News

Chiefs’ Donald Washington arrested

stevenlourie Chiefs, News

Chiefs defensive back Donald Washington has joined what is sadly a large group of players, becoming one of 30 NFL players arrested this offseason. Washington was ticketed for driving under the influence of drugs, possession of marijuana, speeding, and driving without a license (that’s what we call a grand slam). Already on the roster bubble as a depth cornerback and safety, this doesn’t help Washington’s chances to make the roster. He’ll probably be cut before the start of the season.

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Michael Floyd unlikely to begin season as starter for Cardinals

stevenlourie Cardinals, News

According to multiple sources, including Pro Football Weekly, the Arizona Republic, and the Sports Xchange, Cardinals’ rookie receiver Michael Floyd, the 13th overall pick, is expected to start Training Camp as the #4 receiver and likely will begin the season there as well. This seems a little weird because he was seen as pretty NFL ready coming out of Notre Dame and they brought him in to take the bracket coverage off of Larry Fitzgerald, possibly even at Fitzgerald’s urging. Floyd also showed up for Fitzgerald’s wide receiver camp, albeit after being called out by Fitzgerald, who has taken a personal interest in Floyd’s developmental.

However, the Cardinals reportedly are not impressed with Floyd, as he tries to adjust to an NFL work ethic. They’re also an organization that traditionally likes to make their rookies earn their way up the depth chart. On top of that, rookie receivers take at least a year typically to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Discounting Julio Jones and AJ Green (the exceptions), since the 2005 NFL Draft, 22 receivers have gone in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. In their rookie years, they have averaged 37 catches for 524 yards and 3 touchdowns.

That group is not a group of busts. It includes, among others, Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Jeremy Maclin, Kenny Britt, Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Robert Meachem, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and Roddy White. The leader in rookie production among those 22, strangely Dwayne Bowe, who caught 70 passes for 995 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2007.

Expect Floyd’s impact to be made in 2013 and beyond, when, hopefully, the Cardinals will have a quarterback capable of getting the most out of Fitzgerald and Floyd. Andre Roberts and Early Doucet are expected to be the #2 and the #3 receivers respectively, though Floyd could work his way up the depth chart during the season. He’s not draftable in redraft leagues in fantasy football.

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Steelers bring back Max Starks

stevenlourie News, Steelers

The Steelers have resigned offensive tackle Max Starks. There was a lot of doubt about this because Starks tore his ACL in January and because Starks was out of football as recently as last October with weight issues. However, he’s still only 30 years old and played pretty well as the Steelers’ left tackle last year. He allowed 6 sacks, 7 quarterback hits, and 20 quarterback pressures, while committing 5 penalties and run blocking well in 13 starts, including playoffs. He’ll provide insurance at left tackle for 2nd round rookie Mike Adams, while 2011 2nd round pick Marcus Gilbert will remain at right tackle.

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Joey Porter signs one day contract to retire with Steelers

stevenlourie News, Steelers

Earlier this week, former Cardinal, Dolphin, and Steeler Joey Porter signed a one day contract to retire as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the age of 35. A 1999 3rd round pick, Porter spent 8 seasons with the Steelers and won a Super Bowl. With them, he had 60 sacks. He then spent 3 years in Miami, where he had another 32 sacks, including an AFC leading 17.5 in 2008.

He finished his career with 2 years in Arizona, where had had just 6 sacks, including just 1 last season. He retires with 98 sacks, 30th all-time, 4 Pro-Bowl appearances, and as a member of the Steelers All-Time team and the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team. He’ll be a candidate for the Steelers’ ring of honor and a fringe candidate for the Hall-of-Fame.

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Akeem Ayers to line up as a pass rusher regularly for Titans

stevenlourie News, Titans

According to the Nashville Tennessean, Titans linebacker Akeem Ayers will line up as a pass rusher regularly this season. The 2011 2nd round pick has spent the offseason working out with pass rush technique specialist Keith Millard. At 6-3 254, with good athleticism, he has all the tools to be a pass rusher and was noted for his above average blitzing ability coming out of UCLA last year, with some people even projecting him as a potential 3-4 rush linebackers.

Ayers spent last year primarily as a linebacker, blitzing well on occasion. This year, however, it appears he’ll play more of a hybrid role and move to the defensive line in obvious passing situations to spell Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley (mostly Morgan, who is the inferior pass rusher). 2nd round rookie Zach Brown, a terrific coverage linebacker, will replace him at linebacker next to every down middle linebacker Colin McCarthy in 2-linebacker sets in sub packages. The veteran Will Witherspoon will remain purely a 2-down run stuffer.

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Cowboys’ Mike Jenkins could begin the season on the PUP

stevenlourie Cowboys, News

According to ESPN Dallas, cornerback Mike Jenkins is a candidate to begin the season on the PUP, which would suggest that his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery is not going well. If placed on the PUP, he would have to miss the first 6 games of the season. Jenkins, who has been complaining about his positioning on the depth chart all offseason, and demanding to be traded, is expected to be present when Training Camp opens, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be practicing.

This is a major hit for his trade value and could mean that Jenkins will remain in Dallas this season as their 3rd or 4th cornerback behind offseason acquisitions Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, much to his dismay. The Cowboys reportedly had interest from 4 suitors in Jenkins earlier this offseason, including Indianapolis and Detroit. They might be wishing they had taken one of those deals, especially if Jenkins has to miss significant time. The 2008 1st round pick and 2009 Pro Bowler is a free agent after the season.

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Mikel Leshoure expected to be Lions’ lead back

stevenlourie Lions, News

According to detroitlions.com, the Lions envision using their running backs like the New Orleans Saints, with Mikel Leshoure as Mark Ingram, Jahvid Best as Darren Sproles, and Kevin Smith as Pierre Thomas. It’s certainly an interesting concept and a good model to follow as the Saints’ trio led them to average 4.9 YPC last year, tied for 4th in the NFL.

However, the idea is based on the concept that Best can be as good as Darren Sproles at what he does. That seems highly unlikely, considering Sproles rushed for 6.9 YPC last year and caught 86 passes. Many teams are trying to find their own version of Darren Sproles (see the 49ers drafting LaMichael James), but there appears to only be one. The Lions’ trio is also much more injury prone than the Saints’ trio as Best, Leshoure, and Smith all missed significant time with injury last season. Best and Smith also have extensive injury histories.

Last season, Ingram had 122 carries and 11 catches in 10 games, an average of 13.3 touches per game. Sproles had 87 carries and 86 carries, good for 10.8 touches per game, in spite of a large amount of receptions which seems unrepeatable, especially not by Best. Thomas, meanwhile, 110 carries and 50 catches, good for 10.0 touches per game.

In this model, Leshoure figures to get the bulk of the carries, like Mark Ingram in New Orleans. He’ll also get the majority of the short yardage and goal line carries and, while he missed all of last season with a torn Achilles, he doesn’t have Best’s or Smith’s injury history. While he’ll miss the first 2 games of the season with a suspension, the 2011 2nd round pick appears to be the back to own in fantasy leagues at his average draft position in the 8th round. Best, meanwhile, is going in the 6th while Smith is going in the 13th.

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Robert Turbin would start for Seahawks if Marshawn Lynch is suspended

stevenlourie News, Seahawks

After getting arrested last week on DUI, Marshawn Lynch, who has 2 prior convictions and a prior 3 game suspension, is facing suspension from the NFL. According to the Sports Xchange’s Len Pasquarelli, the Seahawks are “holding their breath” as the NFL reviews the situation of their recently paid 31 million dollar back (over 3 years). He should get some sort of suspension.

Pasaquarelli also reports that Robert Turbin, a 4th round rookie, would likely start for the Seahawks if Lynch is suspended. This makes sense because #2 back Leon Washington is purely a change of back/pass catching/return man type of a running back. Turbin, currently 3rd on the depth chart, has the build and skill set to carry the load. He has definitely fantasy upside, especially as a handcuff for Marshawn Lynch owners.

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Mother of Cowboys’ Dez Bryant won’t press charges

stevenlourie Cowboys, News

According to the Associated Press, the mother of Dez Bryant, who accused him of domestic abuse last week, will not press charges. This does make sense because, as I could imagine, it must be very tough for a mother to press charges against her son. Bryant has to feel very fortunate because, if she had decided to press charges, a one-game suspension from the NFL seemed very possible. After this recent development, Bryant seems likely to play all 16 games this season, barring injury of course.

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Ravens now “optimistic” about getting extension done with Joe Flacco

stevenlourie News, Ravens

Though it didn’t originally look like it, multiple sources are reporting that a deal between Joe Flacco and the Ravens could be close. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah puts the odds at 75%, while ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said that the Ravens are “optimistic” about getting a deal done with Flacco ahead of Training Camp. Meanwhile, Flacco himself expressed confidence about the situation.

If this is, in fact, the case, one side must have budged as originally the situation was that Flacco wanted top-5 quarterback money and the Ravens wanted no part of giving him that money. More likely, it’s Flacco who changed his stance, because he’s not worth that kind of money. He is, however, worth at least what Matt Cassel, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Alex Smith are making, which is in the 9-10 million dollar per year range.

If he’s still unsigned next offseason, the Ravens will almost definitely franchise tag him, unless he regresses majorly this season. The Ravens have to be hoping to avoid that because the franchise tag value will be upwards of 16 million dollars and Flacco is not worth that. Signing him now would also free up the franchise tag for use on Ed Reed, if they choose to do so. Expect them to push hard to sign Flacco before the season, in the neighborhood of 10-12 million per year over 4-5 years.

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