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Footballguys.com Daily Email Update
Volume 4 Issue # 97a
August 21st, 2003
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Hi Folks,

Of all the stuff we do at Footballguys.com, one of the things I'm most excited about this year is that we'll be featuring my good friend Bob Harris. All season long Harris will bring you some of the most detailed insights you'll find anywhere. Bob's always done a few things for us, throwing out a teaser here and there. But to get the full stories, you had to subscribe to his Flashupdate Report.

But now, Footballguys.com readers are getting the total package from Bob as he's our Senior NFL Analyst. We'll be holding nothing back as he brings to you all the Team Notes, Matchup Info and Breaking News that used to be just for his Flashupdate subscribers. I personally would pay twice our subscription cost just for Harris' stuff (And I used to do just that for several years before we started working together)

Sample of the Team Notes Subscribers will receive in season
Sample of the Matchup Info Subscribers will receive in season
Sample of the Late Breaking Updates Subscribers will receive in season

But we couldn't wait until September to start hitting you with Bob's stuff. Here's a small taste of what we'll be doing. I asked him to throw together some random thoughts and opinions he sees each week and here's what happens. Let me know what you think by sending an email to [email protected].

Let's get right to it. Take it away, Bob.

Joe

I'll go ahead and start things off this week by taking my medicine on the Tim Couch/Kelly Holcomb situation in Cleveland.

I was wrong.

Butch Davis chose his gut over management's multi-million investment in Couch represents.

An admirable choice. And probably the right one, for a number of reasons.

As teammate Quincy Morgan said early this week: "[Holcomb's] a good quarterback. He's a good player and a great leader. He showed he can make plays." As the Browns' best deep threat last season, Morgan caught 56 passes for 964 yards, numbers that could rise with Holcomb under center. Holcomb has already shown a willingness to air it out on offense by throwing 40- and 50-yard passes. Couch, on the other hand, is more inclined to throw underneath.

You're not likely to hear fellow wideout Dennis Northcutt complaining, either. As Gazette reporter Steve King noted earlier this year, Northcutt was the Browns' best wide receiver when last season ended. King went on to suggest that Northcutt, who is entering the final year of his current contract, could really assert himself if Holcomb beats out Couch for the No. 1 spot as the two seem to work extremely well together.

And in the end, Davis might have out-smarted everybody. As noted by the Sports XChange, the coach's "gut decision" was also a very clever -- and probably very wise -- way to avoid being critical of Couch. There's no need to dump dirt on Couch. It wouldn't be the right thing to do, and if Holcomb is injured -- a likely event in the NFL -- Davis will need Couch.

Bottom line? This one isn't over folks; we haven't heard the last of Tim Couch in Cleveland.

In an article published last Sunday, Denver Post sports writer Adam Schefter suggested that nobody realized it at the time, but when the Broncos drafted wide receiver Ashley Lelie in the first round last year, and then running back Clinton Portis in the second, they positioned themselves for the greatest one-two picks the franchise has made.

Schefter added: "Not to appeal to fantasy football fanatics, but if healthy for 16 games, Lelie will catch 80 passes this season, minimum. ... If healthy for 16 games, Portis will lead the league in rushing."

With all the excitement being generated in Oakland by rookie running back Justin Fargas, I thought it might be appropriate to revisit an item from my SI.com post-draft column published back on April 24 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/football/news/2003/04/24/back_ page/), when I offered the following assessment:

"In an article published April 15, Houston Chronicle columnist John McClain noted that until the Senior Bowl and Indianapolis scouting combine, Fargas' claim to fame was that his father, Antonio Fargas, played Huggy Bear on Starsky and Hutch, a popular 1970s television series.

"A Los Angeles native and former high school All-America sprint champion, Fargas is the ultimate late bloomer, a testimonial to how patience, persistence and perseverance can pay off in a lucrative way.

"Fargas suffered through an injury-prone career that began at Michigan. Along the way, he suffered two broken legs and underwent four surgeries. The injuries hindered his performance so much that he requested to move to safety, where he played part-time for the Wolverines in 2000.

"Frustrated with injuries that kept him on the sideline at Michigan, Fargas went home to Los Angeles and decided to transfer to USC. Having redshirted at Michigan in 1999 because of injuries, Fargas was forced to sit out the 2001 season after transferring.

"When he finally was pronounced healthy last season, he suffered a hamstring injury and served in a backup role until the last five games. Elevated into the starting lineup and healthy for the first time since his freshman year, Fargas averaged 143 yards rushing over the Trojans' last five games.

"Fargas followed that with an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. Then, at the combine, he blew away the scouts by running the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, bench pressing 225 pounds 27 times and soaring to an 11-foot, 5-inch standing broad jump.

"Of the better running backs available, Fargas is the fastest. He's determined to prove he can stay healthy and be more productive in the NFL than he was in college.

"'I think I can give a team a great chance to win,' he said. 'I don't care about statistics. I can move the chains or even play special teams. I don't care. I just want a chance to play. I think I've got the kind of attitude that teams like.'

"Fantasy Bottom Line: Player To Watch -- I'll remind you that the fastest back in last year's draft, Clinton Portis -- a second-round pick no less, put up some pretty impressive Fantasy numbers as a rookie."

Fantasy Bottom Line -- Revisited: Player To Watch (Very Closely) -- That's especially true with an aging Charlie Garner currently spending more time in the training room than on the practice field due to a sore knee. Fargas heads into the third preseason game leading the league in rushing. In addition to tremendous speed, he's also demonstrated surprising toughness while running between the tackles.

As reported by the Sports XChange, David Terrell has not changed. ... "I'm going to always be me, and 'me' is being a flamboyant, cocky guy that puts myself on the line," the third-year wide receiver said. "That's who I am and that's what I'm always going to be."

The problem is that, to this point, the eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft hasn't come close to being all that he's expected to be on the football field. Terrell says it's because he's been kept down by a lack of opportunity.

After a rookie season in which he caught 34 passes for 415 yards and four touchdowns, Terrell caught just nine passes for 127 yards in five games last year before a fractured left foot ended his season. Three of his receptions went for touchdowns, including game winners the first two weeks of the season, the first one with 28 seconds left. ...

Not surprisingly, Terrell wants a bigger role in the offense, even though Marty Booker, with 197 catches over the past two seasons, is entrenched as the Bears' go-to wideout.

"Whatever," Terrell said. "I don't even care. I never played second fiddle to nobody, and I'm not going to start playing second fiddle. Last year I played second fiddle, and when my time came, I made it happen. ..."

Sure you did. ... Briefly. Which reminds me of his response when a fan recently yelled from the sidelines: "Should I take you in my fantasy league?"

Terrell gave the thumbs-up sign and nodded. "What round?" the fan said.

Terrell held up his index finger.

Memo to self: Get in as many Fantasy leagues with David Terrell as I possibly can next year. ...

Just when you thought nobody understood you, Chiefs offensive coordinator delivers the following pearl of wisdom: "You don't want to be running back by committee. As soon as you get into that mode, you won't be as effective. The starter won't be as effective, and the whole football team won't be as effective. Your starter is your best player. You want him in the game unless he's tired and he needs to come out."

Thanks coach. ... It's nice to know somebody is on our side.

Following up on an item in last week's Notebook. ... According to Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel staffer Bob McGinn, Wesley Walls has worn a Packers uniform for just two weeks but tight ends coach Jeff Jagodzinski can't wait to turn him loose on defenses.

"We just have to be very careful," Jagodzinski said. "You can't just wear him down in practice. I'm interested in getting him the ball in the regular season."

Last season, in a typical 70-play game, Jagodzinski estimated that Bubba Franks had 50 snaps, the No. 2 tight end had 15 to 20 and the No. 3 tight end had fewer than five. If Walls stays healthy and produces, there's a chance his playing time could come close to Franks'.

Jagodzinski acknowledged that Walls struggled to a degree as a drive blocker against Cleveland. However, he insisted that Walls' blocking in no way would ever deter the Packers from using him. "That's not his strength," he said. "His strength is catching the ball. It's the way he runs routes. He does everything full speed, and if he makes a mistake, it truly bothers him. He's one of those guys who elevates everybody's play. We've got another guy on this team that does the same thing. No. 4 (Brett Favre)."

According to SportsLine.com insider Pete Prisco, teams in the market for a running back have two they can choose from as Buffalo's Olandis Gary and Pittsburgh's Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala were being shopped around this week.

Both teams are asking for a third-round pick in exchange for the players, a price that is far too high. If somebody will part with a seventh-round pick for either of those two, look for them to be traded. If not, they face being released, especially Gary, who has not impressed in Buffalo.

In an article published early this week, Indianapolis Star News beat man Mike Chappell wrote: "Like clockwork, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison seem to hook up on a big reception every practice. Tuesday morning was no different. During 11-on-11 drills, Manning delivered a long pass to Harrison, who was streaking down the middle of the field between safeties Idrees Bashir and Mike Doss. The ball was slightly overthrown, but that didn't matter. Harrison reached out with his right hand and pulled the football to his chest."

Hey. ... A little affirmation is always nice, even when it really isn't necessary.

In an article published Wednesday, Florida Times-Union staffer Bart Hubbuch advised readers that new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave continues to get high marks from head coach Jack Del Rio for creative play-calling and overseeing what appears to be a smooth installation of the West Coast offense.

Musgrave, a former NFL quarterback whose last stop in the league as an offensive coordinator was with Carolina in 2000, also has been praised by Mark Brunell and Brunell's fellow quarterbacks for his calm, patient approach.

"I'm very pleased with the way Bill Musgrave is operating," Del Rio said. "He's been everything I had hoped he would be when we brought him here. Obviously, it's early. But I like the way he approaches the game. He has a lot of poise."

Given the team's current situation at wideout, where Jimmy Smith's suspension leaves J.J. Stokes as the No. 1 receiver, that patience and poise are going to come in mighty handy.

And finally. ... After watching star halfback LaDainian Tomlinson carted off the field Wednesday for the second time in a week, head coach Marty Schottenheimer explained the third-year man's most recent problem -- a bruised heel -- thusly:

"What it is some of these guys, they don't wear socks with any cushion in them. They wear these little 'dainties.' It doesn't give you any support or cushion."

I'm not sure what's more horrifying: The fact my top-dog, A-No. 1 Fantasy stud running back wears something called "dainties"; or that I find myself silently nodding in agreement with Schottenheimer on a point of fashion?

That's it for this week kiddies. But keep your socks on. The Fantasy Reporter's Notebook will be back this same time next week.

Thanks Bob. Now get back down in the "lab".

Joe