Monday, June 18, 2012

Keep One Eye Open: On Ronnie Brown

by Matt Prendergast


 Keep One Eye Open is a series of quick notes on players that ReclinerQB.com is pointing out that maybe, just maybe, you should put in your 'Players To Watch' queue, wherever your league may be hosted. These aren't guys that we're saying you should draft come fantasy league time; in fact, you probably shouldn't. These are guys to keep in your holster with a watchful eye, because there's some potential that you might want to take a roll on them at week three, five or seven when your sleeper guys are revealed to be 'the dead weight they've always been'.


You all know Ronnie Brown, right? The man who truly made The Pro Wildcat a workable idea for a couple of years there -  a punishing, multi-faceted runner with great passion for the game and a nose for the end zone! At times unstoppable, there were weeks where RB could put the whole Dolphin team on his back and run to glory. And then usually this would happen:

He's actually carrying these three guys -  good teammate.


Oh, and this down here:



'That's why we stress 'stretching' pre-game, Ronnie!'

But hey, everybody gets a little dinged up sometimes right? What is Ronnie Brown supposed to be, some sort of Iron Man? It hardly seems fair to label a guy as 'injury prone' when it's only a couple of minor - oh, I almost forgot about the broken hand.

In the interest of full disclosure
Okay, so the guy only got through three complete seasons out of his six in Miami. So what? That's two more than Chad Pennington ever gave them, and in the history of Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks, I think it's evident to everyone that Chad Pennington was one of them. And what thanks did Ronnie get? He got the undying appreciation that management gives a rough-and-tumble fighter who keeps getting up off the mat to fight another round: He got replaced by Reggie Bush. That probably hurt the worst.

So last year, Ronnie Brown went to Philadelphia as part of their plan to built a giant Voltron Eagle that could win the Super Bowl in three games or less and defend our planet. That worked out terrific for him, with a career highlight of 'almost being traded to the Detroit Lions for their third or fourth best running back that year, whom the Eagles traded away the year before, and who had a brain tumor. And also, the Iggles had to kick in a draft pick'. A dismal turn of events for our Mr. Brown.

But this year, Ronnie's got two full seasons of good health in a row under his belt, and he's gracefully accepted the position of 'the guy behind Ryan Matthews'. The same Ryan Matthews who also hasn't submitted an entire 16 game season for review in his two years as the Chargers 'gonna-be-workhorse'. Now, I'm all for a healthy season for Matthews - I'm gonna be aiming to draft him whenever possible....but if that fella goes down, I'd be ecstatic to have Ronnie Brown in my back pocket to pick up the yards and scores for a month or so - he's got the talent, and a lot of miles left on the warranty.

So file Ronnie Brown under 'possible late-round handcuff that you can probably just pick up in week 5 if you don't feel like killing that roster spot for a month'.


Which leaves us with only one remaining question; WHY in the effing eff eff, when I Google Image Searched for 'Ronnie Brown Hurt', did I receive this visual present:

Answer: There is no God.



Follow Matt @AmazingMattyP on Twitter. Do it now. The people have spoken.


Also be sure to follow the rest of the ReclinerQB crew, Bobby Shores - THE ReclinerQBSonny Prier J.R. SheppardCorey DoironChristie MacMarcus Wyche, and Josh.




Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Keep One Eye Open: On Jerome Simpson

by Matt Prendergast


Keep One Eye Open is a series of quick notes on players that ReclinerQB.com is pointing out that maybe, just maybe, you should put in your 'Players To Watch' queue, wherever your league may be hosted. These aren't guys that we're saying you should draft come fantasy league time; in fact, you probably shouldn't. These are guys to keep in your holster with a watchful eye, because there's some potential that you might want to take a roll on them at week three, five or seven when your sleeper guys are revealed to be 'the dead weight they've always been'.

Historically, at least for the last six or seven years, you could count on one thing in the NFC North: The Vikings would have some former-gonna-be-elite castaway from the Chicago Bears in their receiving corps. And also, it was never gonna work out for them, at least not in that 'Pro Bowl steal' manner that they were hoping for. Also not usually in that 'viable second option' manner either, but let's not quibble over syntax.

Devin Aromashodu, Bobby Wade, Marcus Robinson, Bernard Berrian...it's a cavalcade of the easily covered. But this year...this year the Vikes management decided to mix things up in the hopper.

Behold Jerome Simpson. Not a former Bear, but a former Bengal. Already we're straying into a new 'high risk/reward' proposition. It's a new era, Minnesota!

Now, last time we visited Jerome Simpson specifically on this site, it was mostly so I could throw up one of my personal favorite GIMP creations, that one over there of J-Simps 'receiving' a gigantor bag o' the kind, which turned out to be good for a penalty of '15 in the yard' and a meaningless $7,500 fine that is sure to show him the error of his ways. Because we are all equal in the eyes of the law, kids, especially if 'we' are professional athletes and/or movie stars!

(Write this down: remember that if you should get in any trouble down the line yourself, good reader, 'my girlfriend signed for it' is an iron-clad defense guaranteed to whittle five years down to two-weeks-and-a-day. HOORAY FOR JUSTICE!)

And yes, the NFL, as is their manner, has followed suit, leaving the Vikings leaning on always-half-busted Percy Harvin flanked by perennial fourth-option Michael Jenkins and aforementioned former Bear Devin Aromashodu. In short, come week four, Christian Ponder is gonna be half-crazy from running triple-reverses and bonking balls off the numbers of guys 17 yards out across the middle, and Percy's gonna need a break from quadruple-coverages.

So let's not quibble on the minor legal troubles - why should we be better than the Vikings? WE ARE NOT! Let's look at the positives.

First, how many wide receivers that barely played their first two-and-a-half years have a song written about them? Yeah, I don't know either. But Jerome certainly does! Behold:


Now, as you're trying to get that out of your head (and good luck with that), let's review the important facts:

1) The Vikings have, honestly, nobody else to legitimately keep JS from taking that WR2 spot over the very moment he returns from his sabbatical.

2) Simpson has hands. And speed. And the ability to use both. And he's been impressing in these way-early field outings thus far. For a team that had their soul crushed repeatedly over the past year, a glimmer of hope can go a long way towards getting seats filled in a stadium.

3) Oh yeah, this guy made one of the greatest plays I've ever seen, ever. Remember?



Well,  maybe he's got more than that is his bag (HA! GET IT!! I crack myself up, Willie..... )


File Jerome Simpson under 'Drop Doug Baldwin/Pick Up Flippy Flipperson' in Week Four.



Follow Matt @AmazingMattyP on Twitter. He can do flips also. They're just much sadder.


Also be sure to follow the rest of the ReclinerQB crew, Bobby Shores - THE ReclinerQBSonny Prier J.R. SheppardCorey DoironChristie MacMarcus Wyche, and Josh.




Sunday, June 10, 2012

Hardcore Deep Sleepers (Part 1)


By: Sonny Prier

In the world of fantasy football, nailing a sleeper that no one else saw coming is more satisfying than winning. The bench is for fliers, yet every year drafters stuff their pockets with four point wonders like Woodhead, Hardesty and Garcon. If none of your draft picks evoke a "... who?" from the room, you have failed. I'm a big believer in taking big risk for big reward, and buddy, these are the riskiest.

To answer the obvious question: If none of these guys are on anyone's radar, why not wait to pick them up mid-season? Three reasons.

1) The smug sense of satisfaction that comes with being able to say, "I was there first."
2) Everyone knows you're going to cut your #3 WR for whatever rookie catches a touchdown in week 1 anyway. Flippant jackass. [Editor's Note: I did that last year when Randall Cobb exploded the first game, it was a bad move]
3) Shut up.



Julius Pruitt (WR - Miami)

No image available

Julius Pruitt. Ouachita Baptist University, 2009. Undrafted. Signed by Miami in 2010. Here's a wideout that the Dolphins have kept around for two years despite his having less receptions than Curtis Painter.


Pruitt's career stat line is 2 special teams tackles. No one survives in the NFL on that kind of production. Something fishy is going on... Miami must think, nay, know they're grooming a stud. With Marshall out of the picture, their biggest receiving threat is Davone Bess. It's time to UNLEASH THE PRUITT!

I can't find any gameplay footage, so here he is naming Santa's reindeer.

Davone Bess wouldn't have remembered Donner




Greg McElroy (QB - New York Jets)

No image available
Greg McElroy. Alabama, 2011. Drafted by the Jets in round 7. This guy graduated in three years, led a BCS championship team, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame! The Hall of Fame! For college football players! It's a real thing, apparently! McElroy combines the brain of Ryan Fitzpatrick with the talent of not Ryan Fitzpatrick, yet he's 3rd on the depth chart behind tweedle-dee and tweedle-derp. These freeloaders are most famous for things they did on the sidelines. Mark Sanchez for beating JaMarcus Russell in a hot dog eating contest, and Tim Tebow for watching Marion Barber fumble.

Tebow defeating the Dolphins

Sanchez is slowly but steadily improving. Tebow is directly sponsored by Jesus Christ. Unfortunately for them, if New York fans are anything it's impatient and godless. That counts for something in today's NFL. Tebow proved in Denver that a fanbase does have the power to control a roster when the loses pile up. McElroy is already playing this angle masterfully by ripping the asses right off of his teammates... just like a real Jets fan! This team is going to tank, and McElroy will be starting in October.



Micheal Spurlock (WR - San Diego)

No image available

Micheal Spurlock. Mississippi, 2006. Undrafted. Signed by the Chargers in 2012. Vincent Jackson is gone. Malcom Floyd is now The Man in San Diego. Snort.

Philip Rivers is going to make a man out of Spurlock. Why? Because the last 3 quarterbacks he's had were Josh Freeman, Brooks Bollinger and the 2009 version of Alex Smith. That's going to end in disappoint no matter how good you are, son. Now he gets Phil the Stud, no entrenched competition, and a motivated team coming off a disappointing season.

...OK, look, I got nothing.
The truth is I made toast this morning and it came out looking EXACTLY like Micheal Spurlock.

Uncanny

If personal experience has taught me anything, it's that you never ignore toast. My toast says Micheal Spurlock is going to be huge, and the sooner we accept it the better.



Kyle Orton (IHS - Dallas)

No Orton No Peace

Tony Romo is a losing loser who loses. How can you be the leader of America's Team when this is your trademark moment?

His tears never broke the plane either

Kyle Orton on the other hand....

This photo was taken in 1973

Now that's a man the state of Texas can get behind.

I like Romo, and am sure he'll find another team to underachieve for soon, but Jerry didn't bring in a monster like Orton to ride pine.

Did you know...

That "Kyle Orton" spelled backwards is "Banging Your Mother Is My Touchdown Dance"?

Kyle Orton was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Facial Hair?

That Kyle Orton totally could have saved those orphans, but didn't to prove a point to Tim Tebow?

An Orton's audible doesn't echo?



Follow us on Twitter! @ReclinerQB @SonnyPrier

Friday, June 1, 2012

So They Had a Draft? What's That Mean For Yours?

By: Matt Prendergast

Hey kids! Long time no talk....been busy with my macrame sculptures and innovations in the field of 'sitting around', but we're at that time....WELCOME TO THE RELAUNCH OF FANTASY CORNER AT RECLINERQB!

Yes, I know. It's June. And I hear you: 'Why in the good gosh darn would I think about my fantasy football league in June? I have Kobe Beef and British Colombian Salmon on my new Big Green Egg! THESE THINGS ARE GETTING RUINED WHILE I READ THIS! Also, please don't ask why I invested well over twelve-hundred dollars specifically on this get-together with my neighbor who has that kick-ass riding mower. That dude needs to know who's the boss, that's all.'

And that kind of attitude is exactly why you take seventh every freaking year in your re-draft league.

Now. Right now. This is when you begin to plan....and that's why ReclinerQB.com is here today; to lovingly take care of you. So let's get to the point of caressing of your wondering mind in regard to the newly christened 'changers of the game'!  Specifically, how should you be approaching the big-named players that scattered throughout the league in last month's NFL Draft?

THAT WHICH YOU DO NOT EXECUTE:

'I may not even put on my helmet the whole year'
1) DO NOT DRAFT ANDREW LUCK - Certainly deserving of his destined position as 'first pick of the whole entire draft OMG!'. Also certainly not deserving of any of your picks in your fantasy draft. And by that I mean: you'd be much better off using your eighth round pick on Alex Smith, or Blaine Gabbert, or possibly a punter.

Did you see the Colts last year? I'm being serious, did you watch ANY of their games, even for five minutes? That is a HORRIBLE team. In one of those 'maybe if we close our eyes for seven years it'll be all right' definitions of 'horrible'.  Peyton Manning might get my vote for 'All-Time MVP of the NFL Ever' for the fact that he clearly covered a nearly-incomprehensible number of holes on that team. And those holes? This year with even more gaping power.

Oh yes, and to welcome Andrew in? They let everybody even halfway decent go. Except for Reggie Wayne, who passed by the deserved 'I just want to win another ring' exit strategy in lieu of choosing the 'I won't get hit the next two years because this guy won't have time to find me' route. Smart choice. Oh, and Dwight Freeney, who doesn't catch footballs.

Vintage Double D:
Sure hands across the middle for victory.
2) DO NOT DRAFT ANY OF THE ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS -  But you're saying 'remember AJ Green last year'? Yes I do. I also remember two other things: a) he was available in 80% of my leagues in week 2, and b) He didn't do one god-freaking thing to help out during the playoff run.  Now granted, I play primarily in Non-PPR leagues, so I may have a grudge against dudes that only score one touchdown the last six weeks, but that's me. (Don't come at me with your Julio Jones nonsense, btw, that was an aberration of a rookie WR season).

Who's the biggest impact from-out-of-nowhere WR this year? Some dude you didn't even think about, that's who. (See: Cruz, Victor) Truth being truth, you should easily pick up ANY of the rookie WRs before week three, so use that draft choice you're thinking about in round eleven on  Donald Driver (the only GB receiver to actively participate in 'catching' during their last playoff game), or Santana Moss (yes, I said that out loud) or even Whatever Bears' Cast-off Ends Up the #3 Wideout on the Vikings (This year it's Jerome Simpson! Wait, he's not a former Bear! Tricky, Vikings....). I still prefer any veteran in a situation where they can maybe shine early to a rook with breakout potential at the start of the season. Because the best rookie receiver will have been either taken way too high, or not taken at all.

THAT WHICH YOU DO EXECUTE:

'I said: Where's. My. GATORADE. AT. REX?'
1) DRAFT RGIII - Okay, I say this with a caveat emptor: where you should take him, you won't get him. The absolutely perfect 'Cam Newton Part II' selection, but because the Redskins have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, he'll be taken in the fifth or sixth round of your draft, and by a guy who's intending on starting him. Let that go.

But on the off-chance that Robert Griffin the Third is still there in the ninth round: just do that thing. And then sit back and be patient, for his time will come, maybe even early and often.

The 'Skins brought a lot of hungry receiving talent in - rather than break the bank on one marquee dude (like Vincent Jackson), they went with a couple of young guys that have shown some flash, but still have big axes to grind in Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan - with Santana Moss still hanging around to provide the veteran stability, and the critical re-upping of Fred Davis (plus Cooley's still hobbling about), Washington put a lot of little pieces together nicely to help aid RG3 in his quest to make Cam Newton 2011 look like a chump.  Good luck to you.

Has Hillis beat in hat/hair/glasses category already
2) GO AHEAD WITH THAT TRENT RICHARDSON IDEA, AND PLAN ON STARTING HIM - Let's think about this, rationally. The Browns have next to nothing going for them. Still. A QB Battle between  Colt Malt Liquor and Red Wheeden? There's no winners there, not this year. There's losers, though, namely Greg Little and Mohammed Massaquoi (who, let's be honest, has looked like a potentially shiny diamond ring the last two years primarily because you're viewing him inside a giant box brimming over with dung).

But the one thing the Browns can kinda do is block, son. Ask Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty - in the last two years, both had flashes of world-conquering magic as Cleveland Freaking Browns. Barring a catastrophic leg injury between now and week one, they've got a headlining act in Richardson - and even if he's somehow healthy this year, Montario isn't going to be cutting in on those carries much.

An additional plus point here: since he is a rookie on the Browns, unless you're playing in a dynasty or die-hards league, he'll be there in the fourth or fifth round. That's solid value for what should be a weekly starting 2nd RB with minimal time-sharing. Just hope to god he doesn't get injured like every other Cleveland RB draft pick in the last six years.

NOTE: This is advice for your 2nd RB only. If you decide to go 'all in' on any Brown BEFORE the fourth round, at the VERY earliest, I wish you a tremendous day at your job taste-testing used gum for 'flavor retentionability'.

So there you have it: Four early rookie questions answered....come early August, when the other league owners are just picking up their Pro Football Weekly preview mags, you'll already be winning the draft.

More soon.....

Follow Matt on Twitter:  @amazingmattyp.  He is filled with jolly things

Don't Forget to Follow ReclinerQB's other contributors on Twitter:  @ReclinerQB@heartsfootball@SonnyPrier@CoreyDoiron, and @mwyche2 . If you don't, Terrell Owens is going to coach your kid's Pop Warner team this year.