Fantasy Football News - Michael Vick and Much More!

With fantasy football season starting in a few months, we here at Dare to Gamble thought it might be a good time to start bringing you regular news from the NFL which could impact your fantasy season. Granted, things are still a little barren at the moment, but business is bound to pick up when training camp begins. Until then, we‘ll just have to make due.

FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

MARQUISE HILL DEAD AT 24

The body of 24-year-old New England Patriots player Marquise Hill was found one day after he was reported missing following a jet ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain. Hill played on LSU’s BCS championship team and was taken in the second round by the Pats in 2004. He had played in 13 NFL games but had yet to crack the starting line-up.

Coach Bill Belichick said, “We have suffered a stunning and tragic loss. Marquise will be remembered as a thoughtful and caring young man who established himself as one of the year-round daily fixtures of our team.”

While the defensive impact on the Pats is negligible, Hill was a very popular player with his teammates. This is the sort of incentive that could really push the team over the top. They already have Randy Moss; now they have a cause.

TYNES TRADED TO GIANTS

The New York Giants have acquired veteran kicker Lawrence Tynes from the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed conditional draft pick. The Giants lost kicker Jay Feely in the offseason when he signed with the Miami Dolphins. In three seasons with the Chiefs, Tynes made 68 of 87 field goals, scoring more than 100 points each season.

At least the Chiefs seem capable of trading one of their players. Speaking of which…

THE TRENT GREEN SAGA CONTINUES

While the Dolphins continue to try and trade for veteran quarterback Trent Green, his agent is now reporting that the Chiefs will not take his calls. A Chiefs spokesman responded by saying that the Dolphins continue to be inflexible in offering only a supplemental sixth-round pick for the almost 37-year-old player.

If Green stays with the Chiefs, he will make $7.2 million this year. He started seeking a trade when coach Herm Edwards said that second-year quarterback Brodie Coyle would be given the opportunity to win the starting job.

With rumors persisting about Daunte Culpepper’s impending release, the Dolphins could use a veteran signal caller. Unfortunately, the Chiefs (specifically GM Carl Peterson) seem to think that they can get a fourth-rounder for a player that they will ultimately be forced to trade anyway.

Carl Peterson, you’re an idiot. Trade the man or release him - it’s that simple. Putting his career in limbo just makes you look like an asshole. And speaking of assholes….

VICK IS LABELED DOGFIGHTING “HEAVYWEIGHT”

According to a police informant deemed “extremely reliable” by investigators, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick aka “Ron Mexico” is one of the heavyweights of the dog fighting world, due to his habit of sometimes betting as much as 30 or 40 thousand dollars on the outcome of a match. The informant also placed Vick at a dogfight in 2000, when one of his dogs defeated one owned by Vick.

All of this stems from a police raid on a Virginia residence owned by Vick. 66 dogs were seized (55 of them pit bulls), as well as equipment associated with dog fighting. Fighting dogs, by the way, is a felony in the state of Virginia.

Vick’s defense is that he let his cousin live at the house and had no idea what was going on there.

While Vick might be slick enough to avoid prosecution, he may not be able to avoid the wrath of new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Dedicated to making sure that the league doesn’t become a laughing stock like MLB, Goodell has already suspended Adam “Pac-Man” Jones for the entire season, even though he has not been convicted of a crime.

With possible suspension time looming and a new coach in Bobby Petrino, expect this to be Vick’s last year in Atlanta. If you take him as your #1 fantasy quarterback, then you’re a braver man than I am.

CHAMBERS MOVES FROM Z TO X

Dolphins’ receiver Chris Chambers will be moving from the Z to X position in an effort to create mismatches. Chambers has been quoted as calling his new role in the offense as “freedom,” and he has set a personal goal in 2007 of 80 catches and 10 touchdowns. Of course, who the hell will be throwing him the ball?

KEYSHAWN JOHNSON RETIRES

After 11 seasons in the NFL, receiver Keyshawn Johnson is calling it quits. The former number one pick in the 1996 draft was cut from the Panthers in the offseason. While he received interest from numerous teams, he instead decided to accept a multi-year contract to join ESPN as a broadcaster.

He ranks 15th in career receptions with 814 catches. He ranks 44th in touchdown receptions (64) and 23rd in receiving yards (10,571).

You can also read some more NFL articles by clicking on the links below:

NFL Draft Recap - Grading the AFC West

NFL Draft Recap - Grading the NFC South

Fantasy Football News - Michael Vick and Much More!