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Email Update 7/26/02 Volume 3 Issue # 42
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Leaf skips camp; Announces retirement
2. Fiedler expects to be back by second week
3. NY Giants stuck with bad cap
4. Jets have improved defense
5. Marcus Robinson injury free?
6. William Green signing status
7. Kicker battle in SF
8. Marvin Minnis still hurting
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1. Leaf skips camp; Announces retirement
Clipped from the ESPN article:
When Ryan Leaf didn't show up for the Seattle Seahawks' quarterbacks
meeting, Trent Dilfer figured something must be wrong.
As the starter and leader, Dilfer immediately called Leaf on Thursday
night and learned of his plans to retire from the NFL.
The decision, confirmed by the Seahawks on Friday, ends a career that
began in 1998 when he was the No. 2 overall draft pick and considered
one of the NFL's most promising young quarterbacks.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Adjust your draft boards. Ryan Leaf is no longer playing. Oh that's
right, we all knew he sucked a long time go. I remember when the
draft experts were calling Peyton Manning pick 1 and Ryan Leaf 1A.
Some suggested the Colts take Ryan Leaf. Let this be a lesson to
those that love arm strength but don't have a solid head on their
shoulders. Surely his tricky wrist did not help matters either.
What an absolute waste of talent. For the sheer fun that came with
picking on Ryan Leaf...we will miss him.
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2. Fiedler expects to be back by second week
Clipped from the Palm Beach Post:
Quarterback Jay Fiedler will be a spectator when 51 Dolphins take the
field for the first training-camp workout this morning, but he
doesn't figure to be on the sidelines long.
Fiedler said he will be back for the second week of practice, which
would give him enough time to be ready for the exhibition opener Aug.
12 at Tampa Bay.
"It's coming along," Fiedler said. "No bumps in the road so far."
Dr. Marc Philippon repaired a labral tear in Fiedler's left hip July
13, the same surgery Fiedler had Aug. 3, 2000, on his right hip.
Fiedler missed three weeks of that training camp but still won the
quarterback job from Damon Huard.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
We never downgraded him before, but this is excellent news. Time in
camp will definitely help with the timing of the new offense being
installed by Norv Turner. Ray Lucas will work with the first team
until Fiedler can take the field.
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3. NY Giants stuck with bad cap
Clipped from the NY Daily News article:
The Giants' offseason scorecard is hideous. Players lost: 16. Veteran
free agents signed from other teams: 0. How many teams signed at
least one free agent? 31. How many did not? One. Big-ticket free
agents are rarely the answer. Building through the draft is still the
way to get to the Super Bowl. But there were plenty of mid-level free
agents out there. The Giants just didn't have the money to spend.
Not getting a new deal done for Michael Strahan in the spring
paralyzed the Giants' cap. The problem: Accorsi gave him $12 million
to sign in 1999, but signed him only to a four-year deal. Strahan's
cap number this year is an out-of-whack $12.255 million. When they
broke off talks in February on a new contract that would have lowered
his cap, the Giants essentially gave up on free agency. Giving Jason
Sehorn a $10 million signing bonus a year ago doesn't look like the
smartest deal now either, does it?
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Don't look for miracles out of the Giants this season. Their cap
woes point to an awful season. It likely won't cost Fassell his job
though as he is in just the second year of a $10.8 million dollar
contract. And now you know why many good coaches also want to be the
GM.
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4. Jets have improved defense
Clipped from the NY Times article:
There will be six new defensive starters this season, including nose
tackle Jason Ferguson, who missed all of last season with a shoulder
injury. There are two other free-agent signees waiting in the wings
as backups. With the first-round draft pick Bryan Thomas, who has
already been penciled in as an end in passing situations, one can see
that Bradway has effected almost a full-scale transplant of a defense
that was 19th in the N.F.L. over all and a dreadful 28th against the
run last season.
Evans and Cowart joined cornerback Donnie Abraham and defensive end
Steve White, who had played for Coach Herman Edwards in Tampa Bay.
Cornerback Aaron Beasley and safety Sam Garnes were also signed after
talking to friends in the league about the Jets and their coaches.
The rebuilding was centered on improving the defensive line. Last
season, defensive end John Abraham was the only threat, and offenses
keyed on him.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
This is likely going to be a very good defense this year. And even
better news it is not being drafted like one in most fantasy drafts.
The defensive coordinator has a lot of work to do to integrate all
the parts quickly, but St. Louis showed that was possible. And if
the Jets have a better defense, that should help give the offense
more touches and better field position. All good news for us fantasy
players.
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5. Marcus Robinson injury free?
Clipped from the Chicago Sports article:
Robinson, who finished the last two seasons on injured reserve,
declared his intention to reclaim the starting job that has been
expected to go to either David Terrell or Dez White.
"I have confidence in myself, and everyone knows what I can do,"
Robinson said. "Everybody's saying, 'Stay healthy.' But it's
football. Things happen to people. But I'm not going out there
thinking I'm the third man or fourth man. I'm going out there to
start."
Robinson set a franchise record with 1,400 receiving yards in 1999
and established himself as the Bears' premier deep threat, a
component of the offense that was sorely missed when he has been
injured.
He pronounced Thursday that he is about 85 percent healthy, but that
his straight-ahead speed, the cornerstone of his threat as a deep
receiver, is "100 percent."
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Marcus Robinson is being forgotten in drafts this year. Sure the
team has a 100 catch receiver in Marty Booker, but does anyone
believe he can return to those numbers? David Terrell also looks to
be good in this league someday, but Robinson is no slouch when
healthy. The key to all of this is that you can get Robinson dirt
cheap in drafts. He is worth that risk as he could re-emerge as
their best option. Don't under-estimate the fact that Chris Chandler
could also be the QB for some of these games. He has shown (even
with bad receivers in Atlanta) that he can consistently get the ball
downfield. Upgrade Robinson on this news. Downgrade Booker and
Terrell.
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6. William Green signing status
Clipped from the article at Cleveland.com
Frustration over the holdout of first-round draft pick William Green
surfaced for the first time at Browns camp yesterday.
As the team's No. 1 feature back hopeful remained absent, top backup
James Jackson had his bell rung by an undrafted cornerback and
coaches worked out three running backs off the street after practice.
"He's got to be part of this process at the beginning, and we can
argue that the beginning is [today]."
The likelihood of a contract agreement with Green increased when
Oakland reached a deal with cornerback Phillip Buchanon, the player
taken immediately after Green's No. 16 spot in the first round.
Sources have said Condon was seeking a 10 percent spike while the
Browns offered 3 percent.
That means the sides may have been quibbling over no more than
$500,000.
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Don't think for a moment that Green won't be the starter this year.
But it's never good to see this kind of resentment building within
the organization. The coaches are right; William Green needs to get
in camp. But guess what? His best negotiating stance is to wait.
We are talking small differences so cooler heads need to prevail and
get this prospect on the field now.
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7. Kicker battle in SF
Clipped from the Contra Costa Times article:
Round One of the 49ers' kicking derby went to incumbent Jose Cortez,
who made all four of his field-goal attempts in Thursday morning's
team drill at training camp. Rookie Jeff Chandler, meanwhile, walked
away disappointed after three of his four kicks sailed wide.
Cortez, however, didn't kick as well as Chandler during individual
work after the team drill, special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven
said.
Overall, "Jose was probably a little better today than Jeff," DeHaven
said. "I'm not surprised about Jeff because it was his first time in
front of the team. I don't think Jeff really hit the ball well. I
could tell by the way it sounded coming off his foot. I thought he
was trying to guide the ball. Later, he started attacking and kicking
better."
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
Whoever wins this kicking job will likely be a real bargain at
kicker. We believe Jeff Chandler will win this job for one simple
reason:
Jose Cortez had 5 FG attempts blocked and another 3 that were tipped.
The team has absolutely lost confidence in Jose Cortez and the early
selection of Chandler (4th round pick) says it all. The more stories
reporting this to be unsettled can only help to improve the sleeper
status of Jeff Chandler.
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8. Marvin Minnis still hurting
Clipped from the Kansas City Star article:
The broken bone in Marvin Minnis' right foot was slow to heal and
won't allow him to practice with the Chiefs when they begin training
camp today in River Falls, Wis.
Coach Dick Vermeil said he has been given no timetable on a return
for Minnis, who was in line to be the third receiver behind starters
Johnnie Morton and Eddie Kennison.
"But there's a great contrast between our wide receivers at training
camp this year and last year," Vermeil said. "(Last year,) I was
thinking, "Can't any of these guys play?' That's not the way it is
this year."
[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]
I still don't see Eddie Kennison holding onto the second starter spot
all season. But weirder things have happed. Sylvester Morris is
also on this roster and may see significant playing time with Minnis
injured. Johnnie Morton is clearly the #1 WR for the Chiefs. Tony
Gonzalez remains the best TE in the game, but needs to sign a new
deal and get to camp.
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Well folks. This is going to do it for now.
David Dodds
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