The North County Times reports that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is “Lights Out” over the prospects of returning to action after missing all but one game a year ago due to a knee injury. “I’m happy to get back on the field, happy to get back in the pads, happy to put a helmet back on. That’s the way I feel right now, just excited”, Merriman said. The Ball Says: Merriman is another classic example of the trap where fantasy [...]

Here’s a preview of The Ball’s latest set of IDP rankings for redraft leagues. We’ll be updating the rankings again as the season approaches, and will be adding new Dynasty Rankings soon. Enjoy! Rankings based on Default IDP Manor Scoring. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN 1.) Jared Allen, MIN 2.) Justin Tuck, NYG 3.) Terrell Suggs, BAL 4.) Mario Williams, HOU 5.) Julius Peppers, CAR 6.) Osi Umenyiora, NYG 7.) Trent Cole, PHI 8.) Robert Mathis, IND 9.) John Abraham, ATL 10.) Aaron [...]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2no4pK0oa4&feature=PlayList&p=6FFAD699938A43EC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34[/youtube] (All fantasy football stats based on Default IDP Manor Scoring) TALE OF THE TAPE: 6 4″, 263 lbs., 31 years old, 10th season, University of South Carolina 2008 STATS: 38 tackles (36 solos), 16.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 pass defensed 2008 POSITIONAL FINISH: DL6 BEST POSITIONAL FINISH: DL2 (2001) CURRENT FANTASY FOOTBALL OASIS RANKING: Redraft: DL9 Dynasty: DL13 2009 OUTLOOK: Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham enjoyed a renaissance season in 2008, playing in all 16 games for [...]

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton revealed Thursday that linebacker Jonathan Vilma had his abdomen “scoped” last month, according to a report in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The 6th year pro paced the Saints with 132 tackles in 2008, his first season in the Big Easy. The Ball Says: Vilma parlayed a return to the 4-3 (after languishing in Eric Mangini’s 3-4 in New York) and a return to health (he played in only 7 games in 2007) into [...]

The Boston Herald reports that one of the highlights of the first day of training camp for the New England Patriots was a nice pass breakup of a Randy Moss catch by cornerback Leigh Bodden. Bodden, 27, had 73 tackles and 1 interception a year ago for the Detroit Lions. The Ball Says: Bodden struggled last year in the Lions Cover-2, but he’s only two years removed from a Top 5 finish in Default IDP Manor Scoring with 88 tackles [...]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TARWf3PQuo[/youtube] (Numbers in parentheses denote 2008 positional finish in Default IDP Manor Scoring) 2008 Team Rankings: Total Defense – 10th (309.0 YPG), Run Defense – 15th (107.6 YPG), Pass Defense – 11th (201.4 YPG), Scoring Defense – 8th (19.3 PPG) DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: As is the case with many teams that employ the 3-4 defense the Patriots defensive line is thin on IDP-relevant talent, although defensive ends Richard Seymour (DL27) and Ty Warren (DL90) have nominal value as fantasy reserve, DL4-types. [...]

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, who stepped down last week to focus on his battle with skin cancer, passed away Tuesday at the age of 68, reports the Philadelphia Daily News. Johnson coordinated the Eagles’ defense from 1999-2008, and will be succeeded by Sean McDermott. Johnson is survived by his wife Vicky, two children, and four grandchildren. The Ball Says: Johnson’s ultra-aggressive, blitzing coaching style was a favorite of ours, no team had more sacks in the NFL during [...]

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman will be sidelined for the next 4-10 weeks after recently undergoing arthroscopic back surgery, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Bears are hopeful that Tillman, who also had shoulder surgery in January, will be ready for the September 13th opener at Lambeau against the Packers. The Ball Says: This is a big blow both to a Bears secondary that lacks depth and to early IDP drafters that selected Tillman as a DB1. With [...]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB4jC2i4LfM[/youtube] (All fantasy football stats based on Default IDP Manor Scoring) TALE OF THE TAPE: 5 11″, 189 lbs., 24 years old, 4th season, Fresno State University 2008 STATS: 75 tackles (68 solos), 1 interception, 2 sacks, 4 passes defensed 2008 POSITIONAL FINISH: DB59 BEST POSITIONAL FINISH: DB6 (2007) CURRENT FANTASY FOOTBALL OASIS RANKING: Redraft: DB6 Dynasty: DB4 2009 OUTLOOK: After posting Top 20 finishes at his position 2 out of his three seasons in the league despite a limited [...]

Jerry McDonald of the Contra Costa Times predicts that Oakland Raiders defensive end Derrick Burgess may only see “12-15 snaps” per game in pass rushing situations this year. Burgess, 30, had 24 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 10 games a season ago. The Ball Says: McDonald is speculating, but this speculation on top of the rampant rumors that the Raiders have soured on Burgess combined with his durability concerns (he’s missed eight games over the past two seasons) creates a [...]