Browns Already in Perilous Position?

by | Jun 11, 2008 | NFL News

**UPDATE** The Browns actually went ahead and cut LeCharles Bentley today.  Apparently Hank Fraley & Rex Hadnot are just too good.

Andy has already gone on the record as saying he thinks the Browns will be a team to watch in 2008.  I have pulled out my political talking head hat, and said I think they will regress from 2007–while also admitting that they may still win their division (I am not impressed with the AFC North).

Now comes news that WR Joe Jurevicius may not be ready to start the season, as he’s become the SIXTH player on the team in four years to contract staph.  Seriously, I know they’re taking steps to prevent it, but they might want to step up those efforts.

On the surface, this news seems to have little impact, fantasy wise or otherwise–Jurevicius started 12 games and caught 50 passes with three TDs last season, but is expected to be the #3 WR this season since Donte Stallworth was signed.

Still, this one scares me a little bit–Jurevicius likely was a calming veteran presence in the huddle for the Browns, and a positive role model for some of the receiver corps to look up to, given their tendency to flap their gums. 

And, I’m guessing that the 3rd WR would see the field a lot in Cleveland, in an effort to keep guys out of the box and free up some room for Jamal Lewis.  Now, it appears that the Browns will likely enter the seasno with Joshua Cribbs (who recently admitted that his having the dropsies during practice was due to his not being focused enough), Travis Wilson, or something called Syndric Steptoe filling the role.

On the positive side for the team, LeCharles Bentley was cleared to practice this week, after missing two seasons due to a torn patellar tendon suffered on the first play of training camp after signing a six-year, $36 million contract on the first day of free agency in 2006.  He then had three subsequent surgeries, to deal with the staph infection that followed.

Of course, there’s now bad blood between him and the team–so no one is sure where he’ll play–guard or center with the Browns, or maybe for someone else.

For his sake, let’s just hope his slip of the tounge when asked about it wasn’t prophetic:

”Zero doubt, absolutely I will be playing somewhere, starting in ’09. ’08, sorry. You know what I meant.”

 

Kevin Jones Waiting For Bears Call?

by | Jun 11, 2008 | NFL Rumors

Turns out, according to the guys at ChicagoSports.com, my brother may have finally gotten one right–Kevin Jones is apparently waiting for a call from the Bears.

But I have a feeling he might be waiting a while.

This is a team that by all accounts is content to go into the season with Devin Hester as their #1 WR, a move that if history proves correct, could turn their biggest only offensive threat (Hester’s return abilities) into a liability (think about what happened to Dante Hall when the Chiefs started trying to involve him in offense).  Why would they go out and sign a veteran, when they can throw Matt Forte and the other Adrian Peterson to the wolves 25-35 times a game?

The ChicagoSports team laid out the best four options for the Bears if they are going to go after a veteran–other than Jones (coming off a torn ACL) there’s Shaun Alexander (wrist surgery, sprained knee, sprained vagina since signing his big contract), Travis Henry (character issues), and LaMont Jordan (injured back, and as they point out–displays a lot of similar qualities to Cedric Benson, when it comes to practice habits).

Here’s hoping the Cubbies can keep going strong into November–otherwise it could be a loooooooong winter in Chi-town.

Jeff Garcia Should Talk to Matt Birk

by | Jun 7, 2008 | NFL News, NFL Rumors

Another piece from Yahoo! Sports (taken from ProFootballTalk, where we saw it earlier this week, but weren’t in a punchy enough mood to bother writing about), Jeff Garcia is STILL whining about his contract situation.

A few of his quotes:

“If it doesn’t work itself out, if a contract is not presented as far as a renewal to finish my career, then I will seriously think about what my alternate options may be. And it may come to not playing football anymore.”

“I feel like when you mistreat people there comes a time when it doesn’t matter how much you are paid, it’s going to lead to some drastic decisions.”

“It would be really difficult to go through this season and not have something done before the season.  I would like to see the appreciation put out there.”

Yeah, it must be tough to get paid $2 million a year to play in 13 games a year, put up some ok numbers, and head home early after getting tossed aside in the first round of the playoffs by a wildcard team.

Someone needs to take Jeff aside, and make him understand that he’s lucky to have that starting job in the first place–he had one ok half-season after Donovan McNabb went down in Philly, after two miserable seasons in Cleveland and Detroit, and many considered him washed up.  And even now, he hasn’t played a full season or thrown 20 touchdowns since 2002, nor has he averaged over 200 yards a game since 2003, his last in San Francisco.

Yeah, having better wide receivers would help his numbers, but that’s not going to change drastically at this point of the season.  If he’s there, he might have another decent year like last year.  If he’s not, Brian Griese or Chris Simms could probably do about the same–without the whining.

Until the next season, of course.

Cedric Benson Still Doesn’t Get It

by | Jun 7, 2008 | NFL News

Used to be, when you were talking about a former University of Texas running back who went to the pros, and just didn’t get it, there was only one guy you could be talking about.  Now, while Ricky Williams is supposedly on the straight and narrow, participating in OTAs for the first time in a long time, and actually trying to get better, Cedric Benson just can’t seem to get it into his head that his talent does not really make him invincible.

Benson, who was arrested about a month ago for supposedly operating a boat under the influence and then resisting arrest (which he claimed he did not do, and that they police used excessive force), did not help his situation by being arrested early this morning on the suspicion of driving under the influence.

Strangely enough, this might actually improve the situation in Chicago for fantasy football players–if Benson keeps this up, the Bears might just give up on him altogether, and just plan to go with second round pick Matt Forte into the season. 

Of course, that won’t make up for the lack of quarterback or wide receivers…

How to Handle a Contract Dispute

by | Jun 6, 2008 | Business of Football, Contract Squabbles

OK, I think everyone here knows that we here at ZoneBlitz are predominantly fans of the Minnesota Vikings, being the local team.  And, I think I can speak for my brother when I say that over the last 10 years, Matt Birk has become one of our favorite players on the team.  Local guy, Harvard grad, very down to earth from what we’ve seen/heard, and co-owner of a couple of fairly nice local restaurants.

There has been a lot made in some media outlets of his absence from OTAs this past offseason, apparently due to his being upset over his contract situation (which expires after this coming season).

Birk finally spoke publicly about the situation today, and I tell you what–Chad Johnson, Chris Baker and the rest could really stand to take some notes.

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