COIN TOSS
The season may be over, but the Cleveland Browns enjoyed their most meaningful victory in the last year when they won a coin toss and the No. 3 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. The Browns and Tampa Bay Bucs each finished 4-12. The next tiebreaker was opponent winning percentage. That too was identical, forcing a coin toss. It took place Friday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Tampa Bay GM Bruce Allen reportedly called heads. The coin landed tails, awarding the third pick to Cleveland. Tampa Bay is No. 4.
TALENT VS. REALITY
Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson showcased 4.4-second speed at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and as Sports Illustrated's Peter King reports, is likely the top-rated player on every team's draft board. But there's a strong chance the game-breaking wideout will fall to the Tampa Bay Bucs at No. 4. Oakland, Detroit and Cleveland each have different priorities. Fantasy owners surely hope someone trades up to claim Johnson. His value is questionable in Tampa Bay's sluggish offense. And remember that coin toss? Cleveland is in an excellent position to trade down and allow a team sold on Johnson to jump to No. 3.
REELING IN DENVER
Denver Broncos running back Damien Nash collapsed and died in his St. Louis home on Saturday, not long after playing in a charity basketball game. The cause of death is unknown. Nash, 24, is the second Bronco to die this year. Cornerback Darrent Williams was gunned down Jan. 1 in Denver outside a nightclub. While neither player was a factor in the fantasy world, their deaths cast a shadow over the Denver franchise. How will this team regroup and respond in 2007?
FREE AGENCY BEGINS
The NFL Free Agency period begins on Friday, allowing GMs to rebuild and retool rosters. A fat salary cap (shooting up to $109 million) should result in some surprising salaries. The fantasy players best positioned to cash in are running backs Ahman Green and Super Bowl hero Dominic Rhodes, wideouts Donte Stallworth and Drew Bennett, and quarterbacks Matt Schaub, Tim Rattay and Jeff Garcia. Seattle's Josh Brown would have been available, but he was slapped with the franchise tag instead. How often does that happen to a kicker? The teams best positioned to make a run are San Francisco, Tennessee, Buffalo and Arizona, who each have more than $30 million in cap room, according to ESPN. Let the bidding begin.
GARCIA AVAILABLE
Good news, Jeff Garcia fans. The Philadelphia Eagles signed backup quarterback A.J. Feeley to a three-year deal on Sunday, all but signaling the end of Garcia's tenure in Philly. Why is that good? Garcia stepped in when Donovan McNabb was lost to injury after a 5-5 start. Garcia, 37, started six games and finished the season throwing for 1,309 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Eagles to the playoffs. He'd be an insurance policy had he returned to Philly. Now Garcia is free to seek a starting job. Garcia could re-emerge as a fantasy stud in the right situation.




