Ten Cent Wings

You have to respect the comments made by Reggie Wayne implying Kerry Collins cannot just come into a sophisticated offense like the Colts and fill the shoes of a legend that easily. And he is right with the fact that everyone thinks some retired vet can just take a job from a backup like Painter in 1 day without knowing the playbook. Collins is strictly there for security, and not in the future, whereas Painter may be.

Stand up Reggie!

PS: Fantasy owners may get a late second to third round steal in Wayne, one of the best receivers of our era, and not even on too much of a decline.

Tier 1 QB's (Rodgers, Vick, Manning, Brees, Phillips, and Brady) compared to getting stuck with a tier 2 QB (Freeman, Ryan Schaub, Manning, Flacco, Roethlisberger, Romo) is about 55 points.

Tier 1 RB's compared to getting stuck with a tier 2 RB  will be about 38 points.

Tier 1 WR's compared to getting stuck with a tier 2 WR will be about 35 points.

Obviously QBs score more points than runningbacks, and runningbacks more than receivers, so this article is just an understanding.

I am interested to see how the Browns, Texans and Cowboys use there respected backfields this season.

The Browns, lacking in the WR department, will be forced to lean heavy on Hillis early and often in games. Reports he began to break down at the end of last year, as well as his playing through constant pain (being the bruiser that he is), lead me to believe coaches will really want to see what Montario Hardesty can do. If he gets 5-10 touches a game as well as Brandon Jackson getting a few downs here and there, pressure could be taken off Hillis, leading to less work. Hillis will be the redzone/ goal line back every time though, and well deserved.

Arian Fosters MVP type season last year literally came out of nowhere, and when he begins to run like he did it will be hard to get other backs involved. Derrick Ward, Steve Slaton, and Ben Tate (who has impressed) are banged up but all hungry to get some work and take some of the 393 touches off the back of Foster. Keep an eye on who takes that backup spot.

Finally, Jerry Jones doesn't spend early draft picks on electric players to just have them sit. Felix Jones has shown signs of greatness at times, but has also disappointed. Tashard Choice is a solid backup who, when he has the hot hand, can become the vocal point in the run game. The rookie Murray has also ran well and should get involved early in the season. We will see how Garret juggles these backs and keeps everyone in Dallas happy, including his owner.

The more and more I look at Larry Fitzgeralds situation, the more I drool. A lower end second round pick in fantasy leagues, I think Larry's stock is on the serious incline. First round talent for the happy receiver from Pitt.

1) Get quarterback. CHECK

2) Get paid. CHECK

3) Playoff experience. CHECK

4) Weak division. CHECK

5) Healthy. CHECK

6) Pearly white, perfect teeth. CHECK

Larry is a different type of athlete as well: highly respected with a amazing urge to win and play hard on every down, blocking or receiving. To think Larry would just take the money and run is absolutely ridiculous, and he will make even larger strides now that he really wants to prove he was worth the contract (and Kolb's contract as well).

Nice rankings ESPN... Not.

One that really stuck out to me was Quintin Mikell. Is anyone as overrated as this guy? I would know as I watched Mikell in every game he played with the Eagles. What a disappointing replacement to Dawkins. Dude just never stepped up.

He is ranked 75th on ESPNs scouts top 200 (right behind players like Nicks, Beason, Arian Foster, and Desean Jackson.

Adrian Wilson is ranked 172.

Wilson: over 100 tackles twice, 775 total, 2 scores, BIG HITTER, 12 forced fumbles, 8 recoveries, and 25 interceptions.

Mikell: 348 tackles, 7 forced, 7 recovered, 10 ints. Soft hitter, 0 tds.

I know Wilson played 3 more years than Mikell, but Mikell was not a player we miss in Philly, and Wilson has done more damage already than Mikell ever will.

T.J. Ward, S- Cleveland

Ward is a second year player from Oregon. His studly years at school earned him to be a second rounder last year by the Browns and immediate starter in the secondary. He thrived, and the numbers are very impressive. 123 tackles for a safety(!), with 10 passes defensed, a forced fumble and 2 picks, he pairs up with Joe Haden as one of the more promising secondary duos in the league. First cousin to Maurice Jones-Drew, the bloodline player is ALWAYS around the ball and will be a phenomenal safety in the NFL for many years. Watch this guy.

Curtis Lofton,MLB- Atlanta

You probably remember Lofton getting drafted in the first round 2 years back when he was recongnized as the best MLB prospect in the draft. After 2 years and 223 tackles, the athletic backer finds ball carriers and can run sideline to sideline. You cannot ask for much more from your middle linebacker, and Curtis has been able to get to the QB a few times as well, which is rare from a run stopper like Lofton.

Brent Grimes, CB- Atlanta

A Shippensburg University product (SHIP stand up! what-what), Grimes, undrafted, made his way through the ranks and impressed coaches to a starting job two years ago. Opposing teams decided to pick on the young bull they have never heard of, only to realize that this kid is the real thing. Great feet, good cover corner, and physical, Grimes made the Pro-Bowl last year and will not be picked on too much longer.

Maurice Jones-Drew-UP: He says he is healthy. Do you believe him?

Peyton Manning-DOWN: As Cat stated earlier, he will slide a few picks, but still top tier.

Knowshon Moreno-UP: Expect work and 300 touches.

Michael Turner-DOWN: Not too much from Turner Camp this offseason. Maybe a good thing?

Larry Fitzgerald- The happiest man in the NFL. First round pick.

Beanie Wells-UP.

Ryan Mathews-UP: Noone knows what to expect. But he ran well last game.

Brandon Marshall-UP: Will score more than 3 times.

Chad Ochocinco-UP: Could be 900 yards and 8 scores or more.

Tony Romo-DOWN: 2 Receivers and some questions in the backfield.

Jeremy Maclin-UP: Get on the field kid. If not for early drama, would have predicted an even bigger season than last.

James Starks-DOWN: Grant is looking more and more like he wants the sole position.

Dallas Clark- DOWN: When your QB is questionable, and 4 solid receivers are healthy, your stock isn't rising. But do not be afraid of Clark, he is money.

Jared Cook-UP: Yet another impressive camp.

Mike Thomas-UP: Number 1 receiver and coaches love him.

Neck surgery has clouded the future of top QB Peyton Manning this off-season. I do believe he will be ready for the start of the regular season but that doesn't mean he will be as effective a Fantasy QB as he has been in the past. Do you take a chance on Manning being every bit the fantasy stud that he has been the last 10 years? I think so. As far as top tier QBs go I believe Manning will fall the farthest in drafts and will be just as valuable as players going in the first and second rounds. The most encouraging signs for Manning would be Tony Dungy and Jeff Saturday both stating on separate occasions that Manning would be ready to start in week 1. With Dungy going as far as saying that Manning will start in week 1 "unless he's dead". Those are pretty good endorsements coming from pretty trustworthy guys. I believe Manning will slide in drafts, and you could get a steal late second round or early third round.

Two teams caught my eye with spending some money this offseason. The Carolina Panthers had an awful season last year but made news this off season by handing out some huge contracts (mostly all part of the 2010 team).  The Cardinals did the same with locking up a QB as well as Larry Fitz for an eye-popping 120 million dollar deal. Both teams in the upcoming years will be forced to take a page out of the Giants and Patriots playbook- rebuilding through the draft. The Panthers have to be excited about their run game, their new QB Cam, and that fierce middle linebacker (Beason) to lead the way for the rest. The Cards have been good at drafting in past years (Dansby, Larry, Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, DRC, Darnell Dockett to name a few) but have lost all but two of those names to free agency and bigger contracts elsewhere. The Fitzgerald deal needed to happen, and having that stud in the lineup for the next 8 years is commendable. But with cap issues lingering in the next few years, expect the Cards and Panthers to stockpile picks, draft well, gain depth, and coach young players up to contend for division titles.

PS. How does Desean feel about that Larry deal?

PSS. How do the Eagles feel about that Larry deal?

While electric Rook Ryan William was turning heads in Cardinals Camp, Beanie Wells was fighting for the starting job that he has wanted since he was drafted. With Tim Hightower traded away to Washington, and watching Williams go down with season ending surgery after a preseason game, Wells got his wish and is listed atop the RB depth chart alone. I got to watch Beanie at Ohio State more than I watch most college backs, and coming out I thought he would have been a great NFL back, yet wasn't convinced that AZ was the right landing spot (high-powered pass offense at the time and they never invest in a decent O-line). But I am definitely going to keep an eye on Beanie early and he could be a steal in fantasy drafts as a number 2 back.

All just speculation of course, so we will never know who actually won, but reports are saying Jonathan Baldwin left the fight with a wrist injury that could keep him out for weeks. DAMN SON!. Have a good weekend, readers! see ya Monday!

These are the players I am gripping and the guys I am dipping on in fantasy this year:

GRIP- Quarterbacks

Drew Brees

Ben Roethlisberger

Phillip Rivers

Matt Ryan

Mathew Stafford

GRIP- Runningbacks

Jamaal Charles

Ray Rice

Rashard Mendenhall

Knowshon Moreno

Felix Jones

Shonn Greene

Daniel Thomas

Mike Tolbert

Jason Snelling

GRIP- Wide Receivers

Andre, Roddy, Calvin - need one

Hakeem Nicks

Mario Manningham

Reggie Wayne

Wes Welker

Desean Jackson

Dez Bryant

Santonio Holmes

A.J. Green

Malcom Floyd

Jerome Simpson

Hines Ward

Danny Amendola

Steve Smith (PHI)

Eddie Royal

Early Doucet

GRIP- Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley

Jason Witten

Owen Daniels

Rob Gronkowski

Aaron Hernandez

Brandon Pettigrew

Tony Gonzalez

Heath Miller

GRIP- Kickers

Nate Kaeding

Josh Brown

Billy Cundiff

Mason Crosby

Tynes or any Giants Kicker

GRIP- DEFENSE

Steelers

Eagles

Ravens

Chargers

Giants

Bears

Cowboys

It is not that I hate all of the following players, it is simply others will like these guys more, therefore they will be ranked lower in my rankings.

DIP-Quarterbacks

Mike Vick

Tony Romo

Josh Freeman

Sam Bradford

Joe Flacco

DIP- Runningbacks

Arian Foster

Maurice Jones-Drew

Darren McFadden

Deangelo Williams

LaGarrette Blount

Jahvid Best

BenJarvis Green-Ellis

Ryan Mathews

Cedric Benson

Mark Ingram

Joseph Addai

Ryan Williams

Torain/Hightower

Danny Woodhead

Reggie Bush

DIP- Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings

Dwayne Bowe

Mike Williams

Marques Colston

Brandon Lloyd

Steve Johnson

Percy Harvin

Anquan Boldin

Sidney Rice

Pierre Garcon

Mike Thomas

Roy Williams

Robert Meachem

Braylon Edwards

Mike Crabtree

Mike Sims-Walker

DIP- Tight Ends

Vernon Davis

Mercedes Lewis

Kellen Winslow

Greg Olsen

Zach Miller

Chris Cooley

DIP-Kickers

Stephen Gostkowski

Garret Hartley

David Akers

Alex Henery

Sebastian Janikowski

DIP-Defense

Falcons

Saints

Patriots

Chiefs

Lions

I read an article on running back handcuffs and I am trying to decide how important they actually are. Obviously, you do not want to be stuck with Chris Johnson blowing his knee out in week one and not having Javon Ringer sitting on your bench. Handcuffs always seem like a great idea on draft day, and taking Rashard Jennings in the 14th round last year to screw over your friend with MJD is funny and all, but by week 2 you most likely will drop him anyways to try to find early season sleepers that are actually getting the rock. So while players like Ringer and Gerhart  will all be going in the last rounds of your drafts, I would target players like Snelling, LT, Thomas Jones and Ronnie Brown that will actually be getting some work alongside their respected 1st string backs.

  Is new 49ers QB Josh McCown also Ivan Drago aka Dolph Lundgren?

Two big sports stories broke this week involving Ponzi Schemes. If you do not understand what a Ponzi Scheme is, it is basically some desperate, rich fucks that want to make a lot more money really quickly with no care about the law and repercussions. They make a fake "investment company", get a few people to invest, promise them a quick return (usually about 30 days at 20%), and then pay them. This usually gives them an incentive to invest more money as well as getting more people to invest. They never actually produce a net gain, but instead pay out the initial investments with the new money they are getting from people putting money into the scheme. It is destined to fail and authorities will always find out in matter of time, leading to jail time and pissed off investors like David Akers, who lost over 3 million on some bullshit. Former Eagles Akers, Sean Considine, and the Detmers all lost money. This dickweed Nevin Shapiro, the main man involved in the Miami U scandals did the same thing with a 930 million dollar scheme, and is doing 20 years now that it all got caught up. Him, being a nark ass fruitcake, is trying to screw Miami and its former players and rat them out for the money he spent boosting when he was a huge Miami fan and had millions of dollars to blow to have fun. "Once the players turned pro, they turned their back on me. It made me feel like a used friend," he said. 

You could form a Pro Bowl team with all the accused players, but I don't really blame them at all. They were partying on yachts and piping off hot chicks after they grew up in inner cities with nothing. The wikipedia on Nevin Shapiro is very interesting and worth reading about how much of a scumbag this guy is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevin_Shapiro

      GQ.com - "I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

Well this should provide some unnecessary drama. If you're the Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills, you have to be pretty bullshit about this story, right? Roger Goodell wouldn't even allow Michael Vick sign with your teams, and you're trotting out Andy Dalton and Ryan Fitzpatrick as your 2011 starting Quarterbacks. 

I don't see why Vick would reveal this right now. There is nothing to gain from it. Goodell obviously put him in a place where he could succeed and rejuvenate his career after the dog-fighting incident and subsequent jail sentence derailed it.

The Eagles are already getting talked about enough, they don't need this controversy heading into the season. I'm sure today we will see the reactions from this interview all over the place, but either way if I am the Bengals or Bills I am certainly not happy seeing as how things turned out. 

            PFT.com - After weeks of ambiguity regarding the health of Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin, there finally is some clarity, both for him and his family.

Maclin tells Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com that the third-year receiver has been cleared after undergoing tests for lymphoma. News of the possible diagnosis came on Maclin’s birthday, May 11. Lymph nodes were removed and tested last week, and he has received word that he does not have cancer.

Maclin told Glazer that the problem was determined to be a virus.In April, Maclin said he had lost 15 pounds due to a “mono-like” illness. The Eagles reportedly will be making a statement tonight regarding Maclin’s situation. It’s now clear why Maclin’s status was so sketchy, and why so little information was available. Though he’s going to be fine, Maclin had some nervous moments. 

Great news for everyone, not just Philadelphia Eagles fans. A cancer scare is tough for anyone to deal with, especially for an NFL player having to hear rumors spread about all the possibilities it could be (AIDS, really?). Either way, I'm glad this is over with and Jeremy Maclin can get back on to the football field. Reports are saying he should be good to go for Week 1, so draft accordingly.