Toe injury limiting Stewart

by | Jul 27, 2008 | Fantasy Football

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Stewart is being limited to one practice a day while he nurses a toe injury.

Stewart also apparently has some catching up to do after missing the team’s 16 organized team activities.

While he’s expected to ultimately wrest the starting job from DeAngelo Williams, it might be wise for fantasy players to have some alternatives, at least through the season’s first handful of games.
Williams isn’t really seen as an every-down back and that’s why Stewart was drafted. But Williams likely will handle the heavy load at least for a month or so if it takes Stewart longer than camp just to catch up.

“Certainly for Jonathan this is very new to him,” quarterback Jake Delhomme told the Associated Press. “This is minicamp to him. He did not have the 16 practices that we’ve had already.”

Favre a no-show

by | Jul 27, 2008 | NFL News

Brett Favre told SportsIllustrated.com that Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson asked him for “a couple days” to resolve his playing situation so the quarterback agreed to stay away from camp for a few days, according to the Associated Press.

The New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have emerged as potential trade partners for the Packers, and Favre told the Web site that he would consider a trade to any team, the AP reports.

Shouldn’t be long before we know where – and if – Favre plans to play this season. I see Tampa as a more likely destination than New York – even if it is too hot.

Contract squabbles dominate Eagles camp

by | Jul 25, 2008 | NFL News

The Philadelphia Eagles probably rate as something of a middling playoff contender in the tough NFC East this season. Like many teams, if their stars stay healthy they’ll have a shot but injuries, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants could conspire against their quest toward Tampa on Feb. 1.

So it can’t be good news that three of the team’s top players are unhappy with their respective situations heading into training camp. Cornerback Lito Sheppard’s story has been told several times. He’s not happy to be the third cornerback after the Eagles dove into free agency and lured Asante Samuel from New England. He showed up for camp, as did Brian Westbrook, despite his alleged frustration with the team’s unwillingness to give him a new contract.

Westbrook, the team’s best runner and receiver at present, showed up but reportedly wants a new deal worth as much as $10 million per season – a figure most 29-year-old running backs don’t get in this day and age.

Perhaps more worrisome, however, is the alleged-contract-related holdout of Shawn Andrews, one of the top guards in the game. Pro Football Weekly isn’t certain that’s what his issue is, though it’s been reported that way on several Internet sites. Regardless, he did not report to Lehigh College and his absence, if not short, would leave a huge gap in the team’s offensive line.

Perhaps this is being overplayed. But training camp is supposedly a time when teammates grow together and build the chemistry it takes to blend together as a team. To have three top performers from Eagles teams of the recent past all grumbling because of their contract issues can’t help that cohesiveness grow.

Rod Smith retires

by | Jul 25, 2008 | NFL Random Thoughts

This wasn’t a surprise after the announcement that he was going to need another hip replacement surgery, but Denver Broncos wideout Rod Smith announced his retirement Thursday. He entered the league as a free agent with Denver in 1995 and 12 seasons later he leaves with 849 catches and two Super Bowl rings.

With some of the prima donna crap that goes on in pro sports these days Zoneblitz offers a tip of the cap to a player who, by and large, not only played well but did so in a mostly quiet and classy way. I don’t know if he’s a Hall of Famer or not, though coach Mike Shanahan thinks so.

Regardless, he made the most of his ability, he put up some solid, solid years, and he took pride in being a teammate, lining up next to Shannon Sharpe and blocking for Terrell Davis. There’s got to be something said for that. Good luck in your retirement, #80.

Colts add Lorenzen, Gray

by | Jul 24, 2008 | NFL News

Is it for training camp competition or is the injury to Peyton Manning’s knee worse than previously acknowledged by the Indianapolis Colts?

The team remains one of the league’s strongest as long as Manning is able to play most of the season. But if the Colts have to use Jim Sorgi or one of their new signees, Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen, for any length of time, the team suddenly looks less imposing.

And in an improving division with Jacksonville, Houston and Tennessee all nipping at Indy’s heels, a couple games could make the difference between a first-round playoff bye and a couple of road games en route to the Super Bowl.

Coach Tony Dungy has expressed his belief that Manning will be back by the time the season starts from
surgery to remove an infected bursa sac. Manning, according to the Associated Press, says he’s not in much pain. But the star QB is expected back anytime from opening day to week three. And it wasn’t until this week that the team decided to upgrade its backup quarterback situation, dropping camp fodder QB Josh Betts to add the new guys. Again, only time will tell.