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Footballguys.com Daily Email Update
Volume 4 Issue # 103
August 27, 2003 
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A. Site News: Cash for Watching Football - Footballguys.com
Hiring Game Recap Writers

1. TE Tony Gonzalez (KC): Tiny Tears
2. QB Randy Fasani a Jet...Not So Fast
3. Jets Sign QB Jamie Martin
4. CB Duane Starks (ARI): Headed to the IR
5. CB Derek Ross (DAL) Opts To Play
6. DL Courtney Brown (CLE): Microfracture Success?
7. LB Bill Romanowski v. TE Marcus Williams: TKO
8. TE Frank Wycheck (TEN) Ponders Future
9. RB Dorsey Levens (NYG): Stock Rising
10. QB Jeff Garcia (SF) Misses Practice
11. 49ers Look at K Todd Peterson
12. Indy Kicker Battle: Vanderjagt v. Conway 
13. RB Michael Bennett (MIN) Enters Phase 2 of Recovery
14. DE Justin Smith (CIN): Less Playing Time?
15. Rams Sign CB Fred Weary
16. QB Kyle Boller (BAL): Inside Track to Start
17. Dallas Cowboys: Dreaded RBBC
18. Joe Namath Backs QB Vinny Testaverde

Hi Folks,

It's almost here and I know drafts are happening everywhere. Thanks to Footballguy Shawn Culcasi for rounding up these stories tonight as we do our best to keep you on top of things. Also check out the Site News below as Footballguys.com is looking to throw out a little cash as we add a few more Game Recap Writers.

If you're drafting tonight, knock 'em out.

Joe

1. TE Tony Gonzalez (KC): Tiny Tears

Clipped From: KCChiefs.com

Q: Can you give us an update on (TE) Tony Gonzalez?

VERMEIL: "We're very pleased that it wasn't serious and that he feels pretty good this morning. A little bit stiff. The trainers felt very good about how the knee responded over night. So, we're a lot more optimistic about him possibly being ready for San Diego than we were."

Q: The MRI show any tears?

VERMEIL: "Tiny, tiny, the kind you don't repair and you let heal on their own."

"Possibly being ready for San Diego". It's good news that Gonzalez' knee injury doesn't seem to be serious, but the possibility of him (a Big 3 tight end) missing any time is an obvious concern. It looks like the plan is for him to sit out the preseason finale with hopes that he'll be ready for the opener. Any news other than that is speculation at this point. Cautiously, Gonzalez maintains his #2 TE ranking, but we need to find out more on this before making any drastic moves.

2. QB Randy Fasani a Jet...Not So Fast

Clipped From: Sportsline.com (Jay Glazer)

The New York Jets bolstered their injury depleted quarterback unit today, but not before swinging and missing on another QB in an unexpected bizarre twist.

SportsLine.com has learned that the Jets and Panthers worked a trade for second-year quarterback Randy Fasani. But rather than report to his new team, Fasani surprised both parties by retiring. The Panthers would have received a conditional late-round pick.

Instead of Fasani, the Jets signed former Rams quarterback Jamie Martin to back up Vinny Testaverde and rookie Brooks Bollinger.

Fasani started one game at quarterback for the Panthers last season and played in four games. However, he struggled, completing just 15 of 44 passes for 171 yards. Still he was considered a solid prospect by the Panthers during the 2002 season. This year he struggled terribly in camp and the preseason and was clearly beaten out by three others for the roster spot.

A non-factor fantasy wise, Randy Fasani would've had trouble holding onto a roster spot in New York. He retires with career 8.8 QB rating. With Fasani out of the mix, the Jets turn to...

3. Jets Sign QB Jamie Martin

Clipped From: Associated Press

The New York Jets signed Jamie Martin on Tuesday to bolster their depth at quarterback following the loss of starter Chad Pennington.

Martin worked out with the Jets on Tuesday, then signed later in the afternoon.

Martin was released by St. Louis in February after starting two games for the Rams in 2002. He entered that season as the backup to Kurt Warner and was forced to start when Warner went down with a broken pinkie.

Jets general manager Terry Bradway said the Jets got 25-30 phone calls inquiring about the quarterback position, including one from the Jacksonville Jaguars who were shopping Mark Brunell.

Bradway said the Jets had no interest in Brunell or Akili Smith, released Tuesday by Green Bay, and looked at tape of about 12 players. They also signed Todd Husak on Monday, and Bradway said the Jets are done signing quarterbacks.

"Jamie's a veteran player that has played in NFL games and started a few but a guy that can bring some playing experience to the position," Bradway said. "He'll fit in well with the group."

Pennington is expected to miss 12 weeks with a broken and dislocated left wrist. Vinny Testaverde is now the starter, and rookie Brooks Bollinger is currently the backup.

It is expected that Martin eventually will become the backup, with Bollinger at No. 3. Offensive coordinator Paul Hackett has said he wants a more experienced player as the backup to Testaverde.

Martin showed some potential last year in the season finale, posting 245 yards, 3 TDs and a victory. Unfortunately, he played in four other games during 02 and, while his yardage total was nice (243 per game), the Rams lost all four and he threw twice as many interceptions than touchdowns. He should be able grab the #2 job in New York which means that there's a good chance he'll see the field as Vinny Testaverde's backup. And Vinny Testaverde's backup is not a bad place to be.

4. CB Duane Starks (ARI): Headed to the IR

Clipped From: ESPN.com (Len Pasquarelli)

In yet another setback for the Arizona Cardinals' beleaguered defense, ESPN.com has learned that starting cornerback Duane Starks will undergo knee surgery on Friday, and will miss the entire 2003 season.

Starks tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and also suffered some ancillary cartilage damage as well, during last Friday night's preseason game. He will be placed on the injured reserve list which, by definition, means he cannot return to the field this year.

The team lost starting defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch to a knee injury two weeks ago and on Tuesday he was officially placed on injured reserve.

While team officials conceded over the weekend that Starks likely had suffered a serious injury, the team withheld any judgement until the sixth-year veteran could elicit a second opinion. On Tuesday afternoon, Starks met with noted Miami-based orthopedics surgeon Dr. John Uribe, the team orthopedist at the University of Miami, and the follow-up MRI upheld the original diagnosis.

Third-year veteran Renaldo Hill, who himself is nursing a sprained ankle, will replace Starks in the starting lineup. The Cardinals may be forced, by depth problems, to acquire another cornerback.

That's two of their top defensive players done for the year within the last two weeks. Not a good sign for fans of Adrian Wilson. Starks is a very solid cornerback who had become a victim of his own talent. With 55 tackles in 10 games during his first year in Arizona, he was well on his way to a career high, but with David Barrett on the other side he didn't get tested enough to boost his numbers. Barrett on the other hand, benefited from playing across from Starks and may see less opportunity without him in the lineup. He posted about 1 tackle per game less last year when Starks was missing. The Cardinals needed a full compliment of players if they planned on having much success this year, so losing Starks (and Vanden Bosch) leaves their season looking bleak.

5. CB Derek Ross (DAL) Opts To Play

Clipped From: Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Derek Ross will have the damaged cartilage in his left knee removed instead of repaired, and could be back in the lineup by the third game of the season.

Had Ross opted to repair the cartilage, he likely would have missed the season. His surgery is scheduled in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, a week after getting hurt in a preseason game at Pittsburgh.

"It's going to be at the discretion of the doctor once he gets in there. The intention is to remove the cartilage," coach Bill Parcells said Tuesday. "Unless there are complications, he should be back in four weeks."

With the Cowboys' bye week the third week of the season, Parcells said Ross could be back in time for the Sept. 28 game at the New York Jets.

Good news for both owners of Derek Ross and the Dallas Cowboys defense. As a rookie in 02, Ross was a surprise fantasy success with 56 tackles and five interceptions while starting only nine games. Coming into this year as a full-time starter, we had him as the #72 defensive back, #35 cornerback, but the missed games and uncertainty as to how he'll return should probably keep him off of your roster in upcoming drafts.

6. DL Courtney Brown (CLE): Microfracture Success?

Clipped From: ClevelandBrowns.com (Zac Jackson)

Courtney Brown is back, and early reports indicate all is well.

Brown played both left and right defensive end in the Browns' six-man defensive line rotation in the first half of Saturday's preseason loss at Detroit. He saw about 25 plays of action in his first game since his 2002 season was ended by a knee injury and subsequent microfracture surgery.

"I think it was a very positive first step for Courtney because he showed absolutely no hesitation," Browns Head Coach Butch Davis said. "He played hard, he hustled, he pursued, he inserted, and he was a factor in the running game.

"It was a good first step. There was some rustiness in some of the things he was doing just because he didn't have many opportunities to sharpen his game before that. But hopefully it will work out and he'll do better this week."

Davis said last week an important step for Brown would come when took a blow to the knee, shook it off, and realized he was fine.

"He got chopped by the tight end one time," Davis said, "and he bounced right up and continued to pursue. I think his confidence will continue to grow in the coming weeks."

Going into last season, Courtney Brown was one of the hottest defensive line prospects and ranked top overall by many (well, maybe just me). The #1 overall pick in the 2000 draft has battled injuries since his fine rookie campaign, never living up to the expectations, and microfracture knee surgery seemed to leave his career in doubt. Keep your eye on this because of his unlimited potential when healthy.

7. LB Bill Romanowski v. TE Marcus Williams: TKO

Oakland Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski was suspended from Monday's practice and fined an undisclosed amount after breaking teammate Marcus Williams' nose during a fight in practice a day earlier.

Raiders coach Bill Callahan said no criminal charges will be pursued over the scuffle, which occurred during a pratice drill - though Williams reportedly called Alameda police after the incident. Williams was treated at a local hospital and released Sunday night.

Romanowski is entering his 16th NFL season and second with the Raiders, who signed him as a free agent before their run to the AFC championship last fall. He has appeared in five Super Bowls and played in 240 consecutive regular-season games.

Williams is in his second season as a backup tight end for the Raiders. He played mostly on special teams last season.

[shakes head] Romanowski has been quiet for a while. Unfortunately, it didn't last. Williams will be sidelined from 4-6 weeks and if it makes anyone feel any better, Romanowski said he was real sorry...

8. TE Frank Wycheck (TEN) Ponders Future

Clipped From: Tennessean.com (Jim Wyatt)

Two concussions in less than a year got Frank Wycheck's attention.

"Any time you have a head injury, you think about the future," he said. "Not that it compares, but I was sitting in the hospital and I read about a boxer dying from a head injury. ... By no means does that compare to what happened with me. It makes you think about the future, but I'm not going to let myself worry about it and get uptight."

That's what a 22-year-old Wycheck told the Washington Post on July 26, 1994, the day he returned to practice with the Redskins after spending three nights at Arlington Hospital receiving treatments for a concussion. It was his second concussion in less than a year.

Nine years later, the Titans tight end is recovering from yet another concussion. He estimated he's had 10 overall.

The latest was suffered Aug. 16 against the Buffalo Bills. It was his third concussion since the 2000 season and second in just over nine months.

The Titans have cleared Wycheck to play, but he is scheduled to meet with a head-injury specialist today in Houston. His teammates, meanwhile, will be on the way to Green Bay for tomorrow night's preseason finale against Packers.

"I just think with the injury and where it's at - it's the brain - you have to get as much information as you can on it," Wycheck said. "I'm not necessarily looking to make a drastic decision whether I'm ever going to play again, but you want to find out more things, and the more opinions you get the better off you'll be."

NFL quarterbacks Steve Young and Troy Aikman were essentially forced into retirement because of repeated head trauma. Asked if he's contemplating retirement, Wycheck shrugged.

"I am not even thinking about that right now," he said. "I just want to go down there and ask some questions."

While missing only one game over the last eight years, Frank Wycheck has averaged 58 receptions and 600 yards, numbers that make him a very productive tight end. He did post an eight year low 40-346 in 02 and, at 31 years old, the end has started to creep up on him. Before the recent concussion news, we had him as a solid backup TE at #17. Depending on how this meeting goes with the head specialist, we may have to move him down. In that case, Erron Kenney would take Wycheck's place in the starting lineup as well as the rankings, possibly cracking the top 20.

9. RB Dorsey Levens (NYG): Stock Rising

Clipped From: Star-Ledger

RB Dorsey Levens' stock is rising: He won't be just a situational player. "He's a running back," Fassel said. "We didn't sign him just to play on third down."

Just a blip on the screen. What would you assume that this means? While Tiki Barber remains as one of the best third-down backs in the game, it looks like Levens has officially moved ahead of Ron Dayne as the #2 runner. This should not affect Barber's stock and it cannot affect Dayne's (could it go any lower?). He probably won't be a fantasy factor without an injury to Barber, but Levens looks like the handcuff for Tiki Barber at this point. In 1997, Dorsey Levens was one of top all-around backs in the game, picking up 1805 total yards, 53 receptions and 12 TDs. After posting another fine season in 1999, he's started just 6 games over the last three years and, at 33 years old, shouldn't be considered anything more than a change of pace guy.

10. QB Jeff Garcia (SF) Misses Practice

Clipped From: Press Democrat (Matt Maiocco)

The 49ers felt the hangover Tuesday from their evening practice at Kezar Stadium one night earlier.

The chilly conditions at the 49ers' erstwhile home field in Golden Gate Park might have led to quarterback Jeff Garcia experiencing some tightness in his back, 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said.

Garcia, who missed 12 days of practice earlier in training camp with a bulging disk in his lower back, was held out of practice at the team's facility.

"I just told him not to practice," Erickson said. "He'll be ready to go (today). It was just a precautionary thing. It tightened up a little last night."

Garcia and the 49ers have tried to make a non-issue of his back problems even as he was sitting out the first two exhibition games.

He made his exhibition season debut Saturday night against the New Orleans Saints, leading the team on three drives. Garcia completed 6 of 7 passes for 52 yards. He was sacked once.

Erickson has said he plans to play Garcia one or two series in the exhibition finale Friday night at the San Diego Chargers. But those plans will be contingent on how Garcia is feeling in the coming days.

"We have to see how he is, if he's healthy," Erickson said. "He and I will sit down and talk about it with the trainers."

Jeff Garcia has now fallen to #11 in our quarterback rankings and if he stays healthy, could become a steal come draft day. Then again, with the uncertainty surrounding his back, he may be a wasted pick. Either way, Jeff Garcia's back is one if the most watched stories of the preseason as his absence will have a trickle down effect on all of the 49ers offensive prospects. While Tim Rattay has shown nice skills in his limited time, you have to expect San Francisco's passing game to suffer without their starting QB. Hopefully, like the article infers, this latest setback was a result of the weather. Garcia returned to practice on Wednesday. If you take a chance on Garcia (and I think that's a smart move if he falls far enough in your draft) make sure you have more than just a scrub option at QB if his back flares up.

11. 49ers Look at K Todd Peterson

Clipped From: 49ers.com

The 49ers will take a look at a veteran kicker Wednesday after practice as Todd Peterson is scheduled for a workout. A nine-year veteran, Peterson has spent his career with four teams.

Last season Peterson appeared in 10 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, his fewest since his rookie year, and connected on 12-of-21 attempts, including a long field goal of 47 yards. He also had two kicks blocked.

Peterson broke into the league with Arizona in 1994 and is best known for his five-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks. During his time with the Seahawks, Peterson connected on 81% of his kicks (126-of-154) and had a career long effort of 54 yards.

In 2000 and 2001, he appeared in 27 games and made 42-of-55 field goals before joining the Steelers last year.

Over his career Peterson has misses just two of 260 extra point attempts. He also is a capable kickoff man, recording 38 career touchbacks.

Unfortunately, the SK kicker position hasn't been very stable over the last few years with Jose Cortez and Jeff Chandler, Last year, during his rookie season, Chandler ranked near the bottom of the league while making only 66.7% of his field goals (8-12). Cortez wasn't much better at 71.9 % (23-32 with SF & WAS). Chandler has made only one of three so far in preseason and looks to be holding on by a very thin rope. As our #14 kicker, he has fallen from the ranks of fantasy starters.

12. Indy Kicker Battle: Vanderjagt v. Conway

Clipped From: IndyStar.com (Phillip Wilson)

Fifteen football players had their lives altered on Tuesday as teams cut down rosters, but perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Indianapolis Colts' roster cuts involved a kicker who wasn't on the list.

Brett Conway made the Colts' roster of 65. That means the preseason kicking competition between Conway and incumbent Mike Vanderjagt extends to a final exhibition against Cincinnati on Friday at the RCA Dome before the league-mandated cut to 53 on Sunday.

Neither kicker had a chance to attempt a field goal in Monday's 28-23 preseason victory at Denver. Seemingly irreplaceable as the most accurate kicker in league history at 85.1 percent, Vanderjagt is 0-for-3 on preseason field-goal attempts. Conway, a seven-year veteran, has made 1-of-2 field goals and sends the football deeper on kickoffs.

"Hopefully we'll get to see them a little bit more this week," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "Brett is kicking well and Mike has kicked well in practice, too."

Like with the 49ers, whoever ends up as the kicker in Indianapolis should have good fantasy value. With aspirations of a return to the top 5 in total offense, the Colts kicker could very well end up near the league lead in total points. With Vanderjagt's controversial statements last year pointed at Peyton Manning, maybe this is just a way for Tongy Dungy to make him sweat a bit. Or maybe they're actually considering replacing the leagues all-time leader in field goal percentage. Vanderjagt would not have a problem finding a job if he were released, which seems very unlikely.

13. RB Michael Bennett (MIN) Enters Phase 2 of Recovery

Clipped From: Pioneer Press (Bill Williamson)

Michael Bennett is entering phase two of his lengthy recovery from a fractured left foot suffered in April.

Bennett will be fitted in a protective walking boot for the next two weeks, team trainer Chuck Barta said. He will begin to jog in three to four weeks.

Barta said the Vikings won't know the prognosis until about a week into Bennett's jogging regimen. His chances of playing this season still are considered a long shot. Coach Mike Tice said the best-case scenario return date for Bennett would be Nov. 1, which means he would miss at least the first nine games of the regular season.

After Bennett had a surgical procedure to repair a broken screw in the foot in July, the team hoped to remove the cast in mid-August and have him back as early as an Oct. 19 game against Denver. But the Vikings' medical team decided to push back the entire process as a precaution.

If all goes as scheduled, he could return during week 10 or 11 and help fantasy owners make a run for the playoffs, but that's assuming that he has a full-time job and neither Moe Williams, Doug Chapman or Onterrio Smith has taken control of the Vikings running game.

14. DE Justin Smith (CIN): Less Playing Time?

Clipped From: Associated Press

Justin Smith is learning how to be a spectator.

The Cincinnati Bengals want to keep their sacks leader on the sideline more often this season, keeping him fresh for late in the game. They might need to invest in a ball and chain to make it work.

The energetic end trusts head coach Marvin Lewis, who built one of the best defenses in NFL history at Baltimore. Still, he isn't keen on the notion of standing and watching.

"Most of the time I've played football, I've usually been in there," Smith said Wednesday, coming off the practice field. "I never came out in college. If that's what he wants, that's what he's going to get, obviously. That's what they did in Baltimore and Washington. You've got to do what the man wants, and hopefully it will work out."

Lewis is looking for a big year out of Smith, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft. He started the last 11 games that year and set a team rookie record with 8.5 sacks.

Smith got more attention from defenses last season, when injuries sapped the rest of the defensive line. He led the team once again with 6.5 sacks -- the Bengals had only 24 overall, tied for second-fewest in the league.

He also led the defensive line in tackles for the second consecutive season and was on the field for 95.5 percent of the plays, second only to linebacker Takeo Spikes for durability and dependability.

His new coach wants to convince him that less playing time will mean more big plays.

"We want to get Justin accustomed to that, so that he realizes that he's not going to be in there on first and second downs sometimes in the first half," Lewis said. "The reason we're doing that is so that at the end of the second quarter and the end of the fourth quarter, you can go get the quarterback. You're fresh."

Coming from Marvin Lewis, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he knows what he's talking about. The Bengals top defensive lineman, and possibly their best player in general, Smith is on the verge of reaching super stardom. As our #10 DL, we've projected him to crack double digit sacks for the first time in his three year career while adding in 53 tackles. Whether or not his limited playing time will allow him to reach those tackle numbers is left to be seen, but we'd have to say no. Hopefully he can make it up in the big play department.

15. Rams Sign CB Fred Weary

Clipped From: ESPN.com (Len Pasquarelli)

Free agent cornerback Fred Weary, released by the San Francisco 49ers earlier this week, Wednesday signed a one-year contract with the Rams, ESPN.com has learned. Weary, 29, will earn a base salary of $530,000.

Given the injuries incurred by the 49ers at cornerback, the release of Weary was at least mildly surprising, but he should be a good fit in St. Louis, where the cornerback corps is very young. Weary had initially spoken to Rams officials during the free agency period this spring before eventually signing with the 49ers.

A five-year veteran, he played four seasons with New Orleans before moving to Atlanta last season as a free agent. Weary has appeared in 72 games and started in 26 contests. He has 190 tackles and seven interceptions.

Signed by the 49ers as a veteran presence in the secondary, we were very surprised to see him released. That says something about either Weary's talent level at this point in his career or the 'Niners injuries being overstated. With starting cornerback Jason Webster not expected to be ready for the season opener, they received good news that Mike Rumph's groin injury is not serious, and felt that Weary was expendable. No team is hurting in their defensive backfield right now more than St.Louis. Weekly injuries have depleted their depth, making this free-agent signing a necessity.

16. QB Kyle Boller (BAL): Inside Track to Start

Clipped From: SI.com (Don Banks)

Barring a disastrous performance by Kyle Boller in Baltimore's preseason finale against the Giants Thursday night, Ravens head coach Brian Billick is leaning strongly toward naming his rookie quarterback the team's starter for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener at Pittsburgh, sources within the organization have confirmed.

Though Billick has not made any formal decision, and has said he may not announce his starter until game day in Pittsburgh, all indications are that it is Boller's job to lose at this point and a solid showing against New York would steel Billick's resolve to open the regular season and the Boller era all at once. Sources say Billick is convinced Boller's strong arm and aggressive style of play gives Baltimore a better shot to win Week 1 at Pittsburgh compared with Chris Redman's more conservative passing game.

Reached Wednesday, Billick flatly denied having made up his mind about his starting quarterback, and declined all comment on who leads the competition at this point. Still, providing Boller doesn't lay an egg against the Giants, an announcement of his elevation to the No. 1 role for the regular season could come within days.

Baltimore's second of two first-round picks this year, Boller has received the majority of first-team snaps in practice again this week -- ahead of Redman, the fourth-year veteran -- and is expected to make his second consecutive preseason start when Baltimore (1-2) plays host to the Giants (0-3).

Last Saturday night at Washington, Boller started and played the entire first half of the 24-3 loss, going 14-of-20 for 101 yards. The Ravens offense went nowhere in its first five drives, but Boller was 7-of-7 for 59 yards on his sixth possession, and led Baltimore to its only points of the night, a 24-yard Matt Stover field goal just before the half.

An interesting note here comes from last week's news on the Boller v. Redman battle. Boller had the inside track, but needed a strong showing against the Redskins. While he didn't lead them to a touchdown in a full half of play, he did have a nice completion percentage. OK, it looks like the Ravens are just reaching here for anything to name Boller their starter. A nice dynasty prospect, he shouldn't be relied on as anything more than an emergency bye week/injury fill-in right now.

17. Dallas Cowboys: RBBC

Clipped From: DallasCowboys.com (Nick Eatman)

The Cowboys won't have to count on just one running back to carry the ball this season. While Parcells doesn't like the term "running-back-by-committee," that's essentially what he'll have, especially to start the season. Troy Hambrick will continue as the starter, but fullback Richie Anderson and speedy tailback Aveion Cason will also be involved in the running game. The Cowboys are intrigued by veteran Adrian Murrell, but might be hesitant to keep him from the start. By having Murrell, a nine-year vet, on the roster the first week of the season, the Cowboys would guarantee his base salary for the season, regardless of how long he remains on the roster. But signing him after Week One would give the Cowboys a no-obligation look at Murrell for however long they wanted. That hesitancy could open the door for Erik Bickerstaff, who initially could land on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, again depending on what might become available in free agency. The Cowboys likely wi! ll keep five backs, with three tail

We can put the Adrian Murrell hype to rest...for now. It wasn't that long ago that Bill Parcells claimed Aveion Cason "Would be in a coffin in a week" if he became an everydown running back. This situation is as muddled as ever, but we're still sticking to our projectios of Troy Hambrick being the main ball carrier and posting top 25 numbers.

18. Joe Namath Backs QB Vinny Testaverde

Clipped From: Associated Press

Joe Namath knows exactly what Chad Pennington is going through.

When he was the New York Jets' quarterback in 1970, Namath broke his right wrist against the Baltimore Colts and missed the rest of the season. It was the first time Namath ever missed time in the regular-season because of an injury.

The following year, he injured his left knee in the first exhibition game trying to make a tackle on a fumble run back and did not return until late November.

Pennington broke and dislocated his left wrist in a preseason game last week and is out 12 weeks. Namath said he has left messages for Pennington, who had an outstanding year in his first season as a starter in 2002.

"It's tough, you're out there trying to help out but you know you're not doing that much," Namath said at the Jets' annual kickoff luncheon in New York City. "You'd like to contribute more to the team. You almost get hesitant at times to suggest things because you're not really taking part in the action and you have to overcome that.

"It gets awful long. You have to find productive things to do. It's very frustrating."

Namath guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III, then quarterbacked the Jets to their 16-7 upset win over the Colts in 1969. He is the most recognizable Jets player ever, and recently became an ambassador for the organization's 40th anniversary campaign.

He also is confident in 39-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who is now the starter. Testaverde is entering his 17th season in the league.

"I believe he's got a lot left," Namath said. "People talk about his age. Come on, man. Times have changed, the athletes have changed. His ability is still there. I'm just excited for Vinny now."

Asked whether he had any advice for Testaverde, Namath said, "I don't think we have to tell Vinny anything other than we're pulling for him."

During the luncheon, Jets coach Herman Edwards addressed the crowd and said there is no cause for concern with Pennington out.

"One thing I can say about this football team: we handle inconvenience pretty well," Edwards said. "We've done it before and we'll do it again."

Before we get too excited, Testaverde has to show that last years performance over the first four games was not a sign of what to expect this year. While we don't expect him to reach his impressive numbers from 1998 or 2000, he should prove to be a servicable backup.

Game Recap Info

One of the best features we had last season was our Game Recaps. Every Monday, we had a detailed report covering every single game. What we did was have a Footballguys Game Reporter assigned to every game and they would watch every snap and put together a detailed report.

So many times, the box scores don't tell the story. And the normal AP writeups often don't focus on the things we FF junkies want to know - Who got the goalline touches? Who did the QB lock onto? Did the injured CB get picked on? What did the team do in the redzone? What player had a TD nullified due to penalty? What WR got pushed out at the 1 foot line and should have scored? Did the RB get pulled on 3rd downs? That type of stuff.

I've pasted a sample report from last year at the bottom.

You won't get rich doing this but we definitely make it worth your while. Getting paid for writing about Football isn't a bad gig.

Please follow these instructions carefully if you're interested:

1. Pick any game tonight or this weekend to cover. It doesn't matter what game it is. I'll get a ton of guys all writing about the same game - that's not a problem as all I'm trying to see here is how well you can do this.

2. Watch the game and put together a report in a Word document similar to the one at the bottom. It's basically 2 reports. The "Need to Know" is a quick "cliff notes" type look at each of the key positions with a brief summary of the key thoughts on that position. It's for the guy that's busy and just wants to know the main points. The 2nd part is the "Ought to Know" You look at the positions again but this time, give more detail.

3. Email the report to me and Clayton Gray at [email protected] and [email protected]. Put some asterisks in the subject line of the email making it *** Game Recap Tryout (this is very important as I get 500+ emails a day and I'll search and sort based on the title)

4. Include in that email a few brief comments on why you'd be a great Game Recap reporter. Let me know if you have NFL Sunday Ticket (that's a big plus as it gives me flexibility in assigning games) If you don't have NFL Sunday Ticket, let me know what team(s) you can count on seeing each week with televised games in your area.

That's pretty much it. I'm looking for extremely dependable people who want to be a part of this thing. I believe all the guys who did this last year had a lot of fun. Almost all of them are going to do it again but we're looking to add a few more.

Watch the game, write it up and mail it to us. Good luck.

J

Sample Report Below

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Carolina 0 at Atlanta 30

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Carolina Panthers

The Falcons defense dominated the Carolina offense in this game. Give credit to both the effective defense and the ineffective Panther offense for the outcome.

QB Chris Weinke started the game and couldn't move the Carolina offense. He left the game late in the second quarter with a concussion after managing only 26 yards passing and was replaced by Randy Fasani. Fasani didn't fare much better moving the Carolina offense, but was effective scrambling with the ball and avoiding the tough Falcon pass rush.

The Carolina running backs and wide receivers were completely ineffective in this game, largely due to the problems at the quarterback position and a tough Falcon defense. Lamar Smith had only 19 yards and a paltry 2.3 YPC average. Nick Goings came in the game in the fourth quarter in an effort to spark the offense.

Atlanta Falcons

FB Bob Christian left the game after a concussion and was taken to the hospital.

QB Mike Vick continued his solid play in this game and didn't show any signs that his injured left shoulder bothered him. He had a number of nice runs, including a 44-yard touchdown. His athleticism simply makes things possible. Doug Johnson replaced him in the fourth quarter, but it was just a precautionary measure with the Falcons up 24 points.

RBs Warrick Dunn and TJ Duckett continued to split the workload in the backfield. In the first half, Duckett looked great in every aspect of the game and drew comparisons to Jerome Bettis from the announcers who jokingly referred to him as the "Diesel". However, Duckett was limited in the second half with a sprained foot.

The Falcons spread the ball around and nine players caught passes. TE Reggie Kelly started the game over Alge Crumpler and WR Willie Jackson had a 68-yard pass negated by a penalty. WR Trevor Gaylor saw action in the game and made the most of his opportunities.

PK Jay Feely finished the game with three field goals over 40 yards.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Carolina Panthers

QB: Chris Weinke started the game and went three and out on the first series. On the next series he missed a wide open Muhsin Muhammad deep along the sidelines. Weinke wasn't able to get the Panthers offense moving, and finished the first half with only 26 yards passing before leaving late in the second quarter after taking a shot to the head.

Randy Fasani came in and scrambled two plays in a row for a first down before taking a sack on the next play. Fasani didn't fare much better than Weinke, but was able to make some things happen with his scrambling ability. He finished the game with 100 yards passing and 58 yards rushing.

WR: Muhsin Muhammad made a nice nine-yard catch on a third down play in the first quarter for his only catch in the half. He was not a major contributor in the game.

Steve Smith didn't have a catch in the first half. He had a 20-yard catch in the second half. WR Isaac Byrd did not play with an abdominal strain.

RB: Lamar Smith got the call early as the Panthers tried to establish the run. Unfortunately for the Panthers, it didn't work. Smith never was able to get going and the Falcon rush defense held him in check. He didn't look particularly good running the football, and looks slow to the line of scrimmage. He finished the game with only 19 yards rushing.

Nick Goings came in the game in the fourth quarter in an effort to spark the offense and looked better running the ball than Smith.

Brad Hoover got the call on an early screen pass, but was used primarily as a blocker.

TE: Wesley Walls didn't have a catch in the first half. Walls finally got a catch in the second half for 24 yards but was held back by the ineffective Carolina QB play.

K: John Kasay was not a factor in the game.

Panthers Pass Defense: The Panthers kept Vick moving around early in the game, and Peppers registered a sack in the first half. They got a big shot on Vick early in the second quarter but Vick was fine. In the second half, they couldn't contain Vick and he scrambled all over the field for big gains. Vick took over the game.

Panthers Rush Defense: The Panthers rush defense was able to hold Duckett and Dunn in check early in the game despite missing two starting linebackers. Backup LB Will Witherspoon had six solo tackles and an assist in the first half of the game. In the second half, the defense was on the field a lot and the Falcon rushing game found room to run. It seemed as if they were on the field for the entire second half as the Falcons dominated time of possession.

Atlanta Falcons

QB: Mike Vick started as expected and ran a bootleg on the first play. He had a circus 16-yard gain on a play where the ball was tipped at the line, caught by a lineman, flipped back to Vick who took off running. His athleticism simply makes things possible. In the second quarter, Vick took a big shot and seemed to respond just fine, and it didn't appear his left shoulder was a factor at all. Vick threw five straight incomplete passes at one point in the second quarter, and has a tendency to float the ball occasionally. He managed only 88 yards passing in the first half against the stingy Panther's defense. In the second half, Vick continued to make plays with his athleticism, including a 24-yard run on a busted play and a 44-yard touchdown run. Vick took over the game in the third quarter and took advantage of the Carolina defense as it tired. Doug Johnson replaced him in the fourth quarter, but it was just a precautionary measure with the Falcons up 24 points.

WR: Brian Finneran was targeted a few times in the first half, but didn't connect for any catches. Finneran finally had a catch in the third quarter, but it was negated by a penalty. He was held without a catch as the Falcons spread the ball around.

Shawn Jefferson started the game opposite Brian Finneran but had only one catch in the first half and a couple more in the second half.

Willie Jackson caught a 68-yard pass from Vick in the late second quarter that was brought back because of holding.

Trevor Gaylor made a tremendous run after the catch in the second quarter to get the first down on a third and long. It was only his second catch of the year. He finished the day with three catches for 38 yards and made the most of the opportunities he was given.

RB: Warrick Dunn came in on the first series on second down and long. He got the carry and gained one yard, and stayed in on third and long. Dunn was later a target on a deep route in the end zone in the late first quarter. He had a nine-yard run called back in the second quarter and an eight-yard run called back in the third quarter for holding. Dunn started out in the backfield in the third quarter with Duckett on the sideline with a sore foot. Dunn looked fine in the game, but was overshadowed by the solid play of backfield mate TJ Duckett.

TJ Duckett started the game and had a nice run for eight yards on his first carry. He had a nice stiff arm later in the second series. In the second quarter, Duckett had another stiff arm and a great long run along the sidelines. Duckett's touchdown in the second quarter came on a play where he bounced outside and showed good speed. In the second half, Duckett got the call twice in a row near the goal line for his second touchdown of the game. Duckett's role was limited in the second half with a sprained foot. He looks good running the ball, and drew comparisons to Jerome Bettis from the announcers who jokingly called him "the Diesel".

FB Bob Christian took a nasty shot in the third quarter to his head, and had to leave the game. He was taken to the hospital with a concussion. TE Brian Kozlowski lined up in the FB position to fill in for Christian.

TE: Reggie Kelly started the game and was wide open in the middle for a 24-yard strike from Vick. Alge Crumpler was also involved in the game and had a great one hand grab in the third quarter off a tipped ball for a 22-yard gain.

K: Jay Feely connected on his first attempt from 41 yards for the only score in the first quarter. He later made a 45-yard attempt and a 49-yard attempt that hit the upright and floated in.

Falcons Pass Defense: The Falcons started the game getting pressure on Weinke and forcing him to make quick decisions. DE Patrick Kerney got to Weinke for a sack on third down with a great speed rush and the Falcons opened up the second half with another sack. The Falcons might have had a touchdown on a wide receiver screen that looked like a lateral pass going backwards, but was ruled an incomplete pass. Ray Buchanan's first game back was a success with strong defensive play and a nice diving interception after a tipped ball.

Falcons Rush Defense: The Falcons rush defense looked good in this game and held Lamar Smith to only 18 yard rushing on seven carries in the first half. The Falcons allowed only 57 total yards and 4 first downs in the first half. In the second half, it was more of the same, and Smith finished with a paltry 2.3 YPC average. The Falcons defense dominated this game.