Perry welcomes chance to start
Enquirer.com
Chris Perry, durable if nothing else as a star running back at Michigan, is making his fourth NFL start Sunday in the opener at Baltimore.  It will be his 23rd game and first start in place of Rudi Johnson, released and now with the Lions. Perry hasn't played since Nov. 26, 2006, when he dislocated his ankle at Cleveland.

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NCAA rules against Ben Mauk....again
Bill Koch's blog
“Our review of the facts as presented and possible mitigating factors for this eligibility request was extensive and thorough, exhausting all avenues in the administrative procedures and ensuring a fair process for this student-athlete,” said Carol Iwaoka, the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee chair and associate commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.   “Even after reviewing the latest information, the committee was unable to identify compelling factors that might be viewed as beyond the control of the student-athlete and the University of Cincinnati.”

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Getting prepped for UC / Oklahoma
GoBearcats.com

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Smooth Criminal
ESPN
Detroit Lions running back Rudi Johnson says his luggage was taken from the team's practice facility by Tatum Bell. Johnson was waived by Cincinnati, met with Lions president Matt Millen on Monday and signed a free-agent contact. During the meeting, his two duffel bags were taken from the team's headquarters.  Johnson said Wednesday he was shown surveillance footage Tuesday afternoon that captured the theft.  A message seeking comment was left Wednesday with Bell's agent, Kennard McGuire. Johnson replaced Bell on Detroit's 53-man roster.

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Ravens do Boller a favor....end his season before it begins
Fox Sports
Kyle Boller was placed on injured reserve Wednesday by the Baltimore Ravens, ending his season and raising the question of whether the quarterback will throw another pass for the team. Boller has been sidelined since hurting his shoulder in Baltimore's second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 16.  "He has got either one of two injuries, either the torn labrum or he's got, I don't know the medical term, but there's a connection in the biceps to the shoulder that might be a problem," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "The torn labrum has not responded to the medication, and the other injury is a season ender. He's done."

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Fred Taylor's run in with the law
SI.com
Jaguars running back Fred Taylor was ordered out of his car at gunpoint, patted down and handcuffed while a K-9 unit searched his vehicle for drugs outside a Miami Beach nightclub over the weekend, according to a police report released Tuesday.  Taylor yelled at officers repeatedly and was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after they advised him three times to quiet down, according to Miami Beach Police.  "As officers began to check vehicle for weapons, defendant became vocal again and attempted to (incite) the crowd of bystanders," the report said. "Defendant really became vocal when drug dog checked for narcotics.

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Reds vs. Pirates tonight
Tonight's Lineup
Chris Dickerson lf
Jeff Keppinger ss
Brandon Phillips 2b
Joey Votto 1b
Edwin Encarnacion 3b
Jay Bruce rf
Corey Patterson cf
Paul Bako c
Edinson Volquez p

v. RH Ross Ohlendorf

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Congrats to Brandon Phillips
BRANDON PHILLIPS NAMED REDS’ RECIPIENT OF THE
2008 ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD PRESENTED BY CHEVY

2B Brandon Phillips today was named the Reds’ recipient of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy.  He is one of 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2008 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community.  Tomorrow will mark the seventh annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball in 2002 to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente, and Phillips will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.

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Genius or Pathetic?
I'm all about making money....and even more about great ideas...but this borders on ridiculous.

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Insert Bevis and Butthead laughter here....

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Erin Andrews apologizes to New Jersey....
Awful Announcing

The NJ.com's Rutgers Football blog posted an item this past Thursday when they learned that Erin Andrews would not be on sideline duty with her normal team for the Fresno State-Rutgers game yesterday. The post stated that Rob Stone was to replace her and the commenters were not very happy about the switch....

    Posted by cojoneka on 08/21/08 at 9:49PM
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

    Posted by rurockin on 08/22/08 at 7:31AM
    Can I write my congressman about this. So unfair!

    Posted by scarletpig on 08/22/08 at 12:16PM
    I have never felt so betrayed in my entire life.

Okay so there were only seven total quotes, but you could tell it greatly upset Rob Stone. So much so that he and the booth decided to address it part of the way through the fourth quarter....

Polamalu owners....stay cautious
Coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Polamalu (hamstring) will likely be brought along slowly at the start of the season.  He'll play against the Texans in Week 1 but will probably see limited playing time.

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Don't draft Santonio Holmes for punt return yards
Coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he intends to use Holmes as a "situational" punt returner.  Mewelde Moore will handle most of the return duties, but Tomlin left the door open for Holmes to return punts at his discretion.

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No word on week 1 usage of Mendenhall
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Tomlin was unwilling to commit to how much time Mendenhall might see Week 1 against Houston.  Tomlin said that his preparation and ability to hold on to the football during the week will help determine his playing time. The rookie's lost three fumbles in the last two games but has otherwise run well. Tomlin did say that Mendenhall will handle the Steelers' kickoff duties.

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Wes Welker in good shape
Welker (rib) practiced for the second straight day Monday, the Boston Globe reports.  It looks like Welker will be fine for the regular season opener and the team's glut at wideout -- now down to seven after the release of Chad Jackson -- may be reduced when a roster spot is needed for the return of the suspended Kevin Faulk after Week 1.

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Post Preseason Stock Watch
CBS Sports

Derek Anderson, Browns - DOWN
Anderson missed the final two preseason games with a concussion, and his stock has fallen coming into the season. It didn't help that the Browns offense has sputtered, and Braylon Edwards has been out with a foot injury. Anderson will likely be fine for the start of the year, but he might not finish as a Top 5 quarterback again. He's still worth starting in Week 1, but he could struggle early on with the lack of preparation. It might be a good idea to have a solid backup ready in Week 1 against Dallas in case you don't feel comfortable starting Anderson.

Willie Parker, Steelers - UP
Parker hasn't had to do much to prove he should be the every-down back for the Steelers. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall has had problems holding onto the ball with three fumbles in the final two preseason games. That could open the door for Parker to re-establish himself as the goal-line back, which was supposed to be Mendenhall's job. Parker remains a strong candidate for plenty of yards and was on the cusp of a starting Fantasy option coming into the year. Now, Parker should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy option for Week 1 against Houston and possibly the rest of the season.

Julius Jones, Seahawks - DOWN
Jones went from Dallas to Seattle this offseason with the chance to resurrect his career and return as a starting running back. Fantasy owners were counting on the same thing until Maurice Morris outplayed Jones and is now expected to start in Week 1. Jones should still be considered a No. 3 Fantasy option because he will get his share of carries. But don't plan on using Jones until your starter is on a bye week or if for some reason he starts out playing better than Morris. There also is the chance T.J. Duckett will get the majority of goal-line touches for the Seahawks.

Chad Johnson, Bengals - DOWN
I guess we should call him Chad Javon Ocho Cinco now after he legally changed his name. That's not important to Fantasy owners. What is a concern is if Johnson can make it through the season with the torn labrum in his shoulder. You still have to draft Johnson as a starting Fantasy receiver based on his talent, but if you can get him as a No. 3 option, that's a safer bet. At some point this year he might have surgery, and that would ruin your team if he cost you a high draft pick. This could be a down season for Johnson. Sorry, Ocho Cinco.

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Jones-Drew a go for Sunday
Jones-Drew (ankle) showed no residual effects in Monday's practice of the ankle injury that had slowed him late in camp, according to the Florida Times-Union.  Expect Jones-Drew to be good to go for Sunday's game against Tennessee, and for him to get his customary 15-20 touches.

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Who Dey?  Bengals in trouble
CBS Sports

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Lineup Calls for Week 1
Fox Sports

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Today's Sleeper Candidate....NEW
Now that most drafts are done...I'll be throwing up Sleeper "Candidates" for the upcoming week every day.  Basically, these will be the guys that you'll wanna use based on their matchups and stats based on the upcoming opponent.

Ted Ginn, Jr. (Miami) vs. New York Jets
He's a home run hitter in the truest sense of the word. The second-year receiver/returner has emerged as the top option in Miami. Ginn stands 5-foot-11, so he offers no distinct height advantage, but you can't touch him in the open field. I look for Pennington to take a few shots downfield early, and fantasy owners might just catch lightning in a bottle. If you're receiving any points for return yards, he's certainly worthy of roster consideration.

Arroyo named National League Co-Player of the Week
Arroyo led the N.L with 16.0 innings pitched en route to his 2-0 record, which included a complete game. The 31-year-old right-hander posted a 1.69 ERA, allowing three runs and two walks while fanning eight. On August 26th at Houston, Bronson (13-10, 4.97 ERA) became the first Reds pitcher to throw a complete game this season, permitting one run on five hits with three strikeouts. This marks Arroyo's first career weekly award honor.

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Reds roster move
Today the Reds returned from a rehab assignment and reinstated from the 15-day disabled list RHP Jared Burton (strained right latissimus muscle) and recalled from Class A Sarasota RHP Ramon Ramirez.

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Vote for Nuxie
He's back on the Hall of Fame Ballot again

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Tuesday Notes from the North

Baltimore Ravens
Coach John Harbaugh said rookie QB Joe Flacco will start Sunday against the Bengals. There was no viable option. Kyle Boller (shoulder) and Troy Smith (viral infection) are not ready, and neither was able to practice Monday. Boller might be out for the season. The Ravens worked out quarterbacks Joey Harrington and Chris Simms on Monday but didn’t immediately sign either. Smith appears to have lost a lot of weight because of the infection. He seemed to be in good spirits and said his health came before the team. Flacco has become better at processing information but still is slow in making his reads. If the Bengals can pressure Flacco, the Ravens are in trouble. ... RB Willis McGahee practiced Monday but was only at about 70 percent. McGahee still is recovering from recent arthroscopic knee surgery.

Cleveland Browns
Ongoing injury issues will make it a dicey week of practice. QB Derek Anderson (concussion),
WR Braylon Edwards (foot) and return ace Joshua Cribbs (ankle) all were on the field
Monday after missing big chunks of the preseason. RB Jamal Lewis (hamstring) did
not suit up for practice and declined to say whether he thinks he can practice later this
week. Anderson seemed to throw normally, getting good zip on some sideline passes, in
the portion of practice open to the media.  Concussions always come in shades of gray,
such as the one that kept S Brodney Pool out of  practice Monday. Anderson, who like Pool

sustained his concussion Aug. 18, needed to prove he could handle a day in the bright sun. He has spent most of the last two weeks indoors and in dim light. Sunday's game against Dallas is at 4:15 p.m. ET, meaning the game will start in the sun if it is a clear day and gradually ebb into shadows. Coach Romeo Crennel said Anderson would be evaluated further, but indications are he will start Sunday. Backup Brady Quinn, shaky in much of preseason but coming off a strong game, is expected to get some reps with the first-team offense in practice this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall, the first-round pick, could see his playing time reduced because of three lost fumbles in the last two preseason games. Coach Mike Tomlin said he is hesitant to use Mendenhall (5-10, 225) as much. Mendenhall’s penchant for fumbling
also might cause him to run more cautiously in an attempt to protect the ball—something
else the coaches don’t want him to do. Mendenhall was going to be used as the No. 2
back behind Willie Parker. What’s more, he also was scheduled to return kickoffs, another role that could be in jeopardy.

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At least Ocho Cinco not pushing his agenda....
Johnson had his last name legally changed to "Ocho Cinco" -- the moniker he gave himself based on his No. 85 -- last week in Florida, where he lives. He declined to talk to reporters on Monday about the reason for it.  Asked if he would try to get it on his jersey for the season opener at Baltimore, Johnson said, "It don't matter what it says. It don't matter. If it ain't about the Ravens, I don't want to talk.

"I've got to be super-extra focused," he said. "I have a lot of making up to do to a lot of people -- not only my teammates, coaches, you know, from the top all the way down. I (angered) a lot of people all offseason with some of my -- most people call them antics."

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Anderson missed by Bengals
C. Trent
New Bengal offensive lineman Frank Davis was asked if he knew whose locker he had been assigned.  He said no and was told just days before, it was the locker occupied by Willie Anderson since Paul Brown Stadium had opened. Davis looked up and smiled slightly.  "I don't know Willie," Davis said, "but I've heard he was a great player."  Davis is the first Bengal offensive lineman to be able to truthfully utter those words since 1996 when Anderson was taken with the 10th overall pick in the draft. With the exception of Davis, every offensive lineman the Bengals have from Levi Jones to rookie Anthony Collins has been influenced by Anderson, who started 116 consecutive games and played all but two games from 1996-2006.

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Rudi lands in Detroit
SI.com
The Detroit Lions signed former Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson to a one-year deal and released running back Tatum Bell.  The Lions signed Johnson on Tuesday, a day after he worked out with the team. The 28-year-old missed most of training camp with the Bengals because of a hamstring injury and was cut Saturday.

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Tressell mum on plans for OSU's Wells
Yahoo Sports
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel says he’ll decide later this week whether injured tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells will play Saturday against Ohio.The Heisman Trophy prospect injured his right foot in a 43-0 victory over Youngstown State. X-rays have shown no broken bones.  Tressel said Tuesday that team trainers originally listed Wells as doubtful for the Buckeyes’ next game.  But Tressel saw him Tuesday morning in the training room and said that Wells said he felt great.  Tressel declined to divulge the nature or severity of the injury. He said he’ll see how Wells feels later in the week and consult with medical personnel about the tailback’s availability.  The No. 3-ranked Buckeyes play top-ranked Southern California on Sept. 13.

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Bengals Captains Named
The Bengals had Picture Day Monday and then voted for season captains with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, safety Dexter Jackson, linebacker Dhani Jones, quarterback Carson Palmer and right guard Bobbie Williams getting the nod.

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College Footabll AP Top 25
 1. USC (21) 1-0 1,539
 2. Georgia (20) 1-0 1,506
 3. Ohio State (15) 1-0 1,497
 4. Oklahoma (2) 1-0 1,432
 5. Florida (5) 1-0 1,415
 6. Missouri (1) 1-0 1,301
 7. LSU (1) 1-0 1,207
 8. West Virginia 1-0 1,108
 9. Auburn 1-0 1,033
10. Texas 1-0 1,028
11. Wisconsin 1-0 849
12. Texas Tech 1-0 842
13. Alabama 1-0 834
14. Kansas 1-0 748
15. Arizona State 1-0 672
15. Brigham Young 1-0 672
17. South Florida 1-0 588
18. Oregon 1-0 508
19. Penn State 1-0 467
20. Wake Forest 1-0 414
21. Fresno State 1-0 242
22. Utah 1-0 214
23. UCLA 1-0 151
24. Illinois 0-1 147
24. South Carolina 1-0 147

Others Receiving Votes
Clemson 143, East Carolina 108, California 91, Boston College 36, Florida State 36, Cincinnati 35, Tennessee 30, Boise State 19, Bowling Green 17, Virginia Tech 14, Connecticut 9, Rutgers 6, Kentucky 5, Nebraska 4, Oklahoma State 3, Arizona 2, TCU 2, Tulsa 1, North Carolina 1, Notre Dame 1, Miami (FL) 1.

Dropped From Rankings
Clemson 9, Virginia Tech 17, Tennessee 18, Pittsburgh 25.

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College Football USA Today' Poll
 1. USC (23) 1-0 1,462
 2. Georgia (20) 1-0 1,442
 3. Ohio State (10) 1-0 1,385
 4. Oklahoma (2) 1-0 1,344
 5. Florida (3) 1-0 1,295
 6. LSU (3) 1-0 1,202
 7. Missouri 1-0 1,197
 8. West Virginia 1-0 1,035
 9. Texas 1-0 1,030
10. Auburn 1-0 962
11. Wisconsin 1-0 853
12. Kansas 1-0 820
13. Texas Tech 1-0 732
14. Arizona State 1-0 679
15. Brigham Young 1-0 629
16. Oregon 1-0 566
17. Alabama 1-0 538
18. South Florida 1-0 480
19. Penn State 1-0 450
20. Wake Forest 1-0 388
21. Fresno State 1-0 269
22. Clemson 0-1 186
23. Utah 1-0 158
24. South Carolina 1-0 134
25. Illinois 0-1 92

Others Receiving Votes
UCLA 91, California 79, East Carolina 56, Tennessee 56, Boston College 36, Florida State 29, Virginia Tech 25, Boise State 24, Kentucky 20, TCU 15, Connecticut 13, Cincinnati 13, Nebraska 12, Arizona 8, Oklahoma State 5, Notre Dame 4, Colorado 3, Georgia Tech 2, Bowling Green 2, Miami (FL) 1, Stanford 1, Tulsa 1, UCF 1.

Dropped From Rankings
Virginia Tech 15, Tennessee 18, Michigan 24.

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Congrats to Dustin Grutza
GoBearcats.com
University of Cincinnati quarterback Dustin Grutza (Maysville, Ky./Mason County) was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 1, the league office announced Tuesday.  Grutza completed 21-of-28 passes for career highs of 296 yards and three touchdowns without an interception while finishing with a rushing touchdown and 33 yards on the ground in Cincinnati's 40-7 win against Eastern Kentucky. Grutza amassed a BIG EAST-leading 329 yards of offense and became the eighth quarterback in Cincinnati history to surpass 4,000 career passing yards (4,159).  This is his fourth-career weekly BIG EAST honor. He also earned league honors on Sept. 17, 2007, Oct. 30, 2006 and Sept. 3, 2005.

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Bengals cut a bunch of vets
The vet vetting of right tackle Willie Anderson, running back Rudi Johnson, and cornerback Deltha O'Neal accounted for about $8 million in cap savings for this season and gives them options in extending potential free agents such as T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Shayne Graham, as well as a young veteran like cornerback Johnathan Joseph.

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So here's who's left....

QBS (3): Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jordan Palmer.

WRS (6): Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt, Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell.

OFFENSIVE LINE: (9) Levi Jones, Andrew Whitworth, Eric Ghiaciuc, Bobbie Williams, Stacy Andrews, Scott Kooistra, Anthony Collins, Dan Santucci, Kyle Cook.

RUNNING BACKS (5): Chris Perry, Kenny Watson, DeDe Dorsey, FB Jeremi Johnson, FB Daniel Coats:

TIGHT ENDS (2): Reggie Kelly, Ben Utecht:

DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Robert Geathers, Domata Peko, John Thornton, Antwan Odom, Jonathan Fanene, Michael Myers, Frostee Rucker, Pat Sims, Jason Shirley:

LINEBACKERS (6): Keith Rivers, Dhani Jones, Rashad Jeanty, Brandon Johnson, Darryl Blackstock, Corey Mays:

SECONDARY (10): CB Johnathan Joseph, CB Leon Hall, CB David Jones, CB Simeon Castille, S Marvin White, S Dexter Jackson, S Chinedum Ndukwe, S Corey Lynch, S Kyries Hebert, S Herana-Daze Jones.

SPECIALISTS (3): K Shayne Graham, P Kyle Larson, LS Brad St. Louis.

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Transcript of Marvin Lewis' Press Conference
Bengals.com

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I don't think this qualifies for "jersey buyers remorse"
In 2005...as many of us probably did...I dropped some cash into a couple of Bengals jerseys...both Rudi Johnson.  He gave the team a handful of years...some better than others.  I don't feel like I should have buyers remorse.  In fact, part of you has to hope he doesn't get claimed and he might return to the team at some point.  As much as I'd like to hope that Chris Perry / Kenny Watson can lead this running game....I'll be watching with caution.

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Willie was last link...
Bengals.com
He is the last link to the 20th century, Boomer Esiason, and Riverfront Stadium.  But Willie Anderson, the greatest right tackle the Bengals ever had and so much more in a locker room that always seemed to have a radioactive glow, said he's still got a stake in Cincinnati even though he turned down a deal to stay Saturday and terminate what the books will say is his 12-year Bengals career.

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5 issues Bengals face going into season
Dayton Daily News

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Former UK star cut from Colts
Indy Star
The Colts waived quarterbacks Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen on Saturday, part of 22 roster moves by the team to reach its 53-player limit. The Colts traditionally keep only two QBs on their active roster, but keeping a third this season might have been an option because Manning missed all five preseason games with a knee injury and Sorgi missed the final two games, also with a knee injury.

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Ed Reed has possible career-ending injury
Blogimore Ravens

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I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL....

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Oh, and Ben Mauk's case got delayed again....
ESPN
A judge in Ohio has postponed a hearing in quarterback Ben Mauk's lawsuit against the NCAA. Mauk had asked the organization's reinstatement committee on Thursday to give him one more year of eligibility at the University of Cincinnati. No decision has been made. On Friday, Hardin County Judge William Hart in Mauk's hometown of Kenton agreed to an NCAA request postponing the next hearing in the court case by two days to Sept. 4.

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IU's Kellen Lewis strong in Hoosiers rout
Indy Star
It's just a video game, but that wasn't going to stop Kellen Lewis' Indiana University teammates from giving him some grief over his loss of speed on this year's version.  He'll take reality over fantasy any day.  Lewis, who was nearly caught from behind on a few long runs last year, was uncatchable Saturday in IU's season-opener against Western Kentucky. The junior quarterback had touchdown runs of 75 and 62 yards to lead the Hoosiers to a 31-13 victory before a crowd of 30,067 at Memorial Stadium.

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Buckeyes roll, but lose key player
Yahoo
It was as if a stadium full of more than 105,000 people was suddenly empty.  An eerie silence descended on Ohio Stadium when Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy prospect Chris “Beanie” Wells went down with a foot injury in the third quarter of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ 43-0 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.  All of a sudden, what seemed like a nice tuneup for the mammoth showdown in two weeks against No. 3 Southern California seemed secondary.  “First and foremost, you really can’t replace Beanie,” wide receiver Brian Robiskie said.  The star tailback was hurt in the third quarter after taking a handoff from Todd Boeckman on first and goal at the Youngstown State 2. His feet slipped underneath him as he planted to make a cut, with the ball rolling free as he hit the turf.  If Wells is out, it would be a a huge blow for the Buckeyes, who host Ohio next week and play at No. 3 Southern California the following week.

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Wells X-rays negative
Dayton Daily News
Heisman Trophy contender Chris "Beanie" Wells injured his right foot and the Ohio State tailback was carted off the field during the third quarter of the second-ranked Buckeyes' game against Youngstown State on Saturday.  X-rays were negative, but Wells status remained unknown as he visited doctors an hour after the second-ranked Buckeyes' 43-0 victory.

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Rich Rodriguez era begins with a whiff
ESPN
A buzz went through the crowd on the first offensive play of the Rich Rodriguez era, as Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan deftly shuffled the ball to Martavious Odoms cutting across the field.  As the fans howled, Odoms gained three yards. No cloud of dust could be spotted from the press box, but it might as well have been there.  As far as creativity went, the first play was about as good as it got for Michigan on Saturday. So were the results.

Dungy says Manning will be back for Week 1
ESPN
After Thursday night's preseason finale, he gave his most definitive answer yet when he said the two-time league MVP should play in the Colts' regular-season opener against Chicago on Sept. 7.  "I would be shocked if he's not there [a week from] Sunday," Dungy said. "He would have to have a dramatic setback. Right now, every step we've taken has been good."

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Looks like Derek Anderson will start after all
Quinn was effective in his second NFL start, going 7-for-9 for 65 yards.  Unless starter Derek Anderson's injury is more serious than expected, Quinn will resume his role as the backup for the Browns' Sept. 7 opener against the Cowboys. 

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Mendenhall might be a good second RB....but not a solid starter
Mendenhall lost his third fumble in two games on Thursday but gained 79 yards on 21 carries.
  His inability to hold onto the ball will likely limit his chances in the early going. As coach Mike Tomlin's comfort level with Mendenhall's toting increases, however, the running back's fantasy value figures to go up. He's shown plenty of skill and his role will increase as the season goes along and he gains experience. He'll spell starter Willie Parker as a backup rather than line up in the same backfield with him to start the season, if the preseason is any indication.

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Ryan Grant will likely be there for you in round 3....take him
Grant saw his first action of the preseason on Thursday, though he was on the field for just one play as the first-team offense was given the rest of the day off after Aaron Rodgers connected with Greg Jennings for a 68-yard touchdown on their first play from scrimmage.  The key news here is that head coach Mike McCarthy was comfortable enough with Grant's health to put him out on the field in the preseason. He'll be healthy and ready to go for the season opener, though he faces a touch matchup against Minnesota. Still, he remains one of the top backs that could be available after the first round of most drafts.

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Don't drop Jones-Drew from your draft list
Jones-Drew (ankle) sat out Thursday's preseason win over the Redskins.  Jones-Drew should be good to go for the start of the regular season, as his ankle injury is considered minor. Do not drop him down your draft boards due to this ailment.

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Ravens QB situation takes another blow
Smith's tonsil infection flared up again Thursday morning and he was hospitalized, which caused him to miss the Ravens' preseason finale against the Falcons, the Carroll County Times reports.  Smith is expected to be at the hospital for at least two days, and is being given intravenous fluids to combat the infection. He has lost about 13 pounds since his tonsil issue flared up and the illness has cost Smith a chance to claim the team's Week 1 starting QB gig. As it stands now, Joe Flacco may get the nod as the last man standing.

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Different way to draft backs
CBS Sports
There's not many draft strategies when it comes to running backs. Most Fantasy owners want to gobble up as many as they can, along with one "insurance policy" to cover their best running back in case he gets hurt.

The best way to break down running backs is to sort them by tiers, or levels of expected production. It goes without saying that you should pick from the highest tier available whenever you're picking a running back.

Perhaps the most significant pre-draft exercise you should do is set your running back tiers. As a result, your drafting will go much smoother and without many conundrums. If you're in a pinch, you can use the one below (essentially our running back rank list with minor tweaks). We'd recommend this list for those owners in standard-scoring leagues.

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Today's Sleeper
L.J. Smith, TE - Philadelphia Eagles
I don't know that he necessarily qualifies as a sleeper, but I feel compelled to drop a few lines about Smith in this space. Smith was limited by injury for the majority of the 2007 season. He appeared in 10 games and produced just 22 receptions, a significant dropoff from his 2005 and 2006 efforts. Smith is healthy and working the center of the field for Donovan McNabb, who had come to rely on him during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Given the injuries at wide receiver (Kevin Curtis is out indefinitely and Reggie Brown has been slowed by a hamstring injury), Smith will play a huge role to start the year. Kick him up a couple notches on your tight end list.

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Week 1 Projections
Fox Sports
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Defense/ST

Kickers

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OSU makes Tressel among NCAA's top paid coaches
Yahoo Sports
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has agreed to contract revisions that will make him the highest-paid football coach in the Big Ten Conference.  Tressel’s compensation beginning in February will be $3.5 million, a $1 million increase, the school said Friday.  Tressel will receive annual increases of 3 percent to 4 percent. He has a 73-16 record at Ohio State and is under contract until 2013.  Tressel begins his eighth season as coach of the second-ranked Buckeyes. The team opens Saturday at home against Youngstown State.

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Big win for UC in opener
GoBearcats.com
Dustin Grutza made Cincinnati's quarterback transition go smoothly Thursday night, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another in a 40-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky that eased the Bearcats' biggest concern - at least for now.  Grutza set a career high with his three touchdown passes in the first half, helping Cincinnati (1-0) get off to a fast start.  The senior threw touchdown passes 15 and 47 yards to Mardy Gilyard, who had never caught more than one in a game. The last one came off the same type of play that Mauk ran so well last year, a play-action rollout that let Gilyard get behind the coverage.  Eastern Kentucky (0-1), the defending Ohio Valley Conference champs, had trouble against a defense that was one of the nation's best last season. The Bearcats were missing tackle Terrill Byrd, suspended for the opener because of a marijuana citation.

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Former Bengal lands with Ravens
ESPN
The Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Casey Bramlet on Thursday.  Bramlet played last season for current Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron when both were with the Miami Dolphins. The quarterback signed during the offseason with San Diego, but was cut Tuesday.  Bramlet caught a late flight to Baltimore after being claimed on waivers and was expected to play in the Ravens' preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. He was scheduled to relieve rookie starter Joe Flacco. 

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I hate the Fast and the Furious series...
But I will indeed be going to see the 4th installment....thanks to Jordana Brewster

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Chad Johnson is no more....
C. Trent
The Bengals have one less Johnson as of Thursday, as the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson has his name legally changed to Chad Ocho Cinco, according to the Broward County (Fla.) Clerk of Courts.  When the Clerk of Courts office was called on Friday, it was confirmed that Johnson's name change became official on Thursday, Aug. 28. The petition to change his name was filed on Aug. 8, according to the clerk.

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