STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI
Name: Stephen Carroll Gostkowski
Nickname: "Beaver" "Gotti"
Team: New England Patriots
Experience: 5 years
Position: Place Kicker
Number: 3
Age: 27
Height: 6'1
Weight: 210
College: Memphis
Drafted: 2006, 4th round 118th overall to the New England Patriots
Kickers aren't typically the most popular person on a football team, but at times can be their saviour. The only way some of you probably even know Stephan Gostkowski exists is from your fantasy football teams. The reason that he exists in your fantasy football world as probably one of the hardest kickers to get on your team, is because he is the most accurate kicker in Patriots history, maybe even NFL history. Of the 138 field goals he's attempted in his career he made 113 of them. His longest successful field goal kick was 53 yards and he averages about 64 yards on kickoffs. Although Gostkowski left the 2010 season with an injury, the last memory he left NFL fans with was a game winning field goal in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens. He extended his contract with the Patriots right before the CBA expired, and we look forward to seeing if he can stay at the top of fantasy lists this season.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Name: Touraj Houshmandzadeh , Jr.
Nickname: T.J., JeJe "Housh",
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Experience: 10 years
Position: Wide Receiver
Number: 84
Age: 33
Height: 6'2
Weight: 203
College: Oregon State
Drafted: 2001, round 7, 204th overall to the Cincinnati Bengals
No, those weren't boos you heard during those Bengals games when T.J. and his compadre Ochocinco took the field, but instead the Bengals fans lovingly chanting "Hoooooush". Why? Houshmandzadeh during his years at Cincinnati was one of the most electrifying wide receivers in the NFL. After his rookie season, he slimmed down to a respectable 200lbs and basically turned into a beast. Despite off and on injuries, a 2003 football season saw him clocking 73 receptions for 978 yards and four touchdowns. By the end of '07 he held the franchise record for the Bengals with 112 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns. That year ended pleasantly for him and he received his first invitation to the Pro Bowl. In 2009, Houshmandzadeh signed with the Seahawks, citing jokingly that "I want to win some games for once" a low blow to Cincinnati's knack for losing games. Coincidentally, the Seahawks ended their season 5-11 and Cincinnati ended theirs 10-6. He was released by Seattle and signed a one year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He may have one of the hardest names to pronounce in the NFL, but watching him play sure is easy on the eyes.
Nnamdi Asomugha
Name: Nnamdi Asomugha (pronounced Nahm-Dee Ah-sem-WAH)
Nickname: (none)
Team: Oakland Raiders
Experience: 8 years
Position: Cornerback
Number: 21
age: 29
Height: 6'2
Weight: 210
College: California
Drafted: 2003 31st pick overall, 1st round to the Oakland Raiders
Nnamdi Asomugha is currently considered one of the best cornerbacks in the National Football League, if not the best cornerback. When he first became a starter in 2005, he immediately began to set tackling records. In 2006 he racked up an astonishing 50 tackles, eight interceptions, and a pair of sacks and forced fumbles. He quickly became MVP for the Raiders, even though as a whole they had a less than stellar season. In 2009 he signed a deal with the Raiders making him the highest paid defensive back in the history of the NFL. Most recently, he was selected as a member of both the Fox Sports and USA Today's NFL All Decade Team. Not to mention he was also selected to the Associated Press 2010 All Pro Team, quite a notable honor. Asomugha is currently an unrestricted free agent and one of the hottest commodities in the league. He is said to have been one of the least thrown at defenders in the past 10 years. Two smart possibilities for a pickup would be the Eagles or the Cowboys...both of whom could use him as an addition to their backfield. Outside of his athletic accolades, Asomugha is also a very active philanthropist in the United States as well as abroad. He plans to one day delve into an acting career, already being cast on shows such as The Game (CW) and Leverage (TNT). If there is a football season next year, there is no doubt that this young man will be equally as electrifying no matter where he ends up.
ASANTE SAMUEL
Name: Asante Samuel
Nickname: (none)
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Experience: 8 years
Position: CornerBack
Number: 27
Age: 30
Height: 6'0
Weight: 185
College: Central Florida
Drafted: 2003, 4th Round, 120th overall to the New England Patriots
Asante Samuel started for the New England Patriots after their two starting corners were injured. He also started for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. The Patriots placed a franchise tag on him in 2007, but the contract that he signed in 2008 stipulated that a franchise tag couldn't be placed on him the following year. The year that he had the franchise tag on him, he was invited to the Pro Bowl. However the following year, he dropped what could have been a game clinching interception during Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. Despite this flub, Samuel was one of the most sought after free agents in the NFL. He had a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles and ended up signing a $56 million deal with them. With the Eagles, Samuel holds the record for the most postseason interceptions since Rodney Harrison retired, and is currently tied for second most interceptions in Eagles history.
TONY GONZALEZ
Name: Anthony David Gonzalez
Nicknames: Tony, "Gonzo"
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Experience: 14 years
Position: Tight End
Number: 88
Age: 35
Height: 6'5
Weight: 243
College: California
Drafted: 1997, 1st Round 13th Overall to the Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Gonzalez, 11 time Pro Bowler, has been a welcomed asset to the Atlanta Falcons. Gonzalez arrived in Hotlanta in 2009 by an exchange for a second round pick during the 2010 NFL draft. It proved to be a wise decision. In his first game as a Falcon, Gonzo caught a touchdown pass from Matt Ryan, becoming the 21st player and first tight end in NFL history to have 11,000 receiving yards. In that same game, he had 5 receptions for 73 yards. The same year against the Steelers, he made his 1,000th career reception. Gonzalez, who at one time suffered from facial paralysis is sort of a heroic paradigm. Not only does he look like a superhero, he sort of is one. In 2008, while dining with family in a restaurant, Gonzo noticed a fellow patron choking and successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on him, saving his life. He also started his own company called All-Pro Science which has has a line of protein shakes, vitamins, and supplements. Its a safe assumption to say we're all excited to see what Superhero Gonzo has up his sleeve for this season.
AARON RODGERS
Name: Aaron Rodgers
Nicknames: "A-Rodg" or "Ace"
Team: Green Bay Packers
Experience: 7 years
Position: Quarterback
Number: 12
Age: 27
Height: 6'2
Weight: 220
College: California
Drafted: 2005, 24th pick overall to the Green Bay Packers
Welcome to Mr. Rodgers neighborhood where Super Bowls are won, records are set, and MVP awards are awarded. Aaron Rodgers has been setting these records since he was a Golden Bear at UCal, one of which was lowest interception rating, an accomplishment that he brought with him to the league. And to think Coach Mike Nolan of the 49ers passed up such a talented gentleman. The selection that Green Bay made proved to be smart. Rodgers was a backup to Brett Favre, and really what quarterback wouldn't want to follow in those footsteps. The challenge is to follow in those footsteps and carry on the championship legacy, which Rodgers was able to do when he defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers could have easily gotten frustrated. For the first three seasons of your NFL life you have Brett Favre who won't sit his old ass down somewhere until he gets injured, he gets injured, Rodgers goes in as his replacement and breaks his foot. Anyone else would have lost all morale. Rodgers hung in there and Favre announced his retirement in '09 giving him the job as starter. From there it only took a years time to have a championship under his belt. Speaking of belts, we expect to see a lot more of Rodgers "championship belt" celebratory move this season as the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year will be back to see if he can keep his good luck streak going.
ALGE CRUMPLER
Name: Algernon Darius Crumpler
Nicknames: Alge
Team: New England Patriots
Experience: 10 years
Position: Tight End
Number: 82
Age: 33
Height: 6'2
Weight: 275
College: University of North Carolina
Drafted: 2001, 35th pick, 2nd round to the Atlanta Falcons
Alge is a two time All Pro bowler and a four time pro-bowler who saw most of his playing time with the Falcons. It didn't take him long to find his niche in the NFL. By his third year he started all 16 games with the Falcons. Alge played with Michael Vick, and as one of his biggest supporters even received a fine during a Monday Night Football game for wearing "MV" and "7" in his black eye strips while Vick was in prison. Crumpler helped the Falcons to one NFC championship game. In 2008 Crumpler was released from the Falcons and quickly picked up by the Tennessee Titans. Although his time with Tennessee wasn't the most productive, once he was traded to the New England Patriots, he was named an Offensive Captain. Coach Bill Belechik is a big fan of Alge's boasting that "Alge's really smart. He's into football. He works hard at it......He's one of those guys that just seems like he always does the right thing no matter what situation he is in." Really, he almost can't help being good at football because it's in his blood. His father, Carlester Crumpler played for the Buffalo Bills and his brother Carlester Crumpler, Jr. played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings.
