http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3326 Recent articles about Bob Sanders en-us ESPN.com is now saying Peyton Manning might be ready in the preseason.  ESPN Radio in Chicago reported that days ago.  ESPN.com isn't the best place for breaking news. Marvin has been cleared to practice and will participate at training camp.  That means Peyton, Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, Tom Santi, Tyjuan Hagler, and Ryan Lilja will be the only players on the PUP list for training camp.  Santi has a bursa sac infection.  I say at the draft we remove all of our players' bursa sacs.  Those things cause nothing but trouble.  The skin needs to touch the bones more anyways. Pierre Garcon is the first rookie to sign. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:47:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294062 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294062 Last Wednesday was the day that the ESPYs were filmed, and the entire day was SO hectic for me. I had to drive around with my broken navigation system to get my ESPY tickets from one hotel, then go over to my publicist's hotel to get the suit that I'd had custom-made. The suit was late, the valet at each place took a good half-hour, and traffic was insane, so my schedule was completely thrown off. On top of that, I was nervous about my first experience as a red carpet correspondent. I kept worrying that I would freeze up and choke, and all I could think was "What did I get myself into?" I finally arrived at the Nokia Theater to meet the Yardbarker folks just as the red carpet opened up. I was sweaty, nervous, and carrying a backpack - basically sort of a mess. On top of that, right as I got there and realized that I had forgotten my tickets for the show, I got stung by a bee. Just some icing on the cake. Even though things had gone wrong throughout the day, everything worked out great. It was really interesting to see the red carpet from the perspective of the media. Every outlet has their own designated space, but because I was so much bigger than the other reporters, they had to give me some extra elbow room to work with. It was funny, too, because everyone was so surprised to see me there with the media. They kept saying, "Who the hell gave YOU a microphone? Did you steal that?" I started off a little slow with the interviews, because I was late and didn't have a chance to prepare. All I was told was to be myself and try to work in some of the questions that had been written up for me. I was a little nervous, and for my first interview, I kept holding the microphone up to the wrong person's face while we were talking. After a while, though, I got the hang of it and just started chatting with the guys like it was before or after a game. Once we got talking, it would take me about 10 minutes to actually get to the questions. I was trying to be like Jay Leno or David Letterman and smoothly segue from the small talk to the questions, but I think I could still use a little work on that. Luckily, I wasn't the only one experiencing this for the first time. Hugh Hefner's girlfriend, Kendra, was there as a correspondent, too. When we found out that we were both doing this for the first time, we chatted for a little bit and exchanged interview tips. I'm sure it was all much easier for her, though. No matter what comes out of her mouth, she's got a pretty face and everyone will still want to talk to her. As for me, I need to be a little bit more verbally stimulating or my career as reporter will be over before it even starts. In the end, everything worked out great. The one thing that was disappointing was not making it in time to actually walk down the carpet myself, but I'm still glad I did this, because it was a lot of fun. The show afterward was amazing, too. It was definitely a SHOW, and Justin Timberlake did a great job hosting. He sang, danced, and really interacted with the audience. At one point he even sat on the floor next to Beckham, grabbed his leg, and sniffed him. And it was hilarious when he started making fun of TO for crying at a press conference. The whole place was dying laughing. Not sure if they were laughing with TO or at him, but Justin must've asked him permission ahead of time because I couldn't believe that he even went there. Another treat was watching one of my favorite artists, Lupe Fiasco, perform with a live band, but my absolute favorite part was the duet that Greg Oden did with Justin. It was funny to see Oden up there singing with Justin and playing the piano. Well, I hope you guys enjoy watching my interviews, because I really enjoyed doing them. I'll check in again with the Yard soon. Training camp starts Friday, and I'm excited for another season of football! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:17:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293834 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293834 Players report on Thursday, so this is one of the last days to do a roster prediction.  It feels like now is the best time for one, so here it goes.  53 players make it on the roster, 8 on the practice squad, and I will put 10 that should keep in touch if injuries take their toll. 53 Man Roster QB #18 Peyton Manning-I bet I caught you off guard with this one. #12 Jim Sorgi-Sorgi will get a chance to prove himself this upcoming year.  He better not blow it.  Adam Tafralis and Josh Betts are creeping up on him. RB #29 Joseph Addai-Another shocker. #33 Dominic Rhodes-Rhodes will be a change of pace back who should get somewhere between 100 to 150 carries per game.  He should prosper without all the pressure on him. #32 Mike Hart-I consider Hart a running back, although it seems like he will be used as a fullback/short yardage back. FB #47 Gijon Robinson-Robinson is a fantastic blocker, and he will also be able to catch the ball, as he is "officially" a tight end.  Look for him in the goal line. WR #87 Reggie Wayne-As long as he doesn't hurt himself in a meaningless basketball game, he will be Peyton's number one target, at least until Manning and Harrison get their connection back. #88 Marvin Harrison-Hopefully he can recover quickly and maybe get a few plays in a preseason game so he isn't too rusty. #11 Anthony Gonzalez-Gonzalez could have a breakout year.  Or at least I hope so.  He's on my fantasy team. #83 Roy Hall-Hall will be a surprise player and will be a major difference maker this year.  Mark that down. #14 Sam Giguere-Giguere could never make an impact in the NFL.  He could also be the biggest star wide receiver we've seen in a long time.  We know he has the talent, but can he produce on the field?  Let's give him a shot. TE #44 Dallas Clark-Clark should still be a redzone target even with the Rhodes signing and Marvin's injury recovery. #84 Jacob Tamme-Tamme is an athletic tight end who should help the passing game become even more prolific. #86 Tom Santi-It's all about blocking here.  Someone needs to take Utecht's place. LT #67 Tony Ugoh-If Ugoh would have stayed healthy last year, Joe Thomas may not have been named the unanimous best rookie lineman in the league.  Ugoh replaced a Pro Bowler, and most people would not have noticed Tarik Glenn left. #75 Michael Toudouze-We need some fillers on the offensive line after last year.  Toudouze is a fair lineman when called upon, but he shouldn't start. LG #65 Ryan Lilja-Kansas City made a bad move by waiving Lilja.  He's an unheralded star on this team who is versatile and tough at the same time. #61 Jamey Richard-Not much should be expected out of a seventh round pick.  Richard will see some action in the rotation, but he won't be a difference maker this year. C #63 Jeff Saturday-I hope we can find some legal medicine that can make him play forever.  He's the leader of the offensive line. #53 Steve Justice-In Polian We Trust.  I'm sure he had a plan when he took so many interior linemen. RG #78 Mike Pollak-I'll give him the nod right now, but maybe Charlie Johnson can be a better guard than a tackle (which shouldn't be TOO hard). #74 Charlie Johnson-I was disappointed in his play last year.  We won in spite of him.  He was hapless as a tackle.  Let's see if he can improve as a guard. RT #71 Ryan Diem-Diem needs to stay healthy so Addai and the rest of the backs can get positive yards. #76 Dan Federkiel-Like Toudouze, Federkiel is an insurance lineman. DE #93 Dwight Freeney-Freeney should recover well from his foot surgery and be drawing the usual double and triple teams play in and play out. #91 Josh Thomas-I'm not a big fan, but he can stop the run.  His pass rush is very weak, however. UT #79 Raheem Brock-Brock is unnoticed when he plays, but you know he's missing when you see mediocre backs running up through the middle and QBs having all day in the pocket.  Hopefully he can stay healthy. #96 Keyunta Dawson-Dawson is another 2nd year player who should make a big impact at defensive tackle.  He is now listed as a defensive tackle on Colts.com, so there is no doubt on where he will line up next year. #68 Eric Foster-Last year it was Ed Johnson.  This year it will be Eric Foster.  Foster was made for the Tampa 2. NT #99 Ed Johnson-Big Eddy was a magnificent signing by Polian last year.  Sexual assault, schmexual schmassault.  Ed Johnson can stop the run. #97 Quinn Pitcock-The young players run the nose tackle position.  Pitcock is ridiculously strong, and he played well last season when the offensive line was plagued with injuries. #95 Darrell Reid-This man was the last thing Chris Henry saw before his life flashed before his eyes. DE #98 Robert Mathis-With Freeney back, Mathis should return to his double-digit sack season shortly. #92 Marcus Howard-No he is not a linebacker.  And if he does well, no he is not a surprise.  I expect him to do great along with many other Colts fans. SLB #55 Clint Session-I was stuck between Keiaho and Session here, but Session is bigger and could be a better run stopper.  We've all seen what he can do in the passing game. #56 Tyjuan Hagler-He's hurt, but it won't cost him a roster spot. MLB #58 Gary Brackett-Brackett was up there with the Pro Bowl snubs last year.  He was the leader of a top-5 defense, and he will only get better. #50 Philip Wheeler-Wheeler can play anywhere at linebacker.  I expect him to be a starter in 2009.  It depends on how Session and Keiaho do this upcoming season. WLB #54 Freddy Keiaho-To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how anyone can pass on us this year.  The linebackers are all ballhawkers, and the secondary is one of the best in the league.  Keiaho is a great example of a prototypical Tampa 2 linebacker. #52 Ramon Guzman-He's here for special teams and special teams only. CB #28 Marlin Jackson-Like all Tampa 2 corners, Jackson is way underrated.  He can shut the passing lane for any QB on any team. #34 TJ Rushing-Rushing will not be a returner, but he is good enough to be a dime cornerback. FS #41 Antoine Bethea-Bethea is a breakout player who will contend for another Pro Bowl spot this upcoming year. #40 Jamie Silva-The team of dark horses and surprise players strike again with Silva.  Boston College has some good players in the pros. SS #21 Bob Sanders-70% of the Earth is covered by water.  The rest is covered by Bob Sanders. #43 Matt Giordano-After Giordano lacerated Bo Scaife's liver, John Madden had a funny quip.  "[Giordano] just knocked all of his [own] hair off!" CB #26 Kelvin Hayden-He's the same corner as Marlin Jackson.  I would love to see him get a long-term contract. #20 Dante Hughes-Hughes is expected to be a standout at nickel back.  Also, it's Dante, not Daymeion. #25 Michael Coe-Fitting that one of the fastest players on the team shares the same number as Rocket Ismail, my favorite football player of all-time. K #4 Adam Vinatieri-His leg will be better, and his accuracy will be as well. P #17 Hunter Smith-Not a big surprise he's over Adam Crossett right now. LS #48 Justin Snow-Longsnappers normally do not get any attention.  For obvious reasons. RS #35 Chad Simpson-Simpson is just the kind of player the Colts need at returner.  Someone who is extremely fast and may take a chance and not call a fair catch. Practice Squad QB Adam Tafralis RB Clifton Dawson WR Devin Aromashodu OL Corey Hilliard DL Colin Ferrell DL Curtis Johnson LB Jordan Senn DB Brannon Condren 10 Who Should Keep In Touch RB Kenton Keith WR Courtney Roby WR Pierre Garcon OL Mike Elgin OL Darren Marquez DL Jeff Charleston LB Victor Worsley DB Tim Jennings DB Brandon Foster RS Rudy Burgess Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:16:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293513 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293513 I loved Prisco's top 50, but there were definite faults in it.  Even though he did a great job tackling the Brady v. Manning topic, some of his picks were, how do you say, questionable.  Here is my attempt at naming the top 50 players in the NFL.  With 1696 players on the active roster, cutting it down to 50 is tough, but here I go. 1. Tom Brady/QB/New England Patriots (Prisco Ranking-1): Ugh.  I hate this.  I hate putting Brady at number one.  50 touchdown passes does qualify him for this spot though.  This doesn't feel right.  Do I have to put Patriots players on my list? 2. Peyton Manning/QB/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-2): Ah, this feels better.  Manning in his downyear through for more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, got his team a first-round bye while missing his top wide receiver for most of the year.  Scary to think of what he can do with the whole team in his "great" years. 3. Randy Moss/WR/New England Patriots (Prisco-4): When he's not bumping traffic cops, he's pushing off of cornerbacks and safeties to break the receiving touchdowns in a season record (although that title is complete bogus).  He should do well again this year, but not 20+ touchdowns. 4. LaDanian Tomlinson/RB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-3): LDT is a Hall of Fame running back, but there are other backs in the league that are catching up to him.  Tomlinson can do it all: run, catch, and even pass.  He's the definition of an all-around back. 5. Bob Sanders/S/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-7): Sanders is definitely the best defender in the league.  No other defensive player changes a game in the way that Sanders does.  We've all seen what the Colts did on defense in 2007 as opposed to the Sanders-less 2006. 6. Jared Allen/DE/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-12): Legal matters aside, Allen has moved into the category of a healthy Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney as the game's premier pass rushers.  He got 15.5 sacks in 14 games last year.  It is crazy to put him out of the top 10. 7. Antonio Cromartie/CB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-NR): I have no idea how Antonio Cromartie was not ranked by Prisco.  Cromartie led the league in interceptions, returned a missed field goal for a touchdown, and he recovered 2 fumbles.  He was definitely the best corner in the league last year. 8. Adrian Peterson/RB/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-15): Peterson exploded onto the scene last season, running for over 1300 yards, leading the league in rushing yards per game, and taking home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. 9. DeMarcus Ware/OLB/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-9): Last season, Ware had the best season of his career.  He had career-highs in sacks and tackles, and he is only going to improve. 10. Walter Jones/OT/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-16): Even though the Seahawks have no offensive weapons, the Seahawks have a top 10 offense.  How is it possible?  This man is the reason why. 11. Nnamdi Asomugha/CB/Oakland Raiders (Prisco-29) 12. Brian Westbrook/RB/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-20) 13. Reggie Wayne/WR/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-22) 14. Steve Hutchinson/OG/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-19) 15. Albert Haynesworth/DT/Tennessee Titans (Prisco-14) 16. Terrell Owens/WR/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-13) 17. Jeff Saturday/C/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-NR) 18. Champ Bailey/CB/Denver Broncos (Prisco-5) 19. Shawne Merriman/OLB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-11) 20. Kevin Williams/DT/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-10) 21. Dwight Freeney/DE/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-25) 22. Ed Reed/S/Baltimore Ravens (Prisco-23) 23. Jason Peters/OT/Buffalo Bills (Prisco-27) 24. Richard Seymour/DE/New England Patriots (Prisco-30) 25. Braylon Edwards/WR/Cleveland Browns (Prisco-34) 26. Devin Hester/RS/Chicago Bears (Prisco-50) 27. Andre Johnson/WR/Houston Texans (Prisco-26) 28. Chad Johnson/WR/Cincinnati Bengals (Prisco-28) 29. Asante Samuel/CB/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-37) 30. Patrick Willis/MLB/San Francisco 49ers (Prisco-43) 31. Antonio Gates/TE/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-24) 32. Osi Umenyiora/DE/New York Giants (Prisco-42) 33. Tony Romo/QB/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-NR) 34. Tony Gonzalez/TE/Kansas City Chiefs (Prisco-46) 35. Steven Jackson/RB/St. Louis Rams (Prisco-33) 36. Patrick Kerney/DE/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-NR) 37. Mario Williams/DE/Houston Texans (Prisco-6) 38. Ernie Sims/OLB/Detroit Lions (Prisco-39) 39. Larry Fitzgerald/WR/Arizona Cardinals (Prisco-31) 40. Ben Roethlisberger/QB/Pittsburgh Steelers (Prisco-17) 41. Lofa Tatupa/MLB/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-40) 42. Adrian Wilson/S/Arizona Cardinals (Prisco-NR) 43. Shawn Andrews/OG/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-38) 44. Tommie Harris/DT/Chicago Bears (Prisco-36) 45. Pat Williams/DT/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-NR) 46. Aaron Kampman/DE/Green Bay Packers (Prisco-45) 47. Drew Brees/QB/New Orleans Saints (Prisco-35) 48. Brian Urlacher/MLB/Chicago Bears (Prisco-32) 49. Larry Johnson/RB/Kansas City Chiefs (Prisco-NR) 50. Plaxico Burress/WR/New York Giants (Prisco-NR) Unranked Players On My List That Are On Prisco's List: Carson Palmer (8) Charles Woodson (18) Steve Smith (21) Vince Wilfork (41) Kellen Winslow (44) Marcus Trufant (47) Wes Welker (48) Fred Taylor (49) Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:49:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284878 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284878 3 interior linemen drafted apparently didn't cover the need.  According to Colts Power, the Colts signed Doug Datish, a second year center who recently got waived by the Falcons.  Of course I can't read the article since Colts Power is an "insider" blog, so we who don't pay are unworthy of the information they put out.  Charging someone to read something on the Internet is plain stupid. The Sporting News speaks the obvious truth: The Colts are not done. In case some of you haven't been paying attention, Michael Coe, Ryan Lilja, Bob Sanders, Marvin Harrison, and Dwight Freeney won't be doing much at training camp. That's it.  Wow, the offseason is boring.  Training camp starts in 25 days. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:50:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284000 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284000 IGN released the ratings for every player on every team in the league, so we now know what the boys at EA Sports think about the Colts.  Here are the notable player ratings. Best & Worst Player: Peyton Manning (99), Jamey Richard (64) Best & Worst Morale: Hunter Smith, Adam Vinatieri, and Peyton Manning (99), Gary Brackett (85, only player under 90) Fastest & Slowest Player: Tim Jennings (96), Corey Hilliard and Michael Toudouze (50) Best & Worst Acceleration: Bob Sanders (97), Corey Hilliard (54) Strongest & Weakest Player: Ryan Diem (94), Adam Vinatieri and Tim Jennings (40) Best & Worst Agility: Kelvin Hayden & Bob Sanders (94), Corey Hilliard (48) Best & Worst Awareness: Peyton Manning (100), Pierre Garcon (35) Best & Worst Catching: Reggie Wayne & Marvin Harrison (97), Ryan Lilja (7) Best & Worst Carrier: Joseph Addai (90), Multiple Players (40) Best & Worst Tackler: Gary Brackett (94), Jim Sorgi (11) Best & Worst Jumper: Pierre Garcon (95), Jeff Saturday & Hunter Smith (29) Best & Worst Kick Returner: Tim Jennings (87), A Bunch of Guys (10) Best Celebrator: Marlin Jackson (88) My Thoughts: Wow we are fast.  The defensive backs all have acceleration of 89 or higher.  Peyton Manning is amazing as always.  Manning, Saturday, Bethea, Addai, Vinatieri, Mathis, Lilja, Brackett, Freeney, Diem, Sanders, Clark, Harrison, and Wayne all have ratings of 90 or higher.  Pollak is rated higher than Charlie Johnson, so he is the presumable starter.  The most underrated players are Anthony Gonzalez (80) and Clint Session (70).  Overall, this will be a fun team to play with.  A lot of interceptions will be returned to the house with this secondary. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:07:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283829 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283829 Pete Prisco off of Sportsline.com recently listed his Top 50 NFL players, something he does anually during the offseason. I think it is a great idea, so I figured I'd make a list of my own.  My list only has 20 players but I will add more if you guys want to see it, but [...] Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:30:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283740 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283740 Don't you hate it when the media doesn't set themselves up for being ridiculed?  That's a pet peeve of mine.  Bloggers are always there to correct the media, but Pete Prisco has made his top 50 list near-perfect.  I'm sure you know who the top 2 players are. Prisco dives into the very dangerous waters of Brady v. Manning.  I hate comparing these two, but Prisco does a great job.  Prisco has had Peyton as his number one player for a few years now, but that has changed after Brady's MVP season.  However, he doesn't say the idiotic "Peyton's on the downside of his career" crap I've heard since the San Diego game. Manning had an off year, by number standards, in 2007. All he did was go over 4,000 yards passing for the eighth time in his career, throw 31 touchdowns and complete 65.5 percent of his passes, much of that without receiver Marvin Harrison on the field. Most quarterbacks would kill for those numbers. The great thing is we expect Manning and Brady to do it again in 2008. Why not? Brady has his entire offense back, a coach who lets him throw it around at will, and another year's experience on his résumé. Manning expects to have Harrison back, and third receiver Anthony Gonzalez isn't a rookie anymore. The first man to 40 touchdown passes wins. I agree completely.  Although I despise the New England Patriots and anything associated with them, I agree that Brady deserves the top spot.  For now.  The first one to 40 TDs wins.  I could see this be a Sosa-McGwire type fight for the TD pass record.  Both of them have enough weapons to get the job done. Prisco has a total of four Colts on his top 50 list.  Here is his take on the Colts players: 2. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts: Even Manning's down seasons are sensational. If Marvin Harrison is back this year, watch out. And Marvin will be back. 7. Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis Colts: The only thing holding him back is the injury issues. When he's on the field, the Colts have a different defense. His injury issue didn't come into play last year, and *knock on wood* hopefully it doesn't come into play this year.  Sanders is the best defensive player in the league.  No team has found a way to stop him. 22. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts: When Marvin Harrison was out last season, Wayne emerged as the team's go-to receiver. The guess here is that is that it stays that way. He's a true star now. I don't like Prisco having Wayne ranked lower than Steve Smith, but at least he recognizes his star power. 25. Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis Colts: He's coming off a serious foot injury, which is a concern. It's why his ranking is down. When he's truly healthy, he's a top 15 player. Unlike others, Prisco doesn't think Freeney's foot was amputated and he'll never be the same again.  It's good to see logic in the mainstream media. His top 10 was Brady, Manning, LaDanian Tomlinson, Randy Moss, Champ Bailey, Mario Williams, The Eraser, Carson Palmer, DeMarcus Ware, and Kevin Williams.  5 defensive players and five offensive players.  Palmer is ranked a little high, though. My biggest beef in this article is the lack of Jeff Saturday.  I guess the multiple All-Pro appearances doesn't make him a top 50 player in this league.  Not even an honorable mention.  I guess no one is perfect, not even one of my favorite writers. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:11:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283647 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283647 Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline really likes the Vikings.  He placed four members of the Purple in his rankings of the Top 50 players in the NFL.  Actually, the four all placed in the top 20.  You can probably guess the names.  Here's the complete top 20 with the Vikes in bold: Tom Brady Peyton Manning LaDainian Tomlinson (I'm assuming this is regular season only) Randy Moss Champ Bailey Mario Williams (yeah, picking him over Reggie Bush was a real mistake) Bob Sanders Carson Palmer DeMarcus Ware Kevin Williams Shawne Merriman (still has whiplash from AD running by him) Jared Allen Terrell Owens Albert Haynesworth Adrian Peterson Walter Jones Ben Roethlisberger Charles Woodson Steve Hutchinson Brian Westbrook So we know where we're good - defensive line and running game.  Pete Prisco and Dr. Z are official Friends of the Purple. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:54:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283591 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283591 This is another part of our best of players with dreads series. Enjoy! 1.Bob Sanders Colts 2.Atari Bigby Packers 3. Al Harris Packers 4.Brandon Meriweather Patriots 5.Rashean Mathis Jaguars 6.Asante Samuel Eagles 7. Reggie Nelson Jaguars 8. Mike Mckenzie Saints 9.Greg Wesley Chiefs 10.Michael Griffin Titans 11.Usama Young Saints 12.Jack Williams Broncos 13.Terry Cousin Bears 14.Dunta Robinson Texans 15.Marcus Trufant Seahawks 16.Cedric Griffin Vikings 17.Adam Jones (when he had them) Cowboys 18.Leigh Bodden Lions 19.Chris Houston Falcons 20.Charles Tillman Bears Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:01:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282121 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282121 Indianapolis, Indiana. Headquarters of the NCAA, state of the movie Hoosiers, and home to one of the most potent offenses of the last 5 years, the Indianapolis Colts. 2007 somewhat saw the passing of the torch. For years we've waited for the decline of Marvin Harrison and the "breakout" of Reggie Wayne. Those banking on 2007 being the year of Wayne's movement from elite WR2 to elite WR1 were handsomely rewarded with a season of 102 receptions, 1510 yards, and ten touchdowns. Harrison, on the other hand, suffered through a lingering knee injury that frustrated fantasy owners for the majority of the season, finishing with a line of 20 receptions, 247 yards, and a whopping one touchdown. 2007 was also the emergence of Joseph Addai as a fantasy asset, though he likely disappointed some owners. Entering his first year as a featured ball carrier, the LSU product battled nagging injuries all year, and experienced a late season fade as he finished with fewer than 75 rushing yards in each of his last eight games. Still, despite that fade and missing his week 5 matchup, Addai totaled 1072 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns. Point-per-reception leagues also enjoyed his 41 receptions for 364 yards. Dallas Clark also became a hot commodity as the loss of Harrison resulted in the former Hawkeye nearly doubling his reception total from 2006. Finishing with 58 catches for 616 yards, Clark led the Colts in receiving touchdowns with 11. Peyton Manning was Peyton Manning, and despite everyone's infatuation with golden boy Tom Brady (who disgusts me by the way), Manning garnered 4040 yards, 34 total touchdowns, and every endorsement on the planet. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:26:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280507 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280507 Apparently, there is talk of a trade for disgruntled Miami Dolphins defensive end/dancer Jason Taylor. A catalyst for these rumors is the fact the Packers are looking for an option to secure their defensive line. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is coming off knee surgery and although he says he will be fine by training camp, there is still a question mark surrounding him. With the loss of Corey Williams, the Packers hope to move right defensive end Cullen Jenkins to right defensive tackle, where he played until last year. Aaron Kampman has left defensive end locked up while there is a battle for left defensive tackle between Johnny Jolly, Colin Cole, and Justin Harrell. If the Packers were to swing a deal for Taylor, they would want Taylor for two years instead of the one Taylor says he is going to play. Greg A. Bedard gives the best explanation of a possible deal: Namely, the Packers inquired in passing about what the Dolphins wanted for Taylor before the draft. They were told a first-round pick. The Packers almost laughed. Since then, the Packers have checked in from time to time. The Dolphins outwardly are still bluffing, but inwardly they are coming off their asking price…. …That's because Taylor has only pushed harder for a trade since he denied doing exactly that. Taylor is miserable with his situation with the Dolphins, from what I've been told, and wants out more than ever. Packers GM Ted Thompson has discussed Taylor with defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn. I don't know exactly what they said to Thompson, but I know they both love Taylor. There will be little, if any, discussion unless Taylor backs off his plan to only play one more season. Taylor, I'm told, is amenable to that if it's the right situation. Both sides might be willing to do the deal for a second-round pick. But that's only if two very stubborn negotiators — Thompson and Bill Parcells — both feel they're getting a good deal. That might be tough to do. And we all know how Thompson keeps a death grip on his draft choices. To me, this could be a great deal for the Packers. They were close to the Super Bowl last year, and the New York Giants showed that a great pass rush is necessary to win.  The Pack is under the cap, and if Taylor agrees to go two years, they could be sitting pretty.  If the deal doesn't go through, it's not that big of a deal. Brian over at Phin Phanatic has already blogged his opinion on the matter.  And it is a good, well written and informed one at that.  Check it out. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:01:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280198 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280198 Long title, short blog.  In some lucky news, Rosevelt Colvin passed on the Indianapolis Colts to sign with the Houston Texans.  This surprised me, as Indianapolis is his home town.  He even has a house in the area.  The money was almost certainly the deciding factor.  My guess is the Colts offered him a veterans minimum contract while the Texans offered one of a much higher value.  I'm glad he passed on the Colts.  With all of the injuries the Colts had last season, adding an injury prone player seems like a bad move, especially since it could keep someone like Curtis Johnson, a good UDFA, off of the roster. To cut the roster down to 80, the Colts waived running back Justice Hairston, defensive lineman Dan Davis, kicker Shane Andrus, and center Pat Ross.  Coach Dungy was a fan of Hairston, so that is the only surprise.  The rest all played at positions that are incredibly deep and/or strong.  The Colts had to get it cut down to 80, and there was no big news here. Here's an updated roster prediction after the loss of Colvin, trade of Lawton, and the cuts. 53-man Roster QB: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi RB: Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Hart WR: Marvin Harrison, Roy Hall, Sam Giguere WR: Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme (H-back), Tom Santi, Gijon Robinson LT: Tony Ugoh, Dan Federkiel LG: Ryan Lilja, Jamey Richard C: Jeff Saturday, Steve Justice RG: Mike Pollak, Charlie Johnson RT: Ryan Diem DE: Dwight Freeney, Josh Thomas, Curtis Johnson DE: Robert Mathis, Marcus Howard, Keyunta Dawson (also plays UT) DT: Ed Johnson, Quinn Pitcock, Darrell Reid UT: Raheem Brock, Eric Foster, Colin Ferrell SLB: Tyjuan Hagler, Ramon Guzman MLB: Gary Brackett, Philip Wheeler WLB: Freddy Keiaho, Clint Session CB: Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden, Dante Hughes (NB), Tim Jennings, Michael Coe FS: Antoine Bethea, Brannon Condren SS: Bob Sanders, Matt Giordano K: Adam Vinatieri P: Hunter Smith LS: Justin Snow Practice Squad QB Adam Tafralis RB Chad Simpson WR Courtney Roby OT Michael Toudouze OG Mike Elgin DL Jeff Charleston LB Jordan Senn DB Melvin Bullitt 4 Who Should Keep In Touch RB Kenton Keith WR Devin Aromashodu WR Pierre Garcon DB Brandon Foster Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:26:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278582 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278582 This was a rather funny video. It is Chad at training camp being interviewed and to avoid questions he starts questioning the interviewer. He starts to ask him what he did in the offseason and how he's doing. The interviewer asks about Chad's ankle and Chad says, "How is your ankle?" Chad Johnson obviously does not want to answer questions about his trade demand earlier this year. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:29:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278477 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278477 Outside of his radio show, Bill Polian very rarely does anything with the media.  However, Football Outsiders was able to get an interview with the genius himself.  Polian didn't give the longest answers, so it is tough to get that much info out of it.  Here's some of the stuff I thought was interesting. FO: Your defense ranked third in our DVOA metrics this season. More than half of the starters were drafted after the fourth round or not at all. What is the key to getting such productivity out of lesser prospects? What attributes are you most looking for with these late-round and rookie free agent pick-ups? What did you see in Ed Johnson that everyone else missed? Bill Polian: See the previous answer. We know what criteria are important to succeed in our defense and look for them in every round of the draft. In Ed's case we saw athletic ability and heard from Coach Paterno that he had "grown up and was ready to become a contributor." People have made a big deal about Ed Johnson's previous history with the law.  I'm one who provokes those comments.  I always refer to the Indiana Pacers as a thug team, and I believe all Colts players are qualified for sainthood.  When I see on the previews for the local news that there has been a murder, I think, "Tinsley must have broken his probation.  What a shame."  Whenever a Pacers apologist hears something along those lines, they come back with the Ed Johnson story.  Paterno's quote really helps clear things up on why the Colts would take a chance on someone with a criminal record. FO: Since Dungy, a Minnesota grad, was hired, almost half of your Day 1 picks have been on Big Ten players. Is that a coincidence, or do you have a better feel for people who play college football in the Midwest? Along those lines, how are your college scouts assigned, by region, by conference, or something else? Bill Polian: Our college scouts are assigned by region. I go all over the country as do our other scouting supervisors. I think the rough tough style of play in the Big Ten may produce players more suited to our style. In the end it's more coincidence than anything else. This is something I've always noticed.  For those who don't know, there are many Colts starters who are from the Big Ten.  Those are Marlin Jackson (Michigan), Kelvin Hayden (Illinois), Bob Sanders (Iowa), Ed Johnson (Penn State), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio State), and Dallas Clark (Iowa).  27% of the starters come from the Big Ten, so that's a good chunk of the team.  The "Three Yards And A Cloud Of Dust" style is the obvious reason.  Ed Johnson and the secondary players from the Big Ten live and breath that style. FO: What player improved the most, on any of your teams, compared to how good he was when you first acquired him? Bill Polian: On our team here in Indianapolis, I would say cornerback Kelvin Hayden. On our team in Carolina, I would say running back Anthony Johnson and wide receiver Mushin Muhammad. On our team in Buffalo, I would say future Hall of Famer Andre Reed. The Hayden one really surprised me.  Hayden would not have come to mind.  Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday, and Gary Brackett would have been my guesses.  However, Hayden has become a premier cornerback in the league.  I can't disagree with what Polian said. If you live in Indiana, you know the love for Polian.  I'm pretty sure behind Christianity, Polianism is the largest religion in the area.  Who can blame us?  Polian has to be a psychic.  He's made some great moves over the years, and he will go into the Hall of Fame when he retires.  5 Super Bowl teams and more to come in Indy.  It's good to hear from the man, the myth, the legend, Bill Polian. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:21:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275456 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275456