2009 Fantasy Football Draft: Jamal Lewis

Jamal Lewis is practicing this week at Browns minicamp after undergoing offseason ankle surgery. The procedure removed bone spurs, just like the surgery Lewis had in Jan. 2007.

2009 Fantasy Football Draft: Although Lewis had his moments in 2008, his backlog of ankle problems, declining ability to turn the corner, age (30 before the season), and cliff-dropping YPC are all red flags for 2009.

Released: J.J. Arrington

The Denver Broncos have released tailback J.J. Arrington after he failed a physical due to a right knee issue.

Arrington was one of three veteran tailbacks the Broncos brought in during the offseason, along with Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan. The team had placed seven running backs on injured reserve last season.

The Broncos also selected Knowshon Moreno with the 12th pick in the draft to bolster the backfield.

Arrington signed a four-year deal worth about $10 million in early March. He figured to be a third-down specialist for the Broncos in 2009, a role similar to the one he played last season for the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals.

49ers Add Bly to Replace Injured Harris

The San Francisco 49ers announced today the signing of veteran CB Dre' Bly to a one-year contract.

"We lost a Pro Bowl caliber player in Walt Harris this week, and we were able to fill that void today with another Pro Bowler in Dre' Bly," said general manager Scot McCloughan. "We added a player with a passion for the game, tremendous productivity and proven durability who knows what it takes to compete at a high level in the NFL. It was important to get Dre' in here quickly so that he can get acquainted with our system, our coaches and his new teammates."

Bly (5-10, 188) enters his 11th season after originally being drafted in the second round (41st overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams out of North Carolina. A two-time Pro Bowler (2003-04), Bly's 40 interceptions since entering the league in 1999 mark the fourth-highest total among all NFL players, while his 18 forced fumbles are the most among cornerbacks during that span.

"It was an opportunity for me to step in and have a chance to compete," Bly said during his conference call with the Bay Area media. "At this point in my career, being successful like I've been, it's not about money it's about opportunity. It was the first opportunity for me to come in and compete."

Bly most recently spent two seasons as a member of the Denver Broncos, where he led the team with two interceptions in 2008 and five interceptions in 2007. He joined Denver via trade from the Detroit Lions, where he spent four seasons (2003-06) totaling 19 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles and 82 passes defensed. Bly started his career with the St. Louis Rams (1999-2002), helping the club win Super Bowl XXXIV as a rookie and to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001.

The Chesapeake, VA, native has played in 151 games (111 starts) and totaled 538 tackles, 159 passes defensed, 40 interceptions (five returned for touchdowns), 18 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and four sacks in his career. Bly finished his career at North Carolina as the first player in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference to earn consensus All-America honors three times.

A Bigger and Badder Adrian Peterson?

One of Adrian Peterson's primary focuses during the offseason, OTA's, and early training camp remains on increasing his weight. He expressed a desire last winter to gain 7 to 12 pounds this offseason but said Wednesday after the Vikings' second day of Organized Team Activities that he weighs about 216 or 217 pounds. He finished last season at 217 and still wants to get to 225 to help him withstand the wear and tear of the season.

Peterson has been consulting with Vikings strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy on a plan to get bigger in his thighs and upper body without adding fat. One thing that doesn't worry Peterson is the possibility he could slow himself down.

"(That is) not a concern at all. I hear it a lot, but my mind-set and how I view things is totally different from a lot of people," he said. "I've come to understand that and recognize that. I feel I can do anything I put my mind to."

2009 Fantasy Football Draft: AP is going to be the number one back on a lot of draft boards!

This May Be The Funniest Thing Ever!

The AP Reports: Oh-oh, Ocho. The Bengals' top receiver has yet another name.

The NFL had agreed to let the player formerly known as Chad Johnson wear his new name on the back of his jersey this season. There’s one catch for the receiver: It’s not exactly how he wanted it.

Instead of Ocho Cinco, he'll be Ochocinco.

The receiver legally changed his name in Florida last August. He asked the league and the media to call him Chad Ocho Cinco, a two-word nickname he had adopted referring to his No. 85.

The Bengals complied, but the NFL balked. It said the receiver would have to pay for the large inventory of "Johnson" jerseys that Reebok stocked for the season-ones that would be a tough sell-before he could switch. The receiver declined, choosing to play the season under his old name.

The league has agreed to let him wear his new name this year, but it will be rendered as "Ochocinco" because that's how he wrote it when he submitted his name-change form in Florida.

"It's his legal name," AFC information manager Corry Rush said Thursday.

The receiver said last year that he wanted his name to be "Ocho Cinco." Neither he nor his agent returned phone messages Thursday to discuss the name being one word instead of two. He was still selling shirts and other gear under the "Ocho Cinco" name on his Web site.

Makes me think of the Forrest Gump quote "Stupid is as stupid does."

He should have stuck with something simple like...Mister 2 (or was that Mister2, Mr2,or missed-her-too?)

2009 Fantasy Football Draft: The Life Of Brian?

There's been "breaking news" out on the Internet saying that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Brian Griese could be let go by the end of the week.

Shocking! Anyone who follows the Bucs at all has known (since before the draft I might add) that Griese was not going to be part of this team this year.

It's well known that Griese was 'Jon Gruden's quarterback.' Griese may still be a decent NFL quarterback, but he's not the quarterback of the future - or anything else resembling 'upside' like the Bucs are looking for.

I believe the only reason Tampa didn't dump him during the Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, Warrick Dunn, Ike Hilliard and Cato June purge was because they held out a glimmer of hope of trying to get something in return for him.

That's not likely - but they're still holding out hope. Hope, in spite of being turned down on trade offers that went out before, during and after the draft.

The only thing anyone with Tampa Bay really does know is that Griese's fate was sealed the day Gruden was fired.

2009 Fantasy Football Draft: Not to be cold-blooded but... Griese has never been a quality Fantasy Football #1 - nor will he be anytime in what is left of his career.

Jason Taylor Rebuffs Pats and Jets - Likes Fish

Jason Taylor "returned" to the Dolphins on Wednesday, turning down the temptations of more money and grander promises from the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

Some say "He's back home, where he belongs," because his family and his hometown are more important than the lure of Broadway's lights or a Patriots-engraved Super Bowl ring. I don't know how true that is - but it is clear that he returns humbled, motivated, underpaid, and ready to help the team he (apparently) loves.

Taylor accepted a bargain-rate contract to play for the Dolphins. He basically forced his way out of Washington this offseason and forfeited his $8.5 million salary in the process. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder reportedly flew to South Florida and met with Taylor at Joe's Stone Crab to try to convince the player to stay with the Redskins. It didn't work.

"Look, if Jason was going to play it was going to be with Miami," agent Gary Wichard said. "That's how he wanted it."

Taylor turned down promises of a bigger contract offer from the Patriots and didn't even let the Jets or Packers get deep enough in conversations to talk money.

The Dolphins all-time sack king just wanted to come home and sign a below-market one-year deal worth $1.1 million plus $400,000 in incentives.

Eagles Starting TE Is Who?

Brent Celek, TE: There is no question now that he's the starter on offense. Last season, Celek assumed the starting job late in the season and finished with a career-high 27 catches for 318 yards in the regular season. But it was the playoffs where he shined with 19 catches for 151 yards and three touchdowns.

We all know that he had an outstanding performance in the NFC title game with 10 catches for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns. And of course, everyone wants to know about his blocking. Well, his rookie season of 2007 was hampered by a shoulder injury that didn't get fixed until the off-season. With the surgery in January of 2008, Celek wasn't able to effectively workout in the off-season. Now he's healthy, he's spent the entire off-season in Philadelphia and is ready to go.

Leon Lett: Keeping His Word

We here at Statleader.com are not afraid to bash (and often do) NFL superstars and wannabees that make fools of themselves. However, we also want to pass on the good stories that happen!

The Dallas Morning News reports that on Saturday, Leon Lett will earn his degree in university studies with an emphasis in sociology and history from UNLV, fulfilling a promise he made to his mother, Rachel, when he attended Emporia State.

"I was the only child in my family to not have a college degree so this is something I've promised my mom that I would do," said Lett in a statement from UNLV. "I also do a lot of public speaking in schools and I want to be a role model for these kids. I get a lot of questions about education and now I can say that I graduated from college."

Lett was a two-time Pro Bowler and was on all three of the Super Bowl teams in the 1990s. He played his last season in 2001 for Denver. When his playing career ended he was involved in the home-building business but wanted to get back into football after attending the 2008 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He visited his former line coach, Andre Patterson, at UNLV and decided to get back into school.

"I ran into some of my old NFL teammates and friends who are now coaching. We started talking football and it felt really good. But I knew I needed to finish my college degree to get involved."

Favre / Vikings Update 5-7-09

Reports are Vikings coach Brad Childress could be headed to Mississippi today to meet with Brett Favre. But Favre's agent didn't seem to get the memo, and Childress was seen entering Winter Park (definitely NOT in Mississippi) around 7 a.m. Thursday.

Reports are that Childress and Favre, who got to know each other during their time in Wisconsin, met for dinner in Mississippi last night so Childress could find out how serious Favre is about coming back to pro football again -- and playing for the Vikings.

According to the same unidentified source, the pair is supposed to meet again today to continue their discussions.

Favre's long-time agent Bus Cook says his client is still retired, and "to his knowledge" the meeting reports of Childress checking on Favre and his injured arm aren't true.

The team hasn't contacted him, and neither has Favre.

Vikings fans remain obsessed with the possibility of getting Favre and sticking it to the Green Bay Packers, but few answers are available as of yet.

UPDATE: Yahoo is reporting that the Minnesota Vikings will not sign free agent quarterback Brett Favre.

In a phone call that took place sometime in the last day, the source said Favre told Vikings coach Brad Childress that he wanted to remain retired. Favre is expected to publicly explain his decision soon.

Favre, who announced his first retirement in March 2008 after spending 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, decided to resume his career last summer and was traded to the New York Jets in August. After one season in New York, Favre retired again and was subsequently released by the Jets on April 29.

Just days after his release from the Jets, speculation began that the Vikings were interested in bringing in a veteran to compete with Sage Rosenfels(notes), who was acquired this offseason from the Houston Texans. Rosenfels is atop the depth chart heading into training camp, with Tarvaris Jackson and John David Booty(notes) also on the roster.

Favre's Master Plan Comes To Fruition?

Vikings' head coach Brad Childress is expected to meet with quarterback Brett Favre tonight and Thursday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The in-depth portion of the meeting is expected to take place Thursday. Among the Vikings' chief concerns is the status of Favre's injured right biceps. At this point, the meeting is expected to take place in Mississippi, where Favre lives.

Favre was granted his release from the Jets' reserve/retired list last week and thus is free to sign with any team he wants.

Favre announced his retirement for a second consecutive offseason in February after a season with the Jets. Favre retired in March 2008 from the Packers but later changed his mind indicating that he was 'forced' to make a decision. (Now we know why that was a problem - he doesn't appear to have the capacity.)

The Packers did not want him back and at that point he set his sights on playing for the Vikings. The Packers made sure that didn’t happen by trading Favre to New York.

Was this Favre's plan all along?; or am I just a conspiracy theorist? I'll let you decide for yourself!

UPDATE: Let It All Hang Out!: National Felons League Style

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Biren Ealy and tight end Kolomona Kapanui were charged Sunday with obscenity, disturbing the peace and lewd conduct for allegedly being drunk, urinating in public and exposing themselves.

Two women, who weren't identified, were riding in a vehicle when they reportedly saw Ealy and Kapanui urinating in the parking lot of an apartment complex around 12:42 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

One of the women told Ealy to stop. Authorities said Ealy turned around while exposing himself and began making lewd comments. Moments later, Kapanui allegedly exposed himself to the driver of the vehicle and made lewd comments, the sheriff’s office said.

"We are aware of the situation," said team spokesman Greg Bensel. "Our security department is working with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office on this matter. We will have no further comment."

Ealy, 6-foot-3, 207-pound receiver, and Kapanui, a 6-3, 270-pound tight end, were acquired this year as free agents. Kapanui, a native of Palolo, Hawaii, is in his first season with Saints after playing at West Texas A&M. Ealy, who is from Clarksville, Tenn., is a two-year pro who played at Houston and for the Tennessee Titans in 2007.

Update: The New Orleans Saints cut receiver Biren Ealy and tight end Kolomona Kapanui on Tuesday, two days after the young players were arrested for allegedly being drunk and exposing themselves to two women in the parking lot of a suburban apartment complex where they live.

The pair were arrested early Sunday morning in River Ridge by Jefferson Parish authorities, who booked the two players with obscenity, disturbing the peace and lewd conduct.

Stafford Not Number 1 After All?

You can be picked #1 - but in Detroit, you have to take that job from Daunte Culpepper!

After three days of rookie minicamp, Lions coach Jim Schwartz would commit to ranking Rookie QB Matthew Stafford's position on the depth chart.

Stafford said he didn't know where he ranked and was more interested in improving.

But general manager Martin Mayhew, though noting it is early in the off-season, conceded that veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper would be considered the starter right now.

"He's a pro, and I trust Daunte," Mayhew said. "He's got a lot of ability, and I anticipate that if we had something to do today, Daunte would be the guy today. But we've got a lot of time to work, and we'll see how it goes."

Stafford said he was not concerned with the depth chart.