Hello. My name is Aaron Gleeman and I've spent the past five months penning the baseball version of this column. Around this same time each year, as football season draws near and baseball season begins winding down, Gregg Rosenthal flashes Rotoworld's version of the Bat-signal, illuminating the night sky above my palatial, Bruce Wayne-like estate with the letters "N-F-L."
That's the cue to fire up my version of the Bat-mobile-a blue '94 Pontiac Grand Am boasting 98,000 miles and the constant smell of Chinese takeout-and drive around the block a few times. Once that's out of my system, the baseball Daily Dose gets handed off to someone else and you get stuck looking at my ugly mug here for the next five months. It's actually not all that exciting, but it works for us.
Each weekday from now until January this will be the place to stay up to speed on the NFL's latest news, notes, and injuries. If you promise to keep reading, I'll promise never to make another stupid Batman reference that has nothing to do with football or this column. Deal? As you ponder that agreement while trying not to think of me in the Bat-suit, here are some notes from around football .
* Last week Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that Kurt Warner would start the Cardinals' season opener, which raised Ken Whisenhunt's dander and led to the coach sarcastically musing: "It seems like Mortensen is making the decision on our quarterback . nothing has changed." Of course, he hadn't actually named a starter at that point, so no one knew what the "nothing" was that hadn't changed.
It turns out that Mortensen was right, as Arizona announced Sunday that Warner will indeed start Week 1. Warner is a decent bet to get hurt in any given game, so Matt Leinart can still be counted on to see major action this year. However, two disappointing, injury filled seasons after making him the 10th pick in the draft the Cardinals have little confidence left in Leinart now or in the future.
After all, if they still felt great about his long-term outlook they'd have handed the 25-year-old the gig rather than making him compete with and ultimately lose to a 37-year-old. With that said, Warner is anything but the average 37-year-old and it's tough to blame the Cardinals for their decision. There's a very good chance that Warner represents the team's best odds of winning right now.
Plus, there's zero doubt that Warner possess more fantasy potential. In fact, he's now a legit QB1 option. In starting the final 10 games last year he completed 62 percent of his throws while averaging 282 yards and 2.3 touchdowns. No one can be counted on to duplicate that, but Warner remains capable of putting up some huge numbers with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald as weapons.
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* Following weeks of speculation about what the Bengals had planned for Rudi Johnson, the team provided a somewhat surprising answer by releasing him Saturday. After averaging 1,500 total yards and 12 touchdowns from 2004-2006, Johnson limped through last season while missing significant time with lingering hamstring problems and averaged a measly 2.9 yards per carry.
By cutting Johnson loose the Bengals saved about $3.5 million while turning the starting job over to Chris Perry, who missed all of last year and hasn't played a regular-season game in 21 months. Perry has a grand total of just 73 carries since being a first-round pick in 2004, but if he can ever stay healthy the former Michigan star has the skills necessary to become a three-down running back.
Within a small sample of work as a runner he's averaged 4.6 yards per carry for his career and he ranked third on the team with 51 catches 2005, which was his lone healthy season. He'll face competition for carries from Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey, but coach Marvin Lewis made it clear Saturday that Perry is atop the depth chart, saying: "He's never had that opportunity, so this is his chance."
If he can somehow stay healthy Perry is a RB2 option with added PPR value. As for Johnson, in one season he's gone from being among the league's most productive starters to scrambling for work as a backup despite being "only" 28 years old. He's reportedly already scheduled to visit the Lions and will get calls from other interested teams, but don't expect more than a very modest revival.
* In breaking down the Raiders' crowded backfield of Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush, the Oakland Tribune suggested that coach Lane Kiffin "has dreams of the three-headed monster" totaling "close to 600 rushing attempts" this season. Between JaMarcus Russell and a shaky receiving corps it would certainly make sense for the Raiders to run a ton, but 600 is a ton-plus.
Oakland ranked third in the NFL with 508 carries last year and Tennessee led at 543. So far this decade only Pittsburgh in 2004 cracked 600 carries, and along with that 618-carry Steelers squad the Ravens in 2003 (552) and Steelers again in 2001 (580) are the only teams to top 550 carries in the past eight seasons. There'll be plenty of carries to go around in Oakland, but there won't be 600.
Two-Minute Drill: If it wasn't already, Travis Henry's career is likely over now that he's been suspended for at least one season for violating the league's substance abuse policy . With the cap space cleared by cutting Johnson, Willie Anderson, and Deltha O'Neal, the Bengals will likely talk contract extension with impending free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh . Let go by Tampa Bay over the weekend, speculation has Chris Simms landing in Baltimore . Hard Knocks star Danny Amendola will start out on the practice squad, but the Cowboys' rash of receiver injuries may force him into game action . With Steve Smith suspended, backup tight end Dante Rosario may see an increased role in Carolina's passing game early on . After leading the NFL in preseason rushing, the Ravens cut Marcus Mason before adding him to the practice squad Sunday . Claimed off waivers from the Chargers, fifth-round pick Marcus Thomas becomes the Lions' third running back behind fellow rookie Kevin Smith and Tatum Bell . After being waived, Darius Walker stayed with the Texans by joining the practice squad and could see future action in what's a pretty shaky backfield.
Red Zone:Sam Hurd is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with the dreaded high-ankle sprain, increasing Jason Witten's already massive role in the Cowboys' passing game . Trent Edwards (quadriceps) practiced fully Sunday and looks ready to start against the Seahawks in Week 1 . There's still no timetable for Kevin Curtis' (hernia) return, but according to general manager Tom Heckert he "feels great" and is "ahead of schedule" . Jerry Porter (hamstring) returned from the PUP list Sunday, but isn't expected to play in Week 1 . Wes Welker (ribs) returned to practice Sunday, seemingly making it likely that he'll suit up against the Chiefs . Ryan Torain (elbow) avoided injured reserve over the weekend, making a midseason debut possible for the intriguing fifth-round rookie . Amid speculation that he might be done for the season, general manager Phil Savage said Saturday that Joe Jurevicius (knee) will be "back at some point during the year" . Antwaan Randle El plans to play through a broken bone in his left hand while wearing a protective brace, but the injury wipes away most of his already limited fantasy potential.
