1. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) @ Detroit – The only rush defense worse than the Browns, is Detroits. The Lions just got lit up by Mike Bell. In other words expect Adrian to run all over Detroit almost the same as he ran over the Browns. It would be shocking if AD didn’t eclipse 125 yards and have at least 2 TDs.
2. Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. New Orleans – McNabb is out for week 2, most likely. If that is the case the entire offense will go through Westy. Beautiful. The only way to stop Drew Brees from throwing touchdowns is keeping him on the sideline. I don’t think the Saints defense is good enough to stop BW. So look for Westy to rack up around 120 yards and a TD.
3. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina – Remember the last time Turner played Carolina. 117 yards and 4 TDs. Turner and the Falcons rushing attack will get back on track this week. 4 TDs? No. 2? Yes.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Arizona – The Cardinals offense struggled last week. But they won’t play like that every week. The only way to stop them is keep them off the field. MJD is set up to have a nice day this week. Even though Arizona held Gore and company in check. 115 and at least 1 TD
5. Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis – In week 1 Seattle ran all over the Rams. Portis had a decent game against a tough Giants defense with 70 yards. Clinton will be allover St. Louis this week. Look for 115 yrds and a TD.
6. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) vs. Houston – After a rough start to 2009 against Pittsburgh, Johnson gets to run against an entirely new and softer defense. Houston was abused by Thomas Jones and Leon Washington last week, as Jones had 2 long runs. CJ is faster and may have a couple 40 yarders waiting for him. 115/1 [click to continue…]
1. Adrian Peterson (Vikings) @ Cleveland – Peterson opens up with a favorable run starting with the Browns in week 1. Cleveland’s defense was brutal last year. Even if they got better, they will still be pretty brutal. All Day should light up the Browns All Day, HA!
2. LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) @ Oakland – LT is not the same LT as years past, but he still a stud with a sweet matchup in week 1. The Raiders rush defense leaves plenty to be desired and LT has killed them in the past.
3. Michael Turner (Falcons) vs. Miami - The burner was the free agent signing of the decade for the Falcons. Atlanta brought in Tony Gonzalez and that will help open up lanes for Turner. Miami’s defense is ok against the run, but not good enough to hold MT down.
4. Steven Jackson (Rams) @ Seattle – Jackson might be on a terrible team, but he is far from a terrible back, and the Seahawks rush defense is far from good. So as far as I can tell, Jackson should in for a fine day, even though the game takes place in Seattle.
QB Mark Sanchez outperformed QB Kellen Clemensduring the team’s scrimmage Thursday, Aug. 6, possibly giving a slight edge in the team’s quarterback competition. Head coach Rex Ryan said, “I wanted to see poise. I also wanted to see the accuracy that he showed.”
Shonn Greeneflashed some of the play-making ability in Thursday’s intrasquad scrimmage that the Jets envisioned when they traded up to grab him in the third round of the draft. The rookie running back displayed his power and quickness in the team’s first game simulation. Greene, who appears like he’ll challenge incumbent Thomas Jones, had a nifty 11-yard run against the first-team defense in the first quarter.
Woody Johnson didn’t definitely say that the organization would get a new contract forLeon Washington before the start of the regular season. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, Washington will be a restricted free agent next season, which means that the team could sign him to a much cheaper qualifying offer. But Johnson said he remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached.
“We’re showing him love,” Johnson said after the Jets’ Green & White scrimmage. “We can only do what we can do. Unfortunately, the year we’re in is one of those weird anomalies that happens every 20 years. But we love Leon. Leon’s a great player. He’s one of our best players. We’re trying our hardest to get something (done)… Until it happens, it hasn’t happened.”
Jets running back Thomas Jones is in the house this morning. Last week, Jones’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on his Twitter account that Jones would show up Wednesday and he has. Jones, however, didn’t get the new contract he sought as the Jets stood firm on not reworking his four-year, $20 million deal in which he collected $13.1 million in the first two years.
Meanwhile, the other disgruntled running back, Leon Washington, didn’t report today, continuing his boycott into Week 3. No surprise there, as the Jets and Washington remain far apart in contract negotiations. Washington remains fixated on getting a deal similar to Maurice Jones-Drew’s.
A major decision in the lawsuit of Minnesota Vikings players Pat and Kevin Williams was reached late Friday. It appears the suspensions will now be enforced for three New Orleans Saints players who sued along with Pat and Kevin Williams.
Jets RB Thomas Jones won’t be getting a restructured contract, it was reported earlier this week that Jones would end his boycott and report to OTA’s next Wednesday. But, it won’t be with a new deal.
Steelers left tackle Max Starks, and the team are far apart on contract negotiations. ”It appears to be at a standstill,” Starks said. “I thought I was a priority before. Then, they did James Harrison’s deal when he had one year left. So apparently, I’m a lower man on the totem pole than I thought.”
Browns WR Braylon Edwards says he doesn’t want to leave Cleveland. ”I didn’t get excited [about the rumors],” he said. “One, they were rumors and there was nothing to hold on to. And two, I felt like if I would have left Cleveland for any reason, I would have left with a bad taste in my mouth. “I wanted to get back to playing good football, definitely here. It’s a business and who knows what’s going to happen next year. But for me, it was just about getting back to what I know I can do and being the player the Browns drafted in ‘05 and that the fans saw in ‘07.”
The NFL has formally opened an investigation into charges by the Tennessee Titans that the Washington Redskins tampered with defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth before the start of free agency in February.
Cardinals QB Kurt Warner thinks Anquan Boldin will come back to the Cardinals. “I feel pretty good he’s going to be with us,” Warner said. “The real question is, is he going to be happy? Are they going to be able to work something out, even in the short term, so he comes back and is excited about football.” Warner said he’s trying to tell the organization how important Boldin is to the team. “There’s no question Larry [Fitzgerald] is a better player because Anquan is there,” Warner said.
Patriots RB Fred Taylorskipped some of the “voluntary” organized team activities the last two years with the Jaguars. But with his new team he is attending all workouts. ”This is all voluntary,” he said. “If I’m going to be able to play with the guys that are on the team, then you volunteer to come in and try to not get ahead, but not be behind, not get yelled at too much. I decided to come out here with the rookies and the other guys returning to the team. It’s fun getting to know my teammates, getting to know all the different faces around here, the coaches.”
