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Hi Folks,
Good Tuesday to you. Hope you're off to a great week - we're rolling here with the news and notes you need so let's get to it.
J
Chicago Bears franchise free-agent RB Matt Forte indicated he would like a deal similar to the ones Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy and Houston Texans RB Arian Foster signed this offseason. McCoy signed a five-year deal worth $45 million with $20.7 million in guaranteed money. Foster signed a four-year deal worth $41 million with $20.5 million in guaranteed money.
Footballguys' view: The Bears are unwilling to pay Forte that kind of money right now as they have concerns about the long-term durability of his knees. This contract situation could last well into training camp. The Bears would rely on free agent addition Michael Bush as their starter if Forte misses any time in the regular season.
Detroit Lions RB Joique Bell, Stephfon Green and Keiland Williams and FB James Bryant will compete for the No. 4 running back spot in the roster. WR Stefan Logan could also be a candidate for that spot since the team has several wide receivers that are expected to make the team.
Footballguys' view: We like Bell or Williams to win the RB4 job in Detroit. Bell is an instinctive runner who is effective between the tackles, and has the size to run through arm tackles. Williams is also an inside runner but has a few more moves and better burst in the open field.
New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks (foot) said he started to run a few weeks ago and believes he will definitely be ready for the start of the regular season. 'I started running about two weeks [ago] but the coaches don't really want me to force the issue right now so I still haven't started running yet. They want me to just take my time with it -- they feel like that's what's best. So right now I'm just taking my time with it ... But I'll definitely be ready for the season,' Nicks said.
Footballguys' view: Good sign for the Giants here. Nicks is one of the most talented WRs in the league, but does get banged up quite a bit during the course of a season. He's currently coming off the board at WR13 in the beginning of the fourth-round in standard 12-team leagues. If healthy Nicks could easily outperform that ADP.
The Oakland Raiders have a good chance to sign free-agent RB Cedric Benson (Bengals) at some point in the next few weeks.
Footballguys' view: The Raiders could use Benson as the backup behind Darren McFadden. Currently they have Mike Goodson and Taiwan Jones as the backs behind their superstar runner. Benson has gotten little interest in free agency, so going to the Raiders as a backup would make sense.
Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder has added 20 pounds of good weight this offseason to get ready for the season. He is also working on becoming more of a leader on the team.
Footballguys' view: Ponder flashed ability as a passer in college but was often banged up. Bulking up should help him take the NFL beating this season.
The Carolina Panthers coaching staff were pleased with how WR Brandon LaFell has performed during offseason workout and he appears to be the frontrunner for the No. 2 wide receiver job entering training camp.
Footballguys' view: LaFell could certainly have a breakout season in 2012. We like his size/speed combination and he should be able to take advantage of single coverage opposite Steve Smith.
Washington Redskins RB Tim Hightower (knee) is believed to be the favorite for the starting running back job even though he is still coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Footballguys' view: Hightower is not yet cleared for football activity as he comes back from the knee injury he suffered last year. His ability in pass protection gives him an edge over the competition if healthy. Hightower is the first Redskins RB coming off the board near the beginning of the 13th round.
Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White said the offense looked really good working with offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter's new scheme during offseason workouts. 'We look real good right now, I'm not going to lie,' White said. 'The past three or four years, this is the best I've been around since I've been here and seen the cumulative group on the field.'
Footballguys' view: White commented earlier this month how he could see his production go down this year in Koetter's offense. Koetter is known to spread the football around, and White may see his numbers drop as second-year WR Julio Jones could emerge. White may perform more like a top 15 fantasy WR than the top 5 fantasy WR he's being drafted as.
Although Seattle Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson is expected to receive the first-team reps at the start of training camp, the team's quarterback competition will last well into camp and preseason games.
Footballguys' view: Jackson, free agent addition Matt Flynn, and rookie Russell Wilson will be competing for the starting job in training camp. Flynn could win the job, but may have a short leash if he struggles this year.
Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson has looked stronger and faster during offseason practices, according to WR Nate Burleson. 'I know it sounds corny,' Burleson said. 'You wouldn't think a guy like that could come back and get better, but he does ... That's pretty much all that counts. He probably dropped a little bit of weight, so he's in extremely good shape. I see him in the weight room, so I know he's stronger. And on the field he's yards ahead of us in conditioning drills; he's still running past guys easily.'
Footballguys' view: The news of a stronger, faster Calvin Johnson is just scary. He's the one player who is talented enough to overcome the Madden curse.
Detroit Lions OT Riley Reiff saw time at left tackle and right tackle during offseason workouts and is expected to compete for both starting tackle jobs during training camp.
Footballguys' view: We think Reiff is best served on the left side of the line. If he wins the Left Tackle spot the team could use veteran Gosder Cherilus as their starting Right Tackle.
Miami Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano could have a reduced role this season because the team's new west coast offense because it calls for players to be quick off the line and Fasano is considered as a blocker first.
Footballguys' view: We think Charles Clay could make more plays as a TE/FB/H-back for the Dolphins this year. The Dolphins lack weapons in the passing game, and Fasano is not a fantasy option.
Washington Redskins RB Roy Helu could be limited to 10 to 15 carries a game this season because the team is concerned about his durability.
Footballguys' view: If Helu is limited to that amount of touches per game then it will severely limit his fantasy value. However, if Tim Hightower is hurt (or fails to come back fully from his knee injury) then Helu could take over as the team's primary RB.
Minnesota Vikings WR Devin Aromashodu may not make the final roster this season if the team's younger wide receivers are able to develop during training camp.
Footballguys' view: The rookie duo from Arkansas (Jarius Wright, Greg Childs) may emerge in camp and push Aromashodu off the roster. We like Wright's speed, route running, and moves after the catch. He could develop into a quality slot WR eventually. Childs is coming back from a patella tendon injury he suffered his junior year in college. His senior season was unimpressive, but Childs could develop into a quality WR2 if he can regain his pre-injury form.
Minnesota Vikings WR Michael Jenkins could be in the roster bubble during training camp because he is scheduled make $2.5 million this season and the team likely will not want to pay him that price if he is a backup.
Footballguys' view: Jenkins may be the guy the team is forced to rely on while Jerome Simpson misses the first three games of the season due to suspension. After Simpson returns then Jenkins is unlikely to see the field much.
Minnesota Vikings WR Greg Childs is considered the top candidate to take WR Jerome Simpson's playing time in the first three games of the regular season while Simpson serves his suspension.
Footballguys' view: Childs looked fantastic as a junior at Arkansas. However, his senior season was very poor due to a patella tendon injury he suffered at the end of his junior year. He was still recovering from the injury when he had a poor showing at the Shrine Game earlier this year. If Childs can regain his pre-injury form we like his route running, ball skills, and big play ability.
New York Jets RB Joe McKnight understands 2012 will be a make-or-break year for him with the team. 'Yeah, it's a big year. If it I don't get it this year, it will probably be it for me,' McKnight said. 'That's how I think, I'm not saying (anything). Because it's, what, three years? After the first year, you should really have it down pat. I just have to wait and find out, see how it pans out.'
Footballguys' view: McKnight was constantly compared to Reggie Bush in college at USC. He failed to live up to expectations then, and that trend has continued into his pro career. Jets OC Tony Sparano figured out how to use Bush correctly last year for the Dolphins, but sources close to the Jets don't feel the same thing will happen with McKnight this year.
New York Jets QB Tim Tebow said he wants to become a starting quarterback again; however, he said he believes he has to get better at everything about playing quarterback in the NFL. 'I think understanding offense very well, that'll be a key. And just continuing to work on fundamentals,' Tebow said. 'My biggest weakness has probably been fundamentals. The offense we ran at Florida, I had great fundamentals for that, with my feet. Now, being under center, playaction, seven-step drops, being in the pocket, it's different. The great quarterbacks aren't necessarily super-athletic, but they have great rhythm and timing because of their feet ... Sometimes I want to go so fast, so having rhythm and timing is something I need to work on every day.'
Footballguys' view: Tebow has put in countless hours of work on his footwork and throwing motion. It's better than it used to be, but will never be textbook. We'd like to see Tebow improve his pre-snap reads so he can speed up his anticipation when throwing.
Dallas Cowboys DL Jay Ratliff said the team will do less talking this upcoming season. Instead, the team will be more focused performing on the field. 'We're not going to sit here and talk about what we're going to do this year or all the expectations everyone else has for us,' Ratliff said. 'I think the attitude for us this year needs to be we're going to be quiet. To put it bluntly, we're going to shut up, not say a thing and do our jobs.'
Footballguys' view: The Cowboys already have a high powered offense, so scoring points won't be a problem. This offseason they added a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary. They'll be a team to reckon with in the NFC East.
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees has teamed up with PACE (Protecting Athletes Through Concussion Education), a program that provides free concussion testing for more than 3,300 middle and high schools and youth sports organizations. 'Any time you can educate young kids and their parents, especially in regards to concussions and raise awareness, is vital,' Brees said. 'It's helping them to understand the symptoms and the treatments for concussions and the baseline tests, how you would test to see if someone did have a concussion, making a comparison to the baseline testing such as in the PACE program.'
Footballguys' view: It's good to see youth football leagues like Pop Warner take this concussion problem seriously.
Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall said he has yet to play under a good receivers coach during his pro career. 'To be honest (when I arrived in Miami) I was like, 'You know, I need some coaching. Right now I'm coming off my natural ability.' ... I haven't had a good coach as far as that receiving position since I've been in the NFL,' Marshall said. 'As far as technique and someone who understands the game, the last time I had a good receiving coach was D.J. McCarthy in college.'
Footballguys' view: Marshall should be a top 10 fantasy WR this year since he's reunited with QB Jay Cutler. He's coming off the board at WR7 in the middle of the third-round in most standard 12-team leagues.
Denver Broncos OT Ryan Clady said he is excited to be playing in a more conventional offense after blocking for QB Tim Tebow last season in a more run-heavy offense. 'It's kind of going back to what we did before, for the most part, before Tebow was the quarterback, just more conventional offense,' Clady said. 'It's a little different. We will probably pass the ball a little more and (be) more of a balanced offense. But I'm excited to see what is going to happen, and I'm excited for the future.'
Footballguys' view: Clady allowed a career high 9 sacks in 2011, but examination of the film shows it wasn't all his fault. Tebow had a tendency to hold onto the ball too long, and would essentially run into sacks often. Clady is still one of the best Left Tackles in the game and should do a good job of protecting Manning this year.
If San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates can stay healthy, he could be good for roughly 70 receptions and 10 touchdowns in 2012.
Footballguys' view: Gates is not the same player he used to be, but could still perform like a top 5 fantasy TE this year. He's QB Philip Rivers favorite target, and the team will really lean on Gates now that WR Vincent Jackson was lost in free agency.
Detroit Lions DE Everette Brown believes the Lions are the right fit for him because his speed-rush style fits in the team's defensive system.
Footballguys' view: Brown has a quick first step but has not yet played up to his potential as a pro. He has only 6 sacks during his three-year pro career. Brown will work in a rotation at DE for the Lions this year.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being a part of what we're doing with Footballguys.com.
Peace,
J