I finally got around to updating our Forum theme to match the rest of the website.  This component of Cheat Sheet War Room has always been a 'work in progress', but I hope to utilize the forum more as we near the 2012 fantasy football season.

With player penalties handed out, and the NFLPA's intent to challenge these penalties evident, we have to ask ourselves what cards the NFL is holding to prove their case.  There seems to be a consensus among the experts that Roger Goodell MUST have very strong evidence to support the extreme measures taken against the players.  But what might this strong evidence entail?

Video and/or audio evidence probably doesn't exist, otherwise it would have surfaced by now.  It's also probably safe to assume that there are no financial statements which detail a transfer of funds among Saints defenders following the 2009 playoff games in question.  This leaves us with personal accounts as the strongest evidence available. 

The question then becomes: Who among the Saints 2009 staff would have the incentive (more importantly the credibility) to finger the Saints defenders for the NFL?  The answer seems pretty clear: Greg Williams.

Incentive

As we all know Greg Williams has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL.  In order to get back in the NFL's graces, Coach Williams will undoubtedly be ordered to perform a penance of some sort.  This will include denouncing his past actions, speaking to youth about the importance of safety in football, etc.  But beyond the standard redemption tour stops, what better gift could Williams provide to the NFL than to solidify their case against the players identified in the bounty program?

Also remember that Saints coaches have not been to kind to Coach Williams in their own appealing of suspensions.  In their defense, the coaches' lawyers argued that Williams was a rogue coach who was warned repeatedly to end the program but continued and hid the program from Coach Sean Payton and General Manager Micky Loomis.  If Williams were miffed by this characterization it could give him even more reason to support the NFL's case. 

Credibility

Seeing as how Coach Williams was the architect of the bounty program, who else in the Saints organization would have more credibility regarding the program?  Outside of calling Coach Williams a liar, it would be very hard for the accused Saints players to discredit challenge Coach Williams should he choose to back the NFL's claims.

Each year the NFL draft forces us to re-visit our fantasy cheat sheets and consider the initial rankings of the top draft choices at each fantasy position. With the first round of the NFL draft in the record books, let's take a look at where some top rookies got slotted in our current NFL player rankings.

Quarterbacks

• The #1 pick Andrew Luck will step into a shaky situation in Indianapolis, but if the experts are right he's a finished product and should be able to hold his own.  We've got Luck slotted at #21 in our latest quarterback rankings.  For comparison purposes, the #21 QB in total fantasy point production in 2011 was Tavaris Jackson.
• The #2 pick Robert Griffin steps onto a better team than Luck, and can also make plays with his feet.  That is good for a #19 slotting.  The Washington Redskins had the 16th best overall offense in 2011 and the 14th best passing offense.  Indianapolis ranked 27th and 29th in the same categories.

Running Backs

• The Cleveland Browns moved up to select Trend Richardson with the #3 overall pick.  The Browns rushing attack was awful in 2011, totaling only 4 touchdowns over the entire season.  It's obvious that they're looking to Richardson to turn their running game around, so he should get plenty of touches in 2012.  He starts out at #17 in our running back rankings.
• After Richardson, the next running back wasn't taken until the 31st overall pick.  That honor went to Doug Martin, a physical runner with good vision who will compete with LeGarrette Blount for the starting spot.  Martin drops-in at #38 in our rankings and his arrival drops Blount to #33.  They'll both stay comparatively low until that battle is hashed-out

Wide Receivers

• The Jaguars will look to Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State to help solve their passing woes.  Blackmon was the consensus top WR in this class and the Jag moved up to make this selection.  Blackmon comes in at #38 in our wide receiver rankings and is the top-ranked Jaguar among all wide receivers.
• Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals will get some help at wide receiver with the addition of Michael Floyd.  Floyd isn't as dynamic as Fitzgerald, but it a tall receiver who can make plays in the short and deep passing games.  The young Michael Floyd gets slotted at #51 overall, right in front of the old Randy Moss.

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