Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins
Seahawks TE John Carlson will have season-ending surgery, head coach Pete Carroll announced Tuesday.
"That's a big loss for us," Carroll said.
Carlson suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder, an injury that occurred earlier in the month.
In 15 games last season, Carlson had 31 catches for 318 yards and a touchdown. It was the least productive season of his career, which was entering its fourth season. He went 55-627-5 in his rookie campaign in 2008.
The way we see it
Luckily for the Seahawks, they went out and made a splash in free agency, signing former Raiders TE Zach Miller, who will be the No. 1 tight end. The offense would have had a nice dynamic, though, with two pass-catching tight ends. Competing to be the No. 2 tight end now will be Anthony McCoy, Cameron Moorah, Anthony McCoy and Dominique Byrd.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/30/seahawks-lose-te-carlson-for-season
Paul Warfield Mike McCormack Frank Gatski Ozzie Newsome Joe DeLamielleure Gene Hickerson
Seahawks TE John Carlson will have season-ending surgery, head coach Pete Carroll announced Tuesday.
"That's a big loss for us," Carroll said.
Carlson suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder, an injury that occurred earlier in the month.
In 15 games last season, Carlson had 31 catches for 318 yards and a touchdown. It was the least productive season of his career, which was entering its fourth season. He went 55-627-5 in his rookie campaign in 2008.
The way we see it
Luckily for the Seahawks, they went out and made a splash in free agency, signing former Raiders TE Zach Miller, who will be the No. 1 tight end. The offense would have had a nice dynamic, though, with two pass-catching tight ends. Competing to be the No. 2 tight end now will be Anthony McCoy, Cameron Moorah, Anthony McCoy and Dominique Byrd.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/30/seahawks-lose-te-carlson-for-season
New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins
The 49ers activated WR Michael Crabtree from the physically-unable-to-perform list, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.
Crabtree has been out with a left foot injury since training camp began. According to reports, Crabtree fractured his left foot at a player-organized workout on June 6. He had surgery on the foot before camp.
This is the third preseason the former first-round pick has missed in his short career. In 16 starts last season, Crabtree had 55 catches for 741 yards and six scores.
Crabtree caught balls at Monday's practice before GM Trent Baalke stopped it because Crabtree was technically still on the PUP list.
The Niners added WR Braylon Edwards this offseason to complement Crabtree.
The way we see it
Crabtree should quickly make his way back to the No. 1 WR spot. Ted Ginn and Joshua Morgan have been starting in his absence, with Edwards displaying flashes on the outside looking in.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/30/49ers-activate-wr-crabtree-from-pup-list
Tennessee Titans Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles
California Golden Bears Texas Longhorns Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers
As position battles wind down, fantasy drafts heat up. We're now entering a period that will settle who wins a starting job and figure out who we should draft. Let's break it down by position, as there are too many battles to waste intro ink on.
QUARTERBACKS
Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks
No matter how well you know an offense, if you're not good, you're not good. Jackson struggles with his decision making and has not shown marked improvement this preseason. Jackson is 27-for-48 passing (56.3 percent) for 181 yards and one touchdown with a 62.9 passer rating. Whitehurt is 33-for-47 passing (70.2 percent) for 265 yards, one touchdown and a passer rating of 91.2.
Whitehurst is receiving praise from head coach Pete Carroll, who says he might have to revisit the starting QB job. In Jackson's defense, the team has offensive-line problems and has struggled in pass protection. Meanwhile, Whitehurst has been playing mostly against second-string defenders.
Don't draft either one but monitor how they do in season. I view Whitehurst as the better option but don't believe either QB is fantasy-worthy.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs
Cassel is picking up where he left off last year which is not good. The Chiefs ended last season with two ugly losses: a 31-10 home loss to the Raiders and a 30-7 thrashing by the Ravens in the wild-card playoffs. Cassel completed 20-of-51 passes for 185 yards, zero touchdowns and five interceptions in those two games. Plus, Charlie Weis has departed and no longer is his coordinator.
Head coach Todd Haley is taking camp slowly and building up his players while working on conditioning. He believes the team is on track, and if you look at where the Chiefs were and where he has taken them, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. That's because you can't judge any team based on its preseason. The Chiefs aren't about preseason wins as much as learning the offense and their roles.
However, Cassel has been inconsistent, and until the offense begins to click you should pass on him. If you get "stuck" with him as your No. 2 fantasy quarterback, it's not the end of the world as he has some upside.
Monitor the situation and if he shows improvement, which he will as the season progresses, then he becomes a viable fantasy backup with spot-starter ability. Rookie WR Jonathan Baldwin is out with an injured thumb and free-agent signee Steve Breaston needs to develop chemistry with Cassel and the rest of the team. I can see Cassel making great improvement by the midway point of the season.
Matt Ryan, Falcons
Though there have been growing pains, the addition of rookie WR Julio Jones and another year of maturation have helped Ryan look sharp. The team was shotgun-heavy, with Ryan throwing 42 passes, in their third preseason game to work on the aerial attack and two-minute offense. We saw Jones blow past defenders and know he will stretch this offense. The Falcons also have a slot receiver in Harry Douglas who is now 100 percent healthy. He's also the player Ryan has said is waiting to bust out.
RB Michael Turner does not have to carry this team and it has the most balance since head coach Mike Smith took over. The play-calling will be more aggressive as the Falcons' offseason goal was to become more explosive. Ryan's ADP (average draft position) of 100 puts him in Round Nine in a 12-team league, a great pick as a low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback.
News of note …
RUNNING BACKS
Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, Bills
Jackson has done nothing wrong in his battle to start. His only failure is not being a top-10 overall pick in 2010 like Spiller was. Head coach Chan Gailey has yet to name a starter but both players have started and played against first-teamers.
Spiller has 12 attempts for 34 yards, zero touchdowns with four receptions for 27 yards and no touchdowns. Jackson is clearly outplaying him, rushing 16 times for 85 yards but no touchdowns. That gives him an impressive 5.3 yards per carry to Spiller's 2.8. Jackson also has three receptions for 43 yards and zero TDs.
Jackson should win the starting job and you should pass on Spiller. However, the Bills have a questionable offensive line and the RB job will be a time-share. Jackson's ADP of 54 (Round Five in a 12-team draft ) is too rich for me.
Derrick Ward, Texans
I just wrote last week if you had to grab someone to back up RB Arian Foster (hamstring) go with Ward but that he was looking over his shoulder at a younger and stronger Ben Tate.
When Foster went down with his hamstring, the first running back off the bench was Ward. Foster will not miss much time and Ward might be the backup today but keep an eye on Tate who has been improving weekly and is younger and stronger.
In larger leagues, take a shot on Tate and stash him away. I saw one league where one owner took both Ward and Tate to hedge his bets. If you want to be safe, this is a good move but it limits your roster. I solve it by drafting Adrian Peterson and ignoring Foster, who needs to show me he can do what he did in 2010 for more than one season.
Tim Hightower, Roy Helu, Ryan Torain, Redskins
The team is raving about Hightower's camp since coming over from Arizona via trade, and his ability to press to the hole, draw defenders and make decisive cuts. In fact, head coach Mike Shanahan all but named Hightower the starter, and many reports are raving on how he fits the team's stretch-zone rushing attack.
Ryan Torain, supposedly in a battle, is fragile and injury-prone. He just returned to practice from a broken hand but at this point it's probably a foregone conclusion it's Hightower's job to lose. Helu is going to be a home-run threat with some plays designed for him. His role will be that of a scatback and third-down back, which limits his role.
What is surprising is seeing Torain going with an ADP of 60, which is higher than Hightower and his ADP of 117 (Round 10 in a 12-team league). It's a no-brainer, Hightower's a sleeper candidate. Helu is going with an ADP of 181 (Round 16 in a 12-team league). In larger leagues, he's worth the flier.
Kendall Hunter, 49ers
Hunter might be leap-frogging No. 2 Anthony Dixon, who dances too much for a man his size. He should be playing bigger at 250 pounds, hitting the holes with authority. He's not doing that while the diminutive but powerful Hunter is showing the coaching staff he has playmaking ability. During the preseason, Dixon has gained 84 yards on 27 attempts (3.1 avg.) and Hunter has 174 yards on 24 carries (7.3 avg.) with one touchdown. If you want to be safe, grab Dixon but I'm not sure he can do much if forced to start. I'm handcuffing Hunter because this is a new regime with no loyalty to anyone it did not draft.
Cedric Benson, Bengals
Benson pleaded no contest to assault charges from a May 2010 incident and was given a 20-day jail sentence with a $4,000 fine. He will go into jail after the Bengals' Week Six game and be incarcerated during the team's bye week. With good behavior, he could have his sentence reduced to a week.
He's a solid running back but on a bad team with a rookie quarterback and a rookie wideout playing the No. 1 role. The team will lean on Benson until its passing game improves. Look for Benson to struggle early. His ADP of 62 (Round Six in a 12-team league) is acceptable, but that's too early for me.
In other news...
WIDE RECEIVERS
Kenny Britt, Titans
Britt's owners got some great news when it was revealed that Britt will avoid suspension by the NFL after multiple arrests in the offseason. He's also back practicing after missing time with a hamstring injury and says he's about 90-95 percent healthy. When healthy, Britt can produce and I like his upside based on his talent. QB Matt Hasselbeck has been having a solid preseason and I expect him to develop chemistry with Britt and make an impact. If Chris Johnson (holdout) comes back or Javon Ringer (hip) gets healthy to help keep a defense honest, that will help Britt's numbers and warrant his ADP of 61 (Round Six in a 12-team draft). That's about 20 picks, or about two rounds, too early for me but I can't argue his value. I would hold off on him unless he began to drop despite his potential.
Chad Ochocinco, Patriots
Ochocinco is struggling but it's not for a lack of trying as he and Tom Brady have taken time to try to build chemistry. This offense can be more "on-the-fly" than the one he knew in Cincinnati — in other words, he needs to improve his ability to adjust. He has had a horrible preseason but he works too hard not to get it eventually. He could be someone to target and trade for if he starts the season slow. His ADP of 78 puts him in Round Seven of a 12-team league. I like Chad, but not enough to make him my No. 2 fantasy receiver.
Greg Little, Browns
Little was briefly a starting wideout but he's too big and talented not to be the physical receiver they need. However, Mohamed Massaquoi is back practicing, putting Little back with the second team again. Brian Robiskie, as unimpressive as he has been, is still a starter. I like Little down the road but not this season. He has to learn how to play in the NFL and in a complicated offense. Pass by him on draft day but keep an eye on him once the season gets under way.
TIGHT ENDS
Aaron Hernandez, Patriots
Hernandez is another tight end who has looked very good in the preseason. Rob Gronkowski is more of a blocking tight end and red-zone target, so Hernandez should see a greater amount of targets. Reports show that he's in a mismatch a couple of times per game and QB Tom Brady will not hesitate to exploit that. Hernandez leads all receivers with 14 receptions this preseason for 156 yards and one touchdown with an ADP of 171 (Round 15 in a 12-team league).
That's phenomenal value, but he's that low because Gronkowski, at 6-6, 265 pounds, is the favored target in the red zone and will score more TDs. If you can learn to live with inconsistency, Hernandez is worth grabbing. But since I like week-to-week fantasy points, I would only grab him as my second tight end.
Jimmy Graham, Saints
Graham raised eyebrows late last season and is raising them again. He is clearly becoming one of QB Drew Brees' favorite targets. He's the team's leading receiver this preseason with seven receptions for 103 yards. In fact, he saw eight targets in the first half of the third preseason game against the Raiders. With his size (6-7, 260 pounds), he's an impressive red-zone target. I believe his ADP of 83 (Round Seven in a 12-team league) makes him a solid sleeper pick. He's not elite when you compare him to an Antonio Gates or Jason Witten but as big as he is, his red-zone scores will put him close to the elite players.
Julius Thomas, Broncos
Thomas has looked good, especially in the third preseason game with four receptions for 70 yards. He's also a big red -one target at 6-5, 246 pounds. He's able to stretch the field and make the highlight play. However, look for average numbers as this is a run-first team that teases with the TE position. That said, keep an eye on him because this is the most talented tight end that head coach John Fox has had. He's not being drafted so wait to see how he does in the regular season.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/29/del-pilars-digest-position-battles-and-player-anal
Miami Hurricanes Georgia Bulldogs Texas A&M Aggies Arkansas Razorbacks Penn State Nittany Lions Alabama Crimson Tide
St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham Patrick Edwards Eugene Sims
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/45488/video-heismanology
Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham Patrick Edwards Eugene Sims Aldrick Robinson Tory Collins
Series leader is listed in CAPS with its record listed first, followed by series leader's record at this week's game site, followed by series leader's record vs. pointspread at this week's site. This year's games not included.
NEW ORLEANS at Green Bay ... (3-1)(1-1)(1-1)
PITTSBURGH at Baltimore ... (11-9)(4-6)(6-4)
CINCINNATI at Cleveland ... (12-8)(5-5)(4-6)
INDIANAPOLIS at Houston ... (16-2)(7-2)(3-6)
TENNESSEE at Jacksonville ... (12-8)(6-4)(6-4)
Atlanta at CHICAGO ... (3-2)(1-0)(1-0)
Buffalo at Kansas City ... (3-3)(K.C. 3-2)(Buf. 4-1)
PHILADELPHIA at St. Louis ... (3-2)(1-1)(1-1)
Detroit at TAMPA BAY ... (5-2)(2-1)(0-3)
SEATTLE at San Francisco ... (11-7)(5-4)(5-4)
N.Y. GIANTS at Washington ... (15-5)(7-3)(6-4)
Minnesota at San Diego ... (1-1)(S.D. 1-0)(S.D. 1-0)
CAROLINA at Arizona ... (7-2)(4-0)(3-1)
DALLAS at N.Y. Jets ... (2-0)(1-0)(1-0)
NEW ENGLAND at Miami ... (13-7)(5-5)(5-5)
Oakland at DENVER ... (11-9)(5-5)(3-7)
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/29/week-one-10-year-regular-season-series-records
James Farrior Fred Davis Peter Mayer Nate Burleson Otto Graham Paul Brown
The countdown of the SEC's top 25 players for the 2011 season is in the books, and I'm sure nobody has any beefs with our list. Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/45491/breaking-down-the-secs-top-25-players
Tennessee Titans Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles
Despite adding Karlos Dansby and Brandon Marshall, and a defense that finished sixth in the league in its first year under coordinator Mike Nolan, the Dolphins stumbled down the stretch against mediocre competition. They finished 7-9 for the second season in a row, including a dismal 1-7 mark at Sun Life Stadium. The disappointing season led to a tumultuous January.
Owner Stephen Ross flew to California to court Jim Harbaugh, all while Tony Sparano was still under contract. Harbaugh joined the 49ers, and Sparano and GM Jeff Ireland received contract extensions.
It was a week to forget for a franchise that has yet to regain the success it had in the days of Dan Marino, and that goes hand-in-hand with his position. QB Chad Henne struggled in 2010, especially late in games, and the team made a well-publicized attempt to trade for Kyle Orton. When it failed, they settled for ex-Panther Matt Moore.
The positives lie on defense, where Cameron Wake, Vontae Davis and Paul Soliai are making their names known around the league in Nolan's attacking scheme. On offense, the backfield and interior offensive line received makeovers through the draft and free agency.
Ross wants this team to score more points, and considering what he was willing to do after the '10 season, the pressure is on Sparano and Ireland to make a run now. A much-improved offense could allow Miami to challenge the Jets and the Patriots in the AFC East. Maintaining the status quo from a season ago could result in a last-place finish.
OFFENSE
Brian Daboll replaces veteran Dan Henning as the offensive coordinator in 2011. Curiously, Daboll's offense in Cleveland was one of only two teams that scored fewer points last season than the Dolphins. Tony Sparano maintained the team will continue to run the football, and look for Daboll to utilize the tight end more to open the middle of the field. Daboll will get a weapon Henning didn't have in Reggie Bush. Although the assistant who brought the "Wildcat" to Miami, David Lee, is not with the team anymore, it is expected to still be a part of the offense, as Daboll used it in Cleveland.
Quarterbacks: Chad Henne's first season as a full-time starter was filled with adversity. He was benched after Week Nine, regained his starting spot because of an injury to Chad Pennington, only to be benched again in the finale. Henne's decision-making skills continued to be a problem, as he threw nine fourth-quarter interceptions, the second most in the league. Henne had spurts where he looked good, especially when connecting on short routes, but he never developed good chemistry with Brandon Marshall and often missed on deep throws, which led to Henne looking to dump off too often. He needs to regain his confidence if he wants to hold on to the starting job. Former Panthers QB Matt Moore is Henne's main competition. Moore is a good decision maker with some arm strength, but accuracy is not his strong suit and he struggled last season. Undrafted rookie Pat Devlin is an intriguing prospect, and journeyman Kevin O'Connell also is in the mix at third-string QB.
Running backs: Second-round pick Daniel Thomas appears to be the starter with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams gone. Thomas handled a big workload at Kansas State and was very productive. He has good balance and great size for a No. 1 back. Expect to see a lot of Reggie Bush, though. The Dolphins took Bush off the Saints' hands and he adds speed and explosiveness that the offense lacked last season. Bush is very good in space and is a solid receiver, so look for him to be involved often in screen plays, while Thomas gets the bulk of the carries. Lex Hilliard is the backup. Hilliard spent 2010 on special teams. He's a big back but does not have enough speed. The team signed veteran Larry Johnson, who is a big back, but showed last season he doesn't have much left in the tank. FB Lousaka Polite is extremely reliable in short-yardage situations, but his blocking took a step back last season.
Receivers: Brandon Marshall had good numbers in his first season in Miami, but he didn't make the impact the team was hoping for with only three touchdowns. The big, physical receiver racked up the catches and yards but wasn't utilized enough in the red zone. He doesn't have breakaway speed but can catch balls even when heavily covered and is still one of the best wideouts in the game. Davone Bess has emerged as one of the league's top slot receivers after a career season, although he has the versatility to line up on the outside as well. He improved his ability to break tackles after the catch, allowing him to lead the team in TD catches (five). He is smart, good at route adjustments and even received double-teams by the end of the season. Brian Hartline is the speed receiver of the bunch, but a broken finger cut his season short. Marlon Moore and Roberto Wallace saw action as rookies, and Moore showed his upside with a 57-yard TD catch. Rookie Clyde Gates should get a chance to help upgrade team speed by working out of the slot and in the return game. TE Anthony Fasano had career highs in catches and yards in 2010, even though he was asked to stay in and block often. Fasano can break tackles, make first downs and is solid in the red zone, but he needs a more athletic complement. Last season, the team trotted out three rookies as the second tight end — Mickey Shuler, Dedrick Epps and Jeron Mastrud — and none of them made much of an impact, especially in the receiving game. Rookie TE/H-back Charles Clay could fit Brian Daboll's offense well in the short-to-intermediate passing game. He is versatile with good hands.
Offensive linemen: The O-line went from being the team's strength in 2009 to a glaring weakness in '10, and was a big reason the team had a paltry 3.7-yard rushing average. The team boasts arguably the league's best left tackle, Jake Long, who played through an injured shoulder last season. With his long arms, he consistently keeps pass rushers out of the backfield. Despite the separated shoulder, Long still made his third Pro Bowl. Vernon Carey missed his first game since '04, seeing his season end early because of a knee injury. At 6-5, 340 pounds, Carey has mammoth size and is taking that frame to right guard to shore up the team's biggest weakness from last season. Replacing Carey at right tackle is veteran Marc Colombo, who played for Tony Sparano in Dallas. He has good power but has been injury-prone and is coming off a season in which he gave up 9½ sacks in 15 games. Richie Incognito was the team's best interior blocker. He's aggressive, kept his temper in check and is set to remain as the starting left guard. The upgrade to the interior came in the form of first-round pick Mike Pouncey. He can play center or guard, and the team hopes he will have a rookie campaign similar to the one his twin brother, Maurkice, had last season in Pittsburgh. Mike Pouncey has a strong anchor to match some of the big defensive tackles he will face as the center. Joe Berger spent most of '10 at center and struggled getting blocks on the second level. John Jerry didn't live up to the billing in his rookie season, was overpowered and couldn't hang on to the starting ORG position consistently. Nate Garner is returning from another foot injury — this one cost him all of '10. He started eight games in '09 and was working at left guard when he broke his foot in camp. He's versatile enough to play any position on the line. OT Lydon Murtha is a solid backup.
DEFENSE
Mike Nolan's aggressive 3-4 defense shined in 2010. Defenders have the freedom to fly around on "D" to make plays and be on the attack to force offenses to adjust to them. The defense kept the team in games and was a big reason for the seven wins. The Dolphins boast plenty of skill and depth in the front seven and have a budding young secondary.
Defensive linemen: Despite losing Jason Ferguson to retirement and first-round DE Jared Odrick to injury in the season opener, the D-line was outstanding in 2010. With Odrick's injury, Randy Starks moved back to his normal DE spot. He has the versatility to play on the nose and is a consistent player setting the edge. He has missed only four games in his career. DE Kendall Langford's production doesn't show up on the stats sheet, but he is great at using his size and power to plug holes. NT Paul Soliai, though, was the star of the line, earning the franchise tag this offseason. He has great size and is a perfect fit at the most important position in the 3-4, over the center. He moved well and didn't need to be spelled. Free-agent acquisition Ronald Fields, a solid run stuffer, will be Soliai's backup. If Odrick gets healthy, he could accumulate 6-7 sacks. He is strong, physical and will be able to give Starks and Langford a rest. Phillip Merling showed some flashes before being dogged by injuries. He played in only five games, but he has good size and brings a good motor to the field. The team re-signed Tony McDaniel, who had a solid season and showed the versatility to play end or nose. Ryan Baker is a reserve who filled in at times on passing downs. Rookie Frank Kearse is a massive developmental prospect at the nose.
Linebackers: The LB corps is one of the deepest in the league. It begins with Karlos Dansby, last offseason's big free-agent acquisition. Dansby had to make up for Channing Crowder's absence early on, which led to his production decreasing. But Dansby is very good in coverage and always is around the ball. He should be even more productive with a year of Mike Nolan's defense under his belt and some consistency at the other ILB position. Replacing Crowder on the inside is Kevin Burnett, who made six sacks last season with San Diego. He will be a big upgrade in coverage over Crowder, and the team hopes Burnett will better complement Dansby. The breakout player of the unit was Cameron Wake, who finished third in the league with 14 sacks. He has good leverage and stays low to the ground. Wake is quick to the ball with a relentless motor and never gives up going after the QB but could do better against the run. Opposite Wake is Koa Misi, last year's second-rounder. The team was pleased with Misi's production (4½ sacks), considering he had to learn on the job. Jason Taylor returns after one season with the Jets. He is one of the best pass rushers of his era but will be 37 when the season begins. He had five sacks last season and likely will be limited to passing downs. LB A.J. Edds, who missed all of '10 with a torn ACL, is smart and shows good effort, and he will be key in the nickel against opposing tight ends.
Defensive backs: CB Vontae Davis continues to improve, to the point where quarterbacks rarely throw in his direction. He is extremely athletic, physical and excels in man coverage. His CB partner, Sean Smith, had to wait for the team to cut Jason Allen before regaining his starting spot after a poor training camp a year ago. Smith has great size at 6-3 and 214 pounds but needs to make more plays. He dropped five interceptions, but many people believe Smith has Pro Bowl potential. He showed good instincts and also helps against the run. Benny Sapp took over the nickel role with Will Allen on injured reserve and played well, but Sapp will be challenged by Allen and Nolan Carroll for the spot. Allen is a veteran with tons of experience who plays the ball well, but he is undersized. Carroll showed his speed as a rookie on kickoff returns but still needs more time to develop. Jimmy Wilson brings good physicality and his training-camp performance made him an essential lock to make the roster. SS Yeremiah Bell is very consistent, laying the lumber last season while staying healthy. Bell plays with a chip on his shoulder and keeps everyone on the defense lined up. There is a position battle next to him at free safety. Chris Clemons had an up-and-down season. He is speedy but not as much of a playmaker as the Dolphins would like. Reshad Jones made big plays when given a chance vs. Tennessee in Week 10 but struggled after that. He is athletic and has upside but will need to show he can be more consistent than Clemons to win a starting job.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The coverage was a disaster leading to the in-season firing of special-teams coach John Bonamego and the promotion of Darren Rizzi. It improved a bit as the season went on with help from Tyrone Culver and Roberto Wallace, but it was still a weakness. The strength on special teams comes in the form of two big legs. Brandon Fields continues to be one of the league's top punters. He is athletically built at 6-5, 245 pounds with a booming leg. PK Dan Carpenter looked like a Pro Bowler early on, hitting long field goals in clutch situations, but he struggled thereafter, missing four FG attempts against the Bills in Week Five. Davone Bess served as the punt returner and improved at breaking tackles. Rookie Clyde Gates could take over kickoff and punt returns. Nolan Carroll returned kickoffs last season.
SUMMARY
This could be a make-or-break season for Tony Sparano, Jeff Ireland and Chad Henne, and all of their fates, fairly or unfairly, rest on the arm of Henne. The defense is the strength of this team, but the Dolphins used the draft and free agency to improve the personnel around Henne. With a foundation laid on a defense that should be even better, a comeback year for the offense could propel Miami into AFC East contention. But if the changes on offense aren't enough to make Henne better, there might be a lot of turnover heading into 2012.
To order the digital edition of Pro Football Weekly's 2011 NFL Preview magazine, visit the PFW Store. The publication contains scouting reports on all 32 teams, rosters, depth charts, positional grades and 2010 week-by-week stats. Also, the magazine includes PFW's exclusive player rankings feature, ranking the top players in the league by position and overall.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/29/dolphins-2011-preview
Arkansas Razorbacks Penn State Nittany Lions Alabama Crimson Tide Clemson Tigers Florida Gators Northwestern Wildcats
The Bengals have acquired CB Kelly Jennings in a trade with the Seahawks. In exchange, Seattle received DT Clinton McDonald.
Jennings, a five-year vet, has never quite lived up to expectations after being a first-round pick in 2006. In 78 career games, Jennings has made only two interceptions.
McDonald, entering his second season in the NFL, was a seventh-round pick in 2009 by the Bengals. He was on the team's practice squad for all '09 and played eight games last season, registering four tackles.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/29/cb-jennings-heads-to-bengals-in-trade
Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints
Bengals RB Cedric Benson has been sentenced to 20 days in jail after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge from 2010. He also will have to serve 30 hours of community service and pay restitution to the victim in that case, estimated to be about $5,000, the Austin American-Stateman reported.
Appearing at an Austin, Texas, courthouse on Monday, Benson learned of his punishment for an attack of an employee at an Austin bar last year. According to assistant Travis County attorney Corby Holcomb, the running back may not miss any games during this season. Benson plans on turning himself in on Oct. 17, the start of the Bengals' bye week. With good behavior, he might be required to serve only one week.
"His priority right now is to get back to work and put these legal matters behind him," said Sam Bassett, Benson's attorney.
The running back also resolved a lawsuit filed in July 2011 by a former roommate of Benson's that stated he was attacked. In that case, the charge was dismissed and will not be refiled if Benson stays out of trouble for one year.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/29/benson-sentenced-to-20-days-in-jail
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pittsburgh Panthers Florida State Seminoles Miami Hurricanes Georgia Bulldogs Texas A&M Aggies
TAMPA, Fla. -- Rudy Carpenter threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Overbay with 3:11 remaining, giving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 17-13 preseason victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night. Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/30850/bucs-overcome-15-flags-to-drop-dolphins
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pittsburgh Panthers Florida State Seminoles Miami Hurricanes Georgia Bulldogs Texas A&M Aggies
Texans RB Arian Foster, the league's top rusher last season, tweaked his hamstring and had to leave the team's preseason game vs. the 49ers on Saturday night.
Foster has been bothered by a hamstring injury throughout training camp and he said after the game that the injury was a "re-aggravation of what I already had."
After some concern that the injury would prevent Foster from playing in Week One of the regular season, the Texans star released a message via Twitter to all those concerned about his health.
"4 those sincerely concerned I'm doing ok plan 2 B back by opening day," Foster wrote. "4 those worried abt your fantasy team, u ppl are sick."
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/28/foster-hurt-says-he-will-be-back-for-week-one
New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins
Thorough beating. After two preseason games in which the Patriots looked like an elite team, they crashed back to earth in this one. The Lions took it to them in almost every facet of the game. Players can expect some hard coaching from Bill Belichick, who looked disgusted on the sidelines. Meanwhile, the Lions looked at this game as a gauge to see how they measured up with the NFL's elite. They were excellent. Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/30842/rapid-reaction-lions-34-patriots-10
Seattle Seahawks San Diego Chargers St. Louis Rams Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs Ben Graham
Jermelle Cudjo James Farrior Fred Davis Peter Mayer Nate Burleson Otto Graham
By John Wawrow, AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Rian Lindell hit a 40-yard field goal with 3:04 left in overtime to give the Buffalo Bills a 35-32 preseason victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game only scrubs and NFL diehards could love Saturday night.
Lindell's kick came after Jacksonville's Josh Scobee missed a 53-yard attempt. It was a back-and-forth game in which Buffalo squandered a 17-point first half lead and had to overcome a 15-point second-half deficit.
With much of the crowd gone by halftime, Tyler Thigpen forced overtime by hitting Paul Hubbard on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds left. The two hooked up again for a 2-point conversion.
Not that many were left watching in a game in which much of the crowd had left by halftime, the starters sat the bench and the game was approaching its fourth hour.
Both teams are 1-2.
It was the NFL's first preseason overtime game since Aug. 16, 2008, when Seattle beat Chicago 29-26. That one was at least decided early, when Brandon Coutu hit a field goal 3:28 into the extra frame.
The Bills appeared ready to blow the game open in the first half when their Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense finally showed spark - and a quick-strike dimension - in building a 17-0 lead.
In completing his first 11 attempts, Fitzpatrick threw touchdowns passes on consecutive plays - an 11-yarder to Marcus Easley and a 52-yarder to Stevie Johnson - 65 seconds apart in the second quarter. He finished going 11 of 12 for 165 yards passing in four series, and a kneeldown, through the first half.
That more than doubled the 88 yards Fitzpatrick had in six series through Buffalo's first two preseason. The two touchdowns were the first scored by the Bills' starters this preseason, and the 17 points in the first half were 4 more than Buffalo managed in its first two weeks.
``We've said all along, we wanted to carry over what we've been doing in practice onto the game field, and I think we did a good job of that today,'' Fitzpatrick said.
Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard overcame a slow start by producing 17 points on his final three series. Playing mostly against the Bills second-string defense, Garrard scored on a 4-yard run and then engineered a 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive capped by Brock Bolen's 2-yard run to open the third quarter.
Garrard finished 11 of 21 for 106 yards in his second start, while both touchdown drives where helped by lengthy pass-interference penalties - a 20-yarder against Drayton Florence and a 31-yarder against Reggie Corner.
The Jaguars took 24-17 lead with 4:53 left in the third quarter when linebacker Jacob Cutrera intercepted Thigpen's pass and returned it 16 yards.
Rookie first-round pick Blaine Gabbert had an inconsistent outing for Jacksonville. He went 6 of 13 for 52 yards with an 11-yard touchdown pass to DuJuan Harris and an interception.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny had six tackles in his first game against the Bills since signing with Jacksonville in free agency last month. Though Posluszny was beaten by Jackson on a 30-yard catch up the left sideline in the first quarter. Posluszny responded by stuffing Jackson for a 1-yard loss on third-and-goal from the 1 to force the Bills to settle for Rian Lindell's opening 21-yard field goal.
Bills running back Fred Jackson backed up his off-the-field comments with a strong showing. He finished with 33 yards rushing and a 30-yard catch to cap a week that began with Jackson questioning whether the Bills had disrespected him by starting C.J. Spiller in a 24-10 loss at Denver last weekend.
Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/27/lindell-seals-bills-ot-win-over-jaguars
Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars
Cardinals starting CB Greg Toler sprained his left knee in Saturday night's preseason game against the Chargers.
Toler left the game in the first quarter and did not return. The third-year pro played in 14 games with 13 starts last season. He made 90 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions.
There is no timetable on how long Toler will be out. His backup, rookie Patrick Peterson, returned an interception for a touchdown. The Cardinals also have former Panthers CB Richard Marshall.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/28/cardinals-cb-toler-sprains-knee
Arkansas Razorbacks Penn State Nittany Lions Alabama Crimson Tide Clemson Tigers Florida Gators Northwestern Wildcats
Can Bills receiver Steve Johnson match the success he had last season -- 82 catches for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns -- without the attention being given to Lee Evans by opposing defenses? ESPN.com's AJ Mass discusses whether Johnson can match his breakout 2010 numbers.Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/30812/can-bills-steve-johnson-do-it-again
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Arizona Wildcats Houston Cougars California Golden Bears Texas Longhorns Baltimore Ravens
Fred Davis Peter Mayer Nate Burleson Otto Graham Paul Brown Marion Motley
By Will Graves, AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown continued his electrifying preseason, catching four passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers beat Atlanta 34-16 on Saturday night.
Brown scored on passes of 77 and 44 yards from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and set up another touchdown with a lengthy kickoff return as Pittsburgh's starters looked sharp for the second straight week.
Roethlisberger finished 11 of 16 for 214 yards and the two touchdowns in one half.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan squeezed an entire game's worth of action into two quarters, completing 22 of 42 for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception against a banged-up Pittsburgh secondary missing starting cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and Ike Taylor.
What the Steelers lacked in quantity of offensive plays they made up for in explosiveness, most of it provided by Brown.
The second-year wideout has been a revelation during training camp. Considered no higher than fourth on the depth chart when camp began, he has thrived while filling in for injured Emmanuel Sanders.
Brown scored a 29-yard touchdown against Philadelphia a week ago on a nifty double-move after Roethlisberger escaped pressure. He was so open when he caught the ball he needed to do little more than remain on his feet.
Against the defending NFC South champions, Brown - who occasionally wears a UPS vest given to him by his brother - delivered in more spectacular fashion.
He started the game with a 51-yard kickoff return that led to a 1-yard plunge Rashard Mendenhall, a mere warmup to what was to come.
After the Falcons tied the game at 10 early in the second quarter on a 10-yard pass from Ryan to Roddy White, the Steelers needed just three plays to get back in front.
Roethlisberger stepped up in the pocket on third-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 23 and found Brown running down the seam at midfield. Brown split a pair of defenders and easily outran them to the end zone. He jogged the last 15 yards and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pointing the ball their way as he crossed the goal line.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin gave the 23-year-old a mild talking to after the score. Brown didn't waste time showing Tomlin he'd learned his lesson.
The Steelers were facing third-and-10 at the Atlanta 44 shortly before the half when Roethlisberger heaved the ball toward the end zone, where the 5-foot-10 Brown outjumped Atlanta's Brent Grimes and Dominique Franks for the ball. There was no taunting this time, just a somewhat awkward jig that would make teammate and ``Dancing With the Stars'' champion Hines Ward either wince or be proud.
The three touchdowns scored by the starters matched the three Pittsburgh put up in the first half against the Eagles last week.
Pittsburgh's defense, which harassed Philadelphia's Michael Vick into three picks in the same game, wasn't quite so dominant trying to contain Atlanta's versatile and high-powered offense.
The Falcons spread the field to minimize the Steelers' vaunted pass rush and Ryan tested Pittsburgh reserve cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and William Gay, who had trouble keeping up with one of the league's best receiving corps.
White finished with eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, Rookie Julio Jones hauled in five passes for 59 yards and had a potential 49-yard touchdown pass slip through his fingers.
Harry Douglas added three catches for 31 yards and veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez caught for passes for 26 yards while engaging in an entertaining battle with Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who appeared in a hurry to start living up to the hefty six-year, $50 million contract he signed earlier in the week.
Timmons had six tackles and chased down Ryan's pass that deflected off the helmet of tight end Michael Palmer, returning it 44 yards to set up Shaun Suisham's field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Atlanta later tied it, yet could only answer Brown's touchdowns with field goals. The Falcons rolled up 17 first downs in the half - but Pittsburgh's defense dug in when it mattered in an entertaining half that is easily the closest both teams have come to mimicking the regular season.
There were no such fireworks in the second half save for a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown by Pittsburgh's Crezdon Butler.
By then the starters on both sides already had their shoulder pads off, including defensive end Ray Edwards, who failed to make a tackle in his first preseason game after the Falcons lured him away from Minnesota.
Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/27/brown-delivers-as-steelers-beat-falcons
Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins New York Jets
Broncos OLB D. J. Williams will miss three-to-four weeks with a right elbow injury suffered in the team's third preseason game.
Williams suffered the injury while tackling Seahawks RB Thomas Clayton in the first quarter of Saturday night's game in Denver. Doctors confirmed the injury was a dislocated right elbow.
Following the game, the linebacker told the Denver Post, "I'll be all right."
Williams has eclipsed 100 tackles in three of the last four seasons and was expected to be an important player in the team's new 4-3 defense.
The way we see it
The Broncos are already thin at linebacker and will really miss Williams' experience and leadership. Based on the timetable, the linebacker will be out for the team's Week One matchup vs. the Raiders and may miss the Week Two game against the Bengals.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/28/broncos-lb-williams-suffers-elbow-injury
Paul Brown Marion Motley Jim Brown Lou Groza Dante Lavelli Len Ford
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/45396/arrest-warrant-issued-for-lsus-jefferson
Northwestern Wildcats Wichita State University Nebraska Cornhuskers North Carolina Tar Heels Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Arizona Wildcats
By Will Graves, AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown continued his electrifying preseason, catching four passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers beat Atlanta 34-16 on Saturday night.
Brown scored on passes of 77 and 44 yards from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and set up another touchdown with a lengthy kickoff return as Pittsburgh's starters looked sharp for the second straight week.
Roethlisberger finished 11 of 16 for 214 yards and the two touchdowns in one half.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan squeezed an entire game's worth of action into two quarters, completing 22 of 42 for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception against a banged-up Pittsburgh secondary missing starting cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and Ike Taylor.
What the Steelers lacked in quantity of offensive plays they made up for in explosiveness, most of it provided by Brown.
The second-year wideout has been a revelation during training camp. Considered no higher than fourth on the depth chart when camp began, he has thrived while filling in for injured Emmanuel Sanders.
Brown scored a 29-yard touchdown against Philadelphia a week ago on a nifty double-move after Roethlisberger escaped pressure. He was so open when he caught the ball he needed to do little more than remain on his feet.
Against the defending NFC South champions, Brown - who occasionally wears a UPS vest given to him by his brother - delivered in more spectacular fashion.
He started the game with a 51-yard kickoff return that led to a 1-yard plunge Rashard Mendenhall, a mere warmup to what was to come.
After the Falcons tied the game at 10 early in the second quarter on a 10-yard pass from Ryan to Roddy White, the Steelers needed just three plays to get back in front.
Roethlisberger stepped up in the pocket on third-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 23 and found Brown running down the seam at midfield. Brown split a pair of defenders and easily outran them to the end zone. He jogged the last 15 yards and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pointing the ball their way as he crossed the goal line.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin gave the 23-year-old a mild talking to after the score. Brown didn't waste time showing Tomlin he'd learned his lesson.
The Steelers were facing third-and-10 at the Atlanta 44 shortly before the half when Roethlisberger heaved the ball toward the end zone, where the 5-foot-10 Brown outjumped Atlanta's Brent Grimes and Dominique Franks for the ball. There was no taunting this time, just a somewhat awkward jig that would make teammate and ``Dancing With the Stars'' champion Hines Ward either wince or be proud.
The three touchdowns scored by the starters matched the three Pittsburgh put up in the first half against the Eagles last week.
Pittsburgh's defense, which harassed Philadelphia's Michael Vick into three picks in the same game, wasn't quite so dominant trying to contain Atlanta's versatile and high-powered offense.
The Falcons spread the field to minimize the Steelers' vaunted pass rush and Ryan tested Pittsburgh reserve cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and William Gay, who had trouble keeping up with one of the league's best receiving corps.
White finished with eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, Rookie Julio Jones hauled in five passes for 59 yards and had a potential 49-yard touchdown pass slip through his fingers.
Harry Douglas added three catches for 31 yards and veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez caught for passes for 26 yards while engaging in an entertaining battle with Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who appeared in a hurry to start living up to the hefty six-year, $50 million contract he signed earlier in the week.
Timmons had six tackles and chased down Ryan's pass that deflected off the helmet of tight end Michael Palmer, returning it 44 yards to set up Shaun Suisham's field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Atlanta later tied it, yet could only answer Brown's touchdowns with field goals. The Falcons rolled up 17 first downs in the half - but Pittsburgh's defense dug in when it mattered in an entertaining half that is easily the closest both teams have come to mimicking the regular season.
There were no such fireworks in the second half save for a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown by Pittsburgh's Crezdon Butler.
By then the starters on both sides already had their shoulder pads off, including defensive end Ray Edwards, who failed to make a tackle in his first preseason game after the Falcons lured him away from Minnesota.
Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/27/brown-delivers-as-steelers-beat-falcons
Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers
For all intents and purposes, the Steelers opened the summer with an open competition for a starting spot at one position: right guard. And in a major surprise, fourth-year pro Tony Hills, who never has started a game at guard on the collegiate or professional level, has become one of the contenders to win the job. The way we hear it, Hills' movement skills are a major asset at his new position, though his physicality bears watching. Before Hills, who had not impressed as a backup tackle before being tried at guard, second-year pro Chris Scott seemed a threat to win the ORG job, but Scott (who started for the injured Chris Kemoeatu at left guard in the first preseason game) likely figures as a reserve should he make the club, we're told. The Steelers also could turn to Doug Legursky, who can play both interior line spots and started for C Maurkice Pouncey in Super Bowl XLV. The Steelers also could go with Ramon Foster, who ended the 2010 season as the starter at right guard.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear Hills was still auditioning for a starting role at right guard on Aug. 25, two days before Pittsburgh's preseason game vs. Atlanta, in which Hills was slated to start at his new position. Noting that Hills was pressed into service at left tackle in the second preseason game vs. Philadelphia because of injuries to Jonathan Scott and Marcus Gilbert, Tomlin said: "We are going to stay with the commitment of giving (Hills) the opportunity to show what he can do at right guard. He's earned that and we are anxious to see what he is capable of doing. That battle by no means is over."
Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/08/26/steelers-hills-vying-to-start-at-right-guard
Northwestern Wildcats Wichita State University Nebraska Cornhuskers North Carolina Tar Heels Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Arizona Wildcats
