Footblog Campfire #3: Turner, Bargain QBs, Darrell Jackson and more...

We're warming up Footblog Campfire #3...

1. Let's talk Michael Turner. He's now officially 'engaged' with the Titans and they've gone so far as to extend these talks to include the Chargers to deal with compensation. But Turner isn't sitting around waiting for the Titans to dot i's and cross t's on a possible contract, he's jetting off to visit with the Buffalo Bills who seemingly have a serious desire to bring in a start-worthy running back with some pedigree. At the very least, Michael Turner appears to be very much 'in play' this fantasy season. With more RBBC's cropping up, the arrival of another possible workhorse is welcome. What do you think of Turner, where he'll go, and what can we expect from him starting in either scenario?

Michael Turner worries me. No matter where he goes (though I think he'll get more carries in Buffalo) I just am not convinced he's going to be an elite NFL back. He's never been "the guy" anywhere and I think his numbers benefitted heavily from being in the same back field. He reminds me a bit of Lamont Jordan in Oakland where he went from a backup spot guy to an every down back and was unable to stay healthy and put up the kind of numbers he did with the Jets. Personally I think the Bills and Titans are nuts for looking to give up that kind of compensation for a guy like Turner. If you're the Bills you can probably use your first rounder on a guy like Marshawn Lynch and still have your third rounder to play with, and if you're the Titans why wouldn't you see what you can get out of LenDale White who you just used a second round pick on a year ago? Just seems like a lot for a guy like Michael Turner when it's pretty rare in the NFL for a guy to go from a consistent back up running back to a solid every down guy.

2. Who is your early candidate for 'best bargain' quarterback this year? I'm really liking Damon Huard assuming he starts in KC. He was rock solid in limited action last year. I also like how low Jake Delhomme is flying under the radar right now, and in regards to Carr - why the heck didn't the Raiders bite on him?

First off I'll address your other QB's before getting into mine. I think Huard will be a fine pick if you're not looking for a lot of touchdowns or yards. The Chiefs never seem to do anything to improve their receivers (Tony Gonzalez has been their number one receiver the past few years, and he's a TIGHT END) and Herm Edwards has always been a run, run, run type of coach, so while Huard will be a solid week to week guy in that he's not going to hurt you with a week with no points, he probably won't be a Peyton Mannning type that will give you big weeks either. He's the type of QB I usually take because I spend the early rounds loading up at running back.

As far as the Delhomme/Carr thing goes, I think Delhomme's days are numbered. You don't pay David Carr 3 million a season to just sit on the bench holding a clipboard. Delhomme has been on a small, but steady decline over the past couple of seasons and I think the Panthers are either trying to light a fire under him, or they are looking to replace him. Carr never really had much of a chance in Houston as he spent most of the time on his back, so hopefully the change of scenery will do him good. I may take a late (and by late I mean last round) flyer on Carr, just to make sure I don't get screwed on the waiver wire when he gets into the starting line up, because he will. Oh and I think the reason he didn't go to Oakland is because that would basically be like going to Houston again because their offensive line is absolutely terrible as well. It shows you just how bad the Raiders are when players could start their, but instead take back up jobs on other teams.

As for my "bargain" QB pick...I would probably look to guys like Jay Cutler or Matt Leinart. Both are young and neither are highly sought after as of yet. I think Leinart will thrive under the new offensive system the Cardinals will run, and he definitely has the talent around him to become an elite fantasy QB. Cutler looked pretty good down the stretch last season and I think he's only going to get better as well. If Jake Plummer could be a decent fantasy QB under Shanahan's system than Cutler could be great.

3. Will Darrell Jackson be a Seattle Seahawk next season? There is qualified trade interest now.

"He'd like to retire as a Seahawk," Brian Mooney, Jackson's agent, said Wednesday. "But they've brought in Deion Branch, [Nate] Burleson, they have [Bobby] Engram back. They've got an awful lot of receivers...You never know what could happen on draft day"

I got lambasted in the comments section for penning this post in November 2006. I won't say it's total vindication, but it sure looks like Jackson could be on the move.

If I were the Seahawks I would trade Darrell Jackson. You've already invested a bunch of money in Deion Branch, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson, plus he's never been a durable player so if you can get decent value for him (I'm thinking 2nd or 3rd round pick) I say you pull the trigger. This is also a receiver heavy draft so you can probably snag another in the 3rd of 4th round if you really feel like you need another.

4. With the NFL's new policy regarding off-field matters, are you more apprehensive to draft players with character issues than you would have been before? Does this make you think twice about a guy like T.O.?

Setting aside Goodell's agenda for dropping the hammer on players who can't stay on the right side of the law, I would've suggested staying away from Terrell Owens largely due to the fact that he had missed 3-straight fantasy Championship games (week 16 - 2003-2005) coming into last season. I can't stand players who get you most of the way there, and then crap out on you when you need them most. Brian Westbrook would've also fallen into this category coming into last season having missed 2-straight fantasy Championship games. However, both of these players vindicated themselves last season by playing and playing well in the most critical fantasy weeks. Having said that, Owens worries me this year primarily because I don't see Norv Turner being able to 'manage' T.O. very well. It takes a god-sized ego to handle another god-sized ego, and while Parcells fit this bill nicely, I'm afraid Turner's cool and collected demeaner won't dent the Owens veneer on a good day, let alone when things get hot in the kitchen. I've rarely owned Owens, and I'm not lining to take him next season either. Overall, I don't necessarily see Goodell's strong hand as being much of a factor in fantasy drafts. The Chris Henry's and Pacman Jones's of this NFL world are skating on thin career ice no matter who is commissioner, they're very much 'buyer beware' scenarios. And certainly you can say the same for players like Ricky Williams and Onterrio Smith who could start smoking the hashmarks and get booted again at a moments notice.

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Footblog Campfire #3: Turner, Bargain QBs, Darrell Jackson and more...

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