Top 10 Rookies from the Second-Seventh Round Who Will Make an Impact in 2009 Part One: Offense

There have been careers made and broken in the NFL. Some that achieved success in their careers by winning a championship or becoming a future Hall of Famer. The Draft is the event where there are names who are a buy or bust. Every year we wonder who will be the first pick of the Draft. Also we have a cheat sheet and predict who will be taken by what team in the draft. We focus on the players from first round more. Sure gus like Knowshon Moreno (Denver), Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia), Matt Stafford (Detroit), Jason Smith (St. Louis) & etc could make an impact but what about guys in the later rounds?

The players from the 2nd to 7th Round have always made an impact. Look at guys like Tom Brady who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 6th round and took the Patriots to the Super Bowl and won 3 titles. Also Devin Hester, Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, I can go on about who found success despite not being drafted in the first round.

Join me as we look at who are top 10 of rookies from the Second to Seventh Round who will make an impact this coming season. Cause you know every there’s somebody that will jump at you. First it’s all about the offense in this 2-part article. Before I go to my top ten list here are the players who didn’t make the cut but will also make an impact on their team.

BONUS PLAYERS TO LOOK AT
Kraig Urbik G Pittsburgh 3rd Round Draft Pick
Troy Kropog T Tennessee 4th Round Draft Pick
Gartrell Johnson RB San Diego 4th Round Draft Pick
Corneilus Ingram TE Philadelphia 5th Round Draft Pick
Jamon Meredith T Green Bay 5th Round Draft Pick
Quinn Johnson FB Green Bay 5th Round Draft Pick

OUTSIDE THE TOP 10:
20.Rashad Jennings RB Jacksonville 7th Round Draft Pick
19.Sammie Stroughter WR Tampa Bay 7th Round Draft Pick
18.Jaguars WR’s (Mike Thomas 4th Round Draft Pick, Jarrett Dillard 5th Round Draft Pick, or Tiquan Underwood 7th Round Draft Pick)
17.Shawn Nelson TE Buffalo 4th Round Draft Pick
16.Louis Vasquez G San Diego 3rd Round Draft Pick
15.Andre Brown RB NY Giants 4th Round Draft Pick
14.Austin Collie WR Indianapolis 4th Round Draft Pick
13.Mike Wallace WR Pittsburgh 3rd Round Draft Pick
12.Eben Britton T Jacksonville 2nd Round Draft Pick
11.Andy Levitre G Buffalo 2nd Round Draft Pick

The Schottey Six: Which NFL Rookies Will Disappoint In ’09?

Vernon Gholston…came into the 2008 Draft a lot of hype and had a 2008 season followed by a lot of fizzle.

Some guys want to be famous and end up infamous.

Let’s get one thing straight. I am not saying the young men on this list will be “busts.” I am not saying they will be out of the league in a few years. I don’t pretend to look into the future, I just predict.

However, what I can do, is cut through the hype.

Here are six guys who I predict to have tough transitions to the NFL.

Some of these guys could have decent years, but not as great as their fans may hope.

The Schottey Six: Which Rookies Will Have the Most Impact in ’09

So your team got a boatload of new talent did they?

If you’re like the rest of fans in this world. You’ve been subjected to the hype machine that is your favorite teams’ media department. It happens. Each new player is the “next great…”

For a few players, it’s true. For many player, its just a lot of hype.

First: a little honesty. Earlier this offseason, I wrote a top 10 as one of my first articles (scandalous I know). If you were one of the 2000+ people who read that, I would encourage you to read on.

This will be more than just paring down that article. It will be a revision and an update.

As training camp nears, which rookies can you count on to have an impact in 2010?

Read on.

NFLZone’s Top 10 Impact Fantasy Rookies For 2009

Looking for a late round rookie for your 2009 NFL Fantasy draft? Searching around looking for this year’s Matt Ryan, Chris Johnson or Eddie Royal? While look no further because we’ve got what we expect to be the top 10 offensive rookies for 2009. Try to remember that rookies do not always make huge impacts in their first years.

Last season the top rookie wide receiver only had five touchdowns. The top rookie running back only had ten touchdowns and the top rookie quarterback had 16 passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rookies are good late round steals and cannot always be counted on to perform. One week they’re up, the next they’re down.

Still, just as ESPN loves to say during the NFL Draft, fantasy football players need to “Go deep into the draft” if they expect to win their league. With that being said here is our top 10 for the 2009 NFL season.

 

10. Matthew Stafford – Quarterback – Detroit Lions

The Lions have yet to announce if they will start Stafford from day 1 or not. The problem with Stafford during his collegiate career was his accuracy and decision making. Stafford finished his career with 33 interceptions. Life isn’t about to get any easier in Detroit for Stafford.

If Stafford is the starter from the beginning of the season at least 10 touchdowns is possible, especially with Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew in Detroit for him to throw to. The biggest downfall for Stafford will most likely be the interceptions.

Detroit’s o-line won’t give Stafford a lot of time to make good decisions and 20 interceptions are not out of the question.

Our final projections for Stafford: 1,800 Yards, 12 Touchdowns and 19 Interceptions.

 

9. Kenny Britt – Wide Receiver – Tennessee Titans

The Titans finally went ahead and picked a first round receiver. Kerry Collins found a way to keep the Titans in a lot of their games but did not throw for a lot of touchdowns (12). His touchdown numbers might increase a bit this year with the addition of Britt and Nate Washington.

It’s unknown where Britt sits right now on the Titans depth chart but he has the skills to be a No. 2 guy this year and possible their No. 1 next year. Britt won’t burn past too many NFL cornerbacks, but he has the height and weight to make up for that.

We would not be shocked if Britt became Collins’ favorite target by the end of the season.

Our final projections for Britt: 52 receptions, 523 yards and 6 touchdowns.

 

8. Hakeem Nicks – Wide Receiver – New York Giants

I’m going to get a lot of hate from the New York Giants fans but Nicks will not be the star this year in New York. He will likely become a legit No. 1 in a season or two but this year won’t be as great as certain fans think it will be.

The Giants do have a lot of potential weapons on offense but Nicks may not rise and be able to fill Burress’ shoes as some think he will. Whether or not Nicks will even be a starter this year has not yet been announced but we think he will start.

This isn’t just blatant hate for Nicks because I think the kid has the skills to become a star. This year should see ups and downs for Nicks, just as it does for all rookies.

Our final projections for Nicks:  48 receptions, 588 yards and 5 touchdowns.

 

7. Brian Robiskie – Wide Receiver – Cleveland Browns

With the soon to be suspended Donte Stallworth most likely out for the season, the Browns will need one of their rookie Wide Receivers to step up and become a No. 2 receiver. Robiskie should be that guy.

It is still unclear as to who will be the starting quarterback for the Browns but either quarterback should feel comfortable throwing to Robiskie. He’s got good height and decent enough size that he should pull in 60+ receptions, especially if he becomes the Browns No. 2 receiver.

If Jamal Lewis can become the running back of old, the passing game should open up.

Our final projections for Robiskie:  62 receptions, 629 yards and 5 touchdowns.

 

6. Chase Coffman – Tight End – Cincinnati Bengals

Word out of Bengals OTAs is that the Bengals are excited to have Coffman on their team. The tight end coach thinks highly of Coffman and Carson Palmer will finally have something he has yet to have in his career, a tight end.

With Chad Johnson (I refuse to call him Ochocinco) and Laveraneus Coles as legit targets for Palmer, Coffman is going to benefit. Two tight ends broke the 500 yard mark last year in the NFL and Coffman should easily do the same thing.

Our final projections for Coffman: 55 receptions, 608 yards and 6 touchdows.

 

5. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Wide Receiver – Oakland Raiders

Could the Raiders finally have found their Wide Receiver? Heyward-Bey’s reception numbers might not be as high as the top rookie receiver next year but he should have a few big plays. Whether or not the Raiders’ fans will be happy with Heyward-Bey may take some time to figure out but he should do just fine in Oakland.

Heyward-Bey’s yards and touchdowns will be the reason he stands out. JaMarcus Russell’s arm and Heyward-Bey’s speed should combine for some pretty nice numbers.

Our final projections for Heyward-Bey: 49 receptions, 625 yards and 7 touchdowns.

 

4. Donald Brown – Runningback – Indianapolis Colts

Joseph Addai has had injury problems for two years in a row and would be better off being platooned with another runningback. Brown will be the answer for the Colts and should start all 16 games, barring any injuries. Brown’s numbers could be amazing or they could be decent.

The Colts obviously have the offense firepower to help Brown get quality numbers. It will be up to Brown whether or not he lives up to the hype given to him during the draft.

Our final projections for Brown: 675 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns, 23 receptions, 125 yards and 1 touchdown.

 

3. Knowshon Moreno – Runningback – Denver Broncos

Knowshon Moreno could easily be the offensive rookie of the year, especially in Denver. Kyle Orton may need to rely on Moreno from time to time and his rushing numbers should soar because of this.

New coach Josh McDaniels may enjoy runningback by committee but Moreno will end that idea quickly. Knowshon has the ability to make big plays. Moreno had some great numbers at Georgia and should do the same in Denver.

Moreno will come close to breaking 1,000 yards in Denver and should become a fan favorite rather quickly.

Our final projections on Moreno: 908 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, 28 receptions, 238 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

2. Michael Crabtree – Wide Receiver – San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers definitely have the weapons to make Crabtree one of the best rookie receivers in the game. Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Issac Bruce will all ease the pressure on Crabtree. We think this year’s Eddie Royal will be Michael Crabtree.

He was a big play receiver at Texas Tech and while some think he was a product of the system we think he will shine in San Francisco. While Heyward-Bey will do well in Oakland, the Raiders will most likely be kicking themselves over Crabtree.

The starting quarterback of the 49ers has yet to be determined but Frank Gore will open up the passing game regardless of who the quarterback will be.

Our final projections for Crabtree: 77 receptions, 883 yards and 6 touchdowns.

 

1. Chris “Beanie” Wells – Runningback – Arizona Cardinals

Wells may not be the most shocking number 1 pick for offensive rookie of the year but he should be a quality starter in the desert. Wells was a quality runningback in Columbus and may be the answer to the Cardinals runningback problems.

With plenty of offensive weapons in Boldin, Fitzgerald and Pope, Wells should benefit. Kurt Warner will provide a steady passing game, which will open up the running game. Beanie Wells will be this years Chris Johnson.

The road back to the Superbowl, let alone the playoffs will be tough for the Cardinals but Wells may make it a little easier. A thousand yards rushing should not be shocking for Wells.

Our final projections for Wells: 1,037 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns, 23 receptions, 158 yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

There you have it, our top 10 fantasy rookies for 2009. We would like to note that we think Percy Harvin will have a good season in Minnesota but with the quarterback situation up in the air as of right now he can’t crack our top 10.

If Brett Favre announces he’ll be back in Minnesota this year, Harvin will be in our top 10, bumping Stafford out. We are not feeling too confident on this year’s rookie quarterbacks which is why only one is in our top 10 list.

Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman could be starters for their teams but we doubt they’ll put up good numbers. Shawn Nelson and Brandon Pettigrew are our picks for late season rookie stars.

They may not put up amazing numbers all season but should definitely have solid second half numbers. Both could be potential tight end stars in the league for years to come. Enjoy and leave comments on who you think should be the top 10 offensive rookies for 2009. Our top 5 rookie defenders will be on the way soon!

 

For an more articles, videos, pictures and predictions on the NFL visit us at www.nflzone.net

Great Expectations: What We Can Expect From The Lions’ Rookies in ’09

“Now, I return to this young fellow. And the communication I have got to make is, that he has great expectations.”—Charles Dickens

Each season in the NFL, fans of most teams reasonably look forward to making the playoffs. For fans of around 10-12 teams, hope can glimmer, but they’ve learned to look forward to another event: the NFL Draft.

For Lions fans, it’s an obsession bordering on extreme. Lions’ fans are always among the most knowledgeable in the game when it comes to prospects.

Ironic, because for years, the Lions have been the worst franchise when it comes to picking young talent.

I’m certain that the average Lions’ fan/message board addict could have acquired better talent than Matt Millen in the past decade.

Yet, post-draft, the general feeling has always been mixed. This year is no different. You have your glass-half-full fan base—led by superfan and MLive.com beat reporter, Tom Kowalski.

You also get the jaded and burnt crowd, to whom every lineman is Aaron Gibson, and every skill player is Mike Williams.

In my first “featured” column here on Bleacher Report, let’s cut through the hype and the hate and give reasonable expectations for this year’s rookie hall heading into training camp.

Matthew Stafford:

Reports out of Allen Park are all grins and smiles about the million-dollar baby. Each of you probably knows that I’m not Stafford’s biggest fan, so take this how you will, but curb your enthusiasm Lions fans.

We knew Stafford would look good in shorts. He has more physical tools than any QB we’ve seen in recent history. The “look” test is his specialty. We’ll learn more about Stafford in the first day the red jersey comes off that we have to that point.

Yet, even I will say this. Stafford will certainly see the field, barring injury, in ’09. Daunte Culpepper would have to do quite a bit to hold him off (including, but not limited to: leading the Lions’ to the playoffs, curing cancer, and establishing a viable colony on the moon)

Brandon Pettigrew

For my money, no Lions rookie will match the impact of Brandon Pettigrew. At this point, Pettigrew is on the fast track to starting and should see significant looks regardless of the QB.

His biggest impact will be in the running game, where he will team in 2-TE sets with another recent acquisition, Will Heller. At that point, the Lions will essentially be using seven linemen. Even more of note—Heller and Pettigrew could be the best run blockers on the team.

Short-yardage situations will be where Pettigrew earns his money, and he should excel. Look for Pettigrew to earn the starting nod or play starter’s minutes. If you’re not a fan of his now, you probably will be soon.

Louis Delmas

Reports out of training camp have Delmas as a talented defensive player, a leader, and possible demigod who took time out of his schedule to give his teammates a tour of Mt. Olympus.

So if you, as a fan, expect a lot out of Delmas, I understand.

But if he doesn’t have double digit INTs or slay any hydras, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Delmas should start. But remember, the NFC North is not the MAC. He will go through the normal rookie growing pains and could look rather foolish at points, especially if he gambles on plays against quicker receivers.

Delmas won’t face a lot of competition in the strictest sense of the word, but could find himself in a heavy rotation at safety with Marquand Manuel and Daniel Bullocks. If any of those guys fail, Anthony Henry will be moved over.

DeAndre Levy

Levy joins a LB squad that was already crowded before adding Larry Foote.

As of right now, it sounds as if a four man LB rotation will be used for most of the game: Sims, Foote, Peterson, and Dizon (as a nickel linebacker). Levy can look forward to spot duty along with the other young LB prospects.

This staff is high on Levy. But until Levy wins a starting nod, he will have to make hay with spot duty and on special teams. Still, having a rookie to back up numerous positions and play special teams at a high level is a great asset the Lions have not had.

Before the Foote signing, the Lions’ contingency plan was to start Levy at MLB, so he’ll see major playing time if any LB goes down to injury. He’ll have an impact, but it will probably not be noticeable to fans.

Derrick Williams

Williams is the one player who isn’t receiving glowing reviews out of Allen Park. However, that’s because he’s currently battling a sore hamstring. If Williams were healthy, we could be sure that the Lions’ media department would be photoshopping halos above his practice photos.

Williams is behind the eight ball. Shorts and shirts practice is the perfect time to get reps catching kicks and punts without much pressure.

If DW can get and stay healthy, he’ll find himself a valuable and versatile special teamer and may see a few snaps each game on offense.

 

If not, Lions’ fans can have the distinct pleasure of watching Aveion Cason for one more season.

The Rest:

Sammie Lee Hill: My thoughts on Sammie Lee Hill can be found here. In short, he may be forced into playing time with Grady Jackson’s suspension. If he makes the most of it, he could be the best mid-round pick Lions fans have seen in a long time.

Aaron Brown: He’s in competition to make the third RB spot. He’ll need to show versatility and promise to make the squad.

Lydon Murtha: He joins a team that just signed Jon Jansen, Toniu Fonoti, and Daniel Loper. With the age across the line for the Lions, Murtha could find himself with a final roster spot. More than likely, he could end up on the practice squad.

Zack Follett: A special teamer through and through, he should make the squad and be groomed as an eventual LB successor.

Dan Gronkowski: He’s more like an extra tackle than a TE. He and Fitzsimmons can’t both make the roster, and Gronkowski has more upside. If Fitzsimmons makes the roster as predicted, Gronkowski will find himself on the practice squad or on waivers.

Ryan Kees: This small school project looks as much like a DE as Stafford looks like a QB. He’ll be given every chance to win a spot on the roster or practice squad.

John Gill: The defensive line is so thin, the Lions can’t give away talented 300 pounders.

Antone Smith: Talented but slight, Smith will need to be at his best to be the extra running back. Adding 10lbs would go a long way.

 

Fantasy Football: Top Five Rookies

There won’t be a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco this year.

Mark Sanchez could see his team get the playoffs, but it will undoubtedly not be because he throws for 3,000 yards and 20+ touchdowns.

There’s not going to be an Adrian Peterson, or a slew of Chris Johnson’s, Steve Slaton’s, and Matt Forte’s.

Realistically, there are only two rookie running backs worth drafting in the top five rounds.

That might even be a reach.

Wide Receivers are no different.

There are a few with a solid chance at starting, and a few more with duties in the slot almost guaranteed.

But superstars? Not even Michael Crabtree.

If you must take a chance, or are investing for a dynasty or keeper league, here’s the top five guys that could pan out, just as you’d hoped.

Honorable Mentions: Donald Brown, Shonne Green, LeSean McCoy, Kenny Britt, Percy Harvin

5.Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Regardless of what some biased scouts said about him, the guy can flat-out play.

He has the hands, smarts, and body control of a dominant NFL wide receiver, and that’s exactly what he’ll be-some day.

Crabtree is still behind Isaac Bruce, Josh Morgan, and probably even Jason Hill.

Due to missed practices and the depth ahead of him, Crabtree is in danger of starting his rookie year as the fourth option.

He’s still been going high (eighth) round, so you may have to fight for him.

But I suggest you let someone else take that chance.

4. Brian Robiskie, WR, Cleveland Browns

If there’s any receiver who is a shoe-in to start, it’s Robiskie.

He has exceptional hands and body control, and reportedly runs routes and handles coverage like a veteran.

He may not have blazing speed, but Robiskie is vastly underrated, and projects to snag the number two spot before the season starts.

Robiskie would make for a nice steal in rounds 8 to 10.

3. Knownshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos

He could very well end up being the best player on this list (this year, and beyond), but his offensive system and depth at his position really don’t suggest so.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels runs 3-4 backs at all times, and prefers the pass over the run. If Kyle Orton does well, they’ll stick to that plan, which could have Moreno falling short of 1,000 yards, despite being “the starter.”

2. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

There’s simply too much talent ahead of him for him to start right away.

Kevin Curtis has paid his dues and is still effective, while it’s unrealistic to think the electric DeSean Jackson will take a back seat to the rookie.

Maclin’s talent is off the charts, though, with excellent size, speed, and hands.

He won’t start the season as Philly’s go-to receiver, but he’s likely to send Curtis to slot duties, eventually.

1. Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Don’t buy the hype.

Tim Hightower is a failed experiment, and Arizona spent a first rounder on Wells for a good reason: to start him.

He may be eased into the role, but there’s no reason to have him sit behind the ineffective Hightower.

Hightower has a slight advantage in the passing game, but not great enough to keep Wells grounded.

The Cardinals aim to have a more balanced attack, and if Wells can help make that successful, he could post the best numbers of all the rookies.

 

 

NFL: The Preseason Worth Watching: Can Jags Rookies Pay Dividents?

As the rain drops down my window on this cloudy afternoon, I slowly rot from the lack of quality sports entertainment.  As a football and lacrosse player, its bad when the most sports entertainment that I can find is the US Soccer Team.  Then I remember that it is not far away from football season.  August is when the real pads come out, august is when the fun begins and we can awake from this hibernation that I have lived in ever since the end of january as my hopes were crushed as Santonio Holmes fell gracefully in the endzone defeating destiny itself.  You can almost smell the scent of the pigskin now.

The scent of a poor 2008 campaign by the Jacksonville Jaguars still reeks, but the hope of the new life is slowly taking over.  When I saw that Jarrett Dillard had been signed this morning it seemed as if the last of the putrid scent of last years embarassment of a season had disapeared.  Gene Smith has brought a new smell, one that brings much hope to all Jaguars fans. 

Soon, the scent could become a flower, but it could also turn out to be a posinous weed.

None the less, the suspense is starting to nabb at me, but it’s almost here.  August 17th, against the Miami Dolphins.  I feel like the 2009 Jags fate will be shown there.

I cannot remember a preseason that has been more anticipated on my part.  The Jaguars have many questions, but some seemed to have been answered but others are simply a maybe.  The offseason was the test, and the season is simply seeing if the answers were right.  And as preseason comes, it feels as if the test is running through the checker.  So what are the test questions and how have they been answered?

1. The Offensive Line?

This question was one that one could compare to a gimme on a test.  The Jaguars have created, during this offseason, an offensive line that could easily be argued as the best, deepest offensive line in the league.  The chance of the Jags getting this question wrong is slim.

2. The Quarterback?

The question coming in to this season is whether David Garrad could return to 07 form.  The Jaguars have no real control over this one, so to me I think of the QB situation as a long essay.  The Jaguars have done everything to try and make the essay the best it can be, adding a better WR core and a deeper healthy strong offensive line, but really it is the person reading the essay or in real life reading the coverage (aka David Garrad) who determines the score of the essay.

3. The Running Backs?

This question may not be as gimme, but it is one that the Jaguars are pretty darn sure of.  The only small question is whether MJD can carry the full load, however, with the seeming emergence of Rashad Jennings and Greg Jones, the Jaguars seem to not have to worry much about this question.  Plus, MJD is a flat out beast.  Just saying….

4. The Wide Reciever?

This is the Jaguars test question that they have never seemed to get right.  They’ve tried and tried but this year theyve finally scrapped the old, and started fresh. And fresh may be just the way to do things.  The Jaguars have a young promising balanced WR group featuring speed (mike thomas/troy williamson) old superstar mentor (torry holt) young upcoming unknowns (mike walker/jarrett dillard), and height (marcedes lewis/tiquan underwood).  This becomes one of the influnecial factors of the offensive section of the test.  If the Jaguars get this question right, they could become in the top 10 scores, or the top 10 offenses.

5. The Defense?

This one used to be a gimme for the Jags, but they seemed to have “slacked off” in the defense department.  Maybe because of Greg Williams as a poor fit, maybe because of the department of marcus stroud, or maybe because of just time.  The Jaguars have done some strengthening of their “knowledge” of the defense of late, signing a few players off waviers, and trading for one.  Also the addition of Sean Considine and young promising rookie Derek Cox may prove to be difference makers.  However, the Jaguars are not feeling really good about the defensive line, and are hoping to maybe get lucky on this question.

Final Grade:

The Jaguars probably pass at an 80%, making them a B team.  B teams arent bad, and in fact can get lucky and beat an A team, and if B teams have enough chemistry they can make runs. 

B team: anywhere from 7-9 to 12-4

Playoffs: 30-60 percent chance

Rookie Report: Five NFL Rookies Ready To Start

The Rookie Report is back, baby!

With the season just under two months away, fantasy owners are foaming at the mouth for live football action. Training camps, fellas, only a few weeks away. Hold off for just a few more weeks, you can do it.

And if you cannot wait, at least consume some fantasy knowledge. Marc’s first Rookie Report since around the NFL Draft covers five of this year’s rookie who could start from day one. Important info for fantasy owners, no doubt.

 

I was taking a look at this year’s crop of rookies and I wanted to see which players have the best chance to start from day one. I have compiled a list of the top-five rookies, in no particular order, that could be NFL starters as of this moment.

1. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos – Moreno has the speed and moves for the NFL and he is going to a Broncos team that drafted him to be their star running back. Moreno can catch the ball out the backfield which should help starting quarterback Kyle Orton in the passing game.

 

2. Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers – Crabtree was the No. 1 prospect and athlete coming into the draft and he is not going to disappoint Niners’ fans. Crabtree might already be the best wide receiver for the 49ers. If he can get some accurate throws from the maturing quarterbacks in San Francisco, he has a chance to break rookie receiving records.

 

3. Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals – The Cardinals realized quickly after promoting Tim “Touchdown” Hightower to the starting running back position that he isn’t an every-down back in the NFL.

Arizona was excited to see Wells sitting on the board still when it was their pick in the first round. They plan on using Wells as their primary running back with Hightower as a change-of-pace running back.

 

4. Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota – Harvin has an explosive step comparable to all the top play makers in the NFL. If Brett Favre joins the Vikings team, Harvin could benefit greatly from the quick slant that Favre loves to throw. Harvin needs Favre in order to have a huge impact as a rookie.

 

5. Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions – Sure the Lions have Daunte Culpepper slated as the starting quarterback, but Stafford is the future of the franchise. Fans always want to win now, especially Lions’ fans. After the rookie success of Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in 2008, Stafford could be thrown into the fire this season.

He has an NFL arm but tends to make a few mental mistakes. There is great news for Stafford, though: He gets to throw the ball to Calvin Johnson. That would make any NFL quarterback smile.

 

Thank you for reading the latest post from The Hazean. Please visit our web site for more great fantasy content!

Guaranteed Money: Why Not Just Rookies Need Contract Guarantees

The rookie contracts in the NFL are currently the best contract an NFL player can receive at this point. The reason being is the guaranteed money that comes with the contract.

NFL contracts for players are not currently guaranteed, meaning that let’s say a offensive linemen signs a contract for seven years for $35 million, with a majority of the money coming in the fifth, sixth and seventh years the first four years the player will be able to collect the money.

Throughout his career he suffers injury after injury and eventually retires after the average length of an offensive linemen in the NFL, which is three and a half years. Now the question is since the player retired due to injuries what is their option to gain an income?  What happens to the player if the injuries are so severe that they are not able to work? What can these ex-players do to better themselves?

This is where it gets sickening. Due to the fact that the average age of death for an NFL player is 55 years of age, they do not even get a chance to use their pension.  This is because in order to take out a pension, a player needs to be 55 years old.  

If the player collects the pension early there’s a major penalty.

So, even though the NFL is growing and making billions of dollars every year, the ex-players are not getting the disability support they need. Brian DeMarco is one former player who had no food in his home but with the generosity of programs such as the Gridiron Greats Foundation, he was able to get the supplies he needed.

But these stories don’t always end well for former players.  There’s the example of Mike Webster who committed suicide. Another example is of another player who had 13 surgeries on one leg and was still denied disability. Another player who actually got disability suddenly found that after his case was reviewed without any notification his disability was gone.  He was forced to live in the streets.  

The NFL Players Association has constantly turned its back on its former players. Yet, when these rookies first come into the league you hear about the contracts being signed. Like the one signed by Matt Stafford the first pick in the NFL draft for 2009. Stafford signed a six year $78 million contract with $41.7 million of guaranteed money.

That guranteed money is the best thing to happen to the NFL. Not because the players are being greedy, but in case they have to retire early they have money that they can use because they probably will not be receiving any kind of disability from the NFL.

Unfortunately if the player isn’t a rookie and does not get any portion of the contract guaranteed they are stuck if a career ending injury occurs. It means that they could be struggling to make ends meet.  This happens frequently and the NFL Players Association often turns its back on these players.

It is time for the NFL to at least make a minimum contract that is guranteed regardless of if the player is a rookie or not.

Rookies Learn Lessons at the 2009 NFL Rookie Symposium

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