News

Chargers’ Jared Gaither sidelined by back spasms

stevenlourie Chargers, News

This is not what you want to see. Jared Gaither, who missed all of the 2010 season and most of the 2011 season with back problems, is currently suffering from back spasms and has missed the majority of Training Camp so far and is expected to be held out until late August. While they’re probably just holding him out for precautionary reasons, it’s definitely not a good thing.

Gaither was amazing in 5 starts last season for the Chargers, after being cut midseason by the Chiefs. He didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit and only allowed 3 quarterback pressures, while committing just 3 penalties. The Chargers rewarded him with a 4 year, 24.6 million dollar deal with 13.5 million guaranteed this offseason.

That seems like a lot to give a guy after 5 games, but when healthy, Gaither is an elite left tackle and those guys don’t grow on trees. With the Ravens, in 2009, he allowed just 4 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, and 6 quarterback pressures, while committing 10 penalties in 13 games and in 2008, he allowed just 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 22 quarterback pressures, while committing 15 penalties in 19 games.

The Chargers desperately need him to be healthy because they have no depth at the position. Their 2nd string left tackle is Mike Harris, an undrafted rookie free agent. Their only veteran depth at the position is Brandyn Dombrowski, who was horrible last season, making 4 starts. He allowed 6 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, and 17 quarterback pressures, including 4 sacks, a hit, and 9 quarterback pressures in one game against Oakland. Somewhere, Kamerion Wimbley is still blowing past him and driving Philip Rivers into the dirt. On a line that already figures to get subpar play at the left guard and right tackle position, they can’t afford to get subpar play at the left tackle position.

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Dolphins’ David Garrard has knee surgery

stevenlourie Dolphins, News

The Dolphins received bad news when they found out that David Garrard would need knee surgery. Garrard, a free agent acquisition who missed all of last season with a back injury, was considered the favorite for the starting job and looked very good in Training Camp. However, Garrard will miss 2-4 weeks with the injury, which makes it much more likely that Matt Moore or Ryan Tannehill will be the starting quarterback, even though Garrard probably could play week 1 if needed.

However, this probably won’t be a huge hit to the Dolphins. Matt Moore proved himself to be capable last season, going 6-6, as he completed 210 of 347 (60.5%) for 2497 yards (7.2 YPA), 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions and he probably was the better choice for the job all along. Moore could, of course, regress, which would force Ryan Tannehill out into action before he’s ready and that could lead to this being a lost season for the Dolphins. However, if Moore keeps it up, they could follow the solid quarterback, good running game, good defense, easy schedule model and sneak into the playoffs in the inferior AFC at 9-7 or so.

As for Garrard, it’s likely he gets cut. Owed a non-guaranteed 2.25 million if he makes the final roster, he’s too expensive to be just a 2nd or 3rd string quarterback. The Dolphins won’t pay Moore, Garrard, and Tannehill and it’s been a known fact pretty much all along that the loser of the Moore/Garrard battle would be cut or traded. It’s unlikely anyone would trade for Garrard now though.

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Chargers’ Ryan Mathews out 4-6 weeks with broken collarbone

stevenlourie Chargers, News

The Chargers took a big hit when running back Ryan Mathews went down with what was later found to be a broken collarbone during the Chargers’ 1st preseason game. Mathews was set to be the Chargers’ “everything back” in Norv Turner’s offense, in his 3rd year in the league after going 12th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. With a career 4.7 YPC and above average pass catching skills (50 catches in 2011), Mathews looked poised to have a breakout year and become a star in this league.

However, the one issue that has always been present with Mathews has been durability so many were skeptical about his ability to carry the load and be a 300+ carry back. I kept my estimations for him fairly conservative in my fantasy football projections, projecting him to get 280 carries. I will have to lower those expectations now that he’s expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

However, this injury is really more of a freak injury that anything and while he should miss a game or two, it’s not likely to be something that lingers and he’s not necessarily any more likely to get hurt again this season than he was before the injury. He’s still a 1st round pick value, though Mathews owners should target Ronnie Brown late in the draft as a handcuff as he figures to get the start in the absence of Mathews. Brown is pretty washed up, heading into his age 31 season, after averaging 3.2 YPC last season, but he’ll get you volume yardage.

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Browns’ Trent Richardson will undergo knee surgery

stevenlourie Browns, News

More bad news for the Browns, at the same time they found out that star cornerback Joe Haden could be suspended for 4 games, Trent Richardson will have to undergo surgery on his left knee. That surgery is just a scope so it’s as minor as it comes, but this is the 2nd time that knee has been operated on this year, so it’s not what you want to see from the player you just spent the 3rd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft on.

The Browns expect Richardson to be back for the opener, but that’s not certain and it’s definitely possible he’ll miss a couple games at some point this season with lingering knee pain. The Browns could also scale back his workload early in September. As talented as Richardson is, rookie running backs have had trouble adjusting to a 16-game NFL season in recent years as 1st round pick running backs have averaged just have just averaged 165 carries as rookies since 2007. It’s important to keep fantasy predictions for him conservative as a rookie. Montario Hardesty, who is reportedly finally healthy, makes for an interesting handcuff and potential late round sleeper.

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Browns’ Joe Haden could be suspended 4 games

stevenlourie Browns, News

Joe Haden, the 7th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, is reportedly in danger of being suspended for 4 games, according to ESPN Cleveland, after testing positive for Adderall during a routine drug test. Adderall is a classified as a performance enhancing “stimulant” by the NFL. The NFL has reportedly told Haden he tested positive and that they are reviewing the drug test. Haden will be able to appeal the failed drug test after it’s reviewed and possibly avoid suspension or get a reduced suspension.

If Haden were to miss any time, it would be a huge blow to a team with so little talent. Haden has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL over the last 2 seasons and was a major Pro Bowl snub in 2011. He’s really been the only bright spot on an overall disappointing Browns team.  He’s allowed just 83 completions on 162 attempts (51.2%) for 1165 yards (7.2 YPA), 5 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while deflecting 28 passes and committing 12 penalties in the last 2 seasons. Any suspension would not begin until after an appeal, if there is one, and the process sometimes takes months.

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Desmond Bishop could miss season with ruptured hamstring

stevenlourie News, Packers

Packers’ middle linebacker Desmond Bishop went down with a hamstring and knee injury in their 1st preseason game and the Packers are fearing the worst. Though the knee appears to be fine, the hamstring injury sounds like it’s pretty serious, as the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that the Packers fear Bishop will miss “a good portion, if not all” of the upcoming season with this injury, which means the hamstring likely ruptured.

Bishop has emerged as an above average middle linebacker in the last 2 seasons, replacing Nick Barnett early in 2010 after he went down with an injury. Bishop was a key part of their Super Bowl winning team and played well enough to get the veteran Barnett cut last offseason. Fortunately, the Packers have DJ Smith, a promising young linebacker who played well in limited action last season.

Smith could take over for Bishop and establish himself as a starter just like Bishop did when Barnett got hurt. The 2011 6th round pick was reportedly pushing AJ Hawk for a starting job at middle linebacker and might have beat him out if it wasn’t for Hawk’s salary. Now he’ll have the opportunity to at least make a good number of starts, so there’s a possibility they won’t miss Bishop too much.

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Arizona Cardinals 2013 Franchise Tag Candidates

stevenlourie Cardinals, News

S Kerry Rhodes

I only list Rhodes because the Cardinals don’t have another even remotely good candidate for the tag. Safeties have been franchised 4 times in the last 2 seasons because of how cheap the safety franchise tag is (just 6.2 million in 2012). However, Rhodes isn’t the level of Michael Huff, Tyvon Branch, Dashon Goldson, and Michael Griffin, all of whom have been franchised in the last 2 seasons, at least not anymore. He’s no longer the same player the Jets gave a 5 year, 33.5 million dollar deal to in 2008. Heading into his age 31 season in 2013, Rhodes isn’t getting any better.

Likelihood: Very unlikely

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Seattle Seahawks 2013 Franchise Tag Candidates

stevenlourie News, Seahawks

DT Alan Branch

Largely a bust in the early part of his career in Arizona, as a 2007 2nd round pick, the Seahawks got the most out of Branch last season, as he ranked as ProFootballFocus’ 5th rated defensive tackle as primarily a run stuffer. However, while the defensive tackle franchise tag is relatively inexpensive (7.9 million in 2012), it’s unlikely the Seahawks would give it to someone who doesn’t do much in the way of rushing the passer. There is some precedent with that, with the Dolphins giving the tag to Paul Soliai in 2011, but he was a 3-4 nose tackle, not a 4-3 defensive tackle. More likely he’ll have to “settle” for a deal like Brodrick Bunkley’s (5 years, 25 million), a comparable two-down run stuffer in a 4-3.

Likelihood: Somewhat unlikely

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San Francisco 49ers 2013 Franchise Tag Candidates

stevenlourie 49ers, News

P Andy Lee

Punters and kickers are the most often franchised because the franchise tag values for them are very cheap and franchising them makes a lot more sense than giving them a long term deal. Lee is one of the best in the game, averaging 45.7 yards per punt in his career and 50.9 per in 2011, so he’s definitely a candidate for the tag on a team with no other obvious candidates.

Likelihood: Likely

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St. Louis Rams 2013 Franchise Tag Candidates

stevenlourie News, Rams

MLB James Laurinaitis

Laurinaitis is a good linebacker, but the linebacker franchise tag value (8.8 million in 2012) is inflated by the salaries of rush linebackers and thus non-rush linebackers rarely get tagged. After an offseason in which Curtis Lofton, Stephen Tulloch, and David Hawthorne got 27.5 million, 25.5 million, and 19 million respectively over 5 years, the Rams are unlikely to commit 8.8 million to Laurinaitis over just one season.

Likelihood: Unlikely

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