McNabb 'ready to move forward'
Donovan McNabb, QB PHI
News: In his YardBarker.com blog, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb writes that he's looking forward to meeting his new teammates, including OTs Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews and rookies WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy, and that the past is in the past for him. He's suggesting that he won't make a request to be traded and is satisfied with what the Eagles did with the offense this offseason. "I am ready to move forward. I'm the first to admit that you must learn from your failures, I also believe that you cannot change the past. It's time to focus on the future," McNabb wrote. "I'm excited about meeting my new teammates, getting to know them and working together on the field. We now have a lot of new, young skill position players and it will be exciting and interesting to see how they become acclimated to what we do here. If they can come in here and take their game to the next level, they will be productive pros and we can achieve great successes together."
Analysis: Last year was one of McNabb's best because he found a way to stay healthy and connect with all of his receivers. Adding Maclin should only benefit him more and put him in position to get to 4,000 yards and maybe even 25 touchdowns. The addition of Peters and Andrews anchors an offensive line that might be the best in the league. McNabb continues to be a safe No. 1 Fantasy QB worth a pick between Rounds 5 and 7 -- just make sure you properly back him up since he's not a guarantee to stay healthy for 16 games.
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CB Brown will return to team
Sheldon Brown, DB PHI
News: Unhappy cornerback Sheldon Brown says he'll report to the Eagles' mandatory minicamp this weekend so that he's prepared to play somewhere this season. Brown wants a trade and speculated he could be bumped from the starting lineup after Philadelphia acquired cornerback Ellis Hobbs from the Patriots last weekend. Still, the seven-year veteran will attend camp to avoid daily fines. "I have to prepare to play the season, no matter where I'm playing," Brown said. "This is where the season starts."
Analysis: Brown is a talented cornerback, but as part of a deep unit, he's not exactly in line to post major Fantasy stats. Keep him off rosters.
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DT Young cut by Saints
Brian Young, DT NO
News: The Saints released veteran defensive tackle Brian Young, who played only half of last season because of problems with his left knee that lingered into the current offseason. The nine-year veteran played the past five seasons for New Orleans after spending his first four seasons in St. Louis. He appeared in eight games in 2008, with 13 tackles, including one sack.
Analysis: Young's career could be over, though Fantasy owners won't mind either way since he was never a productive defender in the stat book.
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DL Gilbert selected by Bears
Jarron Gilbert, DT CHI
News: The Bears grabbed a big defensive lineman in San Jose State's Jarron Gilbert in Round 3 of the 2009 draft. Gilbert is a nice fit for the Bears in that he's big enough to play defensive tackle but athletic enough to rush the passer. "We really didn't expect him to be there but we felt that we wanted to [take him]," GM Jerry Angelo said of Gilbert. "Feel he is going to be a very good pass rusher for us. Maybe he isn't 100 percent prototype of the defensive lineman we're used to seeing because he's very tall. But he's very, very talented. ... I think he is ready to go."
Analysis: He'll need some coaching but could contribute as a situational player as a rookie and develop into a starter by 2010. He's worth a late-round pick in rookie-only drafts this summer.
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QB Davis picked by Niners
Nate Davis, QB SF
News: The 49ers drafted Ball State QB Nate Davis with a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft. Davis was a productive passer in college but was diagnosed with a learning disability that scared off many NFL clubs. 49ers head coach said Davis has dyslexia, but Davis has denied that to be the disability. Davis threw for 3,591 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior and has some potential to work as a 'Wildcat' quarterback. "As far as Nate Davis is concerned," Singletary said, "I'm just happy to have him."
Analysis: We expect him to be the No. 3/emergency QB for the Niners this season and possibly compete for the starting job in a couple of years. Davis is only worth a middle- to late-round pick in deeper rookie-only drafts this summer.
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TE Pascoe joins 49ers
Bear Pascoe, TE SF
News: The 49ers drafted Fresno State TE Bear Pascoe with a sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft. The tough blocker will likely be a reserve for the club this year and also work on special teams.
Analysis: Pascoe is not expected to produce enough stats to warrant Fantasy use. Keep him off of rosters.
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 No minicamp for Crabtree
Michael Crabtree, WR SF
News: The 49ers introduced rookie WR Michael Crabtree at a news conference at their training complex Sunday. Wearing a sharp tan suit with a red tie, the fashion-minded receiver looked the part of a new Niner while holding up his new No. 15 jersey - although he said the outfit was picked out weeks ago, well before he knew the color scheme matched where he would spend the next several years. "I love interacting with my teammates," said Crabtree, who won't participate in much of the upcoming minicamp while resting his surgically repaired left foot. "That's the most fun part, messing with my linemen and my DBs, and just having fun with your team."
Analysis: Crabtree will likely take his time in coming back from this injury. He also has to sign a contract before he can take part in the second minicamp this offseason. For now, keep an eye on how Crabtree does in workouts once he's given clearance to play, but we like Crabtree a lot as a rookie WR. He is worth a mid-round pick in seasonal drafts, and he will go higher in rookie-only drafts and keeper leagues. The only thing that could hold him back is this foot injury, so hopefully it doesn't linger.
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Jets looking at Burress?
Plaxico Burress, WR NYG
News: The New York Jets, in the market for a WR, called Plaxico Burress' agent before the NFL draft to look into the former Giants star's legal troubles. Burress was released by the Giants on April 3, just over four months after the Super Bowl hero accidentally shot himself in the thigh with an unlicensed gun in a New York City nightclub. Burress, 31, faces at least 3.5 years in prison if convicted on a felony weapons charge. He's due back in court on June 15. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said late Sunday night that "consistent with our normal approach of performing our due diligence, we contacted Drew Rosenhaus several days ago, prior to the draft, to inquire about Plaxico's pending legal situation." Tannenbaum added that the Jets haven't spoken with Rosenhaus about Burress since.
Analysis: One of New York's biggest holes entering the draft was at WR, where Jerricho Cotchery is the only proven veteran after the Jets allowed Laveranues Coles to become a free agent. They didn't address the position over the weekend, which is why Burress is of interest. Burress would give the Jets an experienced player with much needed height - he's 6-foot-5 - at the position, but he certainly would come with lots of baggage. Burress was suspended by the Giants for the final four weeks of last season for conduct detrimental to the team and fined after the shooting. He also faces possible NFL sanctions for violating its personal conduct policy. For now, keep an eye on what happens with him this offseason, but don't plan on spending a high draft pick on Burress in Fantasy drafts. If anything, Burress will be considered a late-round flier.
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 Bengals part ways with RB Perry
Chris Perry, RB CIN
News: The Bengals released RB Chris Perry a day after the 2009 draft. The team selected a pair of running backs late in the draft, likely costing Perry a spot on the roster. Perry struggled as the starting running back for the Bengals in 2008 and was eventually replaced by Cedric Benson before the midseason even though Benson wasn't on the roster to start the year. Perry finished with 103 carries for 269 yards (2.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. He also added 20 catches for 71 yards.
Analysis: Perry might latch on with another team and fight for a roster spot, but an injury-plagued career combined with poor play when given the chance to shine has likely ruined him. For now, keep him off of Fantasy rosters.
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Bomar will battle Woodson
Rhett Bomar, QB NYG
News: The Giants drafted former Oklahoma starter Rhett Bomar in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Bomar threw 10 touchdowns in 12 games as a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma in 2005. He was dismissed by the team in August 2006 for receiving compensation for a job he was not working. Bomar enrolled at Sam Houston and played the past two seasons, throwing 37 touchdowns, including 27 this past season. "It was too much value at the time to pass him up," GM Jerry Reese said, adding that the Giants have not written off Andre Woodson, who spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad. The Giants only kept two quarterbacks on the roster last season - Eli Manning and David Carr.
Analysis: Look for Bomar to compete with Woodson for the No. 3 spot, but neither is worth drafting in any leagues at this time. As long as Manning and Carr are on the roster, there won't be many passing yards available for Bomar or Woodson.
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Brown will compete with Bradshaw
Andre Brown, RB NYG
News: The Giants drafted North Carolina State RB Andre Brown in the fourth round of the NFL draft. While Brandon Jacobs remains the starter at RB, Brown and Ahmad Bradshaw will fight for the No. 2 spot held by Derrick Ward, who was signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent. Brown started 30 games for the Wolfpack, rushing 523 times for 2,539 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also caught 70 passes for 631 yards and two TDs. GM Jerry Reese said the Giants had Brown targeted. "We think this guy is very similar to Derrick Ward," Reese said. "You had to look at a lot of tape because he had a foot injury and he was rotated a lot with another back. But watching the tape, I think he is 24, it would almost look like 34, how Derrick Ward runs the draws and screens. They put him out wide, put him in the slot, and he's a big boy. He's 224 and ran a 4.48 (40-yard dash). He has the size and speed you like. We like that pick a lot."
Analysis: If Brown is named the No. 2 RB behind Jacobs, that would give him increased Fantasy value if he beats out Bradshaw. Last year, Ward was a solid Fantasy option, so whoever fills the No. 2 role for the Giants is worth taking in all leagues as a handcuff to Jacobs. We still expect Bradshaw to win the job, but Brown could throw his hat in the mix and take the job, especially after hearing what Reese had to say.
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Barden could replace Burress
Ramses Barden, WR NYG
News: The New York Giants replaced Plaxico Burress - again. For the second straight day, the Giants reached into the NFL draft to find a replacement for their troubled WR, taking the tallest WR in the annual college grab bag - 6-foot-6 Ramses Barden of Cal Poly - in the third round. New York used its first-round pick on Saturday to take North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks and they were so interested in Barden on Sunday that they made a deal with the rival Philadelphia Eagles to move up six slots for the 85th pick overall. Barden is a fascinating choice. The negative is that he played in the Football Championship Subdivision, a level below big-time college football. The positive is his production. He caught 206 passes for 4,203 yards and 50 touchdowns. His string of TD catches in 20 consecutive games broke a record previously held by Jerry Rice. "I think that's only the tip of the iceberg as far as my ability and the things that I can do," Barden said in a conference call. "Like I said, things are going to take work. The fade was in our offense for a number of years when I got there."
Analysis: Barden, who had 18 touchdown catches in his junior and senior years, will join Nicks in battling veterans Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham for the starting jobs held last year by Burress and Amani Toomer. For now, don't plan on drafting Barden in seasonal leagues, but he is worth drafting with a late-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
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Manning gets new weapons
Giants, TQB NYG
News: The New York Giants gave Eli Manning some receiving help to replace the departed Plaxico Burress. For the second straight day, the Giants reached into the NFL draft to find a replacement for their troubled receiver, taking the tallest WR in the annual college grab bag - 6-foot-6 Ramses Barden of Cal Poly - in the third round. New York used its first-round pick on Saturday to take North Carolina WR Hakeem Nicks and they were so interested in Barden on Sunday that they made a deal with the rival Philadelphia Eagles to move up six slots for the 85th pick overall. The Giants used most of the second day to shore up an offense that faltered down the stretch after Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh in late November and was suspended for the rest of the season. New York also took Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum in the third round and North Carolina State halfback Andre Brown in the fourth. None of the players is being counted on to start besides Nicks, but each can make contributions to make the offense a little more potent.
Analysis: The Giants need Nicks and possibly Barden to step up to replace Burress. The Giants are counting on TE Kevin Boss and WRs Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon to help Manning remain a top Fantasy QB. The safe option with Manning is to consider him a No. 2 option this year. If any of these receivers step up right away, that could help Manning's value, but they have a lot to prove.
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Bears get Cutler some help
Bears, TQB CHI
News: Two picks before the end of Round 3 of the NFL Draft, the Bears took Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias. They also drafted Abilene Christian WR Johnny Knox in Round 5, Pittsburgh WR Derek Kinder in Round 7 and San Diego State TE Lance Louis in Round 6. "Receiver-wise, we knew that was a position we needed to add some players and we did," coach Lovie Smith said. "From Iglesias, with what he brings as a good, steady receiver with good skills, caught a lot of balls, to the speed of Johnny Knox and the combination we got with Kinder." Iglesias, a 6-foot, 210-pounder, caught 202 passes for 2,821 yards and 19 touchdowns for Oklahoma, including 10 TDs as a senior. Knox ran the third-fastest time in the fastest 40-yard dash at the scouting combine at 4.34 seconds. "I saw a little more attention, a little more interest after my combine," Knox said.
Analysis: The Bears found themselves short on receiving help for new QB Jay Cutler beyond young TE Greg Olsen. Their top wide receivers last year were Devin Hester with 52 catches and Rashied Davis with 35. Their 2008 third-round pick, Earl Bennett, failed to catch a pass last year. Adding any weapons for Cutler will help, and this should improve his value a little bit if any of them can take off right away. For now, continue to view Cutler as a low-end No. 1 Fantasy QB. He'll still post good stats just not as good as when he was with Denver.
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Brandstater could be QB of future
Tom Brandstater, QB DEN
News: The Broncos moved up in the sixth round of the NFL Draft to take Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater, a deal that cost them one of their two seventh-rounders and a fifth-round pick next year. Brandstater (6-foot-5, 222 pounds) is expected to learn the ropes for at least a year while either Kyle Orton or Chris Simms starts next season. "Any time you're dealing with a rookie player, there's no guarantee he's going to compete immediately to play, and I don't know that I've ever been around any rookie quarterback who's done that," coach Josh McDaniels said. Brandstater said he's eager to learn from McDaniels, who tutored Tom Brady and Matt Cassel as New England's offensive coordinator.
Analysis: Brandstater has minimal Fantasy value in seasonal leagues, but he's worth drafting with a late-round pick in rookie-only drafts. It sounds like the Broncos might be grooming Brandstater to be the QB of the future, and that could lead to huge Fantasy value down the road.
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Cowboys draft QB McGee
Stephen McGee, QB DAL
News: Dallas drafted Texas A&M;'s Stephen McGee in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, the first QB the team has drafted since taking Quincy Carter in 2001. McGee threw for 4,889 yards and rushed for 1,800 more in his first three seasons with the Aggies but made only three starts in 2008 after suffering a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. "I really expected to go in the third round," said McGee, who was taken with the first pick of the fourth round. "I had a lot of things happen in my career that I couldn't control. Despite all that, I'm thrilled to go to the Cowboys."
Analysis: McGee has a chance to be the No. 3 QB for the Cowboys behind Tony Romo and Jon Kitna. Don't draft McGee in any leagues since he's not going to play much.
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