Dave Kreiger of the Denver Post put some great things in prospective about the recent rash of firings in Denver:

The most overrated correlation in sports is the one between success and the coach or manager. Many players make more money (except, again, in Shanahan's case), which is because they're more important to the team's success. But getting out from under bad draft choices and bad player contracts in the modern era can take years, and patience isn't much of a marketing strategy.

So firing your coach or manager makes it look like you're addressing your issues when, in fact, it may take years to overcome whatever front- office blunders have you in the shape you're presently in.

Fortunately, big-league coaches and managers make enough coin these days to survive quite comfortably the periodic unemployment that goes with the gig. Denver's crew is just catching up with the times.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL firings, broncos, nuggets, avalanche, rockies

The NFL season is months away, but the news never stops. Here's a look at some of the latest headlines...

COWBOYS CUT ELLIS (Dallas Morning News)
Dallas released Greg Ellis, the team's first-round draft pick in 1998.  A week ago, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones signaled the end of Ellis' time in Dallas when he said the linebacker was free to seek a trade. Because of Ellis' $4.15 million base salary and $1.5 million completion bonus, as well as the belief that he would be cut soon, a trade was not likely...MORE

AGENT: YOUNG HAS NOT ASKED FOR TRADE (Nashville City Paper)
Vince Young’s agent says the quarterback has no desire to be traded from the Tennessee Titans. Young, who told Baltimore television station WMAR earlier this week that he is focused on winning back the starting job in Tennessee, but that if that doesn’t happen, that he would be ready to move on. Major Adams, who represents Young, said his client has not asked for a trade, nor does he have any desire to be moved away from the Titans...MORE

LEAGUE WON'T PUNISH MARSHALL (Denver Post)
Issues remain for Brandon Marshall, but he no longer has to worry about a possible NFL suspension. The NFL notified Marshall's agent, Kennard McGuire, by letter Tuesday that the Broncos' receiver would not be suspended or disciplined because of his March 1 arrest. In that incident, Marshall and his fiancee, Michi Nogami, were charged with disorderly conduct after an argument in the Atlanta area. A court judge dismissed the case the next day...MORE

HARRISON OFFICIALLY RETIRES (New York Daily News)
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison officially announced his retirement and hire by NBC Sports. Harrison will join the "Football Night in America" cast, replacing Jerome Bettis, who will not return. Former Colts' head coach Tony Dungy is also expected to join a cast that already includes Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick, and Tiki Barber. Former Bengal Cris Collinsworth has left the studio team to replace John Madden as the color analyst...MORE

RAMS INTERESTED IN VICK (National Football Post)
Assuming he gets reinstated by commissioner Roger Goddell, the Rams have "genuine interest" in quarterback Michael Vick, according to Michael Lombardi. "If (commissioner Roger Goodell) reinstates him, look for (the Rams) to actively pursue him," Lombardi writes. "It makes sense, a new coach with an older quarterback (Marc Bulger) who hasn’t played well. Playing in a dome on carpet would highlight Vick’s speed and athleticism."...MORE

NFL cowboys, titans, broncos, patriots, rams, greg ellis, vince young, brandon marshall, rodney harrison, tony dungy, michael vick

I continue to breakdown the Rookie Class of 2009 from a fantasy prospective...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fantasy Rookie Podcast | First Take (QB/RB)

WIDE RECEIVER
Michael Crabtree (SF) - When he slipped past the Raiders I was thinking he caught a break from a fantasy standpoint. However, landing in San Francisco without a quarterback and in an offense that under Mike Singletary and Jimmy Raye is likely to be a run-heavy, ball-control team didn't help his cause. The top talent hands down, but he slides down my list a bit.

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) - My favorite mix of talent and opportunity of any receiver in the draft. Maclin has the ability to makes plays and will be a nice fit opposite of last year's rookie wideout DeSean Jackson in Philly. Donovan McNabb will be chomping at the bit to get Maclin in his line-up and owners will be too soon enough.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (OAK) - I still am tyring to figure out what in the world Al Davis was smoking on draft day, but that is another blog post altogether. Heyward-Bey has explosiveness and the ability to make plays. His success will depend greatly on JeMarcus Russell and the QB situation in Oakland. I am going to stay clear of any Raiders' wideouts for now.

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) - With Plaxico Burress officially done as a Giant, Nicks will be asked to step into the mix right off the bat. He has the potential to be a solid a WR3 or WR4 for fantasy owners long-term, but I just don't see it happening very quickly, making him better as a long-term option.

Percy Harvin (MIN) - The former Gator is a high-risk, high-reward type of player. The Vikings' quarterback situation is a mess, but I still expect Harvin to enjoy some success right out of the gate. He is going to turn in some huge games and some duds too as consistency will be what holds his fantasy value down.

Juaquin Iglesias (CHI) - With Jay Cutler now in Chicago the team needs to build a solid stable of receivers. Iglesias is a nice start and will have a chance to earn playing time right off the bat. If he can work his way into the Bears' starting lineup early on he has the potential to be the biggest sleeper pick of the bunch.

TIGHT END
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) - Easily the most talented of the tight ends in the draft. If there was any questions surrounding him it would be the fact he plays for the Lions and has history of character issues. Still, he should produce good enough to be a fantasy factor right off the bat.

Chase Coffman (CIN) - He is the Division I record holder for career receptions by a tight end and will be a natural fit in the Bengals' passing attack sans T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Coffman will quickly become a favorite target of Carson Palmer, particularly in the red zone.

Richard Quinn (DEN) - Quinn fits more of the "blocking tight end" bill and finds himself in a cluttered depth chart in Denver. He could surprise early in fantasy football if he ensures a bigger role. His value is higher in keeper leagues though as he likely will go undrafted in most year-to-year formats.

Jared Cook (TEN) - The "tweener" is a nice fit for the Titans' scheme and should get playing time immediately. Tight ends have generally favored well in the Titans over the past decade plus. If he can unseat the aging veteran Alge Crumpler, Cook could produced quick dividends.

IDP ROOKIE RANKINGS
1. DT B.J. Raji (GB)
2. LB Aaron Curry (SEA)
3. LB James Laurinaitis (STL)
4. DE Brian Orakpo (WAS)
5. LB Brian Cushing (HOU)
6. S Patrick Chung (NE)
7. LB Clay Matthews (GB)
8. LB Ray Muauluga (CIN)
9. DE Aaron Maybin (BUF)
10. S Louis Delmas (DET)
11. DE Everett Brown (CAR)
12. LB Clint Sintim (NYG)

Fantasy Football bears, 49ers, eagles, raiders, giants, vikings, lions, bengals, broncos, titans, packers, seahawks, rams, redksins, texans, patriots, bills, panthers, michael crabtree, jeremy maclin, darrius heyward-bey, hakeem nicks, percy harvin, brandon pettigrew, chase coffman, richard quinn, jared cook, b.j. raji, aaron curry, james laurinaitis, brian orakpo, brian cushing, patrick chung, clay matthews, ray muauluga, aaron maybin, louis delmas, everett brown, clint sintim, juaquin iglesias

Here's my first fantasy take on this year's NFL Draft (all info based on non-keeper leagues for 2009 only)...

QUARTERBACK
Matthew Stafford (DET) - Going to the Lions didn't help Stafford. Throwing to Calvin Johnson will, however. I don't anticipate Daunte Culpepper as being too much of a hurdle and Stafford's strong arm and accurate passing make him appealing. Still, the Lions went 0-16 last year and I don't care if it is Dan Marino coming in as a rookie, I'm going to recommend him only as a free agent pick-up until further notice.

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) - Of the rookie QB's, Sanchez has the most appeal to me. It is not as much as his talent or ability, rather the enviroment he is in. Like Stafford, there isn't much veteran competition for him to compete with. Unlike Stafford he was drafted by a playoff-caliber football team. I would take a late-round flyer on him if I have a solid QB1 already in the fold.

Josh Freeman (TB) - Freeman declared himself the best at the position in his draft class, but he has to prove it before I am ready to agree. Expect Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown to battle for the job early, but Freeman will take advantage if he ever gets a shot. Of the three listed here, he has the least fantasy value at this point heading into next year.

RUNNING BACK
Knowshown Moreno (DEN) - Being the first rookie RB taken doesn't always guarantee instant success. Moreno will be closer to Adrian Peterson than he will be Darren McFadden. Going to Denver is a great fit for the dynamic playmaker. There is a ton of depth in the Broncos' backfield, but anticipate Moreno getting the bulk of the load early in the season. I'm not ready to tab him a RB1, but he is nice pick as a RB2 with great upside.

Donald Brown (IND) - The Colts wanted Brown and didn't waste anytime going after when he was there near the end of the first round. With Dominic Rhodes out of the picture and Addai injury prone, Brown will be good for 10+ touches per game in one of the league's best offenses. That number goes up if Addai goes down. He's not a lock for playing time early though, so he should only be considered as a backup initially. A nice find in the mid-to-late rounds of your draft.

Beanie Wells (ARI) - Playing in a good offense won't be the problem, though I am still not convinced that Arizona possesses that great of a run-blocking line. There is also second-year running back Tim Hightower to consider. I look for the two of them to approach a 50/50 split by season's end. There is some durability concern with Wells and I still would much rather have Hightower at this point.

LeSean McCoy (PHI) - I love what the Eagles did in the draft and McCoy is a big reason why. He's the perfect fit in the offense and with the team wanting to ease Westrbook's worlkoad he's going to have a great chance to prove himself early and often. With him falling to Round 2 he will likely provide more value this coming August in your draft and outside of Moreno has just as much upside of any rookie back long-term.

Shonn Green (NYJ) - I like him as my "darkhorse pick". He scored 14 touchdowns in finals six games last year at Iowa and with the Thomas Jones' contract talks souring, Green's future in the Jets' backfield may take off sooner than others think. He's a guy to stash away in the back of your mind and steal on draft day.

**COMING SOON: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends**

Fantasy Football nfl draft, lions, jets, bucs, matthew stafford, mark sanchez, josh freeman, broncos, colts, cardinals, eagles, knowshown moreno, donald brown, beanie wells, lesean mccoy, shonn green

The NFL released it's full schedule on Tuesday night. To nobody's surprise the Bengals were left out of prime time.

Bengals Schedule - Regular Season
Sun., Sept. 13, DENVER, 1 p.m
Sun., Sept. 20, at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 27, PITTSBURGH, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 4, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 11, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 18, HOUSTON, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 25, CHICAGO, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 1, -- BYE---
Sun., Nov. 8, BALTIMORE, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 15, at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 22, at Oakland*, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 29, CLEVELAND*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 6, DETROIT*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 13, at Minnesota*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 20, at San Diego*, 4:05 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 27, KANSAS CITY*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 3, at N.Y. Jets*, 1 p.m

An asterisk (*) denotes a game subject to flexible scheduling.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
The Dallas Cowboys will open their new $1.1 billion stadium in a nationally televised Sunday night game against the New York Giants on Sept. 20.

The NFL released its complete 2009 regular-season schedule Tuesday. The always-popular Cowboys lead all teams with six scheduled nationally televised games, even without Terrell Owens.

Reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh meets division rival Baltimore twice in five weeks late in the season after they faced off in the AFC title game. They play Nov. 29 and Dec. 27.

On Oct. 11, the Patriots take on Denver and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, now the Broncos' coach. New England renews its rivalry with the Colts on Nov. 15.


LINKS
--Strength Of Schedule
--10 Must See Games
--Complete Schedule

NFL nfl schedules, bengals, cowboys, steelers, ravens, broncos, patriots, colts

OK it has had some time to seek in, let's look at the fantasy implications of Cutler leaving Denver for the Windy City:

BEARS
Jay Cutler - Expect a dip in numbers, at least in the short-term. For starters, the Bears lack the wideouts and the offensive line he had in Denver. Secondly, Lovie Smith and his staff are not a pass-first offense and even if they adjust a bit it will be gradual. Cutler threw for 4,526 yards last season, don't expect him to sniff that number in 2009. On talent alone, he's still a top fantasy QB heading into next year, but before the off-season shakedown I would have argued him as top five passer.

Matt Forte - Forte's value immediately goes up with a capable signal caller at the helm. I'm not expecting his yardage totals or receptions to see a huge hike, but it's hard to imagine that he won't get more opportunities to score touchdwns and in fantasy that is what matters most. Forte is a borderline top five pick at running back for 2009 and a sure-fire first rounder.

Devin Hester - Hester really started to show signs of his big-play ability during the 2008 campaign despite the fact Kyle Orton struggled to get him the ball deep. Cutler has the arm to battle the winds of Solider Field and will be able to deliver accurate passes deep for Hester to cash in on some big plays. Still, this trade will likely lead to Hester being overvalued by many come draft day. I look at him as a solid WR3 for your fantasy team with some serious upside.

Greg Olsen - I have always been a fan of Olsen's, but for the most part he has not lived up to hype and has been inconsistent as a fantasy tight end. However, with the Bears likely to open up the passing a bit more with Cutler and the lack of receivers on the team common sense suggests that the big tight end will quickly become one of Cutler's favorite targets.

BRONCOS
Kyle Orton - It is not a given that he will start in Denver and there appears to be a QB battle brewing with Chris Simms. One thing is for sure, Josh McDaniel's is going to be a pass-first coach and will utilize a system quarterback. The Broncos will likely look for a more long-term option in the draft, but for the 2009 season Orton has the opportunity to be a nice grab as a backup quarterback. If he wins the job outright, it's safe to assume his fantasy value will see a boost.

Denver RB's - With Mike Shanahan gone, so to are the days of banking on the Broncos' backfield for fantasy success. Youngster Ryan Torrain and incumbents Selvin Young and Andre Hall will be fighting for their roster spots as newcomers Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, and J.J Arrington are all going have a role. Until somebody steps out in the competition owners should try to avoid the headaches altogether.

Brandon Marshall/Eddie Royal - Marshall has bigger problems to deal with, but the loss of Cutler coupled with his off-the-field drama has me dropping him down a tier in my rankings. The guy has huge talent, but now he also carries with him a lot of question marks. Royal will also see a dip in his numbers with the departure of Cutler. Both receivers are still worth owning, but the gamble is going to be there so draft accordingly.

Fantasy Football broncos, bears, jay cutler, matt forte, devin hester, greg olsen, kyle orton, ryan torain, selvin young, andre hall, correll buckhalter, lamont jordan, jj arrington, brandon marshall, eddie royal

The Broncos parted ways with disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler on Thursday, sending him to the Bears in excange for quarterback Kyle Orton and first-round picks in 2009 (18th overall) and 2010, along with a third-round pick (84th overall) in 2009 to do it.  Denver had to give back a fifth-round pick (140th overall) in 2009 to Chicago.

The Bears beat out the Redskins, Buccaneers, Lions, Titans and other teams to land the 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback. The Broncos had made it clear they were asking for at least two first-round choices, according to ESPN.com.

"I'm sure he's excited to move on and play in Chicago, and we're excited about the opportunity we have," Broncos' head coac Josh McDaniels told the Denver Post. 

McDaniels, the team's new rookie coach, is not getting off to the best start in the Mile High City. His mishandling of the situation from the beginning allowed it to escalate into the team parting ways with their franchise quarterback. Cutler is a top 10 passes, with top 5 potential, they don't grow on trees.

Still, Cutler deserves some of the blame too. Someone needs to tell him he plays professional sports. Just ask Donovan McNabb (booed by fans in draft and always seems to be on the trading block), who would have been a much better fit in the Windy City.

The Bears got a quarterback today that is as good as they've had in decades, but they gave a ton to get him. The team has many glarng holes and two year's of first rounders could have helped fill them.

As long as I can remember the Bears haven't had a quarterback. Sure Jim McMahon led them to a championship, but he may not have had such success without the tenacious '85 defense. Since his departure the team hasn't been able to get another a ring.

Take a look at the list of guys to lead Chicago in passing over the past 20 years and you will find names like Mike Tomczak, Jim Harbaugh (my personal favorite), Steve Walsh, Erik Kramer (had one amazing season), Dave Krieg, Shane Matthews, Cade McCown, Jim Miller, Chad Hutchinson, Kordell Stewart, Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, and Orton.

Orton will compete with Chris Simms for the starting job in Denver and the team may look at quarterback hard with of their first two picks.

The only winners in this trade could prove to be the Chargers, who now seem like an even bigger lock to win the AFC West this season.

NFL bears, broncos, jay cutler, kyle orton, josh mcdaniels

The Jay Cutler-Josh McDaniels drama is getting old in Denver. The two either need to kiss and make up or move on. Cutler is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game to say the least, but this whole thing is a bit childish.

Even worse is the fact that McDaniels is acting just as immature. If I am a Broncos' fan (and I am not), the team's new, young coach is on a very thin leash.

Cutler has not shown up for the team's voluntary workouts and McDaniels wants to meet without his agent.

According to the Denver Post, Cutler has been communicating with the coach via text message. I guess that is better than nothing, but still it's like two freakin' teenagers.

If something is going to shake down, it will before the draft.

Here are my picks for the best landing spots for Cutler should there be a trade...

1. NY Jets - Easily the team in biggest need.

2. Tampa Bay - OK, they could be worse off than the Jets. They could of have had in the 3-way trade for Matt Cassell to begin with.

3. Minnesota - Do you really think Sage Rosenfels is going to be the answer for the Vikings?

4. Detroit - They are sitting on the draft's top pick and desperate to win.

5. Chicago - Three words say it all...Kyle Freakin' Orton

MY TAKE: You don't trade a 25 year old franschise QB coming off a 4,500-yard Pro Bowl season under any circumstances, especially if he actually wants to play for your team as Cutler clearly had. While I think both deserve a fair share of the blame in the matter, I also think that owner Pat Bowlen deserves some criticism for his silence in the matter. He writes the check and at this point I think he needs to sit everyone down and work this out. Otherwise, Cutler is going to go all "T.O." on them.

NFL broncos, jay cutler, josh mcdaniels, pat bowlen, jets, bucs, buccaneers, vikings, lions, bears

Let's check out some of the latest news from around the league:

CUTLER ASKS FOR TRADE (Denver Post)
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler has formally asked to be traded, a request he made Sunday through his agent, Bus Cook. For now, the Broncos are hoping to appease Cutler's concerns and reach an understanding so they do not have to trade him. Cutler and Cook issued the trade request a day after a meeting with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders did not go the way quarterback had hoped...MORE

PATS, PANTHERS TALKING PEPPERS (NFL.com)
The trade that sent Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs appears to be only the first phase of some major wheeling and dealing by the New England Patriots this offseason. The second phase, NFL sources say, is likely to involve a trade that would send Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers to the Patriots in exchange for the second-round pick (34th overall) they received from the Chiefs on Feb. 28...MORE

JAGS CUT TIES WITH JONES (Florida Times Union)
Wide receiver Matt Jones, a first round draft pick in 2005, was waived by the Jaguars on Monday after he served several days in jail last week for violating the terms of his probation on a drug charge. Jones led the team with 65 catches for 761 yards last year in the first 13 games

STALLWORTH INVOLVED IN FATAL ACCIDENT (Yahoo.com)
Browns' wideout Donte' Stallworth is expected to be charged for his involvement in an automobile crash that killed a pedestrian Saturday. The investigation is ongoing but DUI, vehicular manslaugher, and reckless driving are among the possible charges...MORE

LEVI ON THE BLOCK? (Chicago Sun-Times)
Despite already losing starting right tackle Stacey Andrews to Philadelphia in free agency and having limited depth at the position, the Bengals are actively working to trade starting left tackle Levi Jones. If they can't deal him, they'll probably cut him...MORE

RAVENS RELEASE ROLLE (Baltimore Sun)
The Ravens released Samari Rolle on Monday. The veteran cornerback asked to be cut so he could catch on with another team. The Ravens, who will have $6 million in cap space once Rolle's release becomes official, could look to sign wide receiver Torry Holt, who was recently released by the St. Louis Rams...MORE

NFL broncos, patriots, panthers, jaguars, browns, bengals, ravens, jay cutler, josh mcdaniels, julius peppers, matt jones, donte stallworth, levi jones, samari rolle, torry holt

San Diego Chargers' running back LaDanian Tomlinson finally got the deal he was looking for and will return to the team next season. The restructured deal will keep L.T. in San Diego through 2011 (assuming the team honors it). The deal, which concludes nearly two weeks of contract talks, will also allow Tomlinson to make the $6.725 million he was scheduled to earn this season, according to Yahoo Sports.

That is important, especially with team having already slapped the franchise tag on Darren Sporles. That move put L.T.'s backup amongst the top five paid runners in the league. It was pretty clear that was going to be too tough for Tomlinson to swallow.

"I love San Diego and being a part of this team with my teammates," Tomlinson said . "My No. 1 priority was to stay here in San Diego. I truly believe this is the place that gives me the best chance to be successful and win a championship. I want to finish the job we started when I got here eight years ago. My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn’t imagine putting on another uniform."

Tomlinson was not himself last season and may never be again. Still I do not expect a Shaun Alexander-like drop. Sproles is going to have a bigger role in the offense next year, but if he stays healthy L.T. is still going to be productive.

While the drama looks to be winding down in San Diego, things are just getting started in the Mile High City. New Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler are not on the same page. 

Cutler got a mad a couple of weeks ago when his name surfaced in trade talks surrounding the Broncos being interested in acquiring Matt Cassell. Things don't appear to be getting better. ESPN.com reports that things have "gone from bad to worse".  Reportedly there was a conference set up between Cutler and the Broncos' brass that was supposed be simply a meeting of the minds, but it not turn out that way. The conference call was "anything but genial and the two sides are now further apart than prior to it."

The team has said once again that Cutler will not be traded. He apparently is thinking otherwise. Cutler is a good young quarterback, but he's showing the same hot head here that he does on the field sometimes during this ordeal.

Either way it goes, this is not the start McDaniels was hoping for in Denver.

Fantasy Football, NFL broncos, chargers, ladainian tomlinson, darren sproles, josh mcdaniels, jay cutler