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2009 CFB Preview: California Golden Bears

Check out our other 2009 college football previews.

Preseason Ranking: No. 12 in AP Top 25; No. 12 in USA Today Poll.

Key Returning Players: Jahvid Best (RB); Shane Vereen (RB); Kevin Riley (QB); Nyan Boateng (WR); Verran Tucker (WR); Donovan Edwards (OT); Mitchell Schwartz (OT); Mike Mohamed (LB); Tyson Alualu (DE); Syd’Quan Thompson (CB); Marcus Ezeff (S); Darian Hagan (CB); Derrick Hill (DT); Brett Johnson (S); Cameron Jordan (DE); Eddie Young (LB).

Key Losses: Nate Longshore (QB); Alex Mack (C); Noris Malele (G); Cameron Morrah (TE); Worrell Williams (LB); Anthony Felder (LB).

Player to Watch: Jahvid Best, RB.
Best is not only the Bears’ best player, but he’s easily one of the top 5 players in the entire country. Best is coming off a 1,580-yard, 15-touchdown season and he should become a household name this year given his outstanding playmaking ability. He reminds some pundits of Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson given how explosive he is and what he can do in open space. As long as the losses of Alex Mack and Noris Malele along the offensive line don’t hurt his production, Best is set to explode in ’09.

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Industry Insiders Fantasy League: Round 5

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

Heading into Round 5, I had already drafted three RBs, so I was definitely looking to draft a QB, TE or WR with my next pick. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez went in the late fourth and early fifth, respectively, so TE wasn’t really an option at 5.08.

Here’s how the first part of Round 5 went: 49) Chad Ochocinco, 50) Tony Gonzalez, 51) Derrick Ward, 52) Larry Johnson, 53) Dallas Clark, 54) Joseph Addai, 55) Anthony Gonzalez

This left a group of WRs — Santana Moss, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes — and a QB, Philip Rivers, to consider at 5.08. As I looked at the rosters of the teams drafting after me, I noticed that a couple already had a QB but they all still had plenty of need at WR. There were a few other WRs that I’d like in the 5th or 6th round — Hines Ward, Jerricho Cotchery and Antonio Bryant — that I was targeting in the next round, but didn’t feel great about any of those guys as my WR2.

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2009 CFB Preview: Georgia Bulldogs

Check out our other 2009 college football previews.

Preseason Ranking: No. 13 in AP Top 25; No. 13 in USA Today Poll.

Key Returning Players: Caleb King (RB); Joe Cox (QB); A.J. Green (WR); Michael Moore (WR); Justin Anderson (OT); Clint Boling (OT); Rennie Curran (LB); Reshad Jones (S); Geno Atkins (DT); Roderick Battle (DE); Akeem Dent (LB); Prince Miller (CB); Blair Walsh (K).

Key Losses: Matthew Stafford (QB); Knowshown Moreno (RB); Mohamed Massaquoi (WR); Tripp Chandler (TE); Dannell Ellerbe (LB); Jarius Wynn (DE); Corey Irvin (DT).

Player to Watch: Rennie Curran, LB.
The 5-11, 222-pound Curran is coming off a tremendous 2008 season, leading the Bulldogs in both tackles (115) and sacks (3), while also tallying 10 tackles-for-loss. He was named a Butkus Award finalist, selected Fourth-Team All-America by Phil Steele and named First-Team All-SEC. Based on what he did last season, Mark Richt and his coaching staff believe Curran could emerge as one of the best defenders in the country. Given his size, speed and tenacity, Curran could certainly post double-digit tackles in every game this season and become one of the more nationally feared linebackers in college football.

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Russell named Raiders’ starting QB

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Raiders head coach Tom Cable has officially named JaMarcus Russell his starting quarterback.

Raiders coach Tom Cable made the unstunning declaration during a conference call, all while lamenting how Jeff Garcia’s calf strain kept a true quarterback competition from breaking out in training camp.

It’s not that Cable wanted Garcia to beat out Russell. The job was Russell’s to lose. It’s just that Cable hoped Garcia would use his experience and fiery attitude to spur Russell to greater growth.
This is the season Russell has to step up and stop relying on the excuse that he’s still learning. He’s entering his third year and while Oakland doesn’t have the greatest line in which to play behind, Al Davis has surrounded Russell with more than enough playmakers to be effective.

I don’t think the Raiders are expecting Russell to post a 100-plus QB Rating and lead the league in touchdowns. But they do expect him to look more comfortable in the pocket, not overthrow his receivers by 20 feet and most importantly, to work hard and be a leader.

Papelbon voices displeasure over Sox potentially acquiring Wagner

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon isn’t thrilled about his club potentially acquiring reliever Billy Wagner from the Mets.

From the Boston Herald:

“It’s a tough decision, because do you disrupt what we have now or do you make it better?” he said. “It’s a tough decision, and I’m glad I don’t have to make it.”

“I think that we have a good dynamic in the bullpen, I think we have guys who know how to work together,” Papelbon said. “Is Billy Wagner a good pitcher? Would he bring some more depth to our bullpen and make our bullpen better? There’s no question about it, but you also have to think about what we have now and what we’ve been able to accomplish to this point in the season and how good we’ve been.

“It’s not that it shakes the balance; you have that little bit of time of getting used to it, but how are we going to use this guy now, what situation is he going to be best in, who’s going to leave our bullpen – it’s a multitude of things. It’s not just one specific thing.”

Asked if Wagner’s addition would be welcomed, Papelbon said “no question.”

“I don’t think in this environment you hold grudges or you get an ego about yourself,” Papelbon said. “When a guy comes in, you welcome him with open arms and you move forward and you say, ‘Look, you’re here for one reason and for one reason only: You’re here to help us win a World Series this year.’ And if that guy’s not on board, then he falls by the wayside, but if he comes in our clubhouse and says, ‘I’m on board for this,’ then you rock and roll, man.”

This all may be moot anyway, as the Red Sox, Mets and Wagner’s agent Bean Stringfellow are struggling to come to terms with a deal. Stringfellow wants a guarantee that Boston won’t pick up Wagner’s 2010 club option and won’t offer the reliever salary arbitration. A deal has to be completed by 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday or else Wagner goes back on waivers.

As far as Papelbon’s feelings are concerned, he shouldn’t be worried about what the front office is doing. He has a right to have an opinion, but he doesn’t get paid to scout other team’s players and determine whether or not they’ll be a good fit for the Sox. Regardless of if Boston’s pen has been productive this season, if the front office believes Wagner makes the group better, then they’re going to proceed with trying to acquire him – Papelbon (and his opinions) be damned.

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