Who came up with the idea for the project?

Now the performers who will be appearing reads like a who's who list from the New York theatre community...was the response to assembling the folks to join in on the evening a surprise to you?

We knew that as much as we loved Fran we couldn't sell tickets to a show called "An Evening Honoring Fran Liebergall!" So we needed something fun and catchy to get an audience's attention in a town that has a dozen benefits a week. wholesale Rockstar hatsWe batted around some titles using lines from shows or titles of songs and then we focused on that this was a celebration of community... six degrees of musical theater, etc. and, at one point, I think it was Murphy who blurted out "Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch." We laughed and thought is was a fun title that allowed us to include ANYone who wanted to be a part of this amazing night. We're ALL six degrees of Marvin Hamlisch. When Lucie reached out Marvin, he thought it was a fun idea and has absolutely thrown himself into the event.

Who came up with the idea for the project?

As you know cheap POLO hats Murphy and I have been directing and producing together for about ten years now and we were approached to put a fundraiser together for our dear friend Fran Liebergall, who is living with MS. I was working with her on Godspell, off-Broadway at the Promenade, when Marvin Hamlisch came to the show and offered her the position of rehearsal pianist for a little workshop he was doing at The Public Theater called "A Chorus Line." Fran has been associated with just about every musical done by Marvin and Michael Bennett, as music supervisor, keyboardist and assistant. Donna Murphy and Lucie had each worked with her on They're Playing Our Song and Bonnie Kole is, as she describes herself, wholesale POLO hats a civilian... some civilian, she knows more about who, what, and where of Broadway than any civilian I've met! She is an old friend of Fran's. The Actors Fund has been guiding us and will be the beneficiary of the event. They have been there for Fran and as we all know, they offer assistance for all those involved in the entertainment industry. We wanted to raise money and honor Fran for all her work behind the scenes. She was involved in casting and teaching just about every performer who was in the original productions of A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song, etc. That's why we are all producing together and that's why so many are participating.  cheap New era mlb hatsThis one's for Fran.

I got a type of breast cancer that affects a lot of younger women

Hartman is heading up "Team Holli" for the Race for the Cure in Denver on Sunday. The support she has received is amazing. The 40 or so friends and family on "Team Holli" have raised more than $12,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. Come Race Day, that amount will most likely be higher.
That has all changed. Hartman is determined to raise awareness,  cheap New era jordan hatsespecially among younger women and raise money into finding a cure.

"My mom admonished me when I found this, saying 'didn't you feel it the month before in your regular self exam? I was like 'oops, I didn't do a self exam the month before,'" Hartman said.
Hartman is grateful that she felt the lump but readily admits that she had not been as committed to self exams as she should have been.

I got a type of breast cancer that affects a lot of younger women,"cheap New era winter hats Hartman explained. "It is called Triple Negative Breast Cancer. It is a very aggressive form of breast cancer."
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The next time she ran, she was a survivor. "The meaning changes when it's been you," Cantin said of the run. "Now, it's just really meaningful to see the support. It's unbelievable to see that all these people came out."

Although it was Cantin's first time speaking to the runners, it wasn't her first time in the big pink parade: wholesale New era winter hatsCantin first joined the Run for the Cure four years ago. The first time she ran, nobody knew she was waiting for a doctor to give her the news about the lump she had found.

He’s an outstanding player,

“He’s an outstanding player,” wholesale POLO hatsWade Phillips said, “and he gives us everything he has.” 

Texans left tackle Rashad Butler, who made his first NFL start in place of suspended Duane Brown, was obviously overmatched against the perennial All-Pro. But Butler wasn’t to blame for any of Ware’s sacks. He was only beat on one of them, and quarterback Matt Schaub held the ball too long on that play. Houston inexplicably left a tight end alone on Ware on another of his sacks. 

Ware had three sacks, cheap New era mlb hatsfive tackles for losses and three quarterback hurries in the win over the Texans. 

 It’s rare to see an outside linebacker with a more impressive statistical line than the one DeMarcus Ware produced Sunday. 

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because he has decided to accept the blame for the shortcomings of many others. But the time has come to perhaps make Shera, the mascot, the face of the Gameswholesale New era mlb hats and conduct them to the best of our ability. 

The fifteenth race of the season was showcased amidst a lot of thrill and excitement at one of the most tricky and exciting tracks, the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Footnotes.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was hit in the ear by a thrown ball during batting practice, but did not appear to be seriously hurt.

Footnotes. 

The rest of the staff includes pitchingCheap NFL hats coach Brad Arnsberg, third-base coach Dave Clark, first-base coach Bobby Meacham, bench coach Al Pedrique and bullpen coach Jamie Quirk.

Bagwell replaced Sean Berry at the all-star break and committed to staying only through the end of the season. He says he wants to consult with his family before making a decision about his future.

PITTSBURGH — Wholesale  NFL hats  Each member of the Astros' coaching staff, except for hitting coach Jeff Bagwell, has agreed to a two-year contract extension.

Astros coaches get new deals 

Mariners interim manager Daren Brown said the right-hander felt some soreness after his last appearance last Sunday. Aardsma, Cheap NBA hatswho is 0-6 with 31 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 53 games, can play catch. He has converted 15-of-16 save opportunities since the all-star break.

The MLS Player of the Week award

The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week by the North American Soccer Reporters. The group consists of members of online, print, television, radio media. More information can be found at soccerreporters.com.

The Switzerland international then completed his hat trickCheap Cincinnati Reds Hats  15 minutes from time when he exchanged passes with Steve Zakuani before finishing off Zakuani's cross from the left wing.

The 35-year-old's first goal came just four minutes into the game when he pounced on a rebound from Fredy Montero's header before Nkufo added a second goal in the 39th minute after beating a Crew defender wholesale Cincinnati Reds Hats  . 

Nkufo, who joined Seattle as a Designated Player following the 2010 World Cup, had failed to score in his five previous league matches for the club. But he broke out in a big way, scoring three times in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Crew on Saturday.

Seattle Sounders FC forward Blaise Nkufo was named the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week discount Cincinnati Reds Hats 25 on Monday.

USC coach Lane Kiffin throws open the Trojans' tailback position.

UW quarterback Jake Locker says the Huskies' season isn't lost.

annual Coastal Cleanup held Saturday

It was developed to help volunteers cleaning up the Gulf Coast oil spill keep cool. More than 100 hats were given away at this year’s 23rd annual Coastal Cleanup held Saturday.

Chill Out on the Coast Project” is a joint effort between Blubandoo Cooling Headwear and Neckwear of California and Sweet Dreams Bath & Body Shop of Orange Beach.

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It will be an amazing thing to walk through the meandering path in a monumental garden setting that will literally remind us to "LET FREEDOM RING.Cheap  Boston Red Sox Hats

I salute all those who support our troops and those who continue the great mission of keeping America safe and free.

It reminds me of a time when Trish Clarke,  wholesale  Boston Red Sox Hats Molly Wilson, Maurice Johannesson and Kim Chamberlain and all of those patriots of America who supported the Veterans Cemetery, now a reality and the Veterans Home, soon to be constructed, were first pushing for those projects.

There are many ways to raise money, many opportunities are out there, but it takes some creativity and perseverance.  discount  Boston Red Sox HatsSo far, the group working on it has done an excellent job from the start.

Junior MasterChef

"Don't feel down that you didn't get through. You're great cooks and you'll go a long way," Mehigan says.

The show looks like it will acknowledge, Wholesale DC shoes hats but not dwell on, the disappointed children who miss the cut.

The uncomfortable part of Junior MasterChef was always going to be seeing children eliminated.

The second task is a dessert challenge that has Calombaris saying he has "the best job in the world" after tasting a knockout orange and almond cake.

Sunday night's first task is an "international challenge" and it highlights the multicultural make-up of the competitors. Children of British, Greek, Italian, Indian and Iranian heritage go head to head.

Over the next few weeks, five heats of 10 competitors will take place with the best four from each heat making it through to the top-20 qualifying round.

Where did you see that on MasterChef 2Cheap NFL hats  Young Ashkan wishes fellow competitor Isabella good luck as they take their dishes to be judged.

There is a wonderful spirit between the kids - something that was sadly missing from the recent adult version of the show.

The judges - Mehigan, Matt Preston, George Calombaris and newcomer Anna Gare - are clearly having the time of their lives.

The first thing that strikes you about Junior MasterChef is how much fun it is compared with the adult version.

This isn't chocolate crackle territory. We're talking goat cheese wantons with balsamic glaze, ricotta gnocchi with eggplant salsa, chicken with walnut and pomegranate broth.

The 50 children featured on the program knock out a range of mouth-watering dishes.

Mehigan isn't kidding.

"This is Australia's next generation of top chefs and cooks. Wholesale  NFL hats They will change how a nation eats," judge Gary Mehigan says at the start of the first episode.

Some pundits predict that tomorrow night's premiere will burst through the two-million-viewer barrier.

The children's version of Ten's hit reality series has generated a huge buzz over the past month.

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fantasy football anti-tips

Don't be a homer

It's always tempting to stock your fantasy team with players from your favorite real team. All true fans believe this is the year their team will break through, so why not benefit from that in fantasy?

One problem: This is not the year your team will break through. No, really, it's not. Stop yelling. I don't care that some sixth-round draft pick made an amazing play in the third quarter of the last preseason game. I really don't. Your team's season will still end like every other season: in misery. Remember, there is only a 1-in-32 chance your team will win the cheap Super Bowl jersey , and it's just 3-in-8 it'll even make the playoffs. So you're probably going to lose double with a bad season in both real and fantasy football. (Seriously, shut up. It was a preseason game. Just one play in a preseason game against other backups. Not only will that guy not be your team's missing Super Bowl piece but he probably won't even make the team.)

So, please, don't be a homer.

The better approach might be to stock your team with guys you hate. Say you're a Steelers fan. A fantasy team of Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Jerome Harrison, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens and Todd Heap might make you want to kill yourself. As it should. However, if the cheap Steelers jersey have a bad season, you might just win some money in your fantasy league.

Or, even better, you might have the worst fantasy season of all time.

Don't do too much research

Coming off a season in which he had 2,006 rushing yards and 503 receiving yards, Chris Johnson is the No. 1-rated fantasy player by every supposed fantasy "expert" this year. Shows what they know.

History, not follow-the-sheep hype, shows that running backs who break 350 carries in a season tend to decline the next season. If they break 370, they fall off a cliff. Look it up. Larry Johnson 2006-07, Jamal Anderson 1998-99, Eric Dickerson 1986-87, Eddie George 2000-01. The list goes on and on.

Johnson had 353 carries last season … and if you add in his 50 receptions, he had 403 touches. That's way, way, way past the danger zone.

And don't forget that he's undersized for an every-down back to begin with and is therefore more prone to injury. Plus, you have to consider that he got a big pay increase this offseason and might not be as motivated on the field.

In fact, Johnson's collapse is already being seen in the preseason. In a Week 1 loss, he had 7 yards on five carries. In Week 2, it was 22 yards on six carries for a 3.7 average -- well below the 5.6 yards a carry he averaged last season.

I could go on. But I don't think I have to because it's obvious: Not only is Chris Johnson not the No. 1 fantasy player but you'd actually have to be insane to draft him.

Right?

No! Not right, you idiot. Wow. What is wrong with you? If you pass on Chris Johnson, you deserve to be repeatedly punched in the face by LeGarrette Blount and Vince Young.

Don't get greedy

Every draft begins by determining how much the league fee is … aka: how much sweet, sweet cash you're going to have given to you come January!

Because as good as you think your favorite real team will be this season, you think your fantasy team will be even better. "So what did we pay last season -- $75? You know, I'm totally cool doing $150 if everyone else is up for it. Come on! Don't you trust your team or what?"

But let me remind you again: 1-in-32, dude. One-in-32. You're not going to win. "But there are only 10 teams in my league, not 32 like in the NFL! Those are much better odds!" Oh, sure. Go crazy with that 10 percent chance. Why not make it $250? Scared?

Oh, by the way, make sure your league requires that the entry fee be paid at the start of the season, not the end. It's one thing to pay $150 (you'll never see again) when you're full of hope in August; it's entirely different to have to pay $150 in January when holiday bills are due and you're reminded of the fact that, many sad months ago, you thought your Carson Palmer/Ronnie Brown-led team was fantasy gold.

Don't do too little research

Last year, if you had Kurt Warner, Sidney Rice and Ben Roethlisberger jersey, you would have had the makings of a very good fantasy team. Not so much this year thanks to Warner's retirement, Rice's injury and Roethlisberger's … um, let's say … libido.

So you need to do at least some research. But picking up a random fantasy football draft magazine at the 7-Eleven before you head over to your draft will not suffice. Those things are printed months in advance. They have no current injury news, nothing on training camp position battles, some don't even have the NFL draft results. In fact, I don't even know whether 2010 fantasy guides are still available. They might now be selling 2011 or '12 guides. And won't you look stupid drafting Houston Texans quarterback Brett Favre in 2010.

A big addition to the Seahawks defense will be their other first round pick

In nine seasons with Seattle, Hasselbeck has only started all 16 games of the regular season three times. He is reported to be 100 percent heading into this season, but you have to question how long that will last once the hitting starts.

Carroll used his first draft with the team to help protect Hasselbeck by selecting OT Russell Okung to fill the void at left tackle after Walter Jones decided to retire. He also addressed some skill position needs by drafting WR Golden Tate in the second round and TE Anthony McCoy in the sixth. Tate will join T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch as an additional target in the passing game.

The running game will be led by a pair of capable backs in Julius Jones and Justin Forsett. Last season these two combined for close to 1300 yards on the ground. Overall, the Seahawks will need to do a better job up front to try and improve a rushing offense that was ranked 26th in the league last season.

A big addition to the Seahawks defense will be their other first round pick; S Earl Thomas. Last season, Seattle's pass defense was ranked 30th in the league, so Thomas along with fourth round pick CB Walter Thurmond will be a welcomed addition to the secondary. The strength of this defense will still be up front with Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole anchoring a line that helped the Seahawks rank 15th against the run last year.

One thing Seattle is going to have to figure out is how to win on the road. Last season Aaron Curry the Seahawks were 4-4 at home but was just 1-7 away from Qwest Field. Overall, they were 6-10 against the spread; 5-3 at home and 1-7 on the road.

Sometimes, though, they become part of training camp, preseason, and even the regular season.

Oftentimes, the situation gets better before it gets to that point.

Such is not the case with Logan Mankins, who wants to be traded after feeling snubbed by the Patriots front office.

Mankins was told after the '08 season that his Matt Hasselbeck contract would be addressed after the '09 season.

He played out what he calls an "undervalued contract," and is telling the Patriots exactly how he feels by sitting out until he is heard.

The Boston Globe recently interviewed Mankins' agent, Frank Bauer, who told the Globe that the Patriots have "totally lost this player mentally" as the saga continues.

It seems that re-signing Mankins is all but ruled out of the equation.

Greg Olsen, who led the Bears with 60 receptions last year

Bears coach Lovie Smith has been impressed with Louis since he arrived last year as a seventh-round pick out of San Diego State.

"He's a powerful guy," Smith said. "He's a good knee-bender, has good speed and had great combine numbers. He can do all the things you're looking for. You can (have him) pull him outside, and he has enough power to block inside.

"He just needs reps, which he's getting. It's helping him a lot too, to go against our defensive line, which is pretty good. We've seen improvement in him, and he's steadily moving up the depth chart."

Earlier in camp, offensive line coach Mike Tice was asked about Louis, and he was already making a positive impression.

"He's very aggressive, he's big, he's strong, and he knocked people around pretty good," Tice said of Louis after an early practice. "For a guy that hasn't played a lot of football, he went out there and didn't show any fear, and he competed."

What a player: Tight end Greg Olsen, who led the Bears with 60 receptions last year, had been flying under the radar for most of training camp - until Sunday night.

Greg Olsen  was the star of the practice, catching a ridiculous 5 TD passes in the 7-on-7 red zone period.

"Sometimes that's just the way the balls end up going," Greg Olsen  said. "Whoever's open. Jay (Cutler) is not dropping back and picking his guys, he's following his progressions and throwing the ball where it has to go. Tonight was my turn.

Then, on the first play of 11-on-11 team work, Olsen streaked straight down the middle of the field and caught a pinpoint throw from Cutler. The pass split safeties Chris Harris and Craig Steltz, who had Olsen bracketed - but not closely enough.

"We've hit that a couple times so far in camp," Olsen said. "Those are the kind of big plays that we're looking forward to making this year."

Injury update: Rookie safety Major Wright (groin) returned to practice Sunday. Twelve players were out with an assortment of minor injuries: wide receivers Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Antonio Robinson, cornerback Josh Bullocks, safety Danieal Manning, running backs Brandon Minor and Harvey Unga, linebacker Brian Iwuh, center Tim Walter, defensive linemen Mark Anderson, Averill Spicer and Maurice Evans.

Cornerback Zack Bowman suffered what is believed to be a minor knee injury during practice and remained on the sideline for the duration.

Coming and going: Undrafted rookie quarterback Mike Teel was released Sunday, and Northwestern wide receiver Zeke Markshausen was signed to take his place on the roster.

Teel, No. 4 on the depth chart, had been sidelined since Aug. 4 with a hamstring injury.

That's just the way the balls end up going,'' Olsen said after practice. ''It's whoever is open. He's not dropping back and picking his guys. He's following the progressions and throwing it where it has to go, and tonight was my turn.''

Olsen and Desmond Clark have had dominant days, showing that tight ends can become a part of Mike Martz's offense.

''I see you guys talking to Greg. He had a great night," coach Lovie Smith said. ''I thought Jay threw the ball well. Offensively, we did some good things, got some good work down in the red zone.''

Olsen said he and his teammates were excited as soon as they saw the package at organized team activities.

''Our red-zone package is pretty impressive,'' he said. ''You get down in that area of the field, and we have to do better than last year. And in the couple of days we've done red zone, we've done pretty well.''

But Olsen wasn't done.

On the first play of 11-on-11, Olsen streaked down the field and hauled in a well-placed pass from Cutler, splitting safeties Craig Steltz and Chris Harris.

It would have been a 50-plus- yard touchdown.

''Yeah, we've hit that a couple of times so far in camp,'' Olsen said. ''It's just pretty much run straight down the field. We had two high safeties, and Jay threw a great ball down the middle, and we were able to connect.

''Those are the kind of big plays we're looking forward to making this year.''

Meanwhile, tight end Brandon Manumaleuna returned after missing some time with a right knee injury. He had the knee surgically repaired in the offseason, but he downplayed the injury earlier Sunday.

Manumaleuna was signed on the first day of free agency along with defensive end Julius Peppers and running back Chester Taylor. Manumaleuna, who received a five-year, $15 million contract that included $6 million in guarantees, played for Martz in St. Louis. He's known as a blocker.

Training Camp Central: P.M. practice wrap

After canceling their morning practice, the Patriots got back to work at 3 p.m. for a complete two-hour training camp session, which included some nice catches from rookie receiver Buddy Farnham, another lackluster showing from running back Laurence Maroney, and a head-hunting throw that nearly took out Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

First thing's first. Farnham made the most impressive catch of the afternoon, leaping up to make a cross-body, one-handed leaping grab that was thrown off-target and behind him by quarterback Zac Robinson in the 7-on-7 drills.

The rookie receiver out of Brown made another one-handed grab in the right corner of the end zone just moments later, after receiving a pass down the right sideline from running back Fred Taylor, after Fred Taylor received a toss to the backfield. Farnham couldn't get his foot in-bounds, so the catch technically wouldn't have counted in a game. But c'mon, it's training camp, and the rookie is showing he has a pair of hands on him. We'll let it slide.

bullet.gif Now to Maroney. During the first 11-on-11 set, the running back dropped a 10-yard pass over the middle from Tom Brady, that would have resulted in a touchdown, as Maroney was wide open coming from the left post. The dropped pass ended the offensive possession for that unit, and Brady walked to the sideline with his head down. Ball should have been caught.

bullet.gif Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Fred Taylor each made an impressive touchdown receptions in the 11-on-11 red zone drills. Moss beat double-coverage from Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung to make a catch down the right sideline that he took into the end zone from the two-yard line.

Several plays later, Welker caught a touchdown pass over the middle after Brady fooled the defense with a fake spike on a play from the goal line.

Holt's was the most celebrated out of the three. Hoyer made a nice pass down the right sideline to the right corner of the end zone, and Holt made a leaping grab with corner back Kyle Arrington right in his face.

After Holt threw the ball in celebration, Hoyer ran down and the two gave a celebratory body bump in mid-air.

bullet.gif Rookie Brandon Tate was, at times, being used as the No. 2 receiver on Wednesday with the top offensive unit during 11-on-11 drills, lining up on the opposite side of Moss.

bullet.gif Newly signed offensive lineman Fred Taylor was present for Wednesday's afternoon session, and was sporting John Wise's old No. 71. Bill Belichick announced on Wednesday morning that the Patriots had released Wise, and signed Ghiaciuc. Belichick had also stated that the signing of Ghiaciuc was "unrelated" to Nick Kaczur missing some practice time.

Dan Connolly was playing left guard for the top offensive unit on Wednesday.

bullet.gif Kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed his first field goal on Wednesday, from 40-yards out, but hit his final six kicks to finish the afternoon 6-for-7.

bullet.gif And don't worry, the Patriots' owner is OK. He was able to duck out of the way of a Nick Caserio 40-yard throw that was labeled for Kraft's coconut. Caserio made the last throw in a game that Brady and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer were playing, as they switched off trying to sink 40-yard tosses into a blue garbage barrel that was placed on the goal line.

While Hoyer continued to come up short, Brady hit the barrel three times. He hit the front of the barrel twice, and had one that just rimmed out.

It was Caserio's accuracy, however, that was most impressive. When Brady and Hoyer were done throwing at the barrel on the side field, Kraft was walking through the end zone, behind the barrel and towards the main field's sideline. That's when the Patriots' Director of Player Personnel threw a low liner in Kraft's direction, forcing Kraft to duck out of the way.

Afterwards, Brady gave a long point in at Kraft. It should go without saying that everyone involved was joking around.

bullet.gif And finally, rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes played on the top defensive unit during the entire afternoon session on Wednesday. With Gary Guyton not present, Spikes was playing inside linebacker with Jerod Mayo.

Will Johnny Knox Be Next Miles Austin?

Entering the season before an alleged lockout takes place, the faithful fans of the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys face expectations that are seemingly sky-high.

Lovie Smith, and Jerry Angelo have come to grips with reality. Their respective fates as a Chicago's head coach and general manager is hanging by a mere thread.

With a revamped offensive scheme, much needed assistance Johnny Knox at the defensive line, and secondary advances, there is no reason for failure in 2010. It's do or die for the former NFC champions, who were competing in the Super Bowl just four years ago.

In Dallas, head coach Wade Phillips will no longer be out of the hot seat if all falls apart for the undoubtedly talented squad that some consider America's team once again. Owner Jerry Jones is not one to keep losers around.

While all seems negative for the couple of underachieving teams, there are bright spots within each team's wide-out position.

Johnny Knox, the fifth round pick out of Abilene Christian last year, has become a fan favorite for the Bears.

Like Dallas favorite Miles Austin, a Monmouth University product,Johnny Knox wasn't looked upon as a future star.

While Austin had his breakout year at receiver, catching 81 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009, Knox was quietly making a name for himself.

 

In the season opener, Knox immediately garndered some attention after he beat veteran cornerback Charles Woodson on his way to catching a 68-yard bomb against the Green Bay Packers.

After Knox's preseason performances and contribution in the first game of the year, the 140th overall selection went on to earn 45 receptions for 527 yards, five touchdowns, and a spot beside Austin in the Pro Bowl.

While Austin is Tony Romo's number one target coming into 2010, the Bears look to gain a new identity as a passing offense with Knox lining up against the second corner.

Chicago's radio analyst Tom Thayer says he believes out of the Chicago's youthful receiving corps, Knox should emerge as the most successful receiver.

Will Knox's numbers rival that of Austin's?

Well, Knox and Miles are similar in multiple ways.

    * Blazing speed is something neither athlete lacks, with both players running under a 4.35 in their combines.
    * Both Knox and Austin have been looked as a "natural receiver", opposed to a learning wide-out. However, let their play on the gridiron speak for that opinion.
    * Large, rich schools are something Johnny and Miles aren't accustomed to, coming out of no-name facilities in Abilene Christian and Monmouth.
    * Neither receiver was even heard of in their respective draft classes, while Miles was an undrafted free agent and Knox being drafted in the fifth round.
    * Each target is a favorite in terms of their franchise quarterback, and can be used in multiple situations.

Knox is poised for a breakout year in 2010. Will he reach the likes of Austin when it comes to level of play?

Check out chicitysports.com, where this article was originally written. - Dustin Brown

Bears wide receivers like Knox

Peppers showed his strength with two bull-rush (would-be) sacks Monday, and also showed his freakish athleticism by batting a ball up in the air and almost making a diving, one-handed catch for an interception.

Turnovers come in droves
Picking up where it left off Sunday, the Bears defense hauled in four interceptions and forced two fumbles during the 55-minute, 11-on-11 drill to end practice. Major Wright, Zack Bowman, Josh Bullocks and Al Afalava had INTs, and linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs each batted a ball out of the air.

Not all the day's highlights came from the D, however. QB Jay Cutler threw two nice TD passes, and Johnny Knox returned the first kickoff of camp about 80 yards for a TD.

Lovie not going 'light'
Bears head coach Lovie Smith interrupted a reporter's question Monday to make sure he cleared something up.

"I don't know where you got that we take it light in practice. That's all because we don't take guys down to the ground, but we're not taking anything light out here," Smith said.
"We don't take it easy on anybody, and these guys are going hard out here. They'll be ready."

Rookie Wright slips out early
After another strong showing Monday, rookie safety Major Wright slipped on the grass during a cut, then slipped out just near the end of practice to ice it down.

"Can't talk now," Wright said after supplying the crowd with the biggest Devin Hester hit of the day for the third time in the four-day camp. "I've got to climb into some ice."

With the depth at outside linebacker and lack of a pass rushing defensive end a major concern, the Patriots have been rotating a group of outside linebackers at practice, which includes Tully Banta-Cain, Pierre Woods, Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich. The Patriots apparently have shown interest in adding Ogunleye to that mix. Their interest can certainly be attributed to the fact that defensive end Derrick Burgess unexpectedly did not show up for camp, and is contemplating retirement.

I think all of us have that chip on our shoulder. We want to come out and Greg Olsen prove the critics wrong," Bennett said. "We've got a lot of playmakers and a lot of talent, we've just got to show it everyday. You never know who's going to hit you or who's going to make a big play. There are a lot of guys on this team that can."

New offensive coordinator Mike Martz is known for throwing less to his tight ends and more to his wideouts. Olsen has been running out of the slot at tight end and from a wideout position. But much of the pressure of making this offense click appears to be on the shoulders of quarterback Jay Cutler and the four wide receivers.

"They have no choice: They have to be up to the task," receivers coach Chris Williams Darryl Drake said. "They will. They will. There is a lot of talent there, and they're working at it hard. I think they're going to make a lot of things happen this year."

Still, the feeling around the league is that this is an unproven group, and one that has potential but has yet to show the skill level needed to be consistently great. Martz ran a St. Louis Rams offense known as the "Greatest Show on Turf," when QB Kurt Warner and a variety of receivers put up staggering numbers from 1999 to 2001. Those teams scored 500 points in three straight seasons, the only NFL team to do so.

Can the Bears be that team? Many aren't sure. Bears wide receivers like Knox think it's possible.

Broncos lost their first game last season

A little Hip Hop tune "It's My Time" starts to play over the PA system as Richard Quinn, Nathan Overbay and Riar Geer warm up at the 10 yard line, practicing their first step into motion from a 3 point stance. Another Hip Hop song comes on and Lonie Paxton is long snapping. Quinn and Orton take a break and watch on as Tebow continues throwing. Patrick Honeycutt joins the crowd of players assembling to watch Lonie work. J.D, Walton is snapping to Kyle Orton, Russ Hochstein to Brady Quinn, and Dustin Fry is snapping for Tebow. Nick Greisen is long snapping to Prater which makes me think that he is the backup to Paxton. HORN.

Star-divide
Practice is officially started and the crowd roars. Punt protection is taking place next. I see Kolby Smith, Jammie Kirlew, Nick Greisen, Kevin Alexander, Eric Decker, Richard Quinn on the snap with Kyle McCarthy and Bruce Hall as Gunners and David Bruton as the Personal Protector. Lonie Paxton and Britton Colquitt make up the rest of the unit. The Gunners and Personal Protector switch players and Wesley Woodyard and Darcel McBath take over the Gunner positions while Eric Decker works as the Personal Protector. They practice the snap and Get-off into their coverage lanes. A scout team lines up across them wearing red socks over their helmets, so the "Eye in the Sky" can tell who is who. The punt protection practices their blocking assignments for preventing a Punt Block, holding their block for a set time and then breaking into coverage.

They take about five more reps--by the way, Tebow is still throwing--to Royal now, and the HORN blows.

The team lines up at the Goal line to start the "Hop, Skip, and Jump" warmups. U2's "Streets Have No Name" blares across the air. A few times out to the 20 yard line and back. Then the players run sideways while twisting to left and right, out to the 30 now, and then back to the Goal. Paul Duncan and Eric Olsen look huge. Brian Dawkins comes over and hugs Kyle Orton. Another song plays and the warmups continue a few more minutes, and I notice a player wearing #96 who isn't listed. I assume it is the newly acquired Joe Mays. HORN.

The Team disperses out every 5 yards and spreads out for the stretching interval. Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Tuten calls out the cadence as Josh McDaniels twirls his whistle and watches on. Ron Fields call for some more tape on his left ankle. Robert Ayers, Justin Bannan, Chris Baker, Jarvis Green, Ben Garland, Brandon Stokely, Kyle Orton, Jabar Gaffney, and Knowshon Moreno are stretching in front of me. I have a pretty good view at the 41 yard line, which is a good place to sit. It keeps the Scissor Lift with the All-Seeing Eye from my view of the far field. As the stretching ends, McDaniels comes over and shakes hands with Justin Bannan. This conjures up a vision of David and Goliath.

They disperse and the Linemen gp off to on to one end and the Receivers and Running Backs run the pylons with the ball while ball boys and Assistants try to slap the ball away as "Eye of the Tiger" plays.

The Broncos haven't been to the playoffs since finishing 13-3 in 2005, then reaching the AFC championship game. For a team with some of its most accomplished players well into the 30-somethings — the team's defense could start as many as nine players at least 30 years old — the career clocks are ticking.

Especially after the historic fade down the stretch last season, when a 6-0 start dissolved Champ Bailey into an 8-8 finish. However, Bailey and others say it's important to remember the Broncos were still 8-4 when the season headed into December and still had a playoff chance when they were crushed by the Chiefs in the season finale.

"We've got to have that urgency, to make sure everybody's feeling that, and that's kind of up to some of the older players," Bailey said. "That's the hardest part of it all, just keeping that urgency, doing all the little things from start to finish, just to get in, because once you're in, who knows? But to not get in and go home, it's almost like last place at that point."

"I've always been a guy who pushes for perfection anyway," Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said. "But over the last few years, you do realize the amount of time you have in front of you as a player is not what it was. I've already been blessed to play as long as I have. That sense of now does increase, of doing things now, just because of time."

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels spent plenty of the team's resources in free agency and the draft to beef up the offensive and defensive lines. He has also spent a great deal of time in recent months on stopping the bleeding. After the Broncos lost their first game last season — in November to the Ravens — they had two four-game losing streaks over their final 10 games.

The Browns begin their quest to come off the list

 So it's only fitting that he is one of two NFL players being honored by an American Dairy Association Mideast-sponsored display at the Ohio State Fair. Yes, Thomas and the Bengals' Chinedum Ndukwe have been sculpted out of butter. The two play key roles on their respective sides of the ball: Thomas has been protecting quarterbacks' blind sides well enough to make the Pro Bowl all three years he's been in the league. Last year, Ndukwe, a strong safety, had 91 tackles, third on the team.

So it almost makes sense to carve them out of butter, as both play positions with no, ahem, margarine for error.

The sculpture is part of an exhibit that has been part of the fair since 1920. So alongside Thomas and Ndukwe are the traditional cow and calf, carved of a ton of butter, according to an account in today's Columbus Dispatch.

Watson should secure the No. 1 job in this offense, and with Joe Thomas the lack of other quality receiving options, he could be a favorite of quarterback Jake Delhomme's.

This offense could rank near the bottom of the AFC, and this position has never been a huge contributor in an Eric Mangini-led team. Evan Moore  displayed some receiving ability, and given his youth as well as Watson's injury history, he could factor if Cleveland decides to build try out the youngster.

Only the strong survive, and then they embark on a long season to try Shaun Rogers  to justify the four to six weeks of hell they all endured.

The commonality with baseball is that optimism fills the air. Every team is 0-0 and believing it can be the one hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February. Hope is more realistic in the NFL. Last year, the New Orleans Saints were the ninth team in the past 11 seasons to appear in a Super Bowl for the first time.

The list of teams never to appear in 44 Super Bowls is now down to four -- Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville and the Browns football jerseys.

The Browns begin their quest to come off the list on Saturday when coach Eric Mangini puts his roster of 80 players on the field for the first practice of the season open to the public.

There's less drama this summer -- absent a so-called open competition for the starting job -- but no less focus on the passers. Newcomers Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace were the hand-picked choices of new President Mike Holmgren to take over for the stale duo of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

Holmgren likes Delhomme's leadership, experience, savvy and his body of work -- except for a miserable 2009 campaign. Holmgren likes Wallace's intangibles, too, and promises his arm strength and accuracy will surprise those who never saw him play seven seasons in Seattle. Holmgren also was the one to figuratively stand on a table in the draft room and "suggest" to GM Tom Heckert to select Texas record-holder Colt McCoy in the third round after Heckert's targeted pick (Kentucky defensive lineman Corey Peters) was nabbed two notches earlier by Atlanta.

How the coaches acclimate all three new quarterbacks in camp and preseason will be something to watch, as will be the plight of Eric Mangini-product Brett Ratliff.

Dallas Cowboys training camp without fanfare

I've been doing the same things. It's just that more people are paying attention now,'' Austin said Sunday, trying to convince reporters and cameras surrounding him that he feels no different from when people didn't even notice him less than a year ago. "I've got the star on my helmet. But that's about it.''

Yet, Austin no longer comes on the field at Dallas Cowboys training camp without fanfare. There are plenty of cheers when he emerges from the tunnel and catches passes from Tony Romo.

The New Jersey native gets recognized in public now and certainly gets photographed when he keeps certain company - though Austin and Kardashian, the reality TV star who is Reggie Bush's former girlfriend, are coy about whether they are actually dating.

"It's like taking somebody working at The Container Store in the closet and now he's the American Idol,'' teammate Bradie James said. "That's only in America and only on America's Team that you can do that. ... Miles is still levelheaded. Miles is still the same guy. People like him now, more people.''

Going into his fifth NFL season, the former undrafted DeMarcus Ware receiver from tiny Monmouth College is no longer primarily a kick returner who occasionally gets a pass thrown his way.

Austin has emerged as Romo's favorite target, and a problem for defensive coordinators league-wide. Plus, he's in line for a big new contract.

The 26-year-old Austin signed a $3.168 million contract in June, but owner Jerry Jones repeatedly has said the Cowboys want to sign the receiver to a long-term deal.

So much has changed since he got his first NFL start last October at Kansas City, filling in for injured Roy Williams. He finished with 10 catches for 250 yards against the Chiefs to break the team's single-game yardage record set by Hall of Fame receiver "Bullet Bob'' Hayes in 1966. He also had two late touchdowns, including a 60-yarder in overtime.

It was quite a breakout performance for Austin, who entered with 23 career catches, including five in the first four games last season.

His encore was six catches for 171 yards and two more TDs in Dallas' next game. He went on to finish with 81 catches for 1,320 yards, sixth-best in team history and the sixth-best by any undrafted receiver ever in the NFL.


new Dallas Cowboys jerseys rookie receiver Dez Bryant said he is in training camp to catch passes, not carry somebody else's shoulder pads after practice.

When receiver Roy Williams handed his pads to Bryant on Sunday after the team's first camp session in pads, the rookie who was the Cowboy's first-round draft pick last April didn't carry them. Veteran players traditionally hand their pads to a rookie after practice.

"I feel like I was drafted to play football, not carry another player's pads," Bryant said. "If I was a free agent, it would still be the same thing."

Williams said every rookie has go to through such rituals during their first season. He said he carried pads and paid for meals when he was a rookie for the Detroit Lions in 2004.

"No matter if you're a No. 1 pick or the 7,000th pick, you've still got to Marion Barber do something when you're a rookie," Williams said.

When Bill Parcells was still with the Cowboys, the team's top pick was responsible for taking water to the coach during breaks at training camp. Current coach Wade Phillips doesn't have such a requirement.

While there are some who believe Bryant could challenge Williams for the starting job opposite Pro Bowl receiver Miles Austin, there have been no apparent issues between the receivers.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shaun Rogers

Rachel Glandorf joined an exclusive club this past weekend when she married new Cleveland Browns jerseys quarterback Shaun Rogers.

Just as we look to the QB to be the leader on the field, we look to these stars to be just as dominant off the gridiron.

Only the hottest ladies deserve to be on these dudes' arms.

So which gunslingers have underestimated their drawing power and which ones actually managed to outpunt the coverage?

The answers are shocking. Rachel's got some pretty stiff competition for the title of hottest QB WAG, but at the same time, there's plenty of lessons to be learned in others' successes and failures.

There are many aspects of the Browns that favor Joe Thomas , especially now that he has a chip on his shoulder after having to wait until the second day in the draft to find his team.

McCoy brings a long history of winning in Texas to his new home in Cleveland, a city which is begging for a winning team now that LeBron James has departed for Miami.

Not only was McCoy a winner in Texas, but he is playing with something to prove, and usually quarterbacks with that mentality are dangerous.

McCoy is also competing with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace for the starting quarterback position. I guess you can call that his competition ?

Eric Mangini has gone on record to say, "It's Jake Delhomme's job to lose."

How sad it must be in Cleveland, if they are going to now rely on Jake Delhomme to run their offense.

But back to Colt McCoy.

Despite what Mangini proclaimed, McCoy will win over the starting job at some point this year, once Delhomme decides to play for the other team like he did last year with the Carolina Panthers.

This being said, there are considerable doubts about the young gunner out of Texas.

It's hard to say this, because he is a class act, but Colt McCoy just doesn't have what it takes to win in the city of Cleveland.

That is too much to ask of even Peyton Manning, let alone Colt McCoy.

Colt McCoy was a fantastic college quarterback, there is no arguing that, but he played under a system which wasn't a pro-style offense like the West Coast offense he will face in Cleveland.

That is a tough transition for any college quarterback to make, even someone who was as successful during college as Colt McCoy.

His arm strength is average at best, which means he is going to have lots of trouble completing passes at the highest level where athletes are faster and stronger than they have ever been.

Another knock to McCoy is his fragility.

In the 2009 BCS title game, he looked to continue his winning ways holding the reins in Texas, but the sheer physicality for the Alabama defense proved to be too much for McCoy.

They bullied McCoy from the starting whistle, knocking him out of the game on just the fifth play from scrimmage.

This is just a taste of what he will face when he plays with the big boys in the NFL. The athletes are bigger, meaner, and more ferocious.

Could you imagine what is going to happen to Colt McCoy when he plays against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers?

Don't forget, the new Cleveland Browns jerseys are in one of the toughest defensive divisions in the NFL, and for a fragile quarterback with a weak arm, that is his worst nightmare.

McCoy's lack of physical toughness will make it next to impossible for him to succeed against strong defenses in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns will do in 2010 is about as easy as predicting

Gamble, 6-2 and 260 pounds, spent the final four weeks of the 2009 season on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. He also spent time in 2009 with the DC Armor of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA), and has played arena football with the Tennessee Valley Vipers (2007), Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2007) and Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings (2008).

At Shippensburg University (2001-04), Gamble, 27, appeared in 43 games, recording 46 receptions for 631 yards with five touchdowns.

Titans, Johnson agree to deal: Chris Johnson's agent says the running back and Tennessee have agreed on a revised deal that will ensure he reports with the rest of the team for training camp.

There is one school of thought promoting the task of rebuilding the Browns football jerseys still is at such an early point that a 2-14 season is something everyone should prepare for.

Another school of thought exists that between Team President Mike Holmgren's changes and the retention of head coach Eric Mangini, the Browns will become the dark horse of the NFL in 2010 and win as many as nine games.

This piece does not endorse either school of thought Joe Thomas because too many personnel changes have been made in the last six months to get an accurate picture at this point in time as to how the Browns will perform in 2010.

The only consistencies fans can point to going into training camp is that Joshua Cribbs will continue dazzle at what he does and Mangini and his coaches are about the only other major holdovers from last year.

The roster hasn't been completely turned over, but all the major components have been switched out.

The Browns have three new quarterbacks, a bunch of new running backs, a completely revamped secondary, and a new right side of the offensive line taking shape in addition to upgrades at tight end.

The huge variable fans have to keep in mind is Mangini.

Looking back at 2009, Mangini was a different coach from Week One to Week 17.

While it wouldn't be completely inaccurate to say Mangini wasn't playing to win in the Shaun Rogers early part of the season, it definitely wouldn't be fair. However, it does in retrospect look like the urgency to win definitely was not present in the first few weeks.

Mangini's style altered once Holmgren walked on the scene, and owner Randy Lerner made it clear the need to win games hadn't diminished despite the 2009 season being a lost cause.

Do not interpret this as Mangini-bashing, it's not meant to be. Mangini knew going into 2009 it was going to be a rough year, and planned accordingly.

What Mangini didn't expect, probably, is how bad his squad would end up getting blown out early on, and the consequences of two bad decisions.

The unwillingness to commit to Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson cost him early, and his insistence on playing an aging, slow Jamal Lewis hamstrung an offense that wasn't very good to begin with.

The Cleveland Browns entered into the 1964 NFL Championship

After a scoreless first half by both teams, the Browns exploded for 27 unanswered points, shocking the football world in the process by shutting-out the Colts 27-0 to win their fourth NFL Crown. Unfortunately for Cleveland, with great triumph ungodly hardships can arise, and arise they did. For little did they know it, but this would be the last taste of championship gold for the city of Cleveland.

Fast-Forward to June of 2003, Cleveland has the number one overall pick via NBA Draft Lottery Pick and are able to sign their beloved hometown hero LeBron James fresh out of high school.

 While LeBron was expected to lead the Cavaliers to the Promise Land, Cleveland did not make the Playoffs until his third year in the NBA. The Cavs were able to defeat the Washington Wizards in six games despite sloppy play by James, who committed a six game series record 34 turnovers. The run was cut short in the second round for Cleveland, as they fell to division rival Detroit Pistons in seven games.

 It was not until next season, and arguably the most Joe Thomas  memorable one for the Cavs faithful, that James led Cleveland to a Championship series. LeBron gave Cleveland their first post-season sweep in franchise history as they defeated the Washington Wizards to advance to the second round. The King,(LeBron,) then followed it up by defeating the New Jersey Nets in six games moving the Cavs into the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 15 years.

In the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals the Cavs were up against their arch rivals the Detroit Pistons, who had knocked Cleveland out of the Playoffs the previous year. As the Pistons took a 2-0 lead in the series, it looked as though the dream was over for Cleveland....but their hero THE KING would have none of it. After the knotting the series at two games apiece LeBron went on a scoring frenzy, cashing in 29 of Cleveland's 30 final points, including a game winning lay-up in double overtime. The next game the Cavs continued to dominate with a 98–82 win at home in Game 6 sending them to their first Finals in Franchise history.

new Cleveland Browns jerseys nose tackle Shaun Rogers entered a diversion programme on Thursday that allows him to avoid trial on an airport gun charge as long as he fulfills his commitments.

The diversion deal was approved in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court by Judge Eileen Gallagher.

The felony charge against Rogers will be dismissed if he completes the programme, including including 40 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours in a gun class. He also has to forfeit the weapon.

Police said Rogers had a semi-automatic handgun in a carry-on bag at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport in April.

His lawyer said Rogers forgot the weapon, for which he has a license, was in the luggage.

The draft involved four college players who petitioned the NFL after being ineligible for the regular draft in April. Only two were chosen -- Brigham Young running back Harvey Unga by the Chicago Bears and Illinois defensive lineman Josh Price-Brent.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

Tight end and long snapper Jamar Hunt, a free agent who sustained a neck injury when the tentlike building fell during a rookie camp, is the first player to sue over the incident.

"It pretty much knocked him out of football altogether," said Hunt's lawyer, Michael Guajardo of Dallas.

The suit accuses Summit Structures LLC of Allentown, Pa., and its Canadian parent, DeMarcus Ware Cover-All Building Systems Inc., of poor design and construction of the facility.

It also says entities controlled by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would have discovered problems with the building had their outside engineers checked Summit and its related company's work. The Jones companies named in the lawsuit are Blue Felix Jones Star Development Co., Blue Star Land LP and Cowboys Center Ltd.

Hunt's filing also accuses Summit companies of misleading the Cowboys about the quality of repairs made to the building in 2008.

"This misrepresentation was a producing cause of the injuries sustained by Jamar Hunt," the suit says.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team would not comment on the suit.

The 86-foot-tall practice facility fell apart during a thunderstorm in May 2009. Of about 70 people inside, 12 were injured as they tried to flee. Scouting assistant Rich Behm was paralyzed below the waist. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis suffered a broken neck but was not paralyzed.

Behm and DeCamillis also sued Summit, Cover-All and the Jones companies. They settled out of court with Summit and Cover-All earlier this year. The terms of those agreements, which did not include the Jones companies, were not made public.

 

Dallas Cowboys jerseys Owner Jerry Jones remembered George Steinbrenner as an inspiration and "a true leader in sports."

The New York Yankees owner died Tuesday at age 80.

Jones — another of the most recognizable owners in sports — says Steinbrenner redefined professional sports ownership with his vision and passionate approach.

The Cleveland Browns have been searching for a quarterback

Delhomme, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback, who many believe has seen his better days, may be just what the Browns jerseys need. Entering his 14th season, Delhomme brings a wealth of experience and leadership to an offense that needs both.

 

Delhomme is coming off his worst season in the NFL last year with a 59.4 QB rating. He was not brought to Cleveland to be the savior, just lead an offense that has lacked leadership for sometime.

Before last season, the Panthers signed Delhomme to a five-year extension worth $42.5  million. At the end of the season, they released him. The Browns football jerseys are hoping they are getting the Delhomme that Carolina deemed worthy of the big contract just a year ago.

Throughout his career, Delhomme has always been the under dog. He came into the league undrafted in 1997 out of Louisiana-Lafayette College. After spending time on New Orleans practice squad and in NFL Europe, he moved up to third string QB for the Saints. Delhomme is a competitor, that's what he does best. He should fit in well on the Browns.

In Brian Daboll's run oriented offense, the quarterback doesn't have to be Peyton Manning. Delhomme just might be the perfect fit for such an offense. His experience should be extremely valuable to the Browns young receivers as well.

 

ProFootballWeekly is reporting that  new Cleveland Browns jerseys tight end Evan Moore has a chance to be the Browns second tight end ahead of Alex Smith and Robert Royal. Moore caught 12 passes in five games in 2009.

Although Ben Watson is expected to start at tight end, Moore could really open some eyes at training camp. The Guys at Dawgs By Nature think Moore has an 80% chance to make the Browns roster.

Moore is a better receiving threat than both Royal and Smith, but his blocking is not in the same league. Smith and Royal will likely compete for the Browns blocking and goalline tight end roles.

Philadelphia Eagles

All indications are Kolb is ready for the job. In two starts in place of an injured McNabb last season he had 718 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions against New Orleans and Kansas City.

Andy Reid has confidence in Kolb, otherwise he wouldn't have traded McNabb within the division. And we believe in Reid, who had so much success with McNabb, appearing in five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.

Kolb still qualifies as a sleeper for Fantasy owners, but he's the kind of sleeper everyone is well aware of. He should be considered a low-end No. 1 Fantasy option, and he's worth a mid-round pick in all leagues.

If Kolb plays as expected, the Eagles offense should continue to perform at a high level, which means good things for DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin in the passing game. We're also counting on LeSean McCoy to do well as the replacement for Brian Westbrook, and he will get help from former Saint Mike Bell.

There's turnover in Philadelphia with McNabb and Westbrook gone, but the new players in place in Kolb and McCoy should do just fine. You shouldn't notice too much of a difference with the Eagles this year aside from the different names on the back of the jerseys.

Sleeper ... Jeremy Maclin, WR

Maclin played well as a rookie in 2009, and he should continue to build on that this season. He had 56 catches for 773 yards and four touchdowns, and he has the chance to become a solid Fantasy option in his sophomore campaign. DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek remain the top targets in the passing game, but Maclin is a great receiver for Reid's West Coast offense based on his route-running ability. And since Kolb should prove to be more accurate than Donovan McNabb, Maclin should see an increase in production. We view Maclin as a No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver, and he's worth a mid-round pick in all formats. But don't be surprised if Maclin is starting for you at some point during the year.

Howard Eskin of WIP is reporting that the new  Philadelphia Eagles jerseys are interested in trading for Troy Smith - A name I mentioned last week that the Eagles jerseys may look into. The Eagles football jerseys would probably have to give up a fifth round pick to acquire Smith.


Adam Schefter mentioned Jeff Garcia as a possible option to replace Vick on NFL Live last week. A possible name I mentioned was Sage Rosenfels, who has fallen out of favor in Minnesota, and could be traded or released.


The recent signing of Marc Bulger makes Smith's departure from Baltimore even more likely. If Smith leaves, John Beck will slide up into Smith's spot as the Ravens' third quarterback.