The 9th Floor
THE 9TH FLOOR
Who said football wasn’t a 52 week job! We are just roughly one month removed from the Super Bowl and rosters are already taking on new looks. Here are a few random thoughts on an already crazy off season.
If there is on team in football you have to feel bad for it’s the San Fransisco 49ers. Here’s a team that is still paying for salary cap mistakes of years past and now they have the #1 pick in the draft in a draft where there is no sure number one pick. The 9ers need talent and a trade down for extra picks for the #1 pick would sure do this team good. There still may be some first round trades but I think the teams that will trade down are the Bears, Bucs or Titans who sit in the 4,5,6 slots. Teams needing one of the top 3 backs will surely trade up to on of these teams to grab that running back. Usually the #1 pick in any draft is a great position to be in but unfortunately for the 49ers this just isn’t the case.
We are seeing a lot of movement out there in the wide receiver position and in most of the cases these receivers are committing Fantasy suicide! Muhsin to the Bears, Mason to the Ravens Coles and S. Moss trading places and now talk of Burress to the Giants. These moves are robbing the Fantasy player of some solid receivers. These receivers will surely take a hit on their production. This years draft teams should plan on taking a solid #1 receiver earlier that in years past because the depth at the position is getting thin.
Could it be that the Arizona Cardinals are actually going to be a relevant team to watch? With the addition of Kurt Warner, though not the same MVP type player, the best QB this team has had since Jim Hart, this team will be very interesting to watch. Warner will again have some receivers with speed something the Giants did not have last year and I think he can have a solid year throwing the ball. If the Cards at the #8 pick can get a little lucky and have a shot at a running back, this team will finally be able to move the ball up and down the field. The Cardinals players always seem to fall in the draft but this is a year where these players will definitely have some value.
If I were Kelly Holcomb and at 31 finally had a chance to be a starting QB I would have signed with the Browns. He went to the Bills where it will be the same ole story for him, a backup who will see some playing time to give the offense a boost. All players say it seems is they want a chance to start and here’s a guy who had it and walked a way. I don’t get it!
The happiest guy out there this off season has to be Kerry Collins. This is a year of no excuses for him as the talent around is some of the best in the league. The acquisition of Jordan puts this team right back in the mix and now they can focus of drafting some defense. This team as it stands now will need to win games with the offense and that means good news for fantasy numbers.
I think if there were 2 players under a tremendous amount of pressure to produce this year it would have to be Joey Harrington and Aaron Brooks. These players have to show that they are worthy of leading a team and this has to be the end of the line for both. Harrington especially has to be worried with all the talk of every available free agent QB being linked to the Lions. If Charles Rogers can ever stay healthy and with Roy Williams having a solid rookie year there is some optimism there but Harrington has to show he belongs from the start or he will be the first QB replaced in ’05.
The position of strength out there seems to be the TE position. Any one of the top 10 is a solid selection so do not over value the position. Before I took TE I would make sure I had at least 2 solid wide receivers. I would not start looking at the TE position until the middle of the draft just because the league seems to be returning to plays utilizing the position. Do not over value this position it will hurt you later on as you fill out your roster.
Without a doubt the first 5 players drafted in any draft should be running backs. I realize that Manning is an enticing pick but the difference in production from a top back to a middle of the pack back is too much production to give away. Running backs are the premium position to build a team around so it is imperative to grab one as fast as you can.
Please Jerry Rice retire!!!!. I for one want to remember you for all your great accomplishments not for a guy who just holds on. It has been a great treat to watch you over the years and what you did will never be duplicated again.
Sheamus
Posted by joe at March 7, 2005 5:00 PM
