Best redskin trade

[Hogskin]

Very good point, Sitting Bull. And to take it a step further, Ricky has NEVER had as good a run-blocking line in front of him as Holmes, Faulk, Portis, or Green had in ther best seasons. In fact the only time he had a "pretty good" line was his first season or two under Ditka. And the funny thig was, that even though Ditka bet his career on Ricky, he did not know how to best utilize his talents.

Mizzo, I don't know where you get your stats, but you have this one upside down. Ricky has had 34 fumbles in 1818 touches (1 for every 53.5 touches). The Diesel had 58 in 2871 touches (1 for every 49.5 touches). Riggo fumbled a little more. Neither has been know for their great hands LOL.

With some of the statements here, it is really beginning to seem that their are just some folks on this site that have a mindset against any appreciation of Ricky Williams. That is fine - everyone has guys they like and guys they don't like. But I thought about this, and wonder if maybe when the trade was made, some folks were hoping he would fail, so the Redskins' trade would look even better than it was (and it WAS good!!) Maybe some fans have just carried a mindset aginst him. I have probably seen 40-50% of his plays since he has been in the NFL (I'm a REAL sick fan - nothing but Sunday Ticket on Sunday afternoons). He is very impressive, and is certainly among the elite backs currently in the league.

By the way, on the subject of great RB's, we just had our convention in Atlantic City. I made a bet with one of my customers who was dis'ing Portis. I bet this guy $100 that Denver's top RB this season will NOT get 20% more rushing yards than Portis. I would like to have had a lot more of that one. With their OL coach moving to Atlanta, look for Denver's RB factory to look a lot less formidable this year. I would have made the bet WITHOUT the 20% pad LOL!!!

John Shaffer
National Fantasy Sports Leagues, Inc
Home of "The BEST Game In Town" since 1990

[Hogskin]

Daseal, I just saw your post after I posted my last one. Nice post. (Well - except for the Chambers comment - he needs to have a decent QB to become a serious threat...). But, the post explains a lot - we all do have our own style of football that we appreciate. I saw a Redskin game in Chicago MANY years ago, and just loved watching Gayle Sayers run all over the field (the Skins won, by the way). But for me, nothing was better than watching Riggo carry a guy a few yards down the field on his back while the Diesel horns were blowing in the background!!

John Shaffer
National Fantasy Sports Leagues, Inc
Home of "The BEST Game In Town" since 1990

[Daseal]

Chris Chambers is a beast, and I think that offense could be potent if they got a QB. I think AJ Feely will be an upgrade, but not the future of Miami. Chris Chambers is a fairly big boy, has a great vertical, and can stretch his DB deep. He's one of the most under appreciated receivers in the league, in my opinion.

Ricky is a good runner, no doubt I sure wouldn't want to meet him on the other side of the line. One thing about Ricky that get's to me is how shy he is. I've heard rumors that for like the first year in NO he wouldn't really talk to anyone. Not sure how true that is, but definitely an oddity.

[Hogskin]

Daseal, yes, that is close to true from what I have heard. He actually had a lot of trouble in that area throughout his NO stay. In Miami, they immediately got him into a program that helped him with his obvious phobia about being around people. From reports, it very quickly transformed him to be much more outgoing.

I agree with you 100% about Chambers. But without a proven QB, don't bet too heavily on him for your fantasy team yet. He will still be a good mid-round pickup. He could move way up the ladder with the right QB. I'm looking for T.O. and Chad Johnson to be at the top this year.

[Daseal]

TO? Really? I know he's the go-to guy, but I don't think McNabb will be able to put it where TO needs it constantly, not to mention he's adapting to a new system.

Chad Johnson also comes with a new (practically rookie) QB. Both great receivers, just wondering whatcha know that might put those two on top of say the Randy Moss's, etc.

[SKINSnCANES]

It'll be interesting to see whos the best receiver next year. I dont think it will be TO, McNabb is a great QB but his accuracy is no where near Garcias. Randy Moss put on 15 pounds to be able to seperate himself more from defeners, and be able to push them around more. You never know how a players game will change when they put on bulk. My guess is Harrison is going to still be a baller with Manning throwing to him, expecially since its contract year. Coles will also put up huge numbers next year.

[SmootSmack]

I know that hindsight is 20/20 but considering how much Ditka gave up for Williams the fact that neither he nor Williams is still in N.O. gives the edge to the Skins in that trade, in my opinion. Williams was supposed to be the next great thing in the Big Easy but after just a couple of seasons he was gone.

That being said, I think the Saints are probably better off now. One of the draft picks they got from trading Williams to the Dolphins was Charles Grant, an up and coming DE and personally I think Deuce is a better back than RW. His 4.7 yards per carry was better than Ricky's...though not as good as Portis' 5.5 ypc.

Daseal I like the slasher type of back as well. While I respect the bruising, bashing style of Jerome Bettis give me the poetry in cleats that was Barry Sanders. To me there was nothing sweeter than watching Barry on the gridiron. Well one thing, Riggo on 4th and 1 in Pasadena.

Hogskin, what's your fantasy take on Justin McCareins this upcoming season now that he's with the Jets? He was a nice little sleeper for me last season

[SKINSnCANES]

we should run a league for this message board come the fall. Somethign to think about.

[Hogskin]

Daseal, those are my picks - just remember to look and see at the end of the season. Remember, on the average, at skill positions, 7 of the top 10 players from one year are not in the top 10 the following year. Just because a guy had his career year one season does not mean he will the next.

You ask about TO? A lot goes into fantasy selections. Eagles will get scored on a lot more this year (CB's gone). They will be passing a lot late in the games. T.O. is PUMPED UP, and definitely has the ability to get open. They will be throwing a lot in the 2nd half of games. I happen to like McNabb, in SPITE of what Rush thinks of him. He is a good deep passer - just never had a guy to get open down there.

BTW, we use a point system that includes catches and yardage, as well as TD points based on DISTANCE of the TD - TO will catch many long TD's.

The rookie will be able to get the ball in the vicinity of Chad - he will catch it over almost any DB in the league.

Good luck in your fantasy leagues this year!!

[Hogskin]

Smoot, just saw your question. I really like McCareins this year. With another excellent WR to compliment him and a quality QB, this could be his season. And I have to agree, I loved watching Sanders. But his teams did not win, and he lost yardage on a lot of plays. All said, I am REALLY looking forward to Portis this season... maybe a new FAV Skin for me????

Canes - sounds like a good idea. Let me know later in the summer, and I will be glad to run a league for Warpath guys free. Or if you want to put up a few bucks, I will return it all as prizes. Let me know in late July. Only thing, I would want to use our scoring model. You could make a few mods to it if you wanted, but I would not want to stray too far if I will be competing - it is a great scoring system.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by SKINSnCANES

we should run a league for this message board come the fall. Somethign to think about.

That's a good idea. Wonder if we can work it through Matty. Also, who's gonna track stats points etc.?

hmmmmmmmmm

[memphisskin]

Ricky is a bruiser, but he showed in '02 that he can break the big runs too. Witness the Dolphins-Redskins game from last year for proof, we had the game won until Ricky got loose in the 4th quarter.

[BleedBurgundy]

Hogskins and 'Canes- Great Idea!

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

Ricky is a bruiser, but he showed in '02 that he can break the big runs too. Witness the Dolphins-Redskins game from last year for proof, we had the game won until Ricky got loose in the 4th quarter.

True. That and Feidler coming in for Griese

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by SKINSnCANES

we should run a league for this message board come the fall. Somethign to think about.

We ran one on yahoo! sports last year. I think we had a 16-team league last year? I can't remember. Anyway, that was fun, but I'm game for a different setup this year, if Hogskin can hook us up. I usually wind up playing on different fantasy sites every year anyway. At some point, though, I would like to settle into one league that I can stick with from year-to-year. It would be nice if we could get that kind of continuity going here at The Warpath.