ESPN's John Clayton reported Thursday that Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey isn't going to use
Michael Turner as much as he was used last season. "You can't run 370 times a season," Mularkey said. "If Michael does that, he's going to wear out over time." We wouldn't panic over this announcement. Even with the addition of
Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons aren't going to suddenly turn into a pass-first offense. They're going to continue to run the ball 30 times a game.
The difference will be that instead of 25 of those carries going to Turner, perhaps he'll get around 20 touches a game. Still, even if that were to result in 15-20 fewer yards per game, it should also keep him fresher over the course of the season, and considering he scored 11 of his 17 2008 touchdowns in the second half, the lessened workload could actually increase his fantasy value, especially come the fantasy playoffs.
If anything, this news raises the value of
Jerious Norwood, who since 2006 has averaged more than 5 yards per carry. If the "preservation" of Turner means double the carries this season for Norwood, the Falcons might actually have not one but two 1,000-yard rushers in the same backfield. Wouldn't that be something?
• Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has yet to sign with the Eagles, though the team's official Web site reports that a meeting is scheduled between the two sides for July 26. Even assuming everything falls into place, with Hank Baskett, DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant and Reggie Brown all competing for a spot in the starting lineup, it's probably asking a lot for Maclin to have an immediate impact for Philadelphia this season.
• Jeremy Jarmon, a 6-foot-3, 278-pound defensive end out of the University of Kentucky, was the only player selected in Thursday's supplemental draft. Jarmon is now property of the Washington Redskins, and will cost the team a third-round pick from the 2010 draft. With Phillip Daniels (36) and Renaldo Wynn (34) both a stone's throw away from retirement, it makes plenty of sense that the Skins took Jarmon now so they can groom him for a starting job next season. Anything he gives the team this season is gravy.
AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.