Patriots plan to franchise Cassel
Matt Cassel, QB NE
News: The New England Patriots plan to put the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel, according to a published report. Cassel's future hinges heavily on Tom Brady's recovery from a season-ending knee injury in the first game this season. Franchising Cassel would keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent and give the Patriots an option if they feel Brady might not be ready for the start of the 2009 season. If they're confident that Brady will be ready, they'd be able to trade Cassel. The Patriots' plan for Cassel was first reported by the National Football Post. "It's been talked about quite a bit (publicly)," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Monday. "We won't be commenting on it until something happens. And if we don't use it (the tag), we probably won't comment."
Analysis: Without a franchise tag, Cassel would become an unrestricted free agent starting Feb. 27. The period in which a team can designate a franchise player is Feb. 5 to Feb. 19. A team can put the franchise tag on one player a year. It would have to pay that player at least the minimum of the average of the five highest salaries of players at the same position, estimated at $14 million for Cassel. Cassel hadn't started in four years at Southern California and three years with the Patriots until the second game of his fourth NFL season, one week after Brady was hurt. Cassel started the remaining 15 games for the Patriots, who missed the playoffs despite finishing at 11-5. He completed 327 passes for 516 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 3,693 yards passing were fourth-most in the AFC, and his 63.4 completion percentage was third-best in Patriots history. It looks as though Cassel has a very good chance of being a starting quarterback in 2009, but we just don't know where yet. This is a situation that Fantasy owners will need to follow in the offseason. If Cassel stays with the Patriots, he has potential to be a low-end No. 1 Fantasy QB. If he gets traded to a non-contender, we are probably looking at Cassel as a No. 2 Fantasy option on Draft Day.
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 Cardinals still unsure about Boldin
Anquan Boldin, WR ARI
News: Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin has a strained left hamstring, and his status is uncertain for Saturday night's NFC divisional playoff game at Carolina. "We'll see how it goes this week," coach Ken Whisenhunt said at his Monday news conference. Boldin was injured on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner in the second quarter of Arizona's 30-24 Wild Card playoff victory over the Falcons last Saturday. He returned to play one more series, then limped off the field for good. "When you're dealing with hamstrings you just never know," Whisenhunt said. "I've seen guys that have come back and played a couple of days later, I've seen guys who are out three or four weeks."
Analysis: Boldin had sat out the final two games of the regular season with a sore shoulder. He scored 11 touchdowns and topped 1,000 yards on the season even though he played in only 12 games, and his injury came on the same kind of big play he so often delivers -- when he's actually in the lineup, that is. You'll obviously want to keep an eye on his status during the week, but if he can suit up this weekend, he's an obvious must-start in Fantasy playoff formats.
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Tomlinson injury his 'toughest' yet
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD
News: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson isn't sure if a week's worth of treatment and rest is going to be enough to allow him to play. "I don't know. It's tough," Tomlinson said after the Chargers' light workout on Monday. "This is a tough injury. I would probably venture to say it's probably the toughest of my career. We'll see what happens." Asked about his short-term health one day earlier, Tomlinson said: "I'm worried about my health. I'm very concerned." The Chargers continue to say Tomlinson has a strained groin. Reports surfaced Saturday that Tomlinson has a detached tendon. "It's a strained groin. That's what our medical report is," coach Norv Turner said. "I don't think it's any worse, but it isn't any better."
Analysis: A glum Tomlinson didn't clarify the nature of his injury after Saturday's win over the Colts. "It's a medical issue," he said. "That's all I'll say about it. I'm not a doctor, and I'm not going to stand up here and act like one." Asked if he was advised to have surgery, he said: "I can't answer that." Darren Sproles got most of the team's carries Saturday and played well, so right now, you have to think Tomlinson's prospects for the rest of the playoffs look pretty grim. Keep an eye on this situation because if he needs surgery in the offseason, he might no longer project as a first rounder entering 2009.
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Big Ben back on the practice field
Steelers, TQB PIT
News: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining a concussion late in the second quarter of a meaningless 31-0 win over Cleveland on Dec. 28. He has had ongoing headaches, but until Monday didn't pass the memory tests given players who receive a concussion. He took three or four such tests last week. The Steelers host the Chargers in a Divisional Playoff game this week.
Analysis: Two years ago, Roethlisberger played perhaps his worst game, throwing four interceptions in a loss to Oakland, only a week after getting a concussion. That might be the Steelers' biggest worry this week, how Roethlisberger responds to what he called a "scary" hit against Cleveland. He had only 17 touchdown passes during the regular season, though, making him just a low-end No. 1 QB in Fantasy playoff leagues. And in 2009 drafts, he might only be a No. 2. Keep an eye on he performs in practice this week.
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 Harrison named Defensive POY
James Harrison, OLB PIT
News: James Harrison slams down the current version of the Steel Curtain better than any Pittsburgh Steeler, earning him The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award. The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. "That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do -- and it's going to sound boring - what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do." Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware.
Analysis: Harrison credited defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's schemes with allowing him, an undrafted free agent from Kent State who was cut several times by Pittsburgh and once by Baltimore, to eventually become a star. "The defense is built to play with 11 guys, and if all 11 guys are on the same page, playing the same defense on the same play, there's nothing that can go wrong and that's just how we feel about it," Harrison said. But fellow linebacker James Farrior, who has seen Harrison develop from a backup to Joey Porter into one of the game's biggest playmakers, sees Harrison as the key. "His whole attitude about football, I think he works harder than anybody else in this locker room," Farrior said. "He has a great work ethic. He's very tuned in to what he has to do to make himself better. That's all he strives for, to try to be better than anybody else, and you can see his determination when he's out there on the field." Harrison has been a solid football player the last two seasons and will be one of the first players in Fantasy IDP leagues off the board in 2009.
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McNabb piles up yards at Minnesota
Eagles, TQB PHI
News: Eagles QB Donovan McNabb led his team to a playoff victory Sunday at Minnesota, finishing 23-of-34 passing for 300 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown came on a 71-yard pass to Brian Westbrook in the fourth quarter.
Analysis: The Eagles benched McNabb briefly back in Week 12 against the Ravens, but the move seemed to inspire him. He finished the season strong, setting a career high with 3,916 passing yards. He struggles with consistency at times, but he remains a No. 1 QB in Fantasy playoff formats for next weekend's game at the Giants. He'll enter next season as a No. 1 Fantasy QB as well.
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Jackson makes only one reception
DeSean Jackson, WR PHI
News: Eagles rookie WR DeSean Jackson caught one pass for 34 yards in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game at Minnesota. He now has two receptions or fewer in four of his last five games.
Analysis: Jackson had a decent rookie season, but he finished with less than 1,000 yards receiving and only two touchdowns. On an offense that likes to spread the ball around, he might never emerge as a slam-dunk starter in Fantasy, but he has the upside to serve as a No. 2 WR next season. Keep him active in Fantasy playoff leagues for next weekend's game at the Giants.
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Taylor gets more touches than usual
Chester Taylor, RB MIN
News: Vikings RB Chester Taylor had made more of an impact than usual Sunday in a playoff game against the Eagles, carrying the ball 12 times for 48 yards and catching five passes for 36. The 12 carries represented a season high.
Analysis: After spelling superstar Adrian Peterson last year, Taylor fell into more of a backup role this season, getting a few token carries each week -- nothing more. If you draft Peterson next season, you might consider drafting Taylor as a handcuff option, but you can wait until the late rounds to do so.
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Shiancoe silenced in playoff game
Visanthe Shiancoe, TE MIN
News: Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe had only one catch for seven yards in Sunday's playoff loss to the visiting Eagles. Since catching seven passes for 136 yards Week 16 against the Falcons, He has a total of three catches for 21 yards in two games.
Analysis: Shiancoe had a few big games this season and emerged as a decent target in the red zone. He'll likely never play a big enough role on offense to rank among Fantasy's elite tight ends, but he looks like a decent low-end No. 1 option entering next season.
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 T. Jackson bombs in playoff start
Tarvaris Jackson, QB MIN
News: Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, who threw eight touchdowns to one interception over his final four regular-season games, looked more like himself Sunday in a Wild Card playoff game aga |
