Banks in/Hightower out

As cut day continues, word from Redskins Park is that Brandon Banks has made the roster but Tim Hightower has been released.

Retaining Banks isn't much of a surprise given his ability to return the ball and how he showed this during preseason.

The apparent release of Hightower is a mild surprise.  I think coming into camp he had a hold on the starting job but with the emergence of Morris and young guys like Helu and Royster it made Hightower, who was coming off of an ACL injury, expendable.  I am good with the move.  Hightower is still recovering and the other guys are younger and capable so why not release the older Hightower.

No other real notables that have been cut.  Apparently they have released 15 players and have another 7 to notify.  I'm sure it's a stressful day for those on the bubble.

Lance Armstrong is a cheater

After more than a decade of outrunning accusations that he had doped during his cycling career, Lance Armstrong, one of the most well-known and accomplished athletes in history, finally surrendered on Thursday, etching a dark mark on his legacy by ending his fight against charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong, who won the Tour de France an unprecedented seven straight times, said Thursday that he would not continue to fight the charges levied against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which contended that he doped and was one of the ringleaders of systematic doping on his Tour-winning teams.
"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough,' " Armstrong said in a statement, adding that his decision is not an admission of drug use but a refusal to enter an arbitration process he believes is improper and unfair to athletes facing charges.

"The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today — finished with this nonsense."

His decision means he will be stripped of his Tour titles (1999 to 2006), the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympics and all other titles, awards and money he won from August 1998 on.

It also means he will be barred for life from competing, coaching or having any official role with any Olympic sport or other sport that follows the World Anti-Doping Code.

Armstrong says USADA doesn't have the authority to vacate his Tour titles. USADA chief executive Travis Tygart thinks otherwise.

Tygart called the Armstrong case a "heartbreaking" example of a win-at-all costs approach.

I'm sure many of the cyclists during his reign were doing the same thing but that doesn't make it right.

If Armstrong truly was innocent, he would fight to the end to prove his innocence.  If I were truly innocent, I am not going to allow anyone tarnish my name and legacy.  I will not allow anyone strip me of my titles.  I would do whatever it took.  I can only imagine that most people (particularly competitive athletes) would want to do the same.  For me, by giving up, he is admitting his guilt. 

CEAFOD draft results

I had the #1 overall pick (would have actually preferred a pick more in the middle of draft) and ended up with Arian Foster.  I remember a couple of years ago when I drafted him, Deepie said, "Who?"  Funny how he is a consensus #1 overall pick in draft rankings.

I like the makeup of my team.  I feel like I did a good job with the draft.  Last year was a down year for me and it all started with the draft.  I remember walking away from the draft last year feeling disappointed.  I felt like I got caught up in the Eagle "dream team" talk (took Vick) and falling into what the "pundits" were saying and didn't go with my gut.  It hurt me in the end.

This year I went more with my heart and I feel good with my team.

My RBs include Foster and Doug Martin who I hope is this year's Arian Foster.  Reviews for him are good as he can run, catch, and block so he seems like an every down back.  Blount has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff so I am looking for big things from Martin.

QB is E. Manning.  I don't really like Manning but he is a pretty good points producer and has proven that he is one of the better QBs in the league.  He is clutch and he has good weapons with Cruz and Nicks on his team.

WRs include Julio Jones who I think will have a breakout year this year.  He has been great in preseason and with White getting double teams, Jones will have mismatches on his side.  Other WR is Eric Decker who by all accounts has developed a good repoire with P. Manning so I'm hoping he has a breakout year as well.

TE is Tony Gonzalez.  He is long in the tooth but he is still productive and I've heard Hotlanta is looking to be more of a passing/attacking type of offense so hopefully we see a lot of Gonzo.  Backup TE is Jacob Tamme who like Decker has developed good chemistry with Manning and hopefully Tamme becomes the second coming of Dallas Clarke.

I also have Michael Bush who should steal carries from Forte and also be a good short down back so hopefully gets the TDs instead of Forte.  Cedric Benson who has been productive and who should start for the Packers at least to open the season.  Pierre Garcon who I think is primed for a big year.  I know he wants to prove he is a true number on wideout and I think the Shannys want to show that he is too.  RG3 has the arm to get him the ball, we'll see if Garcon can accommodate.

Not thrilled with NE as my defense but I went into the draft knowing I would sacrifice on defense.  I will probably end up swapping out my defense regularly over the course of the season.  Washington is my backup defense and I like their front seven.  The question with them is the secondary.  If the secondary proves to be stronger than expected this could be a good defense particularly with Banks as a return man.

Other notables include Flacco as backup QB, Nate Burleson WR, and Felix Jones at RB.  Don't expect much from Jones this season so doubt he will see the field much.

I face defending champion Robs in the opener and I'm looking forward to reclaiming my spot as the top team in the CEAFOD league.  Will be a good test and we'll make sure we are ready.

Good luck to all this year!

Cut down day

It's a tough day for many in the NFL.

For the Skins, the guys that are most interesting include guys at WR - particularly Banks and Armstrong and see who will make it.  I think Banks will make it as the team will carry 6 WRs and how often will the 6th WR see action as a WR.  Banks has done enough to warrant a spot as a kickoff/punt return specialist.

Also, interested in the RB spot as I'm not sure if the Skins will carry four RBs (not including fullbacks).  Morris, Hightower, Helu, and Royster have all performed well in camp so it will be interesting to see if the Skins hold on to all these guys.  They may end up trying to trade one of them.

I'm also interested in DB Richard Crawford.  I think he has done enough to get a spot and he seems like he could be a solid special teamer so hopefully he makes the team.

We'll find out later today.

CEAFOD Draft Day!

It all starts tonight with the draft. 

Robs dominated the league last year and is looking to repeat.  Scott and JSR were both solid.  Deepie and I had more of a down year.

I was not satisfied with my draft at all last season and need to do a better job of scouting my players. 

Good luck to all!

Skins final preseason game tonight

So no starters are going to play tonight but it's still an interesting game to watch as the team needs to cut down to the mandatory 53 man roster by Friday and we are currently at around 75 players so guys will be fighting for their jobs.

Key position battles that will be interesting to watch include:

1. WR where there is an abundance of guys and only 1 or 2 spots available so we'll see who comes through. 

2. RB where we still don't have a clear number 1 RB.  Will be good to see more of Morris, Helu, and Royster to see what they can do.

3. Secondary.  We just traded away Kevin Barnes which I had no issue with.  I want to see more of Richard Crawford who had a nice preseason so want to see if he can continue his solid play.

Specifically, I am interested in seeing what Brandon Banks and Anthony Armstrong can do at WR.

I also want to see both Rexy and Cuz play and if Cuz can make some ground up to be the 2nd string QB.  I don't think that will happen.  I think the veteran Rexy has that position locked up.  Although if the season is tanked, I wouldn't mind seeing what we have in Cuz.

I also want to see Chris Baker in at NT.  I like that guy and want to see what he and some of the other backups on the defensive front seven can do (namely L. Alexander, Chris Wilson, Rob Jackson, etc.).

It's a tough time for these guys as they are fighting hard and a couple of plays tonight can be the difference between making the roster and looking for work next week. 

Cooley released!

The Washington Redskins released tight end Chris Cooley Tuesday, announcing after Tuesday’s practice that the nine-year veteran--one of the most popular and recognizable players on the team--is being given the chance to find a starting job elsewhere.

Cooley said he believes he still can be a productive NFL player but it would be difficult for him to play for another team.

“I’ll take some time and make sure what I do in the future is exactly what I want to do,” Cooley said.
“It’s been awesome,” he added.

Cooley said he leaves with no hard feelings toward the organization.

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said: “We know how much Chris has meant to this organization and this community.”

Cooley wants to be a starter, Shanahan said, and the coach told him that Fred Davis is the Redskins’ starter at tight end. The team is giving Cooley an opportunity to seek a starting job elsewhere, Shanahan said.

“I think he’s earned that right,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan said the two sides did not discuss Cooley’s contract. The tight end, who has filled in at fullback with starter Darrel Young injured, would have counted more than $6 million against the salary cap this season if he had remained with the team.

On his Twitter account, Cooley wrote, "Im very fortunate to have played for a team and a fan base that have embraced me like they have. This team changed my life."

It's tough because Cooley was a great Redskin.  He was a solid player but he was supportive of the team no matter what.  He seemed like a great locker room guy but the fact of the matter was that he was not going to start and he was expensive. 

It will be interesting to see if Cooley hooks up with another team.  I don't doubt he can play and will generate some interest but I really don't think Cooley wants to go any where else at this point in his career.