Foote wants to play in … Detroit?

by | May 6, 2009 | 2009 NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

I’m not sure whether to give Larry Foote a virtual pat on the back for loyalty or beg him to have his head examined. The former Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker apparently will get to fulfill his desire to leave the Super Bowl champion to join, yes, the ultimate Super Bowl longshot Detroit Lions.

Foote reportedly has inked a one-year deal to become Detroit’s new middle linebacker just days after receiving his release from the Steel Town where he helped win two Lombardi trophies.

By joining the rebuilding Lions he goes from being the third or fourth best linebacker on one of the league’s top defenses year in and year out to a team where he likely becomes one of – if not THE – best player.

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Anyone interested in 2010 mock draft?

by | Apr 28, 2009 | NFL Draft

I think we here at Zoneblitz made clear when we published our mock draft for this year’s annual player auction that we think they are relatively pointless and almost impossible to do well. We’ve done them two years in a row now but we don’t publish them until a week or so before the event takes place.

That said, there are already those out there analyzing what the 2010 draft will look like. This Sports Illustrated writer apparently believes the Chargers will beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl and that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are going to be two of the teams to beat in college football this season.

Check out his full first round mock, if you are interested.

NFL draft brings fantasy speculation

by | Apr 27, 2009 | Fantasy Football, NFL Draft

The NFL draft and the bulk of free agency are over meaning it’s now possible to start making some projections for the upcoming fantasy football season.

Certainly there will be some guys who come out of nowhere during the season ahead. But with the draft 24 hours into the rear-view mirror, some situations have definitely cleared themselves up.

For one, there will be no more running back by committee in Denver.

The Broncos surprised many “experts” by eschewing defense with their first pick in favor of Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

Moreno has a chance to make a fantasy football impact right away. He’s fast, he can catch the ball and he was drafted high enough where, unless he totally flubs, he’ll be the starter and main man in the Denver backfield starting with his rookie year.

Thus, while Josh McDaniels managed to mangle his quarterback situation, he has ended one of fantasy players’ most frustrating situations – the long-standing timeshare running backs employed by former coach Mike Shanahan.

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Britton not happy about fall to second round

by | Apr 27, 2009 | NFL Draft

New Jacksonville tackle Eben Britton enters a good situation with a solid quarterback and a top-notch back after getting taken by the Jaguars in the second round Saturday night.

He wasn’t happy about dropping to the second round, however. It’s probably a good sign of his competitiveness, but he might want to back off on the threats.

“If one of those draft guys lined up across from me they’d be dead,” Britton told the Orlando Sentinel.

And that was just part of the rant. Gotta like the fire.

Lions rebuild without touching trenches

by | Apr 26, 2009 | NFL Draft

A new era in Detroit Lions football started Saturday afternoon with the selection of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, and as the old saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same.

The Lions not only started the draft by selecting a skill player. They had three picks on day one of the draft and, despite the depth available on both the offensive and defensive lines, Detroit managed to emerge without helping themselves in the trenches one iota.

That’s not to trash on the guys the Lions did take. They must see Stafford as a potential franchise quarterback. I like Stafford, though I don’t see him being a top five NFL quarterback. I think Brandon Pettigrew has the potential to be a sneaky steal at tight end – and he is a solid, solid blocker as well, so perhaps they did gain SOME help. I don’t know a lot about safety Louis Delmas, whom the Lions snagged with the first pick in the second round. But he also doesn’t play in the trenches.

It’s not that any of these guys are bad players. Again, they all, especially Pettigrew, reportedly are decent value picks. It’s just been said here at Zoneblitz and in other places that teams like the Lions, off the only 0-16 team in history, need to rebuild in the trenches first.

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