http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/players/chris_johnson/69322 Recent articles about Chris Johnson en-us Dallas Cowboys GM Jerry Jones was given his job by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones the minute owner Jones fired his friend/coach/former teammate/nemesis/adversary Jimmy Johnson. Jones will tell you he has always been the General Manager of the team, from day one. In a sense, that is true. But Johnson revealed in 2012 that he and Jones had a contractual agreement that he would have the say on all things football. Here is how Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News reported Johnson’s comments: Jimmy Johnson said he wasn’t interested in creating controversy, but he wanted to set the record straight Wednesday about his role with the Cowboys in the years he coached the team. “The time I was with the team, I had complete and total responsibility over the football operation,” Johnson said in a telephone interview from his home in the Florida Keys. “That meant personnel, the draft, coaches, including the strength coach. Everything. “It was always in my contract.” Johnson was reacting to comments o... Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:25:05 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/jerryatrics_the_art_of_being_dallascowboys_gm_jerry_jones/13510667 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/jerryatrics_the_art_of_being_dallascowboys_gm_jerry_jones/13510667 Jerryatrics: The art of being @dallascowboys GM Jerry Jones http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/jerryatrics_the_art_of_being_dallascowboys_gm_jerry_jones/13510667 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/f/7fc84d83cdf8ac5f77610027b27354b76efd2f4a/mini/dallas-cowboys-minnesota.jpg One of the more difficult exercises when preparing for the NFL Draft is comparing prospects in one class to players that are already in the league. Often times it’s impossible to nail down a current player that possesses all of the traits that a particular prospect does. Still, it’s not an entirely fruitless process. Making these sorts of comparisons can help to provide a better sense of what sort of schemes each prospect will fit into best – one of the most crucial aspects to scouting. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the running backs and tight ends in this class. Which players already in the league play with a similar style? RB Zac Stacy – Doug Martin Zac Stacy has neither an awful nickname nor the pre-draft hype that Doug Martin did this time last year, but it’s otherwise difficult to not compare the two players. Both players are strong, compact runners. Stacy lacks elite top end speed and chose more often to run through defenders instead of out running them Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:32:21 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/2013_nfl_draft_comparing_this_class_of_running_backs_and_tight_ends_to_current_pros/13410238 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/2013_nfl_draft_comparing_this_class_of_running_backs_and_tight_ends_to_current_pros/13410238 2013 NFL Draft: Comparing This Class of Running Backs and Tight Ends to Current Pros http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/2013_nfl_draft_comparing_this_class_of_running_backs_and_tight_ends_to_current_pros/13410238 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Stephen Kettner   Scouts, media outlets and fans are going nuts after this years NFL combine produced some very fast times. Marquise Goodwin of the University of Texas came within .03 of a second (official time) of beating Chris Johnson’s all time 40 yard dash mark of 4.24 seconds. So what does it mean exactly for being one of the fastest recorded player in the NFL? Well looking at the list (shown below) produced by @NFL_AllDay (twitter) it doesn’t mean anything at all except that the player is indeed fast. Chris Johnson head lines the list and is by far the most successful player and coincidentally the fastest. A few players such as Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Jonathan Joseph, and Mike Wallace are having pretty good success in the NFL. How many of the players on this list do we look at and say “who?” Justin King, Michael Waddell, Aaron Lockett, Jason Hill, Troy Williamson and Carlos Francis are all examples of players who became relevant mostly because of their speed. Only Justin King is on a Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:37:12 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/speed_kills_but_it_doesnt_guarantee_longevity/12991873 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/speed_kills_but_it_doesnt_guarantee_longevity/12991873 Speed kills, but it doesn’t guarantee longevity http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/speed_kills_but_it_doesnt_guarantee_longevity/12991873 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png 108 more yards.  Seems simple enough. I fell in love with this guy when he was plying at Georgia Tech.  Specifically on this play: He was only true freshman when this happened in 2004, and you knew he was poised for greatness.  His legend at Georgia Tech only continued to grow, and when he declared and the Lions had the #2 pick, I was praying they were going to pick him.  Megatron showed up to the combine, not planning to run the 40-yard-dash, but saw everyone else do it and immediately wanted to do it.  He borrowed another players cleats, and ran a 4.35.  Simply incredible. Why not Brady Quinn, Mel Kiper?  Because Calvin Johnson is going to be the greatest receiver of all-time, that’s why, you *******.  I thank god every day that Al Davis was alive and running the Raiders when Calvin came out, because Lane Kiffin wanted Calvin Johnson, not Jamarcus Russell, but Davis told him to sit and spin on it. Couldn’t be happier for @bigplaycj the best teammate and receiver I have ever be... Sun, 23 Dec 2012 12:46:34 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/god_bless_calvin_johnson_the_road_to_2000/12493261 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/god_bless_calvin_johnson_the_road_to_2000/12493261 God Bless Calvin Johnson: The Road to 2,000 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/god_bless_calvin_johnson_the_road_to_2000/12493261 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/c/fcfc8b7784d81fece353bd25315076c09143f3b6/mini/Chicago_Bears_v_0008.jpg I’ve had a joke going with several friends over the past few weeks that Calvin Johnson has helped put the Madden Curse to rest, while we’re starting to see the emergence of an all new and much more powerful NFL demon – the Thursday Night Football QB Curse. Take this last TNF game, for instance. Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan was just not-sh*tty enough with 165 yards and a TD to defeat the New Orleans Saints, who were led by Drew Brees’ 341 yards (good) and 5 INT (horrendous). Needless to say, by Friday morning, I already had several readers asking for this post.Excluding the Thanksgiving Thursday games, which featured strong performances from Matt Schaub, Tom Brady, Matt Stafford, Tony Romo and Robert Griffin III – hell, even Mark Sanchez wasn’t terrible – you had a double-decker turdburger from Ryan Tannehill and Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 11, a Blaine Gabbert-esque performance from Blaine Gabbert and Andrew Luck (he did rush for 2 TD in his defense) in Week 10, and Matt Cassel and Phi... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:45:16 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_with_leather_fantasy_football_support_group_what_the_hell_was_that_drew_brees/12359809 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_with_leather_fantasy_football_support_group_what_the_hell_was_that_drew_brees/12359809 The With Leather Fantasy Football Support Group: What The Hell Was That, Drew Brees? http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_with_leather_fantasy_football_support_group_what_the_hell_was_that_drew_brees/12359809 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Fantasy Football Champs, www.FFChamps.com, will be with all of you live each and every Tuesday from 4pm-6pm on Patriots.com. FFChamps will also be there with hot off the presses information or strategy, in our Football Nation Live show, each Thursday from 4pm-6pm, on Patriots.com. Tune in, call in, and if you miss it live, catch it via the podcast or on demand. From the draft to your Fantasy Football Super Bowl, we bring you up to the moment coverage and strategy all season long at FFChamps.com.At FFChamps.com,  you can bathe in our award-winning, trophy-touting Fantasy Football Champs Performance Index (FFCPI), our Rest of the Way Rankings, our Strength of Schedule tool (SOS), one on one advice, live game day programming and everything else you need to win your league bragging rights. We even have a special deal for the next few days for our Patriots fan friends if you visit www.ffchamps.com and join before the opening night kickoff on September 5th.We wanted to give you all some q... Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:42:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/fantasy_football_champs_pre_draft_strategy/11587711 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/fantasy_football_champs_pre_draft_strategy/11587711 Fantasy Football Champs: Pre-Draft Strategy http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/fantasy_football_champs_pre_draft_strategy/11587711 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I have now drafted my 3rd Fantasy Football Team of the 2012 season, in a Live Online draft. I ended up with the 7th overall pick in a 12-Team Standard Scoring and Settings League. 1QB 2RB 3WR 1TE 1W/T Flex Away We Go! Picks 1-6 – Arian Foster, Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy, Ryan Mathews, Aaron Rodgers, Chris Johnson. My Pick #7 – WR Calvin Johnson: With the #7 pick I had hoped that Chris Johnson would fall to me, so I could draft a former 2000 yard rusher looking to bounce back from a mediocre season; I would have loved to start off my team with one of the most electric RBs in recent memory. Unfortunately CJ was taken with the #6 overall pick, leaving me to go with a new strategy. I was debating over Maurice Jones-Drew and Calvin Johnson; I am not a big fan of going WR in the first round and was seriously thinking of grabbing MJD, but the length of this hold out finally has me a little concerned; instead I go with Megatron. I do not expect another 1600 yards with 16 TDs, but I so expect a ... Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:59:56 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/2012_fantasy_football_a_fantasy_draft_breakdown/11561299 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/2012_fantasy_football_a_fantasy_draft_breakdown/11561299 2012 Fantasy Football: A Fantasy Draft Breakdown http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/2012_fantasy_football_a_fantasy_draft_breakdown/11561299 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png All around the Interwebs right now you will find article after article dispensing fantasy football wisdom, telling you specific things to do or not do as you prepare for your drafts. It’s good to peruse these articles – so long as they are written by folks with proven track records you trust – to see what people who get paid to analyze this stuff think. But before you get too caught up in projecting Doug Baldwin’s reception yards or Michael Bush’s goalline carries, step back and think big picture. Fantasy football is a game of taking information about what has already happened, processing it, and using it to predict what will happen in the future. Every decision you make will be based on projecting what will happen next. You won’t be right 100% of the time. So don’t worry about it. Even the most thoroughly considered decision can blow up in your face because of injury, sudden ineffectiveness, or GO TO HELL YOU CREEPY RUNNING BACK ROTATING BASTARD! So rather than sweating th... Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:24:14 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/14_reasons_you_wont_win_your_fantasy_football_league/11514100 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/14_reasons_you_wont_win_your_fantasy_football_league/11514100 14 reasons you won't win your fantasy league http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/14_reasons_you_wont_win_your_fantasy_football_league/11514100 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/6/e63f6bccc2de2eea152aab8549f337f551da2312/mini/1.jpg This is actually a re-post of an earlier article that was accidentally deleted from the database. Studying the ADP Trend Report can be one of the most helpful tools when determining exactly what picks you are going to make and at exactly what time you’re going to make them. If you see that the rest of the fantasy world is all about running backs (as they should be) then you know you can wait a few rounds and still find yourself a top five quarterback a little later. If there is a strong increase in wide receiver movement, you know that you may have to act a little quicker on a wideout than you may have originally planned. The trend report is not an exact science by any means, but it certainly gives you a strong barometer for the direction your draft may take. Every league is different and you’ll have owners making some oddball picks, for sure, but for the most part, the sheep tend to not stray too far from the flock. Below is a breakdown of what the first three rounds of a 12-... Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:54:03 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/early_adp_trends_rounds_1_3/11217157 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/early_adp_trends_rounds_1_3/11217157 Early ADP Trends: Rounds 1 - 3 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/early_adp_trends_rounds_1_3/11217157 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Studying the ADP Trend Report can be one of the most helpful tools when determining exactly what picks you are going to make and at exactly what time you’re going to make them. If you see that the rest of the fantasy world is all about running backs (as they should be) then you know you can wait a few rounds and still find yourself a top five quarterback a little later. If there is a strong increase in wide receiver movement, you know that you may have to act a little quicker on a wideout than you may have originally planned. The trend report is not an exact science by any means, but it certainly gives you a strong barometer for the direction your draft may take. Every league is different and you’ll have owners making some oddball picks, for sure, but for the most part, the sheep tend to not stray too far from the flock. Below is a breakdown of what the first three rounds of a 12-team NFL Standard League draft could look like based on the most recent ADP Trend Report. The data used... Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:29:18 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/adp_trends_the_first_three_rounds/11167682 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/adp_trends_the_first_three_rounds/11167682 ADP Trends: The First Three Rounds http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/adp_trends_the_first_three_rounds/11167682 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Happy Holidays everyone! First off I’d like to thank all of you for reading and supporting the site and all our hard working writers. Here’s a little holiday card for all of you loyal readers. It’s from the heart! Those of you in your championship game this weekend might have some injury concerns for your players. I know I do. I have Vincent Jackson and Chris Johnson plaguing my lineup with their ills. I’ll take you through the up to the minute news but it won’t stay up to the minute so make sure you follow myself and others on Twitter so you don’t get screwed. The best of luck to all your teams! Vincent Jackson: Jackson has some groin troubles. Those are usually the troubles I tend to dislike and playing football while having them sounds tough. He is a game time decision and unfortunately game time is in the afternoon which makes it really tough to plan this one out. If you have Malcom Floyd I’d feel fine about just having him on your bench and waiting until we know VJax’s status o... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:48:10 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/championships_all_around/8918797 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/championships_all_around/8918797 Championships All Around! http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/championships_all_around/8918797 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I use the term “sleepers” very lightly here, but here are my predictions for which fantasy football players at each position can provide your team with an unexpected spark going into the playoffs. QB: Matt Ryan (ATL) – Some may consider Ryan’s season to be a bit disappointing, but with a very friendly schedule coming up in the final 5 weeks (HOU, CAR, JAC, NOR, TAM), expect Matt Ryan to have a huge finish to the NFL season. WR: Laurent Robinson (DAL) – Coming off a big Thanksgiving day, Laurent Robinson has placed himself in a huge role for the division leading Cowboys. Robinson has caught at least one TD in each of the last 5 games, and don’t expect him to slow down until seasons end. WR: Lance Moore (NOR) – Lance Moore gave his owners a great week after catching two touchdowns on Monday night, and expect this to be a reoccurring theme. Being placed behind Marques Colston will also continuously favor Moore in defensive coverage’s, as well as an easy schedule to end the season gives... Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:19:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/fantasy_football_potential_weapons_heading_into_playoffs/8486896 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/fantasy_football_potential_weapons_heading_into_playoffs/8486896 Fantasy Football: “Potential Weapons” Heading Into Playoffs http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/fantasy_football_potential_weapons_heading_into_playoffs/8486896 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Baltimore flops again, the 49ers should make a bronze bust of Justin Smith, Tony Romo and the Cowboys broke out and Chris Johnson suddenly remembered who he was. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:16:37 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_sunday_slam_nfl_week_10_review/8078515 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_sunday_slam_nfl_week_10_review/8078515 The Sunday Slam: NFL Week 10 Review http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_sunday_slam_nfl_week_10_review/8078515 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png So now that 12/13 of NFL Week 8 is in the books, Neil and I break down just what the hell happened in this weekend. Mainly: Is Tebow really all that bad? How's Chris Johnson doing? How awful are the Miami Dolphins? Did the Dallas Cowboys look stupid, or what? Plus, we get into some heated debates, which is always cool. Please, enjoy this weekly NFL podcast, will ya? Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! Download the .mp3 files directly! Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/nfl_podcast_no_53_tim_tebow_debate/7767898 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/nfl_podcast_no_53_tim_tebow_debate/7767898 NFL Podcast No. 53: Tim Tebow debate! http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nfl_podcast_no_53_tim_tebow_debate/7767898 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As seen on LostMySports.comThoughts from Sunday… *Calvin Johnson AKA Megatron showed why he is the best WR in the NFL and made Rob Ryan eat his words…*Ryan didn’t complain.*You don’t want to play the Baltimore Ravens without your starting center.*Is it time to officially label Mark Sanchez as overrated?*Aaron Rodgers accounted for 6-touchdowns and the Packers remain a step ahead of everybody else.*Why is Maurice Jones-Drew only getting 11 carries with a rookie quarterback?*Cam Newton is keeping the Panthers in games against good teams.*Scoring 100+ in fantasy and still getting destroyed is not your fault.*Matt Forte running for 205-yards didn’t help.*The Rams are still the favorite to win the NFC West at 0-4.*How did the Eagles and Cowboys blow huge second-half leads at home?*The Eagles have more of a reason to panic, they can’t stop the run.*Nobody needs a bye-week more than the Pittsburgh Steelers.*Mark Sanchez had a QBR of 0.6 … the league average is 50.*The Patriots can’t aff... Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:00:30 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/lostmysportscom_top_post_of_the_day/7192222 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/lostmysportscom_top_post_of_the_day/7192222 LostMySports.com Top Post of the Day http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/lostmysportscom_top_post_of_the_day/7192222 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png