The owners meetings had football scribes working well into the night Sunday, which provides for a nice collection of links from around the league on Monday morning:

Charlie Weis wonders if it’s worth it for Josh McDaniels to kiss Jay Cutler’s feet to make the diva comfortable enough to stay.

Michael Lombardi weighs in on the Braylon Edwards trade talks and other news.

The Lions are expected to stay interested in Jay Cutler.

A Cutler deal won’t happen at the league meetings.

John Madden says the McJaygate feud is fixable.

Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Owners Meetings Edition" »

Posted by Chris Wesseling at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This week's episode of the Jay Cutler soap opera has a new plot line: Denver's desire to keep Cutler, despite everything that has happened thus far. 

While the Jets want him, Peter King and other sources have confirmed the Broncos want to exhaust all avenues to keeping Cutler.

My man Tom Curran is getting a lot of goodies at the NFL Owner's Meeting, and had this excellent perspective from John Madden on the Cutler fiasco.

Continue reading "No one puts Denver in a corner" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Despite injuries costing Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall a combined 17 games, Pittsburgh's run-to-pass ratio last year was 460:506. Only three teams in the AFC (BAL, NE, TEN) ran more.

The Steelers' offseason moves indicate that they plan to maintain a balanced to run-first offense. They franchised LT Max Starks, a powerful run blocker but a liability in pass protection, and gave a pricey first-round tender to restricted free agent RT Willie Colon, who has one of the nastier mean streaks in the league.

Pittsburgh has not sought to shake up its line and is unlikely to upgrade at left tackle with the No. 32 overall pick. The Steelers could draft a project like UConn's William Beatty, but Starks is fairly certain to keep his starting position.

Continue reading "Rocket Rashard will run again" »

Posted by Evan Silva at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

On this week's Three and Out, Tom and I discuss where in the world Jay Cutler and Julius Peppers will start next season. We also talk whether a post-Patriots curse exists for coaches. Enjoy Tom's spiffy tie and my wannabe mullet.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Is Chad Ocho Cinco an obvious buy-low this offseason? He’s a proven Pro Bowl talent coming off a disastrous season. Between the shoulder injury and the loss of Carson Palmer, he never really had a chance. He’s a near lock to return to 1,000 yards this season, right?

I think Ocho Cinco falls under the category of "somebody else's problem." His value is low, but that doesn't mean I have to make it my problem to see that it rises again.

Has Carson Palmer put the elbow problems behind him for good? I remain skeptical that he will bounce back to normal in 2009. What’s normal for Palmer now anyway? He can kiss those 2005-06 glory years good-bye forever.

Continue reading "Is Ocho Cinco an obvious buy-low?" »

Posted by Chris Wesseling at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

It's been a somewhat slow news day so far, but here are some non-Rotoworld blurb worthy links from the morning:

The Bears consider this ex-Saint their answer at free safety, at least in the short term. Good luck, Jerry Angelo.

Ray Lewis blames his flirtation with the idea of playing in Dallas before re-signing with the Ravens on downing one too many Mai Tais at the Pro Bowl.

One observer thinks the Colts should use an early draft pick on a runner to pair with Joseph Addai, and names Shonn Greene, Andre Brown, and Rashad Jennings as possibilities.

James Hardy isn't too happy, but at least the Mayor of Buffalo supports Terrell Owens' signing.

Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio State unsurprisingly wants to stay at cornerback in the pros, rather than convert to safety.

Don't miss my rundown of the top receivers for the 2009 draft. Feel free to send emails bashing it.

Continue reading "Skinny Posts: Next Colts RB" »

Posted by Evan Silva at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I'm a podcast guy. I run solo usually, and have a long commute twice a week from New York to Stamford, CT., site of Rotoworld international headquarters. Even then, there isn't enough time to stay current with my favorites: Adam Carolla, On the DL, Fresh Air, and Bill Simmons. Time spent on the subway without a podcast feels like time wasted. I'm terribly addicted.

The Sports Guy remains atop my rotation. I was listening on the way home last night, and surprisingly found a Rotoworld blurb when listening to Mike Lombardi talk Brady Quinn.

"I'm just hearing things out of Cleveland that don't make me feel Brady Quinn is part of their future. ... (Quinn's) support has left the building. We used to call it sponsorship at the Raiders. When your sponsorship goes, you aren't the same player."

Continue reading "Lombardi: Quinn's support has 'left the building'" »

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

One byproduct of the Jay Cutler saga is that Chris Simms is beginning to take on a chic sleeper pick vibe. If Cutler ends up getting traded for a draft-pick heavy package, the thinking goes, then Simms would be primed to take over an explosive Josh McDaniels passing offense.

Let’s take a deeper look at Chris Simms:

He started or saw significant playing time in 14 games between 2005 and 2006. In exactly half of those contests, Simms threw zero touchdowns. Zots! Bubkes! That’s a recipe for a losing fantasy season when your quarterback can’t get on the scoreboard.

Continue reading "Putting the Chris Simms sleeper talk to rest" »

Posted by Chris Wesseling at 07:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

While I'm going poll happy, let's give you one that means something. Our magazine publisher wants your input on our cover subject. Last year, Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson got the nods for our two magazines. Let us know what player would make you spend $7 on our magazine this time. Write-in candidates can go in the comments.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

I posted my annual collateral damage article, looking at 16 players who have seen their fantasy value take a hit this offseason without changing places. A collateral benefits article is coming up, but not included are a few players who I am taking a wait and see approach with.

Tony Romo is atop this list. On paper, losing Terrell Owens should hurt. Fantasy owners don't get a bump from a quieter locker room.

Continue reading "Is Romo damaged goods?" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)