Meester out for eight weeks or more

by | Aug 4, 2008 | NFL Breaking News

Brad Meester, Jacksonville Jaguars center, had surgery on his biceps muscle and will miss eight to 10 weeks and return sometime before week seven of the regular season.

Wide receiver Reggie Williams, who came on last season after several years of appearing like a first-round bust, had knee surgery and will miss two to three weeks.

Tough way to start camp for a team with deep playoff aspirations. The Jags wide receiver corp is stretched with Williams out and Matt Jones facing drug charges – and looking like another potential first round bust. The acquisition of Troy Williamson during the offseason looked like a minor deal, but the Jags now might need the former Viking – also a first round bust, at least in Minnesota.

The Jags have Dennis Norman to fill in at center. He played the position last year too after Meester was lost to injury.

Offenses look good early

by | Aug 3, 2008 | Fantasy Football

Both the Indianapolis Colts’ and Washington Redskins’ offenses looked good early in the NFL Hall of Fame game Sunday night – and both provided some moments of intrigue for fantasy players.

No, you can’t judge much by watching preseason games – the first couple drives, in general, are the only ones that are going to tell you much. But Jason Campbell, Washington’s quarterback, looked sharp on a short drive following the team’s recovery of an onside kick. He quickly hit Chris Cooley, who is rising on my tight end cheat sheets, with an eight yard pass and then hit Antwaan Randle El for a 20 yard touchdown.

Of particular note to me on that drive was how calm and sharp Campbell looked and how the first pass went to Cooley, who certainly isn’t a stranger to fantasy players, but who also could emerge in Jim Zorn’s version of the West Coast offense this season.

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Favre story overshadows Hall of Fame game

by | Aug 3, 2008 | NFL Breaking News

At least Brett Favre had the good sense to not overshadow Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Green Bay quarterback, or not, however, has reportedly landed in Green Bay as of Sunday evening and the team has now decided there will be an open competition during training camp between him and Aaron Rodgers.

“In this election year we’ve now seen the ultimate flip flop,” said Adam Schefter of the NFL Network. He was referring, of course, to the team’s assertion all offseason up until today that Rodgers would be the unquestioned starter.

Perhaps I’m being a bit of a sap in saying this, but what disturbs me a bit is the attention this has taken away not so much from a reasonably unimportant preseason game Sunday night but from a weekend that should be focused on the six inductees into the Hall of Fame.

That said, and since it is the news of the day, for a team that expects to compete for the Super Bowl – or should, based on last season anyway – I think allowing for a quarterback competition would be the right move. I would bet 100 times out of 100 that Favre gives the team a better chance to return to and go deep into the playoffs.

I remain skeptical that the competition is really the team’s intention, however. My sense is that it’s subterfuge – an effort to give the team more time to explore trade options and perhaps increase his value a bit. My best guess is that Favre still ends up in New York or Tampa.

Just my opinion.

2008 season kicks off in minutes

by | Aug 3, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL Breaking News

I was hoping to do a bit more specific write-up on the Hall of Fame inductions from Saturday but the day got away from me a bit. I’ll let the NFL Hall of Fame Web site profiles and induction speeches speak for themselves. Please see attached.

Congratulations to the six inductees, five of whom I grew up watching – I’m not ready to say I’m getting old, but the fact that guys I watched when I was in college are now making the Hall is … eye opening.

But we’ll get past that pretty easily tonight. The 2008 season is about to kick off. I don’t think there’s a ton to be learned about the Indianapolis Colts from tonight’s tilt. Perhaps it’ll be worth paying attention to what Jim Sorgi does in case Peyton Manning misses a game or two of the real season, but Marvin Harrison and several of the other Colts veterans aren’t expected to play much if at all.

The early minutes of the Redskins season, on the other hand, could be telling. Jason Campbell is learning something like his 23rd offense in the last eight seasons going back to his college years. How is he picking it up? Will Jim Zorn’s version of the West Coast offense succeed? What is it going to mean for Clinton Portis? Chris Cooley? Both are guys who could improve their numbers and thus their fantasy statuses this year – but only if Campbell proves capable.

In reality this game is probably only going to be interesting for a quarter – if that. But the big picture for me is that the games are starting – that means the true countdown can begin. Just a month and a day until the Regular Season begins – woo hoo!!! To borrow a line from Monday nights, “Are you ready for some football?”

Smith suspended two games

by | Aug 2, 2008 | NFL Breaking News

The Carolina Panthers have suspended wide receiver Steve Smith for the first two regular season games after Smith cold-cocked teammate and fellow-starter Ken Lucas, according to Fox Sports Radio and other media reports.

Smith broke Lucas’ nose, according to coach John Fox, according to the Associated Press. Smith will play in preseason games and practice with the team again starting Monday.

Had to happen. Hurts the team early on but if the Panthers hadn’t acted they A) run the risk of losing the locker room and B) let Smith think he can get away with these antics. The Panthers will likely be better off in the long run but they were a borderline playoff team before this – if they open 0-2 it doesn’t help the team’s cause – or Fox’s.