Post by TheShadow on Mar 19, 2007 3:44:30 GMT -5
www.realfootball365.com/
By Os Davis
What's a stats junkie to do in the long, long, looooong, dead time between the Super Bowl and the Hall of Fame Game?
Make some up, of course!
With the 2007 free-agent period certainly the most exciting of all-time (Hyperbole lovers, take note!), this writer's ability to keep pace with the madness is greatly tested.
But in mathematics shall we find truth. For better or worse, RealFootball365.com presents the 2007 rushing leaders as one runner after another flees his 2006 situation or simply gets rushed out of town on a rail in a trade among the free-agent feeding frenzy. Total rushing yardage was calculated by determining the number of yards between the back's new home and his departed residence. Mileage calculations were provided by the swell folks at Symsys.com.
(What this might tell us about 2007 is completely unknown and probably equals nothing, but there's only so many times I can re-fill out my NCAA tournament bracket.)
12. Anthony Thomas - Zero yards total rushing.
Thomas made one of the best decisions among free agent halfbacks simply by staying put. Of course, with the departure of Willis McGahee and the Buffalo Bills ' financial department having oodles of cash to throw 'round, this one was a no-brainer for Thomas.
Good news: Now he's the big fish.
Bad news: It's still Buffalo, a small pond if ever there was one with invisible protection from the offensive line. The Bills ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in rushing offense and sacks allowed along with the usual suspects -- the Oakland Raiders , Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , you get the idea. Good luck, Anthony.
11. Willis McGahee - 483,296 yards
As though any further evidence is needed of exactly how much money is being thrown around right about now, check out McGahee's contract with the Baltimore Ravens : $40.12 million including $15 million in bonuses. Most recent highlights on McGahee's resume include proclaiming himself the greatest player in the NFL, followed by a subsequent lackluster season in which he "produced" 990 yards rushing.
Good news: Well, for McGahee, it's the money, of course. Plus, he's now playing for what could be a playoff contender and what is definitely a team without two games against the New England Patriots , Miami Dolphins and New York Jets in 2007.
Bad news: Now, McGreatest will never get to experience firsthand his lifelong dream of the Bills moving to Toronto.
10. Jamal Lewis - 548,240 yards
The chain of events, chronological order be damned: Thomas re-upped, McGahee traded, and Jamal Lewis bolting Baltimore for Cleveland. He'll just be testing the brown waters out there for one season. Just in case Lewis happens to, um, lose interest when his time is mired at about 3-9, the halfback gets $1 million if he is active for all 16 regular-season games.
Adam Schefter at NFL.com sees lots of dominoes falling with this move, constructing a conspiracy in which, as a result of Lewis on the Browns, Cleveland nabs Brady Quinn in the draft.
Good news: Schefter may be right. Quinn may be coming to Cleveland.
Bad news: Schefter may be right. Quinn may be coming to Cleveland.
9. T.J. Duckett - 697,136 yards
In Detroit, the Lions wooed T.J. "Shaky Insurance Policy" Duckett over for $1.5 million about a week after getting Tatum Bell in the Dre Bly trade. Both signings are in response to the serious injury dealt Kevin Jones late in the 2006 season which caused speculation at one point that he might not suit up at all in 2007.
Good news: It hasn't been that long since 2004, when Duckett averaged nearly five yards per carry for the Atlanta Falcons , has it? And if Jones comes back quicker than hoped, Duckett is fine as a No. 3 on the depth chart.
Bad news: Wait a minute, wasn't Duckett acquired by Washington to act as backup in case Clinton Portis went down? And wasn't Duckett the guy who got (re-)injured instead? Isn't this the kind of thing that feels like it's going to explode in the hapless Matt Millen's face?
8. Reuben Droughns - 718,432 yards
Looking to fill Tiki Barber's cleats, the New York Giants engineered a trade with the deck-shuffling Browns to net Reuben Droughns. The Gothams have now assembled a sweet one-two punch akin to the vogue of 2006 (e.g. the Indianapolis Colts , the Chicago Bears , the New Orleans Saints , the Patriots, etc.) with Droughns and young Brandon Jacobs.
Good news: With dudes like Droughns, Jacobs and the utterly insane Jeremy Shockey, is this the most smash-mouth offense in the history of the words "smash mouth"?
Bad news: Now somebody's going to have to update the "Attack of the Droughns" Web site.
7. Thomas Jones - 1,250,304 yards
For Thomas Jones, a Super Bowl loss was enough to get him out of the shadows and into alpha-dog status with the Jets to the tune of a cool $20 million ($12 million guaranteed) over four years. The 1,210 yards Jones ran up while sharing time with Cedric Benson compares nicely to the 1,394 Leon Washington, Cedric Houston and Kevan Barlow combined for with New York last season.
Advantage: Like Ahman Green, Jones won't have to play in the shadow of a great quarterback any more. Oh, OK, enough with the Rex Grossman jokes. (Besides Grossman actually outdid ol' Brett Favre statistically, with a QB rating of 73.9 to 72.7.)
Disadvantage: None. Really. Excellent move for Jones and the Jets.
6. Paul Smith - 1,384,240 yards
The flux that is the St. Louis Rams continued when fullback Paul Smith signed with the Broncos. The NFL's official statement called Smith a "special teams maven." It must get tough writing these press releases. Even if you're working for the NFL.
5. Travis Henry - 1,547,216 yards
The Tennessee Titans took quite a hit in losing Travis Henry to the Denver Broncos , though the franchise did save $8.3 million in roster bonuses.
Advantage: For Henry, $12 million in guarantees is nice, as is the Shanahan system in Denver, which habitually produces career years for running backs.
Disadvantage: Broncos backers have learned not to get attached to their runners. Henry could rush for 1,500 and it could very well end up a one-year thrill. Like Droughns. Or Bell. Or Mike Anderson. Enjoy him while it lasts, Denver fans.
4. Ahman Green - 1,943,040 yards
Who knew Green saw the end coming? Pegged by virtually everyone to re-sign with the Green Bay Packers , Ahman instead grabbed a $23 million, four-year deal. In 2007, he'll have to somehow make that difficult transition from a young inexperienced team in transition to the, um, Houston Texans .
Advantage: For Green ... uh, let's see ... the weather?
Disadvantage: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the decline of Ahman Green's career!
3. Cory Schlesinger - 2,034,032 yards
A 12-year mainstay of the Lions (Who among the silver-and-Honolulu Blue will tell the tale of that glorious playoff game in 1999?), Schlesinger flew to sunnier skies and landed in Miami. Primarily a blocker, this article marks the only time he has ever competed for a rushing title.
Advantage: Schlesinger is part of a sorely needed metamorphosis for the Dolphins' running game. Hope abounds that the changeover is not one of the Gregor Samsa variety.
Disadvantage: Now Miami sportswriters will have to learn to spell "Schlesinger."
2. Dominic Rhodes - 3,405,776 yards
Free agency was good to Rhodes, who, after acting as a filler-in for Edgerrin James for years, had to take a back seat to rookie sensation Joseph Addai in 2006. Rhodes will get a chance to prove his rookie year of 2001 and its 1,300-plus yards was no fluke.
Advantage: Rhodes is now the undisputed No. 1.
Disadvantage: "Mr. Rhodes, meet your blockers...um, they were here a couple of years ago..."
1. Justin Griffith - 3,739,296 yards
The Raiders drew again from the nation's east side, signing ex-Atlanta fullback Justin Griffith to a three-year, $3.8 million contract early in the 2007 free-agent craziness. Why precisely these guys took Justin Griffith I don't have much idea -- though any change in Oakland should probably be considered positive after 2006 -- but there's no way this writer's second-guessing Raiderland.
Advantage: Change in Oakland = improvement. (See above.)
Disadvantage: "As I was explaining to Mr. Rhodes..."
By Os Davis
What's a stats junkie to do in the long, long, looooong, dead time between the Super Bowl and the Hall of Fame Game?
Make some up, of course!
With the 2007 free-agent period certainly the most exciting of all-time (Hyperbole lovers, take note!), this writer's ability to keep pace with the madness is greatly tested.
But in mathematics shall we find truth. For better or worse, RealFootball365.com presents the 2007 rushing leaders as one runner after another flees his 2006 situation or simply gets rushed out of town on a rail in a trade among the free-agent feeding frenzy. Total rushing yardage was calculated by determining the number of yards between the back's new home and his departed residence. Mileage calculations were provided by the swell folks at Symsys.com.
(What this might tell us about 2007 is completely unknown and probably equals nothing, but there's only so many times I can re-fill out my NCAA tournament bracket.)
12. Anthony Thomas - Zero yards total rushing.
Thomas made one of the best decisions among free agent halfbacks simply by staying put. Of course, with the departure of Willis McGahee and the Buffalo Bills ' financial department having oodles of cash to throw 'round, this one was a no-brainer for Thomas.
Good news: Now he's the big fish.
Bad news: It's still Buffalo, a small pond if ever there was one with invisible protection from the offensive line. The Bills ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in rushing offense and sacks allowed along with the usual suspects -- the Oakland Raiders , Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , you get the idea. Good luck, Anthony.
11. Willis McGahee - 483,296 yards
As though any further evidence is needed of exactly how much money is being thrown around right about now, check out McGahee's contract with the Baltimore Ravens : $40.12 million including $15 million in bonuses. Most recent highlights on McGahee's resume include proclaiming himself the greatest player in the NFL, followed by a subsequent lackluster season in which he "produced" 990 yards rushing.
Good news: Well, for McGahee, it's the money, of course. Plus, he's now playing for what could be a playoff contender and what is definitely a team without two games against the New England Patriots , Miami Dolphins and New York Jets in 2007.
Bad news: Now, McGreatest will never get to experience firsthand his lifelong dream of the Bills moving to Toronto.
10. Jamal Lewis - 548,240 yards
The chain of events, chronological order be damned: Thomas re-upped, McGahee traded, and Jamal Lewis bolting Baltimore for Cleveland. He'll just be testing the brown waters out there for one season. Just in case Lewis happens to, um, lose interest when his time is mired at about 3-9, the halfback gets $1 million if he is active for all 16 regular-season games.
Adam Schefter at NFL.com sees lots of dominoes falling with this move, constructing a conspiracy in which, as a result of Lewis on the Browns, Cleveland nabs Brady Quinn in the draft.
Good news: Schefter may be right. Quinn may be coming to Cleveland.
Bad news: Schefter may be right. Quinn may be coming to Cleveland.
9. T.J. Duckett - 697,136 yards
In Detroit, the Lions wooed T.J. "Shaky Insurance Policy" Duckett over for $1.5 million about a week after getting Tatum Bell in the Dre Bly trade. Both signings are in response to the serious injury dealt Kevin Jones late in the 2006 season which caused speculation at one point that he might not suit up at all in 2007.
Good news: It hasn't been that long since 2004, when Duckett averaged nearly five yards per carry for the Atlanta Falcons , has it? And if Jones comes back quicker than hoped, Duckett is fine as a No. 3 on the depth chart.
Bad news: Wait a minute, wasn't Duckett acquired by Washington to act as backup in case Clinton Portis went down? And wasn't Duckett the guy who got (re-)injured instead? Isn't this the kind of thing that feels like it's going to explode in the hapless Matt Millen's face?
8. Reuben Droughns - 718,432 yards
Looking to fill Tiki Barber's cleats, the New York Giants engineered a trade with the deck-shuffling Browns to net Reuben Droughns. The Gothams have now assembled a sweet one-two punch akin to the vogue of 2006 (e.g. the Indianapolis Colts , the Chicago Bears , the New Orleans Saints , the Patriots, etc.) with Droughns and young Brandon Jacobs.
Good news: With dudes like Droughns, Jacobs and the utterly insane Jeremy Shockey, is this the most smash-mouth offense in the history of the words "smash mouth"?
Bad news: Now somebody's going to have to update the "Attack of the Droughns" Web site.
7. Thomas Jones - 1,250,304 yards
For Thomas Jones, a Super Bowl loss was enough to get him out of the shadows and into alpha-dog status with the Jets to the tune of a cool $20 million ($12 million guaranteed) over four years. The 1,210 yards Jones ran up while sharing time with Cedric Benson compares nicely to the 1,394 Leon Washington, Cedric Houston and Kevan Barlow combined for with New York last season.
Advantage: Like Ahman Green, Jones won't have to play in the shadow of a great quarterback any more. Oh, OK, enough with the Rex Grossman jokes. (Besides Grossman actually outdid ol' Brett Favre statistically, with a QB rating of 73.9 to 72.7.)
Disadvantage: None. Really. Excellent move for Jones and the Jets.
6. Paul Smith - 1,384,240 yards
The flux that is the St. Louis Rams continued when fullback Paul Smith signed with the Broncos. The NFL's official statement called Smith a "special teams maven." It must get tough writing these press releases. Even if you're working for the NFL.
5. Travis Henry - 1,547,216 yards
The Tennessee Titans took quite a hit in losing Travis Henry to the Denver Broncos , though the franchise did save $8.3 million in roster bonuses.
Advantage: For Henry, $12 million in guarantees is nice, as is the Shanahan system in Denver, which habitually produces career years for running backs.
Disadvantage: Broncos backers have learned not to get attached to their runners. Henry could rush for 1,500 and it could very well end up a one-year thrill. Like Droughns. Or Bell. Or Mike Anderson. Enjoy him while it lasts, Denver fans.
4. Ahman Green - 1,943,040 yards
Who knew Green saw the end coming? Pegged by virtually everyone to re-sign with the Green Bay Packers , Ahman instead grabbed a $23 million, four-year deal. In 2007, he'll have to somehow make that difficult transition from a young inexperienced team in transition to the, um, Houston Texans .
Advantage: For Green ... uh, let's see ... the weather?
Disadvantage: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the decline of Ahman Green's career!
3. Cory Schlesinger - 2,034,032 yards
A 12-year mainstay of the Lions (Who among the silver-and-Honolulu Blue will tell the tale of that glorious playoff game in 1999?), Schlesinger flew to sunnier skies and landed in Miami. Primarily a blocker, this article marks the only time he has ever competed for a rushing title.
Advantage: Schlesinger is part of a sorely needed metamorphosis for the Dolphins' running game. Hope abounds that the changeover is not one of the Gregor Samsa variety.
Disadvantage: Now Miami sportswriters will have to learn to spell "Schlesinger."
2. Dominic Rhodes - 3,405,776 yards
Free agency was good to Rhodes, who, after acting as a filler-in for Edgerrin James for years, had to take a back seat to rookie sensation Joseph Addai in 2006. Rhodes will get a chance to prove his rookie year of 2001 and its 1,300-plus yards was no fluke.
Advantage: Rhodes is now the undisputed No. 1.
Disadvantage: "Mr. Rhodes, meet your blockers...um, they were here a couple of years ago..."
1. Justin Griffith - 3,739,296 yards
The Raiders drew again from the nation's east side, signing ex-Atlanta fullback Justin Griffith to a three-year, $3.8 million contract early in the 2007 free-agent craziness. Why precisely these guys took Justin Griffith I don't have much idea -- though any change in Oakland should probably be considered positive after 2006 -- but there's no way this writer's second-guessing Raiderland.
Advantage: Change in Oakland = improvement. (See above.)
Disadvantage: "As I was explaining to Mr. Rhodes..."