• 
  The start of the 2006 NFL regular season is just over a week a way and I will be posting my NFL predictions this coming weekend.  Let me just say that some of my picks may surprise people.  It must be noted that there is no other sport less predictable then the NFL.  So some surprises should be expected.

• I was all set to predict the Washington Redskins as my favorites to win the NFC East, until I saw them play in the preseason.  Maybe I am making too much of the early games, but the skins could end up being the bust team of 2006.  The early loss of star running back, Clinton Portis was a bad omen.  Right now I've dropped them to third in the division and barely holding off the Eagles.

• Speaking of the Eagles, they made a great and surprising signing this week in picking up wide out, Donte Stallworth from the Saints, in exchange for a back up player and a future draft pick.  Word going around is that he could challenge Reggie Brown for the #1 receiver slot.  Either way, this move addresses one of the team's biggest weaknesses coming into the season and gives them two legitimate options for QB Donavan McNabb to throw to. 

• How strange would it be if a fantasy football owner drafted a back field of Clinton Portis, Reggie Bush, and Frank Gore? Think about it.

• Then again, wouldn't that be a pretty good back field? I know, I wouldn't complain--regardless of my political standings. 

• Is there any team Jeff George hasn't played for? I mean, this guy has been dug up more times than Vinny Testeverde and Pat Summerall combined! What's next...the return of Chris Chandler???

• I knew it was only a matter of time before some team signed QB Kerry Colins, but I'm a little surprised it was the Titans.  I think Billy Volek gives them a better chance to win now, because of his youth and familarity of the offense.  It remains to be seen if this is a good fit. 

• 
  As soon as I win the "lottery" so to speak, and get the first overall pick in my league, all these internet sites start spouting off on my guy, Larry Johnson! For months he was the craze of the fantasy football world, and now that I have the chance to grab him, it seems everyone is down on him all of a sudden.  Johnson will make those doubters eat their words when he tears up the league this season...and yours truly will be watching and rooting him on!

• On the Pro Wrestling front, Olympic hero, Kurt Angle was recently released by WWE due to personal issues and injuries.  It is believed that Angle may return once he has recovered and cleared up these issues.  I think this is a big loss for a company that is desperately trying to keep up with a rapidly growing UFC fan base.  At least I won't have to watch Angle compete on ECW, where I never thought he fit in well. 

• Jeff Hardy back in WWE...why?

• If I never hear the phrase: "Manny being Manny" again it will be too soon! Enough already, but I guess it's just JSM being JSM.

• In closing for this week, let me remind everyone to keep up with the tournament ongoing over at the JSM Cafe.  The Ultimate Fantasy Fighters tourney is down to the final four and will be winding up soon, so make sure you take part in the action and help guide your favorite fighter all the way to the championship! Your votes determine the winners.  Word going around, is that the winner may be asked to defend their title here at Cafe:Sports in the near future.  Good luck in your fantasy drafts and I'll have comments on mine next week. -JSM.   

Here's a team made up of players that could slide in a lot of drafts, yet, as you see--put them together and you have a pretty solid group.  These are the players at each position that I see having a bigger year than expected or projected.  You won't want to sleep on these sleepers.    

QB: Jake Delhomme

RB: LaMont Jordan

RB: Chester Taylor

WR: Chris Chambers

WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh

TE: Chris Cooley

K: Shayne Graham

DEF: Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy Shots:

Five teams to target come draft day-

• >

  Indianapolis Colts

• Cincinnati Bengals

• Arizona Cardinals

• Seattle Seahawks

• New York Giants

Five teams to avoid come draft day-

• 

  New York Jets

• San Francisco 49ers

• Chicago Bears

• Buffalo Bills

• Tennessee Titans

-If you have questions or comments send them in.

JSM To Select Larry Johnson w/ #1 pick!

JSM Cafe. 

-After negotiating with the agents of both Tomlinson and Johnson, JSM has come to a one-year agreement with RB Larry Johnson and will make him the first overall pick in Thursday night's draft.  The contract states that JSM reserves the right to void this contract between now and Thursday, should an injury occur.  But as of right now, this is the official pick and it reunites Team JSM with a player that helped turn his team around last season before trading him a way in a failed mid-season experiement.  JSM had these words to say after coming to the decision...

"I'm happy for the opportunity to have Larry (Johnson) on my team for the third year in a row, now.  Hopefully the third time is the charm, and I can hold on to him for the whole season this time.  My team was never quite the same after I traded him a way last year, so I think this is my chance to make ammends for that misjudgement.  In the end I couldn't let him pass me by, so I made the pick and I'm confident he's the man to lead my team, hopefully to a championship! 

-JSM.  

 The Players 2006 Mock Draft Projections:

1.JSM- Larry Johnson (KC)

 2.Nate- LaDainien Tomlinson(SD)

3.Derrick- Shaun Alexander (SEA)

 4.Adam- Tiki Barber (NYG)

5.Kyle- Ronnie Brown (MIA)

6.Duane- Peyton Manning (IND)

7.Matt- Steven Jackson (STL)

 8.Eric- Rudy Johnson (CIN)

9.Eric-  Steve Smith (CAR)

10.Matt- LaMont Jordan (ARI)

11.Duane- Carnell. Williams (T.B)

12.Kyle- Carson Palmer (CIN)

 13.Adam- Clinton Portis (WAS)

14.Derrick- Edgerrin James (DAL)

 15.Nate- ?

16.JSM-?

JSM to select LJ or LT!

While not exactly sports news I thought I would share my draft update with my readers.  This year I get the pleasure and good fortune of owning the #1 overall pick of my 8 person draft.  It is a first for myself and I plan on formally announcing my first pick here in a couple of days, but I would like to hear comments from readers on what they think I should do with that first pick.  Listed below is our league draft order (for the benefit of those in my league who may be curious.) Listed below that are my options.  If there are any suggestions, send them in.  I will listen to all comments, but I will make a decision on this matter by the weekend, at the latest.  Of course when I do, it will be posted here.  Ah, the power of being the owner of #1. 

2006 Players Draft order:

1. JSM (LJ? LT? Trade?)

2. Nate(one of the big 3)

3. Derrick (one of the big 3)

4. Adam (I say Manning or Barber)

5. Kyle (Loves this pick, sources say he'll take RB.)

6. Duane (Portis perhaps?)

7. Matt (Could Manning fall this far?)

8. Eric (T.O a possibility here.)

Should I take Larry Johnson? Tomlinson? Alexander? Or make a blockbuster trade?

hmm....the choices.

Dear Gridiron Guru,

Any word on how the Seahawks might do this year?

-Busman Terry, Blogstream.

Dear Bus Man,

If last night's pre season game was any indication, then I would say they'll be okay.  You have to keep the old Madden curse theory in mind, though.  (If you haven't heard, this years video game has Shaun Alexander on the cover.)  Taking that part out of the equation, I think the Seahawks have a reasonable chance of defending their division title on 06,' but returning to the Superbowl is always a difficult feat, and you also have to figure that with both the Cardinals and Rams committing to the running game, the NFC West will likely be a much tighter race.  I look for the Seahawks to finish at 10-6, but fall a little short of their Superbowl return bid. 

-GG. 

-If you would like to send in your football questions to the Guru, leave a comment and they will be answered in future posts.