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      2009 CFB Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys

      August 24, 2009 /

      Check out our other 2009 college football previews.

      Preseason Ranking: No. 11 in AP Top 25; No. 9 in USA Today Poll.

      Key Returning Players: Zac Robinson (QB); Dez Bryant (WR); DeMarcus Conner (WR); Kendall Hunter (RB); Keith Toston (RB); Brady Bond (OT); Russell Okung; Andrew Lewis (C); Andre Sexton (LB); Orie Lemon (LB); Jeremiah Price (DE); Derek Burton (DE); Ugo Chinasa (DE); Perrish Cox (CB).

      Key Losses: Brandon Pettigrew (TE); Steve Denning (G); Jeray Chatham (DT); Jacob Lacey (CB); Quinton Moore (S); Tonga Tea (DT); Ricky Price (S).

      Player to Watch: Dez Bryant, WR.
      Bryant is coming off a tremendous 2008 campaign in which he tallied 87 receptions for 1,480 yards and a whopping 19 touchdowns. He scored multiple touchdowns in five of 12 games last season, including a four-TD performance against Iowa State on November 1. At times, it didn’t matter if he was double covered because he would still come down with the ball. When it comes to Bryant’s talents, some are drawing comparisons to Michael Crabtree given how big, fast and strong the OSU wideout is. His coach Mike Gundy even believes that Bryant is a legitimate Heisman candidate this season.

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      College Football

      Breaking down the 2009 NFL Offensive Rookie Year candidates

      August 24, 2009 /

      Around this time last year, I compiled a top 10 list of Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates and ranked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan No. 1. He went on to throw for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and led Atlanta to a remarkable playoff appearance, all while making me look like some kind of OROY-predicting genius.

      Of course, I also listed Titans running back Chris Johnson at No. 7 behind less-productive names like Darren McFadden (No. 4), Kevin Smith (No. 5) and Rashard Mendenhall (No. 6), hence making me look like some kind of OROY-predicting moron.

      To see my top 10 ranking from last year, click here. And for my top 10 ranking of the offensive rookie of the year candidates for this season, see below.

      1. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos
      While the knee injury he suffered in Denver’s preseason opener is a concern, Moreno is expected to be ready for Week 1 and will be given every opportunity to shine in ’09. Granted, he’s stuck in a crowded backfield and could be eased into the season after hurting his knee, but he has the potential to be an every-down back at some point this year. He was the most complete back in April’s draft, has outstanding vision and should get plenty of opportunities to make plays in Josh McDaniels’ shotgun-heavy offense. He’ll also benefit from running behind the Broncos’ stellar O-line. Expecting him to put up rushing numbers similar to those of Chris Johnson (1,228 rushing yards) last year might be a little ambitious. But if Moreno stays healthy, a 400-plus yard receiving season in McDaniels’ system is certainly doable.

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      NFL

      Industry Insiders Fantasy League: Round 6

      August 24, 2009 /

      To start with Round 1 (and see the scoring system and roster requirements), click here.

      My team so far: 1) Chris Johnson, 2) Steve Smith, 3) Ronnie Brown, 4) Marshawn Lynch, 5) Santana Moss

      At 5.08, I passed on Philip Rivers hoping that he’d be there at 6.05. Unfortunately, this is how the round went: 61) Bernard Berrian, 62) Chris Henry, 63) Santonio Holmes, 64) Philip Rivers

      I hate it when the guy I want goes just before I’m about to pick him!

      Oh well, I had to move on. I felt like I was pretty safe with the four TEs — Chris Cooley, Greg Olsen, Owen Daniels and Kellen Winslow — still out there, and thought that one would be there with my next pick. There were a few WRs — Hines Ward, Antonio Bryant, Jerricho Cotchery — that I felt might last until the 7th round as well. While there is always a lot of depth at QB, I like to use QBBC as more of a backup option than as a Plan A, and with three good QBs here — Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb and Kurt Warner — I decided to take a closer look at all three players.

      Despite his faults, Romo has been a fantasy stud the last two seasons. He’s without Terrell Owens this season, but that might be a blessing in disguise as the TO headaches and distractions are gone as well. Roy Williams never really got going last season, so if he can produce at 80-90% of Owens’s rate, the other Dallas wideouts can pick up the slack. Jason Witten is one of the best fantasy tight ends in the game and Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and Miles Austin (and don’t forget Marion Barber and Felix Jones) round out a better-than-competent receiving corps. The bottom line is that Romo has averaged 2.1 TD over the last two seasons and I don’t think losing Owens is going to take a huge toll on that number.

      So, when comparing Romo to McNabb (who missed 15 games over the last four seasons) and Warner (who is not the most durable QB, either), I felt that Romo was the safest pick of the three and had legitimate upside.

      Round 6, Pick 5: Tony Romo, QB

      The rest of Round 6 went this way: 66) Kurt Warner, 67) Donald Driver, 68) Thomas Jones, 69) Donovan McNabb, 70) Felix Jones, 71) Jay Cutler, 72) Matt Schaub

      Click here to see all of my round-by-round picks.

      Fantasy Football

      Poll: How far do the Vikings have to advance to justify the whole Brett Favre saga?

      August 24, 2009 /

      Here are the results of our recent poll:

      107 total votes

      23% — the playoffs
      26% — the championship game
      23% — the Super Bowl
      27% — nothing can justify this

      I’m a little surprised by the results. After all, the Vikings did make the playoffs last season, so just making the postseason again would seem like treading water more than making a step forward, so I don’t know that it would justify the Favre saga.

      Conversely, I threw in the “nothing can justify this” as kind of a joke, but it ended up being the top answer. I guess Favre fatigue outweighs common sense to some degree. Do people honestly think that even if the Vikings represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season that the Favre signing is still not justified? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it?

      Tell me why I’m wrong.

      (P.S. As a long-time Packer fan, my stomach turns every time I see Favre anywhere near the color purple.)

      NFL

      Beasley checks into rehab

      August 24, 2009 /

      Per ESPN…

      Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley has entered a rehabilitation hospital in Houston to address possible substance and psychological issues, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

      Beasley, who last year was hit with a $50,000 fine stemming from an incident at the NBA’s annual rookie orientation, checked into an unidentified facility this past weekend, the reports said, citing unnamed sources.

      A photo of the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NBA draft was posted Friday to his Twitter account, in which Beasley is displaying a new tattoo across his shoulders.

      That image also captured what appeared to be a small plastic bag on an adjacent table, the contents of which were unclear.

      Details are sketchy, as they probably should be in this situation. There’s no reason to speculate, so I’ll just wish the young man the best of luck in getting the help that he needs.

      NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

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