News

Dolphins’ John Jerry out of shape, unlikely to make roster

stevenlourie Dolphins, News

John Jerry entered the offseason as the projected started at right guard, with Vernon Carey gone. Jerry, a 2010 3rd round pick, was drafted to be a starter by this point. However, he struggled in offseason practices and soon fell below Artis Hicks, who was a backup in Cleveland last season and heading into his age 34 season. They also signed Eric Steinbach, heading into his age 32 season after missing all of last season with a back injury.

Jerry, obviously, needed a good Training Camp with the pressure on him, but he has not responded, as he has showed up to Training Camp overweight and out of shape at 360 pounds, up from the 328 he was listed at last season. Already a poor fit for their new zone blocking scheme, which is more reliant on speed and athleticism than power, Jerry now appears unlikely to make the final roster behind both Hicks and Steinbach. Right guard figures to be a position of weakness for the Dolphins this season.

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Bills could cut Dwan Edwards, Terrence McGee

stevenlourie Bills, News

Every year at final cuts, there are several players who are experienced veterans who get cut, for various reasons. These guys are normally swooped up pretty quickly to play roles on other teams for less money, sometimes much less. Two of these guys for the Bills could easily be Dwan Edwards and Terrence McGee.

McGee restructured his contract earlier this offseason, signing a 2 year, 4 million dollar deal, rather than going into the season making 3.6 million, his original salary, in order to save his roster spot. However, only $300,000 of that contract, the signing bonus, was guaranteed, so his roster spot is not safe. He recently expressed concern over his roster spot security, saying “I’m at the back of the line right now. There are guys way in front of me right now.”

McGee is in a 4 way battle for the nickel cornerback job and, since teams normally only carry 4 or 5 cornerbacks, at least one member of that battle will not make the final roster. 2011 7th round pick Justin Rogers, an inexperienced player, is currently the favorite and will also have an impact on special teams as a return man, so his job is probably safe. Ron Brooks was a 4th round pick just in April so his job is probably safe.

That leaves McGee and Leodis McKelvin fighting for a roster spot. McKelvin’s age, heading into his age 27 season, could be the deciding factor that leads to McGee getting cut, heading into his age 32 season, coming off a torn patellar tendon that cost him most of last season. The oft injured cornerback has missed 22 games in the last 3 seasons, another factor that could decide his fate. He could still be picked up after final cuts and make a roster as a depth cornerback at the veteran’s minimum, should he chose to continue playing.

Edwards, meanwhile, was signed to a 4 year, 18 million dollar deal in the 2010 offseason as the Bills were hoping to convert Edwards, one of the league’s best rotational players in 2009, into a full time every down end in their 3-4. However, Edwards did not live up to expectations and was nothing short of awful last season, grading out 82nd on ProFootballFocus among defensive tackles, in Buffalo’s hybrid 3-4/4-3.

In a full time 4-3 now, Edwards is nothing more than a backup defensive tackle behind Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus and not a very good one. With a cap hit of 4.175 million, he’s far too overpaid and it would make a ton of sense to cut him, unless he restructures. Only heading into his age 31 season, he should be able to find a home for the 2012 season after final cuts at a more reasonable price.

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Jets believe Aaron Maybin could play larger role in 2012

stevenlourie Jets, News

Aaron Maybin was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but he was a complete bust in Buffalo and was cut after 2 years and no sacks. However, he reinvented himself with the Jets as a situational pass rusher last season, with a team leading 6 sacks, to go with 2 quarterback hits, and 16 quarterback pressures on 197 pass rush snaps, a very good 12.2% pass rush rate as a situational player.

The Jets have gotten him to bulk up, after playing last season in the 220s and 230s, in order to be able to play more snaps and get better against the run. However, he struggled in the 240s in Buffalo so the added weight could hurt him. The Jets may find themselves stuck with the same dud from Buffalo and wishing they had allowed Maybin to stay leaner and just focus on getting to the quarterback.

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Chargers to use 3-way running back committee in Mathews’ absence

stevenlourie Chargers, News

Those looking to still use a 1st round pick on Ryan Mathews and his immense upside, in spite of his recent broken collarbone, and then use a later pick on a handcuff to use in his absence, will be disappointed to know that Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner has indicated that he will use a 3-way running back committee in Mathews absence, saying “right now, it’d probably be a mix.”

Those three backs will be Ronnie Brown, Curtis Brinkley, and Le’Ron McClain. Brown figures to be the de facto starter, while Brinkley will serve as a change of pace back, and McClain, also a fullback, will handle short yardage duties and maybe 3rd downs. It’s a fantasy disaster area as the 3 backs will make each other irrelevant and it’s not like any of them are that talented.  Brown looks pretty washed up, heading into his age 31 season, after averaging 3.2 YPC last season, while Curtis Brinkley has just 32 career carries. McClain, meanwhile, is just a full back, though he’s an above average runner and pass catcher for his position.

Jackie Battle, meanwhile, figures not to be in the mix as he was signed primarily for his special teams value as a gunner. The Chargers should carry 4 running backs on the 53 man roster heading into the season, but it’s likely that they cut one once Mathews returns, likely Brinkley, who was expected to be on the outside looking in at final cuts before the Mathews injury. Mathews’ injury seems to have given him new life and another opportunity to prove his worth, but he’ll have to outplay the other 2 backs to remain on the roster.

Mathews, meanwhile, remains a 1st round pick in fantasy circles. Yes, he will miss a game or two, but you had to figure he would when making projections for him. When in the lineup, he could easily lead all backs in fantasy points per game as the Chargers’ “everything” back. If he can play 14 or 15 games and not sustain another injury, he could still finish the year as a top-5 back. There’s no guarantees he won’t get hurt again, especially with his history, but collarbone injuries are not lingering injuries.

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Ravens’ Torrey Smith already back practicing

stevenlourie News, Ravens

Yesterday, I commented on a report that Torrey Smith would miss most of the preseason with an ankle injury and his week 1 status was in jeopardy. However, it appears that was much ado about nothing as Smith was already back practicing for the Ravens today. My original projection of him as a major fantasy sleeper and a great value at his current ADP in the 7th round still stands.

Torrey Smith was excellent as a rookie, catching 50 balls for 841 yards and 7 touchdowns and he was even better in his last 7 games, catching 27 balls for 416 yards and 3 touchdowns. Over 16 games, that’s 62 catches for 951 yards and 7 touchdowns. Keep in mind he played all of last season with a double sports hernia. Now that he’s a year older and Anquan Boldin is a year older on the wrong side of 30, Smith should continue to improve as a receiver and establish himself as Baltimore’s clear #1 receiver.

We could even see a Mike Wallace/Hines Ward type situation here. As a rookie, Wallace caught 39 passes for 756 yards and 6 touchdowns, while the veteran Ward caught 95 passes for 1167 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, in Wallace’s 2nd season, the tables turned and Wallace caught 60 passes for 1257 yards and 10 touchdowns, while an aging Ward caught 59 passes for 755 yards and 5 touchdowns. There’s definitely upside to be had with the speedy Smith in the mid rounds. This is also good news for Joe Flacco, who is already in danger of losing his top-2 tight ends for week 1, heading into a make or break contract year.

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Dolphins release Chad Johnson

stevenlourie Dolphins, News

Well that was fun while it latest. About 2 months after signing with the Dolphins, the Dolphins have cut Chad Johnson (previously Chad Ochocinco). Johnson was simultaneously competing for a starting job and on the roster bubble, after signing a non-guaranteed contract in June, before getting arrested for domestic abuse after head butting his wife yesterday.

The Dolphins wasted no time in handing him his release papers, cleaning out his locker less than 24 hours after the incident. Brian Hartline and Legedu Naanee look locked in as the starters at wide receiver in Miami, with Davone Bess in the slot. Roberto Wallace, who had a strong performance in the Dolphins’ 1st preseason game, catching 4 passes for 71 yards with the 2nd team, is also a name to watch on what is one of the least talented receiving corps in the league.

When Ochocinco was cut by the Patriots, and after the corresponding reports about why he was cut (his inability and borderline refusal to learn the Patriots’ complex playbook), I said that Ochocinco could easily be done at age 34 and that, while he may get signed, he was unlikely to make a 53 man roster. Getting cut by the team with arguably the worst receiving corps in the game definitely does not help. If he is, in fact, done, Ochocinco would retire with 766 catches for 11059 yards and 67 touchdowns in 12 seasons, 26th all-time in receiving yards.

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Packers say James Starks is “week to week” with turf toe

stevenlourie News, Packers

In a weekly press conference, Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy described James Starks’ turf toe injury as “week to week” rather than day to day, putting his week 1 availability in doubt. Starks has a history of injury problems, dating back to his days at the University of Buffalo, which is why he fell to the 6th round in 2010, and has never had more than 133 carries in an NFL season.

When you combine this with recent reports that Starks was struggling in Training Camp and his struggles in the Packers’ 1st preseason game, it becomes increasingly clear why the Packers caved and signed a veteran running back, Cedric Benson, after spending all of the offseason committed to a youth movement at the position with guys like James Starks, Alex Green, and even Brandon Saine and Marc Tyler. Before Benson’s signing, Starks, heading into his 3rd year in the league with 162 career carries, was the veteran of the group. Once a potential breakout candidate and fantasy sleeper, Starks has seen his fantasy value sunk this week and now might not be worth anything more than a late round flier.

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Patriots activate Logan Mankins

stevenlourie News, Patriots

Patriots fans can breathe a sigh of relief. 4-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins has been activated from the PUP roughly 6 months after having knee surgery and will almost definitely start week 1. He’s only missed 1 game in 8 years after going in the 1st round in 2005, but it was unclear if he’d be back for the start of the season after partially tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl. The Patriots’ tight lipped nature with injuries didn’t help either, but he appears to be fine.

The bigger issue on the Patriots’ offensive line is right guard, as Brian Waters still has not reported and could retire rather than play his age 35 season. Waters made his 6th Pro Bowl last season in his first year in New England after spending 11 with the Chiefs and graded out as ProFootballFocus’ 4th ranked guard. In his absence, center Dan Connolly, a mediocre player, has shifted back to guard and Dan Koppen, who is coming off a broken leg that ended his 2011 season week 1 and heading into his age 33 season, will be the center.

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Chad Clifton, Plaxico Burress to visit Patriots

stevenlourie News, Patriots

The Patriots will play host to two of the most prominent remaining free agents, Chad Clifton and Plaxico Burress. Clifton was cut by the Packers earlier this offseason after failing a physical and looked likely to retire at age 36, but if he can prove he’s healthy, he might be solid veteran depth behind 2nd year left tackle Nate Solder, who is going into his first year as a full time starter, in the absence of the retired Matt Light. Solder struggled in the Patriots’ 1st preseason game last week.

Burress, meanwhile, caught 45 passes for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, but as drawn no interest this offseason, heading into his age 35 season. That seemed strange, considering guys like Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, and Terrell Owens all signed, but apparently he had too high of an asking price, which he has since dropped. He’s drawn interest from the Cowboys and Patriots since doing that. If signed, he’d be nothing more than the 4th receiver at best in New England and would have to compete with Deion Branch, Donte Stallworth, Julian Edelman, and Matt Slater for a job. He’d likely see most of his snaps in short yardage situations.

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Bengals’ Carlos Dunlap sidelined a month with a knee injury

stevenlourie Bengals, News

According to the Bengals’ official website, Carlos Dunlap is expected to miss about a month with a knee injury, which puts his availability for week 1 in serious doubt. Dunlap is one of the league’s most underrated players as the 2010 2nd round pick graded out as ProFootballFocus’ 7th rated defensive end last season, with 5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 29 quarterback pressures on 302 pass rush snaps, good for a rate of 15.6%, as a situational player.

Heading into his 3rd year in the league, he was expected to have a larger role, after the losses of defensive ends Frostee Rucker and Jonathan Fanene this offseason, and with Robert Geathers also expected to miss about a month with a knee injury. However, it appears the Bengals will be without his services for a couple of games, bad news for a team thin at defensive end.

With Rucker and Fanene gone and Geathers and Dunlap hurt, Michael Johnson is the only member of their 2011 defensive end rotation still likely to play week 1 and he graded out as the 2nd worst pass rusher of the bunch, with 7 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, and 15 quarterback pressures on 433 pass rush snaps (6.5%). He could have to start next to Jamaal Anderson, a bust and career journeyman who has never had much success anywhere.

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