Family Matters
Footballguy
Enjoy. My comment in blue:
RB Willis McGahee wouldn’t reveal his weight, but he looked noticeably slimmer and more toned at the team’s June minicamp than he was at the end of last season. Word is McGahee believes that carrying less weight will bring back some of the explosiveness he lacked last season.
Maybe his TD totals will improve somehwhat. Of course this assume they'll get in the redzone in the first place. LOL
Sources close to the Raiders indicate that WR Jerry Porter isn’t the happiest camper with the way new head coach Art Shell has pushed for more discipline. As an example to previous issues, sources cite the sometimes tenuous relationship Porter had with Jon Gruden, who, like Shell, was more heavy-handed than Bill Callahan or Norv Turner. The Raiders have dangled Porter as trade bait in the past, so it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise for Oakland to shop him if things don’t go well early on.
This can't be good news. Keep an eye on this.
Sources say Broncos QB Jake Plummer has been sharp throughout summer workouts and appears to be as confident as ever despite Jay Cutler looking over his shoulder. Though the real bullets have yet to start flying, we’re hearing that Cutler looks like “the real deal” to this point.
Our sources in New Orleans tell us newly acquired WR Bethel Johnson and underachieving third-year WR Devery Henderson will compete in training camp for the No. 3 WR role behind Joe Horn and Donté Stallworth. We hear that the loser of the competition will likely be traded or released because the Saints are only going to keep one deep threat on the roster.
What's that you say? A WR in NO is under achieving? Tell me something new.
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has somewhat smoothed over his disagreement with team management by keeping his word to participate in mandatory workouts. He chose to skip the offseason conditioning program to work out on his own in South Florida against the advice of head coach Jack Del Rio. Taylor has been injured in training camp two of the past three years, and the Jaguars wanted to keep a close watch on the training habits of the offensive cornerstone. In 2005, Taylor failed to rush for 800 yards for the first time in any season in which he had 10 starts, and he had just one carry of more than 20 yards.You have to admit, A Fred Taylor in shape is a bit of a scary thought. Now what do they do about it now that they have=all thos RB's?
Sources in Jacksonville say the 2006 season is extremely critical for QB Byron Leftwich, who’ll be in line for a new contract in the next two years. Leftwich has missed seven of the last 24 regular-season games because of injuries and could take the blame if the passing game falters without Jimmy Smith. Leftwich consistently missed the mark at a recent minicamp but said he wasn’t worried about his accuracy or timing with his new starting receivers, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams.Is anyone else worried about the WR's in Jax? I am.
Several players with ties to Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz are moving their way up the depth chart. ORT Rex Tucker supplanted last year’s starter Kelly Butler in minicamp, and RB Arlen Harris, a solid receiver with good speed, has ascended to No. 2 behind starter Kevin Jones. A third ex-Ram, WR Mike Furrey, remains very much in the mix for a reserve WR spot. I hate to be the party poopper in Det but Kitna is in big trouble. Besides big Roy Williams and Pollard he has nothing to work with. The Oline is in trouble and that has been the issue all along. I don't see where they've addressed it yet. Some say don't sllep on Kitna. I say don't sleep on on Det. Avoid them as your No 1.
Don’t expect the Colts to be as reliant on the running game early this season as they were last year. Without Edgerrin James, offensive coordinator Tom Moore will anchor the team with a spread formation, using multiple receivers to protect Peyton Manning and create wide running lanes for RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. Watch for Addai to surprise this year.
The door isn’t wide open for Vikings RB Ciatrick Fason to steal work from Mewelde Moore as the backup to Chester Taylor, but Moore hasn’t slammed it shut to date. Still bothered by a wrist injury, Moore must answer the same question he faced from the Mike Tice regime: Can he stay healthy? He appeared to be coming around at the most recent minicamp. If Moore doesn’t stay healthy, Fason is one of several backs head coach Brad Childress said he’s confident will pick up the slack. Another year of disappointing performers in Minny RB's.
We’re told the Bears don’t expect much of a QB controversy between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese. Grossman has the full backing of the coaching staff, but his injury history necessitated the Griese signing. Greise could steal this job if he wanted too.
Word out of Atlanta is the Falcons no longer plan to trade backup RB T.J. Duckett before training camp begins. But we hear if rookie Jerious Norwood has an outstanding camp, he could take carries away from Duckett and even starter Warrick Dunn, and in the process, put Duckett back on the trading block. Anyone shocked at this? Stash this kid in your dynasty if you can. Make trades.
Massive TE Brandon Manumaleuna may have been acquired by the Chargers more for blocking purposes, but it’s his soft hands that have caught the eye of new QB Philip Rivers and the coaching staff.
Ravens QB Steve McNair showed consistent improvement throughout his first minicamp in Baltimore. The way we hear it, McNair and WR Derrick Mason picked up right where they left off from their time together in Tennessee, and their exceptional chemistry was apparent. That's a shocker.
Some Texans observers don’t share the team’s optimism about RB Domanick Davis being ready for the start of training camp as he recovers from the effects of knee surgery. Shhh. Don't tell Yudkin.
Of the Browns’ rookies, there’s a feeling rookie RB Jerome Harrison is most ready to contribute, likely on third downs. Shhhh. Don't tell Yudkin.
Expect the Browns to split out TE Kellen Winslow at wide receiver at times, particularly if Braylon Edwards misses the start of the season. I'm telling ya this is ground breaking stuff here. Who knew?
New Redskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders gushed about backup RB Ladell Betts in the team’s final minicamp, and Saunders pledges to find more ways to get both Betts and Clinton Portis on the field at the same time. Expect Betts to be used more as a receiver and keep his job as kick returner.
Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter, who is coming off his third season-ending knee injury in five years, likely won’t be ready for the start of camp and faces long odds to make the roster despite being a personal favorite of the coaching staff.
RB Willis McGahee wouldn’t reveal his weight, but he looked noticeably slimmer and more toned at the team’s June minicamp than he was at the end of last season. Word is McGahee believes that carrying less weight will bring back some of the explosiveness he lacked last season.
Maybe his TD totals will improve somehwhat. Of course this assume they'll get in the redzone in the first place. LOL
Sources close to the Raiders indicate that WR Jerry Porter isn’t the happiest camper with the way new head coach Art Shell has pushed for more discipline. As an example to previous issues, sources cite the sometimes tenuous relationship Porter had with Jon Gruden, who, like Shell, was more heavy-handed than Bill Callahan or Norv Turner. The Raiders have dangled Porter as trade bait in the past, so it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise for Oakland to shop him if things don’t go well early on.
This can't be good news. Keep an eye on this.
Sources say Broncos QB Jake Plummer has been sharp throughout summer workouts and appears to be as confident as ever despite Jay Cutler looking over his shoulder. Though the real bullets have yet to start flying, we’re hearing that Cutler looks like “the real deal” to this point.
Our sources in New Orleans tell us newly acquired WR Bethel Johnson and underachieving third-year WR Devery Henderson will compete in training camp for the No. 3 WR role behind Joe Horn and Donté Stallworth. We hear that the loser of the competition will likely be traded or released because the Saints are only going to keep one deep threat on the roster.
What's that you say? A WR in NO is under achieving? Tell me something new.
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has somewhat smoothed over his disagreement with team management by keeping his word to participate in mandatory workouts. He chose to skip the offseason conditioning program to work out on his own in South Florida against the advice of head coach Jack Del Rio. Taylor has been injured in training camp two of the past three years, and the Jaguars wanted to keep a close watch on the training habits of the offensive cornerstone. In 2005, Taylor failed to rush for 800 yards for the first time in any season in which he had 10 starts, and he had just one carry of more than 20 yards.You have to admit, A Fred Taylor in shape is a bit of a scary thought. Now what do they do about it now that they have=all thos RB's?
Sources in Jacksonville say the 2006 season is extremely critical for QB Byron Leftwich, who’ll be in line for a new contract in the next two years. Leftwich has missed seven of the last 24 regular-season games because of injuries and could take the blame if the passing game falters without Jimmy Smith. Leftwich consistently missed the mark at a recent minicamp but said he wasn’t worried about his accuracy or timing with his new starting receivers, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams.Is anyone else worried about the WR's in Jax? I am.
Several players with ties to Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz are moving their way up the depth chart. ORT Rex Tucker supplanted last year’s starter Kelly Butler in minicamp, and RB Arlen Harris, a solid receiver with good speed, has ascended to No. 2 behind starter Kevin Jones. A third ex-Ram, WR Mike Furrey, remains very much in the mix for a reserve WR spot. I hate to be the party poopper in Det but Kitna is in big trouble. Besides big Roy Williams and Pollard he has nothing to work with. The Oline is in trouble and that has been the issue all along. I don't see where they've addressed it yet. Some say don't sllep on Kitna. I say don't sleep on on Det. Avoid them as your No 1.
Don’t expect the Colts to be as reliant on the running game early this season as they were last year. Without Edgerrin James, offensive coordinator Tom Moore will anchor the team with a spread formation, using multiple receivers to protect Peyton Manning and create wide running lanes for RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. Watch for Addai to surprise this year.
The door isn’t wide open for Vikings RB Ciatrick Fason to steal work from Mewelde Moore as the backup to Chester Taylor, but Moore hasn’t slammed it shut to date. Still bothered by a wrist injury, Moore must answer the same question he faced from the Mike Tice regime: Can he stay healthy? He appeared to be coming around at the most recent minicamp. If Moore doesn’t stay healthy, Fason is one of several backs head coach Brad Childress said he’s confident will pick up the slack. Another year of disappointing performers in Minny RB's.
We’re told the Bears don’t expect much of a QB controversy between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese. Grossman has the full backing of the coaching staff, but his injury history necessitated the Griese signing. Greise could steal this job if he wanted too.
Word out of Atlanta is the Falcons no longer plan to trade backup RB T.J. Duckett before training camp begins. But we hear if rookie Jerious Norwood has an outstanding camp, he could take carries away from Duckett and even starter Warrick Dunn, and in the process, put Duckett back on the trading block. Anyone shocked at this? Stash this kid in your dynasty if you can. Make trades.
Massive TE Brandon Manumaleuna may have been acquired by the Chargers more for blocking purposes, but it’s his soft hands that have caught the eye of new QB Philip Rivers and the coaching staff.
Ravens QB Steve McNair showed consistent improvement throughout his first minicamp in Baltimore. The way we hear it, McNair and WR Derrick Mason picked up right where they left off from their time together in Tennessee, and their exceptional chemistry was apparent. That's a shocker.
Some Texans observers don’t share the team’s optimism about RB Domanick Davis being ready for the start of training camp as he recovers from the effects of knee surgery. Shhh. Don't tell Yudkin.
Of the Browns’ rookies, there’s a feeling rookie RB Jerome Harrison is most ready to contribute, likely on third downs. Shhhh. Don't tell Yudkin.
Expect the Browns to split out TE Kellen Winslow at wide receiver at times, particularly if Braylon Edwards misses the start of the season. I'm telling ya this is ground breaking stuff here. Who knew?
New Redskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders gushed about backup RB Ladell Betts in the team’s final minicamp, and Saunders pledges to find more ways to get both Betts and Clinton Portis on the field at the same time. Expect Betts to be used more as a receiver and keep his job as kick returner.
Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter, who is coming off his third season-ending knee injury in five years, likely won’t be ready for the start of camp and faces long odds to make the roster despite being a personal favorite of the coaching staff.
Opps. I did it again didn't I. 
My pleasure. You guys always give it up. It's my small contribution once in a while.
