Around the League with Brandon Marshall, Ronnie Brown, Carson Palmer, LaDainian Tomlinson and others!

I’ve just rolled back into town and need to get my blog up. Now that vacation time is over for a short while, it will be good to get back into the flow. I’m signing up for various high-stakes leagues and am finally getting to my projections and will begin to roll those out next week. For now, let’s see what I’ve been able to glean from the Hot off the Wire from the past week.

Broncos | Willing to take calls about Marshall
Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports on his Twitter page that the Denver Broncos do not want to trade WR Brandon Marshall but are willing to take calls from other teams about him.

My Take: Look, I’m not a big Schefter fan. However, I give credit where it’s due. He made his bones by covering the Broncos, and you have to believe what he reports when it concerns them. I don’t see the team trading him but never say never. The right offer would probably be a first-round pick. That would be expensive to the prospective team; not only do you have to give up a first-round pick, you’re also going to have to deal with a malcontent demanding a new contract. Let’s not forget he has a police blotter and seems to show no remorse over his past actions. Marshall is draftable, but if this keeps up you may have to drop him a few notches. Remember he has already suffered a drop with the trade of former starting quarterback Jay Cutler. Bill Williamson, a reporter whom I have the utmost respect for, got it right when he reported….

Broncos | Expect Marshall to show up for camp
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports the Denver Broncos still have no plans to trade WR Brandon Marshall and expect him to show up for training camp. If Marshall doesn’t report for the beginning of camp, the team still expects Marshall to eventually show up. The Broncos know they hold all the cards. If Marshall doesn’t show up in 2009, he won’t be paid. A prospective free agent in 2010, there is little chance Marshall will risk missing an entire season.

My Take: I agree with this assessment and because of this feel Marshall will play in Denver this year.

Brandon Marshall wants out of Denver, but will they comply?

Think about it. What if he gets traded to a team, and the team doesn’t work out a contract? Then he’s playing for next year, and at least he knows the players around him in Denver even if it is a new offense. He knows the players around him versus having to learn a new offense and develop the chemistry to play alongside new players.

Chiefs | Bowe working on improving hands
Kent Babb, of The Kansas City Star, reports Kansas City Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe said he has been working hard on improving his concentration and ability to catch the ball on a consistent basis. Head coach Todd Haley is expected to work with Bowe during training camp.

My Take: This is good news because the Chiefs are likely to be a bad team; Bowe showing the initiative will only increase his fantasy value. Remember Haley came from a team of stud receivers – Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin – so his standards for Bowe will be high, and Bowe seems to be the type of player to want to improve. I believe this will only enhance his fantasy value, but despite his potential and track record, I would only want him as my No. 3 fantasy receiver but he’s going as a No. 1. I know, I’m in the minority with that, but that’s how I view it. I would take him as a No. 2 if push came to shove depending on where I could take him.

Steelers | Holmes has bulked up
John Harris, of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, reports Pittsburgh Steelers WR Santonio Holmes said he has bulked up to 201 pounds this offseason. Holmes played in the 190-pound range last season and joined the league weighing considerably less.

My Take: I liked Holmes last year, and I like him this year but not as much in point-per-reception leagues. However, if he doesn’t lose any speed bulking up it will help him produce more yardage just because he won’t be brought down or jammed by cornerbacks as easily. If he loses his speed then this is tantamount to disaster as it’s his speed that has made him what he is. Let’s watch him come preseason to see how much speed he has. I do like this kid as he can be special if he chooses to focus like Hines Ward does!

Dolphins | Brown in great shape
David J. Neal, of The Miami Herald, reports Miami Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown is in great shape and has looked explosive during offseason workouts. “As far as shape goes, he’s outstanding right now,” head coach Tony Sparano said. “That sounds like a company line, but I mean it. In the weight room the guy is super right now. He weighs 230 pounds, he’s running better, he is stronger, so all of those things from a progress standpoint I see as positives.”

My Take: Brown is going around the 28th pick overall which is the third round in a 12-team league. However, he’s the 15th back to be drafted (on average). He could be this year’s DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner, Chris Johnson or Steve Slaton. He has proven me wrong over and over. I’m finally putting him on my radar!

Titans | Collins hopes passing game will be improved
Terry McCormick, of The City Paper, reports Tennessee Titans QB Kerry Collins believes the team’s passing game will be improved in 2009, thanks to an upgrade in personnel. “I thought we made good strides this offseason. Offensively, we built on things that we did well last year. We implemented some things that are going to help us and from a personnel standpoint we’ve gotten better. I’m excited about it,” Collins said. “I just think overall as far as the passing game, I’d like to be more productive, score more, and I’d like to throw more than 12 touchdowns. If we can just step it up a little bit and be more prolific from a passing standpoint. I think that should be a goal of ours.”

My Take: Collins has minimal fantasy value, but the fact he’s working overtime is because he smells a Super Bowl! He knows if rookie running back Chris Johnson had not gone down in last year’s playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens he would have his Super Bowl ring! I still won’t look towards Titans receivers on draft day, but if they can improve even a little that will allow Johnson and LenDale White to work their magic without always having to worry about seeing eight in the box.

Browns | Edwards committed to staying
Calvin Watkins, of AOL Sports FanHouse, reports Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards said he is committed to staying with the team, even though the Browns tried to trade Edwards this offseason. “I never said I wanted to go,” Edwards said. “The Browns tried to put a trade out there. It’s always about progress in any level of sport. It will always be business. Trades happen, releases happen, I never took it personal. They thought highly enough of me to ask for a lot and in doing so, the Giants couldn’t give the Browns what they wanted. It’s a business.”

My Take: This is what you call being politically correct. What else is he going to say? Regardless of what he says and what he thinks he’s worth, he will have to show it on the field; while he’s a talented individual, I don’t target him in a draft unless he drops.

Will Braylon Edwards be making catches elsewhere?

Why? A new team, new quarterback, new system and the fact he suffers from dropped passes tells me there may be better candidates, including players such as: Antonio Bryant, Vincent Jackson, Chad Ochocinco and Santonio Holmes. It’s not that I don’t like Edwards, as much as I’d take others before considering him.

Bengals | Palmer working on arm strength
Carlos Holmes, of the Dayton Daily News, reports Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer (elbow) is still trying to work on improving his arm strength and plans to throw a lot before and during training camp. “It’s just like when a track guy needs to get faster. You don’t do 5,000 squats, you run and run some more. To get your arm in shape you throw and continue to throw. So I will be throwing all summer long as well as in training camp,” Palmer said.

My Take: I’ve always liked Palmer’s work ethic, and when I met him at the Senior Bowl years ago he struck me and my partner as a down-to-earth guy. I believe it’s that attitude that will help him come back. However, he’s obviously no longer a top-tier quarterback, but he’s going 89th overall. That’s the eighth round in a 12-team league. That’s not bad value to take a shot on someone like him. Just make sure you take him as your No. 2, though!

Chargers | Tomlinson believes he can still be productive at 30
Stephen Hawkins, of The Associated Press, reports San Diego Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson said he believes he can still be productive even though he recently turned 30 years old. “That’s the one thing that I’m eager to prove, is that doesn’t necessarily go for every player. Turn 30, that doesn’t mean that you can’t play any more. There are some guys out there that defy the odds, and I’m eager to prove that,” Tomlinson said.

My Take: I want Tomlinson in the first round. No ifs, ands or buts about it. He had a dozen touchdowns and over 1,500 total yards last year. That was in a down year with turf toe then a groin injury. He’s not done because injuries set him back and he still produced. Let others believe he’s done and target him in the first round. I like him better than anyone else going ahead of him except Adrian Peterson!

There you have it for this week. Now enjoy the Fourth of July. Be safe but more importantly, take a moment and remember why we celebrate it versus just viewing it as a day off from work!