Category: NFL

Fantasy Source’s top 10 tight ends for 2010:

1. Antonio Gates, Chargers
2. Dallas Clark, Colts
3. Vernon Davis, 49ers
4. Jason Witten, Cowboys
5. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers
6. Brent Celek, Eagles
7. Jermichael Finley, Packers
8. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
9. Owen Daniels, Texans
10. Greg Olsen, Bears

For the full ranking of tight ends and much more, visit Fantasy Source.

It’s not too early to look ahead to next season, even with the Saints’ fingerprints still fresh on the Lombardi Trophy. We took our first 2010 rankings to current and former players and executives to see what they think.

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. Dallas Cowboys
Fox analyst and former Cowboys FB Daryl Johnston: "Does the Cowboys at No. 2 surprise me? Absolutely not. One of the big concerns people had was that Dallas always melted (down) at the end of the year. I think they silenced a lot of the critics. Linebacker Keith Brooking has brought in some great leadership that they needed."

3. Green Bay Packers

4. New Orleans Saints
GM Mickey Loomis: "No. 4? How come we’re not No. 1? We’ve got a good group of core players, a great coaching staff. I think our window of opportunity is going to last at least as long as Drew Brees is our quarterback."

5. San Diego Chargers

6. New York Jets
CBS analyst and former Jets QB Boomer Esiason: "No. 6 is about right, provided Mark Sanchez takes the next step and continues to develop as a quarterback. They need a pass rusher in the worst way. But they have Darrelle Revis, the best corner in the league. They have David Harris, the most underrated linebacker in the league."

7. Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Network analyst and former Steelers CB Rod Woodson: "No. 7 may be a little high, but I can see them in the top 10. Their offensive line is an issue. Getting more depth in the secondary, at the corner position, is another issue. Their secondary has to step up, whether Troy (Polamalu) is there or not."

8. Philadelphia Eagles
LB Will Witherspoon: "Eighth? We should at least be sixth. We had some young guys, we had some injuries. Once we pick those guys back up, it will be a whole different animal."

9. Baltimore Ravens
RB Ray Rice: "We should be No. 1, not No. 9. We’ve made the playoffs the last two years. We’ve shown that we can win playoff games. It would be a nice step for us to win the division. Getting that extra week of rest in the playoffs is important."

10. Minnesota Vikings

11. Atlanta Falcons

12. New York Giants
CBS analyst and former Giants QB Phil Simms: "No. 12 for the Giants is about right. I think it’s important for them to re-establish who the leaders of that team are, get four or five guys to really step forward. What was their identity last year? I’m not sure they really established that."

13. Tennessee Titans

14. New England Patriots

15. Houston Texans

16. San Francisco 49ers

17. Miami Dolphins
CBS analyst and former Dolphins QB Dan Marino: "No. 17 is a little low. They were almost a playoff team, and they had a brutal schedule. They need Ronnie Brown to come back healthy, and they need playmakers on the outside at wide receiver. But their young quarterback, Chad Henne, developed nicely last year."

18. Carolina Panthers

19. Cincinnati Bengals
CBS analyst and former Bengals DB Solomon Wilcots: "No. 19 is too low. They won the AFC North, and that’s one of the toughest divisions. They swept both of them. They’ve got a strong defense and good young players. Even if they slip a little, I don’t see them slipping out of the top 12."

20. Arizona Cardinals
DT Darnell Dockett: "That’s too low, but it doesn’t matter. We won the NFC West two years in a row. We’ve never had a losing season since Ken Whisenhunt has been there. Not having Kurt Warner? There’s nothing that we can do about it. We’ll be fine. I actually like the fact we’re not one of the highlighted teams. It motivates us."

21. Jacksonville Jaguars

22. Chicago Bears
Former Bears QB Jim Miller: "They’re a middle-of-the-pack team, anywhere from 16 to 24, 25. Mike Martz’s (offensive) system is very tough to learn. So I think it’s going to take some time, not only for Jay Cutler but Johnny Knox, a young receiver. It really is going to set back Devin Hester. He’s going to have to learn a whole new system."

23. Washington Redskins
CBS analyst and former Redskins GM Charley Casserly: "No. 23 is about right. They will be a better team with Mike Shanahan. But they’re in a tough division. I don’t think they will take a major jump, at least not next season. Even though they have the No. 4 pick, they only have five picks overall."

24. Denver Broncos

25. Cleveland Browns

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Former Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks: "There are a lot of questions to be answered. Where do they start? Last year, they drafted a quarterback. Does that mean they turn to the defense this year? They’ve got some pieces in place, especially in the secondary, but up front there’s no foundation around which to build."

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Oakland Raiders
CBS analyst and former Raiders QB Rich Gannon: "No. 28 sounds about right. The instability of the quarterback position is a big part of it. You have to have a guy at that position who is productive and efficient. The Raiders don’t have that in JaMarcus Russell. Getting (offensive coordinator) Hue Jackson was a good move. He helped Carson Palmer and Joe Flacco. Maybe he can help a guy like JaMarcus Russell."

29. Detroit Lions

30. Seattle Seahawks
Former Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander: "That’s better than I thought they would be. They’ve had two back-to-back bad seasons, two back-to-back injury-filled seasons. They haven’t carried the games, especially taking care of their home turf like they used to. I think it’s going to be exciting with Pete Carroll. He’ll bring new life."

31. Buffalo Bills

32. St. Louis Rams
NFL Network analyst and former Rams RB Marshall Faulk: "They’ve earned the No. 32 spot. It’s well-deserved. The Rams are more worried about firing their trainer and their equipment manager than they are worried about the coaches responsible for their play on the field. That says a lot. When the first offseason move you make is to fire your trainer? Perfect. Maybe the draft will help. But at no point last season did I see anything that made me think they were turning the corner. It’s painful to watch."

This story first appeared in the February 15, 2010 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

Steven Jackson is a starting point, but the Rams are far from being showstoppers.

When the Saints were 3-13 nomads in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, no one could have expected the kind of success they’ve enjoyed since (two NFC championship game appearances, one Super Bowl title).

32. St. Louis Rams

Success for Kevin Smith’s Lions is more difficult while playing in the NFC North.

The problems are similar to the team’s issues in the early ’90s — a lack of consistency at quarterback and a series of bad drafts that has especially hurt the defense. The team will need to hit on a young franchise QB to get above .500 in the next three years.

31. Buffalo Bills

30. Seattle Seahawks

Kirk Morrison’s Raiders have traded pride and pose for misery and frustration.

The front office hired Jim Mora to maintain continuity from the Mike Holmgren era, and then abruptly fired Mora after one season. He didn’t even get a chance to put his stamp on the team before being replaced by the glossier option, Pete Carroll.

29. Detroit Lions

28. Oakland Raiders

Since it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the next fantasy football season, we asked Bill Bender from Fantasy Source to pay us a visit and offer his post-Super Bowl rankings for 2010. Here’s a look at wide receivers and tight ends:

2010 fantasy WRs: Check out the top 15 for free

Franchise: Andre Johnson, Texans (No. 1). Working on back-to-back, 100-catch, 1,500-yard seasons. That included 193- and 196-yard outbursts in the fantasy playoffs. Please make him the first receiver selected on draft day. Please.

Bounce-back: Calvin Johnson, Lions (No. 11). Is he a top-10 receiver? Talent-wise, yes. Who’s throwing him the ball, though? If it’s Matthew Stafford for a full season, the answer will be "yes." In that case, Johnson becomes a second- or third-round steal, like he was in ’08.

Sleeper: Michael Crabtree, 49ers (No. 26). If not for a ridiculous holdout, Crabtree would’ve led rookies in all major receiving categories. Would you draft him ahead of his very talented classmates (Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin, Austin Collie, Jeremy Maclin)? I would.

Bust: Roy Williams, Cowboys (No. 43). Williams’ seven touchdowns made him relevant again, but he had just one 100-yard game. He has never had 10 TDs in a season, and he has only one 1,000-yard campaign. Why do we still care?

Rookie: Brandon LaFell, LSU. Had LaFell played at Texas Tech, he would have put up Crabtree-like numbers. He caught 25 TDs in 175 receptions with a collection of shaky quarterbacks. Ask any LSU fan about Jarrett Lee. With the right landing spot, LaFell will be la bomb.

Also see: 2010 fantasy RBs | Fantasy QBs

Bill Bender writes for Fantasy Source Football. For more coverage, visit Fantasy Source Football today.

Fantasy Source’s top 15 WRs for 2010:

1. Andre Johnson, Texans
2. Randy Moss, Patriots
3. Reggie Wayne, Colts
4. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
5. Miles Austin, Cowboys
6. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
7. Vincent Jackson, Texans
8. Roddy White, Falcons
9. Brandon Marshall, Broncos
10. Sidney Rice, Vikings
11. Calvin Johnson, Lions
12. Marques Coltson, Saints
13. Steve Smith, Giants
14. Chad Ochocinco
15. Steve Smith, Panthers

For the full ranking of wide receivers and much more, visit Fantasy Source.

NFL: Brett Favre stayed out of the news for, oh, almost five days. On his new Web site on Thursday, he posted a welcome note to fans that sure sounds like he’s setting up for another retirement: "I want to thank all of my fans for a memorable season. While the season didn’t end in Miami as we had all hoped, I couldn’t have enjoyed this season any more than I did. … And to the fans — those in Minnesota, in Wisconsin, and across the country — I want to express my heartfelt thanks for all of the support and goodwill that you’ve shown me, Deanna, and the girls throughout the season. It’s truly humbling to know that so many of you are pulling for us. Regardless of what the future holds, I want everyone to know that I will cherish the memories of the past year for the rest of my life. — Brett Favre" Then again, maybe he’s just one really happy Viking. You can sign up on the site to get a newsletter with the latest about No. 4. (Yeah, Fly did sign up.)

NBA: Speaking of retiring, Stephen A. Smith thinks Allen Iverson might be pondering retirement, even though, "According to those close to the Answer, there’s no truth to that." Smith cites another anonymous source as saying, "I didn’t know a damn thing about his decision to skip [All-Star] weekend until this morning. I’m stunned. Even with the things the way they are, I could’ve sworn he’d be in Dallas by now." What the so-called confidant is referring to is Iverson’s 3-year-old daughter being ill.

• Donnie Walsh issues an assurance that the Knicks don’t want just to rent Tracy McGrady — they’d be interested in re-signing him in July if they trade for McGrady now. "I’m not doing this for immediate satisfaction," Walsh told the New York Post.

Olympics: While you tune in for Olympics action over the next two weeks, might want to save this nifty visual dictionary of snowboarding tricks. NBA fans, you might like the "Frontside Alley-oop."

• Thought jockeys, wrestlers, figure skaters and gymnasts were the only ones that resort to extreme measures to keep their weight down? Ski jumpers are now among athletes prone to eating disorders as they battle the physics of flight.

Other news: Rest in peace Walter Frederick Morrison, inventor of the Frisbee, who died in Utah at the age of 90.

On Thursday, the window for application of the franchise tag slid open. In two weeks, it’ll slam shut. In the interim, teams have the ability to apply the franchise tag to one player who otherwise would be an unrestricted free agent.

So let’s take a look at 10 players who might, or might not, end up wearing the franchise tag at some point between now and Feb. 25.

1. Julius Peppers, Panthers defensive end

The Panthers haven’t spoken to Peppers about signing a long-term deal, but they don’t need to do so if they plan to use the franchise tag on him for a second straight season.

Vince Wilfork, who has only played for the Patriots, was drafted in the first round in 2004.

As I wrote last night at PFT, the Panthers currently do not plan to do so. Even in an uncapped year, $21.8 million for 16 regular-season games is a price too high to pay for a player who isn’t, hasn’t been, and will never be as good as Reggie White.

Even the transition tag isn’t a viable option for Peppers, since in Peppers’ case the Panthers would still be required to give him a one-year, $21.8 million contract, the value of which would become fully guaranteed the moment Julius puts his John Hancock at the bottom of the page.

2. Vince Wilfork, Patriots defensive tackle

In 2004, Wilfork signed a six-year rookie contract with the Patriots. Now, the contract has expired and Wilfork doesn’t want the team to use the franchise tag to keep him from hitting the open market.

What he wants and what he gets could be two very different things. Indeed, teams have the right to use the franchise tag, and few of the players who ever have been on the wrong side of the restriction ever regarded it as something desirable to have. Though it pays a player handsomely for one season, it keeps him from striking it rich via a long-term deal with an eight-figure signing bonus.

In Wilfork’s case, it’s possible a long-term deal will be reached before the last day for using the tag. If it isn’t, Wilfork can huff and puff all he wants, but he won’t be able to keep the team from doing that which the current labor deal allows it to do.

3. Casey Hampton, Steelers nose tackle

Another guy who wants no part of the franchise tag is Hampton, a nine-year veteran who has nearly eaten his way out of the league on multiple occasions.

But he’s a rare commodity — a large man (6-1, 325) who’s also strong and athletic, and he fills an important role in a 3-4 defense.

For that very reason, the Steelers can’t afford to lose him, even if it means using the franchise tag to keep him in place, against his wishes.

4. Aubrayo Franklin, 49ers nose tackle

Though not as well known as Wilfork or Hampton, Franklin has been every bit as effective lately, and he arguably would be the most hotly pursued of the trio if they each were to hit the open market.

But Franklin won’t. And Franklin has yet to complain about the $7 million one-year salary that goes along with it.

Though it remains to be seen whether the 49ers will ink Franklin to a long-term deal, Franklin apparently will be a member of the team, at least for 2010.

5. Chester Taylor, Vikings running back

Adrian Peterson remains the top tailback in Minnesota, but Chester Taylor more than capably handles third-down duties. He also provides a nice change of pace, especially when Peterson is working through his periodic problems with securing the ball.

But the Vikings need to ask themselves whether it makes sense to pay Taylor more than $8 million for one season when they could draft a guy in the middle rounds who might be able to move the chains.

Then there’s the possibility of using Percy Harvin in the backfield, or finding on the open market a more affordable alternative.

But Taylor remains the best option, and the question is whether the Vikings are willing to pay him accordingly.

6. Shayne Graham, Bengals kicker

The notoriously cheap Bengals could have used the franchise tag in 2009 on Graham, a kicker, or on T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a receiver.

Not surprisingly, they picked the kicker, who received millions less under the one-year franchise tender.

Now, the Bengals have to decide in the wake of Graham’s rough day in the wild-card round against the Jets whether to give him a 20-percent raise under the franchise tag, sign him to a long-term deal, or let him walk.

Given that their decision to dump five-year punter Kyle Larson for fifth-round draft pick Kevin Huber worked out fairly well, don’t be surprised if the Bengals decide to find a much cheaper alternative at an equally fungible position.

7. Karlos Dansby, Cardinals linebacker

The Cardinals like Dansby. They liked him enough in 2008 to use the franchise tag to keep him with the team. They liked him enough in 2009 to use it again. But they probably don’t like him enough to use it a third time.

Under the labor agreement between the NFL and the players union, the third time for the franchise tag is a major charm for the player. The tender increases from the average salary paid in the prior year to the five highest-paid players at the same position to the average salary paid in the prior year to the five highest-paid players in the entire league.

The Cardinals won’t pay Dansby like a quarterback. So either they’ll do a long-term deal with him, or he’ll hit the open market in the uncapped year.

Most likely, it’ll be the latter.

8. Dunta Robinson, Texans cornerback

Robinson wasn’t thrilled with the team’s decision to use the franchise tag on him in 2009, and he likely won’t be happy if he’s tagged for a second straight season.

But the Texans didn’t waver last season, and they likely won’t budge this year.

He voiced his displeasure in 2009 by writing "pay me, Rick" on his cleats, a message to general manager Rick Smith. The team undoubtedly will be paying him again, but not nearly as much as he’d like to receive.

9. Darren Sproles, Chargers running back

With LaDainian Tomlinson all but gone, the Chargers need to keep Sproles around. The question is whether the Chargers want to pay Sproles a year at a time, or whether they’re willing to give him a long-term deal.

If they choose to stick Sproles with a second franchise tag, they’ll face the same problem in 2011 that the Cardinals face now — if there’s a new CBA in 2011 and if it contains the same provision requiring the player to receive quarterback money in year three.

Still, the Chargers can’t let Sproles walk away. Whether he’ll be operating under a one-year arrangement or something more, he’ll be a Charger in 2010.

10. Bo Scaife, Titans tight end

The Titans paid Scaife $4.462 million last year under the franchise tag. It would cost $5.35 million to use it again.

That’s a lot to pay for a guy who caught 45 passes for 440 yards and one touchdown.

With Jared Cook on the roster, it’s likely the Titans will opt not to pay the money. Indeed, Scaife signed his 2009 franchise tender only days after Cook was drafted.

So it would be a surprise if the Titans use it again.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

Michael Vick wants to be a starter; there are plenty of trade options for the Eagles.

If the Eagles trade Vick, it will happen before March 5, when a $1.5 million roster bonus is due. Including the bonus, he is due to be paid $5.25 million in 2010, the final year of his contract.

St. Louis Rams

Trent Edwards is an incumbent, but the Bills could do better with Vick at QB.

Buffalo Bills

Oakland Raiders

Raiders czar Al Davis has a crush on Jamarcus Russell, a poor man’s Vick.

Meanwhile, new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has a superb reputation working with quarterbacks and likely would relish the chance to work with both Russell and Vick.

Carolina Panthers

Arizona Cardinals

Fantasy Source’s top 10 fantasy quarterbacks for 2010:

1. Drew Brees, Saints
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
3. Peyton Manning, Colts
4. Philip Rivers, Chargers
5. Tom Brady, Patriots
6. Tony Romo, Cowboys
7. Matt Schaub, Texans
8. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
9. Brett Favre, Vikings
10. Donovan McNabb, Eagles

For the full ranking of quarterbacks and much more, visit Fantasy Source.

Baltimore at New England, 1 ET, CBS

Green Bay at Arizona, 4:40 ET, Fox

Why the Cardinals will win: This could be a classic, with the Cardinals’ Kurt Warner and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers hurling passes everywhere. Playoff time is Larry Fitzgerald time. He and Warner will connect for some big plays, and the Cardinals’ pass rush should disrupt Rodgers enough for Arizona to win a close game at University of Phoenix Stadium.

This story appears in Jan. 10’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.

Senior writer Clifton Brown covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.