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Published: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:50:00 EST | | | | | - Terrell Owens admits his skills have diminished
According to Yahoo Sports' Jason Cole, Bengals WR Terrell Owens admitted to the team's coaching staff that he understands his skills have diminished. While it's nice to hear T.O. being realistic, this should also serve as a reminder that he's not the player he was earlier this decade. Still, the Bengals coaching staff believes he can be a dangerous weapon on the outside. "No, he doesn't get away from bump coverage very well and he doesn't run the middle anymore, but you can see that he can still get vertical against a secondary," an anonymous staff member said. "Last year, whenever teams doubled Chad or rolled the safety his way, we couldn't beat the man coverage on the other side. T.O. can do that." However, Owens does come with baggage as he isn't a model of consistent behavior and therefore, the Bengals are simply hoping to get the talent that he still has left out of him and at the same time they're hoping to keep the problems at bay long enough for this to work. Or as one coach put it: "Life is short, might as well make it interesting."
FANTASY ANALYSIS: Owens struggled last year in Buffalo with 829 receiving yards and five touchdowns and will try to resurrect his career in Cincinnati. The Bengals are a much better scenario for him than the Bills because he has more talent around him, especially at quarterback. Carson Palmer should enjoy throwing to Owens, who is expected to compete with Antonio Bryant to be the No. 2 WR behind Ochocinco. I think Owens will win that battle and start for the Bengals this season. Consider Owens a low-end No. 3 and a definite No. 4 Fantasy WR on Draft Day. He's not an elite Fantasy option anymore as he's now only a quality reserve fantasy WR at this stage in his career and will probably help the Bengals more than your fantasy team. [Go To Page]
| | - No 'foot' issues - Chaz ready to rock n roll in NFL!
Number 81 Chaz Schilens of the Oakland Raiders is ready to rock and roll his 6'4quot; 225 pound frame in the NFL elite. The ex San Diego State wide receiver was drafted in 2008. Born in Lancaster California on November 7, 1985 the 24 year old has had issues with injury in the NFL. Chaz has racked up 44 receptions for 591 yards and four touchdowns in his limited action, averaging 24.6 yards per game. He did record a reception of 60 yards in 2008, this and his 100 yards after the catch make him a viable threat when healthy.
Chaz reported to training camp on Tuesday without any restrictions, this according to Oakland Tribune writer Jerry McDonald. He was not wearing a boot, and most importantly, he was not limping. Chaz took part in the Raiders' June practices. CBS Sports reports that Chaz's left foot, which was surgically repaired is 100 percent healthy. He has spent the past month running routes and catching passes from Quarterback Bruce Gradowski at the team headquarters in Almeda. Chaz added "I feel healthy. I feel like it's time to go. I.m anxious." FANTASY ANALYSIS: It appears there are no issues with Schilens' foot, and we will now see what he is capable of. Darrius Heyward Bey may be listed ahead of Chaz in team reports, blah, but I have seen enough of Chaz Schilen's potential, and enough of the rest of the squad to realize that the only Oakland receiver (or tight end) that has proven himself above Chaz is indeed TE Zach Miller.
Keep an eye on Chaz. If healthy he shall earn the number one receiver position by mid-year and be a force to reckon with for years. [Go To Page]
| - Clausen signs with Panthers - fights for #2
Jimmy Clausen will report on time to participate in team drills for today. The Rookie Quarterback reached a deal with the Carolina Panthers, a four year deal. The former Notre Dame QB was selected with the 48th overall pick on April. The Rock Hill Herald reports that the deal includes $2.533 million in guaranteed money, with a maximum value of $6.3 million which includes escalators from play time incentives. This ensures the Panthers will have no rookie holdouts at the start of training camp. Clausen was the last of ten rookies to sign as reported by MSN Foxsports. Agent Gary Wichard and the Panthers worked throughout the night to reach a deal.
Jimmy Clausen was projected potentially, as a top 10 pick entering this years draft. He enters camp behind Matt Moore explains Sean Leahy of USA Today. He will be battling Hunter Cantwell and Tony Pike for the coveted #2 QB position. Some believe Clausen steps in as number two, and some believe Hunter Cantwell will pass Clausen soon enough. FANTASY ANALYSIS: The Charlotte Observer reported on Sunday that second year QB Cantwell has a cannon of an arm and has a lot of support inside the Panthers organization, and seen by many as a rising prospect. Clausen has taken snaps with the second team offense during the Carolina's summer workouts.
Note: The four year contract, escalators in tact, is a rarity for a second round pick!
Nothing is solidified here, pertaining to the number two QB battle. This is a good position for the Carolina Panthers too be in. They may very well have long term implications here for an improved quarterback force.
It's rumored that Clausen's fans love to call him 'Pickles.' [Go To Page]
| - Seahawks and rookie WR Golden Tate agree to terms on four-year contract
According to a league source, the Seattle Seahawks and second-round draft pick Golden Tate (No. 60 overall) have agreed to terms on a four-year contract, believed to be worth $3.261 million (including $1.471 million in guaranteed money). The former Notre Dame standout caught 159 balls for 2,707 yards and 26 scores in his three-year stay in South Bend. Now that Tate is officially in the fold in the Pacific Northwest, he is expected to compete immediately with projected starters T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch for first-team reps. FANTASY ANALYSIS: After falling well into the second round of April's draft (despite being regarded by many as a first-round type of talent), concerns began to surface a bit regarding Tate's size (5'10quot;, and a donut shy of 200 pounds) and ability to separate from cornerbacks at the next level (despite posting a 4.42-40 at the combine). But, while he has still yet to catch a ball in an actual NFL game, the Irish's all-time leader in receiving yards has at least done his best to silence the critics with his eye-opening performances in Seattle's minicamp sessions throughout the summer. When asked about the most electrifying player in camp, many close to the Seahawks organization wasted no time before adding that distinction to the resume of 2009's Biletnikoff-award winner. And considering that the franchise is currently relying on the molasses-like speed of Houshmandzadeh and the cotton-candy knee ligaments of Branch to revive the once-proficient passing game in Seattle, it appears to be just a matter of time before Tate is given the opportunity to show what he can do running with the first team. Fantasy owners tend to bypass rookie wide receivers because, as a rule, they are one of the position groups that struggles most to acclimate to the pro game. But Tate could very well prove to be an exception to that Golden rule in 2010, and the rookie wideout is definitely worth a look as a late-round WR4 project (with potential WR3 upside). [Go To Page]
| - Aaron Schobel will decide to play or retire in next two weeks
Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel may in fact return to the team. On June 10, he went on record as saying, quot;At this point, I don't think that I'm going to play." But Schobel told the Buffalo News on Tuesday, "I'm leaning more toward playing than I was a month ago. I don't know what the Bills would do or how much time they would give me [to make a decision], but I'm thinking about it." Schobel went on to say that he has stayed in good shape and feels he could go to camp and get back into playing shape by the time the season starts."I'm goign to try to make a decision in the next 10 days," he said. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to report in 10 days." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Schobel is one of the most unheralded defensive players in the NFL. In nine NFL seasons, he's had 78 sacks and 21 forced fumbles. Playing in relative obscurity hasn't helped him but he's a blue-collar player that never needed a spotlight. Schobel isn't much of a fantasy prospect but he's still a key member of the Bills' defense. Having him there helps, but Buffalo's defense is far from coveted. The Bills' defense is ranked 29th here at FFToolbox, only ahead of Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis. Schobel is ranked the 49th LB. [Go To Page]
| | | - Marion Barber starting in front of Felix Jones at Cowboys camp
The Dallas Cowboys have a good problem in their backfield. It's just a problem for fantasy drafters. Running back Felix Jones ended last season in the good graces of many more owners than teammate Marion Barber and received all of the offseason hype. Felix is a fifth or sixth round draft pick right now, while Barber comes off the board a couple of rounds later. That's because Jones is expected to be the starter.... but not so fast. Barber is the one filling the role of Dallas' starting rusher early in camp. Jones is playing behind him and according to Nick Eatman of the team's official website, quot;It doesn't really look like it's going to change anytime soon." FANTASY ANALYSIS: Barber has been getting the majority of the good press between the two lately. He lost some weight during the offseason and beat reporters are saying that he looks like a new, better player. The word on Jones hasn't been overly negative, but he did miss Tuesday's practice to rest a swollen knee. Seriously, the Cowboys held three practices before Jones sustained an injury. That can't be a good omen. I'm still more of a Jones fan, but I'm not as optimistic on him as I was a month ago. We've got a long way to go, but this currently looks like a 50-50 situation (fantasy owners should try to avoid it if they can). Both backs are low-end No. 2 RBs at this point. [Go To Page]
| - Rams' Steven Jackson cleared for training camp
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson was basically the team's lone threat on offense last season. Yet he still recorded less than 1,400 yards rushing. Jackson's back ferociously barked at him for most of the 2009 second half. Though, he played in all but one game and still averaged more than 20 touches per game in December. Jackson has been one of the NFL's most physical running backs since he entered the league, so it shouldn't cause any surprise that he'll be on the field when the Rams begin their training camp Thursday. Head coach Steve Spagnuolo said that Jackson should be able to quot;do most everything" in camp, but he wants his franchise player to meet with team doctors one more time. "He feels great," Spagnuolo said Tuesday. "We want to get him ready. And we'll have him ready for the opening game. We'll be smart about it." Jackson sat out all of the team's spring workouts after undergoing surgery in April for the herniated disc in his back. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Jackson will spend yet another season as the Rams' offensive focal point. It's laughable if you think Donnie Avery or Laurent Robinson, with A.J. Feeley or Sam Bradford behind center, will draw any attention away from Jackson. Given his poor supporting cast and injury history, I would pick him after the likes of Frank Gore and Michael Turner in drafts, but he's still an easy first-round selection. Just remember that Jackson has missed nine games through the past three seasons. [Go To Page]
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