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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Friday. Hope you're headed towards a nice Father's Day Weekend. As I said yesterday, how about letting your kids get you something you really want this year - a Subscription to the Footballguys Insider. Forget the bad tie or grilling tongs, get yourself something you'll use all season long. Check out the Why Subscribe and order here.
Now let's get to the news and notes for today.
J
Our Cecil Lammey breaks down some of the latest news and notes from around the NFL. Topics Include - the Titans QB competition, why Brandon Lloyd is going to make a big impact for the Patriots, how will the Bengals split carries, plus more!
Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said he is convinced RB Darren McFadden (foot) is nothing short of 100 percent and ready to pick up where he left off last season before a foot injury ended his season after only seven games. 'He looks extremely good to me,' Allen said. 'He looks fast. He looks explosive. He knows what to do. He knows how to do it. And as we all know the key is, can we keep this guy healthy? And if we can, I would expect him to have a good year.'
Footballguys' view: McFadden is clearly one of the best RBs in the league. However, injuries have prevented him from playing a full 16 game season during his pro career. He's coming off the board as RB7 in the late first-round of standard 12-team leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (knee) all but guaranteed Wednesday, June 13, that he would be cleared to participate when training camp begins next month. 'I'm ready to put my cleats back on and punish everybody in my way,' Charles said. He said he felt so strong that he could play in a game today. Charles is scheduled to be examined by team doctors June 18, and he will either be cleared to participate or camp or not cleared.
Footballguys' view: Charles was a top five overall pick in fantasy drafts last year. This year, he's available in the second round. He could be a value pick if he plays at his previous level, but that will be difficult for a player who relies so much on his speed and explosiveness.
Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck received 95 percent of the snaps during practice Thursday, June 14, because they want to speed up his learning curve.
Footballguys' view: Luck is extremely intelligent and should be able to pick up on the Colts offense quickly. He's a superstar in the making but will take some lumps as a rookie in 2012. His current ADP is QB19 in the early twelfth-round.
Pittsburgh Steelers restricted free-agent WR Mike Wallace did not show up for minicamp, which concluded Thursday, June 14.
Footballguys' view: Teammates close to the star WR say that Wallace hopes to get a new deal in place by the start of training camp. Wallace is a key piece in their passing game and could perform like a top 5 WR again under new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said WR Denarius Moore (hamstring) will be fine and ready to roll by the start of training camp.
Footballguys' view: The Raiders are expecting a breakout year from Moore and will monitor his hamstring closely so the injury is not aggravated. We think Moore could perform like a WR2 with upside and is going off the board at WR32 in the late seventh-round of most fantasy drafts.
Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III has grasped the offensive scheme quicker than the team expected. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said Griffin has been getting better every day this offseason and that he can make every throw that the team needs him to make. 'I don't think you have to be a coach to see how talented the guy is. I think everyone knows that, so there wasn't that much surprise there,' Shanahan said. 'But he's picked it up faster than I expected.'
Footballguys' view: We expect Shanahan to use a lot of rollouts and bootlegs in this offense to fully take advantage of Griffin's elite athleticism. He's the clear cut starter and could perform like a QB2 with upside for fantasy owners in 2012.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount has been getting the majority of the carries with the first-team offense during organized team activities and minicamp. RB Doug Martin has received some reps with the starters this offseason.
Footballguys' view: Everyone seems to be on the Doug Martin train this summer and we love him too. Seeing how this shapes up with Blount will be a situation we keep a very close eye on for you this year. Stay tuned.
New York Jets QB Tim Tebow received some snaps with the first-team offense during practice Thursday, June 14. Head coach Rex Ryan said offensive coordinator Tony Sparano wanted to see Tebow with the starters. The plays Tebow worked on with the starters were not on the wildcat formation or any other special formation. Ryan said Tebow's time with the starters should not be taken as a sign that Tebow will be threatening QB Mark Sanchez's starting job.
Footballguys' view: They'll say there is no QB competition, but we won't be surprised if Tebow takes over for a struggling Sanchez at some point this season. The Jets have a tough schedule early this season and Tebow may be in the starting lineup before the team's week nine bye.
Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren said the plan at this point is to keep QBs Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace on the roster but indicated that the team may decide to change their plan later on.
Footballguys' view: Notice how Holmgren said to this point. We could see McCoy getting traded in training camp if another team has injuries to their QB corps. Rookie Brandon Weeden is most likely going to be the Browns starting QB week one.
The Kansas City Chiefs are built to run the football in 2012. During the offseason, their three major additions - OL Eric Winston, RB Peyton Hillis and TE Kevin Boss - were aimed at helping the running game. Hillis should give the team a strong balance to RB Jamaal Charles (knee). If the Chiefs are able to get the football in the hands of Charles and Hillis at least 500 times this year, it should lead to a successful season.
Footballguys' view: The Chiefs are built to make a playoff push in 2012. Their defense and run game are very strong but their QB position is suspect. If they can run the ball effectively it will keep the pressure off of QB Matt Cassel.
Arizona Cardinals fans booed QB Kevin Kolb during their 'Fan Fest 2012' Wednesday, June 13.
Footballguys' view: Wow, Cardinals fans certainly showing their displeasure here. Many assume Kolb will win the starting job as he received a $7MM roster bonus earlier this year. However, beating out John Skelton may not be an easy task. This QB competition should last through training camp.
The Houston Texans have agreed to contract extensions for both general manager Rick Smith and head coach Gary Kubiak, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. A formal announcement is expected Thursday, June 14.
Footballguys' view: This extension is well deserved by both. Kubiak has the Texans in position to make a Super Bowl run in 2012. Smith has uncovered many gems in the NFL Draft, and has added key undrafted players like superstar RB Arian Foster.
Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green is going to work out with Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald next month to help refine his route running.
Footballguys' view: Nothing but good news here for Green. Fitzgerald's camps are known to be especially intense and are usually a precursor to breakout seasons. The Bengals are looking for Green to join the elite tier of WRs in the pros.
St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford said Wednesday, June 13, that he isn't all the way there learning the team's new offense, but likes that this season he has more time because of a full offseason program to learn. Most of this week has been a refresher course and a chance for he and his teammates to brush up on the offseason again before departing for the next five or six weeks.
Footballguys' view: After his rookie year, Bradford looked like one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks, now he is just trying to create some positive momentum. He'll be one of the last backup fantasy quarterbacks off the board in typical leagues.
Carolina Panthers WR David Gettis (knee) said he has been taking the rehab from his torn anterior cruciate ligament slowly this offseason because he wants to be careful with the injury.
Footballguys' view: Gettis feels he will be able to go full speed once training camp begins. He has good hands and could become a trusted target for QB Cam Newton.
Dallas Cowboys second-year RB DeMarco Murray might play a larger role in the passing game this season. He has caught a lot of passes during summer workouts.
Footballguys' view: If Murray can stay healthy he could be in for a big season in 2012. He's the Cowboys best all-around RB and could perform like a low end RB1 with upside. Currently Murray is getting drafted as RB10 in the early second-round of most standard 12-team leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki (knee) is still working his way back from a significant knee injury last year.
Footballguys' view: The Chiefs are hopeful Moeaki will return in time for the start of training camp. Getting him back is a big move for the passing game as Moeaki is a talented move TE who reminds many in the scouting community of Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez.
Indianapolis Colts RB Delone Carter (thumb) said he is about 80-85 percent healthy, but he plans to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
Footballguys' view: Carter injured his right thumb early in OTAs during a bag drill, which required surgery. He'll compete with Donald Brown to be the Colts starting RB in 2012.
Seattle Seahawks WR Sidney Rice (shoulder) said that he's on pace to be ready for the opening of the regular season after undergoing two offseason shoulder surgeries. 'A lot of slipping out and popping out of place,' Rice said. 'Right now, they're supposed to be brand new shoulders, and we'll take it from here. Right now I've got to regain my strength in my shoulders and get ready for the season.'
Footballguys' view: Rice is up to 209 pounds after gaining over 10 pounds of muscle this offseason. Rice wants to add about 5-6 more pounds to get up to around 215. He feels that added muscle will help him stand up to the NFL beating.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Laurent Robinson pulled WR Justin Blackmon aside during the team's minicamp to offer some advice following Blackmon's DUI arrest. 'Just tell him, 'You gotta grow up,'' Robinson said. 'You know, NFL players are targets, you gotta stay low-key, low-profile and you know, just, everybody makes mistakes and you know he's gotta learn from it and just keep doing better.'
Footballguys' view: Some sound advice from the veteran WR here. Blackmon is incredibly talented and could be the Jaguars top WR even though he's a rookie. This DUI is his 2nd in 20 months and a sign the rookie needs to mature off the field.
Former NFL LB Tedy Bruschi said New York Jets QB Tim Tebow should just disappear and not talk so much to the media. In response, Tebow said he just does what he is told by the team. 'To be honest, I just do what I'm told - and this day (is) to talk to you (reporters), so I'm gonna talk to you,' Tebow said. 'And to be honest, I just go about it however the Jets set it up - the rules that they want us to (follow), who they want us to talk to, who they don't want us to talk to. And so I don't get paid enough to make all those decisions. I just do what I'm told and try to do it as best as I can.'
Footballguys' view: Tebow is one of the most popular players in the NFL and the cameras aren't going to shy away from him. Yes, most backup QBs don't get this much publicity but Bruschi isn't making it any better by talking about it. Tebow will begin the season as a backup, but could take over for Mark Sanchez at some point during the season.
Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was raving about WR Santana Moss Wednesday, June 13. He called Moss one of the 'premier' slot receivers in the league.
Footballguys' view: Moss has been written off, but Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan are still sidelined, giving the veteran a ton of reps to establish chemistry with Robert Griffin III. He's an excellent late-round pick in redraft leagues and cheap acquisition in deep PPR dynasty leagues.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great Friday. We'll see you tomorrow with the update.
Peace,
J