Last year the Chicago White Sox added Alex Rio through a straight wavier claim, and while at the time it was considered a risky move (committing over $55 million to a struggling player) it has paid off nicely for Chicago. Now the White Sox hope they can add another bat without having to dip into their struggling farm system. Chicago won the waiver claim on Manny Ramirez and it appears they will get him without having to give anything up but money.

The White Sox desperately needed to add a bat as they have fallen 4.5 games out of first place (and basically out of the Wild Card hunt. While overall they are a good hitting team they lack production from both their DH and LF spots (Pierre’s average and OBP are okay, but a .673 OPS from your left fielder will kill you), two areas Manny can help the White Sox. Now this isn’t the Manny Ramirez of old, but he can still be a solid run producer in the middle of the White Sox lineup. And considering Chicago is only having to give up $3.8 million it is well worth it for the offensive upgrade.

The White Sox though need to hope Ramirez is enough for them to restart their playoff run which has fallen fast this past month. At the trade deadline the White Sox added Edwin Jackson (who despite missing a start has been excellent for them) to their rotation, but they left their lineup alone. Potential deals for Adam Dunn and other offensive upgrades fell through, and now the White Sox are scrambling to catch up to the Twins in the Central. Ramirez might end up being too little too late for the White Sox.

While some might fault the Dodgers for just giving Manny away, I really don’t think L.A. had much choice. Despite adding some talent at the trade deadline the Dodgers have fallen 10 games out of 1st place and more than 6 games out of the Wild Card race. In addition Ramirez has said that he didn’t want to return to L.A. next season (and it is quite likely the Dodgers didn’t want to bring him back as well) meaning the Dodgers needed to cash in now to get any return for their one time star. While they didn’t get a prospect back the Dodgers did get some extra money. And while maybe that isn’t important to most fans, hopefully the Dodgers will use that money to supplement their payroll or draft budget next year allowing them to bring in additional talent. It’s not an ideal move for Los Angeles, but it really is the best they could hope for at this point.

1. Mark Ingram: Oklahoma- Ingram is the top back in a solid but unspectacular class. He is a tough between the tackles runner but lacks the home run hitting ability to become a Franchise back. He has good vision and doesn’t go down on the first hit. He is an above average receiver out of the backfield as well giving him added value. Overall Ingram is a good but not a great player and should be able to start year one. He will need a strong junior campaign to affirm his position atop the draft board and should here his name called in the top 20 picks.

2. Ryan Williams: Virginia Tech- Williams got his chance to shine last year for the Hokies when top running back Darren Evans went down with injury. While Evans might take some carries from him, Williams should be the featured back at Virginia Tech. He is just a redshirt sophomore so this season is crucial for him to show that last year wasn’t a fluke. He is a tough runner and could very well be a feature back at the next level.

3. Daniel Thomas: Kansas State- Thomas is a strong powerful back that I believe will rush his way this year into round 1. He might not play with as many star players as Williams and Ingram, but he is just as good. He will likely be overlooked because he doesn’t possess breakaway speed but he has no problem finding the end zone. I think he can squeak into the end of the first round or be an early pick atop the 2nd round.

4. Quizz Rodgers: Oregon State- Rodgers is one of my favorite players in college football right now, and he is just a pure weapon for any offense. He has shown to be both an excellent runner as well as a receiver out of the backfield. While his small stature and frame will give some teams caution, he could be the next Chris Johnson in the NFL. I don’t foresee him being taken in the 1st round, unless he just has an amazing combine, but he should fall no further than early to mid 2nd round. While he might rank 4th on my list, 5 years from now it wouldn’t shock me in the least to see him the top RB from this class.

5. Noel Devine: West Virgina- Devine is like Rodgers in some way, in that his size and slight build will hold him back. He is also a weapon running, receiving and returning and should go somewhere in the 2nd round. Devine is actually probably faster than Rodgers, but lacks his polish and is even smaller in size. This will be an important year for Devine to take his game to the next level. Particularly with a new quarterback at the helm, after having veterans Pat White and Jarret Brown behind center the past 3 years. Devine may never be a ‘feature’ back, but he is the type of guy who can get 200 carries, 50+ catches and all the returns each year (and also do those things very well), that to me is being featured enough to warrant a 2nd round pick.

Rex Grossman: Grossman needs to have a strong game working with the starters. Not only to show that he can be a capable backup to McNabb, but it is important he gets this offense in sync so they can be ready for week 1. In addition a few receivers are counting on Grossman to get them the ball so they can earn a job.

Brandon Banks: Banks has shown a lot of promise so far, he needs to keep it up to earn a spot on the final roster. Another big game returning punts or making plays on offense will seal the deal for him.

Running back situation: This is Willie Parker’s week to shine, and the good news for him is he can’t be much worse than Larry Johnson last week. The young running backs might not get too many carries tonight but they need to continue to show something as I think both Torain and Williams have a legit shot at making it.

Anthony Armstrong: Armstrong has been impressive thus far in camp and preseason and if he continues to preform he could end up with a starting spot when the Redskins start the season. Armstrong seems to have a good grasp of this offense and I’d expect another strong performance from him.

Chris Horton and Reed Doughty: With Kareem Moore’s injury the backup safeties need to step up. Free safety isn’t a strength to begin with and now even less so without Moore starting. One of these guys will end up a starter when the season begins, but hopefully they will have earned it and not just because the Redskins don’t have any other options.

Darrel Young: Mike Sellers like Moore went down with an injury last week. While the team signed Carey Davis, Young will still start this week. A converted linebacker, Young has shown a lot of promise this year in camp and preseason. He will need to have a big game if he wants to keep a job and a spot on the 53 man roster. He likely won’t be judged in carries and catches, but in being a valuable lead blocker and protector of Grossman.

The Defense: So much of the story defensively is the Albert Haynesworth saga, which has some merit considering their most talented defensive player isn’t starting, but what has been ignored is the play of the defense. So far it has been a mixed bag, some solid stops and few points against the first team defense, put it hasn’t shown the killer instinct we are hoping for this year. The first team defense hasn’t generated a ton of pressure (now that is without Haynesworth) and that is a bit worrisome since they have gone against a weak Bills offensive line and pretty much the Ravens entire backup unit (since most of the starters were injured). I know people will say it is preseason and all vanilla, but plenty of other teams are getting more pressure on QB’s this preseason. This defense needs to step up and become a dominate force, if the Redskins hope to succeed this year.

There seems to be a lot of debate about the NFL potentially moving to an 18 game schedule, but the fact of the matter is its in the best interest for everyone. It won’t be completely easy, but they can make it work and here is the way they should do it:

Eliminate a Preseason Game: Now most proposals for the 18 game schedule suggest cutting two preseason games, but I think that is a little drastic. Those games might not matter much to fans, but NFL jobs are won and lost in those games. And a team’s 3rd string running back and 5th corner will mean a lot more during a longer season. I’d cut back one game just for time, so the season doesn’t extend too far in to February.

Expand the Rosters: I already believe the NFL should expand the rosters above 53 players, and believe even more so with an expanded season. I would increase the roster to at least 60 players (maybe 63 for posterity) and the active roster to about 55 players. Those extra players will be needed with a longer season, and also give teams the added benefit of being able to develop young talent that is too raw. In addition, I’d expand both the practice squad and the offseason roster size to also accommodate for the need of extra players. The greater roster size will help mitigate the damage done with losing a preseason game (though there is a risk of not getting any preseason game experience).

Expand the Draft: Since the Owners will want to help keep salaries down for additional players (in addition to the star players who don’t want to see that money come out of their slice of the pie), expanding the draft would be a good option. I would go back to a 9 round draft, and the same rookie free agent process that follows it. As it stands now you’d have a good chuck of those 64 additional players making 53 man rosters, so they should have no trouble making an expanded roster. This will help as teams are now looking to develop talent for the future. And since the draft has become a money making event it will be valuable to the NFL and the owners.

Create a Rookie League: This is a bit farther out there, but would help with the problem of taking away the camp time/preseason with expanding the schedule. I believe the NFL should do something similar to the NBA’s Summer League and MLB’s Arizona Fall League. I think 4-6 teams should go together and send 10-15 rookies (and maybe 2nd year guys) to play 2-4 games to make up for time lost in the preseason. While the playbooks would be even more vanilla than the preseason, it would offer valuable game experience and to a greater extent practice experience (a la Senior Bowl week). Now my guess is teams might keep their top rookies out of it, and the majority of players would be late round/rookie FA guys but it will still be worth it. If you have 4 teams together each year one of those team’s hosts it and all 4 teams split the profits (or more likely losses). It won’t be a money maker, but will help players and assistant coaches alike.

Why This Works For The Owners: The owners will make their money back in spades for having an expanded season since the T.V. deal alone will cover their additional costs for salaries. In addition, it will keep the NFL brand out there for a longer period during the year and help them have a larger share of the pie. Expanding the rosters will help their teams in the long run, develop sustainable, cheaper talent. And expanding the draft is probably a money maker for the NFL, since the draft has become so popular. The rookie league could be a tough pill to swallow at first, but the success of the AFL and Summer League have to at least make it seem feasible (and that is another option is to save on travel costs, have it in states without a franchise). Not only are those leagues successful in producing talent and helping to acclimatize players to the big leagues, but they are popular among fans, newsworthy, and are even being broadcast on radio and TV. The NFL Network and NFL.com can broadcast the games, maybe even get small syndication contracts with local stations to help pay for the league.

Why This Works For The Players: Some players may bulk at longer seasons and injury risks, but I think that is a simple fix. More overall money, as well as better health benefits for retirees and pension plans. In the end the players will make out fine. Getting rid of one preseason game shouldn’t be a big deal for most players. As for the expanded rosters and draft, while it might upset a few star players since they won’t get as much of the new revenue, it is a good thing. Almost all the new players are going to be playing at the rookie or veteran minimum, and the Players Union would be adding that many new members. Giving more chances for players to make the roster will give more guys the chance to be on that star level at some point. Also, the 18 game schedule will keep more teams in the playoff hunt longer, meaning more teams will have something to play for. Which is something the players like almost as much as the fans.

1. Jonathan Baldwin: Pittsburgh- Many people would put A.J. Green or Julio Jones at the top of this list but it was Baldwin who had the best numbers last season. In addition Baldwin is the biggest and strongest of the receivers and has great ability to go after the jump ball. I expect big things from Baldwin, and while I’m sure other receivers might get drafted ahead of him, Baldwin will likely be the best. He showed great strides in his sophomore campaign, and if he continues to develop this season he will find himself among the Top-10 picks this year.

2. A.J. Green: Georgia- Green is widely considered the best receiver in the class, and given his combination of height and speed it is easy to see why. He is a touch faster than Baldwin and Jones, and has almost as good of a vertical ability. His production dipped a bit without Matt Stafford, so he really needs to rebound this season. My biggest concern with Green is his slight frame, he doesn’t really have the strength to go over the middle in the NFL and won’t win as many of the physical battles at the next level. If he can add strength without sacrificing speed he could end up supplanting Baldwin atop the board. As it stands though I believe the NFL will value Green higher and if he has a very good season he could hear his name called first overall.

3. Michael Floyd: Notre Dame- Floyd has been quite impressive in his first two years in college, but this will be a big year for the Junior wide receiver. He loses both his quarterback (Jimmy Clausen) and his fellow wide out (Golden Tate). If he can match or even exceed his production without them, than that could say alot of just how good Floyd can be. He has a bit of an injury history, but he came back from it last year in a big way. He has very good height, speed and strength and profiles as no worse than an Anquan Boldin at the next level. I really believe he has the potential to be the 2nd best receiver in this class but I will hold off putting him above Green until I see how he does in the new system.

4. Julio Jones: Alabama- Jones still gets a lot of credit, but in reality he had a pretty bad year last season, and in fact regressed as a football player. Despite playing on an elite offense Jones was practically no where to be found. And the same can’t be said for the other elite receivers who distinguished themselves despite being surrounded by talent. Jones has the talent and the potential, but he needs to start showing it consistently on game day. If Jones rebounds and displays better hands and route running he will likely reenter the top 15-20 range.

5. Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma- Broyles has an advantage not usually found in receiver draft classes and that is his lack of size. Traditionally teams are always looking for the guys 6’2″ or bigger and have to sort through the numerous shorter wide outs to get them. This year though big receivers are all the rage and a guy like Broyles is the rare commodity. In addition to profiling as at least a slot receiver (if not a starter) Broyles also offers kickoff return abilities, and is a true home run threat. Broyles had a great sophomore campaign, which was all the more impressive considering Sam Bradford wasn’t really apart of it. He still needs to work on a few areas, but all-in-all he is a quality receiving prospect who will be in the top 50 picks.

1. Jake Locker-Washington: Locker would have been in consideration for the top pick this year had he declared, and barring a major injury or implosion should hear his name called at the top of the draft next year. Despite not having some of the elite weapons his competition possesses, Locker had a great season last year, and should only improve this year. He has all the size and tools you look for in a franchise caliber quarterback and should have a bright NFL future.

2. Andrew Luck-Stanford: Luck is the reason Stanford fans are excited for their chances despite losing top running back Toby Gerhart. Luck was just a redshirt Freshman last season and he put up some big numbers. Now that the gloves will come off the expectation is that Luck will be one of the top arms in the nation. Luck has great NFL size to go along with his big arm. And while he is younger he has shown good decision making and touch. The fact that he is just a redshirt sophomore might lead to some questions about Luck so he will need to have an excellent season to declare and keep his top-10 pick status. While some concerns are there if he goes to a situation where he can learn for a year or two behind a solid incumbent starter he could really benefit.

3. Ryan Mallett-Arkansas: Mallett has an absolute cannon for an arm and the best size of any quarterback. He put up great numbers last year and needs to follow it up with another big season. He lost a year due to transfer rules so he is a bit older for a junior (and doesn’t have the amount of game tape you’d expect for a 22 year old), but really improved last year. He still needs to work on his touch and decision making, but his NFL future is bright. I expect a big year out of Mallett and wouldn’t be surprised if he forced his way into top-10 status. Right now he is more of a late 1st rounder, but he will most likely move up.

4. Nick Foles-Arizona: Foles had an impressive year for the Wildcats and could be a breakout quarterback this year. If he does improve how most people are expecting he could end up declaring early for the draft and should be a first round candidate. Foles has great size to go along with a good arm and solid athleticism. He doesn’t have a lot to work with in the desert which have kept his numbers down, but the talent is real. I’d say its a 50/50 shot that he declares right now, but if he does he is a good developmental QB.

5. Christian Ponder-Florida State: Ponder has really improved throughout his college career, to the point where he should get some 1st round consideration. I think he is more of a mid-2nd to early 3rd round prospect, but he definitely could improve his status. He’s got good size, but he lacks the top flight arm most are looking for in a top QB. He is accurate and makes good decisions when under pressure. If he continues to perform this season he could enter the first round discussion (especially if one or more of the above QB’s decide not to declare). I don’t think he will ever be a franchise quarterback, but he should develop into a solid starter.

Other names to watch:

Pat Devlin-Delaware: Devlin needs to have a big year, but the last Delaware QB that transfered from a major Pennsylvania college to Delaware (Joe Flacco) is doing pretty well. He has that kind of potential and if his numbers match a 1st round selection isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Terelle Pryor- Amazing size and athleticism to go along with a cannon arm. If he takes the necessary steps to become more of a thrower (and more accurate) then the sky is the limit for Pryor. He still has another year of eligblity so he will have to have a first round grade to declare, but he is an intriguing prospect.

Jerrod Johnson- Texas A&M- Johnson has almost the same size, athletic ability and arm combo that Pryor has, and he is a senior. He won’t likely be a first round pick, but if his accuracy keeps developing he could be an early Round 2 selection.

A lot of trade talk and rumors have surrounded the Vikings of late now that No. 4 is back under center, and the speculation is that Sage Rosenfels is on his way out of Minnesota. Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks had an interesting article speculating on a number of possible trade fits for Rosenfels, but I think he left out maybe the most obvious one, the St. Louis Rams. Now in fairness Banks wrote his piece before A.J. Feeley went down with an injury the other night, but even before then the Rams should be interested in a stopgap starting quarterback.

A.J. Feeley isn’t exactly the best option for a starting quarterback in this league and the Rams desperately need someone to hold the reins while Bradford gets his feet wet. I know there is a growing sentiment in the NFL to start rookie quarterbacks in year one, despite the fact that it rarely works, but the Rams need to be smart here. This isn’t the New York Jets last year, a playoff caliber team (and I still believe that the Jets might have rushed Sanchez) for a rookie quarterback to hide his inexperience on. The Rams have been awful for quite some time, and they don’t exactly have the best offense around Sam Bradford.

In two preseason games Bradford has struggled mightily, and things will only get worse when he is in regular game action. I know the Rams invested a lot of money and their top pick in him, but that is no reason to rush him into the starting role. In fact it is because they invested so much in him, that they should be extra cautious and careful with Bradford. And trading for Rosenfels would help solve their dilemma at quarterback. Right now it might make sense to put Bradford atop the depth chart given that his performance isn’t that much worse than Feeley (though considering how low that bar is set, it should be cause for concern), and he has this seemingly limitless potential. But if they add Rosenfels then there is a quarterback who can keep the seat warm, and teach the kid a thing or two.

Rosenfels I think could be a solid starter in this league. And while the Rams offensive situation won’t help his numbers, he should be manageable. Now I don’t think he will turn them into automatic contenders or completely make fans forget about Bradford. What he will do is let the rookie learn the game and the league, and take all the pressure off of him.

Now I am not saying Bradford should never play, maybe some mop-up duty late in games, and if he shows something, a start or two at the end of the year. But Bradford has no business starting more than half of the Rams games. There will be no good coming from that, and will likely only set him back another year or more in his development. If Brees, Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, and even Favre (as well as plenty of others) needed a year or more to develop, do we really think that Bradford is ready from day one? If the Rams are smart, they will give up a late round pick or two for protection for their future ‘franchise’ quarterback.

By Guest Blogger Megan Shoup:

The big debate…how much do Preseason games really mean?  What are they worth or show or prove?  To me, and many other football fans, not much.  You don’t hold too much stock in preseason games or atleast the outcome.  But are the certain aspects that are worthwhile and give us as fans a sense of where are team is at?  In that case, yes.

The reason I write about this is because its frustrating for me as a Redskins fan, when last week we dominated the Buffalo Bills and looked amazing in every aspect of the game.  And this week against the Ravens, not so much!  But what’s frustrating is last week when I was excited, people were saying, “Its just preseason, it doesn’t mean anything.” Whereas this week, I’ve already heard after the loss and poor performance, “See, the Redskins still suck or they look awful”. Yes, they didn’t play well, but shouldn’t both games be “judged” the same?  If we’re going to be critical of the Redskins this week, then they should atleast get their credit for last week good performance.  Bottom line, I think the difference was playing the Bills and the Ravens…big difference.  But in both games they made some mistakes (more this week) and in both games the Redskins showed a lot of good things and promise…so that’s what I’ll take out of the first two Redskins preseason games.

Now back to the point…Here are my top 3 reasons why Preseason games have meaning and don’t have meaning…

3 Reasons Why Preseason Games Are Important:

-You get to see where your starters are at working together, with the playbook, etc.  How comfortable are they as a team?

-You get to root for young rookies to make the team that could be a difference maker (Brandon Banks).

-You get the bugs and kinks worked out.

3 Reasons Why Preseason Games Don’t Mean Anything:

-Certainly shouldn’t worry about the outcome, because a lot of the players playing in the second half will be coaching football soon, not playing football in the NFL.  It’s not your true team.

-Teams and coaches don’t gameplan, scheme, etc. as they would for a regular season game.  From what I hear, most teams keep it “Vanilla”.

-Your starters may not even be playing with the same intensity level to avoid injury.

So this leads me to the final question…

Is 4 Preseason games too much?  That’s a lot of games to avoid injury and be playing “vanilla”.  In my personal opinion, I’d love if the NFL went to 2 preseason games and 18 regular season games! What’s your thoughts?

How will the starters do?: McNabb and the rest of the starters will play the majority of the 1st half (if not it’s entirety). While they might not be running their best plays, it will be a good indication of how good this Skins team is against the Raven’s first stringers. The Redskins offense in particular will be of interest since, the wide receiver battle is wide open right now behind Santana Moss.

Can the first team defense stop a real offense? Last week the first team defense sort of looked good because of a few highlights, but really didn’t get the kind of stops and pressure you’d expect against a weak Buffalo team. In fact the Redskins 2nd team defense played better and got more consistent penetration against the Bills same 1st team unit. The starters have a much tougher challenge this time against a Ravens offense that was pretty good last year, and looked to get a whole lot better this offseason.

How will Larry Johnson and Willy Parker do?: Last week the young running backs stole the show, but now is the time for the veterans to come in and show what they can do. Johnson gets the start to get additional reps and Parker (who is fighting for a roster spot will be in as relief). How they play today will go a long way as to sorting out the running back situation.

How will Albert Haynesworth do?: Last week Haynesworth was the most disruptive player on the football field and looked like he could have a major impact on defense this season. This week he remains with the 2nd team, but the Ravens 2nd team offense might be a tougher challenge than the 1st team Bills offense he went up against last week, so it should be an interesting match-up.

What can Brandon Banks do for an encore?: Rookie free agent WR/KR Brandon Banks stole the show with an electric 77 yard put return for a touchdown. In addition he had a couple of other nice returns (though one was called back) and looked to be the Redskins answer at punt returner they have been seeking for years. Hopefully he gets some opportunities as a kick returner as well, and maybe even on offense late in the game. As it stands now he is a fan favorite and an early lock to make the team.

How will the rookies and young guys look in week 2?: While some of the rookies and young players might not have as much chance to play this week, they can still make an impact and win (or lose) a roster spot with their play. The receivers and corner back spots are pretty wide open after the starters, and need some young guys to step up and take a roster spot. The young running backs might not get a chance in tonights game, but will need to show utility on special teams. One young guy I’m really looking to step up is Jeremy Jarmon he is pretty buried on the depth chart, but has the potential (not to mention the youth) to have a bright future in this league.

How will the second team offensive line hold up?: John Beck’s Redskin debut turned into a nightmare, because this unit couldn’t keep the pressure off of him. This unit needs to perform better in tonight’s game. Not only do they need to perform better for their job security, but also so the team can properly evaluate the backup running backs, tight ends, and receivers. Last week it was impossible to see how the 3rd string receivers were since they didn’t have the time to run their routes properly. A lot of key decisions will be made from this unit and Coach Shanahan needs a better week 2 performance.

Yesterday’s announcement that the Broncos extended Kyle Orton for another season was both a bit surprising and exactly the right thing to do. It was surprising because Denver had brought in quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow this offseason, and invested some significant resources to do so. In addition, the hype surrounding Tebow made it seem as though this would be Orton’s last year in Denver. At the same time it was the right thing to do, because Orton is by far the team’s best quarterback, and Tebow will need some time to develop.

Tim Tebow may be the future of the Franchise, and I really do think he will reach that level, but right now playing him would be detrimental to both him and the team. This is a quarterback who is completely changing his mechanics, and learning a completely different style of football (not to mention rookie quarterbacks notoriously struggle ex. Mark Sanchez). Tebow will need time to work out all the kinks and become an NFL caliber quarterback, and this deal gives him a two year window to do so. Now I think the Broncos will develop Tebow packages where he can be a bit of a weapon, and get some real game time. I also think that maybe later in the year if the Broncos are out of it, maybe Tebow comes in relief for a half or even a start. In fact, that would be the ideal way to bring him along to ensure he isn’t rushed too early.

While the fans might not really understand it, the Broncos made a great move with the extension. One it keeps their quarterback happy, and two it gives them a lot of options for next year. If for some reason Tebow puts it all together in one year, than Orton could be traded with a very marketable 1- year 9 million dollar deal. The same could be said if Quinn shows enough to be a starting quarterback, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

Orton threw for 3,800 yards last season and kept the Broncos offense competitive all year. While they lost Brandon Marshall this offseason, they did bring in a couple impressive rookies to help take his place. Orton gives this team the best chance for a playoff run, and proved himself last year. While it seems odd and shocking Orton is a top 15 quarterback in this league, and quite the bargain compared to former Josh McDaniels protege Matt Cassel. I’ve criticized the Broncos for a lot of things over the past couple of seasons, but this was one move they got right.