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2008 NFL Rookie Values Redux

Ok, I did this right after the NFL draft in April but following OTA's & mini-camps, and the stupidity of veterans (such as Cedric Benson) a lot has changed since then.  So I wanted to take another pass at this.             

2007 Fantasy Football All-PAFFL Team

The 2007 regular season is finalized and its time to recognize the studs that made this regular season sizzle and led to the Ron Jeremy Fanclub being the leading PAFFL team throughout the regular season.  You'll notice some trends as QB-WR tandems in New England & Dallas have exploded this year to dominant their respective positions unlike any other tandems in NFL history.

Week 10 Waiver Wire / Free Agent Pickups

Each week I attempt to compile a diverse list of potential Waiver Wire / Free Agent pickups for week 10 of the NFL season.  I play in a 16 team league where we start 9 players (no defense, only 1 kicker) so we're always looking for that #3 QB or RB who emerges to be the final piece on a playoff run. 

Each week I attempt to compile a diverse list of potential Waiver Wire / Free Agent pickups for week 10 of the NFL season.  I play in a 16 team league where we start 9 players (no defense, only 1 kicker) so we're always looking for that #3 QB or RB who emerges to be the final piece on a playoff run. 

Patrick Ramsey & Kelly Holcomb for $

Salem Beavercats have agreed to two small deals with the Fightin' Irie & South Whore Jibbers. 

South Whore Jibbers acquire QB Patrick Ramsey for $2 in '07 cap space.

The Fightin' Irie acquire QB Kelly Holcomb for $5 in '07 cap space.

       
                  

Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson

The stats from Friday night's game between the Vikings and the Rams tell the story

NFL Teams with Depth to Deal

NFL.com's Pat Kirwan considers some teams with depth that might be interested in dealing players prior to or during training camp.  There are some interesting kernel's in there but as usual football trades close to the season (or during) are far and few between because of the complexity in learning the respective new system in a short period of time. 

J.T. O'Sullivan Optimistic in Detroit

The Detroit News reports newly signed Lions QB J.T. O'Sullivan might have found the perfect situation in Detroit. The Lions are inexperienced behind incumbent starting QB Jon Kitna, and it's conceivable O'Sullivan could compete with current backups Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton. Couple that with the fact OC Mike Martz has experience with unknown quarterbacks (i.e., QB Kurt Warner and QB Mark Bulger), O'Sullivan is optimistic. "The way I'm going to approach camp is to go in there and work hard and prepare," he said. "You get into trouble when you start worrying about making a roster or not making a roster. I'm going to let the people who make those decisions make those decisions." The Lions also have undrafted rookie QB Phil Horvath (Northern Illinois) on the roster.

Tavaris Jackson in for a tough season?

According to ProFootballWeekly, the Vikings 2006 second-round pick was struggling with pressure and making reads during off-season workouts. There is general concern that he's not mentally ready for an NFL regular season and needs at least another year of development before ascending to the starting role. 

Kelly Holcomb maybe dealt to Minnesota?

The Philadelphia Eagles are considering trading QB Kelly Holcomb to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2008 late-round pick, likely a sixth- or seventh-rounder according to PFW. Vikings HC Brad Childress, who is still friendly with his former Eagles co-workers, is keeping one eye open for veteran quarterbacks and possibly would be interested in Holcomb’s services.

NFL QB Team by Team Analysis

NFL.com's Michael Fabiano analyzed all 32 NFL team's Quarterback position for fantasy production.  He didn't go into as much detail as some may like but for the majority (AKA no keeper leagues) of fantasy leaguers it'll be a good overview by team. 

Adrian Peterson the key to the Vikings offense?

ESPN's John Clayton reports Minnesota Vikings first round draft pick RB Adrian Peterson's showing in training camp could dictate the style of offense called by HC Brad Childress. If Peterson runs like a younger version of RB Larry Johnson, the Vikings could be a run-first team.

WR Aundrae Allison, #146 Overall Pick, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings selected East Carolina WR Aundrae Allison with the #146 overall selection (#9 pick in the 5th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Allison is a good sized speedster who displayed explosive ability in two years of division one football.  He has the potential to be a very good starting receiver in time.

Minnesota Vikings selected East Carolina WR Aundrae Allison with the #146 overall selection (#9 pick in the 5th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Allison is a good sized speedster who displayed explosive ability in two years of division one football.  He has the potential to be a very good starting receiver in time.

Minnesota Vikings selected East Carolina WR Aundrae Allison with the #146 overall selection (#9 pick in the 5th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Allison is a good sized speedster who displayed explosive ability in two years of division one football.  He has the potential to be a very good starting receiver in time.

Minnesota Vikings selected East Carolina WR Aundrae Allison with the #146 overall selection (#9 pick in the 5th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Allison is a good sized speedster who displayed explosive ability in two years of division one football.  He has the potential to be a very good starting receiver in time.

Minnesota Vikings selected East Carolina WR Aundrae Allison with the #146 overall selection (#9 pick in the 5th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Allison is a good sized speedster who displayed explosive ability in two years of division one football.  He has the potential to be a very good starting receiver in time.

Minnesota Vikings selected East Carolina WR Aundrae Allison with the #146 overall selection (#9 pick in the 5th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Allison is a good sized speedster who displayed explosive ability in two years of division one football.  He has the potential to be a very good starting receiver in time.

WR Sidney Rice, #44 Overall Pick, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings selected South Carolina WR Sidney Rice with the #44 overall selection (#12 in the 2nd round) in the 2007 NFL draft.  Rice is a lanky, fast, athletic receiver who will provide a younger Marcus Robinson type skill set to the Vikings. 
      

 

Minnesota Vikings selected South Carolina WR Sidney Rice with the #44 overall selection (#12 in the 2nd round) in the 2007 NFL draft.  Rice is a lanky, fast, athletic receiver who will provide a younger Marcus Robinson type skill set to the Vikings. 
      

Minnesota Vikings selected South Carolina WR Sidney Rice with the #44 overall selection (#12 in the 2nd round) in the 2007 NFL draft.  Rice is a lanky, fast, athletic receiver who will provide a younger Marcus Robinson type skill set to the Vikings. 
      

RB Adrian Peterson, #7 Overall Pick, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings have selected Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson with the #7 overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft.  Peterson has been one of the country's most dominant collegiate running back the past few years so this was a good upside / value pick for the Vikings.

Bobby Wade signs $15 million deal with Vikings

NFL.com is reporting that the Minnesota Vikings reached an agreement with free agent WR       Bobby Wade on a five-year, $15 million deal.  Wade was the #3 receiver for the Tennessee Titans in 2006 and can return kicks.

Brad Johnson signs with Dallas

ESPN is reporting that veteran QB Brad Johnson has signed a 3 year agreement with the Dallas Cowboys that pays him $3.5 million in the first year.  Johnson was the primary starter for the Minnesota Vikings the past two seasons, he will backup QB Tony Romo in Dallas. 

Vikings hold open QB Competition for 2007

After the Vikings’ season finale, head coach Brad Childress announced that the team would not be interested in taking a QB in the draft, leaving 2006 2nd rounder Tarvaris Jackson and veteran backup Brooks Bollinger to compete for the job in 2007. However, Childress retracted that statement, saying at the Scouting Combine that. “We will have those two (QB's) guys compete, and not name a starting quarterback," and further added “it wouldn’t hurt anything to have a third guy competing there. If there’s a good football player that we covet at that seventh pick, and it happens to be a quarterback, we try to create that competition at all positions. So that quarterback position should be no different.”

Mike Tomline Selected as next Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly will announce Mike Tomlin as their next head coach on Monday.   The 34 year old Tomlin just completed his first season as the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, he apparently beat out Pittsburgh assistant head coach Russ Grimm and the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.  Prior to his season in Minnesota, Tomlin was the secondary coach for the Tamba Bay Buccaneers which developed the fame 'Cover 2' defensive alignment. 

Vikings hand the reigns to Rookie QB Tavaris Jackson

The 5th NFL rookie QB to be handed the reigns this season is Minnesota Vikings' Tavaris Jackson, who will start the final two games of the season coach Brad Childress announced today.   Jackson joins,  Vince Young (11 starts), Matt Leinart (6 starts),  Bruce Gradkowski (9 starts) and Jay Cutler (3 starts) who as rookie's have been called upon to start this season.  Jackson was arguably one of the least ready to play in the NFL quarterbacks selected in the 2006 draft but showed poise and talent during the preseason - and evidently the Vikings are ready to see whether he's able to start for them in 2007. 

Morning Game Observations

Observations from NFL Week 10 Morning games. 

Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-17 -

• QB B. Favre - he put up a strong effort against a tough defense with 2 td's & 330+ yards.
  
• WR D. Driver had (or was close to) a career day w/ 190+ yards receiving & a 82 yard TD
• RB A. Green didn't do much against the NFL's top run defense rushing for 55 yards on 22 carries
• QB B. Johnson had a better day coming off back to back poor performances, throwing for 257 yards & a 40 yard TD pass.  However he did throw a pick and lost a fumble continuing a trend that will likely result in Brad Childress making a switch in the next week or two.
• RB Chester Taylor had a workmanlike 75 yards on the ground and 20 yard receiving but didn't score. 
• Minnesota WR's again were inconsistent w/ newcomers Bethel Johnson w/ 75 yards & Billy McMullen surprising with 60 yards & a TD (40)

Minnesota's Looming QB Controversy?

Brad Johnson has quickly put himself into a situation where his head coach, Brad Childress, may have no other decision but to bench him.  Two consecutive games have seen Johnson look terrible throwing 3 interceptions against the Patriots - then turning in an abysmal performance against the mediocre 49'ers defense. 

Is Randy Moss Finished as an Elite WR?

It's almost amusing now to think who got the better end of the Oakland Raiders Minnesota Vikings deal of all-pro receiver Randy Moss prior to the 2005 season.  At the time of the trade most pundits felt Ad Davis had found himself the next great Raider playmaker.  But twenty-four games into the marriage Moss has compiled 1450 yards & 11 TD's, fair numbers for an average featured receiver but mediocre for a guy making close to $8 million and expected to be a difference maker.  Furthermore Moss is quickly gaining the reputation for being a poor chemistry guy who isn't a winner - and his team's respective records over the past three seasons demonstrate that. 
And now the national media is starting to pontificate that very thing, that Moss is done as a premier receiver, at twenty nine years old.  SI's Phil Taylor wrote about this today

So is Randy Moss done as an elite receiver?

Onterrio Smith Latest to Fall Victim to NFL Drug Policy

Unlike Ricky Williams who actually fullfilled some of his promise on the professional stage and genuinely seemed to have turned his personal life around, Onterrio Smith appears to have failed another drug test and will NOT be reinstated by the NFL in June. As such, Sportsline is reporting that the Minnesota Vikings have released Smith. If the report is true that Smith will not be reinstated in June and that he has failed another drug test, its nearly a guarantee that Onterrio's career will be over. Probably better known for the 'Whizzinator' incident last year, Onterrio Smith entered the NFL with big promise after a dominant stint at the University of Oregon. However Smith has had problems with marijuana for years as he was first kicked off the University of Tennessee's football team for smoking weed as a freshman. Clearly Eugene Oregon was a good spot for Smith, well until the NFL starting testing him regularly that is.

Vikings, what were they thinking?

I like ESPN's John Clayton commentary on the Minnesota Vikings shipping off their two best players in back to back years for essentially WR Troy Williamson & this year's second round draft choice. Clayton says the Vikings have made a mistake, in particular dealing a franchise QB (in Culpepper) for a 2nd round choice.

I agree with his opinion that the Vikings maybe competitive this year and make the playoffs but they'll searching for that elusive 'franchise' quarterback for the next couple of years and likely won't win a super bowl until they find that player.

QB Carousel in the NFL Today

In a span of a few hours major developments happened across the NFL to change the QB landscape for no fewer than six teams and possibly more.

To recap:

• Miami acquired QB Daunte Culpepper from Minnesota for a 2nd round pick. This leaves Gus Frerotte as a backup or possibly in the market if Miami can't stomach his contract, a likely scenario. It also elevates Brad Johnson into the starter's role in Minnesota and makes them a buyer, likely looking for a younger QB who they can develop to take over for the 36 year old Johnson in '07 or '08. This move improves Brad Johnson's fantasy value, significantly reduces Gus Frerotte's and slightly decreases Daunte Culpepper's since he goes from a dynamic offense in Minnesota to a run first style in Miami.
• New Orleans Saints signed FA QB Drew Brees to a reported $60 million 6 year deal w/ $10 million signing bonus. This ensures that Philip Rivers will be atop the depth chart in San Diego and makes them a buyer in the market for a quality veteran backup. This also will put QB Aaron Brooks on the market since NO's will release him in the next day or two. Brooks is much maligned but he has an impressive career resume that includes a nearly .500 career record for one of NFL's worst franchises and a career QB rating of 80 w/ 120 TD's, 84 interceptions & over 19k yards passing. This move reduces Drew Brees' value slightly since he loses the comfort of Antonio Gates & LT, it significantly improves Phillip Rivers value since he's the undisputed starter in SD now and it significantly reduces the value of Aaron Brooks since he'll be released.
• Detroit Lions signed FA QB Jon Kitna to a reported 4 year deal that includes a signing bonus between $3 million & $4 million. This puts the pressure on Joey Harrington and sets up an interesting training camp battle. It also makes the Cincinnati Bengals in the market looking for a quality veteran backup, maybe Gus Frerotte would be a good fit here. This is not nearly as significant as the first two moves but it does improve the value of Jon Kitna since he moves into a position where one can reasonably expect him to start at least a few games in '06 (Harrington hasn't been able to start an entire season's games yet).

What's left in the QB market?

• Patrick Ramsey - he's available in a trade and will be dealt in the next day or two, likely to the NY Jets who want to bring in protection against another Chad Pennington injury.


• Aaron Brooks - he is the most productive player on the market but is maligned due to a perception that he's not a winner.


• Kerry Collins - rumors are that he'll end up in Baltimore to battle Kyle Boller but he has yet to visit and the Raiders could resign him.


• Gus Frerotte - he'll be a backup in Cincinnati or Minnesota, though don't rule out the NY Jets either.

It will be an interesting few weeks as Free Agency continues on and the NFL draft approaches but few days will be as fast paced or meaningful for the QB position than this. It's getting me excited for the upcoming season.