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      Chiefs’ first round pick Jon Baldwin injuries wrist in locker room brawl with Thomas Jones

      August 19, 2011 /

      According to a report by sports talk show host Nick Wright of 610 Kansas City, Chiefs rookie first round pick Jonathan Baldwin is likely done for the preseason after injuring his wrist/thumb in a locker-room brawl with running back Thomas Jones.

      Let me state again that Nick Wright BROKE THE STORY FIRST. I’m only repeating myself because Wright has spent most of today complaining about how others are giving credit to ESPN/Adam Schefter, so I figured I would make it clear that Wright BROKE THE STORY FIRST.

      Moving on…Wright tweets:

      What I’m hearing on Baldwin: “he’s as advertised. Diva, spoiled, doesn’t wanna listen. Can run a Go and a Slant, and doesn’t wanna work.”

      Wright also writes that head coach Todd Haley has embarrassed Baldwin a few times, “but hasn’t really gone off on him yet.” There’s some concern that the rookie could be out 6-8 weeks and is doubtful for Week 1 following his fight with Jones – this according to Wright, who cannot confirm the news but is only “passing it along.” (Did I mention that he broke the story first?)

      None of this is surprising if you paid attention to the pre-draft reports on Baldwin, who was often criticized for his lack of work ethic and his immaturity. Following his junior season at PITT, he bashed quarterback Tino Sunseri and the Panthers’ coaching staff for his lack of growth as a player. (It’s always good to blame others for your shortcomings as a person.) He was also charged with disorderly conduct and harassment in 2009 after he allegedly groped a female student on a campus bus. He was eventually cleared of those charges, however.

      Baldwin certainly has all the athletic ability to succeed, but his character flaws have apparently followed him to Kansas City. Thomas Jones is regarded as a good locker room guy, so the fact that Baldwin fought with him won’t endear him to his teammates. The kid hasn’t even run one route in a meaningful game yet and already it appears as though he may be headed for bustville.

      External Sports, NFL

      Fantasy Football Draft Day Do’s and Don’ts

      August 18, 2011 /
      Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (L) runs past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Shawntae Spencer for a touchdown during the second quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, California October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Regular TSR readers may have noticed that I haven’t written much (any) fantasy football content here this season. That’s because I’ve launched my own site (FantasyShrink.com) and have also joined 4for4.com as Contributing Editor.

      I thought I’d put together a quick list of do’s and don’ts that fantasy owners should keep in mind on draft day. These are meant for fantasy owners in 12-team drafts. If you’re in a 10-team league, you can typically wait longer than the rounds I’ll mention.

      DO utilize the ol’ RB/RB draft strategy in the first two rounds if your league requires two starting RBs (or has a RB and a flex position). The depth at RB is pretty thin this season and I’m not too confident in the guys that are available in the 3rd/4th rounds. Ahmad Bradshaw is an exception, as is Jahvid Best in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, the depth at WR is solid, so it makes sense to go RB/RB/WR/WR in the first four rounds.

      If you’re in a PPR league, DO consider LeSean McCoy amongst the top six RBs (the others are Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson). In standard leagues, Rashard Mendenhall is a solid pick at 1.06. If you’re outside the top 6 in PPR formats, DO draft Darren McFadden, who has the most upside of any RB in the second tier.

      In the second round, DO consider Peyton Hillis and Matt Forte, especially in PPR formats.

      In the late 2nd or early 3rd, DO consider Mike Wallace and Vincent Jackson. Both players are good bets to finish in the top 10 at WR.

      In the 4th/5th rounds of PPR drafts, DO look to grab Felix Jones, who should make a fine RB2 for those owners who drafted a WR or QB early.

      DON’T draft a QB early, not when you can get Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan or Josh Freeman in the 6th/7th rounds. Even if you miss out on those guys, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning and Jay Cutler are good lead QBs in a Quarterback By Committee.

      DO try to get Joe Flacco, Sam Bradford or Ryan Fitzpatrick as your QB2. Also, Colt McCoy is shooting up my rankings due to his fine preseason play. Kevin Kolb is another decent option due to his strong job security.

      If you’re in a PPR league, DO draft a stud TE in the 4th (Antonio Gates) or 5th (Jason Witten, Dallas Clark or Jermichael Finley). There is a lot of depth at TE this year, so if you miss out on these guys wait until the 8th or 9th and pick Rob Gronkowski, Marcedes Lewis or Kellen Winslow.

      Jacksonville Jaguars Don Carey cant stop New York Giants Mario Manningham from diving into the end zone for a 26 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter at New Meadowlands Stadium in week 12 of the NFL in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 28, 2010. The Giants defeated the Jaguars 24-20. UPI /John Angelillo

      DO target Mario Manningham in the 5th/6th round. He should be a very solid WR2 in all formats with Steve Smith gone, and is one of my favorite middle-round value picks.

      DON’T draft Marques Colston or Anquan Boldin before the 6th and 8th rounds, respectively. Colston is dealing with a knee injury while Boldin has lost a step.

      DO target Mike Thomas, Santana Moss and Lance Moore in the middle rounds. In PPR leagues, DO look for Danny Amendola and Davone Bess as your WR4.

      DO target Mike Tolbert or Tim Hightower if you need a RB3 in the 7th/8th rounds. Both players are likely to outperform their current ADP (Average Draft Position).

      DO spend a 12th/13th rounder on Terrell Owens — he’ll land somewhere early in the season and get WR1/WR2 targets the rest of the way.

      DON’T waste a pick on Randy Moss. He may very well come out of retirement, but he proved last season that he can’t acclimate to new teams very well.

      DO look to snag Greg Olsen, Jared Cook or Brent Celek as your TE2. DON’T draft Chris Cooley, who is dealing with a troublesome knee injury. DO think about his backup, Fred Davis, in the later rounds.

      If you’re in a league with many/unlimited transactions, DON’T draft a defense before the 13th round. Target the Patriots if the Packers, Eagles, Jets and Steelers are all gone. If you miss out on NE, DO utilize Defensive Team By Committee or Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (which will be a weekly feature at 4for4).

      DON’T pick a kicker before the 15th round. Target guys who kick for teams with good offenses like Stephen Gostkowski, Alex Henery, Garrett Hartley and Adam Vinatieri. Josh Brown, Matt Bryant and Neil Rackers are good sleepers.

      Finally, DO sign up at 4for4.com, where I’ll be posting my waiver picks, DTBWW and more on a weekly basis. Readers who use this link to subscribe will have a better chance of getting their questions answered during the season. Click here for details.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL

      Michael Vick creates some trouble for Roger Goodell

      August 18, 2011 /
      Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick takes the field to play the Green Bay Packers in their NFC Wild Card NFL playoff football game in Philadelphia, January 9, 2011. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      If what Michael Vick recently told GQ is true, then NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has some explaining to do.

      In an interview published by GQ’s website, Vick told Will Leitch that he was persuaded by Goodell to play for the Eagles instead of the Bills or Bengals.

      “I think I can say this now, because it’s not going to hurt anybody’s feelings, and it’s the truth,” Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. “I didn’t want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options.” Those two teams wanted him and would’ve allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. “And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation.”

      I think it’s rather humorous that Vick commended and thanked the people he just threw into the controversial spotlight. Because under no circumstances should Goodell, or anyone else in the NFL front office for that matter, be steering any player to or away from any team.

      Did it work out for Vick? Yes. Did it work out for the Eagles? Yes. Did it work out for the NFL? Yes. But what about the Bills and Bengals? Why did Goodell feel the need to steer Vick away from those two organizations?

      The obvious answer is because Vick was just released from prison and needed a stable environment. Andy Reid and the Eagles provided the structure that Vick desperately needed. If you want to argue against the notion that Cincinnati would have been an unstable situation, Google “Carson Palmer retirement” and you’ll get all the proof you need that Vick was better off landing in Philadelphia. Had someone polled fans across the nation asking which team (CIN, PHI or BUF) would provide the best environment for Vick, it would stand to reason that the majority of fans would choose Philadelphia.

      But Goodell isn’t a fan. He’s the commissioner, which means he should be hands off when it comes to players choosing what teams they want to sign with. I realize he may have only been trying to help Vick, but imagine if he had a hand in telling Nnamdi Asomugha or Julius Peppers where to sign. The whole situation sounds shady.

      Either way, it’s water under the bridge now. Goodell and the league will catch some heat for this, but nothing is going to change. Vick is still in Philadelphia, where he makes the Eagles legit Super Bowl contenders. Meanwhile, Bills and Bengals fans can share in more misery, although they can save their whining about Vick. At the time, I’m sure there were plenty of people in Buffalo and Cincinnati who pleaded with their teams not to sign “that dog killer.”

      External Sports, NFL

      Kevin Love: “…we’re going to miss games.”

      August 17, 2011 /
      Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love smiles during a timeout in the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors in the Target Center in Minneapolis January 29, 2011. Love scored 21 points, and the Timberwolves won over the Raptors. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      Kevin Love commented on the recent NBA/NBAPA meetings, per ESPN…

      The consensus coming out of an NBA players regional meeting attended by nearly 60 players Tuesday was that the current offer from the owners is unacceptable, especially the call for a hard salary cap.

      “I want to play basketball,” Love said. “I want us — the players — to sign a great deal. I want us to make a compromise with the owners but not sign what they’re proposing. We’ll play hardball if we have to. I want there to be an NBA season but it’s also apparent that we’re going to miss games.”

      Love said the players don’t want to see years cut off guaranteed contracts and are not pleased with a proposal that they could lose money if not playing up to their contracts. He also said that the proposed revenue split (50-50, rather than the 57-43 split in favor of players) is unacceptable.

      Love said the main issue was the proposed hard cap of $62 million. Love called it a poor idea that would cause mayhem because only a few players would get a high salary, with everyone else getting the lower end of the wage scale or the league minimum.

      Okay, so the players don’t want a hard cap (which works great in the NFL) or non-guaranteed salaries (which means players will lose money if they underperform — unacceptable!), and a more even revenue split isn’t going to work.

      Sigh.

      External Sports, NBA, News

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