Something tells me it’s snowing in hell today

Just a couple of days after the Denver Broncos found out about the season ending injury to starting defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, defensive tackle Gerrard Warren was jettisoned to the most unlikely of teams, the Oakland Raiders.

It’s been no secret that the Broncos have been trying to rid themselves of the former Cleveland Brown first rounder. Many expected Warren, who had recently slipped down the depth chart over talk that he didn’t fit new defensive coordinator Jim Bates’ 2-gap system, to either be traded, or released.

So our report of his leg being ripped off from its socket was, perhaps, a bit much.

OK, well, we actually said we’d let you know when we had more information, and now that we do, you do too.

Actual Editorial, Denver Broncos jarvis moss

What is it with guys named Moss and injuries?

The Denver Broncos experienced a scare today when their first round investment, ex-Florida DE Jarvis Moss, flopped his way to the ground:

The pass-rushing defensive end was injured in an individual pass-rushing drill. He attempted a spin move, planted his leg, then fell to the ground. He got to his feet, but was assisted to the cart.

The Broncos desperately need a strong pass rushing presence on the edge, and Moss has impressed so far.  Hopefully, for their sake of attempting to compete with the San Diego Chargers and KC Chiefs, it will be a twist versus a tear.

All the major AFC news of the day.  Yes, all of it.  Don’t argue with me.

Can I make a suggestion?  Click the links.  They take you to the story we are referring to.  You will learn things.

– The biggest news of the day would have to be Denver Broncos’ linebacker Warrick Holdman going down with what NFL Live reported as a spinal cord concussion. The injury shook the teams and fans, which eventually led to Mike Shanahan cutting the day short.

– Wade Phillips wants to instill more of a “family atmosphere” within the Cowboys’ roster. Terence Newman, one of the leaders of the Boys’, is apparently a key to this. What’s he gonna do, get his grandmother to rob some boy scouts?

– As a teenager, new Raiders’ coach Lane Kiffin dreamed of being a head coach in the NFL. A few years later, he’s the head man in Oakland and nearly finished with puberty.

– Will the Lions beat the clock in signing Corey Redding? With just under two hours to go we expect an announcement here any minute. This seems much more likely than the other two franchised players, Asante Samuel and Lance Briggs, signing their offers.

Short Slants

– Anthony Waters, the Chargers rookie inside linebacker who will be looking to start this year, has officially been charged with assault. Someone threw a rock at his car and he proceeded to make the gentleman a bit bloody. NGPF advocates this. If you throw a rock at our car, we will beat your ass, too. Free Anthony Waters!

– The Falcons seem to have insurance against more rotting animal corpses being found on Michael Vick owned properties.

– Ravens’ quarterback Steve McNair triumphs over a stupid law.

This is part four of our Fantasy Impact series, breaking down the top players from each division

Today we’ll be focusing on the AFC West, A division that features fantasy football’s consensus #1 and #2 prospects at both running back and tight end.

Fantasy Tip of The Blog: If it’s not Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Carson Palmer… Let it be. There is a steep drop-off in production points from there on, and it’s better to just wait it out until rounds 4-6 to find a QB that may not be a big name but you know is a big producer.

Cap’n Cop-Biting Urinator Now Jobless, Soon To Be Homeless

Fred Evans was released by the Miami Dolphins today, and because of his unfortunate run-in with the law, and subsequent troubles that came to light a couple of days afterward, he’ll surely be looking at a suspension from iron-fisted Commissioner Roger Goodell. 

Evans surely would have been part of the Dolphins defensive line rotation this year, and as noted on this website, he wasn’t going to be released because of one transgression.  It was in the next couple of days that produced new-to-everyone-except-Fred information that this was not Evans’ first run-in with the law. 

Extra, Extra! “Vasher Signing Signals End of High Priced Cornerbacks,” Screams Mainstream Media

The Boston Globe joins the parade now forming to proclaim the cornerback market crash after the Chicago Bears inked Nathan Vasher to a five-year, $28 million deal.  Suddenly because of the less lucrative contract extensions signed by Broncos’ corner Dre Bly and Vasher, people are proclaiming Asante Samuel, well, cornered. 

Contract extensions traditionally are worth a lot less than deals signed with new teams on the open market as profootballtalk.com touches on.  Extensions are usually a goodwill gesture on the part of the team to ensure that a talented player will never see the deadly auction block that is free agency in the NFL. 

I know we’ll be covering this story in more detail later, but I found it particularly interesting that CNNSI.com, the same folks that boldly predicted the Miami Dolphins to be the 2006 Super Bowl winner, advises that you draft Willie Parker, Rudi Johnson, and Brian Westbrook before Peyton Manning:




Bears Decommission Tank

The Chicago Bears’ website is reporting that DT Tank Johnson has been waived.  The latest incident involving the Ex-Bear was, apparently, the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

And like so many teams this offseason, they seem to have no problem letting a player go who’s embarrassed their organization one too many times.  Anthony Adams, whom the Bears picked up this offseason from the San Francisco 49ers, will slide into the starting spot opposite Tommie Harris. 

Tank still has eight games to serve on his suspension, and after the most recent run-in with the law in Arizona on suspicion of DUI, that could balloon into a full year or more (i.e. Bye-Bye-Tankie).

– With the Seahawks, Broncos, Dolphins and Cardinals all needing help on the interior of their lines, it will be interesting to see if any of these teams pull off a trade for one of the league’s many disgruntled guards.  Alan Faneca of the Steelers, Pete Kendall of the Jets, and the Niners Justin Smiley round out a talented bunch of guards looking for a (significant) pay increase….

The question will ultimately be if there are teams out there willing to part with a 2nd round pick and pay upwards of $18-20 million in guaranteed money.  To a guard.  Minnesota, Dallas, Cleveland, and Buffalo say hell yes.

Defending the Division:  Part One

Every year eight teams step up to the plate to defend their hard earned division title from the previous season.  While it seems that most in the national media will proclaim the current champ still the best in the division, that may only be the case in a few divisions. 

While it isn’t comparable to a Superbowl or Conference Championship, a division championship can be a springboard to a title run.

Since 2004 there have been 24 opportunities for teams to successfully defend the crown.  Eleven times we have seen a team repeat in the previous three seasons, a 46% clip.