Two offseasons ago, it looked like Jon Gruden had finally found his "quarterback of the future" in Chris Simms, fresh off a playoff appearance. Two years, three ugly starts, and a ruptured spleen later, Simms sits in limbo while Gruden goes back to the Future at quarterback with Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese.
Simms has been paid well to rehab, but he's knows he's out in Tampa, and has decided to skip offseason workouts. This should speed up a trade, with the Bucs likely to get a late-round pick (at best), probably during the Draft. Green Bay and Minnesota sound like possibilities. Cleveland has shown interest in the past, and Simms would make some sense as a 2009 backup to the winner of the Anderson/Quinn battle.
Japan is great, I love having baseball back and all (Opening Day was excellent, way better atmosphere than the preseason games) ... but this is a fantasy football blog. And it's back.
Today starts one of the most intense months of my football season, as I begin our magazine profiles and preparation into high gear leading into the NFL Draft, and then re-write half the thing.
I'm officially ready to let go of the '07 season now that we know the '08 opener: Redskins at Giants. I was hoping to see D.J. Hackett in this game, but he'll be with the Panthers (more on that later). It will be the first chance to see how New York divides up their running game, if the playoff Eli was for real, and how the Jim Zorn offense will look in Washington. Bring on the hype.
March 25, 2008
Good morning to everyone waking up for what is sure to be a surreal Opening Day. I can't quite believe this game is going to count, but I suspect the energy, excitement from all the fans here will go up exponentially with real box scores. With that said, I still haven't seen a single sox fan walking the streets except right outside the stadium.
A few people read my article on NBCSports.com and wondered why I'm in Tokyo in the first place.
Continue reading "Baseball and Eggs" »
March 24, 2008
I've been having trouble with my internet connection the last few days, but my article on Red Sox Nation in Japan is up over at NBC.
Back with a few thoughts before the game tonight, thanks for checking it out.
March 21, 2008
The official assignments for the first annual Pancake Blocks Mock Draft are below. I will be including all the info for the draft next week, but we probably won't get started until April 1. Thanks for everyone who signed up - if there were multiple requests for one team, I just went with whoever got there first.
Continue reading "Pancake Blocks Mock is Set" »
The Red Sox have arrived and it's being treated on the nightly news as a big deal. Manny is doing a fine job representing the U.S. by bowing as much as possible and talking about sushi a lot.
I'm amazed the first exhibition game is scheduled less than 36 hours after the Red Sox arrive, but I suppose they don't count in the standings. Maybe I'm a wimp, but it takes me at least half a week to get over the jet lag. And I don't have to play professional sports, just nod during conversations I don't always follow.
Perhaps the short turnaround is why the first two games are scheduled for early afternoon (noon) starts. It will be 11PM on the East Coast when the game starts tomorrow. It will be 6AM EST Tuesday and Wednesday for the regular season games, the absolute worst time of day for any jet lag. The Sox will have had four days to get acclimated, but at least Manny has an excuse if he's caught napping in left field.
I will see three games in four days starting tomorrow, and will have some thoughts on the spectacle here and on the main site. Thanks for stopping by.
March 20, 2008
The response for the first annual reader generated Pancake Blocks Mock has been awe inspiring. A few of you asked for an update for who is available, so here is our draft order and the open spots. Nine picks remain open. Please enter your email address so I can contact you for the remaining sign ups. And the "anonymous" that picked the Cardinals may want to try again.
Continue reading "Pancake Mock Draft Update" »
March 19, 2008
Settling into my trip to Japan. Nothing makes you feel more like a gaijin then celebrating St. Patrick's Day here, but I'm not trying to fool anyone. I'm one week from arriving back home and still three days before the first Red Sox game, so the blog will remain quiet the next few days. That makes this a good time for some housekeeping. A few days ago, Bart suggested a reader-generated Pancake Blocks Mock Draft, with a reader making the first-round pick for each NFL team.
It sounds like a good way to improve the quality of writing around here, so I'm going to leave this post open for sign-ups. We'll start the Mock when I get back. Everyone will email me a few sentences explaining their selection, although obviously you can't make the pick until you know who's left on the board.
I'm going to take the Pats. Bart has the Jets. Matt Grant has the Steelers, and TC has the Broncos. The rest of the first-round picks are up for grabs, so pick a team below and start prepping.
March 15, 2008
So I'm at the airport currently waiting for a flight to Japan. I'll be there for a week and a half of in-laws, Red Sox, and friends with a Red Sox addiction strong enough to follow them to Tokyo. It is going to be odd helping to "host" people there when I can't speak the language at all. I will check in here occasionally throughout the trip, but the posting will be irregular, especially until the exhibition games start in a week.
Let me know if anyone reading happens to be in Tokyo and going to the hopefully bizarre Red Sox Nation get together after the first exhibition game. I'm planning to write a longer piece about that experience for the main site.
Evan Silva and the boys will have the news page cranking as usual, and Chris Wesseling will be posting some cool dynasty rankings starting this week. See you on the other side.
It's been a bad week for Deuce McAllister's value. The Saints delayed a roster bonus for McAllister a month so they could monitor his receovery before making a decision on his future. Now we find out he underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in addition to the ACL surgery he had on his left knee.
McAllister now has undergone ACL and microfracture surgery on that right knee in the last few years. Trying to overcome one devastating knee surgery at McAllister's age is hard enough. Two at the same time is nearly impossible. Perhaps McAllister will stay on the Saints roster, but the odds are heavily against him helping them or fantasy teams in 2008 now. Pierre Thomas, who looked like the real deal in a Week 17 performance, suddenly looks like a big-time fantasy sleeper. I'd grab him in keeper leagues. Aaron Stecker is also on the roster for insurance.
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