Monday, July 28, 2008

Lamont... shut it.

I love this time of year. The sun is shining, vacation time is flowing like wine, and NFL Training Camps are opening up. The best part is that, just when you've resigned yourself to your team's current rosters, fun little nuggets of talent pop up on your team with the potential to change the landscape. (This is also why I take any fantasy football advice given before August 10th with a grain of salt). First there was Jason Taylor to the Redskins. Then Jeremiah Shockey was traded to a place where, I'm sure, a man of his character will have no temptations to get himself in trouble: New Orleans. All interesting because they involve big names... but none that interesting because they have nothing to do with my favorite team.

But hark! The Patriots have signed Lamont Jordan! I know what you're saying "big deal, the dude has only played in 21 games in the past two years, rushing for under 1000 yards total and losing his starting job to Huggy Bear's son." While that may be true/hilarious, I love this signing because the Patriots won't be depending on him to be a starting back. Jordan is a bruiser, a run-over-you type back, who Oakland thought could carry a full-time load after he backed up Curtis Martin for a few years. I never saw what they were thinking there, and Jordan flopped as a feature back, but he fits perfectly into this system.

Laurence Maroney (or Lo-Mo, as I've been desperately trying to nickname him) is the main back, but his injury history means you need plenty of insurance behind him. Kevin Faulk, while not jammin to "Lollipop," is your shifty 3rd-down and receiving back. The power back last year was Sammy Morris. He did a great job in the first 6 games of last year, averaging 4.5 yards a carry, but with the severity of his injury it makes sense to bring in some insurance. Health Evans and Kyle Eckel (who, I have heard from a reliable source, is "a BEAST") have filled in well when they have to, but Jordan gives them a lot more potential at the position. The Pats continue to take low-risk gambles on high-potential veterans that nobody seems to want. It's worked so often in the past (Dillon, Seau, Moss) it's hard to believe Jordan won't bring some value to the team.



P.S: If the photo above means nothing to you... purchase the first season of Frisky Dingo on DVD, section off a Sunday this August, and watch it in full. Your life will be changed for the better. (ED. NOTE - Lamont doesn't appear until the second season of Frisky Dingo which is not on dvd yet. But watch the first season anyway. Still life changing.)

No comments: