Big day - signings and more!

Well I assumed I would only be posting again once the season started, but how could I not talk about the events that have transpired today! First, I would like to report that I was correct four days ago when I said a source told me Byron Douzart would be signed, the Dragons locked him up today! Hopefully if anything he can play some good special teams. I feel as if we are already stacked with linebackers and other defenders so he should be able to find a role somewhere else on the field. In addition to that, we also signed WR Chris Samp. Samp bounced around many NFL teams, playing with the practice squads wherever he went. He then was assigned to the now defunct NFL Europe where he played for the Rhein Fire. He is ok, I honestly don't see him making the team. It would suck to be one of these random receivers coming to camp, because with this WR core there is almost no chance that the player could make it with the Dragons. We'll see though, hopefully I won't be eating my own words in a month.

Possibly the best signing of this off-season came from a Dragon we all knew and loved. Angel Estrada. Estrada was great in '06 with the Dragons, scoring 18 defensive touchdowns. Last year with the Rampage in a game against the Dragons, he posted up nice stats to become defensive player of the week. Ironic. Anywho, he is back and I am really, really pumped about it. It does leave me dumbfounded though. The Dragons next move could either suck or work very well. We have too much talent, while this isn't suppose to be a bad thing we don't want have to cut a possible future star. Players like Levy Brown, J.J. Artis, Ronnie Amadi, and Terry Moss all will be fighting for the 3rd spot to play with Estrada and Parker. This is of course a blog, so this is my opinion: cut Moss - I don't want to, but we have no choice. My question is how could we possibly cut Artis or Amadi? My feeling is that Levy Brown is here to stay, no questions asked. It is possible that the other two could stay, but these are just my hopes. Today, Artis was placed on the "Physically Unable to Perform" list, so hopefully something didn't go wrong. I know him and have sent him an e-mail - yet to get a response.

So maybe this is the last post until the season starts, who knows. Maybe some big moves from now until March 3rd? Maybe some news from training camp? Stick around and check back!

30 days until opening night, a check in....

Well with about a month left to go in this long offseason, I thought I would stop in and shed some light on the upcoming season and some of my opinions on the way things are going with our beloved Dragons team.

First off I would like to talk about our TV schedule so far (or lack of). As of today the Dragons have done absolutely nothing in the TV scheme of things and only have one televised game in their June 2nd match against Colorado on ESPN. There is not much time left, and it would be disastrous not to get a deal with FSN or SNY. What gets me most is knowing I most likely will not be seeing opening night against the Gladiators. Even if we do strike a deal with a TV network I don't see them broadcasting an away game on the Monday night opener, let alone any away games throughout the season. Infuriation is probably the best way to describe my feelings about this TV business. All I wanted for 8 months was Dragons football, and I won't even be able to see the first game. My only hope is that the AFL grows a pair and broadcasts it on AFLNet. I would GLADLY pay to see it!

Anyways, some good news - I locked up my tickets to the HOME opener today and have some awesome seats. Section 102, Row F - come find me if you want to say hi. Ticketmaster SUCKS, I tried getting good seats for two other games and they tried to make me buy these horrendous seats in section 305 BOTH times. Seems like bad business to me. So to get around their idiot ways I had to buy marked up tickets at another site, very pricey. Still very happy though! For those who are wondering why I am trying to buy individual tickets when I have said that I have season tickets, it is because a friend is buying half of the games and I am buying half. We are waisting money and not getting the right benefits by doing it this way, but believe it or not for us this is easier.

In other news, the Dragons are opening up Training Camp today (2/3) and I am excited to see the new reports. Mini-camp went well in January, so with the linemen joining the team in Training Camp everyone will be together for the first time this season! If you want to put this upcoming season in perspective with last year, think of it this way: If we get one more win than we did in 2007, we will make it to the playoffs. Of course that is simple logic and you never know how the rest of the league will play out, but the basic idea is that if the Dragons improved at all since their 2007 campaign, then we are playoff bound. The best part is, I think without a doubt the Dragons are WAY better than they were last year. I am talking about a significant change. To throw out an early prediction, I would mark us down for a 10-6 record - seems very reasonable considering how much our offense and defense has improved. We have the talent for sure, the important thing now is for the team to mesh. When Garcia is in, we win. It is very simple, and supposedly - as I hear from reports and the man himself, he is as healthy as he has ever been. Certainly this is great news, but as I said in my last entry, if by some (very possible) chance that Garcia goes down with an injury, we are not as screwed as we use to be. I said it before and I'll say it again, Vena can get it done! Just because he is a backup on this team does not mean he has backup talent, and that is saying a lot considering that the league is so starved for good QB talent. We do have value at the QB position, and our incredible receiving core doesn't hurt either.

So, now for some transactions. Really nothing major since the last post, but I do have some input on the few moves we have made since. First we toyed with WR Rich Parson, picking him up and then dropping him without him even hitting the practice field. Then, we did the exact same thing with OL Pete McMahon. Seems like a waste of space on the transaction chart. Now to the better stuff. We re-signed Jason Willis, which is very awesome, we needed to lock this guy up and we finally did it. He didn't play much last year, but when he did he played very well and I'll have it be known that he will be getting many passes thrown to him this year. We signed Tony Kays as well, a rookie strait out of college who was an undrafted free agent signing for the Bengals, but was released soon thereafter. He ran a 4.5 second 40, so he has some speed, but honestly I don't see him sticking around with the talent we already have a t the WR position. We also signed OL Kili Lefotu. I'll tell you this much, the guy is a wacko. He had a violent outbreak at a restaurant last year in his stint with the Redskins and apparently whacked a poor guy in the face. In another incident, he collapsed and fainted in his hotel room during the 'Skins mini-camp. I think I am going to stay far away from this guy after the games. Also, in the final transaction I have to report, the Dragons released FB/LB Ivory McCoy. I liked the guy, he gave it his all, but some weeks I did not even know he was on the team. Honestly he didn't fit with the team anymore and he is gone, but he will get a better change elsewhere. On a side note, an inside source has informed me that there is a good chance that linebacker Bryon Douzart, formerly with the Brigade, could be signing with the Dragons very soon - keep a lookout for him on the waiver wire.

So guys, that's about it, I am very excited for the season and I am sure you are too. Hang tight, cross off the days one by one on the calender and hope February goes fast so we can get to March 3rd!