Monthly Archives: August 2016

Seattle Seahawks

Colts’ Vontae Davis week-to-week with right ankle sprain

Leave a comment

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — If Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman gets an extra step on a cornerback for a touchdown catch, it could be the result of dropping some pounds this offseason.

The lost weight didn’t come from a diet or increased exercise. It was a haircut.

The Colts plan to work out cornerback Antonio Cromartie, an NFL source said, confirming a report by the Indianapolis Star.

Cromartie was released by the New York Jets earlier this offseason, ending his return to the franchise after just one season.

Cromartie, 32, struggled in 2015, allowing a team-high seven touchdown passes, according to Pro Football Focus. He acknowledged at midseason that he wasn’t playing up to his standard.

In 15 games, Cromartie failed to record a single interception for the first time since his rookie season with the San Diego Chargers, in 2006. He made 26 solo tackles and had one fumble recovery. He also was the Jets’ leading kickoff returner, averaging 25.1 yards per return.

The wedding planner for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and singer Ciara said the couple initially planned to get married in North Carolina but changed locations because of the state’s transgender bathroom law.

“I did the whole thing — three times,” wedding planner Mindy Weiss told The Knot. “They were first getting married in North Carolina, but they called it off due to the transgender bathroom laws. But it was really done.”

Wilson and Ciara were then going to move the wedding to Paris, but it was Fashion Week. They ended up getting married in London.

Wilson spoke last month about the responsibility of athletes to promote social change.

“Well, I think we all have a responsibility,” he said. “It’s not just on athletes, it’s not just on coaches, it’s not just on anybody in particular. It’s on all of us. I think ultimately it comes down to love and appreciating one another and respect for one another.

“It’s an appreciation for society, an appreciation for the country we live in, an appreciation for the towns and cities that we live in. Ultimately, it comes down to all of us to make sure we appreciate one another.”

Minnesota Vikings

2016 Insider fantasy football cheat sheet

Leave a comment

Football Outsiders’ top prospects to watch

A printable, one-sheet PDF with all the information in one place

Access to a full list of rankings on your phone, tablet and desktop

This file will be updated regularly from now through the start of the season, so you’ll have the latest info and analysis no matter when you draft — and we’ll keeping adding new Insider content as it becomes available.

Here it is: Insider’s fantasy football draft cheat sheet for the 2016 season.

RENTON, Wash. – Veteran defensive lineman Tony McDaniel has been out of work since the end of last season, but thanks in part to Snapchat, he now has a job with the Seattle Seahawks.

“[Seahawks director of pro personnel] Dan Morgan and I got into a text message exchange,” Canter said. “I said to them last week, ‘Hey, Tony’s going to be in town. It’s a free workout. Worst-case scenario, you bring him in, he looks like crap, he stays home. You don’t even have to pay for a flight.’ ”

Not after three successive struggles for Mike Krzyzewski’s squad.

Not after three very jittery fourth quarters in a row against teams from Australia, Serbia and France that really look like t-e-a-m-s.

“Obviously everybody wants us to win by a lot of points, but it’s not how it’s gonna go this time,” Team USA star forward Kevin Durant conceded Sunday after Tony Parker-less France refused to cave and fell just shy of a momentous upset in a 100-97 escape for the Yanks in these teams’ Group A finale.

“We’ve gotta be prepared for a grind-out game,” Durant continued. “I think we showed the last three games we can grind it out.”

Seattle Seahawks

Malik McDowell, on NFL draft: ‘If I’m not top three, I don’t leave’ Mich. St.

Leave a comment

“The teammates I have the on-field stuff we do, the off-field stuff we do. Just good people around me. I can’t complain.”

As it stands now, sites like Walter Football, CBS Sports and the Big Lead have McDowell slotted at No. 12, while Sports Illustrated has him at No. 25. Mel Kiper, meanwhile, currently has the junior at No. 6 on his Big Board.

It’s easy for McDowell, whose name litters numerous preseason All-Amrican teams coming off a season in which he was named first-team All-Big Ten by a handful of organizations, to make such a statement in early August. Whether he makes the same claim come December and January is another matter entirely.

HOUSTON — Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler responded Monday to Broncos general manager John Elway’s comments that he was surprised that the quarterback seemed “bent out of shape” to be replaced by Peyton Manning in last season’s regular-season finale against the Chargers.

Although Osweiler answered when asked about Elway’s comments, he made it clear he was more interested in talking about his current team.

“The only thing I would say is what kind of competitor wouldn’t want to play in that situation?” Osweiler said. “Outside of that, I think I’ve answered all of those questions, we’re now in August, we just had a great training camp practice and I’m excited to play the 49ers coming up.”

New England Patriots

Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Bill Belichick and Sean Payton. Malcolm Butler and Brandin Cooks. The Patriots welcome the Saints to town for joint practices, marking the fourth time in the past six years they’ve done so, and there is no shortage of storylines. These teams have a productive working relationship. Here’s one storyline to follow: Third-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has had some rocky moments in each of the past three practices; does that continue against a Saints defense that is trying to turn things around after a forgettable 2015 season? — Mike Reiss

New York Jets

The Jets have an emerging right tackle issue. With starter Breno Giacomini (back) on the physically unable to perform list, and with no experienced backups, the Jets are monitoring other rosters for players who might shake free. Brent Qvale and Ben Ijalana are splitting reps, but neither one has allayed the team’s concerns. Giacomini, himself a marginal starter, has been dealing with back problems since the spring. — Rich Cimini

Kansas City Chiefs

Long-time Packer favorite John Kuhn signing with Saints

Leave a comment

Kuhn, 33, was still living in Green Bay and said last month that he was hoping for a chance to play for either the Packers or another team.

“At this point in my career, I want to play because I still enjoy it, I still love it, I’m still in shape, I’m still ready to go,” Kuhn said last month in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I [just] want to be on a team that I think can go somewhere and do some damage.”

The Saints’ primary fullback, Austin Johnson, suffered an unspecified injury in practice this week.

The Saints had only one other fullback on their roster: undrafted rookie Sione Houma. Fullback is a part-time position in their offense, and New Orleans often uses a tight end in the role. The team went four weeks last season without a fullback on the active roster.

Atlanta Falcons

1-10 percent: Matt Ryan looked to be on a much better track earlier in his career by virtue of Atlanta’s steady success, but he has spent the past three seasons playing on a losing team while posting a 105 NY/A+, roughly what Matthew Stafford has done over the same time span. With three Pro Bowls by 30, Ryan really needs an MVP or a Super Bowl and a few big years to reopen his candidacy. … Desmond Trufant is one of the best cornerbacks in football nobody ever talks about, but he’s years away from making a real case.

Julio Jones has put everything together over the past couple of seasons and produced a pair of dominant campaigns. His two-year totals add up to 240 catches, 3,464 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 2015 season was his first as a first-team All-Pro, though, and the long-term concerns surrounding his surgically repaired foot make it difficult to project him as a star for another decade. On talent alone, Jones is there, but his longevity remains in question. 35 percent

Dwight Freeney appeared to have his Hall run peter out from 2012 to 2014, when he accrued just nine sacks over a three-year stretch with the Colts and Chargers after averaging 10 per season before that. It appeared his career was done, but Freeney suddenly returned to form with eight sacks in 11 games for the Cardinals last season. The Falcons desperately need an edge rusher, so if Freeney can maintain that form with Atlanta, another season or two of production might be enough to get the seven-time Pro Bowler over the hump.

The Dallas Cowboys are in the market for a backup quarterback.

When you have coach Jason Garrett taking snaps at age 50 in training camp, you know it’s bleak.

However, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Dallas isn’t rushing to fill that veteran spot behind Tony Romo and the team will overturn every rock before making the best move.

With Brett Favre set to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, it’s only natural that the man known for un-retiring would be asked if he might want to don the Cowboys’ No. 4 (sorry, Dak Prescott), right?

Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy Baseball: Pitcher BABIPs built to last?

Leave a comment

The Mariners and Cardinals have the sixth- and seventh-lowest BABIPs, respectively, yet both teams are among the four worst defenses as measured by UZR/150. This is a particularly alarming development for Felix Hernandez and Carlos Martinez, especially since both are ground ball pitchers, and both team’s infields have struggled defensively. Hernandez has looked better in his last two starts, pitching with better control, but if the Mariners’ defense doesn’t improve, it might be for naught. Somehow, Hernandez has papered over his earlier struggles with a .239 BABIP, but an upward correction to that rate could overshadow any progress that he makes on his walk rate.

Martinez has not been getting swings and misses in the way he did last season, and his aversion to whiffing has intensified lately. He has induced only seven swings-and-misses in his last two starts. That trend is a troubling one for someone pitching in front of a porous defense.

Perhaps no pitcher is more deserving of a red flag than Matt Wisler. Though far from universally owned in CBSSports.com leagues, Wisler’s ownership rate is now a healthy 45 percent, as owners are starting to buy into his 3.14 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. His strong flyball tendencies should lead him to a lower-than-average BABIP, but a .224 rate goes a bit too far, especially given that the Braves have not had good defenders in the outfield corners.

The Cubs have the second-highest UZR/150 in the majors, but their staff’s .254 BABIP can’t be chalked up to great “D” alone. Jake Arrieta (.203 BABIP) and Jon Lester (.256 BABIP) have overperformed, but they will still be Fantasy aces when correction comes. John Lackey (.264 BABIP) may not be so lucky, especially as the season wears on, and he sees less of teams like the Braves, Padres and Reds.

As Heath mentioned in his piece, the potential for a chronically-high BABIP for Sonny Gray makes it hard to pursue him as a buy-low candidate, but he’s not the only early-rounder with that status. Even if Dallas Keuchel can get hitters to chase pitches out of the zone like he did last season, he could continue to suffer as a result of hits on balls in play. Keuchel is still good at inducing grounders, but the Astros’ strong outfield defense won’t be of much assistance. Their infield has been far less dependable, and there may not be much hope for Keuchel to reduce the .264 batting average he is allowing on ground balls. Even if Colin Moran supplants Luis Valbuena at third base, don’t expect an upgrade large enough to salvage Keuchel’s BABIP.

Just two years ago, the Indians had one of the worst defenses in the majors, but now they have one of the best. They are particularly strong in the infield, and that could only benefit Corey Kluber. Opponents are hitting just .205 against him on ground balls, and if he can lower his 23.4 percent line drive rate, he could sustain a lower-than-average BABIP rate.

The pitcher who may stand to gain the most Fantasy relevance thanks to his outfield is merely a stash option for now. A.J. Griffin (shoulder) could still be at least a couple of weeks away from getting activated, but as a fly-ball pitcher with a strong defensive outfield behind him, a .237 BABIP doesn’t look as unsustainable as it would for any pitcher not named Chris Young. If Griffin can rediscover the good control he had prior to Tommy John surgery, he could improve on an already-low 1.13 WHIP. Even though he’s on the DL, it’s worth checking in on Griffin’s price (or claiming him off waivers) and stashing him.

Earlier this season, I wrote that the Braves shouldn’t fire obvious lame-duck manager Fredi Gonzalez because it wouldn’t really accomplish anything. I stand by that. He’s playing the few prospect-type players they have every day and otherwise has a stale roster that isn’t equipped to win. The fact that he got fired Tuesday doesn’t really accomplish anything, outside maybe some PR to please the few disgruntled fans who are still paying attention this season.

That doesn’t mean I think he’s a great manager who should never have been fired, however. In fact, I count at least three other specific dates where it made a lot more sense to fire Gonzalez than right now. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane.

Gonzalez was coming off a season in which his Braves went 96-66 and won the NL East by 10 games. You can’t fire a guy coming off that, right? Well, we need to look at the context. The Nationals completely tanked that season and the rest of the NL East was terrible. In and of itself, Gonzalez couldn’t help that. His team merely took advantage.

Still, egregious playoff mishaps can lead to change for the better. Just ask the 2003-04 Boston Red Sox. This wasn’t exactly Game 7 of the ALCS for an at-the-time tortured franchise, but it was still pretty bad:

David Carpenter had a very good season in 2013, but he’s not Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel was arguably the most dominant closer on the face of the Earth at the time, and he was left helplessly watching the defining moment of the Braves season:

Had the Braves won this game, they still might have lost the series. A win would’ve only tied the series, 2-2. The Braves were set to play that game at home, however, where they were 56-25 during the regular season, compared to 40-41 on the road. They would have also survived Clayton Kershaw, who worked on short rest in Game 4. Sure, they were set to face Zack Greinke, but they beat him in Game 2 at home.
Holding Kimbrel back for the flawed logic of “what if he can’t finish two innings?” is a mentality tied to a stat (the vaunted save) that has long needed to be changed. If Kimbrel can’t finish two, then you go to Carpenter. But don’t do it backward and lose with your best watching from the bullpen. Not with the season on the line. If you lose, you lose with your best.

I’d have fired Gonzalez for this, but not just because of one mistake. Instead, it would be due to wanting to hire a manager who isn’t so rigid as to think he has to “save” his closer to ensure he gets the last out of the game. That shouldn’t be the mindset in a do-or-die game and it could have — you never know! — cost them a World Series championship.