Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are no longer the dynamic duo.  Will Fitzgerald post his usual Top 3 numbers without Boldin to draw defenders away from Larry?  Will Boldin crack PFI’s Top 10?

2010 Fantasy Football Top 10 Wide Receivers

#10.  Steve Smith / Carolina Panthers- Unlike last year when the first quarter of the season, fantasy owners were wishing they had Steve Smith Giants, not the Panthers Steve Smith.  Even having to cope with Jake Delhomme’s Quarterback inadequacies last season in addition to adjusting to Matt Moore taking over the starting Quarterback job, Smith was still statistically a top 20 Fantasy Wide Receiver last year.  He finished 2009 with 982 yards receiving and 7 TD’s.

With Smith having a full off-season, mini-camp and pre-season to gel with whomever will start for the Panthers this season, and the fact that Smith has a ton of heart, I am confident that he will again be the number one Steve Smith.

#9.  Mike Sims-Walker / Jacksonville Jaguars-  In 2009, we saw to versions of Sims-Walker….  Fire and Ice.  Sims-Walker had games last year where he did not register a stat.  Mike then had games where he looked like the only player on the field.  Sims-Walker had to mature fast last season and will build upon his 869 yard, 7 touchdown 2009 campaign.  In order for coach Jack Del Rio to keep his job, his offense will have to improve from last season, and for that to happen, Sims-Walker will have to be a big contributor.  In the off-season, Sims-Walker has been working out with Larry Fitzgerald, which will only help Mike develop into a legitimate #1 Receiver.

#8.  DeSean Jackson / Philadelphia Eagles- D.J. is a potential touchdown threat every time he touches the ball.  It could be an end-around, wide receiver screen or a deep pass, all of which DeSean can take to the house.  The Eagles have an offense that appears to match the likes of the 2007 Patriots or any recent Saints team.  With that said, Jackson will only improve on his outstanding 2009 season where he totaled 1,156 yards on 62 receptions and 9 TD’s.  Jackson adds a bonus to leagues which give individual players credit for special teams as well.

#7.  Reggie Wayne / Indianapolis Colts- I do not see Wayne topping is 2009 totals of 100 receptions, 1,264 yards and 10 TD’s, but even posting totals with a 25 percent reduction still makes him a Top 10 wide receiver.  Wayne still has Peyton Manning at the quarterback position, and Reggie has eclipsed 1,000 yards for six straight seasons, and there is no reason to doubt his ability to make it seven.

#6.  Roddy White / Atlanta Falcons-  White and his QB Matt Ryan only get better and better as they age together in their NFL careers.  Defenses knew that White was Ryan’s favorite target, which did not stop Roddy from grabbing 85 balls for 1,153 yards and 11 TD’s.  The Falcons offense will be stronger than their 2009 version, and White’s numbers will only get better.  In Roddy’s last three seasons, he has never had less than 83 receptions and 1,100 yards.  Barring injury, I can say with confidence White will again top these numbers.

#5.  Randy Moss / New England Patriots-  With another year added to the age of both Randy Moss and his QB Tom Brady, Moss slips out of the Top 3, but not by much.  Moss in 2009 still had a very respectable year with 83 grabs for 1264 yards with 13 touchdowns.  Randy’s size still makes him a deadly deep threat with his length and jumping ability, not to mention is ability to bring in the ball with one hand.

All of this compiled with the fact that Moss has no choice to produce this year.  At 33 years of age, Moss is pushing for another big contract and without the numbers on the field, he will not see big numbers in his next contract either.  Being in a contract year is the biggest motivator that a professional football player experiences.  Look for Moss to keep his attitude in check and push for those numbers, bringing you fantasy paydirt!

#4.  Brandon Marshall / Miami Dolphins-  If Marshall still had Jay Cutler at QB, Brandon would be my #2 Wide Receiver.  Now that Chad Henne, who has been operating in a run first environment, is his starting Quarterback, Marshall’s stock drops a bit for several reasons.  Henne is not Cutler, and the Dolphins lack the ability to stretch the field and draw attention away from Marshall, who will be looking at constant double teams.  Miami shipped out Ted Ginn in the off-season, who would compliment Marshall as a deep threat.  It is Marshall’s talent that has him at #4, not his supporting cast.

#3.  Calvin Johnson / Detroit Lions-  Johnson, who had an off year last year as he only played 14 games had 67 receptions for 984 yards and 5 TD’s, will have a bounce back season in 2010.  Johnson will have another off-season under his belt with second year QB Matthew Stafford, which will help their on field chemistry.  The Lions added some Offensive firepower as well in the off-season with the additions of WR Nate Burleson and rookie RB Jahvid Best.  All of the above should will only lead to Johnson’s return to being a 1,000 yard receiver.  His size and skill set makes him a coverage nightmare and a TD machine.

#2.  Larry Fitzgerald / Arizona Cardinals-  Had Kurt Warner not retired, or Matt Leinart showed more in his past that he is a sure fire starter in the NFL, Larry would be like Ludacris, coming for that #1 spot!  Fitzgerald will face countless double teams this year with the loss of Anquan Boldin.  The Cardinals will also look to run the ball more this year than at any point of Fitzgerald’s playing career.  Yes, a lot to overcome, but if anyone is capable, it is Larry Fitzgerald.

#1.  Andre Johnson / Houston Texans-  Johnson’s last two years have been nothing less than ridiculous.  I would compare his stats to something you would see on a Madden video game, not legitimate NFL statistics.  In the last two years he has averaged 108 receptions for 1,572 yards and 8.5 touchdowns.  The only thing that will slow down Johnson would be any health issues that he or his QB Matt Schaub would sustain.  As stated above, with Larry Fitzgerald losing Anquan Boldin, who drew some double coverage attention away from him, and his QB Kurt Warner to retirement, Andre Johnson is the clear cut #1 Wide Receiver going into 2010!

Wide Reciever Insight from ProFootballinsight

I can already here you asking…  Where is Miles Austin?  Good question.  Yes, Miles Austin had an amazing year last year.  He quadrupled his three previous NFL seasons in one year.  Austin caught his opponents off guard last year as he exploded with 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 TD’s.  Austin will not surprise anyone this year after posting those stats.

So why is he not in the Top 10?  The Cowboys have so much talent on Offense that they need to play eight quarters, not four to get everyone involved.  Austin will be good this year, just not as good as last.  Roy Williams will not be as bad as he was last year, and they added rookie WR Dez Bryant, who will be involved as well.  Lets not forget about Pro-Bowl Tight End Jason Witten, or the fact that the Cowboys have three very talented Running Backs in Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.  Quite frankly from a fantasy standpoint, they are too stacked for their own good.  The only exception to this is Tony Romo.

If you have any other questions or comments, we will get back to you.  Feel free to post your thoughts below.

Below are other related 2010 NFL Fantasy Football articles;

2010 Fantasy Football Draft Day Sleepers and Steals

2010 Top 10 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

2010 Top 10 Fantasy Football Running Backs

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Kicker Advise

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PITTSBURGH — The Steelers signed four draft picks today from this year’s NFL Draft, including wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, running back Jonathan Dwyer and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Financial terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Sanders, pictured above (5-11, 180), out of SMU, was the Steelers’ third round pick (82^nd overall) in the Draft and finished as the Mustangs’ career leader in receptions (235), touchdown receptions (34) and receiving yards (3,791). He was a first-team all-Conference USA selection last year as a senior after posting 98 catches for 1,339 yards and seven touchdowns. Sanders ranked sixth in the NCAA with 103 receiving yards per game in 2009.

One of three linebackers selected in this year’s Draft by the Steelers, Sylvester (6-2, 231) was the team’s third of three selections in the fifth round (166^th overall). A first-team all-MWC selection for Utah, he was a two-year captain and the defensive MVP of the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl. Sylvester started all 13 games last year and finished with a team-best 81 tackles.

Dwyer (5-11, 229) was the Steelers first of two sixth-round picks (188^th overall) in this year’s NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. A first-team all-ACC selection his final two seasons, he earned the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year award as a sophomore in 2008 after leading the team with 1,395 rushing yards on 200 carries while earning All-America status. Last year as a junior, he matched his rushing total from the previous year with 1,395 yards on 235 attempts, the fourth-best rushing total in school history. Dwyer added 14 touchdowns in 2009.

Brown (5-10, 186) was Pittsburgh’s second of two sixth-round selections (195^th overall) in this year’s Draft. He finished his career as Central Michigan’s all-time leader in receptions (305), which ranked second in MAC history. As a junior in 2009, Brown was named the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight season and earned first-team all-MAC honors as both a receiver and punt returner. He caught a school-record 110 passes for 1,198 yards and nine touchdowns last year.

With today’s signings, the Steelers now have six of their 10 draft picks under contract. Linebacker Thaddeus Gibson and defensive tackle Doug Worthington signed last week.

The Steelers made additional roster moves by releasing seven free agents, including wide receiver Jason Chery, kicker Piotr Czech, linebacker Derrick Doggett, punter Adam Graessle, nose tackle Cordarrow Thompson, center Bradley Vierling and cornerback Trae Williams.

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Browns Player Quotes 6-3-10

(Gocong, Hardesty, McCoy, McDonald, Pashos, Wallace)

Chris Gocong

(On getting a fresh start with a new team)- “I’ve always wanted to play in a 3-4 and playing with Rob (Ryan), it’s a cool thing.  I’ve only been in OTAs about three weeks and still, it’s like a breath of fresh air.  He’s so fresh and he keeps it so open to the players that it’s fun.”

(On what he hopes to achieve here)- “I have my own numbers in mind, but right now I am just learning the defense and being able to do whatever I can, wherever I can. It doesn’t matter if it’s inside or outside.”

Montario Hardesty

(On if he thinks the starting running back job is up for grabs)- “That right there is not my decision.  For me, I have to just come out here and just work hard and just continue to show what I can do on the field and I think if I continue to do that then a role for myself on the team will come from doing that.”

(On if he has expectations of having a significant role as a rookie)- “No, like I said this is just OTAs, we’ve got minicamp, we’ve got training camp.  I’ve never done that before so I’m not really sure what to expect. I know I’m going to come out and push myself hard every day and we will see what comes from that come season time.”

Colt McCoy

(On how OTAs are going)-  “It’s going real well.  There’s a lot of stuff, a lot of install.  Just staying in my study book, studying with Jake (Delhomme) and Seneca (Wallace) and Ratty (Brett Ratliff) and those guys. Just really trying to understand what’s going on and the reps that I get, make them productive and keep moving on from practice to practice so it’s been going really well and I’m excited.”

(On if the lights seem to be coming on more and more)- “They do, they do.  We’re still installing some stuff, but I’m starting to get more comfortable with everything and just getting adjusted to the speed of the game, the way the game’s played, the new rules in the NFL compared to the college rules and just really soaking it all in.”

(On if the NFL is anything different that what he thought it would be)- “Not at all, it’s football.  Once you get the playbook down and you get comfortable with what you’re doing, the calls, the adjustments, then it’s playing football like you were when you were a little kid. I’m just working to get to that point.”

Brandon McDonald

(On playing hard no matter his place in the lineup)- “I’m just a guy that wants to take advantage of my opportunities.  This game is not promised, you can be in one year and out the next.  I’m just trying to make the best of my opportunities right now.”

(On adding players in the secondary during the offseason)- “I don’t see it as negative.  Like I said, I see that as a positive for this team and this secondary.  It was obvious that we needed help.  I think they made some great additions by bringing in Sheldon (Brown) and Joe (Haden) and the rest of the guys that they brought in.  I think we had a good offseason program, a good draft and guys are really out here working right now trying to get better.”

(On finishing the season on a four-game winning streak last year)- “I just think that it made everybody feel like we are not giving up.  Regardless of what the record is or how bad the year has been, we are going to fight until the end, and that’s what we did.  It gave us a lot of momentum leaving out of that year and coming into this next year.”

Tony Pashos

(On winning a starting job)- “Initially it’s a step process, one step at a time.  I’m trying to learn the plays, the way to do things around here, the guys around me, schemes and whatnot.  Down the road that takes care of itself, but initially I have got to learn to play in this system.”

Seneca Wallace

(On what he has shown Coach Mangini so far)- “It’s all new to me.  This is a different type of offense than what I’m used to.  I’m still growing every day, trying to get better and understand this offense.  I get hard on myself because I always want things to be perfect and I know that coming into a new system, it’s going to take awhile.  I think I showed him that I can lead the team, I can make all of the throws and obviously I’ll continue playing when things break down and make some good plays.”

(On the biggest difference coming to a new team)- “It’s probably the terminology.  I’ve been used to a west coast offense type system for seven years.  You come to a (new) system and it’s like you have got to all of a sudden learn Spanish overnight.  It’s tough trying to work with that and obviously, it’s an east coast type, New England type of offense and that’s different.  You just have got to put some of those things and group them together.  Some things that I had on the west coast, I will try and carry it over here too.”

(On adjusting his style of play in a new offense)- “I think I have got to adjust to them.  I’m new here obviously and I’ve got to adjust to what they are doing.  Right now, I’ve got to understand what they want.  As we progress, then I can start turning my game into what I do and bring it to what they do.  It’s kind of tough, but you have got to understand the system first before you start trying to create things.”

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Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini press conference 5-27-10

(Opening statement)- “Good morning everybody.  Today, what we are doing is, we are in our second round of installs, so today is our third down day.  What I like about this progression is you go through the first set, first and second down, third down, red zone and review.  Then you have your second set and you get the majority of your install is in place after this round.  What we are trying to do is give them all of the information.  It’s not as much time as we would get necessarily during training camp, but it is a nice amount of time, a nice amount of reps and it’s an introduction for a lot of guys who haven’t been here with it.  The rookies, the free agents, this is their first exposure and chance to understand it.  Then you come back in mandatory mini-camp, you hit it at a faster pace, but it’s the same information so that’s their second round of hearing it. Ideally, some more sticks at that point and then you go into training camp and you start the process over again and hopefully what you are getting is a lot of review and you can start at a higher point.  But, there is some consistency with how they are given the offense and defense and special teams and how it’s practiced.  That routine ideally will lead to greater retention.

“I think there have been some guys having a really good camp.  I thought so far Brian Robiskie has had an outstanding camp. He’s showed up quite a bit.  I think the quarterbacks are doing a really nice job with what we are asking them to do.  Ben Watson has been doing a really nice job with the things that we are asking him to do.  Really there are a lot of guys that I have been happy with, especially when you consider that it is a new environment.  It is a lot of new material, but it has been fun to watch the progression as we go.  They guys that have been out, are still out.  Robaire (Smith) is not here, he had some things that he had to take care of and I talked to him.  Jerome (Harrison) is not here, he had some things that he had to take care of.  I talked to him, it’s nothing that’s related to his contract or anything like that.  I expect him to be back next week.  In terms of the restricted guys, there’s really no update along those lines.”

(On if Harrison has been at the facility)- “Yes, he was here.  At the start of this week, he came in.  He was here on the field.  He hasn’t signed his tender, but there’s another way they can do it.  I think it’s a waiver.  You would have to talk to Matt (Thomas) and Tom (Heckert) about the exact document, but he is allowed to practice and participate and he had been the previous two days.”

(On the improvement of Robiskie)- “I think it’s a lot like quite a few of the younger guys.  It’s not, ‘Where am I?  What am I doing?’  It’s, ‘I remember this.  I remember the technique that I have to do.’  You can start to develop it more and you can start to play faster because you’re not thinking and processing, so that helps.  He’s running good routes and made some big plays pretty much every day.  David Veikune has gotten a lot of reps working inside.  I think he has looked better as well.  All of those guys have shown some really positive things early on.  We have a long way to go, but it is encouraging to see.”

(On what he learned about Robiskie last year)- “Tony (Grossi) a lot of it is and I know you hear me say this all of the time, but there is no one formula for these guys.  You try a lot of different things to get them to contribute as quickly as possible.  We spend a lot of time with the rookies to help do that, but it just sometimes hits at different spots.  I know we were talking about the receiver from Jacksonville when we played them who had the first two years, with I think, 16 catches.  Then came back and had last season 70-plus catches.  So a couple years there, but it started to hit.  You don’t know and I’ve seen it with a lot of players and pretty much every team I’ve been with.  You always try and get that magical combination of installs, meetings, the way to handle it and you work at it, but each person is a little different.”

(On having to add a wide receiver)- “In terms of having to go out and get somebody, I think we are open to that.  What is nice is that these guys are getting a lot of reps, they are getting a lot of chances to work the system, not just in the classroom, but on the field and I think that helps.  We are open to all different positions if it came up and made sense, but it really would have to.”

(On if there are any restricted free agents practicing besides Harrison)- “No, he’s the only one.”

(On if any of the injured players from last week will be practicing today)- “They’re all on the same program.  Nobody’s been added on right now.  I don’t think we will see them through OTAs.  Don’t anticipate it, but they are on their rehab program and it is set up with different milestones and things.  I don’t anticipate them participating right now in that aspect.  They are doing all of the other things.”

(On sticking with Veikune at inside linebacker)- “Yes, that’s what we will do, have him focus in that area.  You forget how, and I have to keep reminding myself and the coaches, it’s hard for those guys.  The young guys are going through what all of those guys went through last week.  I know when Shawn (Lauvao) was running his laps, I think you guys were there for that. Alex Mack was like, ‘Hey, I’ve been there.’  Hopefully, and what I look for from the group of second-year guys now is to help the new guys through the process.  To give them some things that they may have used to improve and they become teachers in their own right.”

(On Veikune)- “With end conversions, you don’t know necessarily where the best spot is going to be.  Sometimes those guys are better outside and that’s where they naturally fit.  A guy like Marcus Bernard, it made sense.  Sometimes guys have the flexibility to do a couple different spots.  You’re going through a trial and error to figure out, where is the best spot for him?  Where is the best spot for us?  You don’t know right away because they have never done it.  There is a lot that you have to see and they have to experience to figure out where the best spot is.”

(On the right side of the offensive line)- “George (Warhop) spends a lot of the time on the rotations, so we mix those guys.  Tony (Pashos) has played both spots, so has Floyd (Womack), so has John (St. Clair).  Shawn (Lauvao) has worked at guard primarily, so there have been a lot of different combinations over there.  That’s what you’d want to do because whoever isn’t the fifth is probably going to be the sixth.  You’d like to have the position flexibility with that group to where if one is a better guard than tackle, you plug him in at guard and the other guy moves to tackle, depending on how the injuries go or how you need them.”

(On which spot Pashos is better at)- “They’re all pretty confident guys, so they feel like they are pretty good at both.  He’s played both, he has worked at both.  He probably has worked more at tackle than he has at guard historically, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t work at both.”

(On if Lauvao has played any left guard yet)- “He hasn’t to this point.  That’s something that we will probably do in the next round. Really let him get his feet wet, let him hear the terms, let him work at a consistent spot. Then we will work him in some other spots and see how the retention goes, see how it transfers.  We wanted to give him a base first.”

(On Sheldon Brown)- “Sheldon, he’s a pro and that’s probably the highest compliment I can pay a guy.  He’s very mature in his approach, working diligently to get the information down.  He has been in one system for a long time, so he can associate things, but there is a lot of stuff that he needs to get down and it is really important for him to get it right.  I think as he continues to grow in the system and understand the system, he will work with the younger guys to help them get it right and I think he will provide some leadership in that room.”

(On if he was surprised that Brown was available through trade)- “I don’t know surprised.  Tom (Heckert) and his connections, he had a pretty good beat on what some possibilities were.  When we had the opportunity, we went with it.”

(On how the rookie class is coming along)- “They’re coming along like all of the rookie classes that I’ve been a part of.  Do you remember Steve Crosby back in the day?  He said, ‘Like a ball in tall grass: lost.’  There’s a little bit of Lost going on.  We haven’t seen that season finale here.”

(On the importance of Brown’s physical style of play)- “The criteria for evaluating any defensive back is, can they play man to man, can they play in the deep part of the field and can they tackle?  You want to have all three of those elements in order to bring somebody in.  Sometimes you hear cover corner and usually that’s a nice thing in a lot of ways, but it also means run at him.  You want the complete corner that can do all of those things and Sheldon is a good tackler and a good run support player.”

(On the idea of playing a Super Bowl in cold weather)- “I really like it.  I like it more if we are playing in it.  We are all going to be able to see how it goes in New York, but I think it’s exciting.  You have the elements and elements play such a huge part in the regular season.  They play a huge part in the postseason, depending on where the game is located.  To mix that in, I think it’s great.”

(On if he thinks cold weather locations should be in the regular rotation of sites)- “It’s a little above my pay grade, but I think it would be fun.  You add the component that you deal with all of the time into it and it can dramatically affect games.”

(On expecting early results from rookies)- “I don’t think you ever really can tell if a draft class works out for two to three years down the road or whether a player works out necessarily because it’s not defined by one year, it’s defined by a body work.  Believe me, I’ve coached a lot of guys that had to play right away that really shouldn’t have played.  Sometimes that can be detrimental too because their confidence gets shot.  I don’t think you can say it worked out or did not work out until you see the body of work over time and then you make your assessment.”

(On how he tried to develop Robiskie last year)- “I wouldn’t classify it as pushing or backing off, it’s just helping.  How can you help the development?  That’s really what you’re trying to do as a coach and a coaching staff is, how can I help this player get better?  You can’t approach each player the same way because they’re radically different.  They respond to things differently, they retain information differently.  Ideally, you have a lot of different way to help them improve and you expose them to all those different ways.  They learn what helps them the most as well and tend to focus their energy in those areas.  But, it takes some time and some experience to get to that point.”

(On Seneca Wallace)- “I think Seneca has had a really nice camp.  Obviously, he’s learning a lot of new things.  It’s a different style than Jake is, which is good because it puts some different pressures on the defense.  I don’t think you could rule out the possibility of having them both play.  Seneca gives you some flexibility to do some things, just like Jake has certain things that they do.  If you can incorporate them both in a plan that makes sense, that works, then that could be a good thing.  Then you have a guy like Josh Cribbs, he presents different problems.  Now you put Josh Cribbs and Seneca in the game together, they can present different problems.  Ideally, it’s easy for you, but hard for them.  That chews up a lot of preparation time for your opponent that they need to deal with it, you have to deal with it because it could come up and you better have good answers and you better have practiced it.  Ideally, it’s part of your routine so that it doesn’t chew up a lot of time from your perspective.”

(On the additions in the defensive backfield)- “I think one thing that’s really good is that you add competition and competition makes everybody better.  I think that’s a good thing.  It gives you some flexibility with the type of packages that you can run.  How it will unfold though, I couldn’t say definitively because I don’t understand exactly what (Joe) Haden’s strengths are going to be, what the weaknesses potentially could be.  Same thing with Sheldon, learning about him as a player.  T.J. Ward, Larry (Asante), seeing how their development works, strengths and weaknesses.  You have more information obviously than you had before because they are working with you now, but there are a lot of things that we have to see before I can give you any kind of definitive comment.”

(On Harrison working out at the facility this week)- “I think it’s good for everybody to be here.  Really, Mary Kay (Cabot), this is the second round of install and it helps the players when we go to camp.  It helps us when we go to camp because there are some new things, there are some different things.  When you come in and you’re not overwhelmed by information or you’re not thinking all the time, you’re playing and you’re acting.  It gives them the best chance to put a true picture of what they can do forward.  I think it’s valuable for everybody to be here.  Jerome and I didn’t talk about it very much.  I was happy he was here and I anticipate him being back next week.”

(On Alex Mack’s progress)- “I think that the experience that he got last year is fantastic.  To be able to start 16 games as a rookie is really hard to do, especially at that spot.  Center is often underrated in terms of how much information they have to process and how important they are to setting the whole protection, the front, the running game.  It’s critical.  He did a good job with it and I think he got better as the year went on.  Now, what you’re looking for is to avoid a sophomore slump, to build on the lessons of last season.  He’s a lot more comfortable, it’s just different.  They’re all more comfortable now.”

(On if Mack has ran any lap)- “I don’t want to black cat him here, but he has not as of yet.”

(On Mack’s previous snapping issues)- “We’d snap it early or snap it late or we’d snap it right or we’d snap it left.  He was snapping it all over the place.”

(On snapping being difficult)- “I think it’s a lot harder than it looks.  You’re a young kid and, ‘Here you go.’  It’s tough.  Nick (Mangold) was the same way.  Nick also couldn’t come until a lot later because of the graduation format, so that made it even harder on Nick as he missed a ton of time.  It’s a good thing, he was finishing college, but it was tough for him.”

(On if he has empathy for Mike Brown losing his job)- “I like Mike Brown and I sent him a text the other day.  I can relate to the things he is going through and it’s difficult.  I really hope things work out for him and I really hope things work out for the Cavs as well.  I like Danny Ferry a lot and this sometimes happens.  You just want to see ideally everyone move forward in a positive way.”

(On if there is more pressure to win a championship in Cleveland because of the title drought)- “Tougher to coach in this town?  It’s a passionate town, it’s a passionate town.  You get it though.  You understand and you appreciate it.  Believe me, you’re consumed with trying to achieve what we all want to achieve.  It would be amazing, fantastic and deserved.”

Click here for same day Cleveland Browns Player Quotes from Joshua Cribbs and more!

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Browns Player Quotes 5-27-10

(Cribbs, Davis, Haden, Hardesty, Mack, Massaquoi, Robiskie)

Joshua Cribbs

(On how things are for him)- “I am having fun. Seneca Wallace has been a great addition to the football team. We are having fun with the Wildcat. We are having fun with it and we are on the same page. We are going to fool defenses and give them a hard time to prepare for us for one week.”

(On the offense this year)- “Our offense is more versatile then it has ever been. Solid at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, I feel like we are solid all the way around. We are having a great camp. You see the rookies, well now not rookies. (Brian) Robiskie is stepping up. That’s one guy that surprised me and surprised a lot of guys with him stepping up and really coming into his own. Mohamed Massaquoi, these guys are really stepping up and it’s looking good for this year.”

James Davis

(On what his expectations are for playing time this season)- “Right now, I just want to work my way in.  I just did come off a season-ending injury.  I just want to work as hard as I can to just get my health back and then be able to compete at that point.”

(On his solid play before his injury)- “I think that it gives me some confidence just going into the season that I’m able to see the speed of the game and I can adjust to it probably quicker than a lot of the rookies.  But, I still feel like a rookie, but I think I could probably adjust sense I was able to go through the preseason and play a couple games in the season, so I feel pretty good.”

Joe Haden

(On if his goal is to be a starter this season)- “I just want to get on the field, nickel, corner, whatever it takes.  I’m doing special teams too, they got me doing a whole lot of that.   I’m just trying to get on the field and hopefully, definitely I would love to, but I’m just trying to get on the field and help the team.”

(On if he has a high ceiling as a cornerback)- “It’s still real high because I’m just learning a whole lot of new stuff that I never knew, just as far as being a corner and as far as getting my hands in and off the line.  This is my fourth year now playing cornerback.  Having Sheldon (Brown) here playing nine years in the league and Eric (Wright) just doing what he does, they’re just giving me a whole lot more knowledge and coach (Jerome) Henderson is just telling me stuff.  I feel like I’m getting better every day.”

Montario Hardesty

(On his impressions of the offense)- “I feel like we have a game plan specific offense.  I feel like it can change every game.  For me, it was just trying to learn the basic things, looking at protections and looking at it on real game film, looking at the runs and looking at them on real game film.  That’s the basic thing I was doing.”

(On on if he can handle of role of splitting carries or handling a full load)- “I’ve done both.  I have been in both situations and being a football player in college and now being a pro, you have to thrive on every opportunity that you get.  For me, I want to maximize every time I get the ball.  Whether it’s three times in a game or 25 times in a game, I want to go out and maximize my opportunity when I’m on the field.”

(On his comfort level early on)- “I feel comfortable on the football field.  For me, it’s been fun getting out here, not only in just the rookie minicamp, but practicing with some of the vets that have been through the wars and seeing the speed change.  I’ve been having fun out here.”

Alex Mack

(On having a full season of experience to use for this year)- “This year is a lot better.  Just having one year grasp of the offense really helps everything out.  I’m feeling pretty comfortable with it.  I’m not running tons of laps, which is always good.  I’m having a good time.”

(On his comfort level)- “More comfortable definitely.  I definitely have a better grasp of the offense and it’s kind of a second run through everything and just trying to get everything down pat.  It’s a lot better for me, I’m a lot more comfortable.”

(On if snapping the ball is easy)- “It’s one of the tougher things you have to do because there is a guy right on top of you trying to hit you and you have to move your feet, move your hands and do everything quick.  It’s pretty tough.”

Mohamed Massaquoi

(On the passing game clicking early)- “We are coming out here with a lot of energy.  We really wanted to make sure we addressed the passing game this offseason.  Guys are really coming out here trying to get better every day.”

(On what he is looking to improve on)- “Just being more consistent.  Just getting in and out of my routes cleaner, making sure I look the ball in before running it, eliminating the drops and just going out there and having fun day in and day out.”

(On talk of bringing in another veteran receiver)- “We can only control what we are doing right now.  We are a tight group, we push each other, we keep each other high-spirited when things aren’t going good and we are really out there for each other.  We are just trying to work and make sure we play the best football that we can.”

Brian Robiskie

(On what is different for him this year)- “I don’t think too much is different. I am just trying to work hard. I am trying to get better every day. I really just tried to come into this year and definitely build off the momentum we had going last year and do what I can to help us win games this year.”

(On if he did any extra work this offseason)- “Not really. I really just tried to do a lot of what I have always done and that was just to go back and look at some of the things I felt I could work on from the previous season. To come and spent time with a lot of the receivers, guys like Mohamed (Massaquoi) and Chansi (Stuckey), guys who have been here day in and day out, so I’ve just been working with them trying to get better.”

(On catching seven passes and if he reflected back on his season at all)- “I didn’t get caught up into, ‘Oh I caught seven balls,’ and the ups and downs of the season. I just looked at the progression I made. Like I said, we got started at the end of the season and I think a lot of us here were just looking to that, figuring out what were some of the things we did well and what we could do to carry it over into this season. I was just really focusing in on a lot of what I did last season and what I could do in this offseason and going into this year to help us win some more games.”

(On what feedback he is getting from the coaches)- “Just to keep working. I think everybody is getting the same thing. It’s the second week of OTAs. Guys are out here working hard. They have been stressing the same thing to us, day in day out be consistent, continue to work, continue to get better and if you get better, we get better as a team.”

Click here for Head Coach Eric Mangini’s same day Press Conference.

Be sure to check ProFootballinsight.net daily for all of your Cleveland Browns news and information.   Become a fan of ProFootballinsight on Facebook or follow fraschettik on Twitter for instant Cleveland Browns updates, notifications and more!

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

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February 7th, 2010 Top Stories

Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice are frontrunners for the 2010 Hall of Fame. NFL.COM

February 5th, 2010  Top Stories

Smith: NFL to get $5B without playing

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The question to DeMaurice Smith was simple, coming from Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco, asking how serious he viewed the possibility of football not being played in 2011.

Smith did not hesitate.

“On a scale of 1 to 10,” Smith said Thursday, “it’s a 14.”

With that, the executive director of the NFL Players Association painted perhaps the bleakest picture yet regarding prospects of labor strife in the league, which could be looking at a 2010 season with no salary cap and, if the collective bargaining agreement expires as scheduled in March 2011, a lockout that year.

Click here for the rest of the article at ESPN.com

So long, San Diego: Tomlinson

believes Chargers will release him

LaDainian Tomlinson told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday what most people have speculated for months: He will not be a San Diego Charger next season.

“I’m not coming back,” said Tomlinson, who added that he believes the Chargers will release him. “… I’ve accepted it.”

Tomlinson is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, but he just finished the least productive season of his nine-year NFL career (730 yards on 223 carries). Last offseason, the 2006 NFL MVP agreed to restructure the final three years of his contract and take a pay cut, but he told a San Diego radio station Monday that he won’t do that again.

Tomlinson has two years remaining on his contract, and he is due a $2 million roster bonus March 5. He would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010

Click here for the rest of the article at NFL.com

Game Information

• Date:  February 7, 2010
• Time: 6PM
• Location: Miami, Florida
• TV Network: CBS
• BetUS.com Spread: Colts -5 1/2
  Over/Under 57 Points

Editors Note:  Just to gloat a bit, ProFootballInsight’s Kurt Fraschetti nailed last years points spread winner.  Click here to view the article.

Tale of the Tape

Regular Season Statistics   Colts                                                            Saints

Record                                       14-2                                                                 13-3

PF                                                   416                                                                  510

PA                                                   307                                                                 341

TD                                                   53                                                                    64

YPG                                           363.1 (9th)                                                  403.8 (1st)

Passing YPG                       282.2 (2nd)                                                272.4 (4th)

Rushing YPG                      80.9 (last)                                                    131.6 (6th)

Game Insight

For the Saints to be successful on Super Bowl Sunday, they will have to devise a game plan to completely throw Peyton Manning off!  This is what the entire NFL tried to do all of the regular season, which occurred with little or no success.  Your initial thought would be to play “keep away” with Peyton and dominate the ball with your offense and kill the game clock, winning the time of possession war.  Sounds good in theory, but remember Week 2 of the regular season. The Miami Dolphins absolutely dominated the time of possession war, as they had the ball offensively 45:07 minutes out the 60 minutes in a NFL game!  With only having the ball in his hands less than 15 minutes, Peyton Manning still had 303 yards and 2 TD’s.  So this theory was tried and failed.  The simple fact of the matter is, regardless how great the Saints offense plays, if Peyton Manning is not having an “off” day, or you do not rattle him, he has the composure and the skill set to find the way to victory, as he has shown all season long.

It is remarkable that the Colts appear to be the same exact team they were a year ago, two years ago, and so on and so on even with the loss of Tony Dungy.  Jim Caldwell, the Colts head coach is currently 16-2 as a NFL head coach, and those two losses can be attributed to his decision to sit his starters at the end of the regular season.  The Colts also have the bonus of playing the Super Bowl in the same location that they did in 2005, which resulted in a victory.  The experience of not only being battle tested with nearly half of their team playing on that Super Bowl winning team, but having the comfort factor of this experience not being new should allow the Colts to focus more on the game and the Saints, versus all of the new sights and sounds and experiences, which are all new to the Saints.

As far as the Colts defense is concerned, they have played solid football throughout the year.  Although they did not face an offense with the firepower that the Saints bring to the table this year, they did bottle up the Cardinals to 10 points in Week 3, and held the Texans to 17 points in Week 9.  Their worst defensive performance where they did not rest starters came in Week 10, where they allowed 34 points to the New England Patriots, which still resulted in a victory for the Colts, barely!

On the other side, the Saints boast the leagues most explosive offense, and have a solid defense as well.  Their offense made teams with defenses that are considered to be elite, look mediocre.  In Week 2, the Saints dropped 48 on the Eagles, four weeks later they dumped another 48 points on the Giants, and followed up the following week by pouring 46 points all over the Dolphins.  Week 12 led to a 38 to 17 point dismantling of the New England Patriots, which the Patriots games are a great measuring stick for both Super Bowl teams.

I feel that both teams are evenly matched, and this on paper lays out nicely for a great Super Bowl.  As I started off with, the one difference maker on both teams that can win or lose the game is Peyton Manning.  This is not to downplay Drew Brees in any way.  Over the past four years, Brees is the statistical leader among all NFL Quarterbacks, and if the Saints were playing any other team, Brees would be that X-Factor.  The difference between the two is the weapons surrounding each quarterback.  Drew Brees has more gifted athletes around him than he knows what to do with.  If the Saints want to pound the ball on the ground, they can.  If they want to light you up through the air for 400 plus yards, they can.  The Saints can kill you offensively on so many different levels and from every direction.  On the other hand, Peyton Manning has abused defenses without any running game to speak of at all.  He has Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark in his arsenal, period.  Peyton has had to develop receivers that 98 percent of American households have never heard of, ever!  With the loss of Anthony Gonzalez for nearly all of the season, and the departure of Marvin Harrision, names like Pierre Garson and Austin Collie surfaced.  The Colts offense with anyone other than Peyton this year would not be effective.  The Saints offense minus Drew Brees still has firepower.

With all of that said, I feel strongly that the Saints will cover the spread.  I am more confident in their covering the spread than predicting the winner, or the over/ under.  Speaking of the over / under, I see the under hitting, and if I was forced into a game winner, I cannot bet against Peyton Manning finding and willing the Colts to victory.  These predictions are based on both teams controlling their locker rooms and players heading into the week before the Super Bowl.  Any ill advised arrests, bulletin board material, assaults or team disciplinary actions taken against players can and will alter the way in which I see the games outcome.

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Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

The GIANTS have hired Perry Fewell to lead their defense. Recently the interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills, formerly the defensive coordinator there and the defensive backs coach in Chicago and Jacksonville. Although there were reports to the contrary, Fewell was the first and only interview the Giants conducted. They got their man!

I like the hire on many levels. First, he is a younger guy at 47, and has worked for Tom Coughlin before. Second, he is a “players coach” which will reopen the lines of communication shattered by Bill Sheridan. The former D.C. didn’t even want to be on the sidelines during games, opting to communicate through assistants, in lieu of speaking to the players first hand. Thirdly and finally, Fewell has a system, but is not afraid to adjust during the week or in game. The stubbornness of some coordinators is legendary. In this day of the NFL, when every play is on tape and available to everyone, flexibility is key. Fewell is known as a cover 2 guy, but is not afraid to play a bear front, play man under, or even send the bonzai blitz when it is warranted and most decidedly unexpected. He demands accountability on every play, and his motto is “If you don’t play within the scheme of the defense….You Don’t Play. He has the necessary attention to detail, and is young enough to still have the drive to succeed and improve.

He will still need to find a defensive line coach, but that will most likely come after the playoffs have finished, opening up the opportunity to speak with all available coaches.

There also was a crazy rumor out last week that Bill Cowher wants the GIANTS job. If he wants it WHEN it is available, that would be welcome. The Mara’s and Rooney’s are old friends and operate much in the same mold. Cowher would be successful, and a welcome addition to any Giants team. The problem is the job is taken. Tom Coughlin,62, is under contract for 2 more years. He either gets this team back to the top next year and gets an extension, or he retires and the GIANTS get the to be in the enviable position of picking between Cowher, Gruden,and most likely John Fox. A win, win for all parties involved.
GIANTS draft #15 this year. A great spot to move up from, or to get your guy.

I will preview the draft in April.

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Enjoy the playoffs and Super Bowl…..see you in April

Joe Tufaro / Giants Contributor to ProFootballinsight.net

http://nygblogjt.blogspot.com

Photo Credit-Associated Press

* Eagles-Cowboys Date: Sunday, January 3
* Eagles-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 4:15
* Eagles-Cowboys TV Network: FOX
* Eagles-Cowboys Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
* Eagles-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -3
* Eagles-Cowboys Over-Under Odds: 48

Nick Sellers Dallas Cowboys Analysis and Predictions

The Cowboys are masters of their own destinies on Sunday. If they beat the Philadelphia Eagles at home, they can win the division, having previously beaten the Eagles earlier this year, and boost their seeding for their ensuing playoff run. But if you’re a ‘Boys fan, you are most certainly wary. This feels too good. Visions of the Seattle debacle and the dismantling at the hands of these Eagles last year are clouding your vision. You might not have yet recovered from the massive coronary you suffered two Sundays ago when it appeared the Cowboys were flushing their biggest win in years down the toilet (and it came against the Saints…how weird is this NFL year?).  But still your beating heart, we have signs of life from these ‘09 Cowboys.

Tony Romo is coming into his own. Remember the press conference two weeks ago immediately following his torching of the Saints secondary? He seemed…confident. Really? Tony Romo, Confident? There were no chuckles about regrouping and getting after it next week, no sheepish grins about the INT he threw into the waiting arms of a defender (because there wasn’t one that game), and in fact I don’t think he smiled once during the press conference. For all intents and purposes, he’s been a stone cold killer since the start of the month. You have to admit, if he lays an egg on Sunday, you’ll be disappointed. When was the last time you didn’t expect mediocrity from the quarterback position in Dallas? 8 years? 10 years?

While the play of the defense has not quite equaled the play of Romo and the offense, they’ve been more than capable. The past two weeks, they’ve consistently pressured the quarterback and the coverage down field has been solid. They’re playing as a unit, they’re playing for each other. Mike Jenkins has been outstanding in the secondary, and was even getting some Pro Bowl buzz (but perhaps, too little too late). Keith Brooking is an emerging leader in the middle of the defense. The clip NBC showed during the broadcast of the Redskins game on Sunday gave me goosebumps. I half expected them to do the chant from 300, a la the Saints and Brees a couple years ago. A Cowboys team with emotion? Did they dress up actors in Cowboys uniforms and make them appear fired up? Nope, that’s definitely Keith Brooking! Perhaps they won’t roll over and die in the playoffs this year.

Generalizations aside, the Cowboys are going to have to have another solid performance come kickoff on Sunday at 4:15. The Eagles are 7th in total defense, and a good performance from Romo is essential, although it would appear that he seems to have found the correct balance between hanging tough in the pocket and escaping said pocket and making plays with his legs.

The defense really only has one threat to deal with from the Eagles’ offense and that comes in the form of DeSean Jackson, who has already eclipsed 1000 yards receiving this year, not withstanding his extraordinary special teams play. While McNabb isn’t quite what he used to be, if he finds Jackson in some space, I’ll be preemptively chucking my remote at the wall. There’s no catching him once he gets some room, and the Cowboys’ safeties will have to help out their corners when Philadelphia puts Jackson in the slot.

More important than individual match-ups, is that the Cowboys win on Sunday, and that they do so in convincing fashion. This needs to be a statement game for the franchise. They’re cresting at the right time, and if they keep this up, they have a solid chance at making a run at the NFC title, and to do so would be uncharacteristic of their recent trend: a mediocre regular season coupled with an inkling of hope, and then, at the moment of truth, they disappear. If they continue their current level of play, they can make that statement that Cowboys fans’ hearts have been burning for. With that said, Cowboys by 3. Happy New Year.

Additional Predictions

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight- I am going in a different direction than that of Jerod and Nick.  I am not necessarily chalking this up as an Eagles win, but I do see them covering.  Their offense is so dynamic on so many different levels.  This is necessary as their defense is no where near as strong as the normal Philly Defense we have become used to over the years.  Dallas, with  a stronger defense out of the two, seems to have just enough offense to win games.  I have no faith in Wade Phillips as a coach and am taking the Eagles +3.

Jerod Morris / MidwestSportsFans- This is a very fair spread, all things considered. The Cowboys get the home field edge. When you further consider that they beat the Eagles in Philly, and have played very well for two straight weeks, I’m a little surprised Dallas isn’t favored by more. There is no question that this Cowboys team is different than the teams that failed in December for the rest of this decade. The Cowboys are a legit darkhorse Super Bowl candidate now. At home, I think they exorcise some demons from last year and beat the winning-but-inconsistent Eagles. Eagles-Cowboys free pick: Cowboys -3

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Nick Sellers / ProFootballinsight.net

**Photo Credit-nflgridirongab.com

New Giants Stadium

The Giants have gotten back to basics in the past few weeks. They have started pulling more linemen in the running game, and using the play action to get the ball to their young receiving corp for big plays. The Giants during their recent slump had relied more on the running backs to find the hole or create the hole to run through, Tom Coughlin wanted to put the power back into the power running game and made the necessary changes. They now have 5 tight ends on the roster, bringing in a little youth and enthusiasm, and lining up in more double tight end formations than they had previously. With Brandon Jacobs, two tight ends, and Madison Hedgecock at fullback, the running game has returned, making defenses fill the box with linebackers and safeties. Eli Manning has been tremendous the past three weeks checking into weak side runs, and using play action to freeze those line backers and safeties and completing a high percentage of passes for nice gains to keep the chains moving. As has always been said about Giants football, you run the ball first to be successful, but you need balance to keep teams honest. The Giants seem to have found that balance in recent weeks, and have started their push toward the playoffs.

Tom Coughlin has told this team they are now in a single elimination tournament. Although mathematically the Giants could lose a game and still qualify for the playoffs, they prefer to view it as the playoffs beginning last Monday night in Washington. They have challenged themselves from that point to win every game. Their belief is that they are in the same position as they were in their Super Bowl season of 2007. They need to win 6 more games. Very simple. Win 6 more games and you will be World Champions. Keeping the focus on one game at a time, win or go home, helps keep the urgency and the concentration at the highest level possible.

The Giants will end their run at the current Giants Stadium after 34 years. They plan on celebrating at halftime by bringing back the most beloved, most feared, and best defensive player to ever play in the NFL. The Original and only LT. Hall of Fame line backer Lawrence Taylor will be celebrated at halftime. The tears and goose bumps will be many as the Giants show a video tribute to the great players and great teams that called the stadium home. Many of the former players will be on the sidelines that day, a fitting tribute to a great place to watch football. I personally have many great memories of the stadium, ranging from George Martin returning an Elway interception in 1986 to the NFC Championship game against the Vikings in 2000.

The Giants have hosted two NFC championships in the great building, shutting out both the Redskins (17-0) and the Vikings (41-0). We were also lucky to see the entire careers of men like L.T. and Phil Simms play out in front of us. Phil Simms always said the advantage he had over visiting quarterbacks was he knew he was going to have a bad day, they had to learn the hard way. The wind and the defense gave us a distinct home field advantage, and no doubt it will continue in the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Game Info and Predictions

Carolina Panthers at New York Giants

• Panthers-Giants Date: Sunday, December 27
• Panthers-Giants Kickoff Time: 1:00
• Panthers-Giants TV Network: FOX
• Panthers-Giants Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Panthers-Giants Point Spread: Giants -6.5
• Panthers-Giants Over-Under Odds: 42.5

Kurt Fraschetti- As good as the Panthers looked last week while beating down the Vikings, I feel that there are too many factors stacked in the Giants favor this Sunday.  I am taking the Giants – 6 1/2.

Jerod Morris-MidwestSportsfans.com-Wow, the Giants looked good on Monday night, didn’t they? It is certainly tempting to an expect a similar performance this week, but I don’t totally trust their defense yet. Washington played horribly and I’m not sure that we got a true reading on a Giants team that has really struggled the second half of this season. I think New York will win, but Carolina runs the ball well enough and can contain Eli Manning enough to keep this one close. Panthers-Giants free pick: Panthers +6.5

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Joe Tufaro / ProFootballinsight