Posts tagged ShaunAlexander at FanHouse

Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.

Hopefully you traded Rashard Mendenhall, as we insinuated last week when we said his value will never be higher. Remember, fantasy sports are all about value and perception is reality in between games. Many owners flocked to Mendenhall last week because he was "replacing" Willie Parker. His perceived value skyrockets, which means it's the perfect time to spin him. Just keep this in mind as we move forward.

Top week four : Laveranues Coles ... He busted loose for 30 plus points in most leagues. The problem is that he didn't receive the majority of Brett Favre's attention and rarely will this result in three scores. Jerricho Cotchery, Chansi Stuckey, and Dustin Keller all take looks away from Coles. This was a one week ride, so hopefully you enjoyed it and can move him for good value this week.

Top week four : Carson Palmer ... He comes off his one good game of the season -- against a solid defense, no less -- and decides to not fully disclose his injury. Owners found out he couldn't go right before game time, and surely some guys were screwed over by this. Keep an eye on his health, because if he can come back, his owners will surely be pissed enough to deal him for less than market value.

Pro Football Talk is suggesting that the Steelers may be giving Shaun Alexander a call now that Rashard Mendenhall is done for the season. Alexander could be the fill-in starter until Willie Parker returns from a knee injury, and he could then become the primary backup.

That sounds great if you're getting the Alexander who was one of the league's best backs before he firted with the "Curse of 370" in 2005. Ever since then, Alexander has been a below average back who has averaged only 3.6 yards per carry, fumbled eight times in two years and has battled injuries. He once was a great one, but there aren't many examples of once-great backs regaining their greatness at the age of 31.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Lions brought in a trio of running backs to meet with their staff on Tuesday. Of Shaun Alexander, Vernand Morency, and Cedric Benson ... it would appear the Lions have made their choice:

In a report by News 8 Austin, a 24-hour news channel in Texas, (city council member Mike) Martinez and Benson, a former Texas Longhorns back, were supposed to announce a program by Benson's charity to help children get winter coats, but Benson was not in Austin for the announcement.

"Unfortunately, but fortunately, Cedric Benson is not here today," he said. "He is actually signing a contract today to get back in the game with the Detroit Lions ... "

Also contained in the article was information that the Lions were not in a huge hurry to sign the back, because they are happy with their current backfield situation and this is merely injury insurance. If that is really true, the Lions front office is even dumber than we have thought all along.

Let's go at it logically ...

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Lions brought in a trio of running backs to meet with their staff on Tuesday. Of Shaun Alexander, Vernand Morency, and Cedric Benson ... it would appear the Lions have made their choice:

In a report by News 8 Austin, a 24-hour news channel in Texas, (city council member Mike) Martinez and Benson, a former Texas Longhorns back, were supposed to announce a program by Benson's charity to help children get winter coats, but Benson was not in Austin for the announcement.

"Unfortunately, but fortunately, Cedric Benson is not here today," he said. "He is actually signing a contract today to get back in the game with the Detroit Lions ... "

Also contained in the article was information that the Lions were not in a huge hurry to sign the back, because they are happy with their current backfield situation and this is merely injury insurance. If that is really true, the Lions front office is even dumber than we have thought all along.

Let's go at it logically ...

There was little good for Texans fans in the Steelers crushing of the Texans in their home opener. At least starting running back, Ahman Green, didn't fall over injured without being touched like he did in the first preseason game. Right?

Well, in yesterday's press conference, Gary Kubiak said that the Texans limited Green's time because he was injured during the game. They believe that Green has an ankle issue. Practice squader Darius Walker would be the first option to go if Green is not available. The Texans are working out various backs, none of them named Cedric Benson or Shaun Alexander.

Whether Ahman Green's injury makes him miss many games or none, I don't think it has much effect on what will happen on offense. I don't think anyone was truly counting on him this season.

For me, there are very few NFL decisions that are clearly right or Millen wrong decisions at the time you make them. You take risks, and some work out and some don't. However, there are contracts that you sign that you can tell are mistakes as you make them.

The Texans-Ahman Green contract is one of those mistakes. Former Packer contract negotiator, Andrew Brandt, discusses the problems with the Green contract from the perspective of someone who was there at the time it was negotiated. It's a must read for Packer and Texans fans, though for Texans fans you might feel like beating yourself in the head some after reading it.

If you are a Texan fan into more self-abuse, check out Keith Weiland's InTheBulleye.com article analyzing the Texans' big money free agent busts.

There was little good for Texans fans in the Steelers crushing of the Texans in their home opener. At least starting running back, Ahman Green, didn't fall over injured without being touched like he did in the first preseason game. Right?

Well, in yesterday's press conference, Gary Kubiak said that the Texans limited Green's time because he was injured during the game. They believe that Green has an ankle issue. Practice squader Darius Walker would be the first option to go if Green is not available. The Texans are working out various backs, none of them named Cedric Benson or Shaun Alexander.

Whether Ahman Green's injury makes him miss many games or none, I don't think it has much effect on what will happen on offense. I don't think anyone was truly counting on him this season.

For me, there are very few NFL decisions that are clearly right or Millen wrong decisions at the time you make them. You take risks, and some work out and some don't. However, there are contracts that you sign that you can tell are mistakes as you make them.

The Texans-Ahman Green contract is one of those mistakes. Former Packer contract negotiator, Andrew Brandt, discusses the problems with the Green contract from the perspective of someone who was there at the time it was negotiated. It's a must read for Packer and Texans fans, though for Texans fans you might feel like beating yourself in the head some after reading it.

If you are a Texan fan into more self-abuse, check out Keith Weiland's InTheBulleye.com article analyzing the Texans' big money free agent busts.

The NFL season is finally here and there are still plenty of guys waiting for the phone to ring. Running back Shaun Alexander, 2005 NFL MVP, is probably the biggest name currently not on a roster, but there's also Travis Henry, Najeh Davenport, Tatum Bell, and Cedric Benson.

But things are looking up for Ced, the Bears 2005 first-round pick who was never anything more than a glorified backup in Chicago. After two alcohol-related arrests earlier this offseason, Benson was released in June, and hasn't been heard from since. Until now, anyway.

...Benson ... said Saturday he has a tryout with the Houston Texans this week. Benson also said by phone he'd had a workout with the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago and that it "went well." Benson believes teams are waiting for his legal matters to be cleared up before signing him.

Interesting. According to FanHouse's Tom Mantzouranis, the Saints worked out Benson a couple weeks ago. Head coach Sean Payton later confirmed as much but said the team brings in guys all the time just to get a look. Apparently, it was nothing more than that.

And two weeks after Benson was released, Stephanie Stradley mentioned that the Texans were interested in the running back, although it turned out to be just that: a rumor. Two and a half months later, that's changed.

In Benson's favor, he's still young and has very low mileage, so physically, he's got a lot to offer. Whether teams are willing to overlook the other stuff -- his questionable work ethic and his off-field issues -- is another question.

Back in June, when the news was still relatively fresh, CBSSports.com's Clark Judge spoke to various personnel types to help explain why Shaun Alexander's NFL career was probably over. Short story: "soft runner" label + Curse of 370 = forced retirement.

And two and a half months later, Alexander's still looking for work, although the Associated Press reports that the 2005 NFL MVP has no plans on getting on with life after football, and he expects to be signed any day now.

...[T]he 31-year-old Alexander believes his signing is imminent with one of a handful of teams that have provided "a constant flow of calls," including his hometown Cincinnati Bengals. So imminent, his extended family members in Northern Kentucky are suggesting a new name.

In Seattle, Alexander wore No. 37. ... "They want me to be Tres Siete," Alexander said Friday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, laughing at the twist on the Bengals star receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson now being officially recognized as Chad Ocho Cinco, to match his uniform number 85 in Cincinnati.

Julius Jones was part of the Bill Parcells Reclamation Project. During the 2004 draft, the Cowboys traded out of the first round and used their first pick, a second-rounder, on Jones. The former Notre Dame star would start seven games as a rookies, 12 the following season, and 32 more the last two years.

But it became clear at some point during the '06 campaign that the full-time gig would eventually go to Marion Barber. "Eventually" turned out to be "the 2007 playoffs," and that had everything to do with why the Cowboys chose not to re-sign Jones last off-season.

The Seahawks picked him up -- along with T.J. Duckett -- to replace Shaun Alexander, who currently holds the record for going from NFL MVP (2005) to unemployable (now). But with virtually no competition for the job, Jones will officially begin his Seattle career just like he ended is Dallas one: on the bench.

After years of backing up former league MVP Shaun Alexander, Maurice Morris will be the Seattle Seahawks' starting running back -- on Sunday. ...On the eve of the Seahawks' first regular season game, coach Mike Holmgren is sticking to his plan of having co-starters replace the departed Alexander.

Holmgren plans on having Morris and Jones split the carries (the AP calls them "co-starters"), but DMN's Cowboys blogger Tim MacMahon points out that Morris ain't exactly in the same league as Barber, (Football Outsiders agrees).

The Bengals had made it clear that they were looking to trade Rudi Johnson in exchange for a wide receiver. Well, it's trim-the-roster day across the league and with nobody interested in making a deal, Cincinnati has instead opted to release Johnson. The running back pegged to replace Corey Dillon following an impressive 2003 season will now be out of a job, at least for the time being. Johnson had battled injuries in recent seasons, and it kept him out practice for most of this preseason.

Ironically, the Bengals will start the year with Chris Perry as their No. 1 back, a 2004 first-round pick who has started a whopping three games in four years. Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey fill out the depth chart, although I suspect we'll see plenty of them, what with Perry's injury history and Watson's success in limited playing time.

Meanwhile, Johnson will be anxiously waiting for another chance.

"We want to keep this positive," said Schaffer, who negotiated a five-year deal for Johnson that had two years left. "Obviously we got wind they were moving in a different direction when (ESPN) reported they were trying to trade him. We think Rudi's got plenty of football left and we're going to look for the best situation for him."

I'd agree with that last point. Shaun Alexander and Travis Henry are still looking for work, and I'd like to think Johnson is definitely a better option than either of them. That said, there will be plenty of guys looking for work today, so it'll be a buyer's market. Which could be bad for Johnson, but maybe it'll mean the Bengals can finally find a backup receiver that isn't a disappointment.