Fantasy Football Impact: News Around the NFL

As we head toward Memorial Day weekend and get ready to pay our respects to the men and women who have served this country, helping to protect all that makes it great, it’s time to open the pools and have barbecues with our families and friends. It’s, also, time for the Bruno Boys to get you up to date with what is going on around the NFL this off-season and study it‘s fantasy football impact. It’s never too early to start thinking about fantasy football. Preparing yourself during the off-season is the first step in leading yourself to fantasy gold.

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Brett Favre consulting specialist about shoulder injury, could sign with Vikings

Another off-season, another Brett Favre retirement, another Brett Favre un-retirement? I really was hoping after last off-season that we would not have to talk about Brett Favre this year, but here we are, for the second year in a row, talking about Favre and another potential comeback just a few short months after he announced his retirement.

Favre is reportedly consulting with world renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews about possible options for healing his partially torn bicep in his throwing arm. It is unclear at this time whether or not Favre will need to have surgery or not. It is also unclear whether or not Favre would be willing to go through shoulder surgery in order to play another season. If Favre can prove he will be able to start the season with a healthy shoulder, he could reportedly sign with the Minnesota Vikings as the team’s starting quarterback as he was released by the New York Jets in February and subsequently filed his retirement papers. 

If Favre does indeed sign with the Vikings and can start the season healthy, Favre will immediately become a fantasy option as a low-end QB1. Keep checking in with the Bruno Boys during the off-season for updates on Favre and the Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation.

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Michael Vick released from jail, return to NFL possible?

Michael Vick was released from a federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, KA on Wednesday and was transferred to home confinement where he will be closely monitored for two months while wearing a tether. Vick is serving a 23 month sentence on a conviction of dog fighting conspiracy and will be released from federal custody on July 20, 2009. At that time, he will begin serving three years probation. While under home confinement, Vick will work as a laborer for a construction company in Virginia and will make $10.00 per hour; a far cry from the $130 million NFL contract he lost when he was convicted.

So, what will happen to Michael Vick the football player? Will he play in the NFL again? These are questions that will go unanswered for the time being, but right now it sure seems like Vick is far from resurrecting his NFL career. First, he would have to find a team that would want him. The Atlanta Falcons still own his rights, but Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank has already come out and said that Vick will not play for the Falcons again. Blank did add that he does hope Vick is able to turn his life around.

The Falcons have tried to trade him, but there haven’t been any takers. If the Falcons release him, he would then become a free agent and would be free to sign with any team that is willing to take a chance on a quarterback who hasn’t played in two years and has a questionable arm to begin with. There are also concerns about if and when Vick will be reinstated by the NFL.

Vick is an amazing talent and an electrifying player, but he still has a lot of damage control to do from his dog fighting conviction before he is ready to resume his NFL career. Obviously, Vick does not have any fantasy football value at this time, but the Bruno Boys will be here to report any change in his football status in the upcoming months.

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Eagles defensive coordinator has cancer, takes leave of absence

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has taken an indefinite leave of absence while he continues treatment for a cancerous tumor on his spine. The tumor was first noticed after Johnson complained of back pain in January during the teams playoff run. He has been receiving treatment since January and was able to coach the team’s first post-draft mini-camp earlier this month, although he did coach from a motorized scooter.

Johnson and Eagles head coach Andy Reid have decided it would be in Johnson’s best interest to walk away from football for a while and concentrate on getting his health back. Johnson has been the Eagles’ defensive coordinator for the past 10 seasons and is a huge reason why the team has been so successful defensively over the past decade. In 2008, Philadelphia’s defense ranked third in total defense and fourth in points allowed.

At this time, it is unclear whether or not Johnson will be ready to coach during training camp or even the regular season this year. This should not effect the Eagles’ defense much this season. Secondary coach Sean McDermott will run the defense in Johnson’s absence and the Eagles should continue to play the aggressive attacking style that Johnson has put in place. With or without Johnson this season, the Eagles should continue to be looked at as a top-five fantasy defense in 2009.

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Patriots hold voluntary workouts, no Brady

The New England Patriots held voluntary workouts this week without quarterback Tom Brady, but there isn’t any cause for concern. Brady had reconstructive knee surgery to repair torn a ACL and MCL on his left knee which was injured Week 1 of the regular season in 2008, according to a report in the Sporting News, Brady is on track for a full recovery and he is ready to go without limitations.

The Boston Herald has reported that Brady was expected to miss the voluntary workouts this week, which were not mandatory for veterans. He is expected to take part in next weeks full squad workout.

All these reports lead the Bruno Boys to believe it is safe to start planning for the 2009 fantasy football season with Tom Brady as a top-five QB1 option. It is unlikely Brady will match his record breaking 2007 season in which he passed for 4,806 yards with 50 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, but he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the game and will likely be drafted in the first two rounds of most fantasy football drafts this summer.

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