They have ugly uniforms, a new coach who's already alienated his best player on either side of the ball, and cast away by far their most consistent pass catcher, but sometimes we have to talk Cleveland Browns football.

Kellen Winslow's trade and Donte' Stallworth's career-threatening arrest for killing a pedestrian with his Bentley leave the Browns with one unsightly pass-catching corps:

SE - Braylon Edwards/Paul Hubbard
FL - Stallworth*/Syndric Steptoe
SL - Josh Cribbs
TE - Robert Royal/Martin Rucker/Steve Heiden

Royal is an aging plodder, Rucker is untested with only situational upside, Heiden is coming off major reconstructive knee surgery, and Steptoe and Stallworth (* if available in '09) are not impact players. Cribbs might help some on third downs, but is most valuable on special teams.

Continue reading "Browns begging for ball catchers" »

Posted by Evan Silva at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Editor's Note: Rotoworld news is written anonymously with one voice, but we have our share of disagreements. We just "settle" them offline. Until now. In a feature we're calling Face Off until you guys suggest a better title in the comments, we'll feature two Pancake Blocks writers entering the ring.

This time, we have Chris Wesseling and Evan Silva butting heads on the Jay Cutler mess.

Silva: I don’t get the condemnation of Bus Cook. He’s an agent. He’s just trying to get new deals for his players. What’s wrong with that?
Wesseling: By tearing apart a franchise? It’s unethical.
Silva: The franchise messed up by trying to trade his clients. He’s simply capitalizing. It’s smart.

Continue reading "Pancake Blocks Face Off: Jay Cutler" »

Posted by Chris Wesseling at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)

Lost in all the McJayGate drama, it's easy to forget there's a fantasy starter in Denver more likely to be dealt than Jay Cutler. Tony Scheffler is also on the trading block, and the Broncos don't even deny it. His agent, of course: Bus freaking Cook.

Scheffler fulfilled his potential last season, ranking in the top-six tight ends in fantasy points-per-game. (His usual injury problems kept him out of three games.) It could be tough to repeat that performance.

The transition from Mike Shanahan to Josh McDaniels figured to add receiving options in Denver, and keep Scheffler off the field more because of his poor blocking skills.

Scheffler is an immense receiving talent if used correctly, but his production would likely be inconsistent under McDaniels. Just look at the Patriots' tight ends over the last five years. A Cutler trade would probably be bad news for his fantasy value, but Scheffler might be better off.

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

Todd Heap was one of the sneaky, spectacular fantasy busts of 2008. Often unavailable during his career, Heap had always been productive when he played. Until last year.

It wasn't like Heap occasionally showed flashes of his old self. His high yardage mark for the year was 58, topping 40 yards only three times. Heap was the replacement level tight end sitting atop your waiver wire. He was David Martin.

Continue reading "Todd Heap is in trouble" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I use my off day (Saturday) during the NFL regular season to watch as much college football as possible. North Carolina split end Hakeem Nicks was the most consistently impressive offensive skill player I saw all year, aside from Oklahoma's Sam Bradford.

Nicks -- not even on the draft radar at the time -- first caught my eye in a 28-24 comeback win at Miami (FL) in September, dominating with five catches for 133 yards and a score. Two weeks later Nicks torched Notre Dame for nine grabs and 141 yards despite facing rolled coverage because the Tar Heels' supposed No. 1 receiver, Brandon Tate, tore his ACL early in the game. Nicks got open at will and caught everything thrown his way.

This was before Nicks' true coming-out party (8-217-3) in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against a highly talented West Virginia secondary, when he did this.

Continue reading "UNC's Nicks looks to be underrated" »

Posted by Evan Silva at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Bears coach Lovie Smith announced on Monday that last year’s third-round pick, Earl Bennett, will be given a chance to compete for a starting job this summer.

At first glance it’s a bit of a surprise considering the rookie didn’t record a single catch last year. But the local media has been trumpeting Bennett’s emergence since the offseason began.

Is Bennett worth the disproportionate offseason buzz?

Continue reading "Could Earl emerge as a pearl in Chicago?" »

Posted by Chris Wesseling at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I wrote about the impact of Terrell Owens' move to Buffalo, but I didn't comment on what T.O. left behind in Dallas. I'm confident the Cowboys will still be among the league leaders in passing yards, so where will Terrell Owens' yards go?

Roy Williams is the easiest answer, and it's obvious he will get a ton of targets. Patrick Crayton has averaged 45 catches the last two seasons, and will probably reprise his role as a slot receiver. That leaves one starting spot open, and Miles Austin looks primed to take it.

Continue reading "Austin is a nice place to be" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

When Marshawn Lynch first got in trouble this offseason, I envisioned a long-term legal problem and possible suspension that would rival the Plaxico Burress situation. Felony gun charges were quickly dropped though, and Lynch is in New York Tuesday to plead his case in front of The Commish.

It appears Lynch will "only" receive a 1-2 game suspension. That will make Fred Jackson a RB2 option early in the season, but it's not enough to push him too high in drafts. A short suspension is also perfect recipe for getting value in redrafts with Lynch.

Continue reading "Beast Mode may not rest for long" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Jets beat reporter Rich Cimini writes in his Monday blog entry that Thomas Jones is "believed" to be angling for a new contract. The offseason program is voluntary, but Jones has not reported.

Jones has some leverage because he's way underpaid ($900K), coming off basically a career year (290/1,312/4.5/13), and New York lacks a proven every-down option behind him. Leon Washington is an elite change of pace, but probably too small (5'8/202) and valuable on special teams to be a full-time back. Still, Jones is turning 31, likely to play a lesser role in 2009, and GM Mike Tannebaum won't rush to raise his pay.

Continue reading "Thomas Jones won't force Jets' hand" »

Posted by Evan Silva at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Matt Jones' release leaves Jacksonville with the league's weakest receiver corps, as Chris Wesseling explained. It doesn't necessarily mean the Jags will draft a wideout eighth overall, though.

GM Gene Smith made it clear when he replaced Shack Harris as GM that he'll use a Best Player Available approach. The Jags have consistently drafted for need in the first round this decade (Derrick Harvey, Reggie Williams, Jones, R. Jay Soward), and it's gotten them nowhere.

Continue reading "Minus Jones, Jags will still go BPA" »

Posted by Evan Silva at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)