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If Michael Turner could face the Lions defense every game he would have passed Walter Payton by now.  It became apparent last year that Turner might break out when he destroyed the Lions on opening day rushing for 220 yards on 22 attempts and scoring 2 touchdowns on the twenty second Sunday of  2222 after the 222nd cycle of the . . .  oh wait, I made up those last bits, but even though this game wasn’t the second coming it was the start of a huge season.  Yesterday against the Lions in limited play he reeled off a 40 yard TD run and then decided to give them a fighting chance by running backwards the rest of the time, and he still gained 23 yards on 5 more carries. The Falcons have a tougher schedule this year and Turner ran a whole lot last year, but the guy is an ox and a fast one at that.

Here are some more preseason thoughts to hold you over this Sunday morning.

Knowshon Moreno: The hopes and dreams of many a fake footballer were half-dashed when he left the first preseason game with an injured knee. A MRI yesterday revealed a mild MCL sprain which could make him MIA the rest of preseason.  Moreno has shown in practice and in his very limited time in preseason that he can run with the big boys, but this will really curb his progression toward becoming the every down back.  By mid-season he should be there, but that’s too long for me unless he drops in adp.

Kyle Orton: Coach McDaniels gave Orton a vote of confidence after watching him throw three interceptions in the Broncos’ first preseason game.  But it did seem odd that he was crying.

Sadly, this means Chris Simms will need to be added toward the bottom of your rankings. 

Mark Sanchez: He has been dubbed the starter for the NY Jets.  He will struggle, but the Jets knew that unless he fell to the ground, curled up into the fetal position and wet himself in the first preseason game, he’d be their starter.

Brandon Marshall: A big sigh of relief was heard from all those invested in Brandon Marshall when he was acquitted of battery charges on Friday.  That was just sad to write.

Jeremy Shockey: Even a blind douchebag can find a nut.  Shockey looked good in his first preseason game and he’s on a team that throws about 112% of the time, but I still won’t target Shockey in any draft.  He’ll get hurt or throw a tantrum or get lost in the bayou at some point in the season.

Carson Palmer: His arm looked strong in his first preseason game and so did his receivers.  I still don’t believe in this Bengals team and their offensive line, but if they continue to look sharp it will be hard not to move Palmer, Ocho, and Henry up the rankings, but my neck will start sweating and my hand will get all shaky while clicking on that excel file.

Sage Rosenfels: After he rose in the air, was hit and fumbled, then fell on top of his head in that game he handed to the Colts last year I still was on the Sage chuckwagon.  I believe he has the arm and the pocket presence to help the Vikings much more than TJax.  And in the Vikings first preseason game he showed that.  He’s late round flier material as long as Bernard Berrian, who injured his hamstring in the game, is healthy.

Antonio Gates: He feels that he has become a more well rounded player after actually reading the playbook last season while he nursed his ouchy.  He commented that sleeping on the playbook and trying to learn by osmosis must only work with water and cell membranes.

Darren McFadden: He had a nice 45 yard run against the Cowboys and if he stays healthy through the preseason should overtake Huggy Bear’s son as the #1 RB, and even with Russell at the helm, should prove to be a great value at his current ADP.

Braylon Edwards: He’s in a contract year and he’s coming off a putrid season so he SHOULD be ready to go this year, but he’s showing he hasn’t gotten over a bad case of the dropsies by missing a touchdown pass from The Mighty Quinn. I’ve heard pineapple is good for dropsy, but maybe Edwards needs a bottle of “get your shizz together!”

Jonathan Stewart: Another practice missed, another DeAngelo Williams owner giggles like a wee little girl.  Stewart’s achilles injury is not quite as bad as Brad Pitt’s, but it seems to be taking a toll on his draft value. I’m pretty sure Orlando Bloom was nowhere near Panthers training camp.

Chris Brown: Brown was brought in to replace Steve Slaton at the goalline last night.  This is disturbing news.  Not finger in your Big Mac disturbing, but disturbing enough.  Thankfully Brown gets injured when walking in a light rain.  He better take an umbrella . . ella . . ella.

Garrett Hartley: He was suspended the first four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.  Since he is a kicker I am guessing it was for excessive mocha frapuccinos or something of that ilk. I’m loathe to write about a kicker, but the Saints signed John Carney to replace him and with their offense and dome you have to look at whoever is their kicker.  Hartley is high on our kicker rankings because he plays for NO, not because he has some steroid induced bionic nuclear powered leg, so if you punted kicker in your draft you should pick up Carney.