Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ QB Decision Goes To ‘Committee’

Imagine if you will, Raheem Morris on the show “Who Wants To Be An NFL Head Coach?” Regis Philbin asks him the million dollar question:

 

Regis: “Ok, Raheem, for ONE MILLION DOLLARS:

“Who is the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?”

“You answers are:

A. Byron Leftwich B. Luke McCown C. Josh Freeman D. Josh Johnson.

Raheem: “Geez Regis, I’m so excited about all four! Can I use my lifelines?”

Regis: “Sure Raheem, you have all your lifelines available. You can poll the audience, you can phone a friend, you can ask for the 50-50.”

Raheem: “Oh Regis, I’m so excited. How about if I poll the audience?”

Regis: “Ok, Raheem. And the audience says:

“40% Byron Leftwich, 40% Luke McCown, 15% Josh Freeman and 5% Josh Johnson.”

Raheem: “Geez Regis, that’s not helping me, this is so tough, can I phone a friend?”

Regis: “Sure Raheem, who do you want to call?”

Raheem: “I want to call Mark Dominik…”

(phone ringing)

Regis: “Hello, Mark Dominik!”

Dominik:  “Yes…”

Regis: “Mark, this is Regis Philbin on ‘Who Wants To Be An NFL Head Coach’. I’ve got Raheem Morris here with us, and he has a question for you…”

Raheem: “Hey Mark!”

Dominik: “Raheem, how goes it?”

Raheem: “Well Mark, I have a tough question here and I want to run the answers by you..”

Dominik: “Ok.”

Raheem: “The question is ‘Who is the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers…the answers are: A. Byron Leftwich B. Luke McCown C. Josh Freeman and D. Josh Johnson.”

Dominik:  “Well, Raheem, I don’t think it’s C or D, but I’m not sure about the other two. Sorry…”

Regis: “Well, Raheem, I’m sorry too.”

Raheem: “Regis, I still have the 50-50 left, let’s try that…”

Regis: “And the  50-50 is: A and B.”

Raheem: “Geez, I’m so excited about both.”

Regis: “Ok Raheem, decision time…”

Suddenly, horn blast.

Regis: “Oh goodness Raheem, that’s all the time we have for tonight, we’ll have to come back next week and play, ‘Who wants to be an NFL head coach?’

“See you then.”

Raheem: “I’m so excited!”

Updated Fantasy Football Rankings: Last Call!

Many Fantasy Football Drafts will fall in the next week. With that Football Jabber is posting its final Fantasy Football Redraft Rankings for the season. Included with the rankings are the current Average Draft Position (ADP) so you can see where the players have fallen in Mock Drafts. In this episode we will a have look at some of the Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers you should keep an eye on.

 

 

Drew Brees No. 1 vs. Tom Brady No. 2

 

I want to throw out the disclaimer here that my stance on this battle is in no way effected by my being a Saints fan. Look at any of my Redraft rosters and you will rarely find a Saints on them. The heart stays clear of my fantasy football Warroom. Not that I don’t believe in their fantasy production, I just don’t think I value them as much as many others do in fantasy football.

Anyway…My gut tells me that Drew Brees is still going to be the top QB this season and if there is a Saint on my roster it will be him.  Why?  Tom Brady’s return does not make Brees a worse QB or his fantasy situation any worse.  There are still questions lingering a bit with Brady and realistically it isn’t likely he will be up there where he was in 2007 on the fantasy scoreboard.  It could still be that I have a bad taste in my mouth from drafting Brady in two leagues last year.  Amazingly I was still able to win one and was runner up in the other (Have to throw that out there whenever I can).

 

 

Peyton Manning makes the Top Three!

 

YEAH!  Why the excitement? Last season I was pounded a little bit by a couple readers for ranking Manning out of the Top three.  One of them promised to come back and heckle me at the end of the season when Manning finished No. 1…this reader was never to be heard from again. Although Aaron Rodgers is right on his tail, Manning gets the nod at No. 3 for consistency and proving he is not a product of Tom Moore.

 

 

Jay Cutler moves into the Top 10

 

I’m not a big Cutler fan but it is starting to look like I have to get past that and forget the fact he is in Chicago.

 

 

Mark Sanchez and Shaun Hill officially get jobs

 

Thought I would throw this out there.  It really didn’t move them much from where we already had them ranked. It certainly does feel better drafting them as a possible backup if you know they will be on the field.

 

 

David Garrard should be your backup QB

 

I may be kicking myself saying this before I have two drafts this weekend…David Garrard should be your backup QB. His ADP of 12.01 makes him a bargain a bargain. You should be able to fill a couple other backup spots and still find him on the board. Considering the bottom of the Top 12 rankings he could easily be a starter or play in a QBBC for some of those teams that grabbed the 11th or 12th QB.

 

 

Maurice Jones-DrewNo. 2 vs. Michael Turner No. 3

 

I’m starting to think that the best place to fall this season is the No. 3 spot. You know you get on of these two guys or that Peterson fellow. Things get a little iffy after that. You also get to be the first one of the owners of these three guys to pick again.

Anyway…You can’t go wrong with either of them I don’t believe, both are going to be beasts.  Jones Drew gets the edge for his play in the passing game.

 

 

Poor Pierre Thomas

 

It appears that Sean Payton is going to keep us guessing as much as he does opposing defenses on Sunday. With Mike Bell’s Preseason play he is in there at the No. 3 spot and it looks as if he is going to be worked in as a three headed monster in the backfield for the Saints. This drops the value of Thomas a bit. He is the best RB option for the team but he is likely going to be overvalued by those wanting to get in on the Saints offensive action. If you can get a good deal on him, by all means go for it but realize you might not get consistent production as the ball is spread around in New Orleans.

 

 

...same thing in Tampa

 

I have been high on Earnest Graham this season as a sleeper. All eyes are on Derrick Ward and Graham earned an ADP of 10.09 because of it. Then Caddy came back.  Williams is being worked in now with the other two. Who knows how long Williams will stay healthy but it does drop the value of Ward and Graham a bit.

 

 

Brandon Marshall falling fast…

 

Let’s just get it out there.  You may just be better off going in another direction if you are considering drafting Brandon Marshall. Stay away from the drama. Look at your rankings and see where you have Marshall ranking and think if you could live with that guy or two sitting right behind him. At least they may still be getting you points in November…who knows what planet Marshall will be on then.

 

 

Love the Ocho Cinco

 

Tell you what…I’m going to be a happy guy if I can nab Chad Johnson (yeah, I went there) as my No. 2 WR this season.  I’m thinking a come back season for this guy.  One of those gut things I guess.  With an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 4.01 I wouldn’t grab him in the third before that but if he falls back and you already have a RB,WR, base going…and don’t want to go QB yet…grab him.

 

 

Is Roy Williams the WR bust of the year?

 

Just as I have a gut feeling on Ochocinco, I’m a bit queezy when it comes to Roy Williams.  I want this guy to succeed, don’t get me wrong.  I just don’t know that I could take him as high as people are (fourth round).  It is definitely a risk/reward pick. He certainly is in position to breakout…will he though?

Check out the rest of the rankings and come back and let us know who you drafted!

 

 

Re-Draft Rankings
QB|RB|WR|TE

Tom Brady Leaves Redskin Game With Shoulder Injury

Tom Brady was playing great Friday in the preseason game against the Washington Redskins.

However, the second quarter ended ominously. Albert Haynesworth fell on Brady and appeared to land with all his weight on Tom’s throwing shoulder. Brady got up moving his arm, wrist, and shoulder. He left the game at this time.

Brady came back onto the field at the beginning of the second half, but quickly retired to the locker room.

He didn’t address the press after the game. 

Belichick was so tight-lipped, he topped himself. When asked if Brady was hurt, he answered that Brady was banged up and bruised like every player would be.

Reporters asked what the team doctors had said. Belichick said Brady was never going to play the second half. There was zero natural flow to this conversation and no smiles on the Patriots’ sideline.

A further question about the injury prompted Belichick to say, “Who?” as though he had no idea who the press was asking about.

It’s 5:32 AM CST on Saturday here, and no new information. Many expressed concern when Matt Cassel was traded.

If Brady goes out, or has an injury similar to Brett Favre’s last year, what happens with the Patriots?

Fantasy Focus: “Oh (Chris) Henry” is a Beast

The Man-child returns…
Just three seasons ago Henry burst onto the scene in Cincinnati as a big-time scoring threat in the red-zone. In his second season with the team Henry caught just 36 balls, but found pay-dirt nine times. In his first two years with the Bengals Henry totaled 15 touchdowns and appeared to be a star on the rise. 

Henry is your prototypical NFL receiver with great size standing at 6’4″, good hands and big play ability. In his first two seasons with the team he averaged a score every 4.5 catches and over 15-yards per reception. And just when it appeared that the Bengals had themselves a jewel of a find in Henry, the trouble started. 

Despite the early success, Henry’s second season (2006) would be marred with a five game suspension that would just be the beginning of more bad things to come. In 2007 due to off the field issues Henry began the 2007 season by serving an eight game suspension.

Following an arrest in April of 2008 Henry would be released by the team and seemingly be looking at the end of his short NFL career. 

It was nothing short of misfortune and bad luck for the Bengals that would give Henry another shot at being an NFL receiver.

Even after head coach Marvin Lewis had expressed the team had no interest in re-signing Henry, with multiple injuries depleting their receiving corp and Henry having served his second suspension (four games) to start the 2008 season, the Bengals gave the oft troubled receiver another chance. 

A chance that at first looked like nothing more than a temporary stop for Henry, who’s future seemed to be poisoned with bad choices and destined to fail. Henry finished last season with less than modest numbers and was likely off everyone’s radar heading toward the offseason.

A Second Chance:
It was during the offseason that change began. Henry was refocused and determined to change his outlook and more importantly his future. According to teammates Henry was working everyday with a great attitude and having an offseason like no other.

So the change began and the result this training camp has been, Henry always viewed as a talent in the game is suddenly beginning to realize his potential and making the most of his opportunity.

Henry has looked impressive in practice and made the most of his opportunities. He was getting more first team snaps during the team’s OTA’s in the offseason and carrying this over into training camp where he has just been a beast. 

To this point, while Ochocinco has begun to show his old form, Henry clearly has been the standout in camp and his early numbers are showing his complete metamorphisis. In the team’s first two preseason games Henry has pulled down 11 passes for 155-yards and has been turning heads along the way with every snap. 

With the return of number 85 and Palmer healthy, Henry is looking like this year’s early “big” sleeper candidate. He’s back with his old team and he’s had a whole offseason to work and improve and clearly it appears that’s just what he has done. 

Last season there was no chemistry and for both the team and Chris it was not an ideal situation. 2009 looks to be quite the opposite with all signs pointing towards an improved Bengals team that consists of a marriage of misfits, a castaway, and plenty of talent to be successful. 

Coming off a very quiet 2008, just 19 receptions and two touchdowns, Henry has likely begun the 2009 campaign as big fantasy secret. Only now is he starting to draw attention and create interest. Laveranues Coles may have been brought in to compensate for some of the lost production from TJ Houshmandzadeh’s departure, but don’t be fooled; it will be Henry picking up most of the slack. 

His initial fantasy impact is already being noticed. Folks must remember, his first 15 touchdown catches in his first two seasons came off the arm of Carson Palmer. Henry looks like a new player in camp and both he and Palmer appear to be in sync. 

Coles is projected to start opposite Ochocinco, but with Henry playing as well as he is fantasy owners might just have to consider him the team’s third starting receiver, until he takes the No. 2 spot. We may be reading too deep into the numbers this early, but with Henry looking as good as he does and a healthy Palmer, he’s going to be huge in 2009. 

The man-child appears to be rocketing up the boards, but fantasy owners will likely still be able to snatch him up in the mid-rounds as their number three receiver. As long as all things keep pointing forward and Henry continues to work and do the things necessary, he’s a solid bet to finish the season as a solid number two fantasy receiver. 

Keep him on your draft board, he’ll be worth picking up!

Rotisserie by the Numbers: The Top 25 Fantasy Running Backs

Quarterback might the most important position in the NFL, but running back is the most important position in fantasy football.

If you have no running backs, then you have no chance of winning your fantasy league. That is why the first rounds of fantasy drafts are usually dominated by running backs, with only one or two quarterbacks and receivers getting taken that high.

Here are the top 25 running backs in fantasy football heading into the 2009 season.

 

1. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)

Peterson’s not only the No. 1 running back, but he’s hands down the No. 1 pick overall in fantasy football.

And if 800-year-old Brett Favre can make defenses back off the line, Peterson will be even better.

 

2. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears)

He only averaged over 100 total yards per game and scored 12 touchdowns during his rookie season.

Yup, that’s all.

That was with defenses totally focused on him because he was Chicago’s only weapon, too. That is not the case anymore, thanks to Jay Cutler.

 

3. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons)

The “Burner” blazed for 1,699 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in his first season as a full-time starter.

It would be nice if he did not have hands of stone, though, as he had just eight receptions in 2008.

 

4. DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers)

Williams was fantasy football’s MVP during the second half of the 2008 season with 1,101 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in Carolina’s last nine games.

 

5. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams)

Despite having the worst and most-injured offensive line “blocking” for him, Jackson still averaged more total yards per game last season than the four backs ahead of him on this list.

 

6. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars)

No more sharing carries with Fred Taylor might mean 1,600 total yards and 15 touchdowns for fantasy football’s favorite three-named bowling ball of a back.

 

7. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans)

He has Olympic sprinter speed, plays behind an above-average offensive line, and is the featured back in a run-first offense.

You cannot ask for more.

 

8. Steve Slaton (Houston Texans)

Thought of as more of a change-of-pace, third-down specialty back coming out of college, Slaton destroyed all expectations with 1,659 combined yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie year.

 

9. Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants)

This superhuman with the body of a linebacker but the speed of a receiver should get a couple more carries now that Derrick Ward is no longer in the picture.

 

10. Frank Gore, (San Francisco 49ers)

A more conservative offense should translate into more touches for the multi-dimensional Gore, although rookie Glen Coffee is pushing him for playing time with his outstanding preseason.

 

11. Brian Westbrook, (Philadelphia Eagles)

He is still the best pass-catching running back in the game, but he has had his knee drained more times than I have had my toilet drained, so to say he is an injury risk is an understatement.

 

12. Clinton Portis, (Washington Redskins)

Luckily for Portis and his fantasy owners, Washington head coach Jim Zorn does not utilize Ladell Betts as much as Joe Gibbs did.

 

13. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers)

Two straight seasons of declining numbers suggest the tread left on L.T.’s tires is thinner than an Olsen twin.

 

14. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions)

Smith galloped under many radars during his rookie campaign.

If he can amass 1,282 total yards and eight scores on a winless team, imagine what he can do if Detroit goes 4-12.

 

15. Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers)

A hamstring injury and limited work in the preseason killed his production during the first month of 2008, yet he rebounded nicely to still finish with over 1,200 rushing yards.

 

16. Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints)

Bush can score from anywhere on the field via rushing, receiving or returning, but his injuries and inconsistency have still made him one of the most overrated players in the NFL.

 

17. Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins)

The “Wildcat” offense helped boost his fantasy numbers last season, but he will no longer be running it now that rookie quarterback Pat White is in the fold.

 

18. Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos)

Moreno should be the leading contender for Rookie of the Year, but a preseason knee injury will have him playing catch-up for the first few weeks.

He is not to be confused with Keyshawn Johnson or Moses Moreno.

 

19. Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys)

You get the feeling that super-speedy sophomore sensation Felix Jones is going to get more touches at Barber’s expense.

 

20. Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills)

Being suspended for the first three games of the season puts a dent in one’s fantasy value.

 

21. Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints)

Thomas singlehandedly shipped Deuce McAllister out of New Orleans after his scintillating second half of the 2008 season.

 

22. Thomas Jones (New York Jets)

Jones will be hard-pressed to duplicate the 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns he had last season if new coach Rex Ryan employs a three-pronged rushing attack with Jones, Leon Washington, and first-year bruiser Shonn Greene.

 

23. Darren McFadden, Raiders

No kicker or punter had more toe problems than McFadden had during his rookie season, so let’s hope his fleet feet are protected by Dr. Scholl so he can score some long touchdowns.

 

24. Larry Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs)

It’s a new season with a new offense, with a new lease on life, and hopefully no more spitting incidents that get him suspended.

 

25. Beanie Wells (Arizona Cardinals)

Wells has been looking like a world beater in the preseason, and it is not like the NFC West is loaded with stingy run defenses.

 

Next column: Running backs 26-50.

No Matter What Happens Tomorow, I Support Brady Quinn

Saturday night, the Cleveland Browns face the Tennesee Titans in what will be the dress rehearsal game for the regular season. As usual, most of the attention will focus on the quarterback battle that has gone on all summer between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

This has really gone back and forth in practice. Quinn performed better in the Brown-White game. He followed it up with another solid performance against the Green Bay Packers. Although Quinn again performed well against Detroit, Anderson really struck back in a big way in that game.

So now, here we are heading into Saturday’s game against the Titans with this battle still close. Eric Mangini expects one guy to establish himself this week.

That could mean that whoever has a good game tomorrow wins the job, which puts a lot of pressure on both Quinn and Anderson.

My guess is honestly that neither guy will establish himself in that game. That isn’t because either is a bad quarterback, but because the Titans defense clearly outmatches the Browns offense. The Titans are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and they will want to make a strong statement.

Then you factor in that the Dallas Cowboys really took it to the Titan defense last week. That leaves the Titans even more hungry to respond.

Those factors will make it tough for both Quinn and Anderson to perform. If one of them gets it done against those conditions, then he deserves to start against the Minnesota Vikings.

That does include Anderson. If he clearly outperforms Quinn tomorrow, he deserves the start. Everybody knows that I have been a strong Quinn supporter. Will that change if he doesn’t claim the job? No it will not.

This is not the end of the road for Quinn, or Anderson for that matter, if he gets outperformed tomorrow. It just, in all likelihood, means that he will have to wait longer to show what he can do at the NFL level. He will still have a vitally important role on the Browns.

Having a quality backup is of utmost importance. Without one, a team is one play away from being a really bad team.

It also won’t be the end of Quinn’s quest to be a starter in the NFL. Anderson struggles with consistency and has continued to do so this preseason, which means that there is a good chance that he continues that in the regular season. Also, an injury could put Quinn in very early on.

Even if Anderson does fix his consistency in the regular season and stays healthy, it still isn’t the end of the road for Quinn. Looking around the league, there are many quarterbacks who have to do well this year or they could be out.

There is Trent Edwards in Buffalo, Jamarcus Russell in Oakland, Kyle Orton in Denver, Shaun Hill in San Francisco, David Garrad in Jacksonville, Marc Bulger in St. Louis, and Matt Schaub in Houston.

Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle and Carson Palmer in Cincinnatti are both coming back from major injuries and may not be the same.

What that means is that there will be plenty of openings, and they can’t all be fixed by Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. Therefore, somebody will take a chance on Quinn. It just may take a little longer than he and us Irish fans would like.

When he does get his chance to start in the NFL, Quinn will have my full support no matter where he is. I will root for him to succeed, but if he doesn’t, I won’t think anything less of him.

I have been a Notre Dame fan my whole life. So no, I don’t like Quinn because he played at Notre Dame. I like him because of what he did in South Bend. All he did was break 36 school passing records and go to two BCS Bowls. He did that with relatively average talent around him.

No matter what Quinn’s NFL career becomes, his Notre Dame legacy can never be touched. And what a legacy it is, considering all the great quarterbacks that have gone through South Bend. That includes Joe Montana and Joe Theisman.

Don’t get me wrong, I will be pulling hard for Quinn tomorrow and the rest of camp. I do believe in him and expect him to start against Minnesota. But if that doesn’t happen, I will still believe in him and will look forward to seeing him play at some point.

Good luck, Brady.

Elementary Solution Employed in Dallas Stadium Debauchery [HUMOR]

Even being a Giants fan, I cannot deny the ingenuity and brilliance of a place like the new Cowboys’ stadium. It is almost ironic that the fantastic scoreboard could present such a problem for the players and staff.

When searching for a solution, one would have thought the NFL could have come up with some professional sounding explanation for the rule they came up with to solve the issue with the marvel scoreboard in Jerry Jones’ monument of a Stadium.

What happened instead is this: The NFL decided that in the event of a punt or kick hitting the scoreboard, the scoreboard stretches from 20-yard line to 20-yard line, 60 yards for those counting, the play will result in a “do-over.” That is not to be confused with “givesies-backsies” or “no tag backs.”

I guess the NFL executives got the memo to go home and ask their children to give them some advice on the matter, that seems to be the only logical explanation for the language chosen to adopt the rule.

The mere idea of the NFL calling it a “do-over” simply breeds light unto the fact that the whole situation was trivial to begin with.

I mean the punters hitting the scoreboard is a real problem, but the back and forth between the NFL and Jerry Jones reminded me of the classic “tag in the sheepdog car” scene in Dumb and Dumber—the original not the worthless excuse for a sequel.

“You can’t triple stamp a double stamp Lloyd! You can’t triple stamp a double stamp Lloyd! LLOYD!!” Simply classic.

I can’t help but feel like this is what Jerry Jones had coming to him. If you are going to build such a glorious scoreboard, at least bring your punter out to see how high he can kick it.

The precautions that could have been taken to avoid such a debacle are so simple my 28 month old nephew might have been able to figure it out.

I understand that moving the scoreboard up would cost around $2 million dollars, which is chump change for the Dallas organization, but the fact that Jones won’t even consider it just keeps feeding my elementary school analogy.

“The NFL told me 85 feet, so we’re leaving it at 90.”

Gee Jerry, thanks for considering the fans and players in all of this. The fans are being gypped in that the punt is such a boring play to begin with, and to have to watch in more than once in succession is a buzz kill (rest assured their will be drunk people at Texas Stadium).

The punters aren’t being considered because it is not only a physical barrier, but a psychological barrier as well, and every time they kick it could mess with their heads somehow and force a bad kick.

This story is more evidence that Jerry Jones views his organizations as a business rather than a football team.

Green Bay Packers 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule | Fantasy Football Rankings

Green Bay Packers- 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule- Printable- Downloadable

Green Bay Packers 2009 Regular Season Schedule

The Packers might have the best offense in football this season as Aaron Rodgers and the boys look ready to role in the preseason. If this team is going to beat out the Vikings for the division title than it will be their defense that has to make the difference.

Below are three sections of interest that are worth paying attention to for fantasy owners coming into the season for this team. First we have listed our fantasy players which we believe are worth paying attention to this season.

Next is strength of schedule against the run, pass and points against. Lastly we have a few games selected that will be key in telling how this team will preform for the 2009 season.

Fantasy Players

QB. Aaron Rodgers
RB. Ryan Grant
WR. Greg Jennings
WR. Donald Driver
WR. James Jones
TE. Donald Lee
K. Mason Crosby
D. Packers

Strength of Schedule

vs Run Fourth Hardest Schedule

vs Pass Eighth Easiest Schedule

vs Points Given Up Sixth Easiest Schedule

With an easy schedule to pass this season I see Aaron Rodgers and his receivers having another very fine season in 2009. Look for Donald Driver to have a bump in touchdown catches this year as defenses should pay more attention to Greg Jennings as the true No.1 receiver in the offense.

Ryan Grants schedule may suggest that he won’t have the greatest of seasons but I do believe he will have a solid year for fantasy owners. This year was the first full offseason that Ryan had to work with the Packers for the entire time. So far in the preseason he looks primed an focused to be a strong runner and consistent from week to week.

Games of Interest

Week Four and Eight: Those two weeks the Packers play the Minnesota Vikings and if they want to win the division they must win these games. Last season the Packers were one missed field goal away from sweeping their hated rivals.

2009 Football Projection

This season should be a fun one in the NFC Central as the Bears, Vikings, and Packers duke it out and stomp on the Lions all year. In the end I believe this division will come down to the Packers and Vikings as the two teams that will fight it out for the division title until the very end of the season. Get ready for a fun year!

Fantasy Football Information Writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com

Matt Schaub Speaks: An Interview with the Houston Texans’ Starting QB

The congestion of bodies is absolutely punishing. You look to your left and right, hoping to dash for a clear passage through to the other side, but it’s not promising.

After inching for what feels like forever, a crevice to maneuver through finally opens. If you pick up enough speed, you can hit the opening before the big guy coming from the other direction forces you off course.

Sweat drips into your eyes and your breathing is heavy. The crowd is shifting even closer, everyone astutely aware of the opportunity as the opening ahead becomes even narrower.

Drenched in your own sweat and overwhelmed by the stifling conditions, you collapse. Defeated.

Yet, this is not an attempt to create the atmosphere of a torturous football game. Not in the slightest. In New York City, that’s called riding the train in July and August.

But the perils of such conditions are very real. And such hazards are exactly what inspired Matt Schaub, the NFL, and Gatorade to launch the “Beat the Heat” campaign this summer.

Speaking with passion and unquestionable enthusiasm on the topic, Schaub detailed the importance of staying hydrated on the field.

And understandably so. Taking measures to prevent against heat exhaustion has been a chief concern in the NFL since the untimely passing of Minnesota Vikings’ lineman Korey Stringer in 2001.

Taking a moment to discuss his efforts with Gatorade, the sixth-year quarterback out of Virginia shares his preparations for the upcoming season, thoughts on Mike Vick, and handling the extremely competitive rivalries in the AFC South.

Angel Navedo: You’re with Gatorade and the “Beat the Heat” campaign they’ve recently launched. How deeply involved are you with everything?

Matt Schaub: Pretty involved. We’re trying to get the word out on everything about the “Beat the Heat” program and raise awareness on the subject.

AN: What was it that inspired you to join the campaign?

MS: Number one, being here in Houston and knowing how extremely hot it is almost every day of the summer. [Knowing] how much we have to go through to replenish fluids and be properly hydrated during August is a huge reason for getting involved.

Thinking back to my youth days, growing up in Pennsylvania, it doesn’t get nearly as hot there as it does down here.

But remembering those days in August—sweating and working hard in practice, not knowing how important hydration was, or replenishing the fluids that we lost during two-a-days—was a big reason for my wanting to get involved.

[I want] to raise awareness to parents and youth coaches about how important it is. You have a lot of coaches out there who have that old school mentality, thinking it makes you weak or something like that. But it’s important. Players can lose a lot of fluids, get ill, or even in some cases die from it.

AN: I remember when I played, it used to be about earning our water breaks.

MS: (laughs) Yeah, exactly. I remember those days, too. And those days need to be long gone.

[Professional athletes] are fortunate to have athletic trainers who harp on replenishing our lost electrolytes and fluids with Gatorade. It’s important to get those things back in to help us recover so we can go back out to practice.

Those electrolytes are what help us perform at a very high level for a long period of time. Water doesn’t do that, but Gatorade is important for us to replace those things in our body.

AN: Absolutely. So Matt, your last two seasons ended with consecutive 8-8 finishes. But last year there was a lot of momentum built up to carry out the season.  What’s being done to try and carry that into 2009?

MS: Well, like you said, that finish that we had to last season really catapulted us into the off-season. Guys were really excited to get back to work. There were a lot of guys who never even left.

They just wanted to get after the off-season program and come back to training camp ready to go and start the year fast, much like we were able to finish the year last year.

Guys were really enthused with their participation in the off-season program and were ready to go here in camp. We’re looking to get off to a fast start and continue to play well throughout the year.

AN: Understood. The Texans’ offense emerged quite a bit last season with Andre Johnson’s breakout season and Steve Slaton running wild. Is there someone on the team who makes you feel like he can build upon that even more? 

MS: Well, I think it’s the group as a whole. All the starters from last year’s team are the same people this year. To have the same group and the continuity that they have working together is gonna really show itself early in the season. 

With Owen Daniels playing tight end, who went to the Pro Bowl last year, and our entire offensive line back after playing all 16 games together last year, I think they’re going to be a big plus for us going into this year.

Kevin Walter on one side of the field—opposite Andre Johnson—is a big-time playmaker for us. Having Steven and Vonta Leach behind me in the backfield, our running game should be strong again, along with our play-action pass game and catching the ball out of the backfield.

We have a lot of weapons back there. It’s just about us as a team, and individuals taking the next step as players to get better. If we all get better individually, then as a group we’re going to get better.

AN: I understand you completely. Given Andre Johnson’s phenomenal season, do you feel like he’s receiving his due and proper as one of the game’s top receivers? Or is he still unappreciated?

MS: I think he’s starting to be recognized throughout the league as one of the best receivers in the game. He really flies under the radar because he’s a soft-spoken individual who just goes out and plays and performs. He comes to work every day to get better.

He’s not one of those, quote-unquote, typical receivers you see in the game today who’s gonna have the camera in his face all the time with the media. He goes to work and whatever it takes to win is what he wants to do.

If he goes down with 80-85 catches this season and we win three or four more games than we did the past couple years, then he’s all for it. As long as we’re winning, that’s what matters to him.

AN: That’s always refreshing. So the offense should be able to click early. But it can’t be easy lining up against Mario Williams and that improved defense every day in training camp?

MS: You’re right. We went out this off-season and really bolstered our defense in spots that we needed to. We’ve got a lot of talent on that side of the football, and it’s only going to help us throughout the season.

It helps us as an offense to go against guys like that. With Duane Brown at [left tackle], going against Mario everyday only helps him when he faces Kyle Vanden Bosch, Dwight Freeney, and guys of that nature.

AN: So let’s figure out this AFC South. It’s a ridiculously competitive division that leaves you guys with minimal room for error. Do you believe the Texans are about ready to push for a division title?

MS: I definitely think we are. As long as we go out and play good football and play our game, I think we’re in a good position.

We’re getting better every day and we’re going to climb to the level of those teams that were winning this division for years. We’re not gonna wait for them to come down to us.

We’re just gonna keep getting better and take it one game at a time.

AN: Last year’s 8-8 finish would’ve been good enough to get you in the playoffs in another division. Have you ever wondered where the Texans would be if the league were aligned differently?

MS: (laughs) Well, it’s tough to think about that. We’re obviously aware of that situation, but we’re in the division that we’re in and we just have to keep getting better. Those teams aren’t gonna change much.

AN: Unfortunately, you’ve been sidelined the last couple of seasons. What steps have you taken to remain healthy and get a full season done in 2009?

MS: Being able to finish out last season and being 100 percent this off-season while attacking the conditioning program has been big. The year before, I had to come off a surgery that didn’t let me get [to the field] till May.

It’s been good to get in there from the get-go and build myself up. I continue to prepare the same way I have in the past and be ready for the season.

AN: What are your gameday preparations like? Anything specific you do to psych yourself up before a game?

MS: There’s not much that I do to psych myself up. Just the opportunity to go out and play is enough. I get myself prepared and warmed up to just go out and play. Mentally, I just get myself ready to go.

Some of the other guys are the guys who can get psyched up listening to music and everything. I just kinda have my routine, go out, get loose, and just play. As a quarterback, you wanna be wired in and ready to go.

But having the opportunity to go and play is all the motivation I need.

AN: You started your career in Atlanta playing behind Michael Vick. What did you take away from your time with the Falcons?

MS: I had a great three years there. It was a great transition from college for myself. Being in a great city with a great organization and getting a lot of playing time in the process—in the pre-season and when I was called upon—I had a great experience.

And working behind a guy who’s one of the most visible athletes in the world really helped me be prepared when my time came here in Houston.

AN: Did you learn anything from watching his game that you’ve adopted to yours?

MS: I’d like to say I learned how to run really fast and be very quick (laughs). But that’s not my M.O.

I definitely learned a lot from Mike. Just watching him and seeing how he prepared himself to play, and handle all the things you need to handle as a QB in the NFL, I learned how I wanted to go about things when I got my opportunity.

AN: Do you believe he can find his way back into a starting role in this league?

MS: I definitely think so. He has a lot of ground to make up for missed time, but I feel like he’s getting an opportunity now, and it’s well-deserved. I’m excited that he’s back in the league, and excited that he’s in uniform with a chance to play.

I definitely think he can work his way back into a prominent role in the NFL.

AN: Great stuff. Thanks a lot for your time, Matt. I really appreciate it.

MS: All right, no problem.

AN: Good luck in your upcoming season, and stay hydrated.

MS: (laughs) All right, definitely. Thank you.

Has Brandon Marshall Lost the Respect of His Denver Bronco Elders?

Following his recent practice field hissy fit, Denver Broncos wide receiver may have gone far beyond anything any fan ever thought possible.

In addition to losing the respect of virtually every respectable NFL fan, coach, or executive, he may just have lost the respect of his role models and elders on the Denver Broncos team.

When asked if he was surprised at Marshall’s recent suspension, veteran wide receiver Brandon Stokley responded by saying: “Not really, not with his attitude and how he was acting.”

Stokley added: “Something had to be done. They made the decision. We’re moving on, and hopefully in a few weeks, when he’s back, he’ll be ready to contribute.”

Hopefully.

2008 offensive co-captain and tight end Daniel Graham also weighed in on the Marshall situation.

“We’ve had a few conversations and Brandon, he’s running his own ship,” Graham said. He’s doing what he feels is best for him. Now I’m just making sure, as a leader on this team, that we stay focused.”

A very interesting choice of words by Graham, to say the very least, especially the implication that Marshall is “running his own ship.”

This entire off-season has been a self-imposed disaster for the Pro Bowl wide receiver. 

Even Colorado Hall of Fame wide receiver and Bronco great Rod Smith, a former player who has devoted a great deal of time and effort mentoring Marshall, distanced himself from the wide receiver when he made a cameo at the Broncos camp earlier this summer.

One thing though, is for sure.

If Stokley and Graham’s comments are to be taken as a general consensus of the feelings of the entire team, then this whole fiasco has proved that the players are on McDaniels’ ship, not Marshall’s or any of their own.

McDaniels said on Friday that he does not know how long Marshall will be on his ‘ship’ at all.

“I’m not sure necessarily if I think it will or I think it won’t [work out],” McDaniels said. “I’m just hopeful that it will, because obviously he’s a talented football player that we’d love to have pulling in the same direction as the other 79 guys that go out there and work their tail off.”

And if he is not?

If Marshall is unwilling to pull in the same direction as the 79 other guys, where do the Broncos go from there?

While suspending him for the regular season would go a long way if the Broncos were committed long term, it does not seem to make much sense anymore for a guy who they may want to trade at the end of this season.

Which is why it makes perfect sense to suspend him for the final two games of the pre-season.

This gives Marshall time to study his playbook and vie for a fresh start when he returns to the team on Sept. 6.  Also, it allows him time to go and face the temptations of doing something else stupid or getting in trouble with the law.

While two weeks may not seem like a long time, for Brandon Marshall, it could seem like a lifetime.

For when Marshall returns to the Broncos, he had better show this team that he is serious about the “fresh start” he has said he wants, and he certainly needs to keep his nose out of trouble.

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