It wasn't pretty for both teams, but the New Orleans Saints were able to take a lead early in the second half and hold it for a 14-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Some predicted that Vikings' QB Brett Favre will not duplicate the success he had last season, where he threw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. It's too early to tell, but he wasn't as successful as the Vikings wanted him to be.
The Saints victory was the lowest scoring win for the Saints during the Sean Payton era. However, they will gladly take the victory. QB Drew Brees was accurate, completing 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. They scored early, jumping out on top with 12:56 to go in the first quarter on WR Devery Henderson's 29-yard touchdown reception. But the scoring stopped, until the Vikings scored nine the second quarter with K Ryan Longwell's 41-yard field goal and TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 20-yard touchdown reception. The extra point was blocked after the touchdown, giving them nine instead of 10.
The Saints started off the second half on a good note also, as they scored another touchdown from RB Pierre Thomas. From there, it was just stingy defense from the two teams and two missed field goals from K Garrett Hartley prevented the Saints from scoring more. Favre only completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards, and he threw his first interception of the season. This was the seventh consecutive time the defending champions who hosted the opening Thursday night game has won. The Saints will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Monday Night, and the Vikings will travel back home to host the Miami Dolphins for their home opener.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NFC West Preview
The NFC West is by far the worst division in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams don't figure to be threats to many teams in the NFL. However, there is upside to this division. The Seahawks had an amazing draft, so there's a chance they can surprise people and capture the division crown. The 49ers already have an assembly of talent on their roster, so it's plausible for them to succeed. The Rams used their #1 overall pick on what they hope to be the future of their franchise in QB Sam Bradford.
The St. Louis Rams drafting of QB Sam Bradford was a step in the right direction. They let go of QB Marc Bulger, who for years has been very overrated. It'll be difficult for Bradford to succeed as a rookie and the talent that's on the Rams roster. He is also coming off of a major shoulder injury, so he could struggle with that in his pro career as well. The schedule isn't difficult for the Rams, but they'll still lose most of their games with a rookie at the helm. They'll finish 3-13, which is an improvement from the 1-15 mark they had last year.
The Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. after one year, and they are now trusting their entire franchise to the hands of Pete Carroll, who was mediocre in his head coaching stints with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Carroll was very successful with the USC Trojans, winning two national championships. However, the NFL is different than college, and he has an aging quarterback in QB Matt Hasselbeck, who hasn't proven he has anything left in the tank. They also got rid of QB Seneca Wallace, so Hasselbeck will have to do good. They drafted pretty well, but made a dumb move by cutting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently. They are giving the starting spot to WR Mike Williams, who was a bust in Detroit and Oakland and being real close to not having a career. The Seahawks have not improved and will remain at the 5-11 mark they finished with last year.
The San Francisco 49ers started off last season very well, highlighted with a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, their embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons was the beginning of a season in which they would fall back down to mediocrity. They finished at 8-8, and are now trusting QB Alex Smith to lead the way. With the competition in the division, combined with the talent on the roster, the 49ers should easily win the division. However, they won't be threats in the playoffs. They'll finish with a 9-7 mark and a division crown.
The Arizona Cardinals are two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, but a lot has changed since. QB Kurt Warner, who led them to the Super Bowl and a NFC Divisional Round appearance last year, retired, leaving the position to QB Matt Leinart. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't see anything in Leinart and quickly lost faith in him, handing the job to QB Derek Anderson, who only had one solid season as a starter. Leinart was cut, and now the explosive offense, with WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Breaston, and WR Early Doucett, is now in the hands of Anderson. That will be a fail, as the Cardinals will fall to 7-9 and search for another quarterback next offseason.
The St. Louis Rams drafting of QB Sam Bradford was a step in the right direction. They let go of QB Marc Bulger, who for years has been very overrated. It'll be difficult for Bradford to succeed as a rookie and the talent that's on the Rams roster. He is also coming off of a major shoulder injury, so he could struggle with that in his pro career as well. The schedule isn't difficult for the Rams, but they'll still lose most of their games with a rookie at the helm. They'll finish 3-13, which is an improvement from the 1-15 mark they had last year.
The Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. after one year, and they are now trusting their entire franchise to the hands of Pete Carroll, who was mediocre in his head coaching stints with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Carroll was very successful with the USC Trojans, winning two national championships. However, the NFL is different than college, and he has an aging quarterback in QB Matt Hasselbeck, who hasn't proven he has anything left in the tank. They also got rid of QB Seneca Wallace, so Hasselbeck will have to do good. They drafted pretty well, but made a dumb move by cutting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently. They are giving the starting spot to WR Mike Williams, who was a bust in Detroit and Oakland and being real close to not having a career. The Seahawks have not improved and will remain at the 5-11 mark they finished with last year.
The San Francisco 49ers started off last season very well, highlighted with a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, their embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons was the beginning of a season in which they would fall back down to mediocrity. They finished at 8-8, and are now trusting QB Alex Smith to lead the way. With the competition in the division, combined with the talent on the roster, the 49ers should easily win the division. However, they won't be threats in the playoffs. They'll finish with a 9-7 mark and a division crown.
The Arizona Cardinals are two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, but a lot has changed since. QB Kurt Warner, who led them to the Super Bowl and a NFC Divisional Round appearance last year, retired, leaving the position to QB Matt Leinart. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't see anything in Leinart and quickly lost faith in him, handing the job to QB Derek Anderson, who only had one solid season as a starter. Leinart was cut, and now the explosive offense, with WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Breaston, and WR Early Doucett, is now in the hands of Anderson. That will be a fail, as the Cardinals will fall to 7-9 and search for another quarterback next offseason.
NFC South Preview
The NFC South is home to the NFL champion New Orleans Saints, but they will have competition from the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be an easy out either. This division has always been so strange from the time it was created back in 2002. The Saints won the division last year with a 13-3 record, but only had an 8-8 record the year before. The Carolina Panthers won the division the year before with a 12-4 record, but were only 8-8 with the same team. The Falcons were good in QB Matt Ryan's rookie year, with an 11-5 record, but they regressed to a 9-7 record.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.
The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.
The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.
The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.
The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.
The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.
The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
NFC North Preview
The NFC North is a team with only two contenders -- the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions will not be impactful enough to ruin the party and become contenders this upcoming season. Last season, the Vikings won the division with a 12-4 record and made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. They will be looking to build upon that and advance to the Super Bowl. The Packers finished at 11-5, but lost a heartbreaker in Arizona in the Wild Card Round. They are also looking to build upon their record and hopefully win the division.
The Detroit Lions finished the 2008 season at 0-16, the first for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in the first year during the 1970s. There was only one way to go for the Lions, and that was up. They couldn't be worst than a completed defeated season. They improved to 2-14 last season, still a horrible season. The Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and they also signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. They drafted QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick the year before, and they also have a good receiving threat in WR Calvin Johnson. They have to learn to put it together, and that may not happen this year, considering they play the NFC East and the AFC East. The Lions will finish 2-14 again.
The Chicago Bears weren't horrible after acquiring QB Jay Cutler. Cutler was very overrated coming in from the Denver Broncos, as the fans expected a lot from him. Instead, they got a 7-9 season, and Cutler threw for 27 touchdowns, but also threw 26 interceptions, a league high. They got the free agent prize, signing DE Julius Peppers to a long term deal. However, that doesn't fix nearly all of their problems, which happened to be a struggling offense. They hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but he is throw-happy and that will be a problem with Cutler. The difficult schedule also doesn't bode well for them, so they will regress this year. The Bears will finish at 6-10.
The Green Bay Packers finished the season only one game behind the Vikings, but had two humiliating losses to the Vikings. The Packers couldn't protect QB Aaron Rodgers at all, resulting in many sacks for the Vikings' defense. The Packers defense was in the top 5 last year, so their 3-4 defense should remain stout this year. Rodgers was a very potent passer last year, and some are expecting him to have a better year. Rodgers should have a better year as he gets older and wiser running the offense. The Packers will remain at 11-5, but they will win the NFC North division via a tiebreaker and they'll advance to the Super Bowl.
The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record, and were a non-interception away from advancing to the Super Bowl. QB Brett Favre decided to return for his 20th season, so Vikings' fans are elated. However, asking Favre to throw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions is a tough thing to ask. Favre had his best season ever, but he won't have a season like that again. The Vikings will regress, because of Favre, but they'll still be a legitimate threat and playoff contender. They'll finish 11-5 also, but lose tiebreaker to the Packers.
The Detroit Lions finished the 2008 season at 0-16, the first for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in the first year during the 1970s. There was only one way to go for the Lions, and that was up. They couldn't be worst than a completed defeated season. They improved to 2-14 last season, still a horrible season. The Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and they also signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. They drafted QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick the year before, and they also have a good receiving threat in WR Calvin Johnson. They have to learn to put it together, and that may not happen this year, considering they play the NFC East and the AFC East. The Lions will finish 2-14 again.
The Chicago Bears weren't horrible after acquiring QB Jay Cutler. Cutler was very overrated coming in from the Denver Broncos, as the fans expected a lot from him. Instead, they got a 7-9 season, and Cutler threw for 27 touchdowns, but also threw 26 interceptions, a league high. They got the free agent prize, signing DE Julius Peppers to a long term deal. However, that doesn't fix nearly all of their problems, which happened to be a struggling offense. They hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but he is throw-happy and that will be a problem with Cutler. The difficult schedule also doesn't bode well for them, so they will regress this year. The Bears will finish at 6-10.
The Green Bay Packers finished the season only one game behind the Vikings, but had two humiliating losses to the Vikings. The Packers couldn't protect QB Aaron Rodgers at all, resulting in many sacks for the Vikings' defense. The Packers defense was in the top 5 last year, so their 3-4 defense should remain stout this year. Rodgers was a very potent passer last year, and some are expecting him to have a better year. Rodgers should have a better year as he gets older and wiser running the offense. The Packers will remain at 11-5, but they will win the NFC North division via a tiebreaker and they'll advance to the Super Bowl.
The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record, and were a non-interception away from advancing to the Super Bowl. QB Brett Favre decided to return for his 20th season, so Vikings' fans are elated. However, asking Favre to throw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions is a tough thing to ask. Favre had his best season ever, but he won't have a season like that again. The Vikings will regress, because of Favre, but they'll still be a legitimate threat and playoff contender. They'll finish 11-5 also, but lose tiebreaker to the Packers.
Monday, September 6, 2010
NFC East Preview
The NFC East will arguably be the most difficult division during the season, with all teams capable of beating each other. The Dallas Cowboys won the division last season with an 11-5 record, and the Philadelphia Eagles also made the playoffs as a wild card with an 11-5 record as well. The New York Giants and the Washington Redskins missed the playoffs, but both teams have improved from last season, and are talented enough to make a playoff run as well. The NFC East plays the AFC South and the NFC North, so it won't be an easy task, but each team is capable of having at least a .500 record.
The Washington Redskins acquired Mike Shanahan as head coach and QB Donovan McNabb from the rival Eagles in the offseason. Those two acquisitions are enough to improve the Redskins drastically. However, they've had their problems with DT Albert Haynesworth, and McNabb has to learn a whole new system. The Redskins also had problems protecting former QB Jason Campbell, so it'll be a challenge holding McNabb upright. The Redskins were 4-12 last year. They will be significantly better, but they'll finish at 8-8, not enough for a playoff appearance.
The New York Giants started the season 5-0 before struggling the rest of the season and finishing 8-8. The biggest reason for that was the defense, which gave up 40 points five times during the season. QB Eli Manning had his best season without a big-name wide receiver, but the Giants struggled to run the football. The Giants made sure they do the things necessary to fix their defense. They acquired S Antrel Rolle, drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul and hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Their offense, particularly their run game, will be better than last season. The Giants will surprise this season, and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Philadelphia Eagles are in transition at the quarterback position for the first time in more than a decade. After trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the Eagles are now trusting their offense to QB Kevin Kolb. There is no telling how Kolb will do. He's looked impressive at times during the preseason, but his performance was great. The Eagles are now a young football team, but their defense will remain good. The only question is their offense without McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, who was cut in the offseason. The Eagles will struggle in Kolb's first year, finishing at 7-9 and missing the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions, and they come into this season as the most overrated team in the NFL. Some analysts have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where it will be played in their home stadium. The Cowboys have looked awful in the preseason. Teams have played well in the regular season after playing bad in preseason, but it's time to hit the panic button if you're a Cowboys fan. QB Tony Romo is good, but his connection with WR Roy Williams is still off and WR Miles Austin will not have a season like he did last season. The Cowboys will finish at 10-6, good enough to win the Wild Card, but they won't get far.
The Washington Redskins acquired Mike Shanahan as head coach and QB Donovan McNabb from the rival Eagles in the offseason. Those two acquisitions are enough to improve the Redskins drastically. However, they've had their problems with DT Albert Haynesworth, and McNabb has to learn a whole new system. The Redskins also had problems protecting former QB Jason Campbell, so it'll be a challenge holding McNabb upright. The Redskins were 4-12 last year. They will be significantly better, but they'll finish at 8-8, not enough for a playoff appearance.
The New York Giants started the season 5-0 before struggling the rest of the season and finishing 8-8. The biggest reason for that was the defense, which gave up 40 points five times during the season. QB Eli Manning had his best season without a big-name wide receiver, but the Giants struggled to run the football. The Giants made sure they do the things necessary to fix their defense. They acquired S Antrel Rolle, drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul and hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Their offense, particularly their run game, will be better than last season. The Giants will surprise this season, and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Philadelphia Eagles are in transition at the quarterback position for the first time in more than a decade. After trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the Eagles are now trusting their offense to QB Kevin Kolb. There is no telling how Kolb will do. He's looked impressive at times during the preseason, but his performance was great. The Eagles are now a young football team, but their defense will remain good. The only question is their offense without McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, who was cut in the offseason. The Eagles will struggle in Kolb's first year, finishing at 7-9 and missing the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions, and they come into this season as the most overrated team in the NFL. Some analysts have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where it will be played in their home stadium. The Cowboys have looked awful in the preseason. Teams have played well in the regular season after playing bad in preseason, but it's time to hit the panic button if you're a Cowboys fan. QB Tony Romo is good, but his connection with WR Roy Williams is still off and WR Miles Austin will not have a season like he did last season. The Cowboys will finish at 10-6, good enough to win the Wild Card, but they won't get far.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
AFC West Preview
The AFC West hasn't really been any different in recent memory. With the exception of the 2005 season, when the Denver Broncos won the division with a 13-3 record, the San Diego Chargers have dominated the division. The Oakland Raiders have been completely irrelevant since their appearance in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. The Kansas City Chiefs have been mediocre at best after winning the AFC West title during the 2003 season. It doesn't appear to be much different this year.
The Oakland Raiders don't have much reason to be optimistic, but they did acquire QB Jason Campbell and released awful QB JaMarcus Russell. Campbell was okay at best with the Washington Redskins, always lacking a good offensive line. He doesn't have a strong offensive line with the Raiders either, so it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Nonetheless, I expect the Raiders to improve upon their 5-11 record from last season. It won't be as difficult because they play the NFC West division. They will finish at 6-10.
The Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12 last year, and there is no reason to think they'll be better this season. They hired Charlie Weis as their offensive coordinator, a move that many liked. Weis helped QB Tom Brady win three Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. They also picked up RB Thomas Jones, who had a solid season with the New York Jets last year. However, they have QB Matt Cassel and a bad offensive line. Cassel was severely overrated after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots. He will never have the same kind of success again in his career. The Chiefs will be 4-12, just like last year.
The Denver Broncos were surprising a lot of folks after starting the season 5-0, but they quickly faded, finishing at a disappointing 8-8. QB Kyle Orton was solid, not making many mistakes. Their defense were also solid at the beginning, but they faded over the course of the season, just like Orton. They got rid of WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler, their biggest offensive weapons. Drafting QB Tim Tebow does nothing for their success. Their schedule toward the end isn't that tough, but they'll still finish at 9-7, short of making the playoffs again.
The San Diego Chargers return the most important player -- QB Philip Rivers. WR Vincent Jackson has refused to sign a tender, and OL Marcus McNeill has refused to do so also. However, Rivers' success is the only thing that matters, and he can get the job done with WR Malcolm Floyd and TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers were 13-3 last year, and with their easy schedule, they should be 13-3 again. They will finish first or second again, with the Indianapolis Colts the only other team in the AFC that will matter. However, the Chargers will look to get past their postseason failures, as they lost to the New York Jets in their first playoff game last year.
The Oakland Raiders don't have much reason to be optimistic, but they did acquire QB Jason Campbell and released awful QB JaMarcus Russell. Campbell was okay at best with the Washington Redskins, always lacking a good offensive line. He doesn't have a strong offensive line with the Raiders either, so it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Nonetheless, I expect the Raiders to improve upon their 5-11 record from last season. It won't be as difficult because they play the NFC West division. They will finish at 6-10.
The Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12 last year, and there is no reason to think they'll be better this season. They hired Charlie Weis as their offensive coordinator, a move that many liked. Weis helped QB Tom Brady win three Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. They also picked up RB Thomas Jones, who had a solid season with the New York Jets last year. However, they have QB Matt Cassel and a bad offensive line. Cassel was severely overrated after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots. He will never have the same kind of success again in his career. The Chiefs will be 4-12, just like last year.
The Denver Broncos were surprising a lot of folks after starting the season 5-0, but they quickly faded, finishing at a disappointing 8-8. QB Kyle Orton was solid, not making many mistakes. Their defense were also solid at the beginning, but they faded over the course of the season, just like Orton. They got rid of WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler, their biggest offensive weapons. Drafting QB Tim Tebow does nothing for their success. Their schedule toward the end isn't that tough, but they'll still finish at 9-7, short of making the playoffs again.
The San Diego Chargers return the most important player -- QB Philip Rivers. WR Vincent Jackson has refused to sign a tender, and OL Marcus McNeill has refused to do so also. However, Rivers' success is the only thing that matters, and he can get the job done with WR Malcolm Floyd and TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers were 13-3 last year, and with their easy schedule, they should be 13-3 again. They will finish first or second again, with the Indianapolis Colts the only other team in the AFC that will matter. However, the Chargers will look to get past their postseason failures, as they lost to the New York Jets in their first playoff game last year.
Friday, September 3, 2010
AFC South Preview
The AFC South is another division in the AFC with several quality teams who will be making a run at the playoffs. The AFC South, since the alignment took place in 2002, usually started and ended with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have won at least 12 games every year since 2003. However, the Tennessee Titans won the division in 2008 with a 13-3 record. As a matter of fact, the Titans and the Colts are the only two teams to claim AFC South division titles since the division was created.
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished last season with a 7-9 record, and they haven't necessarily improved to make people believe in them this year. They do have productive QB David Garrard, who led them to a 12-4 record and an AFC Divisional Round appearance in 2007, his first season as a starter. They also have RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is very productive out of the backfield running and catching the football. Other than that, the Jaguars have nothing else, which is surprising that Jack Del Rio has been able to last that long as head coach. They place the NFC East and the AFC West, so expect the Jaguars to finish at 6-10.
The Tennessee Titans are just two years removed from their 13-3 record and AFC South division crown. They got off to a terrible 0-6 start, capped off with a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots. However, they went 8-2 when Jeff Fisher benched QB Kerry Collins in favor of QB Vince Young. Young will be the starter this year, so expectations are a little high for the Titans. The difficulty of their schedule, combined with being in the AFC South, will get the Titans a 9-7 record, just short of making postseason play.
The Houston Texans once again come into the season with bigger expectations than the year before. WR Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league, and QB Matt Schaub is pretty good also. They improved their defense by drafting CB Kareem Jackson, and they already have LB Brian Cushing, who'll miss the first four games, and LB DeMeco Ryans to go along with DE Mario Williams. However, the difficulty of their schedule and being in the same division as the Colts and Titans, will hurt the Texans quest for a playoff berth. They won't make any progress, finishing at 9-7 like the year before, and fall short of a playoff appearance.
While AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals have improved their roster dramatically, one team still stands in the way, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven't made any moves in the offseason, and they didn't need to. It starts off with arguably the best quarterback in NFL history with QB Peyton Manning, and the rest of the offense goes along. Their defense, if they can remain healthy, is also stout with S Bob Sanders, DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis. The Colts will finish 13-3 and win the division again, and this time around, there won't be a fluke performance like the one the Saints had in the Super Bowl. Manning will capture his second title.
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished last season with a 7-9 record, and they haven't necessarily improved to make people believe in them this year. They do have productive QB David Garrard, who led them to a 12-4 record and an AFC Divisional Round appearance in 2007, his first season as a starter. They also have RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is very productive out of the backfield running and catching the football. Other than that, the Jaguars have nothing else, which is surprising that Jack Del Rio has been able to last that long as head coach. They place the NFC East and the AFC West, so expect the Jaguars to finish at 6-10.
The Tennessee Titans are just two years removed from their 13-3 record and AFC South division crown. They got off to a terrible 0-6 start, capped off with a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots. However, they went 8-2 when Jeff Fisher benched QB Kerry Collins in favor of QB Vince Young. Young will be the starter this year, so expectations are a little high for the Titans. The difficulty of their schedule, combined with being in the AFC South, will get the Titans a 9-7 record, just short of making postseason play.
The Houston Texans once again come into the season with bigger expectations than the year before. WR Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league, and QB Matt Schaub is pretty good also. They improved their defense by drafting CB Kareem Jackson, and they already have LB Brian Cushing, who'll miss the first four games, and LB DeMeco Ryans to go along with DE Mario Williams. However, the difficulty of their schedule and being in the same division as the Colts and Titans, will hurt the Texans quest for a playoff berth. They won't make any progress, finishing at 9-7 like the year before, and fall short of a playoff appearance.
While AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals have improved their roster dramatically, one team still stands in the way, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven't made any moves in the offseason, and they didn't need to. It starts off with arguably the best quarterback in NFL history with QB Peyton Manning, and the rest of the offense goes along. Their defense, if they can remain healthy, is also stout with S Bob Sanders, DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis. The Colts will finish 13-3 and win the division again, and this time around, there won't be a fluke performance like the one the Saints had in the Super Bowl. Manning will capture his second title.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
AFC North Preview
The AFC North was much better than what people expected last year, and it was also surprising the way the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled after winning the Super Bowl the season before. With the AFC North playing the NFC South and the AFC East, this could be a tough year for the division.
Starting off with the Cleveland Browns, they are almost guaranteed to not succeed this season. They have a challenging road game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but they don't have another challenging road game. However, their games against division opponents will fail them again, but I do look for them to improve upon last season, when they were 5-11, simply because of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme did have a bad year with the Carolina Panthers last year, but he tends to have on and off years and I look for him to have a decent season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't do much to their roster last offseason, so many wondered why they failed to duplicate their success from the 2008 season. The answer is very simple -- defense. While many credit QB Ben Roethlisberger for their success, it's their defense that actually holds the key to their success. They looked sharp defensively in the preseason, but has had quarterback issues with Roethlisberger missing up to the first six games. The improved defense will be the reason why they improve upon last season, but they won't find their way in the postseason again with a 9-7 record.
The Baltimore Ravens fell short of winning the division last season, but still advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with their lopsided road win against the New England Patriots. The Ravens have gotten better also, which could be a little scary for other teams. Their offense is improved with the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin. Their defense, surprisingly, will be the only question mark. They have been solid for a long time, but their secondary hasn't been that strong last year and don't look to be that strong this season. However, I expect them to improve upon last year also and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Cincinnati Bengals won the division last season but played awful in the AFC Wild Card Round against the New York Jets at home. The Bengals have improved by getting CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and WR Terrell Owens, two headaches for most teams. However, they have looked sharp in the preseason, and the Bengals defense looks better also. The Bengals success depends on QB Carson Palmer, who has been overrated the past couple of seasons. They won last year because of their running game and their defense, not Palmer. If he is like last year, they will have the same success. That is exactly what's going to happen, and the Bengals will improve one game to 11-5 but succumb the division crown to the Ravens.
Starting off with the Cleveland Browns, they are almost guaranteed to not succeed this season. They have a challenging road game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but they don't have another challenging road game. However, their games against division opponents will fail them again, but I do look for them to improve upon last season, when they were 5-11, simply because of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme did have a bad year with the Carolina Panthers last year, but he tends to have on and off years and I look for him to have a decent season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't do much to their roster last offseason, so many wondered why they failed to duplicate their success from the 2008 season. The answer is very simple -- defense. While many credit QB Ben Roethlisberger for their success, it's their defense that actually holds the key to their success. They looked sharp defensively in the preseason, but has had quarterback issues with Roethlisberger missing up to the first six games. The improved defense will be the reason why they improve upon last season, but they won't find their way in the postseason again with a 9-7 record.
The Baltimore Ravens fell short of winning the division last season, but still advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with their lopsided road win against the New England Patriots. The Ravens have gotten better also, which could be a little scary for other teams. Their offense is improved with the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin. Their defense, surprisingly, will be the only question mark. They have been solid for a long time, but their secondary hasn't been that strong last year and don't look to be that strong this season. However, I expect them to improve upon last year also and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Cincinnati Bengals won the division last season but played awful in the AFC Wild Card Round against the New York Jets at home. The Bengals have improved by getting CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and WR Terrell Owens, two headaches for most teams. However, they have looked sharp in the preseason, and the Bengals defense looks better also. The Bengals success depends on QB Carson Palmer, who has been overrated the past couple of seasons. They won last year because of their running game and their defense, not Palmer. If he is like last year, they will have the same success. That is exactly what's going to happen, and the Bengals will improve one game to 11-5 but succumb the division crown to the Ravens.
Monday, August 30, 2010
AFC East Preview
With the regular season 10 days away, the upcoming NFL season is looking like a promising one for many NFL teams. The AFC East is looking like a division with promise. Starting with the Buffalo Bills, they have nothing to look forward to. For the fans in upstate New York, it will be another disappointing season. The Bills moves this offseason consisted of hiring Chan Gailey as head coach, and drafting RB C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick. The Bills haven't upgraded the wide receiver position or the quarterback position, two weak points on their offense. The Bills are also looking at matchups against the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, in addition to playing their division. This will be a lost season.
The Miami Dolphins may be the most overrated team in the NFL right now. They've upgraded their wide receiver position by acquiring WR Brandon Marshall and they have rising QB Chad Henne. They also signed LB Karlos Dansby, who has been an overrated linebacker. The Dolphins will be right where they were last season, around 8-8 or 9-7. Road games against the Packers and Vikings will certainly be losses, and they also play road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. They will go 7-9 this season.
The New York Jets are another overrated team, as they have gone into this season with a lot of hype. The Jets did advance to the AFC Championship Game last year, so there is hope. Acquiring RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't do anything at all because they already have RB Shonn Greene. Their defense is certainly going to be top notch with Rex Ryan running it. The only question mark on that team is whether QB Mark Sanchez will improve. He hasn't shown anything in the preseason, so that is cause for concern. The defense will lift them to victory sometimes, leading to an 11-5 record and the division title.
The New England Patriots are the defending AFC East champions, but had an embarrassing loss in the first round at home to the Ravens. They still have QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, and WR Wes Welker, who may not be 100%. However, their defense will be cause for concern. They didn't do well last season, leading to some bad losses. They addressed that by drafting CB Devin McCourty, but that isn't the complete solution. As long as they have a healthy Brady however, the Patriots will contend. I expect them to also be 11-5, but losses to the Jets will leave the Jets as division winners.
The Miami Dolphins may be the most overrated team in the NFL right now. They've upgraded their wide receiver position by acquiring WR Brandon Marshall and they have rising QB Chad Henne. They also signed LB Karlos Dansby, who has been an overrated linebacker. The Dolphins will be right where they were last season, around 8-8 or 9-7. Road games against the Packers and Vikings will certainly be losses, and they also play road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. They will go 7-9 this season.
The New York Jets are another overrated team, as they have gone into this season with a lot of hype. The Jets did advance to the AFC Championship Game last year, so there is hope. Acquiring RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't do anything at all because they already have RB Shonn Greene. Their defense is certainly going to be top notch with Rex Ryan running it. The only question mark on that team is whether QB Mark Sanchez will improve. He hasn't shown anything in the preseason, so that is cause for concern. The defense will lift them to victory sometimes, leading to an 11-5 record and the division title.
The New England Patriots are the defending AFC East champions, but had an embarrassing loss in the first round at home to the Ravens. They still have QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, and WR Wes Welker, who may not be 100%. However, their defense will be cause for concern. They didn't do well last season, leading to some bad losses. They addressed that by drafting CB Devin McCourty, but that isn't the complete solution. As long as they have a healthy Brady however, the Patriots will contend. I expect them to also be 11-5, but losses to the Jets will leave the Jets as division winners.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Ravens Success Dependent On Reed
If the Baltimore Ravens expect to get to the Dallas on February 6, 2011, they'll most likely have to do it without the services of S Ed Reed, their playmaker and perhaps their best defensive player. Reed is recovering from offseason hip surgery, and he has stated that he is nowhere close to being ready to start the season. Reed is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform list, and if he is still on that list when the regular season starts, he has to miss the first six games. Reed told reporters he won't rush coming back, choosing to be 100% healthy.
LB Ray Lewis and WR Anquan Boldin have both talked about getting to the Super Bowl, and many analysts agree with the notion that they will be Super Bowl contenders. That is doomed is Reed isn't playing the entire season healthy. Lewis simply isn't enough to get the job done defensively. Reed is the defensive player who does the most, catching interceptions and always looking to make a play once the ball is in his hands. The Ravens have been known for their stout defense since winning Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001.
The Ravens have offensive weapons with Boldin, QB Joe Flacco, and RB Ray Rice. However, Flacco is still learning the ropes of the position at the NFL level. Also, Boldin is now on a team who likes to run the ball more than throw. In other words, this team has more question marks on offense than most teams. This is the primary reason why their defense needs to be reliable. With Reed out, everyone will have to step up their production. The play from the corners the past couple of seasons haven't been so stellar, which is why Reed's speed from the safety position is very important.
The Ravens can still get this done without Reed. However, I cannot foresee that happening because of Reed's impact on that defensive unit. Reed has to get healthy before the regular season starts. If not, the Ravens will be in trouble. In their first six games, they have to see teams like the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, who all made the playoffs last season. That is in addition to playing division rivals Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A promising start to the season can easily turn into a 2-4 start, which will leave the Ravens in a bunch of trouble.
LB Ray Lewis and WR Anquan Boldin have both talked about getting to the Super Bowl, and many analysts agree with the notion that they will be Super Bowl contenders. That is doomed is Reed isn't playing the entire season healthy. Lewis simply isn't enough to get the job done defensively. Reed is the defensive player who does the most, catching interceptions and always looking to make a play once the ball is in his hands. The Ravens have been known for their stout defense since winning Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001.
The Ravens have offensive weapons with Boldin, QB Joe Flacco, and RB Ray Rice. However, Flacco is still learning the ropes of the position at the NFL level. Also, Boldin is now on a team who likes to run the ball more than throw. In other words, this team has more question marks on offense than most teams. This is the primary reason why their defense needs to be reliable. With Reed out, everyone will have to step up their production. The play from the corners the past couple of seasons haven't been so stellar, which is why Reed's speed from the safety position is very important.
The Ravens can still get this done without Reed. However, I cannot foresee that happening because of Reed's impact on that defensive unit. Reed has to get healthy before the regular season starts. If not, the Ravens will be in trouble. In their first six games, they have to see teams like the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, who all made the playoffs last season. That is in addition to playing division rivals Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A promising start to the season can easily turn into a 2-4 start, which will leave the Ravens in a bunch of trouble.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Russell Arrested
Former Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has been arrested and released from jail after being caught with codeine syrup in his home in Alabama. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, in an offseason which has been horrible for Russell. In May, Russell was released by the Raiders, after a couple seasons of erratic play and a non-chalant work ethic. Russell was drafted with the first overall pick by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, and has not lived up to his contract.
Russell even held out of training camp his rookie season to get the contract he wanted. That makes it even worse for him, as he failed miserably to live up to the contract. Russell was so terrible that he couldn't even last the duration of his rookie contract. Only one other top pick has been released that quickly, and that was QB Steve Emtman, when the Indianapolis Colts released him three seasons after he was drafted first overall.
Russell has also played so terribly that there probably isn't a team that's interested in signing him as a backup. Former overall top pick QB David Carr was released by the Houston Texans after several unproductive years with them, but he has been able to latch on to other teams as a backup quarterback. Russell may never get the chance to play in the NFL again. Even QB Ryan Leaf was able to go to a second team before his career was over. Russell will have to prove that he is willing to condition and work hard to get his body right. Also, more importantly, Russell has to work on his accuracy, which was a major problem.
Russell even held out of training camp his rookie season to get the contract he wanted. That makes it even worse for him, as he failed miserably to live up to the contract. Russell was so terrible that he couldn't even last the duration of his rookie contract. Only one other top pick has been released that quickly, and that was QB Steve Emtman, when the Indianapolis Colts released him three seasons after he was drafted first overall.
Russell has also played so terribly that there probably isn't a team that's interested in signing him as a backup. Former overall top pick QB David Carr was released by the Houston Texans after several unproductive years with them, but he has been able to latch on to other teams as a backup quarterback. Russell may never get the chance to play in the NFL again. Even QB Ryan Leaf was able to go to a second team before his career was over. Russell will have to prove that he is willing to condition and work hard to get his body right. Also, more importantly, Russell has to work on his accuracy, which was a major problem.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Colon Tears Achilles
Pittsburgh Steelers OT Willie Colon has reportedly torn his Achilles tendon, making it unlikely that he'll play at all in the 2010 season. Colon will undergo more tests today to check the extent of the injury. If it is revealed that he has torn his Achilles tendon, he will need surgery and about six months to rehab, which pretty much runs up until December or January. It's a big blow to a team who already won't see QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first couple of games due to suspension. The Steelers also got rid of reliable WR Santonio Holmes, trading him to the New York Jets in the offseason.
This could really be the difference between an okay start and a horrible start for the Steelers. Colon was a mainstay on their offensive line, and with QB Byron Leftwich or QB Dennis Dixon having to play the first couple of games, protection will be more important. The Steelers struggled last year to defend their title, missing the playoffs on poor defense and poor special teams play. Their defense might get back on track, but with Colon's absence, in addition to Holmes' departure and Roethlisberger's suspension, they could be off to a bad start.
The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division, sweeping the Steelers in the season series last season. The Bengals haven't really changed their roster, so they're poised to make another run at the AFC North crown. The Baltimore Ravens came in second and made the playoffs. They also upgraded their offense by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin. They are poised, and probably the front-runner, to take the AFC North division. The Steelers should just prepare for the 2011 season, because it's looking pretty bleak for them this upcoming season.
This could really be the difference between an okay start and a horrible start for the Steelers. Colon was a mainstay on their offensive line, and with QB Byron Leftwich or QB Dennis Dixon having to play the first couple of games, protection will be more important. The Steelers struggled last year to defend their title, missing the playoffs on poor defense and poor special teams play. Their defense might get back on track, but with Colon's absence, in addition to Holmes' departure and Roethlisberger's suspension, they could be off to a bad start.
The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division, sweeping the Steelers in the season series last season. The Bengals haven't really changed their roster, so they're poised to make another run at the AFC North crown. The Baltimore Ravens came in second and made the playoffs. They also upgraded their offense by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin. They are poised, and probably the front-runner, to take the AFC North division. The Steelers should just prepare for the 2011 season, because it's looking pretty bleak for them this upcoming season.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Lawson Asks For New Contract
San Francisco 49ers LB Manny Lawson is the latest football player to ask for a new contract in the middle of an existing deal. Lawson is entering the final season of a five-year deal worth $7.5 million he signed as a rookie. Lawson led the 49ers this past season with a career-high 6.5 sacks. The 49ers would like more production from Lawson, as they utilize a 3-4 defense which places emphasis on the outside linebackers' ability to get to the quarterback. Lawson did not attend voluntary workouts but has showed up for the mandatory minicamp.
Like with other free agents and other teams, the 49ers are going to tell him that with the league not having a collective bargaining agreement right now, it's hard to give players new contracts. Lawson is probably wasting his time asking for a new contract. Also, Lawson hasn't proved much to the 49ers yet, so there's no reason for him to want a new contract. The 49ers want more from him, and that is understandable because he should've had at least 10 sacks as a pass rusher at the linebacker position. Lawson needs to play out his contract and play well in order for him to get a new deal.
Among the players asking for new deals are Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson, Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne, New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis, and Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson. Those guys are on another level compared to Lawson. Those guys have produced very well at their positions, and have earned the right to be paid among the highest at their respective positions. Lawson has not earned that right yet, and the 49ers have not produced at all in the past several years. They need to focus on building on their mediocre season and make the push to the playoffs this upcoming season. No new contracts need to be handed to anyone on that team.
Like with other free agents and other teams, the 49ers are going to tell him that with the league not having a collective bargaining agreement right now, it's hard to give players new contracts. Lawson is probably wasting his time asking for a new contract. Also, Lawson hasn't proved much to the 49ers yet, so there's no reason for him to want a new contract. The 49ers want more from him, and that is understandable because he should've had at least 10 sacks as a pass rusher at the linebacker position. Lawson needs to play out his contract and play well in order for him to get a new deal.
Among the players asking for new deals are Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson, Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne, New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis, and Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson. Those guys are on another level compared to Lawson. Those guys have produced very well at their positions, and have earned the right to be paid among the highest at their respective positions. Lawson has not earned that right yet, and the 49ers have not produced at all in the past several years. They need to focus on building on their mediocre season and make the push to the playoffs this upcoming season. No new contracts need to be handed to anyone on that team.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Young In Trouble
Tennessee Titans QB Vince Young has publicly apologized to his team, his fans and his family after receiving a misdemeanor assault citation at a Dallas strip club. Surveillance video shows Young scuffling with another member, who happened to be Creiton Kinchen, who is the manager of the strip club. It is believed that an upside down Texas Longhorns sign he taunted him with started the altercation. Young said there was more to the altercation than that, and he stated that no punches were thrown. According to the video, it didn't appear as if punches were thrown.
While this is not a good thing for Young, this is just a simple mistake and the media should not add anything to it. Young said that he hoped NFL commissioner Roger Goodell does not punish him for the incident. Goodell shouldn't even speak with Young about it. It's an issue that has already been taken care of by Dallas police, with Young's full cooperation. These kinds of things happen all the time, and no other league makes a big deal out of it.
I would be extremely shocked if Goodell decides to suspend Young for the incident. Young has never been involved in any other incident which involved police. Young has had emotional issues as he adapted to being the starting quarterback in the NFL. This is Young's first involvement, far less serious than rape and sexual assault allegations Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger got. Goodell did not talk with Roethlisberger after the Las Vegas hotel employee filed a civil suit charging him of rape. So there would be no reason for Goodell to talk to Young.
While this is not a good thing for Young, this is just a simple mistake and the media should not add anything to it. Young said that he hoped NFL commissioner Roger Goodell does not punish him for the incident. Goodell shouldn't even speak with Young about it. It's an issue that has already been taken care of by Dallas police, with Young's full cooperation. These kinds of things happen all the time, and no other league makes a big deal out of it.
I would be extremely shocked if Goodell decides to suspend Young for the incident. Young has never been involved in any other incident which involved police. Young has had emotional issues as he adapted to being the starting quarterback in the NFL. This is Young's first involvement, far less serious than rape and sexual assault allegations Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger got. Goodell did not talk with Roethlisberger after the Las Vegas hotel employee filed a civil suit charging him of rape. So there would be no reason for Goodell to talk to Young.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Muhammad Retires
Carolina Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad has finally decided to hang up the cleats, calling it quits after 14 years in the NFL. Muhammad spent most of his career with the Panthers, setting numerous receiving records with the team. He was drafted in the second round by the Panthers out of Michigan State in 1996. The Panthers were only in their second season of existence, and Muhammad saw tough times early in his career. Rae Carruth, teammate of Muhammad's with the Panthers, was convicted of conspiring to kill his pregnant girlfriend, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. A year before that, teammate Fred Lane was murdered by his girlfriend in what was believed to be a way to obtain Lane's insurance policy.
The Panthers were able to get past those tough times, and in 2004, they found glory when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game to get their first berth to the Super Bowl. In that Super Bowl, Muhammad set a Super Bowl record with an 85 yard touchdown reception. However, the Panthers still lost 32-29. Muhammad made another Super Bowl appearance as a member of the Chicago Bears, in 2007 against the Indianapolis Colts. He was again on the wrong end of the scoreboard, losing 29-17. However, he was a key contributor in both teams appearances in the Super Bowl.
Muhammad's contributions have gone mostly unnoticed, mainly because he wasn't a flashy guy. Muhammad has 860 catches in his career, and 62 career touchdowns, which are excellent receiving numbers. Muhammad probably won't get into the Hall of Fame because he never really dominated a season and wasn't talked about in the media that often. He didn't possess speed, but he certainly possessed toughness and was a hard worker for that franchise. Muhammad was the one bright spot for a franchise that doesn't have many up to this point. Muhammad's presence among the younger players will be missed.
The Panthers were able to get past those tough times, and in 2004, they found glory when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game to get their first berth to the Super Bowl. In that Super Bowl, Muhammad set a Super Bowl record with an 85 yard touchdown reception. However, the Panthers still lost 32-29. Muhammad made another Super Bowl appearance as a member of the Chicago Bears, in 2007 against the Indianapolis Colts. He was again on the wrong end of the scoreboard, losing 29-17. However, he was a key contributor in both teams appearances in the Super Bowl.
Muhammad's contributions have gone mostly unnoticed, mainly because he wasn't a flashy guy. Muhammad has 860 catches in his career, and 62 career touchdowns, which are excellent receiving numbers. Muhammad probably won't get into the Hall of Fame because he never really dominated a season and wasn't talked about in the media that often. He didn't possess speed, but he certainly possessed toughness and was a hard worker for that franchise. Muhammad was the one bright spot for a franchise that doesn't have many up to this point. Muhammad's presence among the younger players will be missed.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Revis Holding Out
New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis is holding out from the Jets' offseason training programs because he wants a better contract. Revis will make $1 million this season, in the fourth year of his six-year contract he received when he was drafted. Revis showed up for workouts at the Jets' facility yesterday, but was a no-show today, and it is not clear when he'll continue to be absent. Revis has been a key component of the dominant defense the Jets displayed this past season, when they advanced to the AFC Championship Game.
Revis said he expects to be paid like the top corner in the NFL. Currently, CB Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders is the top paid corner annually in the NFL, making $15 million per season. This could be trouble for the Jets because there are other players who will want their contracts re-worked. OL Nick Mangold has been talking about holding out as well if he doesn't get his contract re-worked. These are two important players for the Jets, and both are very deserving.
So what should the Jets do? The Jets thrived on the running game, mostly due to the success of the offensive line, led by OL Alan Faneca, who was released and now with the Arizona Cardinals, and Mangold. The Jets need to do what they can to keep Mangold locked for the long run. Revis's success playing single coverage against elite wide receivers has allowed coach Rex Ryan to come up with a lot of blitz packages to pressure the quarterback. The Jets' defense will not be the same without Revis.
Revis said he expects to be paid like the top corner in the NFL. Currently, CB Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders is the top paid corner annually in the NFL, making $15 million per season. This could be trouble for the Jets because there are other players who will want their contracts re-worked. OL Nick Mangold has been talking about holding out as well if he doesn't get his contract re-worked. These are two important players for the Jets, and both are very deserving.
So what should the Jets do? The Jets thrived on the running game, mostly due to the success of the offensive line, led by OL Alan Faneca, who was released and now with the Arizona Cardinals, and Mangold. The Jets need to do what they can to keep Mangold locked for the long run. Revis's success playing single coverage against elite wide receivers has allowed coach Rex Ryan to come up with a lot of blitz packages to pressure the quarterback. The Jets' defense will not be the same without Revis.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Jackson Criticizes McNabb
Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson was talking to reporters from the Sporting News when he decided to express himself about Washington Redskins and former Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. Jackson stated that he didn't think the Eagles needed McNabb, and also said he was happy with the decision by the Eagles to let him go. McNabb decided to take the high road and not entertain much of what Jackson said. They'll see each other twice in the regular season, so the exchange between the two of them will be interesting.
That is interesting for Jackson to say. McNabb certainly hit it on the money when he said it's funny when they talk when you're gone. Jackson certainly seemed as if he appreciated everything McNabb did for the offense. That obviously isn't the case now. However, Jackson isn't a go-to receiver. He's only a speed receiver. If QB Kevin Kolb struggles, Jackson will be wishing he had McNabb.
McNabb has been an overrated quarterback for his career. His inaccuracy has constantly been overlooked, but he has done a lot for the Eagles in his career. The Eagles fans will soon find out what they had in McNabb when Kolb struggles during the season. He will struggle in his first full season, and the Eagles won't be much of a contender as people expect. Hopefully the Eagles won't rush into a decision and decide to bench Kolb, because that will be detrimental to his growth.
That is interesting for Jackson to say. McNabb certainly hit it on the money when he said it's funny when they talk when you're gone. Jackson certainly seemed as if he appreciated everything McNabb did for the offense. That obviously isn't the case now. However, Jackson isn't a go-to receiver. He's only a speed receiver. If QB Kevin Kolb struggles, Jackson will be wishing he had McNabb.
McNabb has been an overrated quarterback for his career. His inaccuracy has constantly been overlooked, but he has done a lot for the Eagles in his career. The Eagles fans will soon find out what they had in McNabb when Kolb struggles during the season. He will struggle in his first full season, and the Eagles won't be much of a contender as people expect. Hopefully the Eagles won't rush into a decision and decide to bench Kolb, because that will be detrimental to his growth.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Hall-of-Famer Accused of Rape
Hall-of-Fame LB Lawrence Taylor, who played for the New York Giants from 1981-1993, was arrested this morning after being accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. Police say he was accused of rape at the Holidome Hotel in Montebello, NY, and authorities have not released more details. Taylor won two championships for the Giants, and was one of the best defensive players of his time. However, Taylor battled drug addiction and was in trouble numerous times with the law. He was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in his first year of eligibility, in 1999.
It wouldn't be fair to Taylor or the alleged victim to comment on this matter because it is brand new. However, if there is evidence that suggests Taylor did do it, then it will be a major setback for a person who has seemed to straighten out his life. Taylor did do some special things on the field, but was never able to get away from the craziness off the field until later on after retirement.
It would be interesting to see where this case goes from here. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was accused twice of sexual-related offenses, and nothing has happened to him at all. That may be because of his status as a well-liked person and star quarterback. Taylor was a very good football player, but his troubles were well-known and received a lot of criticism for that in the media. Could that affect him in this case.
Hall-of-Fame RB O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in 1995, but received no such luck in 2009. In 2007, he was accused and eventually charged for an incident regarding his memorabilia. The jury decided to come down hard on him, and that maybe was because he supposedly got away free 14 years before. Taylor didn't have a case related to Simpson, but his past may affect him.
With Taylor now being charged with third-degree rape, Taylor might be in some hot water. All signs are against him because the girl is only 15 years old. Any jury in this case would want to come down hard on someone who allegedly harmed a 15-year-old. Taylor is 51, so this is clearly illegal no matter if he forced her or not. We'll just have to wait and see how everything plays out.
It wouldn't be fair to Taylor or the alleged victim to comment on this matter because it is brand new. However, if there is evidence that suggests Taylor did do it, then it will be a major setback for a person who has seemed to straighten out his life. Taylor did do some special things on the field, but was never able to get away from the craziness off the field until later on after retirement.
It would be interesting to see where this case goes from here. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was accused twice of sexual-related offenses, and nothing has happened to him at all. That may be because of his status as a well-liked person and star quarterback. Taylor was a very good football player, but his troubles were well-known and received a lot of criticism for that in the media. Could that affect him in this case.
Hall-of-Fame RB O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in 1995, but received no such luck in 2009. In 2007, he was accused and eventually charged for an incident regarding his memorabilia. The jury decided to come down hard on him, and that maybe was because he supposedly got away free 14 years before. Taylor didn't have a case related to Simpson, but his past may affect him.
With Taylor now being charged with third-degree rape, Taylor might be in some hot water. All signs are against him because the girl is only 15 years old. Any jury in this case would want to come down hard on someone who allegedly harmed a 15-year-old. Taylor is 51, so this is clearly illegal no matter if he forced her or not. We'll just have to wait and see how everything plays out.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Dolphins GM Asks Personal Question
Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland has received criticism, after reports surfaced that he asked WR Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute during interviews with teams and players. Ireland has publicly apologized for using "poor judgment." However, the media has not been too accepting of the fact that he asked that. Vinny Cerrato, former executive vice president of football operations of the Washington Redskins, publicly blasted Ireland for it as well.
While Ireland has received criticism for this, this is blown out of proportion. While it isn't Ireland's business if Bryant's mother was a prostitute, it was simply a question. Ireland was not implying that Bryant's mother was a prostitute. He simply asked him if she was. That's not that bad of a question. A lot of executives ask personal questions to potential employees all the time. It should not have affected Bryant in any way. It doesn't seem to be affecting Bryant at all because he hasn't even responded to the reports. It's a non-issue for him. He has to focus on football and that's it.
The fact that Cerrato is blasting him out of all people is a bit hysterical. While Ireland has had success putting together a good Dolphins team that went to the playoffs in the 2008 season, Cerrato and the rest of the Redskins brass has constantly failed at their jobs. Cerrato should look at the reason he isn't in football anymore. Cerrato needs to just enjoy his time away from the game, and not think about coming back.
As for Ireland and Bryant, the best thing to do is quickly forget about this and work at improving their respective teams. Bryant was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 24th pick, and he probably knows better than anyone that he and WR Miles Austin can form a great receiver tandem for QB Tony Romo.
While Ireland has received criticism for this, this is blown out of proportion. While it isn't Ireland's business if Bryant's mother was a prostitute, it was simply a question. Ireland was not implying that Bryant's mother was a prostitute. He simply asked him if she was. That's not that bad of a question. A lot of executives ask personal questions to potential employees all the time. It should not have affected Bryant in any way. It doesn't seem to be affecting Bryant at all because he hasn't even responded to the reports. It's a non-issue for him. He has to focus on football and that's it.
The fact that Cerrato is blasting him out of all people is a bit hysterical. While Ireland has had success putting together a good Dolphins team that went to the playoffs in the 2008 season, Cerrato and the rest of the Redskins brass has constantly failed at their jobs. Cerrato should look at the reason he isn't in football anymore. Cerrato needs to just enjoy his time away from the game, and not think about coming back.
As for Ireland and Bryant, the best thing to do is quickly forget about this and work at improving their respective teams. Bryant was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 24th pick, and he probably knows better than anyone that he and WR Miles Austin can form a great receiver tandem for QB Tony Romo.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Blount Spurns 49ers, Signs With Titans
Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount had an agreement to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, but then changed his mind at the last minute and signed with the Tennessee Titans. Blount was not drafted, partly due to the incident with Boise State DE Byron Hout on the first game of the regular season. Blount punched Hout in the face at the conclusion of the game, and Blount was subsequently suspended for the rest of the season. Blount eventually had his suspension reduced and he was able to play in November and in their Rose Bowl appearance against Ohio State.
Blount decided his opportunity with the Titans was much better than an opportunity with the 49ers. The 49ers have two productive running backs already in RB Frank Gore and RB Glen Coffee. They also drafted RB Anthony Dixon from Mississippi State. The Titans have All-Pro RB Chris Johnson, but they traded their backup RB Lendale White to the Seattle Seahawks on draft day.
I don't blame Blount for what he did. The opportunity certainly presents itself with the Titans. Had he signed with the 49ers, he probably would've been cut before the regular season. That probably would've put him in a spot where he would've taken a while to find another team to land with. With the Titans, Blount has a legit shot at not only making the roster, but being the primary back behind Johnson.
While Blount will be looked at for that punch against Hout, I truly believe Blount is a good person who got very frustrated that night in Idaho. NFL teams should not be concerned about this guy on and off the field, especially early in his career. He wasn't even drafted, so there's no margin for error on his part. If his determination for being a productive running back presents itself, he'll strive behind Johnson and give the Titans a one-two punch like what they had with White.
Blount decided his opportunity with the Titans was much better than an opportunity with the 49ers. The 49ers have two productive running backs already in RB Frank Gore and RB Glen Coffee. They also drafted RB Anthony Dixon from Mississippi State. The Titans have All-Pro RB Chris Johnson, but they traded their backup RB Lendale White to the Seattle Seahawks on draft day.
I don't blame Blount for what he did. The opportunity certainly presents itself with the Titans. Had he signed with the 49ers, he probably would've been cut before the regular season. That probably would've put him in a spot where he would've taken a while to find another team to land with. With the Titans, Blount has a legit shot at not only making the roster, but being the primary back behind Johnson.
While Blount will be looked at for that punch against Hout, I truly believe Blount is a good person who got very frustrated that night in Idaho. NFL teams should not be concerned about this guy on and off the field, especially early in his career. He wasn't even drafted, so there's no margin for error on his part. If his determination for being a productive running back presents itself, he'll strive behind Johnson and give the Titans a one-two punch like what they had with White.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Draft Moves
The top three picks of the NFL Draft wasn't surprising, but there were surprising moves later down the line. QB Tim Tebow got picked in the first round by the Denver Broncos, which surprised many. Tebow went ahead of QB Jimmy Clausen and QB Colt McCoy. Clausen went to the Carolina Panthers in the 2nd round and McCoy went to the Cleveland Browns in the 3rd round. S Myron Rolle, who left Florida State to attend Oxford University as a Rhode scholar, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 6th round.
In separate deals, the Seattle Seahawks acquired RB Lendale White from the Tennessee Titans, and RB Leon Washington from the New York Jets, on the final day of the draft. Also, the Oakland Raiders acquired QB Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins, a move that was expected. White lost his starting job to RB Chris Johnson, and Johnson exploded in rushing yards this past season, leaving White expendable. Washington is recovering from a gruesome leg injury, which he suffered this past season against the Raiders. Washington and White should give the Seahawks a good 1-2 punch in the backfield to compliment QB Matt Hasselbeck and that offense.
How can so many great players go in the 2nd round, behind Tebow? This draft didn't make much sense at all. Teams got great deals in the 2nd round. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to get WR Arrelious Benn. The Baltimore Ravens were able to get LB Sergio Kindle. The San Francisco 49ers were able to get S Taylor Mays. The Seahawks were able to get WR Golden Tate. All in the second round? All behind Tebow? The Broncos were not smart to draft Tebow. They have QB Kyle Orton and QB Brady Quinn on their team right now. The Broncos are showing they don't trust Orton, despite a solid season, and Quinn is just awful. How can drafting Tebow make them any better?
Also, how can the Jets draft RB Joe McKnight and get rid of Washington. Washington is worlds better than McKnight, and McKnight is coming off of a gruesome throat injury. Washington is coming off of a gruesome injury as well, but he's been able to get it done at the NFL level on offense and special teams. This will set the Jets back a bit not having Washington and RB Thomas Jones. The Seahawks definitely upgraded their offense. They drafted Tate, and he's a sure-handed receiver who can be opposite WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The one-two punch of Washington and White will be tough for defenses to guard and Hasselbeck has certainly proved that he's a good quarterback. I look for the Seahawks to win the NFC West this year.
In separate deals, the Seattle Seahawks acquired RB Lendale White from the Tennessee Titans, and RB Leon Washington from the New York Jets, on the final day of the draft. Also, the Oakland Raiders acquired QB Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins, a move that was expected. White lost his starting job to RB Chris Johnson, and Johnson exploded in rushing yards this past season, leaving White expendable. Washington is recovering from a gruesome leg injury, which he suffered this past season against the Raiders. Washington and White should give the Seahawks a good 1-2 punch in the backfield to compliment QB Matt Hasselbeck and that offense.
How can so many great players go in the 2nd round, behind Tebow? This draft didn't make much sense at all. Teams got great deals in the 2nd round. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to get WR Arrelious Benn. The Baltimore Ravens were able to get LB Sergio Kindle. The San Francisco 49ers were able to get S Taylor Mays. The Seahawks were able to get WR Golden Tate. All in the second round? All behind Tebow? The Broncos were not smart to draft Tebow. They have QB Kyle Orton and QB Brady Quinn on their team right now. The Broncos are showing they don't trust Orton, despite a solid season, and Quinn is just awful. How can drafting Tebow make them any better?
Also, how can the Jets draft RB Joe McKnight and get rid of Washington. Washington is worlds better than McKnight, and McKnight is coming off of a gruesome throat injury. Washington is coming off of a gruesome injury as well, but he's been able to get it done at the NFL level on offense and special teams. This will set the Jets back a bit not having Washington and RB Thomas Jones. The Seahawks definitely upgraded their offense. They drafted Tate, and he's a sure-handed receiver who can be opposite WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The one-two punch of Washington and White will be tough for defenses to guard and Hasselbeck has certainly proved that he's a good quarterback. I look for the Seahawks to win the NFC West this year.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Roethlisberger Suspended 6 Games
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was suspended 6 games by the NFL, becoming the latest victim of commissioner Roger Goodell's strict personal conduct policy. The Steelers afterward went as far as to inquire about deals for Roethlisberger, in who they invested $102 million over 8 years. The Steelers already traded WR Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets. Holmes was a productive receiver who ran into off the field problems during his career.
I have openly advocated for the suspension of Roethlisberger, feeling that Goodell has been unfair in his suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. However, someone needs to step to the defense of the players. Roethlisberger certainly does not deserve a six-game suspension. All of the other players Goodell has suspended has also received hefty suspensions.
Goodell is only trying to go past the criticism former commissioner Paul Tagliabue received during the late stages of his tenure. It shouldn't even be Goodell's decision whether to suspend these players. It should be the team's decision. The Tennessee Titans invested a high draft pick on Jones. If the Titans see fit to suspend him because of their commitment to him, then they should do that. The same goes for the Steelers with Roethlisberger. Goodell should stay out of these matters.
I have openly advocated for the suspension of Roethlisberger, feeling that Goodell has been unfair in his suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. However, someone needs to step to the defense of the players. Roethlisberger certainly does not deserve a six-game suspension. All of the other players Goodell has suspended has also received hefty suspensions.
Goodell is only trying to go past the criticism former commissioner Paul Tagliabue received during the late stages of his tenure. It shouldn't even be Goodell's decision whether to suspend these players. It should be the team's decision. The Tennessee Titans invested a high draft pick on Jones. If the Titans see fit to suspend him because of their commitment to him, then they should do that. The same goes for the Steelers with Roethlisberger. Goodell should stay out of these matters.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Dolphins Trade Ginn to 49ers
The Miami Dolphins, who acquired WR Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos earlier in the week in a trade, decided to trade WR Ted Ginn Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth round draft pick. The Dolphins were shopping Ginn Jr. even before they acquired Marshall, with some in Miami labeling him a bust. Ginn Jr. was the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He is a speed receiver and an excellent return man, but never lived up to the expectations the Dolphins had for him.
This move is a fresh start for Ginn Jr., but a great acquisition for the 49ers. Pairing Ginn Jr. alongside WR Michael Crabtree can be great for the 49ers' offense, in addition to having RB Frank Gore in the backfield. The Dolphins had a chance to pair Ginn Jr. with Marshall, which would've taken pressure off of Ginn Jr. and allowed him to perform. However, they got impatient and made a very bad deal.
The expectations on Ginn Jr. were too high to begin with. At Ohio State, Ginn Jr. was known for his speed, but not necessarily his good receiving skills. He was also an excellent special teams player in college, and he's showing exactly that in the NFL. The Dolphins had a chance to have explosive receivers alongside QB Chad Henne. Now, the compliments to Marshall on the Dolphins are WR Davone Bess, WR Greg Camarillo, and WR Brian Hartline. The Dolphins won't be much better than last season, and the Jets and the Patriots will remain favorites in the AFC East.
This move is a fresh start for Ginn Jr., but a great acquisition for the 49ers. Pairing Ginn Jr. alongside WR Michael Crabtree can be great for the 49ers' offense, in addition to having RB Frank Gore in the backfield. The Dolphins had a chance to pair Ginn Jr. with Marshall, which would've taken pressure off of Ginn Jr. and allowed him to perform. However, they got impatient and made a very bad deal.
The expectations on Ginn Jr. were too high to begin with. At Ohio State, Ginn Jr. was known for his speed, but not necessarily his good receiving skills. He was also an excellent special teams player in college, and he's showing exactly that in the NFL. The Dolphins had a chance to have explosive receivers alongside QB Chad Henne. Now, the compliments to Marshall on the Dolphins are WR Davone Bess, WR Greg Camarillo, and WR Brian Hartline. The Dolphins won't be much better than last season, and the Jets and the Patriots will remain favorites in the AFC East.
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