PAFFL.com

Reggie Bush for Jonathan Stewart...

BINGO, which is fast becoming the new Team Kitty, dealt their #2 overall rookie pick to Los Frijoles Pintos today in a relatively big deal. 

Shaun Alexander, RB, SEA for Marques Colston, WR, NO ($35, 2009)

The Salem Beavercats send WR Marques Colston ($35, 2009) to The Jack Trippers for RB Shaun Alexander and the removal of the rookie pick protection from the Chris Chambers deal earlier this season (picks 1-2 were protected in that deal, now the Beavercats have the opportunity to grab the number 1 or 2 if the Trippers repeat on their rookie playoff prominence of the past.  Darren McFadden could be the next Adrian Peterson).

Week 9 Waiver Wire / Free Agent Pickups

Below are a list of potentially valuable Waiver Wire / Free Agent pickups for week 9 of the NFL season.  Maybe some of these guys aren’t worth a damn in shallow leagues but what’s the fun in dropping Marvin Harrison b/c he’s out a week for a guy like Wes Welker who is available as the #3 receiver in New England.  Ok, Welker shouldn’t be available in ANY league format but you get the point.

Looking to make deals

I know I always believe I have an obscene amount of talent but sense I scout and spend more time on this than most people, in the PAFFL and in general, I typically end up having success both with players I keep and deal.  This year I've been very quiet (I suspect just about all of you know since I've gone from sending emails about deal ideas weekly, sometimes daily, to eerily silent) due to workload on both my primary job and side passions like FFCollective, TheWino.net and this site. 

Sophomore RB Analysis

Sportsline.com did a review of all the NFL running backs entering their 2nd seasons in the NFL.  It's an interesting look at them and provides a rookie style overview and perspective on their individual opportunities entering 2007. 

SI's NFL Team Power Rankings

SI.com's Peter King published his first of many 'Power Rankings' for the upcoming NFL season.  Though its hard to argue with his predictions, particularly at this point, I have to say that Indy at #1 is a little off center and likely a nod to their super bowl title from last season.  The reality is San Diego and New England both improved themselves while Indy (which barely beat NE at home in the AFC Championship game) took a step back due to defections in free agency. 

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. 

RB Antonio Pittman, #107 Overall Pick, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman with the #107 overall selection (#8 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Pittman is a great value in the 4th round, as he was widely considered the #3 or #4 back in this draft with a productive career in the Big Ten.  He is slender but quick, fast and versatile as a runner & receiver out of the backfield.  It is hard to see how the Saints will utilize him while still getting Deuce McAllister & Reggie Bush their touches but Pittman provides them great depth & the opportunity to make a personnel decision in a couple of years.

David Patten signs 1 year deal with the Saints

AP reports the New Orleans Saints signed free-agent WR David Patten to a one-year contract Thursday, hoping the 10-year veteran can rebound from two disappointing seasons with the Washington Redskins. A Saints spokesman confirmed the deal, but couldn't release financial details.  Patten has three super bowl rings from his time with New England. 

Talent or System?

On the NFL Network today they announced that QB Drew Brees & RB LaDainian Tomlinson had co-won the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award for service in the community.   My first thought was, 'what if the Chargers had Brees this past year?  But would Brees have been as good in San Diego?  And maybe L.T. wouldn't have been the MVP if Brees were still in SD?

Reggie Bush Comes Alive for Fantasy Owners...

Many fantasy owners around the country ignorant or in deep enought leagues that had Reggie Bush in their lineups this week are being rewarded nicely.  Bush has scored 4 TD's, increasing his career total from one to five in a single game.  In the PAFFL Bush's performance has nearly clinched a playoff spot for the Los Frijoles Pintos who in nine seasons have NEVER qualified for the playoffs.  So congrats to Reggie Bush and the LFP!

Drew Brees establishing himself

New Orleans went out on a limb this off-season by committing $10 million in guaranteed money and over $30 million over the next four years to free agent Drew Brees.  Well after ten games it appears to be one of the better signings in recent history.  Drew Brees has shown San Diego's recent success was as much him as it was LT or Antonio Gates; throwing for more than 3100 yards & 17 TD's in ten games.   

Rookie Sensation Colston Hurt...

The New Orleans Saints rookie WR Marques Colston was carted from the field in today's contest with an apparent high ankle sprain.  He did not return and depending on the severity of the sprain could miss up to four or five weeks.  For those Colston owners out there, watch this development closely and think about picking up Terrence Copper or Devery Henderson as each or both will pick up the slack. 

NO's Joe Horn downgraded to doubtful

According to several sources the New Orleans Saints WR Joe Horn did not practice this week and was downgraded to doubtful.  This increases the value of Marques Colston and to a lesser extent Devery Henderson. 

Saints set Season Ticket Sales Record

NFL.com is reporting that the NO Saints have set a season ticket sales record with approximately 55k season ticket sales thru May 15th.  However on a sober note, the Saints corporate sales & sponsorships are depressed as they've only sold 56 of a possible 137 suites in the Superdome. 

In a ravaged New Orleans that faces an uncertain future, I think its only a matter of time (i.e. years) before the Saints move to another city.  Prior to Katrina New Orleans was a small market with little corporate support, now it will struggle mightily to compete with its fellow NFL brethren. 

Bush & 'The Game'

Matt Leinart dropped in this past weekend's NFL Draft because of questions regarding his love of the
game and his desire to be 'Hollywood'. Well maybe his teammate and newly drafted New Orleans Saints RB Reggie Bush maybe going in a similar 'hollywood' direction cohorting with celebrities like The Game who posed with Bush following USC's thumping of cross town rival UCLA late last year. Though no collaborations are planned, its only a matter of time before the jazz soul of New Orleans past is coupled w/ the hypnotic beats of hip hop hall of fame producer Dr. Dre (and fellow LA resident) to produce a duet Reggie Bush & The Game. I can see it now, the album will be called "How to take it to the house" with lines like "I was pro at SC', supporting the 'rents w/ my play..." Ok I know I won't be writing the lines, and that's a very, very good thing.
I just hope Bush remains committed to the football field because he has the opportunity to be special, assuming folks like The Game don't get to him first.

Photo provided by Collin Erie, all rights reserved.

Aaron Brooks Raiders Starting QB?

The Oakland Raiders signed QB Aaron Brooks to a 2 year agreement, as the Raiders Head Coach Art Shell said,

"Aaron gives us great depth at the quarterback position and provides us with a veteran presence."

Brooks is a mobile quarterback with a rocket arm who seemingly has endless potential but has never been able to put it all together. In 85 games, 82 of them starts, Brooks has completed 1,563 of 2,771 passes for 19,156 yards, with 120 touchdown passes and 84 interceptions. He has thrown for over 2,800 yards in a season five times and had four straight 3,000-yard campaigns snapped last season. The former University of Virginia standout, chosen by the Packers in the fourth round in 1999 and then traded to New Orleans in 2000, averaged 15.4 starts per season from 2001-2005.

Brooks will likely start in 2006 for Oakland as they groom Andrew Walter, a 3rd round selection in '05, as a possible future starter in 2007 or 2008. QB Marques Tiusasosopo will compete with Brooks & Walter but the fifth year veteran is seen as a journeyman at this point in his career. What makes this a good move is it pits the Oakland vertical passing offense with Brooks primary strengths as a downfield passer. Brooks was often ill fit for the New Orleans west coast system that called for timing routes and quick throws. In Oakland, Brooks will have a tremendous receiving core w/ Randy Moss, Jerry Porter, Doug Gabriel & Ronald Curry that calls for a downfield attack balanced with a straight ahead running ground.

At the very least this is an upgrade for Oakland and could be the QB they've looked for the past decade. If not they've bridged the gap to Andrew Walter or their next project.

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.