Fantasy Football - Wide Receiver Sleepers

Wide receivers

Devin Thomas | Washington Redskins | ADP: 11th round

Entering his third year in the NFL, Thomas is in position for a breakout season. It's easy to get excited about his potential, especially with quarterback Donovan McNabb now in charge. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, the Michigan State product has excellent size and a good amount of speed.

Wide receiver Santana Moss (knee), who is undervalued, has drawn praise from the coaching staff and doesn't seem to show any ill effects from recent cleanup surgery. In other words, there isn't pressure on Thomas to be more than a complementary receiver. McNabb has shown a penchant for spreading the ball around, too. We've seen Mike Shanahan offenses produce more than one quality fantasy receivers, even while having production from the tight end position.

Thomas needs to improve the minor aspects of his game to take it to another level. His work ethic has been in question since his rookie year, and he is plagued by inconsistency. Don't let that scare you off, though, because he is coming on the cheap. It's almost absurd how much of a bargain he has been in early drafts.

Fantasy value: Fantasy owners should consider him a potential No. 2 with a No. 4 or No. 5 price tag. In best-case scenario, you have a playmaker in what could be a prolific offense on your hands, or you cut him after a few weeks. Roll the dice when others are reaching for players without a team.

Johnny Knox | Chicago Bears | ADP: 13th round

The Abilene Christian product enjoyed a quality rookie season, catching 45 passes for 527 yards and scoring five touchdowns. Quarterback Jay Cutler has confidence in Knox, and the second-year receiver is entrenched as a starter.

Devin Hester will move from outside to the slot, depending upon the package, but Knox should remain out wide. Given Hester's struggles tracking the ball over his shoulder, the cornerback-turned-wideout isn't the best option on the team for the long ball. That's where Knox comes in. Don't be fooled by his 11.7 yards-per-reception average in 2009 ... it was a product of the Ron Turner-directed offense.

Fantasy value: While fantasy owners are focusing on Devin Aromashodu, Knox is flying under the radar. He could be considered undervalued, too, but there is legit sleeper status here. Aromashodu should be a possession receiver and red zone threat; Knox's receptions will probably remain low, but with an increased per-reception average, he could be a quality No. 3 fantasy receiver that you can generally land as a fourth or fifth.

Dexter McCluster | Kansas City Chiefs | ADP: 16th round

Everyone loves a sleeper candidate in the 16th round! McCluster figures to be the slot receiver for the Chiefs. Quarterback Matt Cassel isn't known for having a rocket arm, so you can count on a lot of underneath work. A do-all player at Mississippi, McCluster has the moves to rack up yardage after the catch. He has already drawn praise for being the fastest guy on the team, and the creative mind of head coach Todd Haley will figure out ways to get him involved, even if McCluster doesn't beat out Jerheme Urban for the No. 3 job. McCluster is better suited for the slot role, for what it is worth.

KC should remain a run-first offense, but we've seen a shaky relationship between No. 1 receiver Dwayne Bowe and Haley play out over the past year. Wideout Chris Chambers is serviceable, but there is a reason fantasy owners aren't drooling over him and defenders aren't scared of him. There could be plenty of looks for the youngster. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis excels at designing routes to take advantage of mismatches.

Fantasy value: Take a shot on the dynamic rookie. We're usually not very high on first-year receivers, but there's the potential for something special here. Without feeling compelled to reach for him, don't forget his name on draft day. In point-per-reception leagues, McCluster's value increases some. He's not likely to be much of a factor in touchdown-heavy setups, though.

Nate Burleson | Detroit Lions | ADP: 18th round

Someone has to take pressure off Calvin Johnson, right? The Lions inked Burleson to do just that as their No. 2 wideout. The soon-to-be 29-year-old bounced back effectively from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in '08, hauling in 63 passes for 812 yards last season with the Seattle Seahawks. Burleson is just two seasons removed from a nine-touchdown year with Seattle, as well.

The vet logged at least five receptions in seven of his 13 games played last year, too. He isn't typically explosive but can at least chip in five to 10 fantasy points on a consistent basis in the right offense for point-per-reception setups. Despite his rookie struggles, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has the raw ability to take advantage of polished wideouts. The second-year slinger has a cannon.

Burleson's finest season came in '04 (68-1,006-9) with the Minnesota Vikings under offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who now holds that position in Detroit. There is some familiarity here.

Fantasy value: Count Burleson as a No. 5 PPR wideout that won't command a stiff price and will offer stable depth. He should benefit from having an elite wideout playing across from him, which should once again mean a ton of cheap one-pointers for Burleson in PPR leagues. Burleson might achieve No. 3 status in those formats this year.

Jacoby Jones | Houston Texans | ADP: 18th round

The Texans are looking for Jones to step up in a big way. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, with excellent speed, Jones is an imposing threat for defenders. Houston needs a playmaker to help take some pressure off Andre Johnson, and wide receiver Kevin Walter is just average.

We figure Jones and Walter will alternate the No. 2 role at times, with the other moving into the slot when this happens. The biggest problem standing in Jones' way is Walter's five-year, $21.5 million contract ($8 million guaranteed) from this spring. The Texans may feel financially obligated to get the most out of Walter this year.

If tight end Owen Daniels (knee) doesn't recover as well as expected from his third anterior cruciate ligament tear, Houston's No. 3 receiver could be counted on frequently.

Fantasy value: Temper your expectations of Jones this year, but don't entirely discount him. Snag him as a late-round flier, but be prepared to cut ties if he doesn't see a lot of work early in the season since Daniels should only become stronger as the year wears on.

Donte' Stallworth | Baltimore Ravens | ADP: N/A

You see that "N/A" following ADP? That means he isn't being drafted, on average. While it's not a shock by any means, it's still unwarranted. The speedy veteran was given the year off last season after an alcohol-related driving incident that resulted in a man's death. Reports coming out of local-area media suggest Stallworth hasn't lost a beat. His speed is still there, and he has been moving with fluidity. You shouldn't be too worried about the year off ... think of it as he was injured, without the worries of a recovery.

Quarterback Joe Flacco has a huge arm and has a new downfield toy to work with. Stallworth has battled injuries throughout his career, but often he has been a functional fantasy flex option - and even greater at times. There is no pressure on Stallworth, and expectations of him are at an all-time low, as represented by his non-existent ADP. Currently running as the No. 3 receiver, expect a few games of mouth-watering production.

Fantasy value: The biggest problem for fantasy owners with Stallworth will be when to play him. Take a shot with the last pick of your draft and hope for the best. That late in the selection process you can't go wrong.

Louis Murphy | Oakland Raiders | ADP: N/A

Hear us out. Receivers on the Raiders aren't prime commodities, but Murphy flashed some dynamic ability last season despite a 34-521-4 line. One note, three of those scores came with Bruce Gradkowski - not JaMarcus Russell - behind center.

Jason Campbell, Oakland's new QB, is an upgrade from both and has a strong enough arm to take advantage of both Murphy's skills and the Raiders' planned vertical growth under new OC Hue Jackson. Murphy, who posted a respectable 15.5 yards per catch last year, has certainly shown more with his deep ball skills than first-round disappointment Darrius Heyward-Bey, who remains raw. A concussion has slowed Murphy early in camp, but it's not expected to keep him out long.

Fantasy value: Murphy can be had as a No. 6 or lower in most setups, so the price of taking a chance offers little risk. He has the ability to perform as a No. 3 if the Raiders' offense explodes; with their yearning for a deep threat and their newfound access to reach them via Campbell, Murphy could nudge his way into more looks. More realistically, he probably has a No. 4 ceiling for this year, which isn't bad for a bench option.

Drob likes girls...?

LOOK AT DROB GO!
While Drob is yakking "On a Boat" because his stomach could never handle the rolling seas, I'll talk just straight up blog about him. I have never questioned Drob's asexuality but I have always questioned his approach. Seriously, "Who Dat" sums up my perspective on Drob’s sensitivity. While most guys spend their time on the web oodaling and googleing nip slips, upskirts, ass shots, and girls on girls on girls on guys on cats on fish. Drob is looking for pictures of girls eyes… What a nice guy! Then I see this shit, he completely dominated this Kelly Karkoff fox. After all, Smiley faces with three parentheses are synonymous with fuck me. Not to mention she’s from New York and is totally down with a picture of Fenway behind her. I think Drob is trying to set a strong foundation for all the slizzy slaying he’ll be doing at BC, all he needs is a picture with Kelly. I can see bitches looking at his default now… “That gorgeous chick is in a picture with Derek, he must be good looking, I wanna hang out with him!”

You're on the clock... Rodgers or Brees?

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Two years after the Brett Favre debacle, Green Bay has successfully transitioned from one All-Pro quarterback to another. Rodgers, 26, enters his third season as Green Bay's starting quarterback. He guided them back to the playoffs last year. He made his first Pro Bowl. This year, the Packers' signal caller should be the top quarterback drafted in all leagues.

• Rodgers has spent five years learning head coach Mike McCarthy's quarterback-friendly offense. He has shown improvement in each of the last two years. His 2010 final stats: 4,434 passing yards (fourth in the NFL), 30 passing touchdowns (fourth) and seven interceptions (tied for second fewest).
• 
  Between Rodgers and Brees, passing yardage is probably a push. Passing TDs could slightly favor the vet, but Rodgers makes up for it with his legs. The Cal product ran for 316 yards and five touchdowns last year. He scored four times on the ground in '08. Brees has just three rushing touchdowns since joining the Saints in 2006.
• Few teams can match New Orleans' offense. Green Bay is one of them. Ryan Grant is a good lead back, and they have five solid options in the receiving game: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley. Their offensive line showed improvement in the second half last year, and they spent a first-round draft pick on tackle Bryan Bulaga.
• A minor note: Rodgers is younger, bigger and could be hungrier after coming up short in the playoffs last year. He has shown the ability to make adjustments on the fly (example, holding on to the ball too long last year). Brees turned 31 earlier this year, is smaller and is coming off a Super Bowl season. Will he have the same fire?

Closing argument: It's tough to go wrong with either of these quarterbacks. While we don't recommend burning a pick early in a draft on either, if they do slide, Rodgers has to be the choice. Full disclosure: I'm a Green Bay fan. Both likely will finish 1-2 in the year-end fantasy points standings, but with his rushing stats, Rodgers has a better shot at ending the year on top.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

While most fantasy owners are drooling over Rodgers, some are opting for Brees as the top fantasy passer in 2010 drafts. While I personally like the selection of Rodgers, I'll make a case for Brees.

• He completed a career-best 70.6 percent of his passes in 2009, which is insane by the way. Brees is the general of a high-powered offense, much like Rodgers is, but the Purdue product tossed four more touchdown passes than Rodgers did in 27 fewer attempts in only 15 games last year. Some point to Rodgers' five rushing scores in '09, which combined with his 30 TD passes was still one less than Brees' total number of touchdowns.
• Brees threw for 4,388 yards and 34 touchdowns a year ago, one in which he attempted (514) his lowest number of attempts as the Saints' starter in four years. His efficiency went through the roof last year. Rodgers' career best accuracy rate was 64.7 percent, last season, which would be the second worst of Brees' career as a Saint.
• 
  No quarterback has topped Brees when it comes to pushing the ball downfield - he has eclipsed 8.0 average yards per attempt in three of his four seasons with New Orleans, including a career-best 8.5 yards per throw last season.
• While Green Bay's line improved dramatically last year, their offensive tackles are ancient, and their top backup is a rookie. Rodgers has been sacked 84 times in his last 32 regular-season starts. Brees: 36 times. Rodgers has shown to be durable the past two years and play through pain, but it's hard to forget the memories of him being constantly hurt in his early years.
• Brees has a longer history of performing at an elite level. No matter how well Rodgers does in the cold and snow of Lambeau Field, Brees has the luxury of playing at least half of his games indoors.

Closing argument: I can't fault anyone for drafting Rodgers ahead of Brees. That's obvious to most, but if you're looking for the comfort of having history on your side, Brees should be your man.

Fantasy Football - Wide Receiver Busts

Wide receivers

Dwayne Bowe | Kansas City Chiefs | ADP: 5th round

Bowe's four-game suspension last year skews his '09 stats. Still, the final numbers aren't great, least of all for a No. 1 WR. He caught 47 passes for only 589 yards and four scores in 11 games. At his best, in 2008, Bowe caught 86 passes for just 1,022 yards and seven TDs. Only 11.9 yards per catch is unimpressive. His yards-after-the-catch average has decreased two years running.

Now, there's a new OC in KC: Charlie Weis. From 2000 to '04, New England's offense under Weis only had one 1,000-yard receiver. They preferred to spread the ball around. This should be more of a run-first offense with Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. KC also has a few other receiving options to work in. Chris Chambers, Jerheme Urban, Dexter McCluster - all could steal some catches from Bowe. Bowe had issues last year with head coach Todd Haley and found himself in the dog house more often than not. It is believed the two have mended their relationship, but Haley is known to be a bit of a hothead. Also, the wideout could be facing a lengthy suspension should he again violate the league's substance-abuse policy.

No. 1 QB Matt Cassel had only 16 passing TDs last year; the previous year with New England, just 21. Bowe is not a scoring machine. Plus, he has to familiarize himself with a new offense. Bowe and Cassel need to improve their chemistry.

Fantasy value: Bowe is being drafted as a low-end No. 2, but he's more a stable choice as a midrange No. 3. There's little upside. Receptions are about all you can really count on. It's tough to say his numbers have a higher ceiling than those from his '08 season. Point-per-reception owners can value him as less of a bust.

Mike Wallace | Pittsburgh Steelers | ADP: 7th round

Wallace moves from the slot to No. 2 role and now faces potential for double-teams. A big-play threat, the second-year receiver now has to learn how to get free from a jam. Byron Leftwich will be the starting quarterback for four to six games, which severally limits Wallace's downfield potential. Unless he can make a lot of yardage after the catch, look for his 2009 19.4 yards-per-reception average to substantially decrease.

The Steelers plan to return to more of a ground game in 2010, another factor working against the Mississippi product. Pittsburgh's offensive line isn't strong enough to support a deep-passing game, and Wallace will be the first to suffer.

What kind of chemistry will he and Ben Roethlisberger share upon the embattled quarterback's return to the starting lineup?

Fantasy value: There are too many risks involved with making Wallace a seventh-round pick. He could easily fall into our overvalued list, but I feel he will simply flame out this year. Let someone else take the chance on him.

Santonio Holmes | New York Jets | ADP: 9th round

The former Pittsburgh Steeler is now in the Big Apple, but before he gets to showcase his skills, he'll have to sit the first four games of the season for off-the-field transgressions.

Knowing you will get at most 12 games from him - 10, really, as most leagues don't play into Week 17, and New York has a Week 7 bye - Holmes is being overvalued as well as having "bust" written all over him.

Holmes will have to get into game shape after his four-game rest. Chemistry with quarterback Mark Sanchez may not come easily, and it remains unclear exactly how Holmes will fit into their run-first system. Wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery will remain involved, as will tight end Dustin Keller. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is a threat out of the backfield that Sanchez will look to utilize, too. There is no substantial reason to believe Holmes will pick up where he left off in 2009 with Pittsburgh.

Fantasy value: A ninth-round ADP for Holmes is absurd. He shouldn't be considered until at least the 12th, and even then you're likely to garner similar production to what you can find on your waiver wire.

Fantasy Football - Quarterback Busts

Quarterbacks

Eli Manning | New York Giants | ADP: 8th round

He's no Peyton

No doubt Eli has grown as a quarterback: In '09, career bests in completion percentage (62.3), passing yards (4,021), yards per attempt (7.9) and touchdown throws (27) highlighted his best statistical season. Steve E. Smith became his BFF, and Hakeem Nicks posted an optimistic rookie campaign.

What's the problem, then? The G-men will probably look to bring the focus back to Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw; both encountered injuries and ineptitude last year, and the Giants suffered for it. When all is right, Manning works off the ground game, not the other way around, so there probably isn't much upward movement for his statistical output. If they don't have to go downfield as much and his yards per attempt go down, the 4,000-yard plateau will probably elude him.

Fantasy value: We probably saw Eli's statistical best last year, and the Giants' typically run-first philosophy means you shouldn't bank on this line again. Maybe he can pass as a low-end No. 1, but you'll need to grab a backup soon after if you're forced to draft Manning in that role. He remains a top-flight No. 2, but don't overpay in fantasy for his real-life maturation.

Matt Leinart | Arizona Cardinals | ADP: 18th round

It's hard to call someone a bust when they're not being drafted in standard formats, but this is for the small contingent of people that still believe Leinart will develop into an NFL-caliber quarterback: Wake up!

At one point, I was a Leinart proponent. I've seen enough in his limited play at the pro level to realize that I was wrong. His arm is not strong enough, and Leinart's decision-making skills are not at a suitable level. His utter lack of mobility nearly reaches the statuesque depths of Drew Bledsoe. The former USC Trojan star has shown to have major flaws with his off-the-field maturity, as well. His career completion percentage is 55.7. Someone will inevitably point out Leinart's career-best 66.2 percent rate last year, but he chucked three picks and didn't find the end zone in 77 attempts.

Having arguably the best receiver in the NFL on his side can't hurt, but Arizona will likely make transition into a power-running team this year. Their offensive line is built for the ground game, and behind Fitzgerald there isn't a lot to be excited about after the departure of Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens) this offseason. Derek Anderson is better suited for this offense, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if head coach Ken Whisenhunt made the switch at some point in the year.

Fantasy value: I understand I'm not going out on a limb here, but you can safely avoid Leinart on draft day. Definitely don't snag him as a No. 2; it's even hard to recommend him as a third quarterback even in the deepest of leagues.

Fantasy Football - WR Battles

In my opinion, Wide outs are the hardest spots to fill on my fantasy roster. QBs, RBs, and even TEs are consistently consistent where even the top WRs tend to have no show games. There are certain games when you gotta man up and sit your stud receivers - byes, games against top defenses/corners, or games when you know the player's team will run the ball. This is when you look to good matchups for the number 2 guys to step up and earn you some points. Below are WR battles for mostly number 2+ spots. Pluging and playing these guys will certainly win you those close games.

Wide receivers

Team	Projected winner	Primary competition	Lesser competition	Lesser competition	Lesser competition	Notes
Arizona Cardinals	Onrea Jones	Andre Roberts ®				Battle for No. 4 - Jones leading the way in minicamp
Baltimore Ravens	Donte' Stallworth	Mark Clayton	Demetrius Williams			Battle for No. 3; Stallworth and Clayton likely interchangeable
Buffalo Bills	James Hardy	Marcus Easley	Steve Johnson	Roscoe Parrish	Chad Jackson	Battle for No. 2-6; Easley a sleeper candidate
Carolina Panthers	Brandon LaFell ®	Dwayne Jarrett	Charly Martin	Kenny Moore	Dexter M. Jackson	LaFell vs. Jarrett for No. 2; No. 3-5 up for grabs among others
Chicago Bears	Devin Aromashodu	Earl Bennett	Rashied Davis	Juaquin Iglesias		DA should rotate in with the starters when Devin Hester is in the slot. Battle for all other spots
Cincinnati Bengals	Jerome Simpson	Matt Jones	Jordan Shipley	Quan Cosby		Battle for No. 4
Cleveland Browns	Brian Robiskie	Joshua Cribbs	Chansi Stuckey	Bobby Engram	Carlton Mitchell ®	Battle for No. 2-4; Cribbs' role changes weekly - his rushing ability may separate him fantasy-wise
Dallas Cowboys	Dez Bryant ® (inj)	Patrick Crayton	Sam Hurd			Battle for No. 3-5
Denver Broncos	Eddie Royal	Demaryius Thomas ®	Jabar Gaffney	Brandon Stokley	Brandon Lloyd/Eric Decker ®	Wide receiver by committee? All are probably interchangeable most weeks
Detroit Lions	Derrick Williams	Dennis Northcutt				Battle for No. 4
Houston Texans	Kevin Walter	Jacoby Jones	David Anderson			Battle for No. 2; expecting Jones to make a very strong push - stay tuned
Indianapolis Colts	Pierre Garcon	Anthony Gonzalez (inj)	Austin Collie	Sam Giguere		All receivers are interchangeable any week. Expect Garcon to produce the most statistically
Jacksonville Jaguars	Mike Thomas	Jarett Dillard	Troy Williamson	Kassim Osgood	Tiquan Underwood	Battle for all
Miami Dolphins	Brian Hartline	Davone Bess	Greg Camarillo	Patrick Turner	Ryan Grice-Mullen	Battle for No. 2-6; probably interchangeable any given week
New England Patriots	Torry Holt	Sam Aiken				Battle for No. 4
New York Giants	Hakeem Nicks	Mario Manningham	Sinorice Moss	Ramses Barden		Nicks and Manningham battling for No. 2; Moss and Barden battling for No. 4
New York Jets	Laveranues Coles	Brad Smith	David Clowney	Aundrae Allison		Battle for No. 3-5; will be reshuffled after Santonio Holmes (susp-4) returns
Oakland Raiders	Chaz Schilens (inj)	Louis Murphy	Darrius Heyward-Bey	Jacoby Ford ®	Johnnie Lee Higgins/Todd Watkins	Battle for all, primarily No. 3-6
Pittsburgh Steelers	Antwaan Randle El	Arnaz Battle	Brandon London	Emmanuel Sanders ®		Battle for No. 3-5
San Diego Chargers	Craig Davis	Josh Reed				Battle for No. 4 (No. 3 while Vincent Jackson is out)
San Francisco 49ers	Jason Hill	Brandon Jones	Ted Ginn Jr.	Dominique Zeigler	Kyle Williams ®	Battle for No. 3-5
Seattle Seahawks	Deion Branch	Golden Tate ®	Deon Butler	Ruvell Martin		Battle for No. 2-5
St. Louis Rams	Laurent Robinson	Brandon Gibson	Mardy Gilyard ®	Keenan Burton	Danny Amendola	Battle for No. 2-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Mike Williams ®	Arrelious Benn ®	Sammie Stroughter	Reggie Brown	Michael Clayton/Maurice Stovall	Battle for all - probably will be interchangeable much of the year
Tennessee Titans	Kenny Britt	Justin Gage	Lavelle Hawkins	Paul Williams	Damian Williams ®	Britt and Gage are interchangeable most weeks; No. 4 battle for Hawkins and the Williamses
Washington Redskins	Devin Thomas	Malcolm Kelly (inj)	Joey Galloway	Bobby Wade	Mike Furrey	Thomas and Kelly battling for No. 2; Wade, Galloway and Furrey battling for No. 4

Fantasy Football - Running Back Battles

Below are some pre-training camp rankings on the running back battles. The potential winners are the hidden gems of the draft. People tend to shy away from those who have solid competition but most of the top fantasy runners emerged from these backfields. Michael Turner, Deangelo Williams, Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, and Ray Rice all had similar situations at one point. More to come as they develop in the next couple of weeks.

Team	Projected winner	Primary competition	Lesser competition	Lesser competition	Notes
Cleveland Browns	Montario Hardesty® (inj)	Jerome Harrison	James Davis		RBBC expected
Houston Texans	Steve Slaton	Ben Tate ®	Arian Foster		Foster enters camp as the starter until Slaton is healthy; should be RBBC
Minnesota Vikings	Ryan Moats	Albert Young	Darius Reynaud		This trio should battle for the third-down duties, but Adrian Peterson may win this role.
Pittsburgh Steelers	Mewelde Moore	Jonathan Dwyer ®	Isaac Redman		Battle for No. 2
San Francisco 49ers	Glen Coffee	Michael Robinson	Anthony Dixon ®		Battle for No. 2
Seattle Seahawks	Justin Forsett	Julius Jones	Leon Washington (inj)	Quinton Ganther	Should be RBBC once the dust settles
St. Louis Rams	Chris Ogbonnaya	Kenneth Darby			Expected to sign someone to compete with these two for backup job
Washington Redskins	Clinton Portis	Larry Johnson	Willie Parker	Ryan Torain	It's tough to call this a battle, because all three backs will likely have a rotational role.

Is Yahoo sports serious?

So I wake up this morning and follow my usual internet progressions... Facebook, Barstoolsports, than Yahoo, where I stumbled upon this comical and ironic photo. The article was titled "Making Amends" (see it here). The article goes on to speak of how Roethlisberger is on his way to redemption in Pittsburgh. My question... Is yahoo fucking serious? The guy showed up to training camp, in a city that loves him, where he gets a shit load load of money. How is that making amends... If Brady went out raped a few chicks and got suspended, Boston fan's would be pissed that he would be suspended. We couldn't give a fuck about his character. Heck, I'd rather have him raping chicks then him advancing his homo-erotic modeling career. As much as league officials want to say it does, what happens off the field doesn't matter. If an athlete wins your city championships than your city will support him. Big Ben didn't make amends when he showed up to training camp because he doesn't have to make amends. Only Brady has more rings as a QB than Big Ben, whats not to like. Meanwhile, Big Ben "makes amends" by trying to cop a feel of the cute blonde chick but accidentally fingerbangs a young Ron Weasley.

Just Being Negative - Brady Won't Win Another Super Bowl With the Pats

Listen, I love Tom Brady as much as the next guy. He was the best QB of the decade, the best QB in Patriots history and arguably the best QB of all time. However, many events and forthcomings have led to his demise, not as a player but as a winner.

The first thing I see is when the Pats signed Randy Moss, cue the "go fuck yourself Greg." True in his arrival Brady and the Patriots had the best statistical offense ever, but when it came to big games, Moss and the offense were nowhere to be found - or couldn't finish the game. My opinion on why this happened is Brady developed too much of a reliance on Moss and no longer did what he did best, which was find the open man. This is why the best defensively coached teams in the league (Giants, Chargers, Ravens, Colts) could limit the Patriots powerful offense.

My next point is one that is not Brady's fault. The administration has decided to build a team that revolves around his celebrity status. The Patriots' championships came with a mediocre offense and THE best defense, now its a mediocre defense with a top tier offense. Despite this outlook, the offense was in the position to win many times in the 09 season but failed to produce (also the 2007 superbowl). I speculate that this is because Brady no longer has the fire to win like he used to.

The last point of disaster seems to be the most devastating. THE INJURY. Now obviously an injury has repercussions physically, but the biggest problem is what he was able to do off the field. Brady was able to enjoy nearly a full year offseason with his super good looking wife Gisele Bundchen and their son. He also indulged in many homoerotic fantasies such as modeling, fashion designing, and living in LA. This is where Brady lost his desire to win as a team and began living life as a celebrity who is better than everyone else. Brady will demand the highest salary and the Patriots will give him it, ruining all that the Patriots have been about... A team of winners, not superstars.

Article posted by Greg. *Disclaimer: Greg's views are not always necessarily supported entirely by the rest of the Ultimate Boston staff.