FFToolbox - 49ers hire Tony Sparano on as tight ends coach plus 2 more

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49ers hire Tony Sparano on as tight ends coach
Saints TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder) hoping to forego surgery
PJ, The Seahawks Fan Who Gave Away His Most Prized Jersey

49ers hire Tony Sparano on as tight ends coach

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 07:37 PM PST

After serving as the Raiders' interim head coach, Tony Sparano has been hired by the 49ers as their tight ends coach. The bespectacled figurehead has experience instructing TEs as he oversaw the position in Washington (2001), Jacksonville (2002), and Dallas (2003-04). Rumored to have been recommended by long-time associate Bill Parcells, Sparano will be part of GM Trent Baalke's new regime. FANTASY ANALYSIS: Sparano will have his work cut out for him. After nine years in San Francisco, TE Vernon Davis practically disappeared in Greg Roman's offense. Catching just 26 balls for 245 yards and two TDs, Davis had the worst season of his career and will now be entering the last year of his contract. Given that Sparano is far from a creative genius, it's hard to imagine that his addition to the team will boost any player's fantasy value. Quite the contrary, San Fran's hiring process stinks of egotism and, in my opinion, is doomed to fail.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder) hoping to forego surgery

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 02:31 PM PST

According to a report in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Saints TE Jimmy Graham is not planning to have surgery on the shoulder he injured in Week 5 of the regular season. When asked about his offseason considerations in relation to the injury, Graham said that surgery wasn't part of his agenda quot;at this point." Admittedly hobbled by the trauma for the length of 2014, Graham put up the worst statistical season of his career since his rookie campaign. FANTASY ANALYSIS: At 28 years old, Graham should have enough gas left in the tank. However, shoulder injuries tend to linger and are easily aggravated given the physical nature of the sport. It's a bit suspicious that he's playing in the Pro Bowl rather than nursing the ailment, especially considering how much it negatively affected his production as the season wore on. No longer worth a first- or second-round pick, if Graham falls to the third or even fourth round, he might prove to be a great value. The tight end position is a fickle one and given the vet's various durability issues, his draft stock should fall.