As much as I'd love to "liveblog" Tatum Bell getting hit over and over in the backfield during this scintilating Lions-Giants replay on NFL Network, I will instead take your all draft questions from 2:30-3:30. See you then.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Is my Broncos preview below already out of date? Perhaps. I certainly didn't have the information that Eddie Royal passed Darrell Jackson on the depth chart, at least for now. Mike Shanahan is always good for a few tricks, but it appears Royal will start opposite Jackson while Brandon Marshall is out. And when Marshall returns, Royal has a decent chance of keeping the gig. Keary Colbert is nowhere to be found.

While I still don't like taking rookie wideouts in redraft leagues, my optimistic ranking of Royal in dynasty leagues is looking pretty sweet ... for now. Royal will move ahead of Devin Thomas and James Hardy as the top-ranked rookie wideout in our latest projections, even if that only makes him a late-round pick. In a perfect world, he could evolve into the T.J. Houshmandzadeh to Marshall's Chad Johnson. But that will still take a year or two.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This article got me more excited about this weekend's preseason games: Ronnie Brown might play. This is a surprise, and a pleasant one, although I still expect the Dolphins to rest Brown. It's a good sign he's that close to ready and he'd be fun to watch. The preseason is mostly worthless, especially the first week when starters barely play. Still, there are a couple stories worth tracking. For tonight's games, here is what I'm looking for.

Continue reading "Setting your preseason table" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check around your favorite team's official website this week and you'll see a new page up: Depth Charts! Teams are required to give their first depth charts of the season before their first preseason game - this week. These are fun to look at, but the coaches plead with us not to take them seriously. Sometimes, they are ridiculous. Like the Falcons putting Matt Ryan fourth at quarterback. Sometimes, coaches use them as motivational tools.

Whatever the reason, there are always a few eye openers. Here were the ones that caught my eye this week:

Continue reading "Depth Chart Shenanigans" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So I broke my rules and wrote about Favre this morning. But he's actually traded this time! Even Chris Baker is surprised (See above). See where Favre fits in our new rankings.

I also did my annual Post-Hype All Stars. After watching Hard Knocks last night, I wish I moved Patrick Crayton from honorable mention to writeup status. The show, by the way, is highly recommended. Wade Phillips spinning jokes and Pacman Jones making it rain on a rookie were two of the highlights.

Back in a bit with some depth chart talk.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A helpful reader points out a reasonable scenario in which the Vikings will benefit from the Brett Favre mess, after all. If Favre is dealt to Tampa, Jeff Garcia will likely be dumped the next day. He won't stick around to be a backup. And if Garcia hits the open market, Minnesota makes for his most sensible destination. Garcia knows how to run Brad Childress' system and would provide a big upgrade from Gus Freorotte (and Tarvais Jackson for that matter). Garcia could stay fresh on the bench, waiting for the inevitable Jackson injury or meltdown.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 04:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

He coulda been a contender. Ryan Torain had every shot to start games for the Broncos this season and excel before he broke his elbow Wednesday. Judging by Mike Shanahan's depressed comments Wednesday comparing Torain to Terrell Davis, the rookie may have started sooner than later.

"One of the most gifted running backs that I’ve been around for a long time," Shanny said. He could miss anywhere from 6 weeks to three months, depending on which Denver paper you believe. An MRI should give us a better idea on the ligament damage.

Continue reading "Torain's injury opens door for other Broncos" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)

In which I give a tepid endorsement of D.J. Hackett, a full endorsement of Jonathan Stewart (I have him as a third-round value, not fourth), and no endorsement for Jake Delhomme.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join me for a Friday chat at 2:30 PM as we talk draft season, training camp, and the replay of whatever preseason game NFL Network is showing at the time. Giddy-up!

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Remember that Packers story that was much ado about nothing? Yep, Ryan Grant signed with plenty of time left before the season. Brandon Jackson's strong off-season shows he can be a strong handcuff for Grant owners, but Grant's contract shows who the man is. It's really 4-years, $20 million, with up to $10 million more in incentives.

The money is evenly distributed in the deal, with Grant making roughly $9 million over the next two years. He still has to improve some parts of his game (screen passes, power running), but he returned in plenty of time to keep his number twelve overall ranking.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 04:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)