The Frozen Zone - Volume 1 Number 2

The Frozen Zone – Ice Cold NFL Facts and Happenings
Volume 1 Number 2

I. Randy Moss is now a Raider. Red McCombs thinks that the Vikings did not get enough in return for arguable the league’s best wideout, and Mike Tice almost lost his job, but Randy is now in Oakland. This makes the Raiders a legitimate team again. Moss, incidentally, will wear #18.

II. In other Raider news, the team has signed running back LaMont Jordan as a free agent. Jordan agreed to a 5 year, 27.5 million dollar contract. Jordan will most certainly become the Raiders feature back. The Raiders have also released running back Ty Wheatley to make room for Jordan. Jordan should shoot up in most rankings, possibly breaking the Top 20.

III. Derrick Mason signs with Ravens. Finally, the Ravens have a legitimate receiver. Mason, who is a Top 10 fantasy wide receiver, should instantly boost the Ravens offense, and provide a spark to Kyle Boller. Boller should be tweaked up a bit to reflect this signing.

IV. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has re-signed with the Bengals. T.J. agreed to a 4 year, 13 million dollar deal with his old club. His stock has really shot up recently, and he will probably be drafted in many leagues this year. He could certainly be a sleeper pick for many.

V. Correll Buckhalter remains with the Eagles. The often injured Buckhalter signed with the Eagles to remain Brian Westbrook’s backup. Even with his signing of a 2 year contract, don’t expect Buckhalter’s stock to rise until he can prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season.

VI. Blaylock signs with Jets. The day after the Jets lost LaMont Jordan to the Raiders, they went out and signed former Kansas City running back Derrick Blaylock. Blaylock has spent 4 years in the league, all with the Chiefs. He is expected to back up Curtis Martin as well as serve as insurance. Martin owners should try and work on drafting Blaylock as well.

VII. Former Patriot David Patten signs with the Redskins. Patten gives the ‘Skins a legitimate deep threat and can also actively try and trade Laverneus Coles. Patten however is not a #1 receiver. He really only came into prominence while playing in the Patriots “team” philosophy. It is unknown how he will fit into another team’s plans. Stay tuned on this one and don’t be too quick to shoot Patten up the draft list until he can show he can handle the load.

VIII. The trades involving Santana Moss, Laverneus Coles and Travis Henry appear to be dead in the water. Coles has held up the deal, making him not look like a team player. Look for most teams to avoid him. The deal involving Henry and the Cardinals’ L.J. Shelton never appeared to get off the ground. Looks for Henry to be signed elsewhere.

IX. Brian Griese and the Buccaneers have agreed on a 1 year contract. Griese had a rejuvenated season in 2004 and has turned that into a lucrative contract. He will remain the starter for the Bus in 2005. In a related matter, the Bucs also restructured the contract of Mike Alstott. It appears as though Alstott will remain with Tampa Bay for his entire career.

X. Quite a few big names were released recently, mostly to make cap space. Troy Brown (Patriots), Marcus Pollard (Colts), Jerome Pathon (Saints), David Terrell (Bears), Ike Hilliard (Giants), Marc Edwards (Jaguars) and Rodney Peete (Panthers) were all given their walking papers by their former teams. Look for almost all of them, with the possible exception of Peete and Edwards, to sign with other teams soon.

XI. Rich Gannon (Raiders) has restructured his contract as well, but it certainly appears as though Gannon will retire. Do not draft of even include Gannon on your cheat sheets.

XII. In the who really cares department, the following players have been signed: Kicker Matt Bryant (Bucs), Tight End Ed Perry (Dolphins), Running Back Larry Ned and Wide Receiver (Fabian Davis (Cardinals). The only one of these players that has a chance to make a fantasy splash is Matt Bryant and maybe Larry Ned as a deep, deep sleeper.

THE GOSSIP CHAIN

 There have been many rumors as to where Jeff Garcia is going. It certainly appears as though he will end up in Tampa Bay or Denver.

 Expect Brad Johnson to be released soon. He will almost certainly find employment somewhere in the league as a backup and a spot starter.

 Expect the Vikings to sign a receiver to replace the loss of Randy Moss. Plaxico Burress and Travis Taylor are the front runners. Both are quite a step down from Moss, but Burress is 6’5” and could possibly flourish in the Viking’s offensive scheme. Burress will command a much higher price tag than Taylor, however.

 Where will Kurt Warner sign: Arizona, Chicago, and Detroit are the main possibilities. All expectations are that Warner will be in a Cardinals uniform in 2005.

Posted by joe at March 10, 2005 4:16 PM