Pre-Season numbers mean absolutely nothing. The few things that matter in the pre-season is who is signed, who isn't, who has been arrested, and who has been injured. That's about it. So there's not much to discuss from this pre-season and all it's meaningless numbers, but here are ten brief stories worth mentioning with some numbers along as my excuse to write about them.
6 - Days before the season opener that New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan finally decided to report to camp. He's fresh off one of the most expensive sports-related divorces in recent tabloid times. That being said, Giants fans and those who rolled the dice on Strahan in IDP leagues are hoping he staved up some aggression about his lawyers' performance and is ready to unleash it on opposing quarterbacks.
2, 4 - The number of times Rex Grossman was picked in limited action this pre-season and the number of times he put the pigskin on the turf. Yes, it appears Grossman still is under fire for turnovers. Lucky for Sexy Rexy that he only lost one of those fumbles, otherwise the local media might have really torn into him. OK, it didn't matter, they tore into him regardless. In the Rex-bashing of Chicago, the city almost didn't notice that linebacker Lance Briggs' $350,000 Lamborghini got mysteriously wrecked.
113.4 - Quarterback rating this pre-season for David Garrard. In a surprise move this past week, Garrard was named the Jacksonville Jaguars starting QB. And in the same moment Byron Leftwich was sent packing. This move lit up the waiver wires across the fantasy universe. The only thing is, if you were banking on Leftwich as was I in a 2-QB league, then you were already in bad shape.
0-2, 1-1, 2-0 - Tossing out the chances of a tie, those are the record possibilities for all NFL teams through the first two weeks of the season. Duh, right? Well, no one has a tougher first two weeks than Norv Turner and his San Diego Chargers who open at home with the defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears. Yes Brian Urlacher and the Bears Defense gets their crack at last season's Most Valuable Player LaDainian Tomlinson. And for Week Two, the Chargers get a trip to New England to take on Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick. The Chargers could very well be 0-2 come Week Three and wondering if Marty-ball was a better option, or they could be the most fearsome 2-0 team in the league.
13 - Ranking on the all-time list in career sacks for new Denver Bronco Simeon Rice. After being released by Tampa Bay this off-season, Rice now finds himself in Denver with his old Super Bowl teammate John Lynch. They might seem old, but I wouldn't bet against these two bringing the hammer, especially in that rockin' mile high thin air.
1,295 - Yards receiving for Donald Driver last season as Brett Favre's primary, and some would argue his only worthwhile option. Driver got carted off the field in a pre-season contest, which is exactly the reason why many coaches, players, and fans hate the pre-season schedule. Luckily he only had a sprained foot, and there's hope he'll make the opener this weekend against Philadelphia. After Driver, Favre has Greg Jennings, and from there it's a crapshoot.
112.2, 4 - Passer rating and touchdowns thrown this pre-season by up and coming QB Kellen Clemens. The youngster has a monster arm, and I say that not just in comparing it to QB number one in New Jersey, Chad Pennington. If Pennington's shoulder becomes an issue again, or if the veteran just doesn't produce, Clemens is waiting in the wings and could be a super sleeper this fantasy season.
13 vs. 11 - Number of touchdowns scored by running back Willis McGahee in 2004 compared to his combined touchdowns in 2005 and 2006. After that breakout season we all expected huge things from this budding superstar, but he appeared to have burnt out way too soon. Alas, with a move to Baltimore folks are betting that McGahee is going to bust out again. This humble fantasy competitor has been fooled by McGahee twice and is fine letting someone else.
4 vs. 11 - Touchdowns scored last season by wide receiver Chris Chambers compared to his total in 2005. With Trent Green at the helm, Chambers should get the ball a lot more than he did in '06. And we all know Green likes to let that ball fly. Expect Green's presence to not only boost Chambers' numbers back near the double-digit TD range, but look for RB Ronnie Brown to benefit from Green stretching the field.
9/6/2007 - That's the date this Thursday. Don't be stupid and forget that the season starts on a Thursday this year. Someone's bound to forget in each league, so don't be that guy. The Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts will host the high-powered NFC offense that fell short of the Super Bowl last year. Yes, it's Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, and the Saints. What a treat to kick off the season!
Got a question or comment? Email them to pete@petekhazen.com.