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San Francisco 49ers 2009 Preview: Singletary Changing Team For the Better

Posted: Sep 9th 2009 12:00PM by R.J. White (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers, AFC West, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

After generating a significant amount of hype over the past few years, the 49ers will enter 2009 with no expectations on the board. Division rival Arizona went to the Super Bowl, while many expect a rebound from long-time division champion Seattle. To me, this makes the 49ers a dangerous team.

Continue Reading San Francisco 49ers 2009 Preview: Singletary Changing Team For the Better

Fantasy Football Team Preview: 49ers

Posted: Jul 31st 2009 4:45PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

0 COMMENTS

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Perennial sleepers. It seems like almost every season, people are discussing the fact that the 49ers are ready to break out and surprise people and win the NFC West. And then, almost every season, they suck. They might not be great this year either. Mike Singletary brings a more disciplined approach than even Mike Nolan, but you can't possibly expect Shaun Hill or Alex Smith to lead a team to the playoffs. Or can you? Well, actually, for fantasy purposes, who cares? There's going to be a lot of running and a lot of surprises on defense in San Fran this year, and that's going to be where you pick up the value.

More: Play FREE Fantasy Football | Fantasy Football Team Previews

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Tennessee Titans: Trying to Forget That Ugly Ending

Posted: Feb 23rd 2009 5:00PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Titans, AFC South, NFL Free Agency

5 COMMENTS

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

The Titans' 2008 season ranks as one of the greatest in team history. After a couple of years of either just making or just missing the playoffs, the Titans took a big step forward, finishing the season with the NFL's best record (13-3). Rookie running back Chris Johnson emerged as a big-play threat and Kerry Collins not only took over the starting quarterback job from Vince Young but proved that he has some life left in his arm.

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Eye on the Prize: Hail Mary Candidates for Hardcore Fantasy Footballers

Posted: Dec 10th 2008 8:30AM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Sleepers, Fantasy Football

0 COMMENTS

First, a disclaimer. This list is not necessarily a go pick this guy up right now type deal. If you play in an 8-12 team league and you don't have injury or ineffectiveness issues, this list is not for you. If you, however, play in a 16 or more team league with a deep bench, and you have been sitting there waiting on Willis McGahee to show up with a pulse for the past couple weeks, well, I may have something for you.

We call them "Hail Mary" choices because picking up some of these guys would be like throwing a Hail Mary pass. The odds of it winding up helping your team are slim, but there's enough of a chance FTW to hurl it up there. If you have dead weight on your deep bench, let us consider the following dudes.

I've attempted to list them in the order of their likelihood at helping you.

And, actually, the top guy is a sleeper is most leagues for this week ...

Maurice "MoMo" Morris, Seahawks
He's overtaken Julius Jones in the Seahawks backfield. Sure, he's done very little all season -- save for a 100-yard game in Week 12 -- but he gets the hapless Rams in Week 15. You could do worse.

Continue Reading Eye on the Prize: Hail Mary Candidates for Hardcore Fantasy Footballers

Brandon Jones of the Titans Pretends to Be Under Arrest, Will Likely Get Fined

Posted: Nov 17th 2008 8:35AM by Josh Alper (author feed)
Filed under: Titans, AFC South

6 COMMENTS

The only thing the Tennessee Titans are losing this season is money to the league office. Chris Johnson was slapped with a fine for slapping some bongo drums after a touchdown against the Chiefs last month, and now wide receiver Brandon Jones will likely be writing a check of his own.

After Jones scored a touchdown in the third quarter of the 24-14 win against the Jaguars, he came up with a celebration that's sure to catch Roger Goodell's eye. He dropped to his knees and put his hands behind his helmet in a mock arrest pose. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, which you can check out on video here, and will almost certainly be fined later this week.

Leaving aside the umpteenth complaint about the league punishing any sign of emotion, Jones' activities were momentary and not particularly excessive, pretending to get arrested is what passes as celebration these days? It may have been a commentary about the league's crackdown on post-touchdown activities, but it came off like Kramer protesting junk mail.

Jones probably isn't the right guy to be leading the charge. It was his first touchdown of the season, and he's hardly been persecuted by the league office. While I'm against penalizing players for celebrations, I do prefer when they actually celebrate. Grade school level symbolic gestures are still going to get fined and aren't particularly fun to watch.

As Crazy As It's Been, Titans Could Be In Great Shape

Posted: Sep 20th 2008 10:37PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Texans, Titans, AFC South, NFL Injuries

0 COMMENTS

The star quarterback has had the cops called to look for him, has quit on his team and has now potentially dropped to third string. That doesn't sound like the headlines of a team that's playing to go 3-0 this week, but if Tennessee can top the Texans this week, they'll be the first Titans' team to go 3-0 since 1999.

As we all know, that season turned out to be a pretty good one.

Now, it's an uphill battle this week with Justin Gage potentially out with a hamstring injury. That may not seem like a big deal, but Gage has seven catches this year, while the rest of the Titans receiving corps has five. If Gage can't go, the Titans will likely start Brandon Jones (Tennessee's No. 3 receiver who actually is second among wideouts with three catches). But if Gage is out, the combo of Jones and Justin McCareins will allow the Texans to bring a safety up into the box to try to slow down Chris Johnson and Lendale White because Jones and McCareins will scare nobody.

That would just put a little more pressure on the Titans defense, but that's something their used to. And if they can keep up their pace from the first two games (8.5 points per game), the Titans can stick with just about anbody, even if the receivers are awful.

Young Has Some Improving to Do

Posted: Aug 16th 2008 7:40AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Titans, AFC South

3 COMMENTS

Two games into the preseason, it's pretty clear that the Titans running game is in good shape, and there's little reason to worry about the defense. But it's fair to ask when the Titans passing game is going to make its first appearance.

If you were looking for Vince Young to build off of his uneven 2008 opener, you're still waiting. Young looked worse this week, bouncing passes to some receivers and overthrowing others. When it was over, he was a pretty brutal 4-for-13 for 37 yards. Actually that's the good news, as those stats don't fully tell the story--as the game went on, Young got worse and worse. He started out going 3-for-3 with a sack on his first four pass plays, then went 1-for-10 over the remainder of his short stay on the field. On third downs he was 1-for-5 with no first downs.

Now this isn't all Young's fault. As Kerry Collins' 4-for-15 follow-up showed, part of the problem is that the Titans have won of the worst receiving corps in the league. Presumed starters Justin McCareins and Justin Gage combined for one catch for 18 yards, and Brandon Jones was shutout. Tight end Alge Crumpler is supposed to be Vince Young's new security blanket--he has two catches for 12 yards in two games.

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Rumor Mill Roundup: July 28

Posted: Jul 28th 2008 5:54PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers, Mariners, Mets, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees, MLB Rumors

6 COMMENTS

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- The Blue Jays are back above the .500 mark and might not even be willing to deal right-handed pitcher A.J. Burnett at this point, but if they decide to move him, the Cardinals remain the most likely destination. Burnett, an Arkansas native, grew up rooting for St. Louis and Tony La Russa's club could use a pitching upgrade, particularly following Milwaukee's acquisition of CC Sabathia and Chicago's acquisition of Rich Harden.

Latest Trade Buzz

A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays
Buzz: With the Blue Jays back over the .500 mark, Toronto might decide to hold on to Burnett and re-work his contract. The Cardinals remain the leading contender for his services, should the Jays decide to deal him.

Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Jason Bay, Pirates
Buzz: With Pittsburgh's asking price for Bay high, the market around the outfielder seems to have cooled. The Braves were reportedly on the verge of a deal this weekend for the outfielder, but it was nixed by Pirates ownership.

Nick Laham, Getty Images

Manny Ramirez, Red Sox
Buzz: Boston is exploring possible deals for the slugger, but it remains unlikely he'll be moved before the deadline. The Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Phillies and Mets are believed to be the teams interested in the slugger.

Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Jarrod Washburn, Mariners
Buzz: The Yankees are stuck in a holding pattern as they try to acquire Washburn. New York is interested in him as a salary dump, but Seattle would prefer quality prospects. With the remaining money on his deal, the southpaw could sneak through waivers in an August trade.

Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images

Mark Teixeira, Braves
Buzz: Though Atlanta has denied a willingness to trade Teixeira over the last few weeks, the club appears to be moving toward becoming a seller. The Braves are looking for an immediate replacement for the slugger at first base, with Boston's Kevin Youkilis and Arizona's Conor Jackson among the names to come up.

Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images

Brian Giles, Padres
Buzz: Giles is an on-base machine and a solid defender who could give a contender looking for a corner bat a boost. The Mets are one of the teams that may have interest in the outfielder.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Raul Ibanez, Mariners
Buzz: Many teams that are unwilling to spring for one of the star bats on the block see Ibanez as the bargain option on the corner bat market. The Mets are reportedly honing in on Ibanez to fill their outfield void.

Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images

Brian Fuentes, Rockies
Buzz: The closer has reportedly been scouted by seven different clubs over the last few days, but Colorado's asking price -- rumored to be a top pitching prospect -- might be scaring potential suitors off. The Rockies also aren't certain that they are going to be sellers as they hang close in the NL West.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Arthur Rhodes, Mariners
Buzz: With Damaso Marte on the move and Brian Fuentes possibly off the market, Rhodes' stock could be rising. Milwaukee is a possible destination for the left-handed reliever.

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

Felipe Lopez, Nationals
Buzz: With the acquisition of second base prospect Emilio Bonifacio from Arizona, Lopez's days in Washington are numbered. The Nationals could move him in the next few days.

Greg Fiume, Getty Images

For now, GM John Mozeliak appears resolved to wait and see what the rehabbing Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter can provide and pursue relief help. Still, it's hard not to wonder about Burnett, particularly as the Cardinals muse about converting Wainwright back to relief for the remainder of the season. Wouldn't St. Louis look a lot tougher to beat if on Aug. 1 Burnett was in the rotation and Wainwright was closing out games as he did when the Cardinals won the World Series in 2006?

- Other than the Rockies, the Braves have been the toughest team to figure out over the last few weeks as they vacillate between punting the season and going for it in the NL East. Even as they move closer and closer to dumping Mark Teixeira, the team has apparently been working on a deal for Pittsburgh's Jason Bay, which was only nixed when Pirates' ownership stepped into the fray. Bay has long been thought to be the Bucs' best trade chip, but that's made the price tag too steep for many clubs. Still, Atlanta was close to dealing a package of four prospects, including Brent Lillibridge and Brandon Jones, for the left fielder. For a team like the Braves, with little hope of contending this year, that might seem strange, but Atlanta expects to be back in the hunt in 2009 and Bay is already under contract for next season.

Continue Reading Rumor Mill Roundup: July 28

Titans Training Camp Battle: Four-Way Battle For Starting Wide Receiver Jobs

Posted: Jul 24th 2008 9:00AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Titans, AFC South

0 COMMENTS

Training camp is finally here and FanHouse breaks down the most important position battles heading into the season, team by team.

For a team that is now built around its franchise quarterback, the Tennessee Titans sure don't do a lot to help him out.

The day the Colts drafted Peyton Manning, they already had Marvin Harrison. But they also made sure that they gave him other targets. Between Brandon Stokley, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, Manning has always had a plethora of quality pass-catching options.

Tom Brady may not have had Pro Bowlers at wide receiver until Randy Moss and Wes Welker showed up, but between David Givens, Deion Branch and Troy Brown, he always had a set of very reliable targets.

Continue Reading Titans Training Camp Battle: Four-Way Battle For Starting Wide Receiver Jobs

McCareins Looking Like a Starter

Posted: Jun 29th 2008 8:29PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Titans, AFC South, Nashville

0 COMMENTS

The news coming out of today's Tennessean's see you in late-July preview is that Justin McCareins is likely going to have a starting job when the Titans open the season.

It's hard to say if that's good news or bad news. The good news version is that Tennessee has brought back a receiver who was a outstanding deep threat the last time he was in Tennessee. He's reunited with his former offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. For a team that didn't go deep very often in 2007, McCareins could help solve the problem.

The bad news version is that McCareins will turn 30 this season, he has caught one touchdown and less than 700 yards in his past two seasons combined, and he was phased out of the Jets offense because he had serious problems with drops. As Jim Wyatt points out, the fact that McCareins was able to step in and immediately retake a starting job says as much about the team's problems at wide receiver as it does bout McCareins' talent.

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