Fantasy Insights Off-Season Report – August 2008
This is the final issue of the Fantasy Insights Off-Season
Report. Since February we have covered most if not all NFL related topics,
from the college all-star games to the combine to the NFL Draft. We’ve tracked
free agency, and player, team and league news stories. This final edition
wraps up our coverage of off-season activities, but there is still a lot of
football for you to follow. Training camps are ongoing, pre-season games begin
in one week, then roster cuts come the end of August before the season finally
opens on my birthday, September 4th.
Player News
Clearly the biggest news in the NFL is
the un-retirement of Packers legendary QB Brett Favre. Favre wants to be
traded, but Green Bay is asking for a #1 pick, which teams are reluctant to
give up – and rightfully so. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy has already
fully committed to QB Aaron Rodgers, whether or not Brett Favre reports and/or
stays with the team this season. Favre can either be traded, be the backup in Green Bay, or get
paid $20M to stay retired (basically to go away). Personally, I would lose all
respect for Favre if he accepted the “go away” money after claiming to miss the
game so much.
The N.Y. Giants traded Pro Bowl TE Jeremy Shockey to the New
Orleans Saints for 2nd round and 5th round picks in
2009. While 2nd year TE Kevin Boss is secure, the same cannot be
said for WR Sinorice Moss or QB David Carr.
New Orleans signed star WR Marques Colston to a 3-year
contract extension, keeping Colston with the Saints through 2011.
New Orleans RB Deuce McAllister had a precautionary MRI on
his surgically repaired knee and it checked out OK, but the Saints are still
going slow and being cautious with his return.
St. Louis management has ended contract talks with RB Steven
Jackson until he reports to training camp. Jackson is currently holding out
until a new contract is worked out.
Jacksonville has some WR problems to deal with: Jerry Porter,
who signed a 6-year, $30M contract this off-season had surgery to repair a torn
hamstring and will miss at least the entire preseason. He is expected to be
the #1 WR; former 1st round draft pick Matt Jones is facing a felony
drug charge in Arkansas; and Reggie Williams needs arthroscopic surgery on his
right knee after re-injuring it during training camp.
Philadelphia star RB Bryan Westbrook is in the midst of a
holdout. He is in the 3rd year of his 5-year $25M contract and
scheduled to make $3M this year. He definitely deserves a raise based on his
past performance these past 3 years.
Tennessee is bringing in former Jaguars and Falcons QB Byron
Leftwich, but only to use as a “training partner” for the WRs in camp.
Speaking of WRs, Tennessee released WR Mike Williams, the 10th
overall pick in 2005 due to weight and conditioning problems. Williams weighed
270 pounds when he signed with Tennessee and lost more than 30 pounds this
offseason but it wasn’t enough.
The Dolphins are bringing
in former Dallas QB Quincy Carter due to disappointing play from its current
QBs in camp. The Dolphins are also considering signing former Dallas WR Terry
Glenn.
Houston added former Denver RB Mike Bell as insurance due to
Chris Brown missing several days of camp with back spasms.
Chicago KR/WR Devin Hester
signed a 4-year contract extension through 2013.
Denver RB Selvin Young is currently #1 on
the depth chart, but you know how quick things can change for RBs in Denver. Also, Denver placed
WR Edell Shepherd on IR with a knee injury.
San Francisco now has a 3-way QB battle with Alex Smith, Shaun Hill
and J.T. O’Sullivan all competing for the starting spot.
St. Louis is fining holdout Pro Bowl RB Steven Jackson $15K
per day and have refused to negotiate until he reports to camp.
Arizona WR Anquan Boldin
will have a precautionary MRI on his sore right hamstring.
Carolina thug, I mean WR,
Steve Smith was given a timeout and sent home from camp after beating up
teammate Ken Lucas during a practice session. Carolina will not say if Smith
will be suspended.
New England has a nice battle
going for the #3 WR spot between Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson. Another
battle, albeit pretty meaningless, is between QBs Matt Cassel and Matt
Gutierrez for Tom Brady’s backup.
With the departure of Michael
Turner this offseason, RBs Darren Sproles and rookies Jacob Hester and Marcus
Thomas are all competing for the Tomlinson “breather” position. TE Antonio
Gates’ injured toe has been steadily increasing his agility and is expected to
be ready for opening day. QB Philip Rivers, also recovering from offseason
surgery (to repair a torn ACL in his right knee) appears fully recovered.
Buffalo QB Trent
Edwards has added about 15 pounds of weight/muscle this past offseason, and has
improved his velocity, deep throw, and agility, even earning the praise of #1
WR Lee Evans. The #2 WR position is a battle between Roscoe Parrish and rookie
James Hardy.
Pittsburgh rookie WR Limas
Sweed was diagnosed with astigmatism, got some contacts to repair the problem
and now sees 20/20. Now he needs to resolve his tendency towards cramps and
dehydration by remembering to take his daily salt tablet.
Draft News
Chicago signed WR Earl Bennett (undisclosed) and RB Matt
Forte ($3.7M) to 4-year contracts.
St. Louis WR Keenan Burton signed a 3-year undisclosed
contract and WR Donnie Avery to a 4-year $5M contract.
Denver signed RBs Peyton Hillis and Ryan Torain
(undisclosed) and WR Eddie Royal (4-years $4M) to contracts.
Washington signed WRs Devin Thomas ($5M) and Malcom Kelly
($3.4M), TE Fred Davis ($3.5M), and QB Colt Brennan (undisclosed) to 4-year
contracts.
Pittsburgh signed QB Dennis Dixon to a 3-year $1.3M
contract, WR Limas Sweed to a 4-year contract (terms were undisclosed), and RB
Rashard Mendenhall to a 5-year, $12.6M contract.
Dallas RB Tashard Choice and TE Martellus Bennett signed
(4-years, undisclosed) contracts. RB Felix Jones was signed a 5-year
contract.
Detroit signed RBs Kevin Smith (undisclosed) and Jerome
Felton, and WR Kenneth Moore to 3-year undisclosed contracts.
Carolina signed TE Gary Barnidge to a 4-year undisclosed contract, and RB
Jonathan Stewart to a 5-year $20M contract.
Arizona signed WR Early Doucet to a 3-year, undisclosed contract.
Green Bay signed WR Brett Swain, QB Matt Flynn, and TE
Jermichael Finley (4-years) to undisclosed contracts.
N.Y. Giants WR Mario Manningham signed an undisclosed
contract.
Baltimore QB Joe Flacco signed a 5-year $30M contract.
Indianapolis signed WR Pierre Garcon to a contract, and TE
Jacob Tamme (undisclosed) and RB Mike Hart to 4-year contracts.
Houston signed RB Steve Slaton to an undisclosed contract.
Tennessee signed TE Craig Stevens to an undisclosed contract
and RB Chris Johnson to a 5-year $12M contract.
San Diego RB Jacob Hester signed a 4-year, undisclosed
contract.
Cincinnati signed WRs Mario Urrutia (4-years $1.75M), Andre Caldwell
(undisclosed) and Jerome Simpson, and TE Matt Sherry to 4-year contracts.
Cleveland signed WR Paul Hubbard and TE Martin Rucker to
4-year undisclosed contracts.
Philadelphia signed WR DeSean Jackson to a 4-year contract.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
New Orleans signed K Taylor Mehlhaff and WR Adrian Arrington
to 3-year undisclosed contracts.
Kansas City WR Kevin Robinson, TE Brad Cottam (undisclosed),
and RB Jamaal Charles (undisclosed) each signed 3-year contracts.
Oakland WR Arman Shields signed an undisclosed contract.
New England QB Kevin O’Connell was signed to an undisclosed
contract.
N. Y. Jets TE Dustin Keller signed a 5-year $12M contract.
Minnesota signed WR Jaymar Johnson and QB John David Booty
to undisclosed contracts.
Seattle RB Owen Schmitt was signed to a 4-year $1.9M
contract and TE John Carlson was signed to a 4-year $4.5M contract.
Buffalo WR James Hardy and RB Xavier Omon signed 4-year
contracts. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Tampa Bay signed WR Dexter Jackson (undisclosed) and QB Josh
Johnson (4-years, undisclosed) to contracts.
Miami QB Chad Henne signed
a 4-year $3.5M contract.
Free Agents
|
Position
|
Player Name
|
Team
|
Type
|
Status
|
|
QB
|
Billy Volek
|
SD
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Brian St. Pierre
|
PIT
|
UFA
|
Signed with ARZ
|
|
QB
|
Bruce Gradkowski
|
TB
|
CUT
|
Signed with STL
|
|
QB
|
Byron Leftwich
|
ATL
|
CUT
|
Tryout with TEN
|
|
QB
|
Chris Redman
|
ATL
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Chris Weinke
|
SF
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
Cleo Lemon
|
MIA
|
UFA
|
Signed with JAX
|
|
QB
|
Craig Nall
|
GB
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
Dan Orlovsky
|
DET
|
RFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Daunte Culpepper
|
OAK
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
David Carr
|
CAR
|
CUT
|
Signed with NYG
|
|
QB
|
Derek Anderson
|
CLE
|
RFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Drew Henson
|
MIN
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
Drew Olson
|
SF
|
CUT
|
|
|
QB
|
Gus Frerotte
|
STL
|
CUT
|
Signed with MIN
|
|
QB
|
J.T. O’Sullivan
|
DET
|
UFA
|
Signed with SF
|
|
QB
|
Jake Plummer
|
TB
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
Jamie Martin
|
NO
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
Jared Lorenzen
|
NYG
|
CUT
|
Signed with IND
|
|
QB
|
Jim Sorgi
|
IND
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Joey Harrington
|
ATL
|
CUT
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Josh McCown
|
OAK
|
UFA
|
Signed with MIA
|
|
QB
|
Kelly Holcomb
|
MIN
|
CUT
|
|
|
QB
|
Ken Dorsey
|
CLE
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Mark Brunnell
|
WAS
|
UFA
|
Signed with NO
|
|
QB
|
Marques Tuiasosopo
|
NYJ
|
CUT
|
Signed with OAK
|
|
QB
|
Quinn Gray
|
HOU
|
CUT
|
Signed with IND
|
|
QB
|
Ryan Fitzpatrick
|
CIN
|
RFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Rex Grossman
|
CHI
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Shaun Hill
|
SF
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Tim Rattay
|
ARZ
|
UFA
|
|
|
QB
|
Todd Collins
|
WAS
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
QB
|
Trent Dilfer
|
SF
|
CUT
|
Retired
|
|
QB
|
Trent Green
|
MIA
|
CUT
|
Signed with STL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RB
|
Aaron Stecker
|
NO
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Anthony Thomas
|
BUF
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
Artose Pinner
|
MIN
|
UFA
|
Signed with DET
|
|
RB
|
Aveion Cason
|
DET
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Cedric Cobbs
|
DEN
|
RFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Chris Brown
|
TEN
|
UFA
|
Signed with HOU
|
|
RB
|
Derrick Ward
|
NYG
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
DeShaun Foster
|
CAR
|
CUT
|
Signed with SF
|
|
RB
|
Dominic Rhodes
|
OAK
|
CUT
|
Signed with IND
|
|
RB
|
Earnest Graham
|
TB
|
RFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Jamal Lewis
|
CLE
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Jesse Chatman
|
MIA
|
RFA
|
Signed with NYJ
|
|
RB
|
Julius Jones
|
DAL
|
UFA
|
Signed with SEA
|
|
RB
|
Justice Hairston
|
IND
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
Justin Fargas
|
OAK
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Kenny Irons
|
CIN
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
Kevin Jones
|
DET
|
CUT
|
Signed with CHI
|
|
RB
|
LaBrandon Toefield
|
JAX
|
UFA
|
Signed with CAR
|
|
RB
|
LaMont Jordan
|
OAK
|
CUT
|
Signed by NE
|
|
RB
|
Marion Barber III
|
DAL
|
RFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Maurice Hicks
|
SF
|
UFA
|
Signed with MIN
|
|
RB
|
Mewelde Moore
|
MIN
|
UFA
|
Signed with PIT
|
|
RB
|
Michael Bennett
|
TB
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Michael Pittman
|
TB
|
UFA
|
Signed with DEN
|
|
RB
|
Michael Turner
|
SD
|
UFA
|
Signed with ATL
|
|
RB
|
Mike Anderson
|
BAL
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
Mike Bell
|
DEN
|
CUT
|
Signed with HOU
|
|
RB
|
Musa Smith
|
BAL
|
UFA
|
Signed with NYJ
|
|
RB
|
Najeh Davenport
|
PIT
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
Patrick Cobbs
|
MIA
|
RFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Reno Mahe
|
PHI
|
UFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Rock Cartwright
|
WAS
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Ron Dayne
|
HOU
|
UFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Ryan Grant
|
GB
|
ERFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Samkon Gado
|
MIA
|
RFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Shaud Williams
|
BUF
|
UFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Shaun Alexander
|
SEA
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
T.J. Duckett
|
DET
|
UFA
|
Signed with SEA
|
|
RB
|
Tatum Bell
|
DET
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Travis Henry
|
DEN
|
CUT
|
|
|
RB
|
Vernand Morency
|
GB
|
RFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
RB
|
Verron Haynes
|
PIT
|
UFA
|
|
|
RB
|
Warrick Dunn
|
ATL
|
CUT
|
Signed with TB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WR
|
Aaron Moorehead
|
IND
|
UFA
|
|
|
WR
|
Andre’ Davis
|
HOU
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
WR
|
Antonio Bryant
|
n/a
|
UFA
|
Signed with TB
|
|
WR
|
Antonio Chapman
|
CIN
|
UFA
|
Re-signed
|
|
WR
|
Az-Zahir Hakim
|
MIA
|
UFA
|
|
|
WR
|
Bernard Berrian
|
