I've been gone for a while, going through the hell that is graduate school.  I am the youngest one there and the only one who is working and doing school, which is a mistake.  Anyway, now that I got that out of my system, with fantasy football approaching, I feel the need to look back at 10 guys who came out of nowhere to be fantasy studs, and just as quickly, faded into the fantasy abyss.  Now, their names are just as popular on police blotters and on tryouts for teams as they are for fantasy picks.  We will start in 2001, which gives these guys 5 years to come close to their stellar production.

 

David Boston, Ari 2001

Built like a tight end and faster than most DBs, Boston amassed 1598 receiving yards (tops in the league) and 8 TDs.  Multiple injuries and steroid-related suspensions have all but made this former physical marvel as durable as a wet paper bag.

Lamar Smith, Mia 2000

Over 1,100 yards and 16 TDs in a Jimmy Johnson offense is expected.  What isn't expected is getting an increase in carries the following year and ending up with less yards (968) and TDs (8) than the year before isn't.  Last time he played, Aaron Stecker beat him out for the backup job.  Aaron Stecker?!

Olandis Gary, Den 1999

The Denver system is nice to every back that runs in it, but to this point, only Gary can be considered a 1-year wonder.  His rookie year saw him have nearly 1150 yards rushing and 7 TDs.  The frontrunner for the job in 2000, he got injured, paving the way for Mike Anderson and never managed more than 400 yards or 2 TDs in any of the next 5 seasons.

Cam Cleeland, NO 1998

For those of you unfamiliar, Cleeland was a big white tight end that Kerry Collins and the Billy Joes (Holbert and Tolliver) targeted continuously to the tune of 684 yards and 6 TDs, enough to rank him #2 amongst TEs.  After that, Cleeland never got more than half (325) of the yards or the catches (26, down from 54).  Wait, isn't Zach Hilton a big white tight...?  Never mind.

Kordell Stewart, Pit 1997

"Slash" was finally given a chance to run the offense in 1997 and he didn't disappoint, managing 21 passing TDs and an astounding 11 rushing TDs!  I saw him go as high as #4 overall in 1998, then he threw for 11 TDs vs. 18 INTs.  If it wasn't for him, players like Donovan McNabb wouldn't have been so accepted, then again, Akili Smith wouldn't have either.

Terry Allen, Was 1996

Unlike most others on this list, Allen was a solid back for several years, but 1996 saw him rush for 21 TDs, making him a top-five pick in any format.  Bad knees and overuse led to his breakdown.  With steel rods in both knees, he was one battle away from being Lt. Dan.

Bam Morris, Pit 1995

Coming off a 1995 season in which he scored 9 rushing TDs in his second year in the league, Bam really made a splash in the playoffs, scoring 4 TDs in 3 playoff games.  He was a hot commodity coming into 1996, going as high as the first round in several drafts.  Bam managed under 800 rushing yards and 4TDs, eventually bouncing around to Chicago and Kansas City until drugs led to his departure from the NFL.

Natrone Means, SD 1994

1,350 yards and 12 TDs for any second year runner brings high expectations to the following year.  A first round pick and one of the safer bets, "The Bomb" never played a full season again, fizzling out as quickly as he exploded.

Erric Pegram, Atl 1993

1,185 yards is nothing to sneeze at.  Neither was the fact that Pegram was a late first/early second round pick in most leagues the following year.  When you only miss 3 games and can't even amass 400 rushing yards, you qualify as a bust.  That extra "R" in Erric must stand for ruse. 

Lorenzo White, Hou 1992

Having 1,226 yards and 7 TDs is impressive, but being higher than Barry Sanders on the fantasy rankings tends to raise expectations.  Managing only 6 TDs over the next 3 years combined with under 500 yards per season isn't exactly keeping up with Barry.

That's right; no longer will there be any more fights or drunken actions going on.  The Bengals have announced a hotline that people can call in response to any lewd activities. 

The number...(513) 381-JERK

It's about time that the ownership realizes the problem that exists in relation to their team.  If this keeps up, no one will want to go to the games anymore to support the team.  The Bengals will release the information to season ticket holders sometime in the next week and will also feature service announcements during games in order to deter any future actions.

Finally, it seems the Bengals will no longer have any trouble.  I mean, it's obvious that the bad FAN behavior is what the problem in Cincinnati is really.  As a football enthusiast, I was concerned that the team wouldn't resolve this most pressing issue so that there will be no more bad P.R. directed at the team.

 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-bengals-unrulyfans&prov=ap&type=lgns

Yeah, I know, I said I would do Wide Receivers next, but I just moved and forgot to transfer my files onto my laptop before I left.  I will get that one up soon, but in the meantime, this will hold all you Fantasy athletes over.

Every year, battles ensue in training camp and in the pre-season that if predicted right, can be the steal of a pick that leads to a Fantasy title (i.e. Thomas Jones).  Every team enters the pre-season with a gridlock that could pay dividends in the form of a backup (Marion Barber III) to the emergence of a surprise starter (Reuban Droughns).  Let's see what this year has to offer.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Starting QB:  J.P. Losman vs. The Field

This has all the appeal of a Gigli sequel (the return of Bennifer).  Losman, the former 1st round pick, is the frontrunner, but the current coaching staff has no loyalties to him.  Newcomer Craig Nall is his main competition, although the race is wide open.  Bottom line:  Losman will in the starting job, just don't start him yourself.

Miami Dolphins

#2 WR:  Marty Booker vs. Derek Hagan

These two are very similar; both have great hands and are primary possession receivers, a perfect complement to #1 Chris Chambers.  New addition Daunte Culpepper will bring a new dimension to the passing offense, but is not known for spreading the ball to multiple receivers.  Bottom line:  Booker has another year before the rookie beats him out and will be a decent backup towards the end of the draft.

New England Patriots

#2 WR:  Troy Brown vs. Reche Caldwell vs. Chad Jackson

In New England's spread offense, being the #2 WR doesn't have the same value as it does in other offenses.  Caldwell showed promise while in San Diego prior to a knee injury, although Brown has a lot of familiarity with Tom Brady and the offense.  Bottom line:  All will see significant time in 3 and 4 WR sets, but none are worth drafting unless Deion Branch decides to hold out during the season.

New York Jets                                                                   

Starting QB:  Chad Pennington vs. The Field

Putting the offense on Pennington's shoulders may not be a good idea, seeing that he has had surgery on his shoulder twice this year.  Patrick Ramsey is the dark horse here, needing to have a good season before his contract is up.  Don't count out rookie Kellen Clemens, who is seen as the future starter.  Bottom line:  Pennington is likely to get the nod based on early reports, but Clemens is the keeper league option.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Starting QB:  Steve McNair vs. Kyle Boller

McNair will likely start the season at QB, but the "Air" has since come out of his tires, making his position very shaky.  Boller came on at the end of the season, showing signs of progressing at QB.  Between injuries and consistency issues, this situation is far from resolved.  Bottom line:  McNair is the QB to draft, but strictly as a late round backup.

Cincinnati Bengals

#3 WR:  Antonio Chatman vs. Chris Henry vs. Kelley Washington

Henry is a bit preoccupied to be worried about this race, but he is the best for the job.  Chatman came over from Green Bay and is as raw at WR as he is fast on the field.  Washington is a long shot that the Bengals were shopping during the offseason.  Bottom line:  If Henry sorts out his troubles, he'll be the starter and a good backup; otherwise it will be Chatman, who won't provide the same value.

Cleveland Browns

#1 WR:  Braylon Edwards vs. Joe Jurevicius vs. Dennis Northcutt

Edwards is trying to recover from a devastating knee injury and would be the #1 if not for his questionability for a Week 1 return.  Jurevicius, on the other hand, had a career year in Seattle and cashed in coming to Cleveland.  Northcutt will most likely be a #3 unless either of the other two falter.  Bottom line:  Jurevicius will begin the season as the #1 and the top red zone threat until Edwards returns, who will get the majority of the looks.

Pittsburgh Steelers

#2 WR:  Santonio Holmes vs. Cedrick Wilson

Holmes was given the position on draft night and has done nothing but break the law (3 times) to celebrate it.  That has given Wilson a chance to steal it away even if he is the less talented of the two.  Bottom line:  Whoever wins won't have much value with Pittsburgh's conservative offense, but Wilson gets the early season nod.

AFC South

Houston Texans

#2 RB:  Antowain Smith vs. Vernand Morency

This doesn't have the value of the other position battles.  Starter Domanick Davis isn't exactly the model of good health, routinely missing games due to nicks and dings.  Smith has shown stretches of success in the past while Morency has been slow to catch on to the offense.  Bottom line:  If you are into handcuffing backups, then Smith is the choice for you Davis owners.

Indianapolis Colts

Starting RB:  Joseph Addai vs. Dominic Rhodes

We go from one of the worst battles to the one most highly regarded.  The winner of this job stands to see a lot of open holes to run through and the best at the position handing the ball off to him.  That being said, Addai is physically more suited to handle the load and provide the necessary tools for the job.  Rhodes is familiar with the offense, having success in the past.  Bottom line:  Addai will be getting the majority of the carries and is worth a look as your #2 RB, but Rhodes may cut into his carries or somehow take over the job if Addai is ineffective.

Jacksonville Jaguars

#1 and #2 WRs:  Matt Jones vs. Ernest Wilford vs. Reggie Williams

With Jimmy Smith's retirement, Byron Leftwich is looking for anyone who can catch the ball on a regular basis.  Last year, Jones and Wilford found themselves at the receiving end of 87 catches and 12 TDs.  As for Williams, he has been unable to live up to his 1st round status, never developing a rapport with Leftwich.  Bottom line:  All three will see time on the field, but Wilford and Jones will be the starters due to their early success.

Tennessee Titans

#1 WR:  Drew Bennett vs. David Givens

The question isn't over which one will start, it is over which one emerges as the top target for the Titans.  Bennett thrived when Volek was last the starter, putting up #1 Fantasy WR numbers.  Givens has had moderate success in New England as their #2 and is willing to go over the middle.  Bottom line:  Bennett is the likely choice for #1 and will make for a solid #3 WR on fantasy teams.  Givens will be a good backup in the later rounds.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

#1 WR:  Rod Smith vs. Javon Walker

Another case of who comes first.  Walker was a #1 in Green Bay, but is coming back from injury.  Smith's only downside is his age (36), but has eight 1,000 yard seasons in his career and has developed a good relationship with Jake Plummer since his arrival 2 years ago.  Bottom line:  Smith will be targeted more, making him a borderline #2, but it will be Walker who gets the looks in the red zone, so I'll do a cop-out and call it a tie.

Kansas City Chiefs

#2 RB:  Michael Bennett vs. Quentin Griffin vs. Priest Holmes

I know, I know, Larry Johnson is the starter.  However, you have to handcuff any elite back's backup just in case (how did Larry get where he is again?).  Bennett was just brought over, providing lots of speed and little else.  Speaking of little, Quentin Griffin doesn't have the frame (5'8") to ever handle a full-load.  As for the Priest, it's hard to say if he even has a future in football at all.  Bottom line:  Bennett wins by default, so target him as your 4th or 5th running back.

Oakland Raiders

#2 WR:  Ronald Curry vs. Doug Gabriel vs. Jerry Porter

If Porter learns to shut his mouth and play, this isn't even a battle.  Nevertheless, Ronald Curry may get the call; he has the talent, but injuries have derailed his last 2 seasons.  Doug Gabriel performed well at times when Randy Moss was injured, but isn't the answer.  Bottom line:  If Porter decides to stay, he is a top 30 WR.  Otherwise, Curry will get the call unless he is unable to come back soon enough.  Then it falls to Gabriel.

San Diego Chargers

#2 WR:  Vincent Jackson vs. Eric Parker

Rashaun Woods was supposed to make a push, but his release last week ended that.  Parker received a contract extension with the thoughts of him being the frontrunner.  However, he is small; something that Jackson isn't (6'5").  Bottom line:  Rivers lessens their value, but the nod goes to Parker, with Jackson stealing some red zone looks.

 

NFC battles will be up quicker than Ken Jennings 15 minutes of fame.

The finalists for NFL commissioner were announced today, 5 in all, and they are all qualified on some level.  To me, though, there is one that stands out from the rest of the crowd and would do a lot of good for a sport that continues to innovate and grow.  And oh yeah, it turns out, he's black.

Scary to some is the idea of a black commissioner, something that hasn't happened in any of the major American sports.  He is aging and balding like many of the NFL owners and personnel (with the exception of Jerry Jones, who uses money to try to defy age).  His qualifications are unparalleled and is a Harvard graduate.

Meet Frederick R. Nance

The Harvard grad (1975) and lawyer from Cleveland (J.D. from Univ. of Michigan) has worked for nearly 30 years to improve the community around him.  Nance worked deals that expanded the Cleveland airport and another where he was counsel to the Cleveland Municipal school district to allocate $1 billion in funds.  So how does this all tie into sports, particularly football?

Funny I should ask (because you didn't).  Frederick Nance helped bring the Browns back to Cleveland in 1999; working on the funding for the stadium as well as its construction (acting as counsel).  He was a principal reason that the Browns were able to debut on time with a flawless stadium.  The Cleveland Cavaliers looked to him to sew up negotiations in regards to the Gund Arena and its sponsor, the Gateway Corporation.

This is all well and good, but can Nance handle the players within the NFL, especially those Primadonnas like T.O.?  I don't know; let's ask LeBron James, who has Nance as his general counsel.  He is also experienced with handling people in authoritative positions, working as a counsel for Cleveland Mayor Michael White for over a decade.

Want more qualifications? That's cool, gauntlet received.

Nance's expertise has been in high stakes negotiations that pertain in particular to community interests.  That may come in handy if/when a team is awarded to Los Angeles.  New Orleans may need someone with that experience also, not only to keep the team where it's at, but to make sure the community around the team is not forgotten about by the NFL.  

Dispute resolution is another area that Nance is known for.  I wonder if dealing with 32 owners with more money than NASA's annual budget (not a fact) would sometimes force the commissioner to act as a mediator?  The issue of small v. large markets in sports has grown increasingly prevalent, making a commissioner with a compromising demeanor to be a priority.

All this begs a simple question; will Frederick Nance get the job?

He deserves it, has the experience, and is capable of continuing the NFL's current prosperity; so in a word, no.  I just don't see these old-school owners giving a free thinking African-American a chance at running one of the most profitable ventures in America.  It is a shame, however, to see someone so qualified and able to make a difference, in the NFL and outside of it, to possibly be passed up because they suffer from chronic pallid epidermis (being white). 

It's time to get up and vote (we can't actually, but I need a call to action, so says my 5th grade teacher)!!!  Bringing in someone like Nance would give the NFL someone who would provide a new dimension, a community-oriented mind in a business-driven position.

All info derived from ABA.com

It is official; the savior of New Orleans has signed a 6 year deal believed to be worth up to $60 million with $26.3 million of it guaranteed.  Reggie's college career, particularly his junior season, speaks for itself.  How does a Heisman trophy and 10.1 yards per touch sound? 

Agent Joel Segal has become Bush's "ambassador of kwan", making Bush look like a genius for holding out and waiting for Vince Young's deal to become public, perhaps being the catalyst to Bush finally agreeing to a contract.  

The next step is getting to training camp and making up for lost time.  Let's remember, notables like LaDainian Tomlinson held out of camp in the past and still managed to perform at a high level (1,236 rushing yards, 10 TDs).  Reggie is a special talent and is capable of making a similar impact (albeit not as a pure rusher) that LT did in his rookie year. 

There are two hurdles that Reggie Bush will have to overcome to make an impact in New Orleans:

1) Show the coaching staff that he is deserving of the lion's share of touches instead of Deuce McAllister.

Deuce is coming off injury, but has looked good since his arrival at camp.  Don't think that this will simply be another version of Bush-White; McAllister is not that type of runner.  He is more creative than physical and tends to bounce outside off the tackle or to the perimeter, sound familiar?  It should, because that description is interchangeable for these two backs. 

The difference, though, is in the passing game, where his holiness, Saint Reggie, is truly divine.  His ability to line up in the slot, in the backfield, or on the edges and routinely beat his defender in coverage is something the Saints will take advantage of.  Expect him to make an impact in this department from day 1 as Drew Brees has experience with passing to running backs (see LaDainian Tomlinson, c. 2003).

2) Show the city of New Orleans the level of his commitment.

After a tumultuous year on and in particular, off the field, the people of New Orleans need something to turn their spirits around.  Anyone who doubts the impact sports can have on people's lives may change their tune this year as Reggie Bush is capable of inspiring this city and helping to bring better days.  Bush has already pledged proceeds from jersey sales to the relief effort and gave $50,000 to a Catholic school for students with learning disabilities to keep it from closing. 

Reggie received a little help by owner Tom Benson, who has looked into moving the team to San Antonio, angering fans who had already endured so much.  Next to Benson, Bush's holdout looked more like Superman fighting Lex Luthor than the rich trying to get richer. 

Am I the only one tired of seeing Reggie Bush in suits???

If Bush is able to accomplish these two goals, he can anticipate not only a great year, but a great career.  The second one, specifically, is the one that will make or break young Reggie.  Ask any player who was embraced by his city, be it Walter Payton, Brett Favre, or Lawrence Taylor; that acceptance will ultimately lead to success, both personal and team.

The time has almost come for Reggie to prove whether the Gayle Sayers and Barry Sanders comparisons are not just college based.  Reggie, save the city of New Orleans, and while you're at it, see if you can get Kevin Costner, Steven Seagal, and Jean-Claude Van Damme to stop making movies!  You do that and you are my savior.

 

(Side Note: I am in no way trying to be blasphemous or sacrilegious, so please do me a favor and spare me the sermon, I'm heading to one soon, it is Sunday)