11-27-2007, 11:27 AM
Just a blurb in his article today:
The answer will have to come from lower in the draft, where some of the best backs ever have been unearthed, or within the league. The most tantalizing name is San Diego's Michael (The Burner) Turner -- the ongoing pride of Northern Illinois as the Joe Novak era ends -- a bruising back with breakaway speed who continues to average close to six yards a carry as LaDainian Tomlinson's sparingly used backup. The Chargers will play the same games with Turner that the Cleveland Browns will with quarterback Derek Anderson, a possible replacement for Good Rex/Bad Rex. They'll probably stick a franchise tender on Turner and trade him to the highest bidder, which would require steep prices. If Angelo doesn't want to pay him, his options are Fred Taylor and Jamal Lewis -- both having good seasons but also lugging wear-and-tear baggage -- and the less-accomplished likes of Chris Brown and Julius Jones, Thomas' brother. Oakland has a surplus of backs in Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes, who thrashed the Bears in Miami.
Full article: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/...07.article
The answer will have to come from lower in the draft, where some of the best backs ever have been unearthed, or within the league. The most tantalizing name is San Diego's Michael (The Burner) Turner -- the ongoing pride of Northern Illinois as the Joe Novak era ends -- a bruising back with breakaway speed who continues to average close to six yards a carry as LaDainian Tomlinson's sparingly used backup. The Chargers will play the same games with Turner that the Cleveland Browns will with quarterback Derek Anderson, a possible replacement for Good Rex/Bad Rex. They'll probably stick a franchise tender on Turner and trade him to the highest bidder, which would require steep prices. If Angelo doesn't want to pay him, his options are Fred Taylor and Jamal Lewis -- both having good seasons but also lugging wear-and-tear baggage -- and the less-accomplished likes of Chris Brown and Julius Jones, Thomas' brother. Oakland has a surplus of backs in Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes, who thrashed the Bears in Miami.
Full article: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/...07.article