NFL 2010

[WayAbvPar]

The only explanation is that Carroll and Schneider are fucking morons. Wilson has been awesome for the team, and unless his personality is 180 degrees different behind closed doors, there is no way he is a cancer. He has completely outplayed his replacement (Kelly Jennings) since he was drafted a year after Jennings. To be fair, a potted plant would have been in a tight position fight with Jennings, though. They drafted Walter Thurmond in the 4th round this year, who was probably a 1st round talent but had a pretty bad knee injury. Apparently he is really looking healed and good, and they have a former UW corner (Roy Lewis) as well, but I still can't understand why they were so excited to get rid of Wilson. They say that Baltimore was 'really aggressive' coming after him, but as a commenter on the news story in the paper said, " OOH.. look at them waving around that 5th round pick!".

A young starting corner should garner more than a 5th rounder. I am assuming Kelly Jennings has video of Paul Allen visiting a certain notorious barn out in Enumclaw...that is the only possible explanation for his continued employment and now promotion.

[Cyrrex]

Ugh.  Maybe Pete Carrol just felt he wasn't being competitive enough?

[Paelos]

My guess is that this has a lot to do with salaries, free agency, and the impending NFL strike.

[Nebu]

A young starting corner should garner more than a 5th rounder.

I agree completely.  Especially when the young corner has such a solid performance track record.  I only commented on the "locker room cancer" because short of salary, you'd have to be an idiot to release a guy like this for a 5th round pick.

[Paelos]

My guess is you will see a lot of odd moves this season due to the lockout potential.

[HaemishM]

How 'bout them Saints? 

Good game, but it became really obvious really quickly that Favre was missing Rice something fierce. Nobody else stepped up consistently the whole game. Once the Saints got Shancoe covered, the game was over. New Orleans switching to a running game in the second half probably helped a good deal too, eating up the clock. But WTF was up with the Saints' kicker?

[Cyrrex]

Kind of a weird game on both sides.  You're right about the receiving corps on Minnesota.  Favre didn't seem to have any good options.  What freaks me out the most was the inability of Percy Harvin to find a way to get open (I have him on my Fantasy team).  Maybe they all needed Rice to open up the field for them.  They've got a long first half of a season to get through.

The Saints....I don't know.  Minnesota's D was good at adjusting, but it seemed like NO's offense was too slow to then re-adjust.  They proved they could throw it, then they proved the could run it.  But they somehow never managed to get the whole machine working together.  I have a feeling they'll get it back on track, though, and be as dangerous as they were last year.

[Paelos]

I'm good with Favre making Shiancoe his go-to guy. I'm happy with my TE pick so far this week. 

[Nebu]

Min defense was fine.  Holding NO to less than 21 points is quite a feat.  What's obvious is that the Minnesota offense is terribad without Rice.  I think that this is also a sign that Favre should have retired last year.  He didn't look sharp at all, even late in the game.

[Rasix]

Or maybe he should just go to training camp if he's serious about playing instead of cutting his lawn.

[Nebu]

Or maybe he should just go to training camp if he's serious about playing instead of cutting his lawn.

If he had done camp, he'd be too tired to play during the season.  Getting old is a bitch.

[Cyrrex]

I really think he just needs at least one go-to receiver that he can trust.  If Harvin can't step up, they should seriously consider going after Vincent Jackson with a fat one-year deal.

[Nebu]

I was really surprised that they didn't grab T. J. Houshmandzadeh.  He's nothing spectacular, but would have given them another pair of hands. 

[HaemishM]

Hoosh is not a #1 guy - he's more of a Percy Harvin or a great slot receiver. They really do need a #1, and none of the guys they have seem to be it. Now, I think New Orleans D was pretty good last night. Their corners and safeties played well, so it may be a case that Harvin and co. can get open against lesser opposition. But they weren't doing it last night, and Brett only made a few bad Brett-like throws. He wasn't great, but he wasn't terribad either.

[Nebu]

He wasn't great, but he wasn't terribad either.

Ok.  Using a draft analogy, he looked more Ryan Leaf than he did Peyton Manning.   He certainly didn't look like a HoF bound QB.  The quickness of his reads are depending more and more on his arm... and his arm just isn't what it used to be.  Yes, he needs a #1, but I think he just needs someone that can run with the stronger CB's in the league.  Shiancoe isn't a top tier receiving TE and I think Percy Harvin is grossly overrated.  That leaves him with Berrian.  Ugh.   

[Cyrrex]

Shiancoe isn't a top tier receiving TE

I strongly disagree with this statement. 

[Nebu]

I strongly disagree with this statement.  

Based on what?

Look at the film on him.  How often does he draw double coverage in most defensive schemes?  That will answer your question.

[WayAbvPar]

Favre looked old last night. Like cadaverous. Not even talking about his play. I look forward to Minnesota sliding into mediocrity, Favre retiring midseason, and Brad Childress being fired (which should have happened 3 years ago).

[Cyrrex]

I strongly disagree with this statement.  

Based on what?

Look at the film on him.  How often does he draw double coverage in most defensive schemes?  That will answer your question.

I think he'll begin drawing it (as much as a TE ever does).  I think he is under-rated...I watched a lot of Minnesota games last year, and have always thought he had a knack for coming up with the big catch at important times.  He gets in the end zone a lot, too.  I wouldn't want much more for a receiving tight end.  Mind you, I'm not saying he's the absolute best, but I would put him in my top tier for sure.

[Nebu]

Just consider this.  Shiancoe was only targeted 79 times in '09, good for only 14th in the NFL. Accordingly, his receiving yardage ranked just 17th.  He's a decent pair of hands near the goal line, but this is also due to his size and ability to take up space in the red zone.  In the open field, he's an average NFL TE.  

I love Shiancoe and have been a Vikings fan since I was a kid growing up in Minneapolis.  I just can't put him with the elite at the position as much as I want him to be there.  On sheer talent alone, I'm more likely to give the nod to Vernon Davis and he's not meeting his expectations.  

[WayAbvPar]

due to his size

That's what she said.

There is a reason I declared I was drafting 'Horsecock McGee' in one of my drafts, and everyone knew who I meant without explanation 

Drinking and drafting is the only way to go.

[Cyrrex]

Just consider this.  Shiancoe was only targeted 79 times in '09, good for only 14th in the NFL. Accordingly, his receiving yardage ranked just 17th.  He's a decent pair of hands near the goal line, but this is also due to his size and ability to take up space in the red zone.  In the open field, he's an average NFL TE.  

I love Shiancoe and have been a Vikings fan since I was a kid growing up in Minneapolis.  I just can't put him with the elite at the position as much as I want him to be there.  On sheer talent alone, I'm more likely to give the nod to Vernon Davis and he's not meeting his expectations.  

I think your focusing overly much on yardage stats, which is especially problematic when you consider how popular of a target Sydney Rice was last year.  My opinion is based more on a view of him as being clutch.  Making big catches and being dependable.  Dude scored 11 TDs last year, and 7 before.  I'll be shocked if he doesn't get at least 10 this year.  That's pant-shittingly good for a TE, as far as I am concerned.  I'd take this guy on my team any day, even if he only manages 500 yards a season.

[Nebu]

I think your focusing overly much on yardage stats, which is especially problematic when you consider how popular of a target Sydney Rice was last year.  My opinion is based more on a view of him as being clutch.  Making big catches and being dependable.  Dude scored 11 TDs last year, and 7 before.  I'll be shocked if he doesn't get at least 10 this year.  That's pant-shittingly good for a TE, as far as I am concerned.  I'd take this guy on my team any day, even if he only manages 500 yards a season.

There's a big difference between being a good NFL TE and being a good fantasy TE.  Siancoe is good near the goal line.  He's good because he has good hands and his size allows him to get good position.  The mark of a truly exceptional TE is their ability to be considered among the WR core.  Witten, Gonzales, Gates, Coates, Sharpe, etc were all equally deadly at midfield as they were in the red zone.  Shiancoe hasn't shown any ability to be an open field receiver.  That's the only reason that I say he isn't one of the NFL elite at his position.  Shiancoe suffers in yardage for this reason.  Rice, even double covered, was a better option.  Why?  Because Shiancoe isn't up to that level yet. 

I apologize for being cryptic earlier. 

[Paelos]

Stop dissing my fantasy TE yo! 

[Nebu]

Stop dissing my fantasy TE yo! 

I'm 99% certain that I wish I had his numbers this week.  We'll see on Sunday. 

[MrHat]

Stop dissing my fantasy TE yo! 

I'm 99% certain that I wish I had his numbers this week.  We'll see on Sunday. 

Favre :(

[Cyrrex]

I wasn't basing my opinion on Fantasy numbers.  I had him on a team last year, and I don't recall him lighting it up too much, all things considered.  It only meant that I followed him more closely, and liked what I saw.  If there are, say, 50 active TEs in the league (I have no idea), there are only a few I'd take ahead of him (Witten, Gates, Clark...probably not Gonzalez any more).  I'm not even sure about Gates.

At any rate, I think this year, with the absence of Rice, will tell us if I'm right or not, because he'll certainly have the opportunity to be that guy.

[Nebu]

At any rate, I think this year, with the absence of Rice, will tell us if I'm right or not, because he'll certainly have the opportunity to be that guy.

I agree with you completely in that with Rice gone and Harvin having issues, he has every opportunity to produce.  I hope that he has a breakout year and drafted him in another league for that reason.  Unfortunately, I think that if he had the ability to be an elite TE, we would have seen it while he was competing against Shockey in NY.   I think last year is about the best we'll see from him.   

[JWIV]

Nice to see I'm off to such a rousing start with having both the NE Defense and Forte sitting on my bunch while earning 213423521354 points.   

[Zetleft]

At least you didn't have Stafford as your starter 

[Nevermore]

Why did I draft Beanie Wells over Arian Foster again? 

[Zetleft]

Why did I draft Beanie Wells over Arian Foster again?  

For my under performing teams sake, I'm glad you made the choice you did.  

That was a sick game though... Houston finally has a running back it seems.  Too soon to be certain if he will flame out like Slaton though.

[Nevermore]

I'm not in your league.  I'm talking about a friends and family league I'm in.  Even Chris Johnson couldn't save me since my opponent this week has Brady, Welker *and* Forte starting.  Oh, and Shiancoe and Hightower just to top it off.

[Ingmar]

Augh we are getting KILLED by the freaking Seahawks.

[Abagadro]

Man the Lions got hosed (as did I in the fantasy league).