This week, Ronnie Brown's broken hand, Jake Plummer gets the hook, Hines Ward's knee sends the Pittsburgh receiving corps in to chaos, Dallas Clark goes down, Vanderjagt gets the boot, and your questions!

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Feedback:
E-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, or join our message board at http://extrapoints.forumup.com!

On this episode, join Scott and guest host Ben as they review key injuries from "Black Sunday": Green Bay loses two quarterbacks, Philly loses McNabb, New Orleans' star rookie receiver Marques Colston is questionable, as is Detroit's Kevin Jones. Also, Seattle gets a QB back, and Antonio Bryant's run-in with the law. Plus we answer your e-mails!

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Feedback:
E-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, or join our message board at http://extrapoints.forumup.com!

So a Green Bay quarterback suffered a season-ending injury in Sunday's game vs. the Pats. But it wasn't the one you might think...

Green Bay's BACKUP QB, Aaron Rogers, broke his foot in the 3rd quarter (so now he has an excuse for his paltry 4 for 12 performance). He will require surgery and is out for the rest of the year.

The Packers are optimistic that Brett Favre will be healthy enough to start next Monday night against Seattle. He has started 251 consecutive games, after all. The team will evaluate his injured elbow throughout practice this week. If Favre can't go, the Packers' 3rd string QB is Ingle Martin (how's that for pulling a name out of thin air!?!), a rookie, 5th round draft pick out of Furman College.

The team is also considering signing any available veteran they can get--too bad the Pats snatched up Testaverde last week!--or pulling fans out of the stands at Lambeau.

Needless to say, if for some reason you still had anyone associated with the Green Bay offense in your lineup, now is the time to remove them.

This week, the other upheaval in our nation's capital, Gonzalez goes out as Trent Green comes in, Aaron Brooks is set to stage his comeback tour, the Colts start talking about sitting starters, TJ Houshmandzadeh recovers from his big hit, Tiki's sprained thumb, Ronnie Brown spends time on the sidelines, Carr's shoulder situation, and your questions!

Podcasts Mentioned: KC Weather Podcast
Looking Out the Window

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Feedback:
E-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, or join our message board at http://extrapoints.forumup.com!

This week, why Kevin Curtis could be the answer to your problems at WR, Willis McGahee and Bernard Berrian go out with broken ribs, will the real Rex Grossman please stand up?, a QB controversy's a-brewin' in Kansas City, Amani Toomer's shocking season ender, Larry Fitzgerald returns (but how triumphantly?) and answers to your questions as always!

Podcasts Mentioned:
Trypod Network
Bucket

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Feedback:
E-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, or join our message board at http://extrapoints.forumup.com!

We talk about injuries and being on the inactive list all the time on our show, so thought it appropriate to draw your attention to this week's Tuesday Morning Quarterback article (at least the beginning portion, though read the whole thing if you can, as it's top-notch as usual).

He writes about how the injury reserve and inactive lists really don't make much sense, as players on them are paid to sit on the bench, and players on IR can't come back to play later in the season even if they've recovered from their injuries.

TMQ posits that the IR, inactive system, and team roster limits are obsolete now that a salary cap limits what every team can spend. Its an interesting viewpoint, though I'd be interested to hear a counter-argument.

Have an opinion on this? Leave us a comment, or e-mail us at extrapointspodcast@gmail.com and we may read your message on the show!

Saints WR Joe Horn is inactive for today's game against Tampa Bay. Needless to say, get him out of your lineup ASAP, and downgrade Drew Brees as well; without his main target, Brees may have a harder time against the TB secondary.

Lots of updates to the injury report, and little good news to report:

Byron Leftwich has been downgraded to questionable and is unlikely to start this week against Tennessee. David Garrard, who did little in terms of stats but who did manage Jacksonville to a victory in Week 8, will get the start. Once again, downgrade all the Jacksonville receivers and upgrade Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, both of whom will likely get another healthy workload this week.

Terry Glenn was added to the injury report as probable with a quadriceps injury Friday. Glenn wasn't a particularly exciting start anyway, given the matchup against a suddenly healthy Washington secondary and the fact that his targets have dropped with Romo under center. Sit Glenn if you can, but check the Sunday inactives if he's still your best option.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the matchup, Santana Moss was downgraded to doubtfulwith a hamstring injury and has ruled himself (unofficially) out for Sunday's matchup against Dallas. Get him out of your lineup, and downbgrade Brunell as well; Moss is essentially his only legitimate weapon, as both Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El have been mostly ineffective this season.

Plaxico Burress was downgraded to questionable with a back injury. He apparently hasn't practiced all week and will be a game-time decision against Houston.

This week, Tatum Bell's turf toe, Fred Taylor gets a minor injury (but is any Fred Taylor injury really minor?), Cleveland's resurgence, the return of Tom Brady: passing machine, and answers to your questions!

Podcasts Mentioned: Game Addict Hotline

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Feedback:
E-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, call our voice mail line at 206-339-8723, or join our message board at http://extrapoints.forumup.com!

Raiders WR Jerry Porter is expected to start today, after an extended stay in head coach Art Shell's doghouse. Porter has been either benched or suspended in every game so far this season.

While he may take a week or two to ramp up, if you need help at WR, Porter may not be a terrible player to grab off the waiver wire. He's a talented receiver, and the Raiders offense seemed, at least against the Cardinals, to be starting to come together. If you aren't going to be giving up too much, Porter could be a good high-risk/high reward investment.

Chiefs QB Damon Huard suffered an undisclosed injury during practice on Thursday, putting his status for Week 8 in doubt. Since Trent Green is not expected to return for another few weeks, rookie Brodie Croyle is expected to start if Huard can't go.

Monitor this situation closely; if Huard sits, downgrade the remainder of the Chiefs offense, especially the wide receivers. Even Larry Johnson could be negatively affected if the Seahawks decide to give up the pass to shut down the run.

This week, a rant on arbirary NFL television regulations, why you shouldn't put undue weight on matchups, the Tony Romo era begins, big injuries for Hasselbeck and Big Ben, whether Leftwich's ankle is worse than he lets on, and why they may be holding open tryouts at Lambeau.

Podcasts Mentioned:
Philosophy Guy Show
Podsafe Comedy Countdown

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Feedback:
E-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, call our voice mail line at 206-339-8723, or join our message board at http://extrapoints.forumup.com!

Rudi Johnson was added to the injury report as probable after not participating in team practice Thursday. If you're counting on Rudi, you should at least start to prepare a Plan B just in case. He is probable, which is a good sign, but any addition to the injury report mid-week is never good, and it never hurts to be prepared for the worst...

Bill Parcells made it official today: Tony Romo will start at QB for the Cowboys thiscoming Sunday. Since Romo has had such little NFL experience, all bets are off concerning Terry Glenn and (cringing) Terrell Owens, though I'd imagine Romo would throw to Glenn a lot since he's a veteran and can probably do the most with poor throws.

All we can say is good luck Tony, you're going to need it...

First Shaun Alexander breaks his foot, and now QB Matt Hasselbeck is expected to be out for two to four weeks with an MCL sprain. Seneca Wallace will start in his place, and he supposedly is a decent replacement, but he turned the ball over three times in a quarter and a half of relief following Hasselbeck's injury.

We will, of course, have full analysis on the next episode of Extra Points.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook also downgraded to questionable on the injury report, though that was after he completed a full day of practice on Friday. Westbrook has been all over the injury report the last few weeks and has still played, and reasonably well at that, each of the those weeks, but the situation bears monitoring. Of course, if you're a Westbrook owner, you should be used to this drill by now.

So remember how we were talking about a risk of Leftwich getting injured on this week's show? Well, he experienced soreness in his left ankle--the same one that kept him out of 5 games last season--and did not practice today. He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. Houston.

David Garrard is Leftwich's back up. Follow this situation closely if you were planning to start Leftwich.

OK, so I screwed up.  On this week's show, I apparently was looking at the wrong stats for Eric Parker and stated that he'd had a series of big games including a receiving TD in every game.  That's obviously not the case.  Nevertheless, he has had two big games over the past two weeks, coinciding with Rivers' improvement at QB, and while he hasn't, in fact, reached the end zone, it looks like something of an inevitability given his increased role in the passing game.

So, in short, Parker's still worth grabbing if he's available, but he's not quite the second coming of Jerry Rice like I made it seem on the show.

Big thanks to Matt from Colorado for keeping me honest. 

This week, Steve starts up the Rex Grossman support group, why Eric Parker deserves a long look, whether Matt Lienart is worth starting from now on, why you should have cut Neil Rackers already, Steve McNair's injury and the triumphant return of Kyle Boller, Koren Robinson gets suspended again, and Tiki Barber starts talking retirement.

Podcasts Mentioned:
Redboy Podcast
Shelly's Podcast
The Big Show

Links:
Dennis Green Tirade
Bonus Link: Great NFL Post-Game Rants

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

This week, whether Leon Washington is worth a flier, the Joey Harrington era begins in Miami, Larry Fitzgerald hears his hamstring pop, Larry Johnson gives us a scare, Kevin Jones gets a concussion, and we dig into the mailbag to answer your questions!

Podcasts Mentioned:
The Mind of Men
Soccer Champions

Links:
FFToday Schedules
Rotoworld

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Patriot Nation's dream could just come true this Sunday; the Miami Sun-Sentinel is reporting that Daunte Culpepper could sit out Week 5's game against New England due to a shoulder injury. HC Nick Saban insists that the decision to bench Culpepper would be purely medical, and would have nothing to do with the fact that he's been playing abysmally so far this season.

If Culpepper does sit, Joey Harrington would likely start in his place, prompting the question of whether an injured Culpepper would be more or less effective than a healthy Harrington. In either case, Ronnie Brown aside, the Miami offense as a whole will likely be extremely disappointing against the NE defense this Sunday. If you have any other options, it is highly suggested that you use them. If you have no choice but to start Culpepper, pay very close attention to the Sunday inactives this week.

This week, how Matt Leinart and Vince Young will affect their respective offenses in their new starting roles, the hoopla surrounding the upcoming Cowboys/Eagles matchup, Vernand Morency's new role in the Green Bay rushing offense, and answers to your questions!

Podcasts Mentioned: Barely Podcasting
Podcast Peers Awards
Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

After another pitiful performance by Kurt Warner, Dennis Green finally said enough is enough and named Matt Leinart Arizona's week 5 starter against Kansas City. He even announced it in the Week 4 postgame news conference, no less!

Kansas City has the #2 pass defense in the league right now (who knew!?), so this week might not be the best to start Leinart. And the next several weeks don't get any easier, as AZ plays Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Seattle. Plus he's a rookie in his first NFL start.

So if you have another QB option, I'd hold off on Leinart. But if you're in a bind, be aware that he will be starting.

Seeking to recover from their 0-3 start, the Titans have named Vince Young as their starter against Dallas this weekend. It goes without saying that you should no longer have Kerry Collins in your lineup.

Rookie QBs often struggle, and the Cowboys defense is not only good, but also coming off a week of rest, so it might be wise to reconsider starting Drew Bennett or David Givens if you have other options. Vince Young himself could be a decent spot starter for you this week if you're really desperate, but try to look for any other options first.

Chuck from the Extra Points forums joins Steve to discuss all the news in a week that turned everything upside down. This week, Maurice Jones-Drew is our waiver wire pick of the week, the Madden Curse comes for Shaun Alexander, Kurt Warner goes from starter to benchwarmer to starter overnight, Chris Simms' splenectomy, T.O.'s hospital visit, and answers to lots of questions!

Podcasts Mentioned:
Audio Pandemic
Ask Lyndon
The Mind of Men

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

For what it's worth, at the news conference today TO claims he never attempted to commit suicide, he just had an allergic reaction to medication, and the whole thing was all a big misunderstanding. He also said he may even be ready to play this week vs. TEN. I still think there's no way he's missing Week 5 in Philly.

I said before the season started I wouldn't touch TO with a 10-ft. pole, and I stand by that opinion. And that's the last thing I'll say about this whole situation.

--Scott

The AP is reporting that, according to a Dallas police report, Terrell Owens overdosed on painkillers he was prescribed for his broken finger in an apparent suicide attempt. The report states that he was depressed and swallowed 35 pills, including two more as rescue workers arrived.

Owens had said on Tuesday that his injury was not serious and that he would practice this week, but obviously his availability is uncertain at this time for Week 4 and beyond. The Cowboys have planned a press conference for 2:30 PM Eastern Time.

So all of you who had visions of riding Matt Lienart to victory this week may have to be patient; ESPN reports that Dennis Green has changed his mind overnight and Kurt Warner will start after all.

Given that Denny Green likes to change his QBs like most of us change our socks, this situation could change daily until Sunday, so if you're planning on starting any members of the Arizona offense, you'd be well advised to keep a close eye on the situation.

For those of you who chose Shaun Alexander as your #1 RB, I have some bad news: the Seahawks star has a broken foot, and will be out for a couple of weeks at a minimum. Time to start making alternate plans. Also, word out of Chiefs camp is that Trent Green will miss Week 4 due to the lingering effects of his concussion.

And apparantly the Cardinals have had enough of Kurt Warner's inconsistency and susceptibility to turnovers. It is reported that rookie QB Matt Leinart will start in his place this weekend vs. ATL.

Well, that didn't take long, now did it?

RB Ahman Green apparently tweaked his hamstring and has been added to the injury report as questionable. Needless to say, a mid-week downgrade is a very bad omen, and coupled with Green's storied injury history, it would be prudent for Green owners to watch the Sunday inactives very closely this week.

If Green can't go, then Vernand Morency and Noah Herron would likely split carries. The RBBC lowers the potential value of both, but the matchup against Detroit is favorable, so if you're in dire straits, it might be worth looking for one or the other on the waiver wire.

This week, don't sleep on the byes, how Rex Grossman can help your team, the most talked about broken finger in football, fumblitis leads to injury in Oakland, the Jake Plummer bench-watch begins, and we take our weekly guess on what the running back situation is in Hoston (and why it probably doesn't matter).

Podcasts Mentioned:
The Jersey Todd Show
Upon Further Review
The Mep Report

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

As speculated on our message board(!), Titans backup QB Billy Volek was dealt to the Chargers for a future draft pick. After TEN signed Kerry Collins, Volek dropped to the third spot (why? Volek was great filling in for McNair last year) and decided he could do better elsewhere.

So now he'll be #2 in SD, behind Philip Rivers. Is this an improvement? Probably, and he could provide some fantasy value should Rivers start to struggle (or get hurt). But, based on Rivers's performances in the first two weeks, that doesn't seem likely. So Volek might be worth picking up if you have Rivers and want some insurance, but otherwise I can't see this increasing his fantasy value that much.

Want to get in on the debate? Join our message board!

If you've been having trouble registering for the message board, please send an e-mail to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com and we'll delete your username so you can re-register. Apparently, the forum server was having some issues yesterday, but everything seems to be fixed today. We apologize for the inconvenience.

And if you haven't already signed up, what are you waiting for?

Thanks to Kjell1979 from the message board for alerting us that both Deion Branch and Steve Smith will be inactive for Week Two. Adjust your lineups accordingly.

Don't forget to sign up for the message board to hear and discuss news like this as it happens!

This week, how to recover from a week 1 loss without destroying your team in the process, Morency and Gado switch places, Joe Jurevicius get hurt again, Deion Branch finds a new home, Jerry Porter builds himself a new doghouse. Plus: The first post-game interview in our podcaster celebrity league, and lots of listener questions!

Links:
Sign up for our new message board!
The Bostonist
Mrs. B's Patriot World

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

It's reported that Green Bay and Houston have swapped backup running backs. We'll have full analysis on the next episode of Extra Points. For now, if either player is on your waiver wire, it's worth grabbing them if you have room on your roster, because the value of both backs increases with this trade.

So, the drama ends. Deion Branch is now a Seahawk. The Patriots got a first-round pick in compensation, which will in no way help the passing game this season.

Branch will certainly be successful in the Seahawks' offense, though it will take him a few weeks to acclimate himself to the offense. Wait until he has a big game before you start him.

As for the Patriots, hopefully Doug Gabriel is as good as he's supposed to be, because the passing game without Branch against the Bills didn't look all that great, and the competition isn't likely to get much easier...

Just some fun for a Friday:
I'm reading this week's installment of Sports Guy's NFL Picks, and he links to a YouTube video of a bug in Madden 2007. Apparently, under some circumstances, if you let the computer control your QB, he'll throw backwards on every down. The person who posted the video called it the "Aaron Brooks Glitch". Now, given how much I bust on Brooks for throwing in the wrong direction, how could I not post about that?

The Washington Post's Redskins blog quotes RB Clinton Portis as saying that he feels like he is at 75% and doesn't want to rush himself back and consequently hurt himself for the long haul, so he'll sit out if he doesn't feel 100%. Since Washington is slated to play Monday night, avoid Portis at all costs. If you have no other choice, try to grab Ladell Betts off your waiver wire if he's still available; he's likely to shoulder most of the load if Portis sits, and the matchup against Minnesota is a favorable one.

This week, Scott reviews his draft, Big Ben gets cut up, Domanick Davis gets shut down, Deion Branch sits out, and the Chicago RBs and Titans QBs get jerked around.

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Due to the overwhelming response to the Survival League, we have expanded the maximum number of entrants to 50, the highest Yahoo allows!!

To enter our league (which is free- see post from Aug. 31 for complete details), go to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/survival. Our group ID# is 14153 and the password is eppodcast.

The deadline for submitting your Week 1 pick is 2:59 am EST on Thurs. Sept. 7. The deadlines thereafter are 2:59 am EST on the day of (11:59 pm PST the day before) the first game of that week. E-mail us at extrapointspodcast@gmail.com with any questions.

Good luck!

Ben Roethlisberger has been ruled out for Week 1 following an emergency appendectomy. He will be week-to-week following Week 1, so keep a close eye on the situation if this affects you. Charlie Batch is expected to start at QB, so downgrade the rest of the Steelers offense accordingly.

In response to Deion Branch's threats to hold out until Week 10 if he is not traded, the Patriots have traded for Doug Gabriel, formerly of the Oakland Raiders, for an undisclosed draft pick. Gabriel is arguable a better receiver than anyone in New England's current receiving corps, so he should start. If he learns the offense quickly, he could turn into a #1 receiver and become a genuine fantasy asset.

Back in Oakland, this move helps both Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry, who move up to the #2 and #3 slots, respectively. Porter has had a disasterous preseason to this point, so Curry could end up being Oakland's #2 receiver before long. The only question is how effective Aaron Brooks will be in that offense once the regular season starts.

The Texans have made it official: Domanick Davis has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2006 season before it even began.

Currently, the Week 1 starter is slated to be Wali Lundy, who will split carries to some degree with Vernand Morency. Both should move up on your draft sheets. Also monitor the Texans' waiver moves, as they may try to gain some experience at RB by picking up someone who was released following this weekend's cuts.

This week, the case against Antonio Gates, TEs to look for in the later rounds, whether LJ or LT is the better pick, Stephen Davis is MIA at Yahoo, RB or WR in the 2nd round, offline drafts take forever, who's starting in Houston if Domanick Davis doesn't play, a power ranking formula for commissioners, Vernon Davis's fantasy value, truth or BS regarding the Travis Henry starting rumors, and whether Detroit is for real this year.

Links:
FFToday
AntSports
Power Ranking Formula
Oberon Mountain FFL

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

We're all about variety here at Extra Points! As many of you know, fantasy football appears in many differnet forms. This season, we decided to organize a league for those who don't have the time to devote to the more traditional matchup-type leagues (or are already doing those other leagues and want an additional challenge): Survival Fantasy Football.

How does the game work? Simple: Every week, you pick a team you think will win its game. If the team you picked ends up winning that weekend, you stay in the game and move on to the next week. If your team loses, you are eliminated from the competition.

It's that easy. It can take as little as one minute per week to participate in this league. Just sign on to the web site, pick a team, and hope they win.

But there is a catch: once you pick a team, you cannot pick that same team again for the rest of the competition. This makes the game quite challenging.

There is no money required to enter, and we may even rustle up a prize for the eventual winner. Also, should everyone in the league be eliminated early on, we can reset everyone's status and start again.

So to sign up, go to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/survival. You will need a Yahoo ID to play, but if you don't have one it's free to get one (Click "Sign Up" at the top of the screen). Follow the prompts to join a private group. Our group ID# is 14153 and the password is "eppodcast" (enter all lower case, without quotes).

As of now I capped the group size at 25, but can raise it up to 50 if there's interest (if you try to sign up and the group is full, please e-mail us indicating such).

And tell your friends! This group is open to anyone interested.

Questions? E-mail us at extrapointspodcast@gmail.com. Good luck becoming the last survivor!

It appears that Domanick Davis's nagging knee injury is more serious than he and the Texans had anticipated. The situation is so serious that some rumors have suggested Houston is actually considering releasing him (after passing on Reggie Bush in the draft! see below). While this seems unlikely (because he is injured, he cannot be cut without receiving compensation from the team), it does seem quite possible that if the injury persists, the Texans could put him on injured reserve. That would effectively sideline Davis for the entire 2006 season.

Davis said this week that his condition has become "increasingly frustrating." He hasn't played in any preseason games, and hasn't practiced in weeks. This is certainly not good news, and while he could still make a recovery and be active for the season, his performance will certainly be impacted by the injury.

In other words, Davis's risk as a fantasy selection just went way up, so keep this in mind as you're drafting. We already had Davis as a risky pick in our non-top-tier RB show a few weeks back; now with this injury situation I would say he becomes very risky.

Also, this means that not only did the Texans pass on taking Reggie Bush in the draft, but the RB who they were going to rely on--and made them feel they didn't need Bush--might be out for the entire season. Ouch. If you're a Texans fan, I feel very very sorry for you.   --Scott

Follow along with Steve, round-by-round, as he drafts for his money league and provides analysis of every pick along the way!

Podcasts Mentioned:
Phedippidations

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

QB Kerry Collins, formerly of the Oakland Raiders, has reportedly been signed to a one-year deal by the Tennessee Titans. While nothing definitive has come out regarding how this affects Billy Volek's chances to start, it stands to reason that, since Vince Young is clearly the Titans' QB of the future, that Tennessee would not have signed Collins if they were happy with Volek's performance. As a result, drop Volek down, if not off, your draft board.

As for Collins, he could be a sneaky play as a backup QB, but certainly not as a starter. This may hurt Drew Bennett's fantasy value somewhat, since most of his value is predicated on his relationship with Volek, but otherwise, Collins shouldn't be considered a downgrade from Volek in terms of the Tennessee receivers.

WR Donte Stallworth has been traded to the Eagles for a linebacker and a draft pick. Getting a veteran receiver (such as he is) has to help McNabb a bit, though it is fairly late in the preseason for Stallworth to have to learn a new offense. Bump up both players' values a bit, but not significantly.

Also, Reggie Bush benefits from this trade, especially in points per reception leagues, as he is essentially the #2 receiver behind Joe Horn following this trade.

According to the Jaguars' web site mailbag, Greg Jones is out for the 2006 season with a torn ACL. More on this as it develops, but get Jones off your draft board in the meantime. Obviously, we'll have news on who to look for to back up Fragile Fred Taylor as this story develops.

On this episode: Why Joe Jurivicius' move to Cleveland won't help his fantasy value, why you should walk on by Javon Walker, the effect of Joe Horn's age, you don't need to avoid Baltimore receivers anymore, why Terry Glenn's not chopped liver, why Lee Evans might be the only salvagable part of the Buffalo offense, how Eric Moulds's move helps Andre Johnson, and why Steve has learned how to pronounce TJ Houshmandzadeh's name. Plus: We get a response to whether a snake or straight draft is good for a keeper league, why you should avoid Green Bay RBs, who to look for at the end of your draft, and who to take with the 4th overall pick following TJ Duckett's arrival in Washington.

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

On this episode: Koren Robinson is a bad boy, whether Steve Smith can repeat, how much risk you take on when drafting T.O., why Torry Holt should be your WR1, how often Chad Johnson will get to celebrate this season, whether Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will progress or regress, how James' departure will help or hurt Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, the case against Randy Moss, whether Chris Chambers' 2005 season was a fluke, how Antwaan Randle El's Departure will affect Hines Ward, and we answer listener questions regarding Clinton Portis' fantasy value following his injury and when to (or not to) handcuff your backs in the draft.

Technorati Tags: Sports Football American Football Fantasy Football Podcasts NFL

Hot on the heels of the Jets' failed acquisition of Lee Suggs from Cleveland, the Jets have now traded for RB Kevan Barlow, previously of the 49ers, pending a physical.

Barlow's shown what he's capable of as a starting RB, which isn't much, and he was expected to start in San Francisco until he would inevitably lose the job to backup Frank Gore at some point this season. He's only slightly safer in New York, given that there's less talent coming up behind him, though this obviously hurts Cedric Houston's fantasy value. (That said, if Barlow does end up losing the job due to injury or incompetence, Houston could be a sneaky late round pick.)

This helps Frank Gore's fantasy value quite a bit now that he's guaranteed the starting role for the 49ers. He's still an injury risk, but he's performed quite favorably in relief of Barlow, and he could be an interesting asset in the late 3rd or early 4th round of a 12-team draft.

Why Domanick Davis could disappoint, Willis McGahee's glass ceiling, whether Julius Jones can keep the dogs at bay, Kevin Jones' potential in a Martz offense, the continued legend of Fast Willie Parker, whether Steve McNair can make Jamal Lewis relevant again, Greg Jones to save the day, Reggie Bush, whether Mike Bell is for real, the rest of the rookie RBs, when to take Peyton Manning and Antonio Gates, some advice for drafting last in a keeper league, moral obligations on draft day, and we throw a couple of questions out to the audience.

Listen to us interviewed on Podcast411!

Podcasts Mentioned:
The Fix on NBX
Mrs. B's Patriot World

Koren Robinson was arrested last night for suspicion of drunken driving. Given that Robinson has been suspended for substance abuse before, and the Vikings have behavioral clauses in his contract, this could knock Robinson off the field for a substantial amount of time, possibly the full season, either due to a league suspension (which could be a full season suspension, given that he's already been suspended for four games for drug use) or because the Vikings can get out of his contract. He was released by the Seahawks in 2005 because of a similar offense.

Needless to say, drop KRob way down in your rankings, if not completely off the board entirely. He's not a consistent enough receiver on a good enough passing team to take a chance on him.

Clinton Portis was injured while attempting a tackle on an interception during Sunday night's preseason game against the Bengals. Early reports state that Portis has a separated shoulder that subsequently slipped back into place; he will likely sit out the rest of the preseason and be questionable for Week 1. If he does recover as expected from this injury (which he should with adequate rest), his draft value should stay where it is, but monitor the situation carefully if you're planning on drafting or keeping Portis.

Portis also had some comments on the circumstances that led to his injury: "For whoever's watching: Let's get rid of some of these games," Portis said, his left arm in a sling. "Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that."

From your mouth to the commissioner's ears, Clinton...

If you're a player looking for a league to play with, or your league needs an extra player, leave a comment for this post with a way to get in contact with you; hopefully we'll be able to match you up!

On this episode: Whether Larry Johnson is the undisputed #1 pick, LT's prospects as a top rusher, what status quo means for Shaun Alexander, whether this is the year where Tiki isn't underrated, why the stars are aligning for Clinton Portis, how Martz's departure means big things for Steven Jackson, how Lamont Jordan will adapt to the changes under center and on the sidelines, what Edgerrin James' potential is in Arizona, whether no T.O. means more Westbrook, Ronnie Brown's chance to shine, Rudi Johnson as the safe choice, and Cadillac's potential to stay out of the shop.

Links:
Draft Pick Trade Calculator
Legality of Fantasy Football
The Huddle
FFToday
Rotoworld
AntSports

We take some time out from our draft guide to answer listener questions, read our last few FF service reviews, and announce the winner of our drawing! On this episode, which magazine you should buy (if you decide that you just have to have one), when to draft defensive players in IDP leagues, our thoughts on McNabb and Big Ben, how LeCharles Bentley's exit affects Reuben Droughns' fantasy value, life after Willie Roaf, trading draft picks, and a keeper dilemma.

Links:
FanSoft Media
Yahoo Fantasy Football
CBS Sportsline
MyFantasyLeague
RTSports
HFFLSports
Dynasty League Football
ANTSports (which we keep mentioning for average draft position info)

Ok fantasy players, time to breathe easy and adjust drafting lists: Reggie Bush has reported to Saints training camp and has signed his contract, reportedly worth upwards of $62 million, with $26 mil guaranteed (not too shabby).

From the article: "With Deuce McAllister being a more bruising, straight-ahead runner, Bush is expected not only to run the ball as a tailback but also to catch the ball out of the back field on screen or swing passes. He could also line up in as a slot receiver, creating yet another concern for defenses already trying to cover wideouts like Joe Horn and Donte Stallworth."

Does this mean he can peacefully coexist with Deuce? Hmmmm...

An MRI has confirmed that Falcons WR Brian Finneran has a torn ACL and dislocated knee, and as a result he will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. This hurts Michael Vick's value, as Finneran was Vick's only legitimate receiving threat last season. Time will tell if another #1 receiver emerges, but our advice regarding Vick stands true; avoid Vick unless rushing is worth significantly more than passing in your league's scoring system, and even then approach Vick with caution.

ESPN is reporting that Reggie Bush and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a six-year contract and that Bush will report to camp ASAP. Obviously, this restores Bush's draft value back to its original potential, but keep an eye on reports from training camp to see how the position battle between Bush and Deuce McAllister progresses.

This week, we break down the quarterbacks for your fantasy draft, and we tell you who to target and who to avoid. This week, we tackle when to draft Peyton Manning, why Tom Brady is a top-tier QB, whether Carson Palmer is worth the risk, whether Daunte Culpepper can bounce back from last season's debacle, how much the rookies breathing down Kurt Warner and Jake Plummer's necks hurt their fantasy value, how Drew Brees will fare without LT and Antonio Gates, why Eli is the Manning you should look to draft, whether Aaron Brooks can be a great fantasy QB again, why Drew Bledsoe could (or could not) by the sleeper of this year's draft, and David Carr's potential for staying upright long enough to score fantasy points.

Check out The Wicked Good Podcast later this week to hear Scott and Steve's trip to Fenway Park!

Links:
ANTSports
XpertSports
Yahoo Fantasy Football
FF Toolbox

Sports Guy article with trash talk "guidelines"

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, and one of three copies of Fandraft, courtesy of Fansoft Media, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Deadline for submissions is next Monday July 31, so get those reviews in! Good Luck!

 

ESPN is reporting that Oakland WR Jerry Porter has asked to be traded. Apparantly he hasn't been getting along with Art Shell. This can't be good news for QB Aaron Brooks either, going into his first season with the Silver and Black. For a profile of Brooks' draft potential, listen to this week's show! (to be posted in the next few days...)

Also, Pats WR Deion Branch is expected to hold out from training camp while he continues contract negotiations.

There will be more news on these situations in the coming weeks, and nothing is set in stone, but just keep these news items in mind as you think about your upcoming fantasy draft...

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that someone in your league will take Reggie Bush in your fantasy draft. If you were thinking about it, you may want to reconsider:

It looks like Reggie Bush is going to be holding out from training camp unless something changes drastically before Thursday. Talks have reportedly been non-existent, and there are rumors swirling that he might not only hold out from training camp, but he might decide not to play in 2006 and re-enter the 2007 draft at a price he feels he deserves. While that seems unlikely, an extended holdout could hurt Bush's value drastically, especially with Deuce McAllister still on the roster. Remember Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones last year and how much Benson's playing time was hurt by an extended hold-out.

If you're considering drafting Bush for a redraft league (i.e., the basic league where you can't keep any players from year to year), monitor the situation carefully; of course, if you're in a dynasty or a keeper league, an extended holdout might be a good thing to help you pick up Bush at a discount for next season and beyond.

Apparently, Chris Brown's agent has notified the titans that his client requests to be dealt before the season starts. Whether he can be moved or not remains to be seen, but apparently he's concerned about the fact that he's in a contract year and the backfield in Tennessee has gotten crowded. Interested teams include Houston (who could certainly use a better backup for often-injured Domanick Davis than Antowaine Smith), Denver (who also has a crowded backfield, incidentally, but whose system fits Brown's style well), and, interestingly, Minnesota, where the coach who helped him lead the Big 12 in rushing now works.

Of course, we'll keep you posted on the podcast as things develop. If Brown does leave, LenDale White could become one of the most interesting rookies on the draft board this season not named Bush.

Drafting was the specific topic for the show posted this past Monday, and will be a running theme as we go over notable players by position in the next few weeks.

It's been a while since I looked at espn.com's fantasy sports section, but I discovered the other day that they have a free mock draft tool. So I wanted to present it as another draft preparation option.

Clicking here will take you to the "lobby" page.   --Scott

This week, we go into the nitty-gritty of the draft, including how to use mock drafts to your advantage, taking what the draft gives you, leveraging average draft position and tiering players, how to avoid position runs, planning for bye weeks, how to deal with rookies, and general guidelines for when to draft for which position.

Links:
ANTSports

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, and one of three copies of Fandraft, courtesy of Fansoft Media, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

On this episode, we discuss the tips for brokering a successful deal without getting screwed over or ruining your reputation, a listener tip on getting the most from high waiver wire picks, a keeper league conundrum, and a mega-entry to our fantasy football service review contest.

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, and one of three copies of Fandraft, courtesy of Fansoft Media, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

In the next in our series of fantasy football tutorials, we talk about the intricacies of the waiver wire, who to drop and who to pick up, which types of injuries to avoid, how to identify busts and sleepers, how different waiver wire pickups fill different needs, and how to distinguish the players on the upswing from the one-hit wonders.

Plus, we address some listener questions for a keeper league, and read a listener review of MoSneaky.com!

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

Links:
Fansoft Media
MoSneaky.com

This week, we break down the finer points of deciding who to start and who to leave on the bench, including how to evaluate matchups; the myth of a good defense; lies, more lies, and injury reports; and the Golden Rule. Plus: We address a listener question regarding late lineups, and four listeners write in with their fantasy football service reviews!

Links:
The Poddog Show
FFToday.com
MyFantasyLeague.com
Yahoo Fantasy Football
CBS Sportsline

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

More bad news for Steelers fans: The Associated Press reports that Santonio Holmes, first-round draft pick WR for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was arrested for a second time since being drafted, this time for domestic violence.  He was first arrested over Memorial Day weekend for disorderly conduct.  Since two convictions usually results in a league suspension, this news could have fantasy impact and potentially affect Holmes' draft value; we'll keep you up to date as the situation unfolds.

Some big news this week puts our summer tutorials on hold, but we'll return to our Fantasy Football 101 series next week. This week, we talk about Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident as well as McNair's move to Baltimore, and all of the related fantasy impact that results. Plus, we have three reviews of listener-submitted fantasy football services!

Links:
MyFantasyLeague.com
Yahoo Fantasy Football
CBS Sportsline

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

After talking about the Roethlisberger situation when Steve and I recorded the show last night, I really needed a light and humorous sports story. So even though this is about baseball, it does have a connection to fantasy sports...

Have you ever watched a game in any sport and said, "Man, why did the manager/coach do that!?!" (If you're a Red Sox fan, you've done this quite often). "I could manage this team better than _____!" Well, now you can have your chance: an independent baseball team in Illinois is turning over key managerial decisions to fans for the second half of its season. By voting online, fans accross the country can help determine batting lineups, fielding positions, the pitching roster, and possibly even make trade decisions!

This is great. Check out the article to learn more.  --Scott

It appears Big Ben had a Big Close Call. Despite being thrown from his motorcycle and landing head first on the pavement without head protection, Roethlisberger's worst injury following the crash seems to be a broken jaw, which should heal in time for training camp. Other injuries included a chipped tooth, broken jaw, head lacerations, and minor knee damage. Early reports seem to indicate that he should be fully healed by the end of July, at which point we hope that he starts to ride his motorcycle with a helmet.

Ben Roethlisberger, the Super Bowl winning QB for the Pittsburgh steelers, was injured in a motorcycle accident Monday morning.  Early reports state that he is conscious and that the injuries are not life-threatening, but also that Big Ben was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.  There is no word yet as to the severity of the injuries, but we will keep you posted as the story develops.

The fantasy football magazines should be hitting the shelves any day now, but are they worth the cover price? We discuss the pros and cons of using magazines to prepare for your fantasy draft, provide alternate resources for gathering information on potential draftees, and provide rules of engagement for approaching printed fantasy resources the right way. Plus, we read our first listener fantasy site review!

Links:
Fantasy Football Today - Player Rankings and Projections
Rotoworld - Player News
ANTSports - Free Average Draft Position Tool
Fanball - Our Listener Reviewed Fantasy Site

To enter our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

Just when we thought we wouldn't be hearing any relevant NFL news for a while, something pretty major comes out: pending a physical, Steve McNair will be traded from Tennessee to Baltimore in exchange for a fourth--or potentially third--round 2007 draft pick (is this what it's come to? McNair, a former MVP and one of the top QBs in the league, is now only worth ONE third or fourth round draft pick? Ouch).

I guess the tiff over (not) allowing him to use the Titans' practice facility, which was reported on Extra Points, turned out to be a sign of things to come.

Steve (my cohost, not McNair) and I recorded this week's show before the news broke, but definitely stay tuned next week when we'll discuss the deal's impact on the Titans and the Ravens. Does the trade change McNair's fantasy draft status? Should it? Tune in for our perspective!

--Scott

It's the first in our series of summer Fantasy Football tutorials: How to choose a league!

On this episode, we discuss whether you should go to Yahoo or not, what things to look for when switching league software, and Steve reviews his experiences with RealTime Sports.

To get into our contest to win a $10 iTunes gift card or a copy of Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie, just send us a review of the site your league uses! You can call our voice mail line (206-3-EXTRA-3), or e-mail us a written review or an MP3 file to EXtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com. Good Luck!

Rookies weren't the only news at the NFL draft; some veterans were affected too, and we have all the scoop on the moves of note!

On this episode: Javon Walker saddles up, the Browns and Niners swap backup QBs, Jimmy Smith calls it a career, Marcus Vick tries to start his career, and we say goodbye to a local sports legend.

It's amazing that people are talking about this in mid-May, but they are, so here it is. Read this article for thoughts on how Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister might be used in the Saints offense. Just things to keep in mind come fantasy draft time (as is McAllister's health).

It's part two of our NFL Draft Extravaganza!

On this episode: We answer a listener voice mail, whether Laurence Maroney means that Dillon is done as a Patriot, DeAngelo Williams' chances of taking over for the walking wounded in Carolina, Joseph Addai's chances of starting right away, whether LenDale White is too much of a risk, and we analyze the top wide receivers drafted by the Steelers and Patriots. Don't forget to send us your questions via e-mail or voicemail!

Laurence Maroney Montage

Fox Sports is reporting that Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has decided to call it a career. He is expected to announce the decision at a press conference today. The 37-year old #1 receiver caught 70 passes for over 1,000 yards and six TD's in 2005.

The retirement leaves Jacksonville's receiving corps dangerously thin, with Ernest Wilford currently at the top of the depth chart, and second-year player Matt Jones at #2. We will, of course, have detailed analysis of the effects of the Smith retirement on an upcoming episode of Extra Points.

There's a ton to talk about following the NFL Draft, and we try to bite off a big chunk on this episode!

On this episode: Did the Texans blow it?, Saint Reggie, three's a crowd in Tennessee, whether D'Brickashaw makes the Jets a better offense, why you should care about Vernon Davis, how Matt Lienart's fall to #10 was the best thing that could have happened to him, and whether Cutler means an upcoming QB cut in Denver.

Links:
Phedippidations
Mrs. B's Patriot World

The Cleveland Browns traded QB Trent Dilfer to the 49ers in return for QB Ken Dorsey and a 7th round draft pick in '07. Dilfer is expected to back up Alex Smith, at least to begin with...

Hopefully Dilfer can impart much wisdom on Smith, who struggled mightily last year. However, both are risky fantasy prospects at this point.

 

Just a quick update show to recap all the breaking news from this week before the NFL draft (which was not this past weekend, as we thought it was).

On this episode: Ricky Williams takes another year off, Brett Favre signs up for another year, and the Whizzinator gets retired, permanently.

Despite some claims that were slightly more credible than previously, Ricky Williams has reportedly lost his appeal of his alleged violation of the NFL's drug policy. Since this was his fourth violation, he will be suspended for the entirety of the 2006 season, and can be reinstated at this time next year.

Obviously, this sends Ronnie Brown's fantasy value through the roof. Brown was excellent last year in a running back by committee situation, and can only benefit from the extra touches. The Dolphins still have Sammy Morris and Travis Minor on the depth chart, but neither is a serious threat to steal a significant number of carries from Brown.

Just a couple of loose ends left to tie up before the NFL draft hits and we all go completely insane. On this episode: The Bills overpay for Peerless Price, what effect McNair's banishment from the Titans' training facility could have on the draft, and we try to help a listener decide who to keep for the upcoming season.

Podcasts Mentioned:
The Wicked Good Podcast
Phedippidations

Free agency is winding down, so we have the scoop on the last breath of moves and the results of the NFL owner's meetings before all eyes shift to the NFL draft!

On this episode: Moulds goes down to Houston, the Patriots try to turn Martin Gramatica into gold, why Simon Cowell may need to be the next NFL referee, and we look at a fantasy baseball lawsuit that could end up costing you money later on.

Links:
KeemeCast
New England Podcasting

Assuming his offensive line gives him more than three seconds to throw the ball this year, David Carr should have some great targets. Eric Moulds finalized his contract with the Texans this week, for $14 million over 4 years and a $5 mil signing bonus.

Question now is will Carr also be able to throw to/hand off to Reggie Bush, who the Texans are eyeing with the first pick in the draft.

Listen to this week's show for more on the fantasy impact of the Moulds deal.

Scott's back from Vegas, and we take a gamble on the last wave of significant free agency news!

On this episode: Will Keyshawn "get the damn ball" in Carolina?  Can Randy Moss get Aaron Brooks to pass in the right direction?  Why on Earth did the Bears sign Brian Griese?  Plus: Nate Burleson and poison pills, how scary Vinatieri can be in a dome, and we need more cumin with Troy Brown!

OK, Patriots fans, you can breathe easy again; the reports of the so-called "liquored-up kicker" coming to Foxboro were apparently greathly exaggurated, as Mike Vanderjagt has agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys, who were extremely challenged in the kicking game last season. Vanderjagt was the most accurate kicker in the NFL in 2004 and was considered a top-tier kicker last season, but it bears mentioning that the Colts play in a (windless) dome; he'll find it much more difficult to be as consistent as he's been when kicking outdoors for home games as well as away games.

Brooks to Moss, all season long? It's a distinct possibility, now that the Raiders have signed the beleaguered ex-Saint to their roster. Coach Art Shell won't go so far as to call him the starter, but with Marques Tuiasosopo as the only other QB on the roster who could conceivably fill the role (and the odds of the new Raiders regime reliving that particular failed experiment are fairly slim), it's hard to say how he couldn't be, unless he's just being brought in to keep things warm for a promising rookie QB, since the Raiders have been showing a lot of interest in Mensa candidate Vince Young. We'll have more on this as it develops.

Scott's on vacation again, but Steve is joined by very special guest host Mrs. B from the Patriot World Podcast to break down the second wave of free agency movements! On this episode: T.O. saddles up, Culpepper moves to a port town, a new Brees in New Orleans leaves Rivers behind, and the Patriots try to turn lead into gold, once again.

Links:
Mrs. B's Patriot World

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's the end of an era. Adam Vinatieri has reached a deal in principle with the Indianapolis Colts. From a fantasy perspective, Adam's still Adam, and kicking in a dome for at least eight games a year can only help one of the most accurate and clutch kickers in the game. As a Patriots fan, though, this royally, royally sucks...

In a move that should not come as a surprise to anyone following the signings of Jon Kitna and Josh McCown, the Detroit Lions have finally parted ways with Joey Harrington, closely following statements from offensive coordinator Mike Martz that Harrington is "their man." It's not clear whether Harrington has been released or not, but the fact remains that he will not be playing in a Lions jersey in 2006.

Yup, that's right, just a few years after standing triumphantly on the star in Texas Stadium, Terrell Owens has signed a multi-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Suffice it to say that this will have an immediate effect on every member of the Dallas offense. Look for in-depth analysis on the next episode of Extra Points.

Well, despite my comments on this week's show, all-Pro LB Willie McGinest, a free agent after being released by the Patriots last week, yesterday signed a new contract with the Cleveland Browns. I guess it's not that unexpected, as the Cleveland head coach is Romeo Crennel, former Patriots defensive coordinator. But it's still sad to see McGinest, a Patriot for his entire career up to now (12 years), go to a different team. See, you never know what will happen with free agency! --Scott

To join Scott's NCAA tourney group, go to http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com. Use the group ID# 26366 and the password *indy* to sign up. You will need a Yahoo ID to participate, but it's free to set one up if you don't already have one.

Also, this is a free group, no money involved at all. You have until 11:55 am tomorrow (Thurs. Mar. 16) to submit your brakcet. Good luck!

It's March, and you know what that means! No, not March Madness! (OK, maybe a little, but that's not the point.) It's free agency, and Scott and Steve have the scoop on all the early signings!

On this episode: Will Edge thrive or wither in the desert? Is Chester Taylor worth a first round draft pick now that he's a starter in Minnesota? Are Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson two great tastes that taste terrible together? And why are the Redskins collecting wide receivers like they're going out of style? Answers to all these questions, and more!

Links:
Explanation of the NFL Salary Cap
Our Frappr Map

Podcasts Mentioned:
Manic Mommies
Mrs. B's Patriot World
Podcast Pickle

The golden goose gets to live another day. The NFL and NFLPA have finally agreed on an extension to the collective bargaining agreement, after numerous delays, avoiding financial chaos and an impending work stoppage in 2008. No word yet on what the salary cap under the new agreement will be, or when exactly free agency will begin, though it's almost certainly going to be delayed to give teams a chance to understand the new financial landscape.

Apparently, it's not just cuts before the CBA deadline. Both Shaun Alexander and Ahman Green have signed deals tonight to stay with their current teams. This makes Alexander a sure top-3 pick for this year's fantasy draft. Ahman, on the other hand, might be worth a later pick if he can stay healthy, if Samkon Gado doesn't win the starting job, and if new coach Mike McCarthy sticks with the run more consistently than Mike Sherman did...

While we're waiting for free agency to start (get that labor agreement signed any day now, NFL!), Scott and Steve break down the finer points of fantasy football for the new player. We cover what it is, how to get started, and where we get our information,. If you're looking to get your fantasy football career started on the right foot, or you're a veteran looking to brush up on the basics, this episode is a must-hear!

Fantasy Football Resources:
Fantasy Football Today
RotoWorld
Pro Football Talk

Podcasts Mentioned:
New England Podcasting
Mrs. B's Patriot World
Financial Aid Podcast
The Poddog Show

Vote for Extra Points:
Podcast Alley
Podcast Pickle

I hate to disagree with my cohost, but I couldn't care less what Vince Young's Wonderlic score is, and the fact that people are even talking about this is absolutely ludicrous. First of all, there is now some conjecture over whether or not that report of his score of 6 is accurate. But let's leave that aside. I looked at the test that Steve provided a link for, and all I can say is that unless he'll be talking about fractions and logic puzzles in the huddle, there is no way a score on the Wonderlic test can possibly predict Vince Young's ability as an NFL quarterback.

The Wonderlic, like the SAT or any other standardized test, does not test a person's intelligence. It simply measures a person's ability to take a standardized test. It is a way to provide a common basis of comparison for people with widely variant backgrounds. But as with the SAT for college admission, you cannot use a standardized test as the sole basis for determining someone's ability or potential.

What people should really look at with Young, both actual NFL owners and fantasy team owners, is how the U. of Texas offense was structured, and how similar that could be to NFL offenses. This will give you an idea about his ability to run an offense of a certain complexity. Or once he is drafted in real life, look at his "supporting cast" and coaches, to see if he'll be able to ease in to a starting role or if he's being thrown into the fire and will have to carry a team by himself right away. Obviously the first scenario is preferable.

Here's what, to me, says the most about Vince Young's potential. I went into the Rose Bowl this year with great anticipation about seeing Reggie Bush, who I had heard many amazing things about but hadn't actually seen play very much. When the game was over, I was mildly impressed with Bush, but was mesmorized by Vince Young. He, virtually singlehandedly, carried Texas to victory. When the Longhorns had the ball down the stretch needing a touchdown to win, I remember thinking to myself, "Self, Vince Young is going to win this game for Texas." Which is exactly what happened. When you can drive for the winning score in the national championship game, one of the most pressure-packed environments in all of American sports, you're ok in my book.

Now, I'm not saying Young is perfect. Espn.com Page 2's Bomani Jones points out some other reasons to be skeptical about him (and while I agree with Jones that it's not such a smart move to have a family friend as your agent, I can understand it). So if you're not going to look at Young as a possible (high) draft selection, make sure it's for the right reasons. In other words, don't base your decision solely on the supposed results of a questionable and completely irrelevant test.

--Scott

If you were thinking about Vince Young as your fantasy team's savior next year, you might want to think again. Reportedly, Young's score on the NFL's Wonderlic test, which measures player intelligence, is a pitiful 6 out of 40. By comparison, the lowest ranked QB in last year's draft class scored a 13. This by no means eliminates Young from NFL draft consideration, but it's sure to knock him down some slots, and this makes him even more of a risky pick for your fantasy team than a normal rookie QB.

ESPN's Page 2 has a set of 15 sample Wonderlic questions to further illustrate how bad a 6 is. We're not talking brain surgery here...

Round and round they go, where they stop, Scott and Steve know! On this episode, Steve breaks down all the coaching changes throughout the league, and what impact they might have on your fantasy players. Plus, breaking news regarding Ricky Williams' latest run-in with the NFL's substance abuse policy!

Links:
The Big Show
Baseball Geeks

Forget the Pro Bowl, it's Valentine's Day! On this episode: An interview with Steve's wife Maureen, the fantasy football "widow"; Oswald the Lucky Bunny and the blockbuster announcer trade; and a few podcasts to help pass the time in the offseason.

Links:
The Big Show (Don't forget to catch Steve's guest appearance on episode #61!)
Griddlecakes Radio
The Poddog Show
Podcast Outlaws
Phedippidations

Has it really been 25 episodes already? Scott and Steve celebrate by breaking down Super Bowl XL and announcing the winner of our playoff fantasy football league. On this episode: Why Pittsburgh won, why Seattle lost, and what effect the terrible refs had on the outcome of the game. Plus, some good news for Saints fans!

So, let's say that you're going to a Super Bowl party this weekend, and, for whatever reason, you miss a commercial or seven. Or, worse yet, you happen to live outside the US and you get lame commercials instead. Well, podcasting has come to the rescue.

Apparently, someone's come up with the brilliant idea of putting all the Super Bowl commercials into a video podcast. You can find the details here. I personally subscribed and I think it's a really innovative new use of podcasting.

Anyway, enjoy the Super Bowl. I'll be rooting for Tom Brady to not hurt himself further during the coin flip...

It's an extra large episode of Extra Points, in honor of Super Bowl XL! OK, not really, but we do have everything you need to know about the biggest football game of the year! On this episode: A recap of the conference championships, whether Shaun Alexander is all that and a bag of chips, the Bus vs. Fast Willie, and the Favre retirement saga, part umpteen. Plus, potentially disasterous Super Bowl predictions!

It's our long awaited fantasy retrospective show! On this episode, Scott and Steve look back on the 2005 fantasy football season, and reflect on the lessons they've learned that you can carry with you into next season.

I know you're all anxiously awaiting our "What have we learned?" show, so we just wanted to assure you that it is on the way. We had some scheduling conflicts this week which has caused us to delay working on the show. However, it should be posted tonight or tomorrow.

In the meantime, feel free to e-mail us a playoff fantasy football question, general football question, Super Bowl prediction, etc. You can also call the voicemail line (Steve would be very happy if you did! Plus you will be able to hear your voice on the show!) and visit the message board. Links/info. to all of these are on this page.

So two weeks ago I sing Carson Palmer's praises and he goes down on the second play, and this week I do the same for Nick Goings, use one of my precious trades to pick him up in the playoff fantasy league, and he gets a concussion so bad that he needs help just to stay upright. So if you picked him too and are wondering why he's not in the game, that's the reason. (Well, that and being down by 20 points in the 3rd quarter doesn't do much for your running game, either...)

-Steve

Word out of Seahawks camp is that Shaun Alexander has been practicing with the team this week, is basically at full strength and will start on Sunday against Carolina in the NFC Championship Game. Plan your playoff fantasy team accordingly...

Another week, another 1-3 in picking playoff games, but Scott and Steve are undeterred and back once again to offer playoff fantasy advice for Championship weekend. On this episode: Surprises and disappointments from the Divisional games, whether a concussion can stop Shaun Alexander, Nick gets Goings for Carolina, and surprising coaching announcements out of Green Bay and the Jets.

We're still looking for contributions for our first annual fantasy season retrospective show next week. E-mail or call us by Monday, January 23rd with what you've learned from the 2005 fantasy season and we'll include it in the show!

The news just isn't getting better for Carson Palmer following last weekend's injury. His surgeon called the injury "devastating and potentially career-ending."

Apparently, the knee dislocation did further damage than a typical ligament tear, and the doctor described the ligaments as not torn, but shredded. However, the doctor also said that the knee was not damaged beyond repair, and that there was a chance that Palmer could play football again. That being the case, his prospects for next season look fairly bleak.

So we're not "experts" when it comes to picking the playoff games, but that's not going to stop us from trying again for Divisional weekend! On this episode: Our quirky playoff league, whether playoff experience can trump a bye week, Carson Palmer's bad day, Herm Edwards' return to KC, and whether Brad Childress's move to Minnesota means more or less of Mewelde Moore.

We're still looking for contributions for our first annual fantasy season retrospective show during the Super Bowl bye week. E-mail or call us with what you've learned from the 2005 fantasy season and we'll include it in the show!

Scott and I both have our favorite columns for football analysis throughout the season. Scott's is Tuesday Morning Quarterback, and mine is ESPN's Sports Guy (formerly Boston Sports Guy, also known as Bill Simmons).

In any event, Sports Guy just put out his latest version of the Playoff Manifesto. It's aimed more toward gambling, so there's some difference there, obviously, but he's got a number of good factors to consider, and he's been fairly successful in applying these rules over the years, so if you're trying to figure out, say, if the Giants or Panthers are going to win tomorrow, maybe this will help you break the tie in your mind...

-Steve

It's playoff time, which means Scott and Steve are here to talk about playoff fantasy football leagues! Plus, we touch on all the empty coaching positions following "Black Monday", as well as some things to consider for keeper leagues.

There's still time to join our Playoff Fantasy League! (Choose "Join An Existing League" and look for "ExtraPoints"; enter the password "podcast" to join.) When you sign up, drop us an e-mail at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com and let us know what your team name is. We look forward to competing with you!

We're still looking for contributions for our first annual fantasy season retrospective show during the Super Bowl bye week. E-mail or call us with what you've learned from the 2005 fantasy season and we'll include it in the show!

So much for Volek being a good start this weekend. According to The Tennesseean, Matt Mauck has been informed that he'll start if McNair can't go. Apparently, Norm Chow thinks that Mauck is "spunky", but you don't get points for spunk in your fantasy league. Given the uncertainty around both who's going to start and what Mauck can do given the opportunity, you're best looking elsewhere for QB help if you need it.

Our discussion on this week's show of college bowl games to watch to get an early look at next spring's NFL (and your fantasy team) draft prospects brings up an interesting conundrum. If the Texans lose in Week 17, they will be assured of the #1 pick in the draft, and therefore will win the Reggie Bush Sweepstakes outright. If they win (vs. SF), 5 teams will be tied for the worst record in the league, and each will have a chance at getting the #1 pick.

So, should the Texans lose on purpose to assure themselves of getting Reggie Bush? What a fascinating ethical question! On espn.com SportsNation, 67% of respondents to that question said they would support their team tanking to get a #1 pick. What do you think? Go to our message board and vote in the poll, and tell us your opinion!

It's Week 17 and everything's upside down and topsy turvy, but we'll help you create a method to the madness. On this episode, Scott and Steve talk about which teams have everything to play for, which teams have nothing to play for, and what effect that will have on your fantasy team. Plus, Scott breaks down which Bowl games are good to watch this week if you want to get a jump start on the rookies for next year's fantasy team.

There's still time to join our Playoff Fantasy League! (Choose "Join An Existing League" and look for "ExtraPoints"; enter the password "podcast" to join.) When you sign up, drop us an e-mail at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com and let us know what your team name is. We look forward to competing with you!

We're looking for contributions for our first annual fantasy season retrospective show during the Super Bowl bye week. E-mail or call us with what you've learned from the 2005 fantasy season and we'll include it in the show!

Apparently, Marvin Harrison was downgraded to out on today's revision of the injury report. The silver lining is that makes at least one Colts starter's playing time clear for this weekend. Needless to say, get him out of your lineup if you haven't already.

Just in time for your fantasy playoffs, a number of reliable running backs are unlikely to play this weekend:

Domanick Davis's knee isn't getting better, and there's talk of him possibly needing surgery. Jonathan Wells filled in admirably for Davis last week against Arizona. While you may need to temper your expectations given the tougher matchup against Jacksonville, Wells would still be a solid start.

Rotoworld is reporting that Lamont Jordan has been ruled out against the Broncos. Zack Crockett and Justin Fargas are next in line, but it's hard to say what the split will be or how effective either one will be against a tough Denver run defense.

Ronnie Brown hasn't been practicing, and he's unsure of whether he'll be able to go this weekend. If Brown sits, Ricky Williams becomes an excellent start against the Titans; given what he's been able to do with half the carries, he could blow up with a full workload.

On the other side of that matchup, both Chris Brown and Travis Henry have missed portions of practice this week. Henry is closer to playing than Brown, but monitor this situation closely if you are relying on either one to play this weekend.

This is probably old news by now, but in case you haven't heard, Tony Dungy has taken a leave of absence to be with his family after his son was found dead in his Tampa apartment. We at Extra Points offer our deepest condolences to the entrire Dungy family and anyone else who was affected by this tragedy.

...Please make sure to make your way over to our message board and post in the new forum that I set up for the Playoff Fantasy Football Challenge. After all, it's not a fantasy league without somewhere to smack talk, right? And even if you're not signing up, head over there anyway and introduce yourself. We love to talk to you guys!

Scott and Steve are headed to their respective Super Bowls, and hopefully you are too! If you are, we're here to help you finish off your championship run! On this episode: The Battle of Who Could Care Less, starring the Colts and the Seahawks; an LT let-down; the Green Bay blues; and, of course, your e-mails!

Sign up for our Playoff Fantasy Football league and compete against Scott and Steve, as well as your fellow listeners! When you sign up, choose "Join An Existing League" and look for "ExtraPoints"; enter the password "podcast" to join. The winner of the league wins a copy of the book Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie by Mark St. Amant!

Also, put yourself on our Frappr map!

We're still taking questions for Week 17 as well as the rest of your feedback, so please e-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail line at 206-3-EXTRA-3 (206-339-8723)!

It's a "better late than never" playoff edition of Extra Points! We discuss the status of the Colts starters, QB changes in Oakland and New Orleans, and, most importantly, answer questions from our overflowing mailbag!

Links:
Israelisms Mrs. B's Patriot World

As always, we're going to try to answer as many e-mails next week for an extremely crucial week 16, so get your fantasy questions to us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, or call our voice mail line at 206-3-EXTRA-3 (206-339-8723)!

In case you were worried, we will be posting this week's show either tonight or tomorrow, in time to get your lineups ready for Saturday's games (remember, there are 3 games on Sat. this week! NE vs. TB, KC vs. NYG, and DEN vs. BUF). We apologize for the delay...

...but in the meantime, please visit our message board! There's a link on the right side of this page. Vote in our poll on whether or not you think Indy should rest their starters. Ask us a fantasy football question! Ask Scott a soccer question! Or post some comments for us and your fellow listeners. It's loads of fun!

Curtis Martin is going to have season-ending surgery on his knee, and will miss his first start since 1998 (wow- that's amazing for any player, but even more so for a running back). Cedric Houston gets the nod in his place.

So if you were holding onto Martin (like me), time to find a replacement.

Curtis Martin has been downgraded to questionable and will be a game time decision against Oakland. Even if he does play (which isn't out of the question; you have to go back a long time to find a game that Martin missed due to injury), according to Herm Edwards, Martin is basically playing at half speed anyway. Cedric Houston is next on the depth chart, but he's not a great play, even against Oakland, given the Jets' offensive struggles this season.

This is just too bizarre. I'm not even going to try to comment on the article; it more or less speaks for itself...

OK, Moulds is really suspended now. Get him out of your lineups if you've been holding out hope.

It looks like the media jumped to conclusions, once again. Now, ESPN is reporting that Eric Moulds was simply "excused from practice" on Wednesday and Thursday, and his status is unclear against New England this week.

In any case, even if he's not suspended, you're well advised to find another starting WR this week; how much Moulds will play is uncertain, suspension or no suspension, and Losman clearly favors Lee Evans anyway, so Moulds probably isn't a good play against the Patriots, despite the favorable matchup.

Reports are surfacing today that the Bills will suspend WR Eric Moulds for this Sunday's game vs. New England. However, Bills owner Ralph Wilson has the final say on the length of the suspension. The team did not disclose a reason for the suspension, but there is some conjecture that it stems from Moulds missing a mandatory team meeting on Monday. He had also criticized the team's play-calling (and their lack of including him in it) in the Bills' loss to Miami last weekend, when they relinquished a 20-point 4th quarter lead. Moulds was apparantly "shocked and confused" by the decision when coach Mike Mularkey broke the news to him earlier this week.

So if he's in your lineup for this week, look for a replacement!

It's playoff time! Scott and Steve are here to guide you through the Elite Eight to your fantasy Super Bowl.

On this episode: Here's to you, Mr. Robinson; the Eagles become an endangered species; would you like Fryes with that?; pronunciation issues in Oakland; and whether JP Losman is a master of comedy or tragedy.

Make sure to send us feedback and ask your questions for fantasy advice for us to answer on the next show! You can e-mail us at ExtraPointsPodcast@gmail.com, or call our voicemail line at 206-339-8723 (206-3-EXTRA-3).

CBS reported that, when asked if his thumb is broken, Ben Roethlisberger replied, "I don't think I can disclose that." He may as well have just taken the Fifth and would have given less of an answer.

If you were planning on playing Big Ben or any of the Steelers receivers this week against the Bengals, you may want to consider your other options; if the thumb really is broken, he's not going to be throwing well, and if he aggravates the injury, then he may end up getting knocked out of the game all together.

CBS's pre-game show just announced that Charlie Frye, not Trent Dilfer, will start for the Browns this week. Get Dilfer out of your lineup if you had him in line to start for you.

Detroit RB Kevin Jones has been downgraded to questionable, and will be a game-time decision. We all know the drill on mid-week downgrades by now; if you need an excuse not to play Kevin Jones, this is a very good one. If Jones doesn't go, Artose Pinner and Shawn Bryson will likely split carries, but a RBBC on a team that's struggled to run the ball all season doesn't really seem like a recipe for success if you need a fill-in RB...

Greetings listerners (and web site visitors!). Just wanted to make you aware of a new poll I put out on our message board today, in the "Football Discussion" Category. There's a link to our message board on the right side of this page.

We've mentioned in the last couple of episodes how the Colts (and maybe Seahawks) will likely bench some of their more valuable players once they clinch homefield advantage. What do you think: is this a good idea?

Vote in the poll, and then add to the message thread with your opinions.

Good luck in Week 13! --SB

Neil Rackers will miss at least one game after hurting his calf in practice. That's very bad news if you're a Rackers owner, because he's been easily the most consistent kicker in the league this year. The Cards don't have a replacement yet, but there should be plenty of acceptable options available for you on the waiver wire, so take a look and pick someone up before Sunday...