz raved about him in OTAs. I think this has to be a mistake or really bad reporting. Otherwise, I'll be shocked because like you, I have two eyes and some semblance of a football brain.

If you don't know, I write for the site (see my sigs). I don't get to make it here very often, but I'll be happy to answer questions for the next half hour. Conditions: 1. I won't do "rate my team" requests. 2. Give me the scoring basics and starting lineup format for your league 3. List your roster. Thanks Matt Waldman

I'm not sure whether those three backs are your presumed best available or truly the best available due to all the keepers. My take on each: Jones-Drew: As long as Fred Taylor remains in the picture he's Brian Westbrook prior to Andy Reid taking the governor off. Good, but not great. Still the most talented of the three you mentioned. Grant: I think opposing defenses will try to stop the run to force Rodgers to beat them. Something GB hasn't seen since Favre was behind Majkowski. Drew gets the slight edge McFadden: Justin Fargas is still the starter. McFadden might turn out to be great, but don't expect him to start for the first month and if he does, I'm not expecting Adrian Peterson. I'm expecting Michael Bennett. If you can land Thomas Jones, Michael Turner, Kevin Smith, DeAngelo Williams, or Ricky Williams then wait until round three.