First off, I'm not on the "JT O'Sullivan is our starting QB?  OMG, we're all gonna die!" bandwagon.  But the current QB situation is less than ideal and it sounds like Beck is the odd man out in Miami after their acquisition of Chad Pennington.  Word also has it that Martz was a pretty big fan of Beck's prior to the draft and actually preferred him over Drew Stanton.

So is anyone else interested in throwing the Dolphins a late round pick for Beck?  I know this muddles the QB situation even more and that it would mean the Niners would probably have to carry 4 QBs but I'd rather carry a 4th QB like Beck than a 2nd FB like Keasey.  The way I see things, Beck could have a decent chance at possibly emerging as the favorite to start at QB for the Niners in '09, if acquired now.

So Favre is leaving for Broadway which will probably leave Pennington jobless.  Well Chad, let me first the first to welcome you to the Rice-A-Roni City.  Seriously why wouldn't the Niners want Pennington?  He's a playoff a quarterback who's throws about as hard as Tom Candiotte.  Hello Super Bowl!

I mean we missed out on Jason Taylor, Brett Favre, Takeo Spikes, Zach Thomas, and Steve Smith.  How can McNolan let Pennington get away?  He can not.

FAIL.

So this trade that the Raiders are trying to pull off with the Falcons for Hall has got me thinking.  First, WTF are the Raiders doing?  They were crappy last year and bringing in a malcontent CB and a can't stay healthy WR for tons of money isn't going to put them in the playoffs.  Secondly, with the Raiders reportedly giving up a 2nd and 6th round draft picks for Hall they're only left with a 1st, 4th, 5th (maybe) and 7th.  To me it would seem like the Raiders might consider themselves in a position to trade down.  They've spent a ton of money this offseason already and I'm not sure if they want to pay #4 money to a rookie, especially considering the trouble they had paying Russell.  With that said I think the Raiders would be willing to listen to offers for that #4 pick but do you guys think it's worth it to trade up for Vernon Gholston?

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With the pending release of Madden 08 looming which ones of you out there are going to get it for Xbox 360?  Apparently my Xbox is currently trying to be delivered after being sent in to be serviced for the 3 Flashing Red Rings of Death.  So the good news is, that I'll have it back by the Tuesday when Madden releases.

To get to the point of the diary, I was just wondering if there was enough interest to get an online Madden tourney going.

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In an effort to keep myself amused I thought it might be interesting to see what some of you think about the various divisions throughout the NFL and who you think will sit atop those division when the regular season is all said and done.  And in addition go ahead and pick your Conference Champs, Superbowl Champs and the team that will receive the rights to the 1st overall pick in the '08 draft.

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Well ever since the first installment of the Fantasy Football Top 10 lists things have really begun to snowball, like a snowball in Death Valley.  Anyways, here are you're Top 10 Defenses as ranking by me, the ultimate authority of all things fantasy in nature.

1. Bears
   
2. Ravens
   
3. Chargers
   
4. Patriots
   
5. Broncos
   
6. Raiders
   
7. Jaguars
   
8. Cowboys
   
9. Panthers
   
10. Steelers

My favorite pick of the group is the Oakland Raiders; they're a playoff caliber defense.  But the main reason I like them is that nobody is drafting them and I can lock them up with my 15th round pick, thus saving my 16th round pick for super stud kicker, Olindo Mare.

As promised, Braekneck brings you yet another Fantasy Football Top 10 installment, this time of the TE variety.  Unlike seasons past, this year TE is a pretty deep position with no reason to reach for any tight end, unless it's Beyonce's.  Gone are the days of 2 or 3 elite TE, a new era in football is dawning and the offensive threat of the TE is peaking.  With that being said, I'd be more than happy with any of my top 10 TE being my every week starter, minus their bye week obviously, but once you get out of the top 10 it might be a good idea to pick up 2 TE relatively quick, which shouldn't be a problem because you would have waited outside of Round 10 to take a TE.  Without further ado, bestow Braekneck's Top 10 Fantasy Football TE for the Upcoming 2007 Season.

1. A. Gates
   
2. C. Cooley
   
3. T. Gonzalez
   
4. T. Heap
   
5. T. Diseas (V. Davis)
   
6. A. Crumpler
   
7. J. Shockey
   
8. J. Witten
   
9. L.J. Smith
   
10. B. Watson

"What the hell is Braekneck doing ranking Chris Cooley as the #2 TE?"  Fret not; I've been privy to some obscure Cooley facts.  Upon the arrival of "The Great Mustachioed Madman" (Jason Campbell, thanks to Skin Patrol for the wickedly sweet nickname) in '06 Cooley was the #2 TE in all of football.  Campbell is going into his first year as a full time starter and look for the incorrigible hair of Chris Cooley/the impeccably groomed mustache of Jason Campbell connection to thrive.  Lastly, and I found this out on a recent trip to Ripley's, but for the last two seasons Cooley has led all TE in YAC.  Think about it, I have and it's enough for me to warrant him as my #2 TE.  But this is where Cooley gets a little sweeter; right now he's being taken as the 8th TE off the board in most fantasy drafts, going somewhere in the mid 8th round.

The next thing you may have noticed is that Kellen Winslow fails to make the list.  He's actually my #11 TE and like I said earlier anyone out of my top 10 needs to backed-up relatively quickly.  Since becoming a pro Winslow has broken his leg twice and has had 3 knee surgeries in 2 years.  Winslow looks to be on his way to becoming the Cleveland Browns' version of "Boobie" Bobby Crosby, actually Kellen tend to produce when he's on the field so we better make that Rich Harden.  However, if Winslow could somehow stop osteoporosizing like an elderly woman he could be a top 10 TE.  But he's currently being drafted as the 5th TE, which is way too early.  Due yourself a favor and pass.

Other than that there shouldn't be too many surprises.  ToGo is ToGo.  Heap, is totally legit but he's always on the injury report.  Although he always suits up it never fails to tie my stomach in knots.  The Niners are banking on The Disease being a top 5 TE so why shouldn't you bank your fantasy team on it?  Crumpler is the only guy in the ATL that Vick throws to.  You might think Witten is a little high but once to Romo Empire took the reins of Cowboy's offense Witten was a top 10 TE and I'd look for that to continue.

There you have it.  Bottom line, there's great value in taking a TE later so don't rush it.  Now post your lists so I can criticize them, constructively.

As promised here's my list which will hopefully inspire a little more zeal than the WR list received.

I actually spent a little more time on this than my other lists and I think it's pretty solid.

1. P. Manning
   
2. C. Palmer
   
3. D. Brees
   
4. T. Brady
   
5. M. Bulger
   
6. J. Kitna
   
7. D. McNabb
   
8. T. Romo
   
9. M. Vick*
   
10. M. Leinart

* Assuming he doesn't miss any games in order to watch some dog fights.

It'll be interesting to see if Brees can follow up on last year's performance and the Brady/Moss connection is intriguing.  I think Ken Dorsey could be a Fantasy stud throwing to the likes of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, and I imagine Kitna will only improve in his 2nd year under the Madman Martz.  Can McNabb stay healthy?  If you think he can feel free to bump him up in your rankings but I'm a skeptic.  It should be pretty easy for Romo to find TO in the end zone, I expect TO to drop less passes than last year thus helping him and Romo's numbers out.  Vick is Vick and 1000 yards rushing is worth a lot more than 1000 yards passing and hopefully Joe Horn can catch a little better than Jenkins and White.  And Matt Leinart gets the nod over Hasselbeck for the #10 spot.  I think Seattle is due for a very disappointing season and Leinart should be able to find his stud receivers, Fitzgerald and Boldin more often than not.

So there it is, now dump your lists.

Since HowTheyScored is chomping at the bit, I took a few seconds out of my day to start this diary up.  So here it is, your Top 10 WR rankings.

Here's my list which was rushed to be put together and which like my RB list will likely be revisted later.

1. C. Johnson
   
2. S. Smith
   
3. R. Wayne
   
4. T. Holt
   
5. M. Harrison
   
6. T. Owens
   
7. A. Johnson
   
8. L. Evans
   
9. R. Williams
   
10. J. Walker

So start dumping your lists!

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I know it's still a ways off but I'm getting giddy over fantasy football already.  So in preperation for drafting lets see everyone's Top 10 RB projections for 2007.

Here are mine:

1. L. Tomlinson
   
2. S. Jackson
   
3. L. Johnson
   
4. F. Gore
   
5. S. Alexander
   
6. R. Brown
   
7. J. Addai
   
8. T. Henry
   
9. L. Maroney
   
10. W. Parker

With some careful consideration here is my revised list:

1. L. Tomlinson
   
2. S. Jackson
   
3. L. Johnson
   
4. F. Gore
   
5. J. Addai
   
6. W. Parker
   
7. L. Maroney
   
8. T. Henry
   
9. R. Johnson
   
10. S. Alexander

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So I decide the "big" vs. "small" WR topic might need it's own diary as I'm sure there are more opinions to be expressed and I didn't want to totally hijack Fooch's thread.

So to quote fellow poster mississippininer, from his response to my post about why we would want the next TO, based on size and athletic ability and not attitude.  Check it, if you so please, http://www.ninersnation.com/comments/2007/6/22/2310/73648/4#4

only CJ aka 85 has been the top ten in receiving in the last 5 years

I re-read what mississippininer wrote and I'm starting to think he/she meant to say "over the last 5 years" and not "in the last 5 years".  I guess that must be Fooch's bad for not having a grammar or literary intent check.

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So apparently we are going to recieve the 97th and the 135th picks of the draft for losing Peterson and Carter to free agency.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/10091294

If Peterson nets a 3rd round pick how does Carter net a 4th rounder?  Relatively speaking, from the production difference between the two, Carter should be worth more like a 7th round pick but don't tell the NFL brass.  Overall I think this bodes pretty well for the Niners who now basically have 2 3rd round picks and 4 4th round picks.

In typical Raider fashiong Oakland signs Dominic Rhodes, who was just arrested for drunk driving.  Google it yourself, I don't know how to do one of those fancy hyperlinks and don't feel like posting the long ass http:// address.  Commence discussion of our bottom dwelling Collesium ruining Mount Davis building brethern to the East.

What are the chances the Niners will look to sign Kerney?  I know he's a little old and he's coming off an injury but prior to that he had been extremely healthy.
It looks like Okoye might be off the board at 11, and if we had Kerney signed I start looking at a DB like Hall or Landry.
I'm taking that the signing of Thomas is a given, we've got the money and the need, this must get done.  Adding Kerney and say Hall or Landry gives us 3 new impact players on "D" and we'd still have like 9 draft picks left.  This team could start looking a lot different come April.

[EDITOR'S NOTE] - We've had a nice little discussion develop on the possibility of taking Michael Bush if he fell to us with our early 2nd round pick. I'm curious what others thoughts are? If we went defense in the first round, maybe adding a weapon like Bush could give us a more dynamic offense and take some of the bruising off of Gore. Thoughts?

For a second let's just say the Niners make the right decision and take a defensive player with the 11th pick, I'll even go as far as saying we get Okoye.  Moving on the 2nd round what should we be looking for?  A Gore/Bush combo in 07!
I know Frank Gore had his coming out party last year but he's not much of a goal line runner and it seems to me that a lot of the league is starting to lean to RB tandems instead of just having one guys shoulder the load.  And I think Michael Bush would make one hell of a running make with Frank Gore and Bush could still be hanging when our 2nd rounder comes along.
With all this being said I am a big proponent of run first offenses and with the team as is if Gore goes down I don't think Smith is up to the task of carrying the offense yet.