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The BlackJack Table round 2

The BlackJack Table round 2

2. A look at the Dallas Cowboys Offense

Looking at the 2005 Dallas Cowboys is a bit like looking at the past. Not the glory days of the Big D mind you but the 1995-96 New England Patriots and the1997-99 New York Jets. The coach for both those teams was Bill Parcells. The Quarterback for the Patriots was Drew Bledsoe and for the Jets Vinny Testaverde. The main wide receivers were for the Pats Terry Glenn and for the Jets Keyshawn Johnson. The Jets full back was Richie Anderson. All of these player’s, are members of the Dallas Cowboys with the exception of Testaverde who was released when the team signed Bledsoe. Most importantly for “America’s Team”, these players and The Big Tuna himself are past their prime.
Even though The Cowboys are littered with players from the Tuna’s last 2 teams Dallas does have a pair of young stars on the rise in the offense. 2nd year Running Back Julius Jones is a good one. In his rookie season last year, once he escaped the injury bug and the wrath of the Tuna and his doghouse, Julius settled in for a very respectable season posting 819 yards on 197 carries for 4.2 avg. and 7 TD’s. Jones also caught 17 passes for 109 yds. If Jones stays healthy and plays the whole season, these numbers will improve dramatically. He can provide much needed ball control. The other young star they have is tight end Jason Witten. Jason was the leading receiver for the Cowboys last season snagging 87 passes for 980 yards and 6 TD’s. He is heading into his 3rd season and should provide a great outlet for Drew when he gets in trouble. Bledsoe has been known to throw to his TE. Does anyone remember Ben Coates?
Rounding out the offense is wide receiver Quincy Morgan who came over from the Browns in the Antonio Bryant trade and running back Eddie George. With the exception of the 2 young stars this offense is a bunch of has beens and also rans. Bledsoe has had a career plagued by immobility and poor decision making. I don’t see why that will change here. He wore out his welcome in New England and Buffalo and looks like a dinosaur out on the field. Terry Glenn (24 receptions for 400 yds. And 2 TD’s) left New England for greener pastures in Green Bay which looked like a great opportunity for the head case but he failed to make any impact and moved on to Dallas.
Keyshawn Johnson (70 receptions for 981 yds. And 6 TD’s) has been disappointing fantasy owners since he left New York. Quincy Morgan (22 receptions for 200 yds. And 0 TD’s) has been inconsistent at best his whole career. Eddie George (132 carries for 432 yds. and 4 TD’s with 9 receptions for 83 yds. And 0 TD’s) has obviously lost more than a step. Richie Anderson (57 carries for 246 yds. and 1 TD with 26 receptions for 207 yds. and 0 TD’s) has had some good games but doesn’t touch the ball enough.
I don’t see this group doing much. They will try to revive their glory days but for the gambler out there look elsewhere for your hits. The House “Stays” on this one. You don’t necessarily need 21 to win at Blackjack
By: BlackJack

THE 9TH FLOOR VOLUME 3

As the free agent season begins to wind down and the draft right around the corner some teams rosters have taken a new look. With players moving from team to team or being salary cap casualties it puts the light shining bright on some to produce. The following are players who will carry a large burden toward the success or failure of their team.

1) Steve Smith (wr-Carolina Panthers) Smith had a breakout season in '03 and help lead the Panthers to their inprobable run to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for Steve and the Panthers a broken leg kept him out the lineup in '04. Steve needs to return to his '03 form and stretch the field with his speed to open up the field for the running game and for the short underneath routes. The Panthers are counting on Smiths' return to health( especially with the loss of their leading receiver to FA) or the offense will take a step backwards. Smith is a key to the Panthers success in '05 and his speed was something the team missed in '04.

2)Julius Jones (rb-Dallas Cowboys) Since climbing out of Coach Parcells doghose in mid season Jones has been the teams most important player. Jones allowed the Cowboys to run a ball control offense and control the clock in the process. With the addition of Drew Bledsoe who can be as erratic as they come it is important for the Cowboys success that Jones touch the ball 25-30 times a game. The more yards that Jones can get will help an aging receiving core contribute more and more. If the Cowboys arw to have any success next season it has to start and end with Jones.

3) Daunte Culpepper(qb-Minnesota Vikings) I know that Daunte has been the 2nd best QB over the last few years but he also had one Randy Moss. There is no mistaking that this is now his team and if it is possible he has to carry an even bigger resposibility. Since the seasons end Culpepper has distanced himself from Moss and wants to concentrate solely on football which already is a great sign. Although the Vikings have their share of quality receivers they lack for now a proven number one type player. It now lies squarely on Culpepper's shoulders to carry the burden or the Vikings will be in trouble.

4)Curtis Martin (rb-New York Jets) With questions around the health of Chad Pennington's shoulder it will be Curtis Martin who will be looked upon to lead the Jets. It is tough to vision Martin having the type of season in '05 as he did in '04 cosidering at the seasons start Martin will be 32 years old:an age where most backs begin to show signs of wear. The Jets did bring back Laveranues Coles but time will tell if he can regain his old form back as an elite receiver. Until the jets can find their identity it will have to be Martin that will shoulder the Jets offensive sucess in '05.

5)Ahman Green(rb-Green Bay Packers) There was no better back in the league in '03 than Green but in '04 things just did not go as planned. Green's fumbling problems returned and his confidence suffered. Brett Favre is not the Qb he once was and cannot carry a team as he once could. Green has to touch the ball 25-30 times a game for the team to win so a return to his old form is a must. If the Pack is to have any success this season it starts and ends with Green returning to his '03 form.

6)Darrell Jackson(wr-Seattle Seahawks) Will someone the Seahawks receiving core please step up? There is no dispute that Jackson had a solid season in '04 but there also lies the problem. Jackson as all the Seahawks receivers drop too many balls at the worst possible times for the team to have any success. Jackson is a player entering into his prime and he needs to become the true undiputed leader of the Seahawk receivers.

7) Duce Staley(rb-Pittsburgh Steelers) Contrary to earlier reports it is no given that Jerome Bettis will return for the '05 season. While Ben Roethlisberger had an outstanding season the Steelers are still a run first pass second type offense. Staley has always been a productive and tough back but
injuries always seem to find him. Staley needs to stay healthly so that all the pressure does not fall on Roethlisberger. Staley is the x-factor for the success of the Steelers heading into '05.

8)Jeff Garcia(qb-Detroit Lions) Even without taking a snap Garcia mayhave the most impact as any player in the NFL next season. There is no doubt that Joey Harrinton is running out of chances and Garcia may be just what is needed to elevate Harrington's game. Garcia is familiar with all of what a west coast offense is all about and can hopefully pass some of what he knows to Harrington. Although Garcia may not throw a pass this season his presence alone will have a huge impact on how the Lions will play this season.

9)Andre Johnson(wr-Houston Texans) Although Johnson had a breakout season in '04 there is still room for him to improve heading into '05. The last 4 games of the '04 season Johnson recorded but 11 receptions and for the team to improve Johnson has to become more assertive on the field. If Johnson can step up his game the Texans will become a tougher team to defend and increase their chances for a playoff berth in '05.

Jon

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Pick Him Up Or Pass Him By - Tatum Bell

If you are looking for a dependable back with a tremendous upside, look no further than Tatum Bell. First off, he is a product of the Denver Broncos system, a team that can make any running back a star. He is in his 2nd year, and is 5’11”, 210 pounds, and muscular, which is good size for an NFL running back. He might be just a bit small though, which could lead to injuries. Bell is a product of the Oklahoma State system, which produces good, if not great, running backs (Thurman Thomas, for example).

As a runner, Bell is explosive. He has 4.4 second speed in the 40 yard dash. He is a good runner inside our outside, with the speed to turn the corner and break long runs. In 14 games as a rookie last season, Bell had a 5.3 yards per carry average and 3 touchdowns, while backing up Reuben Droughns. He will not have the same problem this season, as he enters training camp as the #1 running back in Denver.

On the downside, Bell is just an OK receiver, which might relegate him to 1st and 2nd down duty only, and although he fumbled only once in 2004, his running style offers up the chance to fumble the ball more often. If Bell can overcome that trouble, which most believe that he can, Bell will be a solid fantasy performer in 2004. So by all means, if you find yourself thinking about a #2 or #3 running back for your squad, and Bell is available, by all means, PICK HIM UP.

Remaining Free Agent Quarterbacks

As the pool of Free Agents become smaller, a number of marginal players are becoming hot commodities. Here is a look at five of the remaining quarterbacks and what teams would be good fits for them.

1) Kordell Stewart. This guy does it all. He passes, runs, catches, and even punts. Stewart has a very pedestrian 70.7 rating over his career, but he has 90 TD passes against 77 interceptions. He also has had 38 career rushing TDs and 5 receiving TDs. An alarming statistic though is his 22 lost fumbles from his 44 total fumbles. He must hold onto the ball more and fight for it when he loses it. Stewart is 32 years old but he still has some left in the tank. He has become a smarter quarterback in recent years, and although he runs less, he could be a productive quarterback in spot starting duty. Stewart needs a wide open system to flourish, and it appears as though Carolina or Cleveland might be a good fit for Stewart.

2) Doug Flutie. Flutie is strictly a reserve quarterback at 42 years old, but when he is put into a situation where immediate results are needed, Flutie seems to always get the job done. He has a career 76.4 rating, and has thrown 86 TDs and only 68 interceptions. Flutie has a reputation as a scrambler, but he has only averaged 4.9 yards per carry over his career. An impressive statistic though, is his 2 lost fumbles in his career. He has had 36 total fumbles. Flutie is like having an extra coach on the bench, and nobody else could use some extra coaching than Kyle Boller, so Flutie should attempt to sign with Baltimore.

3) Jeff Blake. Blake has a respectable 77.9 quarterback rating over his 14 year career, and although he is 34 years old, he could have some value as a backup somewhere. He spent last season with the Eagles, and it is possible that he learned something from Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid. Even though he has 133 TDs to go with his 99 interceptions over his career, it appears as though Blake’s best years are behind him. He might find it worthwhile to sign with a team with an established quarterback. Blake would be smart to sign with Seattle.

4) Tim Hasselbeck. All of a sudden, Hasselbeck is becoming a sought after quarterback. He has only started 5 games over his career, and has a 63.6 career rating. He has 5 TDs and 7 interceptions over his career. The one thing that Hasselbeck has on his side is youth. He needs to find a situation where he can be brought along slowly. The Denver Broncos would be a good fit for Hasselbeck, as they have a good quarterback in Jake Plummer and an excellent coach/teacher in Mike Shanahan.

5) J.T. O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan, like Hasselbeck above, is a restricted free agent. He has attempted no passes over his career, and is a totally unproven commodity. He has studied under Brett Favre though, and he just might turn into a decent quarterback someday. He needs to find a situation where a new quarterback could find himself in a fighting chance to start, and it appears as though those situations for O’Sullivan would be San Francisco and Chicago. It is unlikely though that the 49ers would part with the compensatory pick to acquire O’Sullivan, so look for him to sign with the Bears.

THE ICEMAN

2005 TCFS Mock Draft #1

2005 TCFS Mock Draft #1

WEEK 4 FREE AGENTS

CHESTER TAYLOR (re-signed with Ravens)The Ravens matched the offer sheet by the Browns to Taylor thus putting an end to any great value that he may have had. Taylor is a great backup to Jamal Lewis and with his legal problems Taylor may see some playing time early in the season. For those owners of Jamal Lewis it would be wise to add Taylor to your roster later in the draft.

JOE ZELENKA (re-signed with Jax) Zelenka is entering his 8th season and as a TE is yet to record a reception. Zelenka's value is as a long snapper so his value to fantasy is none.

HEATH EVANS (Signed with Miami) Evans comes to the Dolphins from Seattle where he has put up minimal numbers while serving as the teams fullback. A player with no fantasy value.

TRAVIS MINOR (re-signed with Miami) For now Minor is the lead back for the Dolphins but is much better served as a backup/3rd down back. Miami is in the market for a true number one back so Minor will find his way back to being a reserve.At best Minor should be considered no more than your 4th running back on your roster.

OLA KIMRIN (signed with Titans) Kimrin attemted 10 field goals with the Redskins in '04 and connected on but 6. For now he is the kicker but expect to see a competition to develop as camps open.

DAMIEN ANDERSON (re-signed with Arizona) Anderson is strictly used as a backup and special teams player. Anderson is a player with no significant value for '05.

EDDIE BERLIN (signed with Chicago) Berlin comes to Chicago from the Titans where he saw minimal action as a WR. Berlin had his best season in '04 catching 20 balls. Coming to Chicago as a 4th or 5th receiver and special teams player,Berlin again will have no value to your roster.

LAMONT HULL (re-signed with Saints) In 6 NFL seasons Hull has caught a total of 13 passes for 91 yards. In a very deep TE pool Hull should have no value.

MIKE SELLERS (re-signed with Redskins) Sellers is a backup TE with no fantasy value heading into the '05 season.

JOE JUREVICIUS (signed with Seattle) Jurevicious is a big receiver who will finally add some toughness to a Seattle receiving core. Joe has had success as a receiver in the NFL and will be a major addition to the Seattle team. Consider Jurevicious as your 4th receiver but as the season wears on also a player whose numbers could rise.

STEPHEN ALEXANDER (signed with Broncos) Earlier this off season the Broncos re-signed their starting TE from '04 Jeb Putzier and Alexander will serve as his backup. Alexander is a solid TE having posted 41 receptions last season. Alexander will see some time as the team goes to a 2 TE set but expect minimal numbers from him in '05.

TCFS STAFF

The BlackJack Table # 1

Welcome To

The BlackJack Table

A Gamblers Paradise

By: BlackJack

#1. A look at the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers. Life after Randy Moss.

At first look, the Minnesota Viking Receiving corps was dealt a tremendous blow by the trading of Randy Moss. But let’s look a little deeper into this situation.
Randy Moss is or was arguably the BEST receiver in football period. His stats are incredible but they don’t paint the whole picture. Mr. Moss is a “Problem Child” blessed with talent to make people over look this fact. It is obvious now that the Vikings couldn’t put up with this any longer. They had to deal him. He was disrupting the team and the Vikings are a team, not the “Randy Show” featuring the daunted “Randy Ratio”.
Great receivers turn good quarterbacks into great ones. And even still Quarterback Daunte Culpepper was OK letting Randy go. That speaks volumes about the problems Moss was causing.
Minnesota signed often injured Travis Taylor from the Ravens to replace Moss.
Now Taylor is no second coming of Randy Moss. At best he was a severely underachieving Wide Out since being picked #10 overall in the 2000 draft out of Florida.
But here is where the gambling comes into play. Baltimore’s quarterbacks over the years have not even been in the same ballpark as Culpepper. So for the first time in Taylor’s Pro career he’ll have a quarterback that can get him the ball. The rest is up to him.
At the beginning of last season Marcus Robinson was supposed to be the clear #2 receiver behind Moss. Injuries and dropped balls forced Culpepper to look elsewhere.
Robinson was a Stud when he was with Chicago. But since his leg injury he has only shown flashes of his former self with the Bears, Ravens and Vikings. He will officially be listed as the #2 receiver but look for him to slip as Taylor gets a chance to show his stuff. Just a coincidence that these two receivers came from the Ravens whose Head Coach Brian Billick was once Minnesota’s Offensive Coordinator?
So who is #1 now that Randy is gone? Well last year Tight End Jermane Wiggins Caught 71 balls for 4 TD’s to lead the Vikes. However a close second was Nate Burleson a second year wide out with 68 catches and 8 TD’s. Burleson had a chance to shine in the wake of Randy Moss's injuries and was the only 1000 yard receiver on the team last year. Even though Wiggins re-signed with the Vikings Burleson comes into 2005 as the #1 Receiver. He should improve on his numbers from last year. He also returned a punt for a TD.
In closing Randy Moss is gone but The Minnesota Viking offense will be just fine.
Daunte Culpepper is one of the top 2 QB’s in the game (the other being Peyton Manning). So are you a “Gambler”? Should you risk drafting any of the Viking receivers? This author says yes. Hit Me. That’s 21 my friends and that IS BlackJack

The Frozen Zone Volume 1 Number 5

The Frozen Zone – Ice Cold NFL Facts and Happenings
Volume 1 Number 5
I. Will Ricky Williams return to the Dolphins? New coach Nick Saban wants him back, and it appears as though Ricky wants to come back. However, Williams will be a negative for a team trying to rebuild from a 4-12 record. Although Williams is a major talent, it would be best served if Williams remained on the outside looking in at the NFL. If there are any Travis Minor owners out there, this might be worth watching since the Dolphins re-signed Minor to a 1 year contract. Minor has 8 career touchdowns in his injury riddled career, mostly as a reserve.

II. The Giants re-signed quarterback Jesse Palmer to a 2 year, 1.5 million dollar contract. Palmer is not an NFL starter in any way, shape, or form, and even if Eli Manning gets hurt, smart fantasy owners would look elsewhere before signing Palmer.

III. Running Back Travis Henry has said that he will not return to the Bills in 2005. That might be just posturing, but if you own Henry, it appears as though his value will be nil unless he is traded. If he remains with the Bills, he will have no value because he will be playing behind Willis McGahee, and if he holds out, he won’t be playing at all.

IV. Just when it appeared as though Chester would be worth something to fantasy owners by signing with the Browns, he just as quickly became valueless when the Ravens matched the Browns offer sheet. Unless you own Jamal Lewis, keep away from Chester Taylor because he will have spot duty at best.

V. Quarterback News – All of a sudden Tim Hasselbeck has become a hot commodity in the NFL. For whatever reason, Hasselbeck has some teams salivating over the possibility of signing Hasselbeck. Fantasy owners should watch this situation closely, as Hasselbeck might have some value if he lands in the right situation (Chicago?)

VI. Wide Receivers In The News: Eddie Berlin has signed a 1 year contract with the Bears. That should signal the end of Berlins’ production as no Bears receivers are ever worth anything. He might have a little value though if The Monsters Of The Midway use Berlin as a return man. At 5’11” and 195 pounds, he is perfect size for that type of duty. In other news, Troy Walters has signed a 1 year contract with the Colts. As a Colts receiver, he should produce 2-3 scores, even as a #4 wide out. He is also used on Special Teams, so his value might be a little higher than receivers in his class. The Seahawks have signed wide receiver Joe Jurevicius to a 1 year contract. Jurevicius has missed significant time over the last two years, but if he can stay healthy, he could be a red zone threat. Jurevicius has 13 touchdowns in his career.

VII. From the who cares department: Running back Joe Burns and tight end Ryan Newfeld signed one year contracts with the Buffalo Bills. Full back Jim Finn has signed a 5 year contract with the New York Giants. Unless you are a Tiki Barber owner, this news is of no importance.

VIII. Its good to see that the justice system works in some cases. The Supreme Court of North Carolina refused to hear the appeal of Rae Carruth. Look for him to be a factor for the 2021 fantasy season, when he gets out of prison.

IX. Maurice Clarett plans on working out for NFL scouts at Warren G Harding High School, his Alma Mater. Clarett needs a huge day, or else there is a possibility that he might not even be drafted.

THE GOSSIP CHAIN

Will Troy Brown return to the Patriots? Odds are that he will at some point this year.

Will Jerome Pathon sign with the Seahawks? Conventional wisdom lead one to believe that this will not happen, since the Seahawks signed Joe Jurevicius.

There is a possibility though, that quarterback Tim Rattay and running back Ron Dayne will sign with the Buccaneers. Both have visited the Tampa area and it is believed that at least Dayne will sign there.

The Iceman

What Is Fantasy Football

What Is Fantasy Football?

Fantasy Football is a game played by many different people from all walks of life with
varying levels of athletic skill and knowledge. It is a game in which the participants do not have to be athletic at all even though they have a team full of athletes.
A Fantasy Football player is basically a mock football team owner in which you decide
on your teams name. Which players play for your team is decided by your leagues (other owners playing with you) draft. The draft is similar to a real football draft in which the teams from your league are given a draft order by the “Commissioner” of your league. The commissioner is the person responsible for running your league making all the decisions necessary to make your league run smoothly. He determines the rules of your league and how it is played and then enforces the rules so it will be fair to all participants.
Usually he is also one of the owners of a team in your league.
Once your leagues draft order is set (meaning which teams are choosing players in which order) a draft is held. The team owners gather together at a pre-determined location the draft is held. The owners begin drafting the NFL players they would like to play for their team. To decide who plays for their team, many owners do hours of research while some owners choose players they know well or like. The draft consists of rounds determined by the # of players your team will have. Each round the owner’s select 1 player to play for their team. This continues until all the teams’ rosters are full.
When the Football season starts the owners submit a lineup of players they wish to play that week. Lineups can change from week to week depending on injuries and bye weeks and performance. Your team scores points by each of the players in your lineup’s statistics that week. There are many different ways to score and depending on which scoring system your particular league uses, your points are added up each week and used against the other owners. Who ever has the most points at the end of the year is the winner, but there is much more to it than it sounds.
During the year team owners make adjustments to their fantasy teams. If a player gets injured, leagues usually have injured reserve spots where the owners can place a player until he recovers from an injury. Owners also have the option of releasing a player who is not performing well a choosing another available player. Another option available is the trade. Owners are allowed to trade the players on their team to any other owner for those teams’ players as long as both teams agree.
In order for an owner to have a winning team, research is key. An owner needs to know all the major players in the league. These are some of the questions a successful owner MUST know the answers to. Which players are good? Who is injured? Who is playing because of injuries to other players? Who is performing like they should be? Is that player a scoring threat every week? Who is that particular player’s opponent that week? Which players are still available to be picked up? If an owner knows the answers to these questions they have a better chance at success.
In the end it doesn’t matter if you are Male or Female or if you are a great athlete or not. It matters if you are knowledgeable about the sport and the game and your particular league. Like most things in life, Knowledge is Key.

TCFS Staff

Official NFL Team Homepages

Official NFL Team Homepages

1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Carolina Panthers
6. Chicago Bears
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Cleveland Browns
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Denver Broncos
11. Detroit Lions
12. Green Bay Packers
13. Houston Texans
14. Indianapolis Colts
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
16. Kansas City Chiefs
17. Miami Dolphins
18. Minnesota Vikings
19. New England Patriots
20. New Orleans Saints
21. New York Giants
22. New York Jets
23. Oakland Raiders
24. Philadelphia Eagles
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
26. St. Louis Rams
27. San Diego Chargers
28. San Francisco 49ers
29. Seattle Seahawks
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
31. Tennessee Titans
32. Washington Redskins

National Football League

Pick Him Up Or Pass Him By - Antwaan Randle-El

Antwaan Randle-El of the Pittsburgh Steelers will be entering his 4th NFL season in 2005 and will be 26 on opening day. Randle-El is only 5'10" and 185 pounds, which is small for an NFL receiver, but he is fast, consistent, and has great hands. He figures to enter training camp fighting with newly acquired Cedric Wilson for the #2 receiver's spot opposite Hines Ward. At worst he will remain a slot receiver for the Black and Gold.Randle-El is a great athlete, as evidence by his being draft by the Chicago Cubs in 1987, and he was a 2nd round pick of the Steelers out of Indiana University. Randle-El is entering the final year of his contract and many are expecting great things from him.

Fantasy owners can expect 40-45 receptions, 500 yards, and 2 TDs, and for leagues that reward Special Teams play, Randle-El is extra valuable as he averages a TD return every year. The only disturbing factor is that Randle-El has fumbles the ball 6 times in his three year career, which is high for a receiver. He did produce higher than the league average though in 2004. The league average for receivers was 420 yards and Randle-El produced 601 yards. Couple that with Randle-El's ability to run the ball as well as throw the ball and you have a valuable fantasy player. If you are looking for an option for a 3rd receiver for your fantasy team, and Randle-El is available, sound advice would be to PICK HIM UP.

A Very Early Cheat Sheet - March 24th

A Very Early Cheat Sheet
The following is an extremely early cheat sheet. This should be referred to for information regarding the value of trades, and determining your draft strategy for your 2005 Draft Day. This will be updated as much as needed as rookies, retirements and injuries affect a player’s position.
Last Updated on March 24th.

Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning, Ind
2. Daunte Culpepper, Min
3. Donovan McNabb, Phil
4. Michael Vick, Atl
5. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
6. Trent Green, KC
7. Mark Bulger, St.L
8. Tom Brady, NE
9. Jake Plummer, Den
10. Jake Delhomme, Car
11. David Carr, Hou
12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit
13. Carson Palmer, Cin
14. Drew Brees, SD
15. Brett Favre, GB
16. Byron Leftwich, Jax
17. Steve McNair, Ten
18. Aaron Brooks, NO
19. Chad Pennnington, NYJ
20. Rex Grossman, Chi
21. Billy Volek, Ten
22. Patrick Ramsay, Was
23. Joey Harrington, Det
24. Tim Rattay, SF
25. Josh McCown, Ari
26. Eli Manning, NYG
27. Brian Griese, TB
28. Kerry Collins, Oak
29. Kyle Boller, Bal
30. JP Losman, Buf
31. Phillip Rivers, SD
32. Jon Kitna, Cin
33. Drew Bledsoe, Dal
34. Kelly Holcomb, Buf
35. Craig Nall, GB
36. Koy Detmer, Phi
37. Jeff Garcia, Det
38. AJ Feeley, Mia
39. Kurt Warner, Ari
40. Jay Fiedler, NYJ
41. Chris Simms, TB
42. Drew Henson, Dal
43. Tommy Maddox, Pit
44. David Garrard, Jax
45. Quincy Carter, NYJ
46. Shaun King, Ari
47. Jim Sorgi, Ind
48. Gus Frerotte, Mia
49. Mike McMahon, Phi
50. Brad Johnson, Min
51. Mark Brunell, Was
52. Tony Romo, Dal
53. Trent Dilfer, Cle
54. Marques Tuiasosopo, Oak
55. Rich Gannon, Oak
56. Kordell Stewart, Bal
57. Luke McCown, Cle
58. John Navarre, Ari
59. Matt Schaub, Atl
60. Seneca Wallace, Sea
61. Rohan Davey, NE
62. Doug Pederson, GB
63. Todd Bouman, NO
64. Ken Dorsey, SF
65. Danny Kanell, Den
66. Dave Ragone, Hou
67. Craig Krentzel, Chi
68. Jesse Palmer, NYG
69. Chad Hutchinson, Chi
70. Jamie Martin, St.L
71. Tim Hasselbeck, Was
72. Tony Banks, Hou
73. Doug Flutie, SD
74. Rodney Peete, Car
75. Jeff George, Chi

Running Backs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
2. Shaun Alexander, Sea
3. Willis McGahee, Buf
4. Priest Holmes, KC
5. Edgerrin James, Ind
6. Corey Dillon, NE
7. Jamal Lewis, Bal
8. Deuce McAllister, NO
9. Tiki Barber, NYG
10. Kevin Jones, Det
11. Domanick Davis, Hou
12. Ahman Green, GB
13. Rudi Johnson, Cin
14. Clinton Portis, Was
15. Julius Jones, Dal
16. Brian Westbrook, Phi
17. Curtis Martin, NYJ
18. Chris Brown, Ten
19. Fred Taylor, Jax
20. Steven Jackson, St.L
21. Duce Staley, Pit
22. Thomas Jones, Chi
23. Lee Suggs, Cle
24. Kevan Barlow, SF
25. Marcel Shipp, Ari
26. Warrick Dunn, Atl
27. Reuben Droughns, Den
28. Larry Johnson, KC
29. Tatum Bell, Den
30. Onterrio Smith, Min
31. Lamont Jordan, Oak
32. Michael Pittman, TB
33. DeShaun Foster, Car
34. Marshall Faulk, St.L
35. Michael Bennett, Min
36. Najeh Davenport, GB
37. Stephen Davis, Car
38. Nick Goings, Car
39. Domanick Rhodes, Ind
40. Travis Henry, Buf
41. Correll Buckhalter, Phi
42. Moe Williams, Min
43. TJ Duckett, Atl
44. Jonathan Wells, Hou
45. Verron Haynes, Pit
46. Justin Fargas, Oak
47. James Mungro, Ind
48. Chris Perry, Cin
49. Quentin Griffin, Den
50. Charlie Garner, TB
51. Ty Wheatley, Oak
52. Aaron Stecker, NO
53. Mike Alstott, TB
54. Jerome Bettis, Pit
55. Kevin Faulk, NE
56. William Green, Cle
57. Lamar Gordon, Mia
58. Chester Taylor, Bal
59. Anthony Thomas, Chi
60. Tony Hollings, Hou
61. Tony Fisher, GB
62. Derrick Blaylock, NYJ
63. Sammy Morris, Mia
64. LaBrandon Toefield, Jax
65. William Henderson, GB
66. Justin Griffith, Atl
67. Zack Crockett, Oak
68. Dorsey Levens, Phil
69. Brad Hoover, Car
70. Cedric Cobbs, NE
71. Travis Minor, Mia
72. Troy Hambrick, Oak
73. Mewelde Moore, Min
74. Jesse Chatman, SD
75. Cory Schlessinger, Det
76. Rashard Lee, Dal
77. Greg Jones, Jax
78. Jerald Sewell, NYJ
79. Amos Zereoue, Oak
80. Richie Anderson, NYJ
81. Ricky Williams, Mia
82. Eddie George, Dal
83. Shawn Bryson, Det
84. BJ Sams, Bal
85. Jeremi Johnson, Cin
86. Tony Richardson, KC
87. Ron Dayne, NYG
88. Troy Fleming, Ten
89. Rob Konrad, Mia
90. Maurice Morris, Sea
91. Ladell Betts, Was
92. Artose Pinner, Det
93. JR Redmond, Oak
94. Rock Cartwright, Was
95. Adrian Peterson, Chi
96. Mack Strong, Sea

Wide Receivers
1. Randy Moss, Oak
2. Marvin Harrison, Ind
3. Terrell Owens, Phil
4. Chad Johnson, Cin
5. Torry Holt, St.L
6. Javon Walker, GB
7. Andre Johnson, Hou
8. Joe Horn, NO
9. Reggie Wayne, Ind
10. Roy Williams, Det
11. Drew Bennett, Ten
12. Darrell Jackson, Sea
13. Steve Smith, Car
14. Hines Ward, Pit
15. Anquan Boldin, Ari
16. Jimmy Smith, Jax
17. Rod Smith, Den
18. Jerry Porter, Oak
19. Michael Clayton, TB
20. Derrick Mason, Ten
21. Isaac Bruce, St.L
22. Chris Chambers, Mia
23. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari
24. Brandon Stokley, Ind
25. David Givens, NE
26. Laverneus Coles, NYJ
27. Deion Branch, NE
28. Lee Evans, Buf
29. Muhsin Muhammad, Car
30. Eric Moulds, Buf
31. Eddie Kennison, KC
32. Plaxico Burress, NYG
33. Nate Burleson, Min
34. Ashlie Lelie, Den
35. Charles Rogers, Det
36. Santana Moss, Was
37. TJ Houshmanzadeh, Cin
38. Brandon Lloyd, SF
39. Justin McCareins, NYJ
40. Antonio Bryant, Cle
41. Kevin Curtis, St.L
42. Donald Driver, GB
43. Donte Stallworth, NO
44. Koren Robinson, Sea
45. Keyshawn Johnson, Dal
46. Eric Parker, SD
47. Reche Caldwell, SD
48. Antwaan Randle-El, Pit
49. Doug Gabriel, Oak
50. Joey Galloway, TB
51. David Boston, Mia
52. Amani Toomer, NYG
53. Keary Colbert, Car
54. Peter Warrick, Cin
55. Keenan McCardell, SD
56. Tyrone Calico, Ten
57. David Patten, Was
58. Marcus Robinson, Min
59. Dennis Northcutt, Cle
60. Peerless Price, Atl
61. Ronald Curry, Oak
62. Samie Parker, KC
63. Jerome Pathon, NO
64. Troy Brown, NE
65. Kelly Campbell, Min
66. Corey Bradford, Hou
67. Marty Booker, Mia
68. Bethel Johnson, NE
69. Rod Gardner, Was
70. Clarence Moore, Bal
71. Todd Pinkston, Phi
72. Crdric Wilson, Pit
73. David Terrell, Chi
74. Johnnie Morton, KC
75. Travis Taylor, Bal
76. Quincy Morgan, Dal
77. Andre Davis, Cle
78. Dante Hall, KC
79. Az-Zahir Hakim, Det
80. Freddie Mitchell, Phi
81. Derrius Thompson, Mia
82. Rashaun Woods, SF
83. Lee Mays, Pit
84. Terry Glenn, Dal
85. Tai Streets, Det
86. Ike Hilliard, NYG
87. Shaun McDonald, St.L
88. Randy Hymes, Bal
89. Jabar Gaffney, Hou
90. Reggie Williams, Jax
91. Tim Carter, NYG
92. Darrius Watts, Den
93. Devery Henderson, NO
94. Troy Edwards, Jax
95. Robert Ferguson, GB
96. Justin Gage, Chi
97. Wayne Chrebet, NYJ
98. Johnnie Morant, Oak
99. Kevin Johnson, Bal
100. Kelley Washington, Cin
101. Frisman Jackson, Cle
102. Michael Lewis, NO
103. Brian Finneran, Atl
104. Marc Boerighter, KC
105. Carlos Francis, Oak
106. Josh Reed, Buf
107. Bobby Engram, Sea
108. Chris Horn, KC
109. Brian Gilmore, Mia
110. Dane Looker, St.L
111. Jonathan Carter, NYJ
112. Joe Jurevicius, TB
113. Dez White, Atl
114. Jerry Rice, Sea
115. Curtis Conway, SF
116. Bobby Wade, Chi
117. Ricky Proehl, Car

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates, SD
2. Tony Gonzalez, KC
3. Alge Crumpler, Atl
4. Jason Witten, Dal
5. Todd Heap, Bal
6. Dallas Clark, Ind
7. Kellen Winslow, Cle
8. Randy McMichael, Mia
9. Bubba Franks, GB
10. LJ Smith, Phi
11. Daniel Graham, NE
12. Jeremy Shockey, NYG
13. Eric Johnson, SF
14. Ben Troupe, Ten
15. Jeb Putzier, Den
16. Boo Williams, NO
17. Jermaine Wiggins, Min
18. Freddie Jones, Ari
19. Marcus Pollard, Det
20. Jerramy Stevens, Sea
21. Jim Kleinsasser, Min
22. Itula Mili, Sea
23. Chris Cooley, Was
24. Courtney Anderson, Oak
25. Billy Miller, Hou
26. Desmond Clark, Chi
27. Erron Kinney, Ten
28. Jason Dunn, KC
29. Brandon Manumaleuna, St.L
30. Chad Lewis, Phi
31. Eric Edwards, Ari
32. Aaron Shea, Cle
33. Dwayne Carswell, Den
34. Benny Joppru, Hou
35. George Wrightster, Jax
36. Chris Baker, NYJ
37. Doug Jolley, Oak
38. Kris Mangum, Car
39. Kyle Brady, Jax
40. Ben Watson, NE
41. Anthony Becht, TB
42. Jay Riemersma, Pit
43. Ernie Conwell, NO
44. Mike Seidman, Car
45. Matt Schobel, Cin
46. Steve Heiden, Cle
47. Cam Cleeland, St.L
48. Ken Dilger, TB
49. Robert Royal, Was
50. Jerame Tuman, Pit
51. Teyo Johnson, Oak
52. David Martin, GB
53. Patrick Hape, Den
54. Mark Campbell, Buf
55. Mark Breunner, Hou

Kickers
1. David Akers, Phi
2. Adam Vinatieri, NE
3. Jason Elam, Den
4. Mike Vanderjagt, Ind
5. Shayne Graham, Cin
6. Nate Kaeding, SD
7. Josh Brown, Sea
8. Ryan Longwell, GB
9. Jeff Wilkins, St.L
10. Matt Stover, Bal
11. Jay Feely, NYG
12. Sebastian Janikowski, Oak
13. Lawrence Tynes, KC
14. Rian Lindell, Buf
15. Jason Hanson, Det
16. Jeff Reed, Pit
17. Phil Dawson, Cle
18. John Carney, NO
19. John Kasay, Car
20. Neil Rackers, Ari
21. Paul Edinger, Chi
22. Billy Cundiff, Dal
23. Kris Brown, Hou
24. Olindo Mare, Mia
25. Doug Brien, NYJ
26. John Hall, Was
27. Joe Nedney, SF
28. Todd Peterson, TB
29. Steve Christie, NYG
30. Josh Scobee, Jax
31. Jay Taylor, TB
32. Gary Anderson, Ten
33. Morten Andersen, Min
34. Martin Gramatica, Ind
35. Aaron Elling, Min
36. Seth Marler, Jax
37. Jeff Chandler, Was
38. Wade Richey, Bal
39. Jose Cortez, Min

Defenses
1. Baltomore Ravens
2. New England Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Buffalo Bills
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. New York Jets
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Atlanta Falcons
9. Carolina Panthers
10. Washington Redskins
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
12. Chicago Bears
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Indianapolis Colts
15. San Diego Chargers
16. Detroit Lions
17. Denver Broncos
18. Miami Dolphins
19. Minnesota Vikings
20. Cleveland Browns
21. Houston Texans
22. Dallas Cowboys
23. New York Giants
24. Arizona Cardinals
25. Tennessee Titans
26. Oakland Raiders
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Green Bay Packers
29. Cincinnati Bengals
30. New Orleans Saints
31. St. Louis Rams
32. San Francisco 49ers

Week 3 Free Agent Signings

WEEK 3 FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

EDGERRIN JAMES (re-signed with Colts) For the second year the Edge signed a 1 year contract as the Colts franchise player. The Colts seem to be willing to trade James but with the depth at the running back position in the draft and some available running backs still in free agency there appears to be no takers for James. Edgerrin is beginning to show his disappointment in the media so this could become a problem as the season nears. James is an elite back entering his prime and should remain a top 10 selection in any draft regardless who he suits up for next season.

PLAXICO BURRESS (signed with Steelers) Burress finally ended the inevitable by signing with the Giants. The Giants seemed to be the only team in pursuit of Burress so this signing is no surprise. Burress is a big receiver but many question if he is a number one option. There is pressure for him to produce and become Eli Manning’s go to guy. The Giants receiving core was a huge disappointment last season and Burress will be a much needed welcoming addition.

BRAD JOHNSON (signed with Vikings) Johnson returns to the team that gave him his start strictly in a back up capacity. Johnson is a more than a capable backup and should be a late round selection for any team with Dante Culpepper as their QB.

GUS FREROTTE (signed with Dolphins) With AJ Feely as the starting QB it is anyone’s guess as to how much playing time that Gus may see. Obviously this is a QB situation where any of the Dolphin QB’s will have much value.

SAGE ROSENFELS (re-signed with Dolphins) Sage was the 3rd string QB last season and the Dolphins bring him back for a possible competition with Frerrotte to be the back up QB.A player with not much value under any circumstances.

MIKE CLOUD (signed with Giants) Cloud has bounced around the league throughout his career and now comes to New York strictly as a backup to Tiki Barber. Cloud will see some playing time but should not be thought of as a player with much fantasy value.

ROLAND WILLIAMS (signed with Rams) Roland returns to the Rams where he enjoyed his most success as a pro. Williams was a key player with the Rams in goal line situations and may fill that role again this season.

CHRIS FUAMATU-MA’AFALA (re-signed with Jaguars) Chris is used strictly as a blocking back for Fred Taylor and will show no significant numbers in ’05.

JEB PUTZIER (re-signed with Broncos) The Broncos matched the offer sheet the Jets gave Putzier and bring back a solid option for their offense. This was a good signing by the Broncos and keeps Putzier in the top 10 as far as TE options.

ANTHONY BECHT (signed with Bucs) Becht is primarily used as a blocking TE which may be tipping the draft hand of the Bucs. It is no secret that Tampa is interested in a running back in the draft and Becht is a better blocker than receiver.

TONY BANKS (signed with Houston) Banks will continue to be the backup to David Carr and with the durability Carr has shown Banks should have minimal value if any at all.

ITULA MILA (re-signed with Seattle) Mila and Jeremy Stevens will again split time in Seattle and should only be considered as a backup to your primary TE.

TROY EDWARDS (re-signed with Jaguars) Edwards recorded 50 receptions in ’04 and is also one of the Jaguars return specialists. Edwards should only be considered as your 4th or 5th receiver on a fantasy roster.

TRAVIS TAYLOR (signed with Vikings) Taylor has been a major disappointment since coming into the league out of Florida and joining the Ravens. As a Viking receiver he will see plenty of playing time and he will now be seeing passes thrown to him by a top QB for the first time in his career. Taylor should be considers as no more than a backup on your roster.

JARROD BAXTER and MORAN NORRISS (re-signed with Texans) With Domminick Davis as their top RB these 2 will only be competing as a backup and special team players. These signings hold no value for fantasy teams.

FRED McCRARY (signed with Falcons) McCrary is known more for his blocking than anything else and with Duckett and Dunn as the ball carriers expect very little in regards to numbers from McCrary.

AKILI SMITH (signed with Tampa Bay) Smith has been a huge disappointment since being a top draft pick with the Bengals. Tampa signed Smith with the hopes of sending him to Europe so he may resurrect his career.

JAMES WHALEN (signed with Eagles) Whalen did not record a reception last season and should have no fantasy impact in ’05 as a TE.

RYAN NEUFELD (re-signed with Buffalo) A player with but 9 receptions as a TE in his career should again have no value in ’05.

DAVE MOORE (re-signed with Tampa) Tampa signed Anthony Becht earlier from the Jets and Moore will serve as his backup.

TROY HAMBRICK (re-signed with Arizona) Neither Hambrick or Marcel Shipp has shown they are capable of being a consistent starting RB but for now Troy will have some value as a backup to a fantasy roster.

TERRY JACKSON (re-signed with San Francisco) Jackson is another running back known more for his blocking than his running. Jackson will have no value in any fantasy drafts.

ED PERRY (re-signed with Miami) Perry in the last 5 years has not recorded a reception and will have no value to any roster in the TE position.

NATE HYBL (signed with Jaguars) Hybl has yet to see any playing time since turning pro as a QB from Oklahoma and is only used as a practice squad player.

TCFS STAFF

The Frozen Zone Volume 1 Number 4

The Frozen Zone – Ice Cold NFL Facts and Happenings
Volume 1 Number 4

I. Plaxico Burress unexpectedly signed with the New York Giants this week. He inked a 6 year, 25 million dollar contract. Owners of Burress must be crying in their coffee knowing that the Giants passing game is terrible, and Eli Manning is no Peyton. Burress will be the marquee receiver for the G-Men, but you have got to believe that his numbers will be similar to the ones he has put up as a Steelers #2 receiver. This signing should also put to rest the Giants’ pursuit of wide out David Terrell.

II. The Vikings, as an attempt to replace star wide receiver Randy Moss, signed free agent wide out Travis Taylor. Taylor, who is expected to be the #3 receiver for the Vikes behind Nate Burleson and Marcus Robinson, signed a two year contract. Fantasy owners can expect to see Taylor’s numbers increase slightly, but do not expect Taylor to be a top 20 wide receiver in 2005.

III. Jeff Garcia has signed with the Lions. He is expected to be a back up to Joey Harrington, but don’t be surprised to see Garcia starting for the Lions at some point in 2005. He has been reunited with his old coach, Steve Mariucci, and Mariucci knows how to bring out the best in Garcia. He would be worth a flyer as a backup on your fantasy squad.

IV. In yet another backup quarterback move, the Vikings signed Brad Johnson to a 4 year, 6 million dollar contract. His second stint with the Vikings will probably also be his last in his career. He figures to get no playing time behind one of the league’s two elite quarterbacks, Daunte Culpepper.

V. Tight End Jeb Putzier will remain a Bronco, as they have matched the Jets offer. Putzier is a Top 10 fantasy tight end producer, and the Broncos like to use their tight end in their passing game. One can expect to see 4-6 TDs from Putzier in 2005. Also, tight end Anthony Becht has signed with the Buccaneers. Becht is not expected to be a vital part of the Bucs receiving game.

VI. The Cleveland Browns have tendered a 1 year, 3 million dollar offer to Ravens running back Chester Taylor. The Ravens have 7 days to match the offer. The Ravens however, will probably not match that offer. If Chester Taylor signs with the Browns, you can expect that the end will probably be near for beleaguered Browns running back William Green.

VII. Two of the Franchise running back big names have been signed. Rudi Johnson signed for 5 years with the Bengals and Edgerrin James signed a 1 year contract with the Colts. Johnson is excited about his contract, and it is believed that James is slightly bitter. There is still a possibility, albeit unlikely, that James will be traded.

VIII. Quarterback News – Doug Flutie has been released by the Chargers. The 11 year, 42 year old Flutie will try to catch on with another team, possibly the Patriots as a #2 or #3 quarterback. A return to the CFL is not out of the realm of possibility. Jay Fiedler has signed with the Jets as a back up to Chad Pennington. His value should be minimal. Mike McMahon has signed a 2 year contract with the Eagles. He is expected to battle Koy Detmer as a back up to Donovan McNabb. Whoever wins will have a fine year standing on the sidelines, and no value as a fantasy player. The Dolphins have re-signed Sage Rosenfels. This is of no consequence to fantasy owners, especially since the Dolphins also signed Gus Frerotte. Frerotte will be the #2 man in Miami and Rosenfels will remain the #3 quarterback for the fish.

IX. Wide Receivers In The News: The Patriots have signed Tim Dwight to a 1 year contract. If Dwight makes the club, he will have value only in leagues that reward players for special teams scores. He has returned 5 kicks for touchdowns in his career.

X. The Jaguars brought back two of last year’s fringe players, Troy Edwards and Chris Fuamatu-Maafala. Of these two moves, Edwards will have minimal value as a 5th receiver for middle of the road teams, as he can put up 3-5 TDs.

XI. From the who cares department: Running back Fred McCrary has signed with the Falcons. Yawn. The Dolphins have released fullback Rob Konrad. He will probably sign with the Raiders. Oh well. The Dolphins wasted no time in replacing Konrad as evidenced by their signing of former Seahawks fullback Heath Evans for 1 year. Evans will be entering his 5th year in the NFL. Boy, Time flies. Tampa Bay has re-signed fullback Jameel Cook. Wow ! The Packers have re-signed tight end David Martin. He only has Special Teams tackling value. Oh Man !!

XII. From the feel good department: The Cowboys have signed running back Emmitt Smith to a symbolic 1 year contract, which simply means that Smith can retire as a Cowboy. This has no fantasy value, unless one thinks that Smith might suit up for the Cowboys, which will not ever happen again.

THE GOSSIP CHAIN

Will Eddie George sign with the Titans. Both sides they want this deal, but will George want to accept a back up role to Chris Brown. Stay tuned.

Now that Brad Johnson has signed with the Vikings, the Bears will look to Jeff Blake to back up Rex Grossman. As the days go by, it appears as though Grossman will be the Bears opening day starter.

Expect the Bengals to release wide receiver Peter Warrick soon as a cost cutting measure. If that happens, there will be a frenzy to sign the oft injured Warrick.

The Buccaneers are looking to possibly sign quarterback Quincy Carter and re-sign wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, who was released as a salary cap casualty. Jurevicius is also looking at the Seahawks as an employment possibility.

The Iceman

Pick Him Up Or Pass Him By - Nick Goings

Pick Him Or Pass Him By: Nick Goings

Nick Goings is entering his 5th season in the NFL, and is 27 years old, a time where most running backs are at their peak. For Goings, he is no exception. He had his most productive season yet, rushing for 821 yards and 6 TDs in 2004. 2004 however, is the first time that Goings saw the end zone via the ground. Goings only rushed for a 3.8 YPC in 2004, and is only 3.7 YPC for his career. He is a decent receiver though, as evidenced by his 45 receptions in 2004, although he only had 38 receptions for his previous three years in the league. He has 2 career receiving touchdowns. Goings was handed the starting running back job in 2004 after the team suffered injuries to Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster, and he responded fairly well, rushing for 5-100 yard games in 8 starts.

At 6’0” and 225 pounds, Goings has proved to be a durable back. He also has only fumbled the ball 4 times in 426 career touches. That will only get you so far though. Goings should return to his minimal production in 2005, especially if Davis returns to the Panthers and Foster is healthy. Goings is a situational back at best, and smart owners should realize that the former Pitt Panther halfback has no long term value. In addition, if the Panthers select a running back in the upcoming NFL draft, Goings will be in a dogfight to keep his roster spot.

The wise owner will do well to trade Goings away to a lesser informed owner while his value is still quite high. But, for the more street wise fantasy players, conventional wisdom will point to Goings remaining a runner with little value. Unless you are a mediocre team looking to fill a 4th running back slot on your fantasy roster, the best advice is to PASS HIM BY.

The Iceman

2005 Mock NFL Draft

2005 Mock NFL Draft

While anyone can go online and find a number of sites that predict the first two or so rounds of the NFL Draft, we here at TCFS find that to be merely lip service. Keeping with our philosophy of giving you more depth for your money, we have posted our NFL Mock Draft. It is 7 rounds long, the whole enchilada. Dare to compare, and TCFS stands alone !!!

Round 1
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 1 San Francisco Aaron Rodgers QB California
2 2 Miami Craig Benson RB Texas
3 3 Cleveland Alex Smith TE Utah
4 4 Chicago Braylon Edwards WR Michigan
5 5 Tampa Bay Cadillac Williams RB Auburn
6 6 Tennessee Antrei Rolle CB Miami (FL)
7 7 Minnesota Shawne Merriam OLB Maryland
8 8 Arizona Ronnie Brown RB Auburn
9 9 Washington Mike Williams WR USC
10 10 Detroit Derrick Johnson OLB Texas
11 11 Dallas Marcus Spears DE LSU
12 12 San Diego Troy Williamson WR S. Carolina
13 13 Houston Erasmus James DE Wisconsin
14 14 Carolina Alex Bardon T FSU
15 15 Kansas City Pac Man Jones CB W. Virginia
16 16 New Orleans Thomas Davis S Georgia
17 17 Cincinnati Travis Johnson DT FSU
18 18 Minnesota David Baas G Michigan
19 19 St. Louis Jamaal Brown T Oklahoma
20 20 Dallas Davis Pollack DE Georgia
21 21 Jacksonville Dan Cody DE Oklahoma
22 22 Baltimore Mark Clayton WR Oklahoma
23 23 Seattle Channing Crowder ILB Florida
24 24 Green Bay Justin Tuck DE NotreDame
25 25 Denver Shaun Cody DT USC
26 26 NY Jets Carlos Rogers CB Auburn
27 27 Atlanta Elton Brown G Virginia
28 28 San Diego Brodney Pool S Oklahoma
29 29 Indianapolis Fabian Washington CB Nebraska
30 30 Pittsburgh Heath Miller TE Virginia
31 31 Philadelphia Anttaj Hawthorne DT Wisconsin
32 32 New England Brandon Browner CB Oregon St.

Round 2
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 33 San Francisco Adam Terry T Syracuse
2 34 Cleveland Demarcus Ware DE Troy
3 35 Philadelphia Eric Shelton RB Lousiville
4 36 Tampa Bay Roddy White WR UAB
5 37 Tennessee Chris Henry WR W.Virginia
6 38 Oakland Darryl Blackstock OLB Virginia
7 39 Chicago Khalif Barnes T Washington
8 40 New Orleans Charlie Frye QB Akron
9 41 Detroit Marlin Jackson CB Michigan
10 42 Dallas Justin Miller CB Clemson
11 43 NY Giants Odell Thurman ILB Georgia
12 44 Arizona Matt Roth DE Iowa
13 45 Carolina Ciatrick Fason RB Florida
14 46 Kansas City Kevin Burnett OLB Tennessee
15 47 Houston Luis Castillo DT No.Western
16 48 Cincinnati Ernest Shazor S Michigan
17 49 Minnesota Fred Gibson WR Georgia
18 50 St.Louis Barrett Ruud ILB Nebraska
19 51 Green Bay Bryant McFadden CB FSU
20 52 Jacksonville Corey Webster CB LSU
21 53 Baltimore Marcus Johnson G Ole Miss
22 54 Seattle Vernand Morency RB Okla. St.
23 55 Buffalo Chris Spencer C Ole Miss
24 56 Denver Jason Campbell QB Auburn
25 57 NY Jets Alex Smith TE Stanford
26 58 Green Bay Kyle Orton QB Purdue
27 59 Atlanta Mike Patterson DT USC
28 60 Indianapolis CJ Mosley DT Missouri
29 61 San Diego Chris Colmer T NC State
30 62 Pittsburgh Reggie Brown WR Georgia
31 63 Philadelphia Jerome Mathis WR Hampton
32 64 New England Roscoe Parrish WR Miami (FL)

Round 3
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 65 San Francisco Eric Green CB Virg.Tech
2 66 St. Louis Darrent Williams CB Okla. St.
3 67 Cleveland Evan Mathis G Alabama
4 68 Tennessee Logan Mankins T Fresno St.
5 69 Oakland Antonio Perkins CB Oklahoma
6. 70 Miami Andrew Walter QB Arizona St.
7 71 Tampa Bay Atiyyah Ellison DT Missouri
8 72 Detroit Josh Bullocks S Nebraska
9 73 Houston Marion Barber III RB Minnesota
10 74 NY Giants Terrence Murphy WR Texas A&M
11 75 Arizona Ronald Bartell CB Howard
12 76 Washington Chris Canty DE Virginia
13 77 Philadelphia Rian Wallace OLB Temple
14 78 Houston Ben Wilkerson C LSU
15 79 Carolina Courtney Roby WR Indiana
16 80 Minnesota Mike Nugent K Ohio St.
17 81 St.Louis Stanley Wilson CB Stanford
18 82 New Orleans Lance Mitchell ILB Nebraska
19 83 Cincinnati Jason Brown C N.Carolina
20 84 Baltimore Ronald Fields DT Miss. St.
21 85 Seattle Matt Jones WR Arkansas
22 86 Buffalo Jonathan Babineaux DT Iowa
23 87 Jacksonville Jeremy Parquet T So. Miss.
24 88 NY Jets Dominique Foxworth CB Maryland
25 89 Green Bay Robert McCune ILB Louisville
26 Denver (FORFEITED)
27 90 Atlanta Mark Bradley WR Oklahoma
28 91 Tampa Bay Adam Seward ILB UNLV
29 92 Indianapolis Wesley Britt T Alabama
30 93 Pittsburgh Kirk Morrison ILB SDSU
31 94 Philadelphia Adrian McPherson QB FSU
32 95 Arizona Ray Willis T FSU

Round 4
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 96 San Francisco Jovan Haye DE Vanderbilt
2 97 Cleveland Marcus Lawrence ILB S.Carolina
3 98 Miami Oshiomogho Atogwe S Stanford
4 99 Oakland JJ Arrington RB California
5 100 Chicago Cedric Houston RB Tennessee
6 101 Tampa Bay Joe Dreessen TE Colorado St
7 102 Tennessee Ryan Moats RB Louisiana T
8 103 Dallas Gerald Sensabaugh S N.Carolina
9 104 NY Giants Tyler King DE UConn
10 105 Arizona Kevin Everett TE Miami (FL)
11 106 Washington Donte Nicholson S Oklahoma
12 107 Detroit Vincent Jackson WR N.Colorado
13 108 Houston Junior Rosegreen S Auburn
14 109 Carolina Michael Boley OLB So. Miss
15 110 Kansas City Key Jay Harris RB W. Virginia
16 111 St. Louis Dan Buenning G Wisconsin
17 112 New Orleans James Butler S Georgia Te.
18 113 Cincinnati Dustin Colquitt P Tennessee
19 114 Minnesota David Greene QB Georgia
20 115 Seattle George Gause DE S. Carolina
21 116 Buffalo Michael Munoz T Tennessee
22 117 Jacksonville Brandon Jones WR Oklahoma
23 118 Baltimore Travis Daniels CB LSU
24 119 Green Bay Pete McMahon T Iowa
25 120 Cleveland Craphonso Thorpe WR FSU
26 121 NY Jets Darrell Shropshire DT S. Carolina
27 122 Atlanta Mike Goolsby ILB N. Dame
28 123 Indianapolis Scott Starks CB Wisconsin
29 124 San Diego Chris Kemoeatu G Utah
30 125 Pittsburgh Michael Roos T E. Wash.
31 126 Philadelphia Garrett Cross TE California
32 127 New England Ryan Claridge OLB UNLV

Round 5
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 128 San Francisco Larry Brackins WR Pearl River
2 129 Miami Sean Considine S Iowa
3 130 Cleveland Vincent Fuller S Virg. Tech
4 131 Chicago Dan Orlovsky QB UConn
5 132 Tampa Bay Trent Cole DE Cincinnati
6 133 Tennessee Cody McCarty TE TCU
7 134 Green Bay Adam Snyder G Oregon
8 135 Tampa Bay Nick Collins S Beth –Cook
9 136 New England Frank Gore RB Miami (FL)
10 137 Philadelphia David McMillan DE Kansas
11 138 Kansas City Marques Harris OLB S. Utah
12 139 Dallas Maurice Clarett RB Ohio St.
13 140 Carolina Jerome Carter S FSU
14 141 Kansas City Jordan Bech ILB Cal Poly
15 142 Houston David Stewart T Miss. St.
16 143 New Orleans Jim Davis DE Virg. Tech.
17 144 Cincinnati Jimmy Verdon DE Arizona St.
18 145 Minnesota Scott Mruczkowski C Bowl.Green
19 146 St. Louis CJ Brooks G Maryland
20 147 Buffalo Rob Pettiti T Pitt
21 148 Jacksonville TA McLendon RB NC State
22 149 Baltimore Claude Terrell G N. Mexico
23 150 Seattle Chris Mayers G Miami (FL)
24 151 Atlanta Alfred Fincher ILB UConn
25 152 NY Jets Lorenzo Alexander DT California
26 153 Kansas City Dave Kashetta TE Bost. Coll.
27 154 Atlanta Karl Paymah CB Wash. St.
28 155 San Diego Sione Pouha DT Utah
29 156 Indianapolis Dustin Foy WR Ohio St.
30 157 Pittsburgh Craig Bragg WR UCLA
31 158 Philadelphia Darren Sproles RB Kansas St.
32 159 Arizona Alphonso Hodge CB Miami (OH)

Round 6
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 160 San Francisco Steve Savoy WR Utah
2 161 Cleveland Dante Ridgeway WR Ball St.
3 162 San Diego Jonathan Clinkscale G Wisconsin
4 163 Tampa Bay Scott Young G BYU
5 164 Tennessee Derek Anderson QB Oregon St.
6 165 Green Bay Boomer Grigsby ILB Illinois St.
7 166 Chicago Gino Guidugli QB Cincinnati
8 167 Oakland Ellis Hobbs CB Iowa St.
9 168 Washington Kerry Rhodes S Louisville
10 169 Detroit Richie Incognito C Nebraska
11 170 Oakland Brandon Jacobs RB So. Illinois
12 171 NY Giants Nick Kaczur T Toledo
13 172 Kansas City Lofa Tatupu ILB USC
14 173 Houston Josh Davis WR Marshall
15 174 Carolina Ryan Riddle DE California
16 175 Cincinnati Derek Curry OLB N. Dame
17 176 Minnesota Jay Ratliff DT Auburn
18 177 St. Louis Abraham Elimimiam CB Hawaii
19 178 New Orleans Marviel Underwood S SDSU
20 179 Jacksonville Roger Cooper OLB Montana St
21 180 Baltimore Jim Leonhard S Wisconsin
22 181 Seattle Adam Kieft T Auburn
23 182 Buffalo Stefan Lefors QB Louisville
24 183 NY Jets Jason White QB Oklahoma
25 184 Kansas City Steve Fleming TE Arizona
26 185 Denver Jonathan Goddard DE Marshall
27 186 Atlanta Eric Ghiaciuc C C. Michigan
28 187 Indianapolis Tab Perry WR UCLA
29 188 Tampa Bay Wes Sims G Oklahoma
30 189 Pittsburgh Anthony Alabi T TCU
31 190 San Francisco Roydell Williams WR Tulane
32 191 New England LeRon McCoy WR Indiana PA.

Round 7
# SEL# TEAM PLAYER POS. COLLEGE
1 192 San Francisco Derrick Johnson CB Washington
2 193 Miami James Sanders S Fresno St.
3 194 Cleveland Andre Maddox S NC State
4 195 Tennessee Airese Currie WR Clemson
5 196 Minnesota Tim Bulman DT Bost Coll
6 197 Chicago Jamaal Brimmer S UNLV
7 198 Tampa Bay Lionel Gates RB Louisville
8 199 Washington Dan Connolly T SE Miss. St.
9 200 Detroit Paris Warren WR Utah
10 201 Dallas Jason Jefferson DT Wisconsin
11 202 Tampa Bay Isaac West WR Furman
12 203 Arizona Chris McKenzie CB Arizona St.
13 204 Houston Derek Wake OLB Penn St.
14 205 Pittsburgh LeRoy Hill ILB Clemson
15 206 Kansas City Harvey Dahl T Nevada
16 207 Minnesota Anthony Bryant DT Alabama
17 208 St. Louis Vincent Burns DE Kentucky
18 209 New Orleans Ryan Grant RB N. Dame
19 210 Cincinnati Chase Lyman WR California
20 211 Baltimore JR Russell WR Louisville
21 212 Seattle Cedrick Williams CB Kansas St.
22 213 Buffalo Alex Holmes TE USC
23 214 Jacksonville Jared Newberry OLB Stanford
24 215 Kansas City Charles Frederick WR Washington
25 216 Denver Noah Herron RB N.Western
26 217 NY Jets Calvin Armstrong T Wash. St.
27 218 Atlanta Cornelius Wortham OLB Alabama
28 219 San Diego James Kinney ILB Missouri
29 220 Indianapolis Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Harvard
30 221 Pittsburgh Aaron Francisco S BYU
31 222 Philadelphia Matt McCoy OLB SDSU
32 223 New England Taylor Stubblefield WR Purdue

Rookie Running Backs Preview

Rookie Running Backs

The NFL Draft usually yields running backs, which, if drafted into the right situation, can bring immediate gains. That is not always the case however. The savvy Fantasy Owner rarely takes time off, and scours all available mediums to gain whatever advantage he can over his opponents. The following lists some running backs that certainly can make a splash into the NFL. Watch the draft closely and then draft them wisely.

CEDRIC BENSON, Texas – This guy is the cream of the crop. Whoever gets him will have a sturdy back for many years. Benson is a workhorse, carrying the ball over 200 times in each of his four years with the Longhorns. He is durable and athletic. He had four 1000 yard season for The University. Benson scored at least 12 TDs in each of those 4 seasons. Benson only missed 2 games in his entire college career. He has tremendous lower body strength. Benson’s ability to pick up the blitz and his average receiving skills could limit him to 1st and 2nd down duty. 22 receptions was high for a season in college. Benson is 6’0” and 225 lbs., and has been clocked at 4.55 in the 40. He is 22 years old. Benson should be the top running back taken, and should be an immediate starter in the NFL.

RONNIE BROWN, Auburn – Brown has the potential to be a star in the NFL. He has good size and speed, and is a good receiver. He is very strong, and easily could be an every down back. Brown is a better outside runner than a between the tackles type runner. Brown ran a 4.32/4.40 in the combine. He was redshirted as a freshman, and is a year older then most backs entering the draft. Brown gained 1000 yards in 2002 and 913 yards in 2004, splitting time with Cadillac Williams, but he still managed to grab 8 TDs and his 6.0 yards per carry was very impressive. He also had 34 receptions in 2004. Brown is 6’1” and 232 pounds. He is a guaranteed 1st round pick, more than likely and Top 10 pick, and he could easily be the best back in the draft.

CARNELL “CADILLAC” WILLIAMS, Auburn – The Cadillac is a fierce competitor, but his durability status is a question mark. He is injury prone. Williams is big, versatile and fast. He is probably the best cutback runner in the draft. His uncanny ability to make the first man miss his tackle can lead to some breakaway scores. He has tremendous lower body strength. Williams is lousy on blitz pick up and is not a very good receiver. He is 5’11” and 204 pounds. He has been clocked at 4.45 in the 40 yard dash, Williams is expected to be a 1st round pick and should benefit some team immensely.

JJ ARRINGTON, California – The 22 year old Arrington is a good receiver and a very good open field runner. He has excellent lateral movement. As a starter for only one year, he produces 2018 rushing yards (including bowl game) and 15 TDs. He had 21 receptions in both 2003 and 2004. He had fumble trouble early in his college career but seemed to correct it in his later years. It is unknown if the fumble woes will return in the pros. Arrington is 5’11” and 210 pounds. He projects into a 3rd down back in the NFL. He has been clocked at 4.51 in the 40. He should be the 4th running back taken in the draft, probably in the 2nd round, or very early in the 3rd round.

KAY-JAY HARRIS, West Virginia – Harris, at 6’1” and 240 pounds, has good speed for his size. He also is athletic and a good receiver. He has good size to withstand the pounding of an NFL season, but he is injury prone so it is unknown if he can take a full season in the pros. He is a powerful inside runner, but can also bounce the play outside. Harris is much older then the other runners. He will be 26 on Draft Day. He has been clocked at 4.55 in the 40. Harris is expected to be a 3rd or 4th round pick, and could produce in his first NFL season if he is placed in the correct situation.

DARREN SPROLES, Kansas St. – The 21 year old Sproles, at 5’7” and 180 pounds, lacks power and size to be an every down back in the pros. He is small, but he has explosive speed. He was clocked at 4.50 in the 40 at the combine, but has been clocked as low as 4.35. Sproles has a powerful lower body and is a good blocker for a small guy. He also is very durable and elusive. He had three 1000 yard seasons at Kansas State, and averaged better than 5.4 yards per carry in every season at college. Sproles is a good receiver and had a season high of 32 receptions. Sproles projects as a 3rd down back and return specialist in the pros, and will probably be drafted in the 4th or 5th round.

MAURICE CLARETT, Ohio St. – Where do you place Clarett in your draft board? At 5’11” and 230 pounds, he has good size and is a powerful inside runner who can also break it outside. He also is a good receiver. He has a nose for the endzone. But he has been labeled as a quitter, and he is injury prone. He also has little football experience. His layoff from football will surely hurt him. Clarett ran 4.82/4.72 in the 40 at the combine, then quit the rest of the drills. He is certainly an enigma, and he projects into a 4th or 5th round draft pick. But if he can get his act together, the team that drafts him will have found a diamond in the rough.

HONORABLE MENTION

FRANK GORE, Miami (FL.) – Is athletic but injury prone. Could produce in the NFL.

LIONEL GATES, Louisville – Has the size to be good in the NFL, but has trouble holding onto the football.

WALTER REYES, Syracuse – Explosive runner and a good receiver, but small and has had trouble with fumbles. He projects into a 3rd down back and a return specialist in the pros.

Week 2 Free Agent Signings

WEEK 2 FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

RUDI JOHNSON (re-sign with Bengals) Although just a one year tender this is a good sign that both player and team will attempt to work out a long term deal. The Bengals have now guaranteed that their top 3 offensive stars will be with the team for another year. Rudi proved to be a very solid and dependable back and he should continue to put up good numbers.

CEDRIC WILSON (signed with Steelers) Wilson comes in from San Francisco as a relative unknown but his numbers through his career are very similar to the man he will replace. A solid hands guy who will prove to be a perfect compliment to Hines Ward the Steelers passing will have 2 solid options at their disposal.

DREW BREES (re-sign with Chargers) Brees cashed in on his breakout season signing a 1 year 8 million dollar contract to stay in San Diego. This is an interesting move considering that the Chargers drafted their supposed franchise QB in last year’s draft. Brees proved a lot of doubters wrong and with Ladanian Tomlinson in the backfield Drew should be able to continue his good play.

KEENAN McCARDELL (re-sign with Chargers) Even as an aging receiver Keenan still proved his worth after joining the team midway through last season. He gives Drew Brees a solid go to receiver and takes a lot of the coverage away from Antonio Gates. McCardell will prove to be a solid #2 receiving option for fantasy rosters.

KURT WARNER (signed with Arizona) Warner only signed a one year contract and did so with hopes of having a comeback season. Warner will have a solid young receiving core at his disposal and Dennis Green is an offensive coach which will work in his favor. We expect solid numbers again for Warner and he will be a great bargain late in many drafts.

MARCUS POLLARD (signed with Lions) One teams loss is another’s gain and this is the case with Pollard. The Lions will finally have a dependable TE for the first time in many years that should be able to again put up solid fantasy number. As a west coast offensive team the TE position is a very valuable option. Even without Manning as his trigger man Pollard will still be a top tight end option in ’05.

JERMAINE WIGGINS (re-sign with Vikings) This is a deal that had to get done for the Vikings could not afford to lose another key member of their offense. Wiggins was a solid producer last season but time will tell if he can maintain that level. The Vikings Have some huge shoes to fill without Moss but keeping Wiggins will prove to be a wise decision. Wiggins may see even more passes thrown his way and is still a top 5 option at the TE position.

JOEY GALLOWAY (re-sign with Tampa Bay) In recent years Galloway has always had at some point during the season had an injury that has forced him to miss some time. Galloway is a productive player but should be looked at as no more than your #3 receiver.

PATRICK PASS (re-sign with Patriots) This move should have no real fantasy consequences but Pass is really the only back up the Patriots have to Corey Dillon. Pass finally gained the coaching staffs’ confidence and saw spot action towards the end of the year. Consider Pass only as a late draft selection for those who have Dillon.

JAY FEELY (signed with Giants) Feely has been a very solid kicker who possesses a very strong leg. The problem he may have is this year he brings his game outside to Giants Stadium, a place that is not very kicker friendly. His place in many rankings may slip because of this but he still remains a solid option.

MATT BRYANT (signed with Tampa Bay) The Bucs seemed to be signing any kicker that seems to be available and they already have Jay Taylor on their roster. For the time being this looks to be shaping up as pre-season position up for grabs and it will be monitored.

JOE NEDNEY (signed with 49ers) Who knows the health of Nedney’s leg? At one time Nedney possessed a strong and accurate leg but injuries may cost him some of that strength. This may work out as a positive gamble for the team but fantasy owners should not take a chance on him until he can show his health concerns are a thing of the past.

JAY FIEDLER (signed with Jets) The best backup QB on the market Fiedler was a solid acquisition by the Jets. Chad Pennington’s shoulder concerns and the personal problems of Quincy Carter made the need for a top reserve QB a must. Fiedler should be drafted for those teams that have Pennington on their roster.

JIM MILLER (signed with Giants) Miller was brought in by the Giants to help Eli Manning’s growth on and off the field. Eli is the Giants QB and Miller should have no real Fantasy value in ’05.

SHAD MEIER (signed with Saints) Meier was brought in solely as a back up to Boo Williams. His playing time and production holds minimal value for anyone in search of a TE.

MIKE MCMAHON ( signed with Eagles) The only playing time McMahon will see is the pre-season as he competes with Koy Detmer for the #2 QB position to Donovan McNabb.

KARL HANTON (re-signed with Panthers) Hankton is a reserve receiver but does have some value as a return specialist. Those drafting the Panthers “D” are the only ones that this signing will pertain to.

TIM DWIGHT (signed with Patriots) Dwight will assume the 3rd or 4th wide receiver position as well as the Patriots punt return specialist. Dwight should not be considered a viable fantasy selection but this move is important for Patriot “D” owners.

JEFF GARCIA (signed with Lions) The Lions and Jeff Garcia finally put an end to all the speculation and agreed to terms on a contract. The pressure now is on Joey Harrington to finally step up his production or he will find himself replaced. It would be a wise choice if drafting Harrington to also grab Garcia in the later rounds.

TCFS STAFF

Pick Him Up Or Pass Him By - Reuben Droughns

Pick Him Or Pass Him By: Reuben Droughns

Reuben Droughns in entering his 6th season in the NFL, and will be 27 on Opening Day. With that said, most running backs will be entering their prime. And even though it appears as though Droughns is heading that way, the wise fantasy owner would look at this from another angle. Droughns has played 4 seasons with the Broncos, and before that played 2 seasons with the Lions.

Excluding his career season in 2004 in which he produced 1240 yards, 8 TDs and 32 receptions, Droughns’ numbers are absolutely horrendous. From 2000-2003, Droughns produced a measly 18 receptions, and gained 97 yards rushing with one touchdown. The only thing that Droughns has done consistently for the Broncos is kick returns. In three years in the Mile High City, Droughns has produced a 25.1 yard average with one return touchdown. And even in with Droughns’ stellar season on 2004, he fumbled the ball 5 times, a knock on Droughns throughout his entire career.

In terms of next season, it appears as though Droughns will not be back with the Broncos, unless he eases on his demands to be a starting halfback. The Broncos seem content to go with Tatum Bell as the starter, and Quentin Griffin and Mike Anderson as the backups. Droughns is more a product of the Mike Shanahan system, which gets production from all of the running backs. If he plans on playing for the Orange next season, it will be as a fullback.

The bottom line with Droughns is that Droughns will probably not be in Denver next season, and will probably find a team to offer him a starting job based on his excellent 2004 season. But, teams will quickly realize that he is a lower level running back who has some real issues holding onto the ball. It would be surprising to see half of the numbers he put up in 2004 show up in 2005. Fantasy owners should be aware of this and when it comes to looking at Reuben Droughns becoming a member of their fantasy team, the sound advice is to - STAY AWAY !!!!

The Iceman

5 Keys To A Perfect Draft

5 Keys To The Perfect Draft

By: BlackJack

“Fantasy Drafting” is an art form that should not be taken lightly. The better prepared an owner is on “Draft Day”, the better his team will be, come playoffs and the Super Bowl. Here are 5 keys to help you draft “The Perfect Draft”.

1.) Know your leagues scoring system. The many leagues that I have taken part in have
all had different scoring systems. A player that may do well in one league’s scoring system may be lacking in another.
Avoid drafting a player just for his name. Let the other owners do that. That is a trap that many owners fall victim to. Just because a player is well known it doesn’t mean he is going to score you fantasy points. After all “Fantasy Point Scoring” is what this game is all about. Stats are the single most important thing in Fantasy Football not a marquee players name or his character or accomplishments off the field. It’s a cold business but it is what it is.
In touchdown leagues your players have to produce TD’s. Yardage is nice but doesn’t help you. A player can get 200 yards but if he doesn’t score a TD then you don’t score. In yardage leagues although TD’s are nice they aren’t all that’s important. Pick the players who fit your leagues scoring system.

2.) Make sure you have a plan in place. Don’t “wing it” on draft day. Sure you can get lucky from time to time, but it just isn’t a smart way to approach this whole thing.
Try to stick to your game plan but don’t be afraid to adjust and improvise according to how your particular draft is going. Most drafts consist of runs on a particular position.
Suddenly everyone is drafting a Kicker or Team Defense or a Tight End. Don’t fall into this trap unless it fits your plan. This is a hard thing to do but fight the urge to follow the crowd.
Don’t be afraid to draft a player that you can use for a trade later on. If a great player is available grab him and stash him. If you have this player then the other owners do not.
Know the status of injuries. Maybe a player who is hurt will slide and you can pick him up in the latter rounds to have extra late season success or a blockbuster trade. Don’t be the guy who drafts a player who is injured and doesn’t produce a single point for you. Check the injury updates as close to draft time as possible.
Draft a player to trade? Yes, it is OK to do this but not at the expense of your team.
Remember the “Plan”.

3.) Running Back, Running Back, Running Back. Did I mention Running Back? From my experience this position is the key to your team’s success. Unless of course your league does not relish the RB. The positions of most importance are 1. RB 2. QB 3.WR
4. Team Def 5. Kicker 6. TE. If your league also merits individual defensive players, check their value in scoring in your league and adjust this list accordingly.

4.) Know the NFL teams your players are playing for. What? This means is it a good team or a bad team. It really does make a difference. A #1 receiver on a bad team statistically should and will be better than a #3 and most cases a #2 receiver on a good team.
Learn each NFL teams depth chart. I can’t stress this enough. Don’t be afraid to draft a #1 player from a so called bad team. Chances are he will be called upon to do the majority of scoring for that team.
A running back is only as good as the offensive coordinator. A wide out is only as good as the QB throwing to him. A kicker is only as good as his offense. Well, not always. If his team scores TD’s he does not get FG’s. FG’s are always worth more than Point After’s. When drafting a kicker try to get a kicker from a team who can move the ball but has trouble scoring in the “Red Zone” (Inside the 20 yardline for any newbie’s out there). This translates into FG’s and more points for you.
So while the other owners are drafting kickers from explosive offenses hold off and draft a kicker who will score you point’s and never ever before the 7th or 8th round. Kickers are usually always late round picks.

5.) The type of league you have is also important in your decision making. “Keeper Leagues” and “Career Leagues” It is important in the back of your mind to look forward to the future. Think about next year before this one starts? Yes, let me explain. Don’t make it a priority but maybe certain players will slide to the latter rounds because they are a year or two away from Stat Stardom. Most Wide Out’s usually hit their stride in their 3rd year in the league. Don’t pick these players early because even though you have an eye toward the future, you are drafting to win this year too but wouldn’t you like to have a dynasty on your hands.
These players are late round picks and should not be in your top 3 in any position. In real deep leagues you can stash them on your bench.
Leagues in which you re-draft all players every year, time is of the essence. You need your players to score for you right now, not in the future. In this type of league if a player is not ready, Do Not draft him period.

Use these keys for your draft when you are designing your draft day game plan and you will draft a winning team this year and ever year afte

Overrated Players of 2004

Overrated Players of ‘04

Michael Vick (Atl-QB)

Is Vick a QB in an athlete’s body or an athlete trapped as a Bit’s a very interesting dilemma as you analyze your QB for next season. In ’04 Vick only averaged 154 yards passing/game…had only 3 games in which he passed for over 200 yards and failed to top 300 yards in any game. Although he did average 60 yards rushing a game that it was not enough when combined with his passing to put him anywhere near the top ranks of quarterbacks. Much is made of Vicks’ running ability but he only rushed for 3 TDs during the season while throwing for just 14 more scores. Numbers like this should make you think twice of again overdrafting him in ’05.

Peerless Price (ATL-WR)

How many teams thought that price would finally play as the number one receiver he is paid to be? It looked with Vick returning to health that Price would be his favorite target. As it turned out neither seem to totally work out. In 2 years with the Falcons, Price has only averaged 1 TD/18 receptions. A further look at his career shows by taking away his Free Agent season of 2002, Price’s 5 season averages of 49 receptions,693 yards and 4 TD per season. Price should be valued as no more than a third receiver on your roster.

Keyshawn Johnson(DALL-WR)

Has any player used the hype machine any better that Johnson over his career? A player who would like to be considered as one of the best in the league is far from that in the world of Fantasy. Johnson only found the endzone twice in the final 9 games last season and over his career has averaged only a TD/ 12.5 receptions. Looking further into Johnson’s numbers, 36% of his games played over the past three seasons he has caught 3 or less passes. Not elite numbers and not numbers that will make him anymore than a 6-8 round draft pick. Johnson’s recent numbers compare to the likes of the Amani Toomers, Jimmy Smiths of football and should be drafted accordingly.

Deuce McAllister(NO-RB)

As we all know running back is the most important position and a mistake in rating talent can ruin a team. Deuce’s numbers took a significant drop this season and for whatever reason the Saints remain an enigma. Deuce saw his yard per carry drop almost a yard and saw his role in the passing game drop in half from the previous season. McAllister averaged under 100 yards rushing/game and for all his appeal has only scored more than 10 touchdowns in a season once in his career. As with all the Saints Deuce should be handled cautiously heading into next season.

Jeremy Shockey (NYG-TE)

Going into the season Shockey was thought to be one of the elite at his position. But as the rest of football returned to using the tight end once again, Shockey seems to be hurt the most. As a high draft pick entering the league, the hype surrounding him is greater than his results. His 44YPG put him in the second tier of tight ends around the league and his although his touchdown receptions saw a rise, most of those were of the short variety. Heading into ’05 with the depth at TE around the league, Jeremy will see his draft position fall considerably.

TCFS Staff

The Frozen Zone - Vol 1 Number 3

The Frozen Zone – Ice Cold NFL Facts and Happenings
Volume 1 Number 3

I. As reported in The Frozen Zone last week, Kurt Warner signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He agreed to a one year contract. All signs are pointing to Warner returning to prominence as a fantasy quarterback, but I will believe it when I see it. In other Cardinal news, the team released running back Larry Ned, just days after resigning him. That is of no consequence. They also resigned running back Troy Hambrick. He will compete with Marcel Shipp for a rookie for the starter’s job. In addition, the franchise also released quarterback Shaun King and wide receiver/kick returner Karl Williams.

II. Quarterback News – Kelly Holcomb signed a 4 year, 6.6 million dollar contract with the Bills to be JP Losman’s backup and mentor. Not too shabby for a backup player who is in his 8th year in the league. The Chargers signed Drew Brees to a one year contract. He should have another productive year with the team. Trent Dilfer signed with the Browns. He should be the starter for the season while keeping the seat warm for either Alex Smith or Aaron Rodgers. The Giants signed former Patriots backup quarterback Jim Miller to be Eli Manning’s backup. Do not expect much from Miller unless Manning is injured. Backup quarterback Rodney Peete will resign with the Carolina Panthers for one more season at the minimum salary to backup Jake Delhomme. This is no big deal for fantasy owners.

III. The biggest quarterback news revolves around Brett Favre. All signs point to his returning for a 15th season. This is great news to fantasy owners of the 3 time league MVP. He still has plenty left in the tank.

IV. From the Giants: The Giants signed kicker Jay Feely and resigned running back Mike Cloud to a 2 year contract. Feely is a solid kicker, but must adjust to playing for a team that doesn’t score much and plays outdoors. Move him down a bit on your rankings. Cloud show occasional signs of value, but must only be thought of as a last resort. The Giants, much like the rest of the teams in the NFL, have reported that they have no interest in wide receiver Plaxico Burress. It looks like Burress will sign a one year contract with someone, possibly the Vikings.

V. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former 49ers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson to a 4 year, 8 million dollar contract. He is expected to compete with Antwaan Randle-El for the #2 spot behind Hines Ward. There should be plenty of room for all three players to produce in the Steelers offense. All should be good fantasy picks.

VI. The deal between the Jets and Redskins is now official. Both Santana Moss and Laverneus Coles have passed their physicals. A change of scenery should benefit Coles, and Moss will have a bit of a decline in production while playing for the always transitioning Redskins. In other news from the Jets, they have signed tight end Jeb Putzier to an offer sheet, giving the Broncos 7 days to match the offer or lose Putzier to the Jets. All signs point to the Broncos retaining Putzier’s services.

VII. A couple notes on tight ends of interest is warranted here. Marcus Pollard has signed a three year contract with the Detroit Lions, and the Vikings have resigned tight end Jermaine Wiggins to a 5 year, 7.3 million dollar contract. Both of these players will be drafted in leagues all over the place, and Pollard should benefit from a place that wants to utilize their tight end. He also will not have to share snaps, as he did in Indianapolis. Wiggins was the team’s leading receiver in 2004 and it is assumed that even with the return of Jimmy Kleinsasser, Wiggins will have a productive season. Another tight end of note, although not as high profile as Wiggins and Pollard, Itula Mili, has resignedwith the Seattle Seahawks. Terms were not disclosed on his 4 year contract. He is expected to battle Jerramy Stevens for playing time.

VIII. Wide Receivers In The News: The Dolphins have released disgruntled and often injured David Boston. He needs to lose about 20 pounds to his sculpted frame. He is rumored to wind up with the 49ers or the Raiders. The Buccaneers have resigned speedy veteran Joey Galloway. He should still produce some TDs for the Bus in 2005. Keenan McCardell has signed a two year contract with the Chargers. McCardell should enjoy a productive season no matter whether he’s the #2 or #3 pass catcher.

IX. Kickers Of Note: Todd Peterson has defected to the Falcons, where a change of scenery to an indoor arena and a better scoring team will do him good. Jeff Reed has resigned with the Steelers for 5 years. He should be a productive player for the Men of Steel for the next half decade. Joe Nedney will be trying to revive his career with the 49ers. If he can stay healthy, he will prove to be a dependable kicker for the Bay Area, although they will not score much to warrant much more than a backup role for Nedney on most fantasy rosters.

X. If you need to read this part of The Zone, your team is in real trouble. Terry Jackson has resigned with the 49ers. The Falcons have resigned return man Allen Rossum and his 3 career punt return touchdowns. Ricky Proehl has decided to play one more season for the Carolina Panthers. The New Orleans Saints have signed tight end Shad Meier, who will probably be at best the #2 tight end on that team, behind Boo Williams and possibly Ernie Conwell. The Rams have signed tight end Roland Williams, where he one played and had a couple relatively productive seasons. The Patriots have resigned fullback Patrick Pass. The only good thing about the Pass deal is that Corey Dillon will have a great lead blocker.

THE GOSSIP CHAIN

Rod Gardner is now garnering much more interest than Burress on the market. The Redskins are openly attempting to trade Gardner for a draft pick. The Vikings, Browns, and Seahawks are rumored to be in the mix.

Quarterback Jay Fiedler has been rumored to sign with either the Bears or the Jets. Who knows and I doubt really that anyone really cares. In both locales, Fiedler will be a backup, but he certainly will stand a better chance of playing if he signs with Chicago.

Who knows where Jeff Garcia will end up. Its anyone’s guess. He might return to the Browns, or he could end up in Detroit, Tampa Bay or Seattle. Signs point to Garcia landing in The Motor City though.

EDITORIAL
 I can’t believe that I am wasting ink on this but I can’t believe that former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth is back in court appealing his 2001 murder conspiracy conviction. The North Carolina Appellate Court should follow the same course as the North Carolina and U.S. Supreme Court have taken, and that is to decline even entertaining his case. The man should be awaiting his turn on a gurney on Death Row, but a liberal jury stopped that. Now it is time to keep Carruth locked away for the next 16 years for his part in his girlfriend’s murder. Slam the door on the and let Carruth attempt his comeback to the NFL after he’s paid his debt to society – when he’s 46 years old.

The Iceman

2005 Draft Eligible Underclassmen

2005 Draft Eligible Top Underclassmen

With the 2005 NFL Draft about a month away, the cream of the crop is starting to rise to the top. We here at TCFS want you to be extremely knowledgeable about as many prospects as possible to help out your fantasy team come draft day. These are the top fantasy performers for underclassmen in the draft. But be wary, while running backs are usually safer picks, you should steer clear of most wide receivers and quarterbacks as they are rarely productive in their first season.

1. Mike Williams, wr, USC – Rarely would I put a wide receiver this high on a draft list, but he is the top underclassman. Obviously, Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers will be drafted ahead of him, and there is no doubt that Braylon Edwards, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, and Cadillac Williams will be gone before Williams, he should be the top wide receiver in the junior class. At 6’5” and 225 lbs., he can overpower most defenders. He is a fantastic redzone threat. Williams has good strong hands and is a very physical player. Although not as fast as Randy Moss, one cannot help but think of Moss when looking at Williams perform. Runs a very pedestrian 4.59 (40). As great as Williams will be, he must be careful not to drop the easy passes. A Top 15 pick for sure.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Cleveland, San Diego, Washington

2. Troy Williamson, wr, South Carolina – Williamson had a tremendous combine, and his stock rose dramatically. He is extremely fast, and has the ability to make big plays. Has separation speed to go the distance. He has good hands and excellent body control in the air. He has some injury problems, and needs to get stronger to sustain the rigors of the NFL. Williamson stands 6’1” and he weighs 200 pounds. He has been clocked at a blazing 4.36 (40). Should be a late 1st round or early 2nd round selection.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Baltimore, San Diego.

3. Heath Miller, te, Virginia – Miller is a prototypical pass catching tight end: smart, athletic and great hands. He is 6’5” and weighs 255 pounds, making it hard for defensive backs to cover him. He runs a 4.65 (40), which makes it practically impossible for linebackers to cover him. Miller should have a great professional career. He should be a quick producer in the NFL. He is an average blocker, and needs to get stronger, but he looks like a can’t miss prospect. Should be a sure fire 1st round selection.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Arizona, Pittsburgh.

4. Alex Smith, qb, Utah – At 6’4” and 215 pounds, Smith is the perfect size for an NFL quarterback. He runs a respectable 4.70 (40), so he somewhat mobile. He is smart, and he possesses a deadly accurate arm. Smith has good field vision and he should only get better with age. He works well out of the shotgun. He really needs to put on some weight and gain some experience. His 27 TDs versus 2 Ints is a gaudy statistic that is hard to overlook. He should be a good player for a patient team. A no question Top 10 pick.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Cleveland, San Francisco, Dallas.

5. Ciatrick Fason, rb, Florida – A 6’0” 205 pound running back who runs a 4.45 (40) is a sought after commodity in the NFL. He has the size and speed to be a productive NFL running back. He is durable, and he has the ability to blossom into a premier pro. Fason is mature, athletic, and a good outside runner. He possesses good hands. Fason must get stronger and learn to block better. Fason should be a 2nd round pick, but a team grabbing him in the 3rd round will have a steal.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Chicago, Carolina, Philadelphia, Seattle.

6. Aaron Rodgers, qb, California – Rodgers has all the makings of an NFL star – except ideal height for an NFL quarterback. Rodgers is only 6’2”, but he weighs 220 pounds and runs a 4.73 (40). He has good arm strength and great accuracy. He is also a smart player. Rodgers is a good prospect for a West Coast offense. He is a JUCO transfer, which scares many NFL teams, but Rodgers should be a good NFL quarterback. He will probably be a Top 5 pick in the draft.
EXPECTED SUITORS: San Francisco, Cleveland, Oakland.

7. Chris Henry, wr, West Virginia – Team starving for wide receiver help will stop at no cost to upgrade this corps. Henry serves that purpose. At 6’4” and 195 pounds, NFL scouts would normally be salivating over this guy. He has speed and is a threat to go the distance every time the ball is in his hands. However, the kid is immature, and a disciplinary problem, which makes him an extremely high risk pick. But, if a team can corral Henry’s emotional side, they might reap a great reward. He will probably be between the 4th and 7th wide receiver selected in the draft, which puts him in the low 1st or second round status.
EXPECTED SUITORS: San Diego, Philadelphia, Oakland.

8. Vernand Morency, rb, Oklahoma State – At 5’10” and 214 pounds, Morency is the perfect size for an NFL running back. He also runs a 4.52 (40), which shows that he has breakaway speed. He is strong and explosive. He crushes holes. He is athletic, shifty and a good cutback runner. He is a good receiver and holds onto the ball. About the only knock on this guy is that he will be 25 on Draft Day, so he might only have 5 decent years in the NFL, but he has all the makings of an NFL star. He should be gone by the end of the 2nd round.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Miami, Oakland, Chicago, Carolina, Dallas.

9. Eric Shelton, rb, Lousiville – Built a lot like TJ Duckett, 6’1”, 245 pounds, but runs a 4.6 (40). He has never been a full time starter, and might not be sound enough to do so. He has tremendous upside though. He is an average blocker and below average hands, which would limit Shelton to 1st and 2nd round duty.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Tampa Bay, Carolina, Seattle.

10. Marion Barber III, rb, Minnesota – Runs a 4.50 (40), so he’s fast and runs hard. He is an explosive player, and breaks some big runs. He is also valuable to teams as a returner. But at 5’11” and 220 pounds, you would like to see a more durable back.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Minnesota, Dallas, New York Jets.

11. Adrian McPherson, qb, Florida State – The perfect size to be an NFL quarterback (6’4” 220). He runs a 4.70 (40). Excellent prospect. He is a physical specimen, and he’s very athletic. He lit up the Arena League, and is ready to make the jump to the NFL. He’s not a great passer, but is learning under fire. McPherson comes with gambling baggage, which will make a lot of NFL teams shy away from him, but he is saying and doing all the right things, and it appears as though McPherson is coming along with age. He should be between the 5th and 8th quarterback taken, probably in the 3rd or 4th round.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Washington, Oakland, Miami, Cleveland.

12. Maurice Clarett, rb, Ohio State – Who knows? Talk about a risk/reward pick. At 5’11” and 235 pounds, he has the size of a perfect NFL back. Runs a 4.75 (40), which makes him slow for an NFL back. But he is strong and powerfull, and is great near the goalline. He is very talented, but he has character flaws, and injury prone. Will he be the next Emmitt Smith or the next Ron Dayne? Interested teams will have to decide between Clarett and McLendon, two similar backs. Should be a 5th round selection.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Jacksonville, New York Giants, Oakland, Minnesota.

13. T.A. McLendon, rb, North Carolina State – At 5’10” and 235, McLendon is built like Clarett. He runs a 4.70 (40), so he’s slightly faster, but he’s still on the slow side. He is ptrong and productive, and can make tacklers miss. He is not durable and prone to injuries. Will probably wind up being a goalline back. Expect him to go just before or just after Clarett in the 5th round.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Carolina, Washington, Tampa Bay.

14. Roscoe Parrish, wr, Miami, FL – Super fast with good hands. He plays much larger than his 5’10” 165 pound frame. Parrish is a good leaper. With 4.45 (40) speed, Parrish should be a productive slot receiver and special teams player in the NFL. The only drawback with Parrish is that he is small and will probably be relegated to 3rd down duty. Parrish will probably go somewhere in the 3rd round.
EXPECTED SUITORS: San Francisco, Miami, New Orleans, Carolina.

15. Frank Gore, rb, Miami FL – At 5’9” and 217 pounds, you would like to have a more durable back in your stable than Gore. He is a bit small and not overly fast (4.65 – 40), but he is instinctive, athletic, and he has great cut back ability. His injury status is a major concern, but he once was ahead of Willis McGahee on Miami’s depth chart. He has average hands. Gore is a great locker room presence and a team player. He could he a high risk/high reward player. Teams will have to decide between him and Ryan Moats. Gore will probably be drafted in the late 4th or early 5th round.
EXPECTED SUITORS: Miami, Carolina, New England.

16. Ryan Moats, rb, Louisiana Tech – at 5’8” and 210 pounds, Moats is small, but he runs an explosive 4.50 (40). He is a threat to take the ball to the end zone every time he touches the ball. He is a team player and an asset in the locker room, but like Gore, he is injury prone. He will probably be restricted to 3rd down and special teams duty in the pros. Teams thinking about choosing Moats over Gore will probably have to grab Moats in the 4th round.
EXPECTED SUITORS: New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Seattle.

Well, there you have it, the top 16 underclassmen in regard to fantasy football. Teams must remember that these guys will have a hard time producing big numbers in the NFL. Fantasy owners should concentrate their drafting on Williams, Williamson, Miller, Fason, Morency, and possibly Smith or Rodgers if they grab a starting role. Otherwise, stick with the blue chip rookies Benson, The Cadillac, Brown, and Braylon Edwards.

The Iceman

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 Bu