Fantasy Football Player News

News: The Kansas City Chiefs acquired Michael Bennett from the New Orleans Saints Tuesday night for an undisclosed draft pick.

Views: The fact that Bennett was traded isn't the news, as it has been expected for sometime, especially with the Saints' signing of Reggie Bush. And there is no fantasy value here. What is news is:

1) That Bennett didn't go to St. Louis as was highly suspected with the injury to Marshall Faulk. This should show that Tony Fisher is solidified in the back-up role to Steven Jackson; and

2) That this shows what the Chiefs think of the condition of Priest Holmes.

News: McNair has been dealt from the Tennessee Titans to the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional fourth round draft pick in 2007.

Views: This should only provide minor ripples in any draft strategies, McNair figures to start for the Ravens who did, at least, manage to get Kyle Boller off the field with this move (one would assume).

Ironically, the real loser in this situation might be Vince Young, who could only have benefitted from any time spent around McNair in Tennessee, even if by osmosis.

News: Jimmy Smith, formally of Jacksonville, informed the Jaguars yesterday, and announced in a press conference today, that he will abruptly retire from the NFL after 12 seasons.

View: This is a shocking announcement to the Jaquars as well to all of Fantasy Football. He had contemplated retiring after the 2005 season, but Jack Del Rio asked him to take some time to make sure if that is what he wants to do.

The annoucement leaves a hole in many fantasy keeper leagues. It also knocks Byron Leftwich down a few spots and it bumps up Ernest Wilford, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams some. It also adds some luster to the Jaguars' first-round pick, TE Marcedes Lewis (my second round pick of the FIC Keeper Salary League rookie draft, thank you).

Jimmy Smith was one of my favorite players and I will definitely will miss his gutsy play over the middle and stellar grabs in the end zone. Best Wishes, Jimmy.

News: The Cleveland Browns traded Trent Dilfer to San Francisco for Ken Dorsey and an undisclosed draft pick of the Niners Friday.

View: Dilfer, publically, will arrive as the backup to Alex Smith in SF. But this trade tells us two things:

1) Charlie Frye is the undisputed starter this season in Cleveland; and

2) The Niners are even more suspect about Smith and his ability to start in the NFL. Dilfer can do the job (for the Niners, at least) with very little effort, despite his public acceptance of the mentor role in SF.

News: According to Jay Glazer with FOXSports, he has learned that the initial test on the Saints' RB Deuce McAllister has shown a torn ACL, meaning he will miss the rest of this season. While initial x-rays were negative, the Saints will get McAllister an MRI and a second opinion before deciding on definitive season-ending surgery, but all indications are that the injury will need to be repaired surgically.

View: Another blow to the Saints. Antowain Smith is the likely replacement for McAllister if it is true that he will be lost for the season. Smith has the second-most carries of the Saint RBs (26 carries, 73 yards (2.8 ypc), but Aaron Stecker should become more invovled as well.

News: Larry Johnson is no stranger to the police force of Kansas City. Johnson has just been arrested for an assault charge with his girlfriend. A court date has been set for September 20, but the details are kind murky.

According to the Police Department spokesman, Darin Snapp, Johnson's girlfriend entered a bar where Johnson was talking to another woman. Johnson then caught up with his girlfriend downstairs by the doors of the bar. According to Snapp, Johnson grabbed his girlfriend by the wrist and yelled for the manager to ask her to leave. The manager said that he could not do that.

Eventually, Johnson's girlfriend went to find the woman that Johnson had been talking to. According to Snapp, Johnson shoved his girlfriend to the floor.

However, according to the Kansas City Star the girlfriend has denied that she was pushed to the floor. The paper went on to say that the girlfriend did not want to press charges, and simply wanted to file a report. It is not clear why the police have arrested Johnson if the victim, his girlfriend, did not want to press charges.

CB Eric Warfield pleaded guilty to a DUI, which is a felony. The NFL suspended him for the first four games of the season. Earlier in the preseason, backup QB Todd Collins got into a fight at a bar/restaurant. Kicker Lawrence Tynes, tackle Junior Siavii, and safety Greg Wesley have also had run-ins with the law.

Views: Alcohol and Chiefs just don't seem to mix. Add Johnson's name to the list of Kansas City Chiefs who have gotten into trouble while either sitting at a bar or while under the influence of alcohol. We are going to have to keep following this story. I am looking for details or an explanation as to why the police could pursue this case when the girlfriend does not want them to.

News: Donovan McNabb has a pretty good history in the NFL of playing through pain. Philadelphia fans are hoping that on Sunday McNabb will be able to keep that positive record going. McNabb is currently listed as questionable for Sunday's game against San Francisco due to a bruised chest.

McNabb sustained the injury in Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, when Chad Lavalais crushed him in the first half.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that McNabb underwent an MRI, a CT scan, and that he had an X-ray on his chest at halftime during Monday night's game. The official injury is being reported as a "bruised chest."

Views: McNabb's backups are Koy Detmer and Mike McMahon, two quarterbacks that don't exactly have Eagles fans sitting easily. McNabb has said that he will probably start on Sunday, with the help of a flak jacket that he will wear for extra protection. I referenced McNabb's previous injuries above. In 2002, McNabb broke his ankle in a game but with the help of his linemen stayed in to throw four TDs. In 2003, McNabb played with a broken thumb, although that did affect his performance on the field.

If I had to make a bet on this, I would say that McNabb starts on Sunday.

News: 49ers' TE Eric Johnson will not be playing in Sunday's game against the Rams due to a foot injury. Johnson has sprained the arch on right foot, which would mean that he would be unable to run.

Views: Johnson is not a very big fantasy player, so this isn't a blockbuster story.

News: Chargers' QB Drew Brees will be making the start on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. In the final preseason game, Brees sprained his ankle. Ten days have passed from the time of the injury until today.

Views: Given the fact that he has had 10 days to recover, no one is really surprised that he's going to be making the start. But, owners have Brees have to hope that he is mobile enough to avoid the Dallas blitz that will be coming at him all day.

News: Eli Manning will make the start today against the Arizona Cardinals. Manning was listed as questionable because of an elbow sprain he sustained in the preseason.

Kurt Warner will be making the start for the Cardinals against his former team.

Views: I don't think Manning will be very effective today against the Cardinals. For one, the New York Giants line has not proven themselves enough to warrant using a Giants QB or RB. The other reason I don't think Manning will be making a big impact in the game is because the Arizona defense should be picking up right where they left off last season, especially against this New York line.

Updated News: As we previously reported on FIC, Jenkins sprained his right knee during the first half of Sunday's game. He returned in the second half of the game, but was forced back out because he was in too much pain.

Updated Views: It appears that this injury may be more serious than previously thought. We will keep you posted.

At this time, his return is listed as questionable.

Views: FIC will keep you posted on the extent of this injury.

News: Patrick Surtain was helped off of the field on Sunday after suffering an injury to his head. After returning a Chad Pennington interception 53 yards, he was tackled by guard Brandon Moore. Surtain laid still on the ground for a few minutes before he was helped up to his feet, when he struggled to walk off the field.

Views: I did not see the injury happen, so I can not make a diagnosis based on what I saw. However, in talking with a few people that watched the game, Surtain may have sustained a concussion. When we learn of more details, we will pass them along to you.

News: Bengals' wide receiver Chad Johnson was forced to the locker room for the second half of Sunday's game, due to a leg injury.

Views: FIC will keep you posted.

News: In an unexpected move, the Tennessee Titans cut punt returner Troy Edwards from the team, just hours before gametime. Edwards started only four of the Jaguars' games last season. The Titans had planned to use him primarily, if not exclusively, for punt returns.

Views: There is some speculation on why he was cut. I am thinking that this is one of the "temporary" cuts that I highlighted earlier in the day. He is a four-year veteran, so I think that the team may bring him back for next week.

News: Seattle Seahawks TE Itula Mili is listed as "doubtful" for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he was forced to check into a hospital with a blockage in his intestine.

Head coach Mike Holmgren said, "In all likelihood he'll probably just stay home and we'll see him on Monday."

Views: Mili isn't a huge fantasy impact player. Last season, he finished with 23 catches for 240 yards and a touchdown in 15 games.

News: 11-year veteran Matt Turk has been placed on the injured reserve, ending the Ravens kicker's season. The injury to Turk is a groin injury, which would seriously impede his ability to kick the ball.

Donnie Jones has been signed off of the Ravens practice squad to try to replace Turk.

Views: Jones might actually not be all that bad. In fact, I think that he will have a good year. In five preseason games for Miami, Jones averaged 45.2 yards per kick. Last season, he played in six games for Seattle. So, he isn't fresh coming onto the field, and he does look like he has the ability. What other component is there?

News: The Indianapolis Colts were looking forward to adding a 4-year veteran to their roster, Rocky Calmus. Less than a week ago, they signed Calmus onto the team. The only thing that Calmus will be doing now is signing autographs, since he will not be able to do anything on the field. Calmus has been placed on the injured reserve, ending the linebacker's season.

In Thursday's practice, Calmus suffered a "severe" groin strain, which the team says will require extensive rehab. Calmus was looking forward to playing both inside and outside linebacker for the Colts, in addition to being an asset on special teams.

Views: Calmus is one of those players that always seems just short of having a good season. This season, obviously, it isn't necessarily his fault that he got injured, but he just can't seem to pull a good season in. If you have him, release him - he won't be back this year.

News: Koren Robinson thought that he was set with a contract for at least two years, after the two-year deal he signed earlier in the week. However, on Saturday the Vikings released Robinson "temporarily," to ensure that they will not be obligated to pay him for the full year.

The NFL has a policy to protect veterans in the league. A player with four or more years in the league is guaranteed his full-year of base salary if he is on the opening day roster. Robinson will probably be resigned after the opener, so that if his off-field problems continue, the Vikings can release him and not owe him anything beyond what he played.

The Seattle Seahawks sent Robinson away in the off-season for the alcohol-related problems he was dealing with.

Views: There are four players, including Robinson, who have been temporarily released for the same reason. These players are Tennessee WR Troy Edwards, Steelers QB Charlie Batch, and Denver WR David Terrell. What does the move mean to these players? It means that they better get their act together and perform very well on the field, since nothing is guaranteed anymore.

News: In an unexpected move, the NFL reduced the suspension to be served by Colts' safety Mike Doss. Doss will now only have to sit out one game, instead of the two games the league originally ordered him to miss. The reduction in penalty came after Doss appealed the suspension.

In June, Doss was suspended by the league for violating the league's personal conduct policy, for an incident outside of a restaurant in Akron, Ohio. According to documents, Doss fired a weapon outside the restaurant. He was arrested on a misdemeanor gun charge, for which he pleaded no contest.

He is eligible to play in the September 18 game against Jacksonville. The league says that the only way he will be eligible to play in the Week 2 game is if he meets a certain set of conditions set by the league. The league did not announce the conditions. But, if he does not meet the conditions, he will be forced to sit out in the Week 2 game.

Views: This is an interesting story not because Mike Doss is a huge name, but because the league actually reduced a suspension. The league reducing the suspension on a gun incident is, possibly, setting a precedent that the league will regret somewhere down the line. But, we will have to wait and see.

News: Ty Law says that he is all set to start in his first game on Sunday, since injuring his foot last season. Head coach Herm Edwards was asked how much time Law will be playing. Edwards stated that although he realizes he can take Law in and out of the game, he will allow him to play the whole game, as long as he continues to feel healthy.

Views: This is great news for Jets fans, who have sorely missed Law on defense. He should be healthy and ready to continue right where he left off.

News: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that rookie Texans' WR Jerome Mathis could miss his first start on Sunday, September 11. On Friday, Mathis was forced to miss practice because of a hamstring injury. He will be a gametime decision, according to the Texans. He is officially listed as "questionable."

Views: Mathis doesn't really have a whole lot of fantasy value. The Texans have him listed as number 5 on their depth chart. I think that as the season progresses and Mathis gets more playing time, he will grow into a valuable asset to the franchise. We'll have to wait and see how much Mathis is allowed to develop.

News: On August 20, 49ers OF Thomas Herrion collapsed after a training session with the team. Herrion later died after attempts to save his life were unsuccessful. An autopsy was recently completed on the 6-foot-3, 335 pounder.

The autopsy revealed multiple problems with Herrion's heart. Assistant corroner Amy Martin said that a week before Herrion's death, he suffered a mild heart attack that he probably did not even notice.

Martin said, "There are a lot of instances where people have heart attacks and are not aware of them, especially when your job requires you to do things that require you to get hurt. He may not have thought much about it." Martin went on to say that she found microscopic evidence of organizing heart necrosis.

There were no drugs present in his system, besides atrophine, which was used to try to revive Herrion.

The conclusion of the autopsy was that Herrion died from a massive heart attack. At the time of Herrion's last physical, he passed all EKG, stress and blood tests, according to the 49ers. Those tests were just administered at the beginning of the year.

Views: This is what I refer to as the "sick-cycle of being an NFL lineman." If a person wants to be a lineman in the NFL, they must beef themselves up to the point of being unhealthy. I posted an article about 10 minutes ago about how the New York Giants need to get a bigger line in order to have success on offense. I almost didn't post that view, but I decided that I should leave all criticisms aside and just state the facts. The players' union needs to do more in terms of putting a cap on how much a lineman can weigh in the league. Until that happens, sad stories like this will continue to happen.

News: The New York Giants have signed star RB Tiki Barber to a two-year contract extension. The contract extension ensures that Barber will remain with the organization through the 2008 season. There is no word yet on how much the contract was worth. However, some are estimating that it was worth more than $6 million a season.

Views: Barber is one of the few highlights of the Giants team. I had the opportunity to go to a New York Giants training camp session in Albany, NY. Barber looked very sharp and was making very solid cuts on both his runs and his routes. This is a very good move for the New York Giants. If the Giants got a bigger line, one that could actually block well, Tiki Barber would have a huge year. Right now, priority for the Giants should be strengthening their line. This would also help out QB Eli Manning.

News: Dolphins' TE Randy McMichael has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge, which drew him a sentence of 90-day probation and a $500 fine. As a result of the plea, McMichael got off the hook on a connected public drunkenness charge. His wife told the prosecuter that she did not want to charge her husband with a battery charge.

On July 9, McMichael got into an argument with his wife in a parking lot, where he hit her. Before this incident, McMichael was arrested in June 2004 on a charge that he hit his pregnant wife. If prosecuters had not dropped the charge, McMichael would have faced up to 15-years in prison for hitting a pregnant woman.

The NFL has not publically stated if they will take any further action. While the move is not likely, the NFL could suspend McMichael without pay.

Views: What is McMichael's wife thinking sticking through all of this? I know I will probably get some email telling me that "marriage is forever" and that "all problems can be worked out." But, when your husband has no problem hitting you when you are pregnant with his child, it is time for you to get up and leave. I don't think it's the NFL's place to take further action on this. I do wish that his wife, Cawanna McMichael, only 22 years old, would get away from the negative situation.