by John Miller

We get a lot of questions about the Saints RBs. No so much Reggie Bush’s role – we know he’s gonna touch the ball one way or the other – but what about Deuce McAllister, Pierre Thomas and Aaron Stecker?

Here’s how we break it down:

1. Reggie is Reggie. Yeah, last year he looked like he was running in quicksand. Even before the left knee injury (slight ligament damage, not major) he couldn’t outrun anybody. The thing is, as we’ve mentioned before, a source told us this spring that Bush had a nagging ankle last season – going all the way back to August. He just hid the pain. And Sean Payton had to play him because Deuce went down. We still think Bush is a 3rd round pick, maybe 2nd round in PPR leagues.

2. Deuce is toast. A torn right ACL in 2005, torn left ACL in 2007, and microfracture surgery on the right knee last year as well.  He’s older, bigger, and slower now. He’s lost 2 steps since his 2003 monster season with 2,157 total yards and 8 TDs. We’re not sure why he’s still on the roster, but that doesn’t matter – he’s toast.

3. Aaron Stecker is the new Moe Williams. He’s employed because he has patience, drive, and maturity. He’ll always be around, a la Kevin Faulk, because he belongs in the NFL.  Stecker is a special teams ace too. But the Saints don’t want him touching the ball a lot. If he does, it means they’re hurting at tailback. 

4. Pierre Thomas is the spark plug. They’ve brought him along slowly but he’s got all the tools. Thomas mentored Rashard Mendenhall at Illinois. We’ve heard great things about him for a year now. He’ll get his shot to be the co-#1 with Reggie. If you don’t believe us, read this informative post from TCUDan at Saintsreport.com. Great stuff.

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by Jared Smola

We mentioned in an email update a few weeks ago that Chad Johnson was considering legally changing his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. And now it’s done.

According to 790 The Ticket in Miami (Johnson’s home-town), the controversial receiver has officially changed his last name to Ocho Cinco. That means he’ll be able to wear his nickname on the back of his jersey without risking punishment from the NFL. That’s all this is– a money-making scheme. His days as an elite WR are dwindling, so he needs another way to pay the child support bills.

I’ll admit it. I used to be a huge fan of Chad Johns- excuse me- Ocho Cinco. Yes, I even own a Chad Johnson jersey that is now out-of-date. I remember watching a SportsCenter segment during his 2nd year in the league about how he would sleep at the Bengals practice facility in the off-season. I loved his work ethic, his passion, and his desire for the game.

Those things all seem to be gone now, though. He’s a traveling circus. A drama queen with a lame shoulder, no less.

I won’t be wearing my “85″ jersey anymore, and I definitely won’t be buying a new “Ocho Cinco” jersey.

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by John Miller

I just talked to Lori Nickel at the Journal Sentinel about Ryan Grant’s hamstring. Nickel said: “Grant’s OK. I’d be more worried about KGB (knee) and A.J. Hawk (chest).” Grant is expected to make his preseason debut tonight against the Titans. For an exhibition we are unusually interested. We want to see Grant make a few cut-n-slash runs. If he looks sharp and suffers no setbacks we’ll re-boost his projections. If Grant just trots inside a couple times like a 7-on-7 drill and then leaves, he’ll stay at around #12 on our MVP Board. Bottom line: Exhibition or not, 2 carries for 3 yards won’t sell us.    

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by John Miller

Eagles WR Reggie Brown on his hamstring injury from Aug. 14:

“If it continues to progress like it has I should be ready. But hamstrings are something you can’t predict. It’s one of those injuries you have to take your time with because if you don’t you’ll have it for the whole year. It’ll be a nagging, reoccurring injury if you don’t take care of it and let it heal. I never had a hamstring injury of this degree. I’ve had them where they’re aggravating but I was always able to run. This one is a little bit more severe.”

Thanks for the tip, Reggie. You’re admitting to the media that it’s a slight tear. Why can’t the Patriots players talk so openly about their injuries? We just slid Brown down the MVP Board a little bit. Hank Baskett and DeSean Jackson climb again. 

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by John Miller

 When Chad Johnson dropped to the floor at his locker and did 20 pushups for reporters to prove his shoulder was okay, that’s when I knew he was toast.  What a sad sham.  20 pushups?  What happened to the “List” of DBs you were going to smoke every Sunday.  20 pushups?  Where’s that faux yellow Hall of Fame jacket now? When he feebly barked, “Want me to do 20 more, 100?” it was obvious Chad didn’t have the usual zing in his voice. He was tepid and morose compared to the old Chad. I felt for him.

A partially torn labrum? And he’s going to play through it? With a harness?

“That’s a severe injury,” said ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley on NFL Live. Wiley, a former defensive end, suffered the same injury when he played. “I couldn’t raise my arm and do my swim move,” added Wiley. “And it really hurts.”

“Yeah, Carson Palmer’s going to have to put the ball right in Chad’s belly on every throw,” added ESPN’s Eric Allen.  “Cuz all he has left is little alligator arms.”  

It’s true. Ocho won’t be extending for any high-sailing passes.  At least not two-handed. And he sure as heck won’t go skyward to grab one.  Ocho is stuck to the ground from here on out. The last thing he wants to do is leap over a DB and come down hard on that shoulder.  Permanent damage if he does.

And finally, Ocho won’t be going over the middle.  At all.  He’s already had his snot knocked out once.

I’d bet my iPod Dock Stereo that Chad Johnson elects for surgery before Week 3. 

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by Jared Smola

8:00 pm ET. kickoff. Over/Under for LT carries is .5. Let’s see how the workload is split up between Julius Jones and Maurice Morris. Who’s going to step up at WR for the Seahawks?

8:01- Tony Kornheiser out with Hernia surgery! Get well, Tony, but I won’t miss you on the broadcast tonight.

8:04- Nice to see Antonio Gates in uniform. Of course, he won’t play tonight, but my money is on him playing the season opener in 10 days.

8:07- I’m not buying this whole Mike Holmgren retirement thing. He’ll be back in 2010 if not next year.

8:08- Kickoff. Seahawks receive. Charlie Frye starts at QB with Hasselbeck out with a minor back injury. Maurice Morris get the start at RB.

8:09- Beautiful throw from Frye to Burleson down the seam. Burleson breaks a tackle and goes to the house for a 68-yard score. Awful attempt at a tackle by S Eric Weddle.

8:12- Back to the Seattle RB situation– in my opinion, Maurice Morris represents the best value at RB right now. He’s currently the 46th RB off the board and looks to be the Seahawks’ starting RB. Meanwhile, Julius Jones is being selected as the 30th RB. Insane!

8:14- LT on the sidelines… he doesn’t even play a snap. Whoever took the under wins!

8:16- Good point by Jaws. Rivers looks confident on that surgically-repaired knee. I still wouldn’t want him as anything but a QB2.

8:17- I’ve definitely got a man-crush on Darren Sproles– I’ve got a thing for little guys (Muggsy Bogues, Nate Robinson, Shane Victorino). Sproles is not only lightning-quick, but he’s a fearless runner.

8:20- Good point Kevin– a lot of people watching this game. I like Burleson at his current price, but if he shoots up a couple rounds like you say, count me out.

8:22- Julius Jones in for the ‘Hawks 2nd drive. Nice first run as he keeps his legs moving through the pile. He’s shaken up after his 2nd carry and walks gingerly off the field. Looks like a shoulder stinger.

8:25- Jones is back in and running hard again. He and Morris both look determined to win the starting job.

8:28- Seahawks WR Courtney Taylor has done a few positive things already (2 catches, a nice downfield block on Burleson’s TD). He’s definitely in the lead for Seattle’s #2 WR spot for few weeks of the season. Deep sleeper.

8:29- By the way, Owen Schmitt is an animal. I recommend you-tubing him.

8:32- Too bad the rookie K Brandon Coutu is dealing with that groin injury. As a Dolphin fan, I can tell you that Olindo Mare is flat-out awful. A healthy Coutu would have no problem beating him out for the starting job. But hey, they’re just kickers, right?

8:36- Ed Hochuli looking as jacked as ever. He must be tight with Barry Bonds.

8:39- If Merriman is out for the year, that’s a huge loss for that defense (possibly bigger than the Giants’ loss of Umenyiora). I read an interesting tidbit on Peter King’s blog today: “last year San Diego was the only defense in the AFC that hurried the opposing quarterback on less than 10 percent of all pass plays.” Who woulda thunk it?

8:43- And as soon as I post that, the Chargers D gets a QB hurry. Figures.

8:44- Nice snag by Maurice Morris. I don’t see anything Julius Jones does that Morris can’t.

8:46- Even without Merriman, is there any team with more pure talent than the Chargers? They are loaded everywhere!

8:50- Legedu Naanee might just be the sweetest name in the NFL. And I’m not sure why he’s not more involved in the offense. He’s big and talented.

8:53- I don’t buy all this talk about LT having no handcuff. Sure, Sproles wouldn’t touch the ball 25 times per game if Tomlinson went down, but I think he’d do enough to serve as a nice RB2.

8:54- Stretch that ball out for the score Darren! Just ’cause you’re 5′6 doesn’t mean you can’t put the ball in the end zone!

8:55- There ya go little man! He deserved that TD.

9:00- My question is this: what, if anything, does LT still need to do to become the greatest RB in NFL history?

9:02- Speaking of LT, he needs to get rid of that beard. Who does he think he is, Jake Plummer?

9:06- Rivers looks really good tonight. Comfortable in the pocket, throwing with power and accuracy, and making good decisions.

9:10- That ball should have been picked off. Rivers telegraphed it, but Deon Grant couldn’t haul it in. How can NFL DBs have such awful hands?

9:13- Ah, I can’t get enough of this MNF commercial.  “Wake up Dawg!”

9:14- Interesting strategy by Jaws taking Steve Smith and Brandon Marshall in his fantasy draft. That could be money after week 2, but I hope he’s loaded at RB. By the way, did anyone catch that ESPN draft that they showed a few weeks ago? Hilarious stuff!

9:16- Play under review. Definitely a catch, but the officials need some preseason work too.

9:22- That’ll do it for the live blog tonight. This was the crispest half of preseason football I’ve seen so far. Charlie Frye, Maurice Morris, Darren Sproles, and Vincent Jackson looked especially impressive.

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by Lenny Pappano 

While sitting in a bar watching preseason football, the topic turned to “what players do you most enjoy watching”?  Check out the list below.  It would also make a pretty darn good fantasy team:

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by Jared Smola

In the Indian Caste System, The Untouchables are the lowest members of society. In fantasy football, these are the guys that I’m not touching in any of my upcoming fantasy drafts:

1. Marc Bulger- He’s an injury waiting to happen. The O-line should be better this year, but it won’t be good enough. Plus, I don’t trust Drew Bennett or rookie Donnie Avery as the #2 WR. They’ll miss Issac Bruce more than you think.

2. Willis McGahee- If it was anyone else, the injury wouldn’t bother me as much. But  the words “McGahee” and “knee injury” don’t sit well with me. The O-line is in shambles and the passing game won’t take any pressure off either.

3. Julius Jones- I never liked him in Dallas so there is little reason to like him in Seattle. Jones seems to just tip-toe around the field– that’s not how I like my RBs. I also think Maurice Morris will see more touches that most people are expecting.

4. Plaxico Burress- I know all about the fact that he has posted 3 straight solid seasons in New York. And I know that, despite missing virtually every practice every week, he will still suit up on game-day. But all these injuries will catch up to him eventually, and I don’t want to own him when they do. Risk > Reward.

5. Joey Galloway- Father time has to start catching up to him eventually, right? He has regressed in each of the last 3 seasons and I fully expect that trend to continue. There’s just no upside here.

6. Todd Heap- I’ve owned him the past 2 seasons and I’m just down-right sick of the game-time decisions. He’s been just medicore even when he does play. I’d much rather have someone like Tony Scheffler or Owen Daniels 2-3 rounds later.

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Let’s get these down “on paper” so we can come back to them after the Super Bowl and see how we did…

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by Robb Woodworth, Draft Sharks Guest Writer

I conducted a study of our coveted top running backs.  As I am sure the norm is in every league around the country, I play in a couple leagues that are RB-hungry.  RBs fly off the draft board as if they come with a free plate of hot wings! I found the top-10 RBs drafted in each of the past 5 years (from www.mockdraftcentral.com). I then compared their ADP ranking that year to their Final Rank at their position.

I found that over half the RBs drafted in the top-10 did not finish the year as a top-10 RB (26 out of 50).  14 of those 26 did not finish in the top-20.  Even more exasperating, I found 9 out of 20 RBs just in the last two years that did not crack the top-20.  I believe it illustrates an increasing trend towards RBBC in the NFL. And of course, a lot of injuries… which is probably the reason for this intrinsic shift in coaching philosophy.  They want fresh legs. The godlike exception to the RB turnover has been LaDainian Tomlinson.

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