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2008 NFL Football Preview
This
article was completed prior to the release of final team rosters. Any
subsequent changes will be reported in the next issue of the JSR.
VETERANS
LENNIE FRIEDMAN, 32, a 6:3, 295 OG from W.
Milford, NJ, and Duke. Lenny played in
every game last year for the Cleveland Browns although he did not start in
any. The 10th year pro signed a one-year contract with the Browns
for 2008.
DAVID BINN, 36, a 6:3, 223 LS from Foster
City, CA, and the U of California. David has played 223 games (in14 seasons) for
the San Diego Chargers, a franchise record, and with his new four-year
contract that record will be shattered. One of the most consistent long
snappers in the game, he was a 2007 All-Pro and stabilizes the Chargers’
kicking and punting games.
SAGE ROSENFELS, 30, a 6:4, 225 QB from Maquoketa,
IA and Iowa State. Football mavens always believed Sage was good, and now
there is no longer any question. When Houston Texans’ QB matt Shaub went down, Sage started four games and played in
ten going 154/240, a 64.2 completion rate, for 1,684 yds
with 15 TDs and 12 picks.
ADAM PODLESH, 25, a 5:11, 202 punter from Pittsford, NY and the U of Maryland. A fourth
round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Adam started as an NFL rookie going
54/2,249, a 41.6 yd average, with 2 touchbacks, 14 stopping inside the 20 and
no blocks.
IGOR OLSHANSKY, 26, a 6:6, 309 DE from San
Francisco, CA (Via Ukraine) and the U of Oregon. Igor is coming off his best
season for the San Diego Chargers having recorded 35 UTs and 14 ATs for 49 Ts
(career best) with one pick and three deflections while starting all 16
games.
DRAFTEES AND
FREE-AGENTS
GEOFF SCHWARTZ, 23, a 6:6, 331 OT from Los
Angeles, CA and the U of Oregon. A seventh-round draft pick of the Carolina
Panthers and an All-PAC 10, 2nd-team selection, Geoff was signed
to a multi-year contract prior to the start of training camp. He may be moved
to OG, and may start out on the practice squad.
JULIAN RAUCH, 22, a 5:11, 215 PKer from Gastonia, NC, and Appalachian State. An
All-Southern Conference, 1st-team selection who converted 17/21 FG
attempts, the longest sailing 49 yds, Julian signed
as a free-agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was released on August 2.
ADAM KRAUS, 23, a 6:6, 296 OG from new
Orleans, LA, and the U of Michigan. A coaches and media All-Big 10, 1st-team
selection, Adam signed as a free-agent with the Baltimore Ravens but was
released on August 30.
The
following players went through tryouts hoping to qualify for a free-agent’s
contract: ANDREW BRECHER, a 6:5,
300 OT from Needham, MA and Harvard who was All-Ivy League, 1st-team
and Writers All-New England, I-AA, 1st-team; with the Dallas
Cowboys failed physical with back injury and was not offered a contract; MIKE FLADELL, a 6:8, 320 OT from
Howard Beach, NY and Rutgers with the Cincinnati Bengels;
MATT BERNSTEIN, a 6:2, 270 FB from
Scarsdale, NY and a 2006 graduate of Wisconsin with the NY Giants; and BRANDT HOLLANDER, a 6:3, 285 NG from
Indianapolis, IN and Yale with the NY Giants.
OUT OF FOOTBALL
Following
his release by Minnesota Vikings, 9-year veteran MIKE ROSENTHAL, OL, from Mishawaka, IN, signed with the Miami
Dolphins, but he pinched nerves in his neck early in training camp and was
placed on Injured Reserve for all of the 2007season. He received his release
on February 4, 2008.
MIKE SEIDMAN’s NFL career has been defied by a series of injuries, so it should come as no
surprise that it was ended by injuries. Released by Carolina following the
2006 season, Mike signed with Indianapolis for 2007, but his torn ACL had not
healed, and he spent the entire season on Injured Reserve. He was released by
Indianapolis on February 29., 2008.
Following
JEFF MILLER’s release by New
England in the preseason of 2007, he was signed during the season by the
Tennessee Titans, but stayed on their roster for less than three weeks. Jeff
signed with the Titans as a free-agent at the start of the 2008 preseason but
was released on August 19.
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