Enemies List

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Troy Polamalu (knee surgery) did not participate in the Steelers' first spring practice Monday.

Impact: The surgery's extent was never revealed, but it kept him out of the Pro Bowl. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says he had "late-season" surgery. Polamalu hasn't played 16 games since 2005 and will remain an injury risk this year.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804221145"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804221145[/url]

I can see them going for a safety in the draft.

[Jeb]

[quote](KFFL) SportingNews.com reports Cleveland Browns WR Joe Jurevicius (staph, knee) likely will not be set back by a staph infection he contracted after arthroscopic knee surgery.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804241314"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804241314[/url]

Didn't they say the same thing about Bentley?

[Jeb]

[quote]Ravens | Sypniewski injured Friday
Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:41:25 -0700

Don Markus, of The Baltimore Sun, reports Baltimore Ravens TE Quinn Sypniewski (knee) was injured during the team's minicamp Friday, April 18. Sypniewski went down with an apparent knee injury. He came down with a pass and was trying to avoid LB Antwan Barnes. The extent of the injury is not known.[/quote]
[url="http://www.kffl.com/player/14004/nfl"]http://www.kffl.com/player/14004/nfl[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote]Browns | Heiden undergoes back surgery
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:58:02 -0700

James Walker, of ESPN.com, reports Cleveland Browns TE Steve Heiden (back) recently underwent surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back and will be out for approximately three weeks, according to Heiden's agent Jack Wirth. Heiden began feeling back pains during offseason workouts. Wirth said, "Steve decided to go ahead and do whatever procedure they had to do. It was very simple, and they assured him that he could do everything in about three weeks."[/quote]
[url="http://www.kffl.com/team/13/nfl"]http://www.kffl.com/team/13/nfl[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) The Browns reportedly "debated long and hard" this week about UNLV inside linebacker Beau Bell.

Impact: Bell suffered a knee injury during pre-draft workouts and ran slow at his Pro Day, which could be enough to get him to the fourth round. The Browns don't have draft picks in the top three rounds due to trades this year and last.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804251814"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804251814[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](KFFL) Mike Preston, of The Baltimore Sun, reports the Baltimore Ravens should be able to address their immediate needs of a quarterback, offensive tackle and cornerback in the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804251555"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804251555[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said at the team's pre-draft presser Friday that Ray Lewis has asked for "Peyton Manning-type" money during contract talks.

Impact: Umm, Lewis is 33. "We're not even at that point," said Newsome. Lewis is in the final year of his contract. Baltimore has planned for the future well behind him. If he leaves in 2008, Bart Scott would take over in the middle.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804252000"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804252000[/url]

[Jeb]

***The Draft Begins***

[quote](Rotoworld) The Ravens traded up from the No. 26 pick to No. 18 to select Delaware's Joe Flacco.

Impact: Putting all their cards on the table. Flacco, like Kyle Boller, rose on draft boards with incredible offseason workouts. He has a huge arm and great size, but can telegraph passes. Flacco is undoubtedly a little raw out of Delaware compared to seasoned starters Brian Brohm and Chad Henne. There will be pressure to start him over Kyle Boller and/or Troy Smith if the Ravens start losing.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804261710"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804261710[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Steelers selected Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall with the No. 23 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Impact: A shocking slip for a player without any character concerns (he was an All-Big Ten Academic pick), ideal cutting ability and speed, and every-down potential. Not only could Najeh Davenport be cut now, this is a significant blow to Willie Parker's 2008 fantasy prospects; a close to even carry share is quite possible. We can't help but wonder what Bears GM Jerry Angelo was up to while Mendenhall was sliding.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804261748"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804261748[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](KFFL) John Murphy, of Yahoo! Sports, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers preferred University of Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers, according to several sources. The Steelers grabbed University of Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall, who will complement RB Willie Parker and prevent the team's rushing game from struggling like it did in 2007 when Parker was injured.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804261758"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804261758[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Steelers selected WR Limas Sweed with the No. 53 overall pick in the draft.

Impact: Sweed, a lanky but sure handed wideout who plays with swagger, likely fell due to concerns about his balky wrist. A case can be made for Sweed having the best upside of any receiver in this class. He is a deep threat at 6'4/216. Sweed will likely play split end, behind Santonio Holmes, as a rookie. Holmes would move to flanker when Hines Ward's time expires.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804262017"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804262017[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Ravens selected Rutgers RB Ray Rice with the No. 55 overall pick in the draft.

Impact: A value pick. Rice makes for a top-notch handcuff for Willis McGahee right away. Despite being 5'9/205, he is a tackle breaker with powerful traits, solid college receiving totals, and above average speed (4.44). If McGahee goes down in 2008, it wouldn't be a surprise if Rice puts up nice numbers.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804262025"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804262025[/url]

[Cricket]

I find it interesting that the Steelers have (so far) ignored improving their offensive line.

[bubba]

[quote name='Cricket' post='659126' date='Apr 27 2008, 08:15 AM']I find it interesting that the Steelers have (so far) ignored improving their offensive line.[/quote]


I'm really glad about that. I thought for sure they would go o-line in the first.

[Rumble In the Jungle]

to be honest with you aside from their needs, the stealers for being towards the bottom of the draft done really good with getting a big time RB and WR!! im shocked the guys they picked didn't go sooner.

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Ravens selected Miami (FL) linebacker Tavares Gooden with the No. 71 overall pick in the draft.

Impact: Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome is preparing for the future with Bart Scott and Ray Lewis both in contract years. Gooden led the 'Canes in tackles last year, and doing that is usually a pretty good indicator that a player will be successful in the NFL. Gooden won't be in the mix to start as a rookie.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804271032"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804271032[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote](Rotoworld) Ravens selected Notre Dame S Tom Zbikowski with the No. 86 overall pick in the draft.

Impact: Zbikowski was always around the ball at Notre Dame and can return punts in a pinch. He'll likely step in as Baltimore's third safety right away, replacing Gerome Sapp. Zbikowski could push SS Dawan Landry in a year or two.[/quote]
[url="http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/view_news_article?L=10117&ID=200804271111"]http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2004/v...ID=200804271111[/url]

[Ochosucko]

Haruki Nakamura now a Raven.

[Jeb]

[quote]) Pittsburgh Bruce Davis OLB UCLA (3rd round)

Pittsburgh gets another rushing outside linebacker in Davis. Although he isn't a powerful bull-rusher and he needs to do a better job of anchoring against the run, he has the initial burst to turn the corner and is big enough to become an adequate run-stopper at outside linebacker.
Complete analysis[/quote]
[url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/round?round=3&draftyear=2008"]http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/...;draftyear=2008[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote]Baltimore -Oniel Cousins OG UTEP (3rd round)

Cousins moved from defensive tackle to offensive tackle in 2005, and in the NFL he will have to move inside to guard. He simply doesn't have the balance to hold up in pass protection on the edge. On the other hand, he has the range, toughness and size to develop into a starting guard.
Complete analysis[/quote]
[url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/round?round=3&draftyear=2008"]http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/...;draftyear=2008[/url]

[Jeb]

[quote]Cleveland (From Oakland through Dallas) Beau Bell ILB NEVADA LAS VEGAS (4th round)

Bell is a big, instinctive tackling machine who fits best as a two-down inside linebacker in a 3-4. The Browns needed to move up to get a position of need, and with Andre Davis coming off a down year in 2007, Bell looks like his eventual replacement.[/quote]

[Jeb]

[quote]Baltimore -Marcus Smith WR NEW MEXICO (4th round)

Smith has good size and enough speed to stretch the field, but he isn't a great route runner and drops some passes. Still, he will provide depth in the receiving corps, as the Ravens are trying to find playmakers and Derrick Mason is getting older.[/quote]

[Jeb]

[quote]Cleveland (From Detroit through Dallas) Martin Rucker TE MISSOURI (4th round)

Rucker shows good athletic ability for his size and is a fluid route-runner, but he isn't a great drive-blocker and isn't fast enough to stretch the field at the NFL level.[/quote]

[Jeb]

[quote]Pittsburgh (From NY Giants) Tony Hills OT TEXAS (4th round)

Hills is coming off a season-ending leg injury and needs to work on using his hands to control defenders, but he has the size and mobility to develop into an excellent right tackle or adequate left tackle.

Overall: Hills signed with Texas in 2003 and redshirted the year. He was moved from tight end to offensive tackle, and in his first three seasons (2004-06) appeared in 31 games, including starts at left tackle in all 13 games his junior year. He started the Longhorns' first 11 games of 2007, but suffered a fractured left fibula that cost him the last two games. Hills was forced to redshirt and sit out the '03 season after reconstructive surgery on his left knee, following a career-threatening injury (nerve damage). Hills is coming off a season-ending leg injury and he needs to get stronger at the point of attack. However, he's still a good value early on Day 2 of the draft. The reason is he is quick, he moves very well for his size and he has the frame to bulk up without losing much if any of that agility.
For complete overview, strengths and weaknesses, login above or become an Insider.[/quote]

[Jeb]

[quote]Baltimore David Hale OT WEBER STATE (4th round)

Hale has adequate feet and uses his hands well. He also sustains his blocks and plays with a mean streak. He will play too high at times and hasn't shown good lower-body strength.[/quote]