Pre-Season Recap Week 3

NFL Pre-Season Recap Week 3

Added on Sep 01, 2010 by Eric Galko in

NFL

In what was likely one of the final serious pre-season weeks (if they even exist) before starters are all but shunned from the game, we know a little bit more about the landscape of the soon starting NFL season.

With a quarterback position battle in Arizona starting to seize headlines, injuries hurting contending teams’ secondaries, a former Pro Bowler stuck behind bars, and team’s cutting and adding talent to deal with injuries and emerging starters, it’s been an exciting we in NFL based on storylines.

Anderson Now the Starter and Leinart Now on the Block?
Starting the season, it wasn’t surprising to see fantasy owners project Matt Leinart as a solid fantasy backup. I mean, he’s got one of the top three receivers in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald, a host of weapons opposite him, a solid running game, good offensive line, and a great offensive minded coach.

But, it looks like Leinart won’t be at the helm of that potential playoff offense. Derek Anderson, off-season addition from the Browns, has been willing to throw the ball downfield, something Leinart has been almost terrified to do consistently. Anderson is a lot more like Big Ben than Leinart, and Whisenhunt had great success with Big Ben in Pittsburgh.

Leinart has been linked to the Bills, Raiders, and Giants. So far only the Bills have denied interest. And notice no Seahawks there. Not even his old coach Pete Carroll wants him.

Al Harris, Atari Bigby on the PUP List
The Packers have probably one of the most under rated defenses in the NFL, and last year were hovering right around the Top 10. Alot of that has to do with the leagues most veteran-laden and one of the most overall talented secondaries.

However, to start the season, two starters won’t be on the field. Al Harris, one of the best press cornerbacks in recent NFL years, as well as safety starter Atari Bigby on the PUP list. This means that they are likely out at least a few weeks, and if they are not taken off by Week 8, they are placed on IR.

Leigh Bodden on the IR with a Torn Rotator Cuff Injury
Speaking of the IR, the Patriots aren’t having too much luck protecting their secondary as they lead up to the season. Coming into 2010-2011, the Patriots didn’t have a defense that wowed anyone on paper. One of their best defensive players is Leigh Bodden. But not for this season.

Bodden will be out the whole year, which means that rookie Devin McCourtey and 2nd year player Darius Butler will be slotted as the starters. Both are very talented, but both maybe aren’t ready to man starting positions consistently without a lot of help.

Plaxico Burress Stuck in Jail, No Work Release
Plaxico Burress should have been bolstering his case to be a Hall of Fame type of receiver by now. But one misfire into his leg has put Burress behind bars. And as he tried to apply for work release and maybe get back to the NFL, he will be still be behind bars.

He was denied work release, and will be forced to serve out the rest of his sentence in jail. This could be as much as two more years. This means that Burress, who could have played in 2011-2012 if he was granted this work release, might as well call his career in the NFL quits.

The Ravens Finally Get a Cornerback, Josh Wilson from Seattle
With tons of injuries in the secondary for the Ravens (good news is that Ed Reed may play week one), the Ravens have been searching the market for a cornerback. And they finally found one.

Josh Wilson, former 2nd round pick four years ago from Maryland and a player I feel could be a starter in the right situation, was obtained by the Ravens from Seattle in exchange for a 5th round pick. Wilson probably won’t come in as a starter right away, but by the first few weeks, he could get meaningful playing time on the outside.

Derrick Ward Cut, Opens Door for Kareem Huggins
Derrick Ward was a strange signing for the Bucs two off-season’s ago, as he was an aging back on a team building for the long-term future. Still, he was slotted to be one of the two main backs. Now, he’s slotted to be off the team. Ward has been cut by the Bucs.

This really opens the door for undrafted rookie Kareem Huggins, who has wowed people I’ve talked to since before training camp, and now he could be splitting time with Cadillac Williams early and often this season.