Reports broke on Sunday night that all-world cornerback Darrelle Revis was set to ink a new deal and return to the Jets in time for Monday’s opener. Boldin obviously takes a hit on cheatsheets for Week 1. I’d already put Joe Flacco on the potential Flops list at Quarterback for Week 1 because of the strength of that D and Revis’ return solidifies it. I don’t dismiss Boldin altogether, but he drops a peg from a late-WR1 or early-WR2.

Coming on Labor Day –quick-hits on all of the trades and cuts that occurred through the weekend. On Tuesday, I’ll re-launch the Fantasy Minute.

Follow the Freaks on Twitter @swollendome

Let’s run through five stories on the wire right now, starting with Friday’s announcement concerning Ben Roethlisberger.

1. Ben Roethlisberger Suspension Reduced

As expected, Roger Goodell met with Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and reduced his suspension from six games to four. As a result, Roethlisberger will return after the Steelers’ Week 5 Bye to face the Browns. I’d already built this information into my most recent quarterback rankings. Given his high level of production in two of the past three seasons, Roethlisberger definitely rates among the top QB2s for his nine-game run toward the fantasy playoffs. Fantasy owners who drafted Roethlisberger late with wishes and hopes of a reduction in the suspension time are smiling, as are owners of Hines Ward and Mike Wallace.

2. Montario Hardesty Lost for the Year

Cleveland fans and fantasy owners feared the worst when ninja running back candidate Montario Hardesty left Thursday’s exhibition finale against Chicago. On Friday, those fears were confirmed when it was revealed that he’d torn his left ACL and was placed on injured reserve. Jerome Harrison’s stock takes an immediate leap, and 2009 ninja James Davis pops back onto the radar.

3. Patrick Crayton Dealt to San Diego

Crayton escaped NFL hell (ie – the daily self-reflection of “what’s my role?”) when he was dealt from the Cowboys to the Chargers for a seventh-round pick. He immediately warrants consideration as a fourth wide receiver, as he’ll crack the rotation alongside Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee. Crayton has a chance to slide into the No. 2 role once he acclimates to the offense.

4. Byron Leftwich Injured

Leftwich left the Steelers’ preseason finale with a sprained knee, thereby opening the debate of whether veteran Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon would get the starting nod for the first four games. We’ll await further word. For now, I’m looking for both to see time, and I’m not changing the ranking of the WRs.

5. LenDale White Achilles’

Alas, a rough season ended for LenDale White before it even began. He was dealt to Seattle on draft weekend, getting us (me, more appropriately) excited about his reunion with Pete Carroll. That short appearance ended with his release and the announcement of a four-game suspension. White signed with Denver and appeared to have a chance of posting some touches as part of a three-man attack. Alas, he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon and will miss the season.

I’d be on the horn with Derrick Ward and bring him in to kick the tires.

ACL: This is perhaps worst acronym that you can have associated with your running back, wide receiver or QB when reviewing the weekly injury report. The word “torn” in front of this acronym effectively ends the player’s season and sends you scurrying for a replacement.

Auction Draft: A draft style in which coaches bid against the other league participants to obtain their players. Each participant is given a maximum dollar amount to spend, and must then judiciously spend those funds to purchase a complete roster.

Bargain: A player who is drafted later than anticipated and goes on to fantasy prominence during the season.

Bench: Players on the roster selected to provide depth at a position and are used to spell injured starters, starters in their Bye week or starters facing a difficult matchup. Players assigned to these roster positions do not receive points.

Bonus Points: Scoring configuration that allows coaches to earn additional points based on players reaching statistical milestones. Typically, 100-yard games by running backs or receivers, or 300-yard passing games by quarterbacks are the marks that a player must surpass to receive additional points.

Bust: A player who fails to live up to pre-season expectations.

Bye Week: The week during the NFL season in which a team does not play. The NFL regular season is 17 weeks long. Each team has one week – between Weeks 3 and 10 – where they do not play.

Coach: The man/woman in charge of the team. A great resume booster. (Sometimes called an Owner or GM for the added ego boost.)

Commissioner: The final arbiter of all disputes within a league. They recruit league members and make recommendations/decisions regarding the league’s configuration.

Completion Percentage: The measure of the number of passes successfully completed to intended receivers as a function of the total number of attempts.

DBTH: “Don’t Believe The Hype!” Simply put, the next big thing usually isn’t. Temper all news reports and excitement with a dose of reality (e.g., injury history, strength of schedule, and the team’s overall prospects).

Defense (DEF): Most fantasy leagues utilize team defenses as one of the active roster positions. For roster purposes, an entire team defense acts as an individual player. The Coach then receives points based on the number of interceptions, forced fumbles, sacks and other categories as chosen in the league configuration.

Doubtful: Injury status applied to players who are unlikely to participate in the week’s contest. Like all statuses on the injury report, this may be updated until game-time.

Draft: The process of assembling a team by taking turns selecting NFL players to fill out a roster. A typical draft is dubbed a “serpentine” draft, whereby the team that drafts last in one round picks first in the next round, and so on (e.g., 1-12, 12-1, 1-12, etc.).

Dynasty League: A league that carries over to the next season, comprised primarily, if not wholly, of the same coaches and team rosters between each season.

Field Goal (FG): A kicked ball that goes through the goal posts erected at each end of the field. Regardless of distance, the offensive team receives three points for a successful attempt. In fantasy sports, Bonus Points are typically awarded for kicks of longer distances.

Flex Player: Fantasy roster spot that can be occupied by players from different positions.

For instance, the WR/RB flex position can be filled by either a Wide Receiver or Running Back.

Forced Fumble (FF): A hit or action by a defender that causes an offensive player to lose possession of the ball

Free Agency: Players who not currently owned by any team in the league who are available for immediate pickup.

Fumble Lost: A fumble by an offensive player that is recovered by the defense and results in a change of possession

GM: See Coach

Handcuffing: Drafting a team’s backup at QB or RB as insurance in case the starter is injured, typically done in situations where the player has an injury-riddled past or a history of performance concerns.

IDP: This stands for Individual Defensive Player. Some leagues draft individual defensive players (IDP) rather than team defenses. For example, a participant would draft Brian Urlacher instead of the Chicago Bears defense.

Injured Reserve: In the NFL, once a player is placed on injured reserve, he cannot participate in another game for the remainder of the season. Some fantasy leagues allow owners to use an “Injury” slot, where any player appearing on the week’s injury report can be placed and a replacement acquired from the free agent list.

Interception (INT): A pass attempt that is caught by a defender and results in a change in possession. This is typically treated as a negative scoring play against quarterbacks in fantasy football.

Keeper League: A type of league that allows Coaches to retain one or more players for the subsequent season. The league’s coaches then draft their remaining players in the normal fashion.

Live Draft: The means of player selection using the application provided by the host web site.

Look: Also known as a Target; a count of the number of times that a pass is thrown to a particular receiver

Ninja: A player normally selected in the later stages of the draft or off the free agent list who has the potential for a breakout fantasy season. These players have either faced limited opportunity or injury in previous seasons which cause them to fall on draft day. Traditionally, the fantasy community has used the term “Sleeper.” “Sleeper” was outlawed on the FOX Fantasy Football radio show in August of 2010.

Offline Draft: Draft conducted without the aid of the host web site. The draft is completed either in-person or via phone, with the results later entered onto the site by the Commissioner.

Online Draft: This is the process of conducting the league’s draft via an online draft application. Java applets are the standard method among online sites. These applications allow all league managers to participate in the draft wherever they are and track each selection, scour the remaining available players, review team rosters as they are filled and chat.

Out: Injury status that declares definitely that a player will not participate in that week’s game

Owner: See GM

Point After Touchdown (PAT): the kick that occurs after a touchdown is scores, with the ball spotted at the opponent’s three-yard line. A successful conversion is worth one point.

Probable: Injury status that intimates that the player should be able to play through the particular ailment.

Reach: Drafting a player earlier than normal. This can happen because of an affinity with the home team, a player who has been successful for the owner in the past or the need to draft “That guy.”

Reserves: Players on the roster who are used to spell starters who are hurt, in a bye week or facing a difficult matchup. Players assigned to these roster positions do not receive points.

Sack: Play during which the opposing QB is tackled behind the line of scrimmage by a defensive player. This is scored with positive points for the team defense or individual defensive player recording the sack and as a negative play for the quarterback who is tackled for a loss.

Salary Cap: A type of game that dictates that Owners/GMs cannot exceed a predetermined budget in assembling their team.

Safety: A player that serves as the last line of defense against the opponent’s scoring efforts.

In terms of fantasy scoring, it is a play that awards two points to the defense. Safeties typically occur when a quarterback or running back is tackled in the end zone or when an offensive lineman is whistled for holding in the end zone. A less common occurrence of this play is when the ball is snapped over the punter’s head and out of the back of the end zone.

Serpentine Draft: Draft type that reverses order in each round, meaning that the team with the last pick in the first round receives the first pick in the second round, and so on (e.g., 1-12, 12-1, 1-12, etc.).

Shanahan, Mike: Brought the concept of the running back committee into modern strategy while head coach of the Denver Broncos. The proliferation of split backfields across the league has earned him the moniker of “the devil” in fantasy message boards. Shanahan returned to the sidelines for 2010, and will apply this strategy to the Washington Redskins.

Sleeper: A player normally selected in the later stages of the draft or off the free agent list who has the potential for a breakout fantasy season. These players have either faced limited opportunity or injury in previous seasons which cause them to fall on draft day. Now called a “Ninja” on the FOX Fantasy Football show and at SwollenDome.com

Smack-talk: Message board rants or emails designed to engage other league members into discussions of NFL teams and players and to deride them about the performances of their fantasy teams to date.

Target: The intended recipient of a passing play or the number of times that a player was thrown the ball. Synonymous with Look

Team QB: Concept used in a small percentage of leagues whereby a coach receives all points earned by players at the QB position for a particular team. For example, if a coach selects the Denver Broncos Team QB, he or she will receive points whether Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn or Tim Tebow stands under center. The selection of this option prevents a participant from registering a low score or none at all if their quarterback were to be injured early in the game.

Touchdown: The addition of six points to a team’s total when a player carries the ball across the opponents’ goal line

Touches: The sum of the number of times that a Running Back carries the ball and the number of times that the player catches a pass. Running Backs ranking at the top of this count are typically the most valuable fantasy football players.

Trade: The exchange of players between rosters, typically voted on by either the league’s Commissioner or the league’s members

Two-Point Conversion: A play after a touchdown is scored whereby the offensive team attempts to run or throw the ball into the end zone instead of pursuing the traditional kick. A successful conversion adds two points onto their score.

Voldemort: See Shanahan, Mike

Vulture: This is a term used to describe running backs who are not typically featured in the offense until the offense moves into scoring position. The primary ball carrier may be undersized and unable to move a pile to gain the inches necessary to cross the goal line. The “vulture” would get the nod to pick up the highly contested final yards to reach the end zone. Former Steelers RB Jerome Bettis and current Falcons RB T.J. Duckett are two prime examples of this phenomenon.

Waivers: Process by which to make all undrafted players available to all teams. Typically, there is a period after the initial draft and after a player is released from a roster whereby coaches must bid for him and choose a player to drop if the claim is successful. The team with the highest spot on the Waiver Priority List receives the player.

Waiver Priority List: The initial waiver priority list is set in inverse order of the draft, with the team selecting last in the first-round receiving the highest spot in the waiver order. There are two ways to utilize the waiver priority list during the season. First, the list may be a rolling list, which places the team with the last successful acquisition at the bottom of the list. The other type of waiver list places the last-place team at the top of the list following the week’s games. They then get the rights to the first waiver selection and the rolling list goes into effect for the remainder of the week.

Free agent acquisitions do NOT impact the waiver priority list.

Yards After Catch (YAC): A measure of the number of yards gained by a pass receiver after establishing possession of the ball.

Yards Per Attempt: A measure of the number of positive yards earned per throwing attempt by a quarterback. (Passing Yards) / (Completions + Incompletions + Interceptions)

Well, things finally got settled early this week when the waiver process was completed and Ramirez headed to Cleveland to join his new team. I shan’t even begin to discuss Ramirez’s sudden aversion to the English language or the whole barber thing.

Ramirez’s presence hasn’t been measured in the batter’s box yet, but he’s certainly doing something to impact opposing hurlers. Hence, “The Aura, Essence or Shadow” is this week’s “Fantasy Man-Crush” winner. Ramirez came out to pinch-hit in his first appearance for the Sox and watched catcher A.J. Pierzynski slam a three-run home run that would prove to be the game-winner. On Wednesday, Ramirez was in the on-deck circle in the eighth inning when first baseman Paul Konerko crushed a three-run home run to put the White Sox ahead.

The Sox agreed to pay him nearly $4 for the stretch run. He hasn’t done much in the box score, but White Sox fans will take the victories, however they come.

If this “Shadow Man” starts hitting, the wigs will fly off shelves on the South Side.

Williams was wrapped up in an early iteration of the new Madden game, enamored with the athleticism and hands of his computerized self. Topics include draft day, the Madden Game and his expectations for 2010. Check it out here .

The clear leader in the Team Defense world is the Jets, with or without all-world cornerback Darrelle Revis, followed by the Vikings. The debates at this position begin as early as the third slot, with the Eagles, Packers, 49ers, Ravens and Steelers all vying for attention at the top.

Does Troy Polamalu’s hair put the Steelers over the top? Does the sight of Patrick Willis tormenting opposing quarterbacks get you fired up? Ray Lewis?

Let’s get it on.

1. New York Jets
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Green Bay Packers
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Cincinnati Bengals
11. Chicago Bears
12. New York Giants
13. San Diego Chargers
14. Miami Dolphins
15. Arizona Cardinals
16. Tennessee Titans
17. New England Patriots
18. Houston Texans
19. Denver Broncos
20. Oakland Raiders
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Indianapolis Colts
23. Seattle Seahawks
24. Atlanta Falcons
25. Washington Redskins

Seriously, it’s rare that a fantasy owner reaches to snag a kicker before the final rounds anymore, but it does happen on occasion. Still, kickers do play an important role in deciding fantasy matchups where, just like on the real playing field, games can be decided by narrow margins. They’re selected in the final two rounds, on average, with some leaving the defense for last.

Many owners are now playing the matchup game, finding the weakest defense on the slate and working the waiver wire hard on a weekly basis. The majority of fantasy squads will finish the season with a different kicker than they drafted. That doesn’t make them insignificant, but the pressure on you to draft correctly here certainly doesn’t equate to those last-second tries.

1. Nate Kaeding, SD
2. Garrett Hartley, NO
3. Stephen Gostkowski, NE
4. Ryan Longwell, MIN
5. Mason Crosby, GB
6. David Akers, PHI
7. Rob Bironas, TEN
8. Lawrence Tynes, NYG
9. Robbie Gould, CHI
10. Matt Prater, DEN
11. David Buehler, DAL
12. Shayne Graham, BAL
13. Sebastian Janikowski, OAK
14. Dan Carpenter , MIA
15. Nick Folk, NYJ
16. Jay Feely, ARI
17. Ryan Succop, KC
18. Adam Vinatieri , IND
19. Neil Rackers, HOU
20. Jeff Reed, PIT
21. John Kasay, CAR

Antonio Gates still leads the pack, but there are a pair of challengers knocking on the door. Peyton Manning’s go-to guy, Dallas Clark, racked up 100 receptions last season. Jermichael Finley has the physicality to become THE guy this year.

Where does your favorite rank on the list? Check it out.

1. Antonio Gates, SD
2. Jermichael Finley, GB
3. Dallas Clark, IND
4. Brent Celek, PHI
5. Vernon Davis, SF
6. Tony Gonzalez, ATL
7. Jason Witten, DAL
8. Chris Cooley, WAS
9. Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN
10. Owen Daniels, HOU
11. Kellen Winslow, CLE
12. Zach Miller, OAK
13. Heath Miller, PIT
14. John Carlson, SEA
15. Greg Olsen, CHI
16. Dustin Keller, NYJ
17. Todd Heap, BAL
18. Jermaine Gresham, CIN
19. Brandon Pettigrew, DET
20. Kevin Boss, NYG
21. Benjamin Watson, CLE
22. Rob Gronkowski, NE
23. Jeremy Shockey, NO
24. Anthony Fasano, MIA
25. Tony Scheffler, DET

There’s no dispute about the top slot. Put Andre Johnson down in ink or tattoo his name across your knuckles. Randy Moss has slipped into the No. 2 slot as the Patriots look to recreate the “Moss and Toss” brilliance of years past. Then, we start to see some difference of opinion. Do you love Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Calvin Johnson or does Miles Austin still have you giddy about his dominance in 2009?

Let’s load up the top receivers in this cheatsheet update.

1. Andre Johnson, HOU
2. Randy Moss, NE
3. Reggie Wayne, IND
4. Roddy White, ATL
5. Miles Austin, DAL
6. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
7. Calvin Johnson, DET
8. Brandon Marshall, MIA
9. Marques Colston, NO
10. DeSean Jackson, PHI
11. Anquan Boldin, BAL
12. Greg Jennings, GB
13. Steve Smith, NYG
14. Wes Welker, NE
15. Steve Smith, CAR
16. Chad Ochocinco, CIN
17. Dwayne Bowe, KC
18. Hines Ward, PIT
19. Michael Crabtree, SF
20. Mike Sims-Walker, JAC
21. Malcolm Floyd, SD
22. Hakeem Nicks, NYG
23. Robert Meachem, NO
24. Mike Wallace, PIT
25. Pierre Garcon, IND
26. Percy Harvin, MIN
27. Donald Driver, GB
28. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA
29. Santana Moss, WAS
30. Terrell Owens, CIN
31. Jeremy Maclin, PHI
32. Bernard Berrian, MIN
33. Johnny Knox, CHI
34. Santonio Holmes, NYJ
35. Derrick Mason, BAL
36. Devin Aromashodu, CHI
37. Lee Evans, BUF
38. Jabar Gaffney, DEN
39. Jacoby Jones, HOU
40. Dez Bryant, DAL
41. Braylon Edwards, NYJ
42. Steve Breaston, ARI
43. Kenny Britt, TEN
44. Mike Williams, TB
45. Eddie Royal, DEN
46. Chris Chambers, KC
47. Devin Hester, CHI
48. Legedu Naanee, SD
49. Laurent Robinson, STL
50. James Jones, GB
51. Nate Burleson, DET
52. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
53. Mario Manningham, NYG
54. Louis Murphy, OAK
55. Davone Bess, MIA
56. Sidney Rice, MIN
57. Julian Edelman , NE
58. Anthony Gonzalez, IND
59. Vincent Jackson, SD
60. Greg Camarillo, MIN

Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice & Maurice Jones-Drew stand atop the mountain, but Jones-Drew’s knee injury is weighing heavily on the minds of fantasy owners at the crescendo of the draft season. Obviously, there’s some question about whether Chris Johnson can come close to replicating his frightening 2009 totals. The Minnesota receiving corps is concerning and, for whatever reason, Rice is usually the last mentioned in this group (McGahee? Flacco’s rise?).

Let’s break it out.

1. Chris Johnson, TEN
2. Adrian Peterson, MIN
3. Ray Rice, BAL
4. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
5. Michael Turner, ATL
6. Frank Gore, SF
7. Steven Jackson, STL
8. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT
9. DeAngelo Williams, CAR
10. Shonn Greene, NYJ
11. Cedric Benson, CIN
12. Ryan Grant, GB
13. Ryan Mathews, SD
14. LeSean McCoy, PHI
15. Jamaal Charles, KC
16. Chris “Beanie” Wells, ARI
17. Matt Forte, CHI
18. Arian Foster, HOU
19. Jahvid Best, DET
20. Pierre Thomas, NO
21. Jonathan Stewart, CAR
22. Ronnie Brown, MIA
23. Knowshon Moreno, DEN
24. Joseph Addai, IND
25. CJ Spiller, BUF
26. Jerome Harrison, CLE
27. Marion Barber, DAL
28. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG
29. Felix Jones, DAL
30. Reggie Bush, NO
31. Brandon Jacobs, NYG
32. Clinton Portis, WAS
33. Cadillac Williams, TB
34. Justin Forsett, SEA
35. Thomas Jones, KC
36. Ricky Williams, MIA
37. Tim Hightower, ARI
38. LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ
39. Laurence Maroney, NE
40. Darren McFadden, OAK
41. Fred Jackson, BUF
42. Montario Hardesty, CLE
43. Chester Taylor, CHI
44. Willis McGahee, BAL
45. Steve Slaton, HOU
]]> http://swollendome.com/general/harmon-updated-rb-ranks/feed/ 0 http://swollendome.com/general/harmon-updated-qb-ranks/ http://swollendome.com/general/harmon-updated-qb-ranks/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:44:24 +0000 admin http://swollendome.com/?p=536 The draft season is hitting its peak. Below, you’ll find my updated quarterback rankings. What do you do with Ben Roethlisberger? How much do you trust Brett Favre given the issues in the receiving corps?

No position confronts us with more questions. The top four players are unquestioned – the order may be shuffled somewhat, but that foursome stands ahead of the pack.

Here is my cheatsheet.

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB
2. Drew Brees, NO
3. Peyton Manning, IND
4. Tom Brady, NE
5. Tony Romo, DAL
6. Philip Rivers, SD
7. Matt Schaub, HOU
8. Eli Manning, NYG
9. Jay Cutler, CHI
10. Joe Flacco, BAL
11. Brett Favre, MIN
12. Kevin Kolb, PHI
13. Carson Palmer, CIN
14. Matt Ryan, ATL
15. Donovan McNabb, WAS
16. Alex Smith, SF
17. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
18. Matthew Stafford, DET
19. Chad Henne, MIA
20. Kyle Orton, DEN
21. Matt Cassel, KC
22. Jason Campbell, OAK
23. Vince Young, TEN
24. David Garrard, JAC
25. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA
26. Matt Moore, CAR
27. Mark Sanchez, NYJ
28. Sam Bradford, STL
29. Jake Delhomme, CLE
30. Derek Anderson, ARI
31. Trent Edwards, BUF
32. Josh Freeman, TB
33. Marc Bulger, BAL
34. A.J. Feeley, STL
35. Matt Leinart, ARI
]]> http://swollendome.com/general/harmon-updated-qb-ranks/feed/ 0 http://swollendome.com/general/kurt-warner-should-be-dancing-in-the-pocket/ http://swollendome.com/general/kurt-warner-should-be-dancing-in-the-pocket/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:27:22 +0000 admin http://swollendome.com/?p=529 In the past couple weeks, I’ve been taking lessons from the neighborhood kids on scrawling in fingerpaint, sidewalk chalk and crayons. The goal: a massive quasi-letter, picture art campaign to draw future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner back onto the football field.

Instead, it was announced early this week that Warner would trade dancing in the pocket and avoiding a speeding Patrick Willis for the bright lights and sequined costumes of “Dancing With The Stars.” He’s the latest football player to join the fray, joined by former hoopster and budding thespian Rick Fox.

Arizona’s quarterback woes have been well-chronicled in the press of late, and the future of former first-round pick Matt Leinart is certainly in doubt. There have been whispers of trade talks and outright releases. All the while, we’re wondering if Warner would make a dramatic return to the field to save Ken Whisenhunt’s offense and restore the eroding confidence in the Arizona offense. His appearance in the “big reveal” for the new “DWTS” season, a run that included introductions of “The Situation,” “The Hoff,” and Michael Bolton (“The Voice”), probably kicked those hopes and dreams of NFL fans and fantasy owners to the curb. Kyle Massey of “That’s So Raven” rounds out the men’s side of the competition.

I’m still thinking about his 3,700 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes of a year ago. Alas, the pinball machine-like yardage total stops at 32,000 and change with 208 regular season touchdowns.

I can’t say that I’m terribly excited about the women’s side of things – no disrespect to Bristol Palin, Margaret Cho, Mrs. Brady, Audrina Patridge and Brandy. I can only get fired up for Jennifer Grey’s first onscreen appearance and Tom Bergeron’s first “nobody puts baby in a corner” reference. As I have Jerry Orbach on “Law & Order” from the DVR in the background right now, it seems like I should bust out some “Point Break” to round out the trilogy.

As with my tracking of Ochocinco’s progress last season, I’ll set the DVR to catch Warner’s movements on the dance floor. All the while, I’ll be lamenting that his quick release and pinpoint accuracy will be just an NFL memory. Owners of Larry Fitzgerald are hoping that his athleticism rules the day in spite of the quarterback situation.

In the interim, I’ll start working on an exemption to the uniform role to allow Warner to bring the glitz onto the field should he return. I’m thinking of an NFL version of Redford’s “Electrif Horseman” outfit.



]]> http://swollendome.com/general/kurt-warner-should-be-dancing-in-the-pocket/feed/ 0 http://swollendome.com/general/fox-fantasy-football-on-air-at-the-top-of-the-hour/ http://swollendome.com/general/fox-fantasy-football-on-air-at-the-top-of-the-hour/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:30:34 +0000 admin http://swollendome.com/?p=517 Coming up at the top of the hour – 2 hours of Tweets, texts, emails and phone calls to propel you to fantasy dominance.

Join Mike Harmon, Peter Burns and Nate Lundy – The Fantasy Freaks – for the madness on FOX Sports Radio, FOXSportsRadio.com and XM 142.

Draft madness, keeper questions, beverage or food choices. Lock and load.

]]> http://swollendome.com/general/fox-fantasy-football-on-air-at-the-top-of-the-hour/feed/ 0 http://swollendome.com/fantasy-man-crush/cj-spiller-how-high-does-he-climb/ http://swollendome.com/fantasy-man-crush/cj-spiller-how-high-does-he-climb/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:17:07 +0000 admin http://swollendome.com/?p=512 You can’t stop CJ Spiller. You can only hope to contain him.

Spiller helped lead the Bills to an exhibition win over the Bengals, scoring twice in the 35-20 win on Saturday night. He carried the ball 12 times for 52 yards, including a 20-yard sprint. Spiller added two catches for 33 yards.

The workload split in Chan Gailey’s backfield come the beginning of the regular season is still a question mark, but the Bills won’t be able to keep the rookie out of Clemson off the field given his preseason brilliance. Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are still sidelined, giving Spiller ample opportunity to demonstrate his play-making abilities against first-string defenses. Spiller crept into the upper-20s in my most recent positional ranking update.

Might he crack the top 20 in the next iteration?

Spiller will certainly be a heavily-debated player on our FOX Sports Radio show Sunday morning (10am-12pm ET). Lock and load!

]]> http://swollendome.com/fantasy-man-crush/cj-spiller-how-high-does-he-climb/feed/ 0