Fantasy Sports Outlook

Cincinnati Bengals, when will they learn?

So the Cincinnati Bengals are trying to improve their football team…and image. I’m all for giving the benefit of the doubt to people and most do deserve a second chance, but why in the world would the Bengals go and draft someone that makes the HC say,

“It’s a little bit of a risk, yes,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “There’s a lot of guys who have gone over the last two days with more substantial things hanging over their heads.”

I find it hard to believe that in the fifth round the Bengals couldn’t find a DT where the only thing they’d have to worry about is whether or not he could play football. A lot more deserving kids looking to get drafted then having to reach for someone like this.

The Bengals, reeling from 10 player arrests in a 14-month span in 2006 and 2007, made a surprise move in Shirley. He played only three games last season because of three separate off-field incidents and suspensions.

Ridiculous pick for the Bengals and shows they really don’t want to change what seems like a bad environment in Cincinnati.

He crashed his car into an apartment building Oct. 8 and fled the accident scene. He posted a blood-alcohol level of 0.12 – which is well beyond the state’s 0.08 legal limit, the Associated Press said, and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Shirley was suspended from the team for the season, but returned four weeks later when athletic director Thomas Boeh reversed his decision.

Shirley had medical documents that showed a concussion he received days before the crash, according to the Fresno Bee.

His reprieve didn’t last long. Shirley was dismissed from the team almost one month later. He was cited on suspicion of driving with a suspended license and expired tags.

I’m sorry it just makes no sense whatsoever. Nothing worse than to see another brain trust from a professional sports team talk out their ass. Bad move, bad pick. But that’s just me, guess he’ll fit right in with the Bengals.

Vinnie Iyer at The Sporting News

Shirley, you must be joking. No, it’s true. The Bengals’ fifth-rounder, Fresno State defensive tackle Jason Shirley has an arrest record. Last October, Shirley crashed in his car into an apartment building and was charged with DUI and hit and run. So much for Cincy cleaning up its act after getting rid of Chris Henry.

Dennis Dixon to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Oregon QB Dennis Dixon was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 5th round. Not the best spot for Dixon if he wants to play QB. Barring an injury to Big Ben, Dixon won’t have many opportunities to get under center. This may not go over well with Oregon fans, but I can see the Steelers maybe seeing how he’d do as a punt or kickoff return man in the early going.

Steelers Gab on the Dennis Dixon selection:

Could the Steelers have their next “Slash”? Maybe, as Sunday in round five the team took a shot on a very athletic QB in Oregon’s Dennis Dixon. Just ask Michigan about Dixon, who can release the ball quickly, and can also run the ball about as good as any QB that was in the draft. He will likely draw comparisons to former Steeler Kordell Stewart, who use to come in on certain situations and fire off passes of run, as that was his ability. Of course Stewart could also catch, something you won’t see Dixon do.

Sunday Reading…NFL Draft, Talladega, SF Giants

Matt Loede from Panthers Gab gives his take on Jonathan Stewart, with Panthers go Running Back; Grab Stewart with 13th Pick. Oregon fans if you want to track J-Stew make sure you bookmark Panthers Gab because I’m sure we’ll get straight talk from the site.

Pro Football Weekly already has a Who will win the 2008 Rookie of the Year award? In the Ask the Experts column, Associate editor Dan Parr is the one who picked Jonathan Stewart.

The best is yet to come for Stewart, who didn’t get the chance to start at Oregon until the middle of his junior year, and he’ll get plenty of opportunities to tote the rock in Carolina. He has the size and speed to be an instant impact player in an offense that is firmly committed to the ground game. Panthers GM Marty Hurney opened the offseason by saying he wanted the Panthers to restore their power running attack, which fueled the squad’s run to the Super Bowl in 2003. Carolina drafted Stewart, 5-10¼, 235 pounds, to become the workhorse in the backfield, and history is on his side, as running backs have dominated the top rookie award in recent years. It will be extraordinarily difficult to be the difference maker that Adrian Peterson was as a rookie in ’07, but it’s Stewart, not Raiders RB Darren McFadden, who is in the best situation to become Peterson’s heir apparent as Rookie of the Year. Stewart has a better offensive line in front of him and won’t have to compete for playing time in a crowded backfield as McFadden will in Oakland.

The Giants lost last night 10-9 to the Cincinnati Reds, but not before trying to pull off a comeback.

The Giants rallied with four runs in the ninth. Backup catcher Steve Holm doubled off Todd Coffey to start things off, then scored on Jose Castillo’s RBI double moments later. Fred Lewis walked and closer Francisco Cordero entered and immediately gave up a two-run triple to Eugenio Velez and Randy Winn’s RBI groundout.

Cordero then recorded the final two outs for his third save in as many chances.

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Cincinnati 1 0 2 1 1 2 3 0 0 10 15 1 San Francisco 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 4 9 10 1

W: Belisle (1-1) L: Hennessey (1-1) S: Cordero (3)

Just a update on my Talladega picks for the Yahoo! game.

Group A
* Jeff Gordon qualified 20th
* Tony Stewart qualified 2nd
* Jimmie Johnson qualified 10th
Group B
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified 9th
* Kyle Busch qualified 5th
* David Gilliand qualified 40th
* Bobby Labonte qualified 34th
Group C
* Travis Kvapil qualified 14th
* Brian Vickers qualified 8th
* Sam Hornish Jr. qualified 37th

NFL Draft 2008

• Draft Order
• Draft Pick Value Chart
• Predict The Pick

2008 1st Round picks

“Where Great Fans Rule”

Draft Pick Value Chart
Some variation of this chart is used by NFL teams to give each draft slot a numerical value for use in trades.

Here\'s my picks compared with the community picks for the Predict The Draft challenge over at NFL.com

Carolina fans happy with Jonathan Stewart

I think the Carolina Panthers can be a great fit for Jonathan Stewart. There’s going to be enough carries to share with DeAngelo Williams that Stewart will get his chance to show what he can do.

Reads from the Charlotte Observer, Carolina picks Stewart, Otah

Panthers director of college scouting Don Gregory compared Stewart to Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis.

“He bounces off tackles and he’s put together,” Gregory said of Stewart. “He’s a pounder who has speed.”

Profile page for Stewart at Charlotte.com

Here’s a poll they have up, Jonathan Stewart a solid 1st-round pick for Panthers? Right now the fans seem to be happy with the selection. With 1,640 votes in, it’s a rousing yes (1,329 votes) that Stewart was a good pick.