Normally, I would celebrate a Terrell Owens injury with an Ashlee Simpson-like hoedown around the charred remains of his Cowboys jersey.
But like many fantasy football players who try to reconcile their team allegiance with their favorite pastime, I am a hypocrite.
Yes, I, Phil Thompson, arguably the most vehement T.O. critic in the Midwest, have Owens on my team. I even traded for him.
It’s my personal belief that the forces of fantasy were so aghast at my indiscretion that they reached out from their netherworld and snapped T.O.’s finger like a stale pretzel.
But I’ll deal with my decision with some self-inflicted shock therapy at a later time.
We’re here to talk about his injury and the injuries of other top players. See, we all know in preseason that some big names will miss a chunk, if not all, of the regular season, but no one expects it to be any of their players.
Get used to the idea, there’s more to come.
With injuries and bye weeks becoming a factor in Week 3, it’s even more important to take five minutes to check on your players’ health. There’s nothing more frustrating than losing by a few points and realizing you left an injured or a bye week player in your lineup.
So I’ve been told.
Here are the latest developments in some high-profile injury cases.
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
Steve-O sounded a little agitated at the suggestion that his injury is a ploy to hold out for more money. If only that were the case. Reports before the season said that both hamstrings bothered Smith, which doesn’t bode well in the long term for a small receiver who relies so much on his speed. Now here we are in Week 3, and he’s still listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. If you’re not hurting in the win-loss column, wait and see. But if you need help, consider trading him while he still has some name value. He might take a few weeks to return to form.
Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins
First he separated his shoulder. Now he hurt his rotator cuff in Week 1. This is the same guy who bwoosed his widdle chest with Denver. Hope he has a big game against the Texans, then be prepared to sit him for a while. Remember that last season, he didn’t catch fire until the second half.
Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys
The Cowboys have a bye in Week 3, but coach Bill Parcells sounded optimistic that Owens will be playing against the Titans in Week 4. What a points bonanza that would be. Optimism aside, I wouldn’t rest your hopes on such a quick return, but we are talking about the man who played in the Super Bowl on a broken leg.
Jeremy Shockey, TE, Giants
He tweaked his ankle against the Eagles and did not practice on Wednesday. His absence would be a big enough blow for Shockey owners, but it couldn’t come at a worse time for owners who play to Eli Manning against a brutal Seahawks defense–in Seattle.
WEEK 3 PICKS
Start
– Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles at 49ers
– Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins-Titans
– Warrick Dunn, RB, Falcons at Saints
– Torry Holt, Rams at Cardinals
Sit
– Chad Pennington, QB, Jets at Bills
– Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens at Browns
– Cadillac Williams, RB, Bucs vs. Panthers
– Chad Jackson, WR, Broncos at Patriots
Sleeper
– Jon Kitna, QB, Lions vs. Packers
– Thomas Jones, RB, Bears at Vikings
– Willie Parker, RB, Steelers vs. Bengals
– Reggie Williams, WR, Jaguars at Colts
