While our thoughts are obviously with those who are displaced by the oncoming category 3-4 Hurricane Gustav, we can't help but feel that this could be the end of the Saints in New Orleans.
Owner Tom Benson was angling to leave the city shortly before Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005, but due to overwhelming public pressure, was forced to keep any plans on hold. With the city apparently returning to somewhere approaching normal, it was always going to be crunch time for Benson as to whether he would continue in New Orleans, or perhaps investigate other avenues.
One possibility is that if the area is affected in a similiar manner to 2005, the city of New Orleans - as extreme as this may sound - may become almost uninhabitable. Unfortunately for those in Louisiana, it is unlikely that the Saints would stick around, although short term they will likely play in Baton Rouge if there are any problems with the Superdome.
Long term, it is entirely feasible that we are witnessing the final throes of the New Orleans frnachise. Los Angeles based Developer Ed Roski Jr, who has pushed for the establishment of a franchise in the L.A. area, said on Friday that he is in 'no doubt' that a team will play there - most likely at the Rose Bowl - in 2009.
As it stands, the next two days could be the birth of the Los Angeles Saints.
Sunday 31 August 2008
All-Cut Offence
Late last night, we started wondering about the chances of putting together the 'best of the worst' in NFL terms. Of course, the players cut yesterday are far from 'the worst' in the NFL, but the fact that they are cut is a symbolic way of saying that they're unwanted.
Here's the Offence of the 'all cuts' Roster.
QB: Chris Simms (Tampa Bay)
RB: Rudi Johnson (Cincinnati)
FB: Jason Davis (Philadelphia)
WR: Roydell Williams (Tennessee)
WR: Reche Caldwell (St. Louis)
TE: Justin Peelle - (Miami)
OT: Willie Anderson (Cincinnati)
OT: Chad Slaughter (Baltimore)
OG: Adrien Clarke (Baltimore)
OG: Kynan Forney (Atlanta)
C: Dan Mozes (Minnesota)
Ah yes, the names just trip off the tongue don't they? Of the team, players such as Chris Simms and Willie Anderson should easily find new homes. Their reputation and ability is enough to get them a roster spot somewhere, and we imagine the fight for Simms could get interesting.
Even though the Bears have named Kyle Orton as starter, it would be a huge boost to the Offence if Simms was to land in Chicago. There is no doubt that he would be an upgrade at the position, and in fact, the team might be interested in Anderson as a stop-gap this year, while 14th overall selection Chris Williams recovers from his herniated disc.
Here's the Offence of the 'all cuts' Roster.
QB: Chris Simms (Tampa Bay)
RB: Rudi Johnson (Cincinnati)
FB: Jason Davis (Philadelphia)
WR: Roydell Williams (Tennessee)
WR: Reche Caldwell (St. Louis)
TE: Justin Peelle - (Miami)
OT: Willie Anderson (Cincinnati)
OT: Chad Slaughter (Baltimore)
OG: Adrien Clarke (Baltimore)
OG: Kynan Forney (Atlanta)
C: Dan Mozes (Minnesota)
Ah yes, the names just trip off the tongue don't they? Of the team, players such as Chris Simms and Willie Anderson should easily find new homes. Their reputation and ability is enough to get them a roster spot somewhere, and we imagine the fight for Simms could get interesting.
Even though the Bears have named Kyle Orton as starter, it would be a huge boost to the Offence if Simms was to land in Chicago. There is no doubt that he would be an upgrade at the position, and in fact, the team might be interested in Anderson as a stop-gap this year, while 14th overall selection Chris Williams recovers from his herniated disc.
Saturday 30 August 2008
10 Impact Players in 2008
With the 2008 Regular Season mere days away, here's our quick guide to the ten players who should break into the nation's conscious over the next 6 months. Some are high draft picks who have yet to prove themselves, others are veterans who perhaps needed a change of scenery, and some are almost complete unknowns. Regardless of their background, we think they'll post career numbers this year.
Kevin Walter - WR - Houston Texans
The Texans envisage Walter as the perfect compliment to No.1 Andre Johnson, who faces plenty of double coverage as the team's only proven threat. All that could change this year, as the team elevated Walter to second on the depth chart after a strong Training Camp. He then repaid their faith with an excellent preseason, where his connection with QB Matt Schaub (another candidate for a a breakout year) was especially evident.
Even without elite speed, he has enough to get open, though perhaps his best attribute is quite simply his ability to adjust and catch the ball in situations where lesser receivers will give up on the catch. It has endeared him to coach Gary Kubiak, and it should finally mean that the team is not completely reliant on Johnson in the passing game.
Ernie Sims - LB - Detroit Lions
Sims's 8 tackles and 1 sack in the Lions' third preseason game was simply a continuation of his stellar play towards the end of last season. As a player, he has shown that he is ready to break into the upper echelon of Linebackers, but it is as a leader of the Detroit Defence that Sims has truly established himself.
With the kind of motor that keeps him involved in almost every play, Sims will be guaranteed some big statistics this year, but as we say, statistics alone will not be the only way that Sims contributes to a defence in sore need of someone to step up and establish himself as the true leader of the team.
Cortland Finnegan - CB - Tennessee Titans
Like Sims, Finnegan has the high motor and instincts that keep him involved in plays that he almost has no right to be anywhere near. The Titans coaching staff are so high on Finnegan - the team's 7th round choice in the 2006 draft - that they recently tied him to a 4 year extension worth $17m. Finnegan has earned every single penny, and fought his way up through the team's depth chart in almost the polar opposite manner to Adam Jones, the man he has replaced.
With the intelligence and physical ability needed to progress to the next level, Finnegan has a golden opportunity at the age of just 24, to establish himself in the upper echelon of NFL Defensive Backs.
Jerry Porter - WR - Jacksonville Jaguars
An enigma for much of his time in the NFL, Jerry Porter left Oakland after two years of conflict and injury this season for the Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville. It would be easy to dismiss Porter's chances of repairing his tarnished image, but the guy is not done in this league just yet. If he can stay healthy, Porter has all of the tools to be resuscitate his career.
Another important factor is that throughout his time in Oakland, Porter was hampered by poor Quarterback play and an almost constant revolving door at the position. In Jacksonville, the team has David Garrard established as the starter, and there is no doubt that Garrard has the ability to get more out of the anaemic passing game than his predecessor Byron Leftwich.
The Jags are ready to mount a challenge, and if they are to do so, Porter will need to come up big.
Haloti Ngata - DT Baltimore Ravens
When the Ravens swapped their pick with Cleveland to move up one place during the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, they did so with just one player in mind. Haloti Ngata. The Oregon product would have soldified the Browns' D-line for the following five years minimum, but instead, it is Baltimore that is about to see the best of the mammoth Defensive Tackle.
Ngata has been injured in preseason, something that could curb the amount of time he sees in the early part of the season, but expect him to be a key part of the team's Defence come the latter half of the season. Any successful Defence needs a guy to cause disruption up front, and Ngata should build on a solid 2007 season to become the player that the Ravens need.
Chad Jackson - WR - New England Patriots
This list is full of players whose NFL careers haven't quite panned out as they expected because of injury. None can class themself as unfortunate as Chad Jackson.
Jackson entered the league as a second rounder, hoping to jump start a lifeless New England receiving unit. Unfortunately, after a patchy 2006 season that saw him struggle through countless injuries, he suffered a torn ACL during the AFC championship game against the Colts, thus not only ending his 2006 season, but also his 2007 season.
In that time, not only did many people forget about Jackson, but the team chose the 2007 offseason to upgrade the receiving unit with veterans Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth - thus pushing Jackson even further towards the door marked 'bust'. This year, Jackson hopes to make the most of the void left by Stallworth's departure to establish himself on the team. Jabar Gaffney is the team's third receiver, but Jackson will likely field punts and kickoffs in an attempt to get more playing time.
With the ball in his hands, Jackson can be a star. If he is injured again, his time in New England could be up.
Roddy White - WR - Atlanta Falcons
White is one of the beneficiaries of the Michael Vick fiasco. The team invested high picks in White, Michael Jenkins, and Laurent Robinson during Vick's tenure, but none were able to fulfil their promise. There comes a point where you have to ask, were their selections really down to poor personnel skills?
Put simply, no. Vick's tendency to check down to Tight End Alge Crumpler not only inflated his numbers, but also made his Wideouts almost redundant. For everything Vick brought to the team with his scrambling ability and ability to save broken plays, he hindered the progress of three crucial elements in the Falcons' future offensive plans.
With Vick gone, White will thrive. He showed much more promise last year, and this year, we could be about to see the next Manning-Harrison combination in the NFL. Seriously. Matt Ryan has the ability and mentality to bring on the talented receiving corps, and White should be the main beneficiary.
DeAngelo Williams - RB - Carolina Panthers
Many of the players in this list are third year players who should be establishing themselves not only as starters, but as productive players who justify their team's investment. Williams is a classic example. Stuck behind DeShaun Foster (The walking fumble) for two years, he looked fantastic in flashes, often capitalising on weary defences for big gains that perhaps made his statistics slightly misleading.
With Foster's release at the end of last year, Williams was elevated to no.1 back - a situation that was only clear for a few months, as the team again selected a first round Running Back - Oregon's Jonathan Stewart. A big, bruising back who will be the thunder to Williams's lightning, Stewart should wear down defences much more effectively than Foster ever could, and in turn. we could see more carries and more big plays from Williams.
Nate Burleson - WR - Seattle Seahawks
'Speed kills' as John Madden (and countless Government adverts) constantly tell us. If it does, then perhaps Nate Burleson could be set to murder a few Defences this season.
Aquired from the Vikings almost in retribution for the Steve Hutchinson 'Poison Pill' incident - in which Hutchinson was signed to an offer sheet that would have been impossible for the Seahawks to match - Burleson failed to make much of an impact in 2006, but last season started to progress in the manner that the team ahd hoped. Burleson not only returns kicks, but he can be one of the most effective big play receivers in the NFL when he is on form. Unfortunately, he has often struggled with ball security and drops, something that seemed to be ironed out in 2007.
With Deion Branch looking unlikely to play early in the season, Burleson is the natural go-to guy for Matt Hasselbeck. If he gets on the board early, this could be the season that Burleson breaks out and becomes the number two in Seattle.
Eric Weddle - S - San Diego
The Chargers secondary has been a weak point for some time. Safeties Clinton Hart and Marlon McCree, as well as Cornerbacks Drayton Florence and Quentin Jammer, were all considered as players who - despite some talent - were not effective as a unit. McCree and Florence have left the team this season, and one player who stands to benefit is Safety Eric Weddle.
Weddle and CB Antonio Cromartie are the future of this team's Defence. Cromartie broke out in his second year last season, and now it is Weddle's turn. After limited action as the dime back in 2007, Weddle will see his playing time increase dramatically in 2008. Hart's position is not considered secure by any means, and ideally, the team would like to see Weddle push for the starting job early on in the season.
Weddle's biggest attribute is his versatility. Weddle's athletic ability is rare, and this means that he is able to stay on the field in almost any situation. Not only should Weddle be the starter at Strong Safety by the end of the season, but expect him to become one of the leaders on the NFL's most talented roster.
Kevin Walter - WR - Houston Texans
The Texans envisage Walter as the perfect compliment to No.1 Andre Johnson, who faces plenty of double coverage as the team's only proven threat. All that could change this year, as the team elevated Walter to second on the depth chart after a strong Training Camp. He then repaid their faith with an excellent preseason, where his connection with QB Matt Schaub (another candidate for a a breakout year) was especially evident.
Even without elite speed, he has enough to get open, though perhaps his best attribute is quite simply his ability to adjust and catch the ball in situations where lesser receivers will give up on the catch. It has endeared him to coach Gary Kubiak, and it should finally mean that the team is not completely reliant on Johnson in the passing game.
Ernie Sims - LB - Detroit Lions
Sims's 8 tackles and 1 sack in the Lions' third preseason game was simply a continuation of his stellar play towards the end of last season. As a player, he has shown that he is ready to break into the upper echelon of Linebackers, but it is as a leader of the Detroit Defence that Sims has truly established himself.
With the kind of motor that keeps him involved in almost every play, Sims will be guaranteed some big statistics this year, but as we say, statistics alone will not be the only way that Sims contributes to a defence in sore need of someone to step up and establish himself as the true leader of the team.
Cortland Finnegan - CB - Tennessee Titans
Like Sims, Finnegan has the high motor and instincts that keep him involved in plays that he almost has no right to be anywhere near. The Titans coaching staff are so high on Finnegan - the team's 7th round choice in the 2006 draft - that they recently tied him to a 4 year extension worth $17m. Finnegan has earned every single penny, and fought his way up through the team's depth chart in almost the polar opposite manner to Adam Jones, the man he has replaced.
With the intelligence and physical ability needed to progress to the next level, Finnegan has a golden opportunity at the age of just 24, to establish himself in the upper echelon of NFL Defensive Backs.
Jerry Porter - WR - Jacksonville Jaguars
An enigma for much of his time in the NFL, Jerry Porter left Oakland after two years of conflict and injury this season for the Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville. It would be easy to dismiss Porter's chances of repairing his tarnished image, but the guy is not done in this league just yet. If he can stay healthy, Porter has all of the tools to be resuscitate his career.
Another important factor is that throughout his time in Oakland, Porter was hampered by poor Quarterback play and an almost constant revolving door at the position. In Jacksonville, the team has David Garrard established as the starter, and there is no doubt that Garrard has the ability to get more out of the anaemic passing game than his predecessor Byron Leftwich.
The Jags are ready to mount a challenge, and if they are to do so, Porter will need to come up big.
Haloti Ngata - DT Baltimore Ravens
When the Ravens swapped their pick with Cleveland to move up one place during the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, they did so with just one player in mind. Haloti Ngata. The Oregon product would have soldified the Browns' D-line for the following five years minimum, but instead, it is Baltimore that is about to see the best of the mammoth Defensive Tackle.
Ngata has been injured in preseason, something that could curb the amount of time he sees in the early part of the season, but expect him to be a key part of the team's Defence come the latter half of the season. Any successful Defence needs a guy to cause disruption up front, and Ngata should build on a solid 2007 season to become the player that the Ravens need.
Chad Jackson - WR - New England Patriots
This list is full of players whose NFL careers haven't quite panned out as they expected because of injury. None can class themself as unfortunate as Chad Jackson.
Jackson entered the league as a second rounder, hoping to jump start a lifeless New England receiving unit. Unfortunately, after a patchy 2006 season that saw him struggle through countless injuries, he suffered a torn ACL during the AFC championship game against the Colts, thus not only ending his 2006 season, but also his 2007 season.
In that time, not only did many people forget about Jackson, but the team chose the 2007 offseason to upgrade the receiving unit with veterans Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth - thus pushing Jackson even further towards the door marked 'bust'. This year, Jackson hopes to make the most of the void left by Stallworth's departure to establish himself on the team. Jabar Gaffney is the team's third receiver, but Jackson will likely field punts and kickoffs in an attempt to get more playing time.
With the ball in his hands, Jackson can be a star. If he is injured again, his time in New England could be up.
Roddy White - WR - Atlanta Falcons
White is one of the beneficiaries of the Michael Vick fiasco. The team invested high picks in White, Michael Jenkins, and Laurent Robinson during Vick's tenure, but none were able to fulfil their promise. There comes a point where you have to ask, were their selections really down to poor personnel skills?
Put simply, no. Vick's tendency to check down to Tight End Alge Crumpler not only inflated his numbers, but also made his Wideouts almost redundant. For everything Vick brought to the team with his scrambling ability and ability to save broken plays, he hindered the progress of three crucial elements in the Falcons' future offensive plans.
With Vick gone, White will thrive. He showed much more promise last year, and this year, we could be about to see the next Manning-Harrison combination in the NFL. Seriously. Matt Ryan has the ability and mentality to bring on the talented receiving corps, and White should be the main beneficiary.
DeAngelo Williams - RB - Carolina Panthers
Many of the players in this list are third year players who should be establishing themselves not only as starters, but as productive players who justify their team's investment. Williams is a classic example. Stuck behind DeShaun Foster (The walking fumble) for two years, he looked fantastic in flashes, often capitalising on weary defences for big gains that perhaps made his statistics slightly misleading.
With Foster's release at the end of last year, Williams was elevated to no.1 back - a situation that was only clear for a few months, as the team again selected a first round Running Back - Oregon's Jonathan Stewart. A big, bruising back who will be the thunder to Williams's lightning, Stewart should wear down defences much more effectively than Foster ever could, and in turn. we could see more carries and more big plays from Williams.
Nate Burleson - WR - Seattle Seahawks
'Speed kills' as John Madden (and countless Government adverts) constantly tell us. If it does, then perhaps Nate Burleson could be set to murder a few Defences this season.
Aquired from the Vikings almost in retribution for the Steve Hutchinson 'Poison Pill' incident - in which Hutchinson was signed to an offer sheet that would have been impossible for the Seahawks to match - Burleson failed to make much of an impact in 2006, but last season started to progress in the manner that the team ahd hoped. Burleson not only returns kicks, but he can be one of the most effective big play receivers in the NFL when he is on form. Unfortunately, he has often struggled with ball security and drops, something that seemed to be ironed out in 2007.
With Deion Branch looking unlikely to play early in the season, Burleson is the natural go-to guy for Matt Hasselbeck. If he gets on the board early, this could be the season that Burleson breaks out and becomes the number two in Seattle.
Eric Weddle - S - San Diego
The Chargers secondary has been a weak point for some time. Safeties Clinton Hart and Marlon McCree, as well as Cornerbacks Drayton Florence and Quentin Jammer, were all considered as players who - despite some talent - were not effective as a unit. McCree and Florence have left the team this season, and one player who stands to benefit is Safety Eric Weddle.
Weddle and CB Antonio Cromartie are the future of this team's Defence. Cromartie broke out in his second year last season, and now it is Weddle's turn. After limited action as the dime back in 2007, Weddle will see his playing time increase dramatically in 2008. Hart's position is not considered secure by any means, and ideally, the team would like to see Weddle push for the starting job early on in the season.
Weddle's biggest attribute is his versatility. Weddle's athletic ability is rare, and this means that he is able to stay on the field in almost any situation. Not only should Weddle be the starter at Strong Safety by the end of the season, but expect him to become one of the leaders on the NFL's most talented roster.
Rudi on the rocks (with no ice)
Word reaches us that Rudi Johnson, Cincinatti's starting Running Back since 2004, is set to be cut.
Johnson has been severely hampered by injuries during the last two years, and it's no real surprise that the team opted to release him. Both parties tried to get a trade done before today, but putting our 'GM hat' on, you'd have to wonder why anyone would take on Johnson's $3.45m salary just days before the Bungles would be faced with a decision of whether to keep him on the roster.
So now Johnson joins Shaun Alexander as a Free Agent RB with a little bit too much wear on the tyres for most team's to take a chance on him.
Johnson has been severely hampered by injuries during the last two years, and it's no real surprise that the team opted to release him. Both parties tried to get a trade done before today, but putting our 'GM hat' on, you'd have to wonder why anyone would take on Johnson's $3.45m salary just days before the Bungles would be faced with a decision of whether to keep him on the roster.
So now Johnson joins Shaun Alexander as a Free Agent RB with a little bit too much wear on the tyres for most team's to take a chance on him.
Giants ditch Woodson
The New York Giants have cut Andre Woodson, the team's 6th round pick in this year's draft.
Woodson, once projected as a first round pick, slid heavily in the build up to the draft after a poor Senuor Bowl. The Giants took a flyer on Woodson late on, but even after letting the hefty Jared Lorenzen go early in camp, Woodson was always a long shot to make the roster.
The Giants have opted for just two QB's on the roster, with Anthony Wright also cut today. David Carr will back up Eli Manning, which means that the team has two former first-overall picks under centre.
Woodson, once projected as a first round pick, slid heavily in the build up to the draft after a poor Senuor Bowl. The Giants took a flyer on Woodson late on, but even after letting the hefty Jared Lorenzen go early in camp, Woodson was always a long shot to make the roster.
The Giants have opted for just two QB's on the roster, with Anthony Wright also cut today. David Carr will back up Eli Manning, which means that the team has two former first-overall picks under centre.
Chiefs roll with Novak
With Kansas City never being the easiest place to kick, the team has gone through kickers at a semi-ridiculous rate over the last few years. Last year's 6th round selection Justin Medlock didn't even make it tgrough Training Camp, and it says a great deal that the team would probably take Lawrence Tynes back in a heartbeat.
This year, the team is relying on former Dallas Kicker Nick Novak to handle Field Goals, following the release of Rookie Connor Barth.
Novak, a third year player who was beaten out by Shaun Suisham in Washington during the 2006 season, has shown good leg strength and accuracy during his time in the league, but has struggled in the clutch. On the other hand, he has been pretty good in the preseason, and given the wind in Arrowhead stadum, it's often better to have an experienced head on the field.
Still, if a veteran kicker is released during today's cuts, don't be surprised to see the Chiefs bring in a little competition for Novak.
This year, the team is relying on former Dallas Kicker Nick Novak to handle Field Goals, following the release of Rookie Connor Barth.
Novak, a third year player who was beaten out by Shaun Suisham in Washington during the 2006 season, has shown good leg strength and accuracy during his time in the league, but has struggled in the clutch. On the other hand, he has been pretty good in the preseason, and given the wind in Arrowhead stadum, it's often better to have an experienced head on the field.
Still, if a veteran kicker is released during today's cuts, don't be surprised to see the Chiefs bring in a little competition for Novak.
Final cuts today
Today marks that most magical of times: Mass Redundancy. Yes, the NFL's 32 franchises will collectively dump around 600 players as they get their final 53 man rosters in order for the 2008 season.
We'll cover some of the bigger cuts today, with plenty of big names rumoured to be amongst those in line for release. Amongst those already cut include:
NY Jets: RB Jesse Chatman (signed from Miami in Free Agency this year) and CB Hank Poteat
Chicago: DE Dan Bazuin (a 2nd round pick in 2007)
New Orleans: S Lance Schulters
Houston: DE Rosevelt Colvin, RB's Darius Walker and Marcel Shipp.
Also on the way out could be Panthers CB Ricardo Colclough, who was arrested last night on a charge of DWI. Colclough has been a target for the Carolina boo-boys this pre-season after muffing a couple of punts. Unfortunately for the team, their options in the return game are limited, especially with WR Steve Smith - who would be an emergency option in any case - suspended for the first two games.
We'll cover some of the bigger cuts today, with plenty of big names rumoured to be amongst those in line for release. Amongst those already cut include:
NY Jets: RB Jesse Chatman (signed from Miami in Free Agency this year) and CB Hank Poteat
Chicago: DE Dan Bazuin (a 2nd round pick in 2007)
New Orleans: S Lance Schulters
Houston: DE Rosevelt Colvin, RB's Darius Walker and Marcel Shipp.
Also on the way out could be Panthers CB Ricardo Colclough, who was arrested last night on a charge of DWI. Colclough has been a target for the Carolina boo-boys this pre-season after muffing a couple of punts. Unfortunately for the team, their options in the return game are limited, especially with WR Steve Smith - who would be an emergency option in any case - suspended for the first two games.
Chad Javon Ocho Cinco
It's official.
The Bengals website has confirmed that Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to "Chad Javon Ocho Cinco". They also report that the NFL are "looking into it".
Chad was reportedly fined $50k in 2006 for wearing an Ocho Cinco nameplate before a game against the Falcons.
This isn't the first time a NFL player has legally changed their surname. Domanick Davis changed his name to Domanick Williams and more recently London Fletcher changed his name to London Fletcher-Baker.
The Bengals website has confirmed that Chad Johnson has legally changed his name to "Chad Javon Ocho Cinco". They also report that the NFL are "looking into it".
Chad was reportedly fined $50k in 2006 for wearing an Ocho Cinco nameplate before a game against the Falcons.
This isn't the first time a NFL player has legally changed their surname. Domanick Davis changed his name to Domanick Williams and more recently London Fletcher changed his name to London Fletcher-Baker.
Friday 29 August 2008
Pacman's Back
In a news item that surprised no-one, Adam 'Pacman' Jones, CB for the Dallas Cowboys, has been fully reinstated into the NFL, and is free to train and play as standard this season.
Pacman appears to have turned over a new leaf since moving West to Texas, primarily on the basis that he is yet to even be in the vicinity of trouble. His reinstatement immediately boosts the Cowboys, as both defence and special teams gain a top class player. Wide-Right imagine that Jones will likely start the season as nickelback, working his way into the starting lineup in time for the final run at the postseason. Is he good enough to send them over their recent playoff hump?
Quite probably.
Pacman appears to have turned over a new leaf since moving West to Texas, primarily on the basis that he is yet to even be in the vicinity of trouble. His reinstatement immediately boosts the Cowboys, as both defence and special teams gain a top class player. Wide-Right imagine that Jones will likely start the season as nickelback, working his way into the starting lineup in time for the final run at the postseason. Is he good enough to send them over their recent playoff hump?
Quite probably.
Thursday 28 August 2008
Merriman to play, Chargers to let him.
In an act of complete lunacy, San Diego LB Shawne Merriman (he of the torn PCL and LCL) has opted to play this season, foregoing surgery on his injured knee until next season, or as he puts it 'when it's time to deal with it'.
The team is apparently allowing him to play. despite the risk to Merriman's long term health. He has previously been warned that playing on the knee could end his pro football career if he injures it again. Of course, as The Union-Tribune put it, 'Take this to the bank: Merriman will not be a Charger after his contract expires at the end of the 2009 season.'
Put's another spin on the team allowing him to play doesn't it? San Diego's future is not intertwined with Merriman, and the team is already considering life without him, so it makes sense for the team to get as much as possible out of one of the best pass rushers in the league, before they lose him for nothing.
The team is apparently allowing him to play. despite the risk to Merriman's long term health. He has previously been warned that playing on the knee could end his pro football career if he injures it again. Of course, as The Union-Tribune put it, 'Take this to the bank: Merriman will not be a Charger after his contract expires at the end of the 2009 season.'
Put's another spin on the team allowing him to play doesn't it? San Diego's future is not intertwined with Merriman, and the team is already considering life without him, so it makes sense for the team to get as much as possible out of one of the best pass rushers in the league, before they lose him for nothing.
Tuesday 26 August 2008
Strahan Update
Further to yesterday's post on Michael Strahan's $8m-$10m return to the New York Football Giants, it appears that he will make his final decision on Friday, and it looks increasingly likely that it will signal another broken retirement as FOX have given him permission to take a year's sabbatical from the broadcast booth.
Unlike Favre, Strahan's (possible) decision is not based on idle determination, nor is it based on throwing his toys out of the pram. Instead, it's putting his (former) team first, as they are desperate for a top DE.
Any worries about the shape he's in should disappear providing he's maintained a workout regime, as last year he was absent from a significant portion of the Giants training camp.
Wide Right are now taking bets on when Warren Sapp will unretire, and resign for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
Unlike Favre, Strahan's (possible) decision is not based on idle determination, nor is it based on throwing his toys out of the pram. Instead, it's putting his (former) team first, as they are desperate for a top DE.
Any worries about the shape he's in should disappear providing he's maintained a workout regime, as last year he was absent from a significant portion of the Giants training camp.
Wide Right are now taking bets on when Warren Sapp will unretire, and resign for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
Bengals shopping Rudi?
According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, the Bengals are actively shopping previous star running back Rudi Johnson. After 6 years in the NFL, Rudi struggled with injuries and performance last year, regularly being shown up by backup Kenny Watson.
Mort takes the line that the Bengals are seeking a receiver as an emergency backup to the Chad Johnson shoulder situation, but we can't see the Bengals obtaining a player of the standard of Chad or TJ in a player for player trade. Throw in a top 3 round draft pick, and you may get someone to bite, although with the Bengals having already announced Chris Perry as their starting RB, they've automatically reduced Johnson's value on the open market.
Mort takes the line that the Bengals are seeking a receiver as an emergency backup to the Chad Johnson shoulder situation, but we can't see the Bengals obtaining a player of the standard of Chad or TJ in a player for player trade. Throw in a top 3 round draft pick, and you may get someone to bite, although with the Bengals having already announced Chris Perry as their starting RB, they've automatically reduced Johnson's value on the open market.
Monday 25 August 2008
Whisenhunt: 'Nothing has changed'
Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt has lambasted ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen (and by proxy, everyone who reported the story) for the report yesterday citing 'an unamed source' that the team planned to make Kurt Warner the starting Quarterback over Matt Leinart.
- Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt, The Arizona Republic
Poor Mort. It's quite obvious, based on Whisenhunt's non-denial, that the Cardinals probably will switch to Warner, but that they simply aren't playing ball in case it looks like a knee-jerk reaction after Leinart's poor showing in the pre-season game against Oakland on Saturday, in which he was intercepted three times.
Whisenhunt went on to say that "...One thing I learned from (former Steelers coach) Bill Cowher is, you don’t want to make an emotional decision based on a half of football.". Again, rather than dispelling any rumours, that kind of statement is basically an admission that the team is actively considering making the chance. Besides which, as Whisenhunt himself mentions, they will base any decision on the overall pre-season performance - something that does little to enhance Leinart's prospects.
Now it looks like the team will hold off from making their choice for a few days, in an effort to make the move look slightly more considered.
“I haven’t read the paper today or seen the Internet... Do we have a quarterback?... It seems like Chris Mortensen is making the decision on our quarterback for our football team... But nothing has changed.”
- Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt, The Arizona Republic
Poor Mort. It's quite obvious, based on Whisenhunt's non-denial, that the Cardinals probably will switch to Warner, but that they simply aren't playing ball in case it looks like a knee-jerk reaction after Leinart's poor showing in the pre-season game against Oakland on Saturday, in which he was intercepted three times.
Whisenhunt went on to say that "...One thing I learned from (former Steelers coach) Bill Cowher is, you don’t want to make an emotional decision based on a half of football.". Again, rather than dispelling any rumours, that kind of statement is basically an admission that the team is actively considering making the chance. Besides which, as Whisenhunt himself mentions, they will base any decision on the overall pre-season performance - something that does little to enhance Leinart's prospects.
Now it looks like the team will hold off from making their choice for a few days, in an effort to make the move look slightly more considered.
Strahan 'open to return' - Source
According to various reports, in the wake of Osi Umenyiora's season ending injury, the New York Giants will have discussions with retired DE Michael Strahan about a possible return to action.
Does retirement mean nothing to ANYONE anymore?
Anyway, the most obvious question, apart from whether he wants to come back, is has Strahan kept in football shape? If the answer is negative, then with only two weeks until the season starts, he likely doesn't have the time to recover from a serious loss of conditioning.
If the answer is yes, there doesn't seem to be much stopping Strahan from coming back. Unlike Brett Favre, his return would be more than welcome in New York, and if the matter is purely financial, we don't think that the Giants will balk at offering around the $10m mark that would seal the deal.
Does retirement mean nothing to ANYONE anymore?
Anyway, the most obvious question, apart from whether he wants to come back, is has Strahan kept in football shape? If the answer is negative, then with only two weeks until the season starts, he likely doesn't have the time to recover from a serious loss of conditioning.
If the answer is yes, there doesn't seem to be much stopping Strahan from coming back. Unlike Brett Favre, his return would be more than welcome in New York, and if the matter is purely financial, we don't think that the Giants will balk at offering around the $10m mark that would seal the deal.
No confirmation of Warner move yet
With 'Broadway Matt' Leinart allegedly demoted to backing up Kurt Warner last night, we had a good think about the situation last night and weighed up the pros and cons of the move. As yet, there has been no confirmation of the move, unlike in Atlanta, where Mike Smith held a press conference last night to confirm Matt Ryan as starter.
In Arizona, there is some debate as to whether Warner is enough of an upgrade over Leinart to justify effectively ending his chances of leading the team. It seems unlikely that Warner will retire after this season, and so it could end up being 2010 when Leinart reclaims the starting role, assuming that Warner maintains a decent level of play and is not injured.
Such a scenario would leave Leinart taking the reigns in his contract year, something that can affect a player's performance in very different ways. Some players respond to the challenge, while others crumble under the pressure of playing for their livelihoods. His confidence has not seemed as infallible at the NFL level as it did during his USC days, and the latest developments are sure to have him questioning whether he will ever get a 'fair shot' in Glendale.
Of course, it could be argued that he has already had a 'fair shot', and that his inability to beat out the 37yr old Warner is not a ringing endorsement of his talent. Leinart (in theory) should hold the better hand, having a high draft stock, being 12 years younger than Warner, and having a high profile outside the game that keeps the Cardinals in the nation's concious - somewhere they have staunchly avoided since their move to Arizona in 1988.
Another thing that counts in Leinart's favour is that Warner has generally regressed when named the unequivocal starter in Arizona. In 2005 he was patchy before he was injured, allowing Josh McCown to take over as starter, and in 2006, his poor play in the first four games of the season gave Leinart the chance to start in his rookie year. Warner has played more effectively either in relief of Leinart or when he is named temporary starter because of injuries.
However, it seems that Warner's impressive performances in 2007 have been enough to convince coach Ken Whisenhunt that he is the better option - at least short term - than Leinart. It should not be forgotten that Leinart was drafted by Dennis Green, not Whisenhunt, and that Whisenhunt does not have his own coaching legacy intertwined with the former USC Quarterback. There were rumours when Whisenhunt joined before the '07 season that he was not enamoured with Leinart's arm, mobility, and the fact that he is a left hander.
Right now, it looks like the Cards are prepared to move in another direction. The 2009 draft may be too soon to take another Quarterback early, but if Warner looks like he could retire after the 2009 season, it may force Arizona's hand if they don't believe Leinart can get it done.
*update*
Warner is only signed through the 2008 season, so another sticking block for the Cards could be whether to offer him a new deal (potentially multi-year), or whether to hope that Leinart has grown into the job during this season.
Oh, and we feel that this picture probably doesn't help Matt's case:
In Arizona, there is some debate as to whether Warner is enough of an upgrade over Leinart to justify effectively ending his chances of leading the team. It seems unlikely that Warner will retire after this season, and so it could end up being 2010 when Leinart reclaims the starting role, assuming that Warner maintains a decent level of play and is not injured.
Such a scenario would leave Leinart taking the reigns in his contract year, something that can affect a player's performance in very different ways. Some players respond to the challenge, while others crumble under the pressure of playing for their livelihoods. His confidence has not seemed as infallible at the NFL level as it did during his USC days, and the latest developments are sure to have him questioning whether he will ever get a 'fair shot' in Glendale.
Of course, it could be argued that he has already had a 'fair shot', and that his inability to beat out the 37yr old Warner is not a ringing endorsement of his talent. Leinart (in theory) should hold the better hand, having a high draft stock, being 12 years younger than Warner, and having a high profile outside the game that keeps the Cardinals in the nation's concious - somewhere they have staunchly avoided since their move to Arizona in 1988.
Another thing that counts in Leinart's favour is that Warner has generally regressed when named the unequivocal starter in Arizona. In 2005 he was patchy before he was injured, allowing Josh McCown to take over as starter, and in 2006, his poor play in the first four games of the season gave Leinart the chance to start in his rookie year. Warner has played more effectively either in relief of Leinart or when he is named temporary starter because of injuries.
However, it seems that Warner's impressive performances in 2007 have been enough to convince coach Ken Whisenhunt that he is the better option - at least short term - than Leinart. It should not be forgotten that Leinart was drafted by Dennis Green, not Whisenhunt, and that Whisenhunt does not have his own coaching legacy intertwined with the former USC Quarterback. There were rumours when Whisenhunt joined before the '07 season that he was not enamoured with Leinart's arm, mobility, and the fact that he is a left hander.
Right now, it looks like the Cards are prepared to move in another direction. The 2009 draft may be too soon to take another Quarterback early, but if Warner looks like he could retire after the 2009 season, it may force Arizona's hand if they don't believe Leinart can get it done.
*update*
Warner is only signed through the 2008 season, so another sticking block for the Cards could be whether to offer him a new deal (potentially multi-year), or whether to hope that Leinart has grown into the job during this season.
Oh, and we feel that this picture probably doesn't help Matt's case:
Sunday 24 August 2008
Matt Ryan to be named Falcons starter
If Kurt Warner's potential ascension to the starting role in Arizona is set to be the shock of the pre-season, then the revelation that the Falcons are about ready to thrust Matt Ryan into the mix should surprise nobody.
When the Falcons drafted Ryan, we liked it. He has the arm, he has the physical talent, and most of all, he's an intelligent guy who just does not feel pressure. It would be easy to hold Ryan out while the team inevitably loses this season, but we doubt that's what Ryan actually wants. The guy is ready to lead his franchise, in the same way the Peyton Manning knew he was ready to lead the Colts.
The baptism will be harsh, but 'Matty Ice' is ready for it. He does not 'want' to win per sé, but the advantage to having a guy with Ryan's temperament on the field is that when the chips are down, he will not change his demeanour, nor will he get frustrated to the point where he lets it affect his game.
All in all, we meant to write this gushing praise earlier in the day, but the various injuries got in the way. Now that he has been named starter, it seems an appropriate time to say 'we would have told you so, if only you'd asked'.
When the Falcons drafted Ryan, we liked it. He has the arm, he has the physical talent, and most of all, he's an intelligent guy who just does not feel pressure. It would be easy to hold Ryan out while the team inevitably loses this season, but we doubt that's what Ryan actually wants. The guy is ready to lead his franchise, in the same way the Peyton Manning knew he was ready to lead the Colts.
The baptism will be harsh, but 'Matty Ice' is ready for it. He does not 'want' to win per sé, but the advantage to having a guy with Ryan's temperament on the field is that when the chips are down, he will not change his demeanour, nor will he get frustrated to the point where he lets it affect his game.
All in all, we meant to write this gushing praise earlier in the day, but the various injuries got in the way. Now that he has been named starter, it seems an appropriate time to say 'we would have told you so, if only you'd asked'.
Bad news for Osi.
The defending Superbowl champions were prepared to lose one Defensive End this season - but news is breaking that the New York Giants may have lost another, at least for the 2008 season.
DE Osi Umenyiora, who had 13 sacks last season, left Saturday's pre-season game against the Jets with a knee injury, and the Star-Ledger is reporting that an MRI has shown that Osi has suffered 'serious ligament damage', and that he is out for the 2008 season.
The loss is a huge blow for a team that was counting on Umenyiora and fellow DE Justin Tuck to fill the void left by Michael Strahan's retirement. The team's pass rushing last season helped to neutralise the poor secondary play that the Giants have become synonymous with.
Without Umenyiora, the Giants could struggle up front, and if they struggle up front, you can bet your money on them struggling everywhere else, too.
DE Osi Umenyiora, who had 13 sacks last season, left Saturday's pre-season game against the Jets with a knee injury, and the Star-Ledger is reporting that an MRI has shown that Osi has suffered 'serious ligament damage', and that he is out for the 2008 season.
The loss is a huge blow for a team that was counting on Umenyiora and fellow DE Justin Tuck to fill the void left by Michael Strahan's retirement. The team's pass rushing last season helped to neutralise the poor secondary play that the Giants have become synonymous with.
Without Umenyiora, the Giants could struggle up front, and if they struggle up front, you can bet your money on them struggling everywhere else, too.
Taylor out 2 weeks
When Jason Taylor left the Washington Redskins' debacle against Carolina on Saturday night, 'Skins fans could be forgiven for wondering if the team would ever have a pass rush again. Taylor hobbled off midway through the second quarter after his knee twisted awkwardly whilst at the bottom of a pile of bodies during a DeAngelo Williams run.
Fortunately for Taylor, it does not appear to be a serious injury - although the knee sprain that he has suffered could preclude him from starting the team's regular season opener against the Giants a week on Thursday.
Taylor is unlikely to attend any form of dancing class in that time. Just so that 'Skins fans can breathe slightly easier.
Fortunately for Taylor, it does not appear to be a serious injury - although the knee sprain that he has suffered could preclude him from starting the team's regular season opener against the Giants a week on Thursday.
Taylor is unlikely to attend any form of dancing class in that time. Just so that 'Skins fans can breathe slightly easier.
Cardinals to name Warner Starter - Reports
ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen is reporting that the Cards are set to name Kurt Warner as their Starting Quarterback for the 2008 season. The move follows Leinart's abysmal game last night against Oakland, in which he went 4/12 with 3 interceptions and a passer rating of just 2.8.
As the 10th pick in the 2006 draft, Leinart still has time, and if anything the move is not just an indication of his own struggles, but more that Warner still clearly has the ability to play at a high level. Having said that, it is hardly a ringing endorsement of Leinart as a 'Franchise Quarterback' if and when Warner leaves Arizona.
The window is closing on the team's playoff aspirations with the elite offensive weapons that they have, and it is possible that the move is partly an effort to convince wantaway Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin that the team is trying to win this year, in an attempt to persuade him to spend at least this year in Arizona.
As the 10th pick in the 2006 draft, Leinart still has time, and if anything the move is not just an indication of his own struggles, but more that Warner still clearly has the ability to play at a high level. Having said that, it is hardly a ringing endorsement of Leinart as a 'Franchise Quarterback' if and when Warner leaves Arizona.
The window is closing on the team's playoff aspirations with the elite offensive weapons that they have, and it is possible that the move is partly an effort to convince wantaway Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin that the team is trying to win this year, in an attempt to persuade him to spend at least this year in Arizona.
Losers from Pre-Season week 3
Earlier we gave you the Winners, and now it's time to address the players and teams that have work to do as we approach the final week of pre-season.
The Cincinnati Bengals
After a tumultuous off-season, that almost saw the team lose their three best receivers for various reasons, perhaps it should be no great surprise that the Bengals are struggling to get started this year. On the other hand, being statistically the worst Defence and the 4th worst Offence is not the kind of thing that convinced Chad Johnson to stick it out with the team.
Carson Palmer left last night's shutout against the Saints bleeding, after being sacked three times in the first half. Stacy Andrews said that 'it hurts' to see Palmer coming off the field with blood dripping from his nose and mouth. You can bet that it hurts Palmer a hell of a lot more. The Offensive line is a position of relative strength for the Bengals, so to see the unit implode as it did last night does not bode well for the team's overall chances.
The Defence has made nothing like the step forward that they needed to, and it's likely that this year could be a massive struggle in a division that is crying out for a team to assert itself.
JaMarcus Russell
When the Raiders invested last year's no.1 overall pick in Russell, they did not expect that he would contribute immediately. Instead, they used last season to try and acclimatise Russell to life in the NFL, and get his weight down to somewhere more approaching that of an NFL QB, rather than an NFL Offensive Lineman.
Unfortunately, his pre-season performances have thrown up as many questions as answers for the team. He looks affected by the stage he is on, and while he is not helped by the quality of his receivers, he does not really give them an opportunity to make big plays. Blessed with a rocket arm, Russell looks afraid to cut loose, and his manoeuvrability is questionable. He was sacked four times last night against the Cardinals, and was even booed after failing to generate any points in his three Quarters of action.
The future of the Raiders will be judged on how well Russell and new RB Darren McFadden turn out. At this rate, it could be some time before the team sees a return on it's investment.
The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts
The Patriots and Colts rarely put Tom Brady or Peyton Manning on the line during pre-season, but with injuries preventing either from practicing - at least while things aren't competitive - the stakes were higher for the backup Quarterbacks on their rosters. Both teams entered Camp with four Quarterbacks, and neither team has seen one player genuinely stake a claim for the right to back up their Hall of Fame incumbent.
The main problem is that both teams have been spoiled by the durability of their Starting QB. Neither has missed a start in a combined 272 games, and to a certain extent, competency at the backup position was more or less an afterthought. Matt Cassel was never more than a backup at USC, and so his position on the roster with the Patriots has always seemed a slight mystery. There are certainly better veterans available. The same goes for Jim Sorgi in Indy.
Where the two situations differ is in urgency. Whereas the Pats have opted to give youngsters Matt Guttierez and Kevin O'Connell a chance to put pressure on Cassel, knowing full well that Brady will be available for the Week one opener against the Chiefs.
In contrast, as we mentioned yesterday, Manning's status is anything but clear. To try and galvanise some productivity out of Sorgi, the team signed veterans Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen. That statement is enough to tell anyone that the team is anxious about whether he will make the start against Chicago on September the 7th.
Unfortunately, all that this pre-season has shown is that Cassel and Sorgi are not the insurance policies that their teams believed they were before this off-season.
The Giants Pass Defence
When the Superbowl champion Giants let Safety Gibril Wilson depart for a bumper payday in Oakland, this commentator described the move as 'addition by subtraction'. Wilson was never good in New York, and in fact, none of the highly paid veterans that the team has had in it's secondary over the last 2-3 years have been remotely good enough to win a Superbowl.
Of course, sometimes fate does not pay any attention to mere statistics, or how many times a player is beat deep. It is telling however, that the Giants invested their first and second round picks on Defensive Backs in this year's draft. They also brought in Safety Sammy Knight in free agency, though it could be argued Knight is well past his prime.
And the result? The team are 30th in the league against the pass - and their average loss per passing play is far and away the worst in the NFL over pre-season. Rookies Kenny Phillips and Terrell Thomas will need time to adapt to the speed of the game, and their best player would appear to be Second Year Aaron Ross, the CB who was the team's first round pick last year.
With Osi Umenyiora injured in last night's defeat to the Jets, and Michael Strahan's retirement, it remains to be seen whether the Defence can generate a pass rush to match last season's standard. If it can't, expect the Giants to give up the big play far more often.
Alex Smith and Rex Grossman
Both Smith and Grossman were first round picks, and both saw their first meaningful action in 2005. Both showed some promise in 2006, before 2007 effectively ended their careers at the club that drafted them.
For Grossman, it is unlikely that he will start again in the NFL. Sure he has the talent, but Thursday's embarrassing, lackadaisical approach during the game (ironically, against the 49ers) showed exactly why Grossman can be as infuriating as he is talented. It is impossible now that he can shake off his tag as a guy who cannot take care of the football. Grossman will likely stay in Chicago for this next year, and hope that Kyle Orton goes down or does not perform. His only shot now is to show enough in such a scenario, that another team decides to give him an opportunity in an emergency.
For Smith, things are just as complex, but perhaps his comparative youth means that he will intrigue coaches more. In reality, he is a victim of Coach Mike Nolan's desire to not lose, rather than giving Smith another year to prove himself, which could result in Nolan losing his job if the team struggles. Again, like Grossman, Smith may hang around in San Francisco to see if he can regain the starting gig, but in reality, he is likely to either be traded this season or next. There should be a market for a player who showed considerable progress during his sophomore season under Norv Turner, the then-Offensive Coordinator of the 49ers, and it would be a surprise if Smith is done in the league just three years after being the No.1 pick in the 2005 NFL draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals
After a tumultuous off-season, that almost saw the team lose their three best receivers for various reasons, perhaps it should be no great surprise that the Bengals are struggling to get started this year. On the other hand, being statistically the worst Defence and the 4th worst Offence is not the kind of thing that convinced Chad Johnson to stick it out with the team.
Carson Palmer left last night's shutout against the Saints bleeding, after being sacked three times in the first half. Stacy Andrews said that 'it hurts' to see Palmer coming off the field with blood dripping from his nose and mouth. You can bet that it hurts Palmer a hell of a lot more. The Offensive line is a position of relative strength for the Bengals, so to see the unit implode as it did last night does not bode well for the team's overall chances.
The Defence has made nothing like the step forward that they needed to, and it's likely that this year could be a massive struggle in a division that is crying out for a team to assert itself.
JaMarcus Russell
When the Raiders invested last year's no.1 overall pick in Russell, they did not expect that he would contribute immediately. Instead, they used last season to try and acclimatise Russell to life in the NFL, and get his weight down to somewhere more approaching that of an NFL QB, rather than an NFL Offensive Lineman.
Unfortunately, his pre-season performances have thrown up as many questions as answers for the team. He looks affected by the stage he is on, and while he is not helped by the quality of his receivers, he does not really give them an opportunity to make big plays. Blessed with a rocket arm, Russell looks afraid to cut loose, and his manoeuvrability is questionable. He was sacked four times last night against the Cardinals, and was even booed after failing to generate any points in his three Quarters of action.
The future of the Raiders will be judged on how well Russell and new RB Darren McFadden turn out. At this rate, it could be some time before the team sees a return on it's investment.
The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts
The Patriots and Colts rarely put Tom Brady or Peyton Manning on the line during pre-season, but with injuries preventing either from practicing - at least while things aren't competitive - the stakes were higher for the backup Quarterbacks on their rosters. Both teams entered Camp with four Quarterbacks, and neither team has seen one player genuinely stake a claim for the right to back up their Hall of Fame incumbent.
The main problem is that both teams have been spoiled by the durability of their Starting QB. Neither has missed a start in a combined 272 games, and to a certain extent, competency at the backup position was more or less an afterthought. Matt Cassel was never more than a backup at USC, and so his position on the roster with the Patriots has always seemed a slight mystery. There are certainly better veterans available. The same goes for Jim Sorgi in Indy.
Where the two situations differ is in urgency. Whereas the Pats have opted to give youngsters Matt Guttierez and Kevin O'Connell a chance to put pressure on Cassel, knowing full well that Brady will be available for the Week one opener against the Chiefs.
In contrast, as we mentioned yesterday, Manning's status is anything but clear. To try and galvanise some productivity out of Sorgi, the team signed veterans Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen. That statement is enough to tell anyone that the team is anxious about whether he will make the start against Chicago on September the 7th.
Unfortunately, all that this pre-season has shown is that Cassel and Sorgi are not the insurance policies that their teams believed they were before this off-season.
The Giants Pass Defence
When the Superbowl champion Giants let Safety Gibril Wilson depart for a bumper payday in Oakland, this commentator described the move as 'addition by subtraction'. Wilson was never good in New York, and in fact, none of the highly paid veterans that the team has had in it's secondary over the last 2-3 years have been remotely good enough to win a Superbowl.
Of course, sometimes fate does not pay any attention to mere statistics, or how many times a player is beat deep. It is telling however, that the Giants invested their first and second round picks on Defensive Backs in this year's draft. They also brought in Safety Sammy Knight in free agency, though it could be argued Knight is well past his prime.
And the result? The team are 30th in the league against the pass - and their average loss per passing play is far and away the worst in the NFL over pre-season. Rookies Kenny Phillips and Terrell Thomas will need time to adapt to the speed of the game, and their best player would appear to be Second Year Aaron Ross, the CB who was the team's first round pick last year.
With Osi Umenyiora injured in last night's defeat to the Jets, and Michael Strahan's retirement, it remains to be seen whether the Defence can generate a pass rush to match last season's standard. If it can't, expect the Giants to give up the big play far more often.
Alex Smith and Rex Grossman
Both Smith and Grossman were first round picks, and both saw their first meaningful action in 2005. Both showed some promise in 2006, before 2007 effectively ended their careers at the club that drafted them.
For Grossman, it is unlikely that he will start again in the NFL. Sure he has the talent, but Thursday's embarrassing, lackadaisical approach during the game (ironically, against the 49ers) showed exactly why Grossman can be as infuriating as he is talented. It is impossible now that he can shake off his tag as a guy who cannot take care of the football. Grossman will likely stay in Chicago for this next year, and hope that Kyle Orton goes down or does not perform. His only shot now is to show enough in such a scenario, that another team decides to give him an opportunity in an emergency.
For Smith, things are just as complex, but perhaps his comparative youth means that he will intrigue coaches more. In reality, he is a victim of Coach Mike Nolan's desire to not lose, rather than giving Smith another year to prove himself, which could result in Nolan losing his job if the team struggles. Again, like Grossman, Smith may hang around in San Francisco to see if he can regain the starting gig, but in reality, he is likely to either be traded this season or next. There should be a market for a player who showed considerable progress during his sophomore season under Norv Turner, the then-Offensive Coordinator of the 49ers, and it would be a surprise if Smith is done in the league just three years after being the No.1 pick in the 2005 NFL draft.
2008 Previews: Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had what was considered by many to be a disappointing season last year, finishing last in the NFC East with an 8-8 record. However, the true story of their season could have been far different appears to be one of bad luck. 5 of their defeats came by 8 points or fewer (2 of which came without start quarterback Donovan McNabb). McNabb is hoping to enter the 2008 season fully fit after being rushed back from an ACL injury for 2007 which had an adverse effect on his performance.
The Eagles will strive to rise to the top of the NFC once again this year, and they have every
reason to be optimistic with a fit McNabb and Brian Westbrook in the backfield.
Andy Reid
Reid enters his ninth full season in charge of the Eagles hoping to build on the success of previous years that has seen him emerge as one of the best coaches in Eagles history. His 96 wins, .608 win percentage, and 8 postseason wins rank him as the best - and 4 NFC Championship games in that timespan speaks volumes for the way he has moulded this team. But the one thing missing from his resumé is that Superbowl ring, and he will see this season as another opportunity given the talent at his fingertips.
Reid is in an exclusive number of 2 (with Bill Belichick) NFL coaches who have the power of being in charge of player transactions. Whilst Tom Heckert also has a say, Reid ultimately makes the final call - and he was at the heart of the move to bring in Terrell Owens in 2004, as well as drafting McNabb in 1999. He is a consumate man-manager, and has the ability to bring the best out of what he is given; he has sent 19 players to the Pro Bowl, none of whom had previously gone to Hawaii.
Draft Class of 2008
2 - Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
2 - DeSean Jackson, WR, California
3 - Bryan Smith, LB, McNeese State
4 - Mike McGlynn, T, Pittsburgh
4 - Quintin Demps, DB, Texas-El-Paso
4 - Jake Ikegwuonu, DB, Wisconsin
6 - Mike Gibson, T, California
6 - Joe Mays, LB, North Dakota State
6 - Andy Studebaker, LB, Wheaton
7 - King Dunlap, T, Auburn
Most critics felt the draft went well for the Eagles, who crucially picked up the playmaking receiver McNabb had asked for in DeSean Jackson. Trevor Laws will certainly help on the defensive side of the ball in the Eagles 4-3 defence, and Mike McGlynn's impressive Senior Bowl bodes well for him as a potential replacement for the aging William Thomas. They also acquired an extra 1st round pick for the 2009 draft.
Strong Side
The obvious strength for the Eagles should come from quarterback Donovan McNabb. Despite battling yet more injuries last season he threw for the best completion percentage of his career, going past the 3,000 yard barrier in the process. McNabb has managed to adapt his game to deal with his lessening mobility and remains one of the best QBs in the league. Unfortunately for him, his number one receiver is going to miss the start of the season with a sports hernia. Kevin Curtis caught for over 1,000 yards last year and his absence will be a blow. Tight End L.J. Smith, who signed as a Franchise Player in the off season, will have to pick up some of the slack. Running Back Brian Westbrook will undoubtedly deliver on the ground, and he could form a dangerous partnership with the recently acquired Lorenzo Booker.
Defensively the Eagles have a strong look about them also. Despite losing Jevon Kearse and Takeo Spikes, Andy Reid has brought in the excellent Asante Samuel and Chris Clemons to fill the voids, with youngsters such as Trevor Laws hoping to make an impact as well.
Weak Side
Like the other teams in the NFC East, the Eagles have no glaring weaknesses. The only real question marks hanging over them involve injuries - can McNabb and Smith remain fit for 16 games and the playoffs? If they can, the Eagles can expect to challenge not only for the Division but the Conference as well. Their ageing offensive line should stay together for another season, although once again a key injury or two there and Reid's men might struggle. Indeed, injury has already struck down receiver Kevin Curtis for a number of weeks, leaving the Eagles short of a WR to start the season.
Major Transactions
Ins
CB - Asante Samuel (NE)
DE - Chris Clemons (Oak)
FB - Dan Klecko (Ind)
LB - Rocky Boiman (Ind)
TE - Kris Wilson (KC)
RB - Lorenzo Booker(Mia)
Outs
DE - Jevon Kearse (Ten)
LB - Takeo Spikes (SF)
Schedule
1 Sun, Sep 7 St. Louis 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
2 Mon, Sep 15 @ Dallas 8:30 PM Texas Stadium
3 Sun, Sep 21 Pittsburgh 4:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
4 Sun, Sep 28 @ Chicago 8:15 PM Soldier Field
5 Sun, Oct 5 Washington 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
6 Sun, Oct 12 @ San Francisco 4:15 PM Monster Park
7 BYE WEEK
8 Sun, Oct 26 Atlanta 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
9 Sun, Nov 2 @ Seattle 4:15 PM Qwest Field
10 Sun, Nov 9 NY Giants 8:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
11 Sun, Nov 16 @ Cincinnati 1:00 PM Paul Brown Stadium
12 Sun, Nov 23 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM M&T Bank Stadium
13 Thu, Nov 27 Arizona 8:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
14 Sun, Dec 7 @ NY Giants 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
15 Mon, Dec 15 Cleveland 8:30 PM Lincoln Financial Field
16 Sun, Dec 21 @ Washington 1:00 PM FedEx Field
17 Sun, Dec 28 Dallas 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
Wide-Right's View
The Eagles have been perennial contenders under Andy Reid, and that trend is not about to reverse now. 8-8 last year was disappointing, but it was clear that they were a handful of plays away from being 11-5. They look stronger this year, not least because McNabb appears to finally be fit again. Their schedule is also relatively kind, with road trips to the 49ers, Ravens, and Bengals all looking winnable on paper. But it could so easily turn into a repeat of last season's heartbreak. The lack of a true gamebreaker, especially at Receiver, means that their games are likely to be on a knife-edge, and it will take the extra effort to turn some of the losses into wins if they are to get into the postseason.
The season will hinge on the 6 Divisional match-ups starting with week 2 in Dallas, and ending with 3 of the last 4 games against fellow NFC East opposition. A positive record will surely give them a chance of superceding favourites Dallas for what would be their 6th divisional crown in 10 years.
Prediction for 2008
The Eagles will be as confident as any of the 4 teams in their division of reaching the play-offs, which will make 2008 one of the more interesting seasons of recent times in terms of the regular season battle. Outside of their divisional games, the Eagles appear to have a schedule that should provide them with enough wins to challenge for at least the Wild Card, and if they were to go 3-3 or 4-2 in the NFC East then you would expect to see the Eagles back in the postseason.
However, they are one of the few teams that does have questionmarks in vital positions, not least at quarterback, where the fitness of McNabb has been in doubt for the past 3 years. Combine that with the injury to Kevin Curtis and offensively Philadelphia could be without two key components to their offense. Injury-free, the Eagles should contend, but that would have been the case last season as well.
I would expect them to reach the play-offs, although the Wild Card is a more realistic route for them than winning the division.
Useful Links
Official Website
Depth Chart
Fansite
The Eagles had what was considered by many to be a disappointing season last year, finishing last in the NFC East with an 8-8 record. However, the true story of their season could have been far different appears to be one of bad luck. 5 of their defeats came by 8 points or fewer (2 of which came without start quarterback Donovan McNabb). McNabb is hoping to enter the 2008 season fully fit after being rushed back from an ACL injury for 2007 which had an adverse effect on his performance.
The Eagles will strive to rise to the top of the NFC once again this year, and they have every
reason to be optimistic with a fit McNabb and Brian Westbrook in the backfield.
Andy Reid
Reid enters his ninth full season in charge of the Eagles hoping to build on the success of previous years that has seen him emerge as one of the best coaches in Eagles history. His 96 wins, .608 win percentage, and 8 postseason wins rank him as the best - and 4 NFC Championship games in that timespan speaks volumes for the way he has moulded this team. But the one thing missing from his resumé is that Superbowl ring, and he will see this season as another opportunity given the talent at his fingertips.
Reid is in an exclusive number of 2 (with Bill Belichick) NFL coaches who have the power of being in charge of player transactions. Whilst Tom Heckert also has a say, Reid ultimately makes the final call - and he was at the heart of the move to bring in Terrell Owens in 2004, as well as drafting McNabb in 1999. He is a consumate man-manager, and has the ability to bring the best out of what he is given; he has sent 19 players to the Pro Bowl, none of whom had previously gone to Hawaii.
Draft Class of 2008
2 - Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
2 - DeSean Jackson, WR, California
3 - Bryan Smith, LB, McNeese State
4 - Mike McGlynn, T, Pittsburgh
4 - Quintin Demps, DB, Texas-El-Paso
4 - Jake Ikegwuonu, DB, Wisconsin
6 - Mike Gibson, T, California
6 - Joe Mays, LB, North Dakota State
6 - Andy Studebaker, LB, Wheaton
7 - King Dunlap, T, Auburn
Most critics felt the draft went well for the Eagles, who crucially picked up the playmaking receiver McNabb had asked for in DeSean Jackson. Trevor Laws will certainly help on the defensive side of the ball in the Eagles 4-3 defence, and Mike McGlynn's impressive Senior Bowl bodes well for him as a potential replacement for the aging William Thomas. They also acquired an extra 1st round pick for the 2009 draft.
Strong Side
The obvious strength for the Eagles should come from quarterback Donovan McNabb. Despite battling yet more injuries last season he threw for the best completion percentage of his career, going past the 3,000 yard barrier in the process. McNabb has managed to adapt his game to deal with his lessening mobility and remains one of the best QBs in the league. Unfortunately for him, his number one receiver is going to miss the start of the season with a sports hernia. Kevin Curtis caught for over 1,000 yards last year and his absence will be a blow. Tight End L.J. Smith, who signed as a Franchise Player in the off season, will have to pick up some of the slack. Running Back Brian Westbrook will undoubtedly deliver on the ground, and he could form a dangerous partnership with the recently acquired Lorenzo Booker.
Defensively the Eagles have a strong look about them also. Despite losing Jevon Kearse and Takeo Spikes, Andy Reid has brought in the excellent Asante Samuel and Chris Clemons to fill the voids, with youngsters such as Trevor Laws hoping to make an impact as well.
Weak Side
Like the other teams in the NFC East, the Eagles have no glaring weaknesses. The only real question marks hanging over them involve injuries - can McNabb and Smith remain fit for 16 games and the playoffs? If they can, the Eagles can expect to challenge not only for the Division but the Conference as well. Their ageing offensive line should stay together for another season, although once again a key injury or two there and Reid's men might struggle. Indeed, injury has already struck down receiver Kevin Curtis for a number of weeks, leaving the Eagles short of a WR to start the season.
Major Transactions
Ins
CB - Asante Samuel (NE)
DE - Chris Clemons (Oak)
FB - Dan Klecko (Ind)
LB - Rocky Boiman (Ind)
TE - Kris Wilson (KC)
RB - Lorenzo Booker(Mia)
Outs
DE - Jevon Kearse (Ten)
LB - Takeo Spikes (SF)
Schedule
1 Sun, Sep 7 St. Louis 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
2 Mon, Sep 15 @ Dallas 8:30 PM Texas Stadium
3 Sun, Sep 21 Pittsburgh 4:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
4 Sun, Sep 28 @ Chicago 8:15 PM Soldier Field
5 Sun, Oct 5 Washington 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
6 Sun, Oct 12 @ San Francisco 4:15 PM Monster Park
7 BYE WEEK
8 Sun, Oct 26 Atlanta 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
9 Sun, Nov 2 @ Seattle 4:15 PM Qwest Field
10 Sun, Nov 9 NY Giants 8:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
11 Sun, Nov 16 @ Cincinnati 1:00 PM Paul Brown Stadium
12 Sun, Nov 23 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM M&T Bank Stadium
13 Thu, Nov 27 Arizona 8:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
14 Sun, Dec 7 @ NY Giants 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
15 Mon, Dec 15 Cleveland 8:30 PM Lincoln Financial Field
16 Sun, Dec 21 @ Washington 1:00 PM FedEx Field
17 Sun, Dec 28 Dallas 1:00 PM Lincoln Financial Field
Wide-Right's View
The Eagles have been perennial contenders under Andy Reid, and that trend is not about to reverse now. 8-8 last year was disappointing, but it was clear that they were a handful of plays away from being 11-5. They look stronger this year, not least because McNabb appears to finally be fit again. Their schedule is also relatively kind, with road trips to the 49ers, Ravens, and Bengals all looking winnable on paper. But it could so easily turn into a repeat of last season's heartbreak. The lack of a true gamebreaker, especially at Receiver, means that their games are likely to be on a knife-edge, and it will take the extra effort to turn some of the losses into wins if they are to get into the postseason.
The season will hinge on the 6 Divisional match-ups starting with week 2 in Dallas, and ending with 3 of the last 4 games against fellow NFC East opposition. A positive record will surely give them a chance of superceding favourites Dallas for what would be their 6th divisional crown in 10 years.
Prediction for 2008
The Eagles will be as confident as any of the 4 teams in their division of reaching the play-offs, which will make 2008 one of the more interesting seasons of recent times in terms of the regular season battle. Outside of their divisional games, the Eagles appear to have a schedule that should provide them with enough wins to challenge for at least the Wild Card, and if they were to go 3-3 or 4-2 in the NFC East then you would expect to see the Eagles back in the postseason.
However, they are one of the few teams that does have questionmarks in vital positions, not least at quarterback, where the fitness of McNabb has been in doubt for the past 3 years. Combine that with the injury to Kevin Curtis and offensively Philadelphia could be without two key components to their offense. Injury-free, the Eagles should contend, but that would have been the case last season as well.
I would expect them to reach the play-offs, although the Wild Card is a more realistic route for them than winning the division.
Useful Links
Official Website
Depth Chart
Fansite
Winners from Pre-Season week 3
Pre-Season doesn't count for anything (just ask Dennis Green), but this week's games have seen a clearer picture emerge regarding the state of the NFL.
Here's our take on the winners of Pre-Season week 3. We'll have the losers shortly.
The Carolina Panthers
Entering 2008, the Panthers have not been a trendy pick to make the Playoffs, especially playing in a division where the Bucs and Saints have monopolised the title since 2004.
All that could change after last night's dominant 3-47 win over the lacklustre Redskins. The team's running game, in particular, was impressive, with both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart amassing 100yd games. Indeed, both backs did it in around 10 carries, and had very similiar stats, despite being very different types of runner. The tandem are both competing to replace DeShaun Foster as the starter, but no matter which player starts, you can guarantee that the other will be productive.
The situation is reminiscent of the Jaguars, who have Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor sharing the load. The differing styles of each runner help keep the other fresh, which in turn often leads to big gains late on in games.
The team will sorely miss Wide Receiver Steve Smith, but if Jake Delhomme continues his solid recovery from elbow surgery and can get the team through those two games that Smith is suspended for, then the Panthers could have a very good chance of finishing atop the NFC South.
The Miami Dolphins
No, do not adjust your monitor. We mean it. The 'fins were almost the worst team in NFL statistical history last season, and were lucky to get their one victory in overtime against the Ravens.
But Bill Parcells has once again rescued a big-market team from the doldrums, and some of his personel decisions look a lot better after last night's shutout of the Chiefs. Ok, so Kansas City are hardly going to be challenging for a Superbowl this year either, but you can only beat the team you play on any given week, and the Dolphins did so emphatically.
Chad Pennington looks to have hit the ground (or the air... if that's possible.) running, and his measured play could acrually help the team win some games this season. Certainly, he is getting more from receiver Ted Ginn jnr, and even Ricky Williams has turned up this year. According to one team source Williams is 'the best player on this team' - something that gives the Dolphins a credible ground game with which to establish control over games.
Drew Brees
This week saw a few Quarterback performances that deserve a mention. Matt Schaub was once again good for Houston, while Pennington, Tony Romo, and Aaron Rodgers all proved their doubters wrong.
However, no QB has been as impressive as Brees, who continues to establish himself in the top tier of NFL signal-callers. While most players seem sluggish at this stage, Brees has thrown for nearly 400yds, 4 TD's, and crucially, zero interceptions. He is completing almost 70% of his passes at a time when he is not always throwing to first team receivers, and last night put up nearly 200yds in the first half alone against Cincinnatti.
If the Saints Secondary can improve to the level that the rest of the team currently plays at, the team might get another shot at the playoffs and beyond this year.
Kickers
With the odd short miss excepted, kickers have been impressive this week. Many games have descended into tit-for-tat kicking affairs, while teams are also giving their players a chance from longer range as they try to establish where their comfort zone is.
But it's not just the Starters making plays, it's the backups. Detroit's Dave Rayner was 4/4 last night, and even though he will not supplant Jason Hanson, he has likely earned himself a chance at making another roster next week after he is cut. The same goes for Minnesota's Steven Hauschka, who has made 8/8 in the pre-season, despite having zero chance of making the team's roster.
Indeed, Hauschka is not the only Rookie Kicker making an impact this year, in what seems a very strong class of Kickers compared to the rather barren past few years. Miami seems set with Dan Carpenter, while Jason Reda of Cleveland, Adam Crosset of Indy, and John Vaughn of Tennessee all have done enough to earn tryouts after they are inevitably cut next week.
Nowehere is Kicking so vital, however, as the AFC and NFC West. The changeable weather conditions and altitude issues that face kickers in these divisions can make or break a career. Justin Medlock, a 5th round draft choice of the Chiefs last year, is almost certain to be unemployed next week after the Rams brought in Seattle's Josh Brown.
Brown, Jason Elam, Lawrence Tynes, and Jeff Wilkins. It's not often that kicking stability is thought of as a neccesity, so entering this season with none of these players at their usual homes could be a wild card element to the season. As we mentioned, Brown swapped the Qwest field winds for the dome in St. Louis, while the clutch Elam was released by Denver and caught on with Atlanta. Wilkins retired, and the Chiefs have been in a state of flux since trading Tynes to the Giants last season.
All three will enter the season with an inexperienced player at the position. The Seahawks seem to be set with Rookie Brandon Coutu, while the Broncos will likely go with Matt Prater, who has been 7/9 through 3 games. The Chiefs, as always, are completely hapless at the position, and will probably keep former Dallas kicker Nick Novak around, though Rookie Connor Barth is 2/2 for the pre-season.
Whatever happens, look for the swirling winds in both divisions to cost more than one team a victory this season.
Here's our take on the winners of Pre-Season week 3. We'll have the losers shortly.
The Carolina Panthers
Entering 2008, the Panthers have not been a trendy pick to make the Playoffs, especially playing in a division where the Bucs and Saints have monopolised the title since 2004.
All that could change after last night's dominant 3-47 win over the lacklustre Redskins. The team's running game, in particular, was impressive, with both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart amassing 100yd games. Indeed, both backs did it in around 10 carries, and had very similiar stats, despite being very different types of runner. The tandem are both competing to replace DeShaun Foster as the starter, but no matter which player starts, you can guarantee that the other will be productive.
The situation is reminiscent of the Jaguars, who have Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor sharing the load. The differing styles of each runner help keep the other fresh, which in turn often leads to big gains late on in games.
The team will sorely miss Wide Receiver Steve Smith, but if Jake Delhomme continues his solid recovery from elbow surgery and can get the team through those two games that Smith is suspended for, then the Panthers could have a very good chance of finishing atop the NFC South.
The Miami Dolphins
No, do not adjust your monitor. We mean it. The 'fins were almost the worst team in NFL statistical history last season, and were lucky to get their one victory in overtime against the Ravens.
But Bill Parcells has once again rescued a big-market team from the doldrums, and some of his personel decisions look a lot better after last night's shutout of the Chiefs. Ok, so Kansas City are hardly going to be challenging for a Superbowl this year either, but you can only beat the team you play on any given week, and the Dolphins did so emphatically.
Chad Pennington looks to have hit the ground (or the air... if that's possible.) running, and his measured play could acrually help the team win some games this season. Certainly, he is getting more from receiver Ted Ginn jnr, and even Ricky Williams has turned up this year. According to one team source Williams is 'the best player on this team' - something that gives the Dolphins a credible ground game with which to establish control over games.
Drew Brees
This week saw a few Quarterback performances that deserve a mention. Matt Schaub was once again good for Houston, while Pennington, Tony Romo, and Aaron Rodgers all proved their doubters wrong.
However, no QB has been as impressive as Brees, who continues to establish himself in the top tier of NFL signal-callers. While most players seem sluggish at this stage, Brees has thrown for nearly 400yds, 4 TD's, and crucially, zero interceptions. He is completing almost 70% of his passes at a time when he is not always throwing to first team receivers, and last night put up nearly 200yds in the first half alone against Cincinnatti.
If the Saints Secondary can improve to the level that the rest of the team currently plays at, the team might get another shot at the playoffs and beyond this year.
Kickers
With the odd short miss excepted, kickers have been impressive this week. Many games have descended into tit-for-tat kicking affairs, while teams are also giving their players a chance from longer range as they try to establish where their comfort zone is.
But it's not just the Starters making plays, it's the backups. Detroit's Dave Rayner was 4/4 last night, and even though he will not supplant Jason Hanson, he has likely earned himself a chance at making another roster next week after he is cut. The same goes for Minnesota's Steven Hauschka, who has made 8/8 in the pre-season, despite having zero chance of making the team's roster.
Indeed, Hauschka is not the only Rookie Kicker making an impact this year, in what seems a very strong class of Kickers compared to the rather barren past few years. Miami seems set with Dan Carpenter, while Jason Reda of Cleveland, Adam Crosset of Indy, and John Vaughn of Tennessee all have done enough to earn tryouts after they are inevitably cut next week.
Nowehere is Kicking so vital, however, as the AFC and NFC West. The changeable weather conditions and altitude issues that face kickers in these divisions can make or break a career. Justin Medlock, a 5th round draft choice of the Chiefs last year, is almost certain to be unemployed next week after the Rams brought in Seattle's Josh Brown.
Brown, Jason Elam, Lawrence Tynes, and Jeff Wilkins. It's not often that kicking stability is thought of as a neccesity, so entering this season with none of these players at their usual homes could be a wild card element to the season. As we mentioned, Brown swapped the Qwest field winds for the dome in St. Louis, while the clutch Elam was released by Denver and caught on with Atlanta. Wilkins retired, and the Chiefs have been in a state of flux since trading Tynes to the Giants last season.
All three will enter the season with an inexperienced player at the position. The Seahawks seem to be set with Rookie Brandon Coutu, while the Broncos will likely go with Matt Prater, who has been 7/9 through 3 games. The Chiefs, as always, are completely hapless at the position, and will probably keep former Dallas kicker Nick Novak around, though Rookie Connor Barth is 2/2 for the pre-season.
Whatever happens, look for the swirling winds in both divisions to cost more than one team a victory this season.
Saturday 23 August 2008
Calhoun states case for job in Lions backfield
In a competitive - but not hugely talented - Running Back situation in Detroit, Brian Calhoun is making a final effort to secure his place on the roster.
Calhoun has 61 yards on 9 carries, including a big 40yd run. Artoise Pinner is now getting his share of gametime, and looks a damn sight more impressive than Tatum Bell, who managed just 9 yards on 4 carries.
Kevin Smith is projected as the starter in the backfield, with Calhoun, Pinner, Bell and Aveion Cason - who also returns kicks - fighting for the chance to back him up. At the moment, it's looking more and more likely that unless Bell can come up big in the Lions' final Pre-Season game in Buffalo this Thursday, he could be one of the casualties next Saturday.
Calhoun has 61 yards on 9 carries, including a big 40yd run. Artoise Pinner is now getting his share of gametime, and looks a damn sight more impressive than Tatum Bell, who managed just 9 yards on 4 carries.
Kevin Smith is projected as the starter in the backfield, with Calhoun, Pinner, Bell and Aveion Cason - who also returns kicks - fighting for the chance to back him up. At the moment, it's looking more and more likely that unless Bell can come up big in the Lions' final Pre-Season game in Buffalo this Thursday, he could be one of the casualties next Saturday.
Merriman's injury 'requires surgey'
Shawne Merriman met with the media earlier to clarify the situation around the knee injury that threatens to derail his - and San Diego's - 2008 season. The three time pro-bowler, entering his fourth season with the Chargers, revealed that he is suffering from not one, but two seperate issues.
A widely circulated report from the team website stated that first and foremost, Merriman is suffering from a torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament. However today, Merriman elaborated, and confirmed that in addition, he has a torn Lateral Collateral Ligament.
- Chargers Linebacker Shawne Merriman
Merriman will likely have surgery in the very near future, but is still seeking opinions on how severe the surgery will need to be to solve the problem - if it can be solved at all.
*Update*
According to ESPN.com, Merriman described the doctors as 'surprised' that he had played with the injury for so long, and also revealed that he has been warned that if he opts to forego surgery and play this year, he will likely suffer a career ending injury.
A widely circulated report from the team website stated that first and foremost, Merriman is suffering from a torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament. However today, Merriman elaborated, and confirmed that in addition, he has a torn Lateral Collateral Ligament.
“The combination makes it kind of difficult,” Merriman said. “It makes your knee feel very unstable. It’s something that I’ve been trying to deal with, hoping it would get better by now.”
- Chargers Linebacker Shawne Merriman
Merriman will likely have surgery in the very near future, but is still seeking opinions on how severe the surgery will need to be to solve the problem - if it can be solved at all.
*Update*
According to ESPN.com, Merriman described the doctors as 'surprised' that he had played with the injury for so long, and also revealed that he has been warned that if he opts to forego surgery and play this year, he will likely suffer a career ending injury.
'He's a kicker - who cares?'
Ever wonder about the standard of analysis we get on Sky for the NFL games they show?
Wonder no more, as we bring you just a tiny fraction of the wonders and unsubstantiated comments that comprise the Sky Sports NFL coverage.
First of all, far be it for us to point out that - even in the Pre-Season - getting a NASCAR journalist (David Tuckman) to be the studio analyst may not be the best idea. Sky might as well have sent Kevin Cadle out into the street and found a random American tourist, such is the token nature of Tuckman's presence.
Not only that, but while analysing the 'ins and outs' of the Denver Broncos, he spouts as much rubbish as you might expect:
- NASCAR-cum-NFL journalist David Tuckman, Sky Sports
Here's a person who might care David: Champ Bailey. If you're unfamiliar with him, let's just say he's not bad - for a Defensive player!!! (WHO CARES ABOUT DEFENCE ANYWAY???)
For the record: Jason Elam kicked 4 (four) game winning field goals for Denver last year.
Wonder no more, as we bring you just a tiny fraction of the wonders and unsubstantiated comments that comprise the Sky Sports NFL coverage.
First of all, far be it for us to point out that - even in the Pre-Season - getting a NASCAR journalist (David Tuckman) to be the studio analyst may not be the best idea. Sky might as well have sent Kevin Cadle out into the street and found a random American tourist, such is the token nature of Tuckman's presence.
Not only that, but while analysing the 'ins and outs' of the Denver Broncos, he spouts as much rubbish as you might expect:
"...and Jason Elam... well he's a kicker - Who cares?!"
- NASCAR-cum-NFL journalist David Tuckman, Sky Sports
Here's a person who might care David: Champ Bailey. If you're unfamiliar with him, let's just say he's not bad - for a Defensive player!!! (WHO CARES ABOUT DEFENCE ANYWAY???)
"He's proven. He's done it for a long time...I'm very concerned."
"When you play for a long time, you understand how important the position is, you lose games when you don't have one."
"There better be a guy who really impresses me when camp rolls around because it'll really, really bother me then,"
- Champ Bailey in March 2008 following Kicker Jason Elam's release
For the record: Jason Elam kicked 4 (four) game winning field goals for Denver last year.
Quinn shows poise in Pre-Season start
Brady Quinn is currently making his first start as a Cleveland Brown - and he's holding up well to the pressure that the Detroit Lions have brought. Quinn is currently 8/14 for 64 yards, and dealt with a fumbled shotgun snap well, throwing to the sidelines once he had the ball under control.
Detroit lead 3-13 midway through the second quarter, and also noteworthy are Rookie RB Kevin Smith's 35yd TD run, Linebacker Ernie Sims' 8 tackles, and QB Jon Kitna's 9/11 passes for 98 yards and no INT's.
Dan Orlovsky, who will now be securely entrenched as the backup QB thanks to Drew Stanton's injury, just threw a pick at the earliest available opportunity - thus marking the first time anyone wished they had Jon Kitna back in their starting lineup.
Detroit lead 3-13 midway through the second quarter, and also noteworthy are Rookie RB Kevin Smith's 35yd TD run, Linebacker Ernie Sims' 8 tackles, and QB Jon Kitna's 9/11 passes for 98 yards and no INT's.
Dan Orlovsky, who will now be securely entrenched as the backup QB thanks to Drew Stanton's injury, just threw a pick at the earliest available opportunity - thus marking the first time anyone wished they had Jon Kitna back in their starting lineup.
Concerns lingering about Manning's knee
Ok Ok, we'll admit, this will completely contradict something posted earlier on the site - but who cares? Not me, and that's the main thing. It's one of the beauties of having more than one opinion contributing to a common cause.
Anyway...
With the 30th August deadline rapidly approaching for teams to cut their rosters down to 53, one interesting question will be what the Colts do at the Quarterback position. Peyton Manning has spent a great deal of time rehabbing his knee after an infected bursa-sac was removed in mid-July. Despite reassurances early in the process that the injury would not mean missing any regular season time, coach Tony Dungy has sounded more coy over the last week.
- Indianapolis Colts Coach, Tony Dungy
As we always say about these kind of statements, the mere consideration of this eventuality means that the team accepts that Manning could actually miss the start of this season. That's not to say that it's a certainty by any means, as you can bet your house on Manning starting if he's even 75% ready to play. The man is as durable as he is talented, but even he concedes that the challenge has been "something totally different than I've ever had to experience."
Next Saturday should give a clear indication of how close Manning is to making the opener. On the roster are four Quarterbacks: Manning, backup Jim Sorgi, former - and in many ways, current - Giant Jared Lorenzen, and Quinn Gray, who started four games for Jacksonville last year. Sorgi has started the pre-season games so far, but has looked far from impressive.
To us, it feels like the Colts are hedging their bets here. The team is usually set with just the two QB's on the roster by this point in the pre-season, and has rarely entertained the prospect of a third, let alone having an open competition for the spot. It all seems like a remarkable coincidence that the Colts would feel the need to do so this year, and if we were gamblers, we'd probably shorten the odds on him missing the opener right now. During the last week, when he was rolled out at practice to sate the press, Manning has looked like exactly what he is: an injured player. The guy can hardly walk, let alone play, and with just two weeks until the team take on Chicago in a rematch of Superbowl XLI, there isn't a great deal of time for Manning to regain confidence in his knee, let alone his team mates.
Manning has not missed a game in his ten years in the league up to this point, but it seems that at least short term, Indy may be forced to consider what life is like without their talisman.
Anyway...
With the 30th August deadline rapidly approaching for teams to cut their rosters down to 53, one interesting question will be what the Colts do at the Quarterback position. Peyton Manning has spent a great deal of time rehabbing his knee after an infected bursa-sac was removed in mid-July. Despite reassurances early in the process that the injury would not mean missing any regular season time, coach Tony Dungy has sounded more coy over the last week.
"Everybody can say, 'Oh, if Peyton Manning isn't playing, the Colts are going to be a .500 team. I don't think anybody here believes that. Is it easier to win without Peyton? No. It's going to be tougher."
- Indianapolis Colts Coach, Tony Dungy
As we always say about these kind of statements, the mere consideration of this eventuality means that the team accepts that Manning could actually miss the start of this season. That's not to say that it's a certainty by any means, as you can bet your house on Manning starting if he's even 75% ready to play. The man is as durable as he is talented, but even he concedes that the challenge has been "something totally different than I've ever had to experience."
Next Saturday should give a clear indication of how close Manning is to making the opener. On the roster are four Quarterbacks: Manning, backup Jim Sorgi, former - and in many ways, current - Giant Jared Lorenzen, and Quinn Gray, who started four games for Jacksonville last year. Sorgi has started the pre-season games so far, but has looked far from impressive.
To us, it feels like the Colts are hedging their bets here. The team is usually set with just the two QB's on the roster by this point in the pre-season, and has rarely entertained the prospect of a third, let alone having an open competition for the spot. It all seems like a remarkable coincidence that the Colts would feel the need to do so this year, and if we were gamblers, we'd probably shorten the odds on him missing the opener right now. During the last week, when he was rolled out at practice to sate the press, Manning has looked like exactly what he is: an injured player. The guy can hardly walk, let alone play, and with just two weeks until the team take on Chicago in a rematch of Superbowl XLI, there isn't a great deal of time for Manning to regain confidence in his knee, let alone his team mates.
Manning has not missed a game in his ten years in the league up to this point, but it seems that at least short term, Indy may be forced to consider what life is like without their talisman.
Football Shorts
J.T. O'Sullivan has won the 49ers QB battle, edging out former no.1 overall draft pick Alex Smith. According to coach Mike Nolan, Smith will not be cut, though it remains to be seen whether Smith will bide his time and hope for O'Sullivan to struggle, or whether he will seek a trade immediately.
Kyle Orton put up a good display against the 49ers on Thursday night. The Bears' new starting Quarterback was 10/17 for 142 yards and threw 2two Touchdowns to Receiver Rashied Davis in a 37-30 loss.
Broncos Centre Tom Nalen underwent Arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday. The five time Pro-Bowler has been bothered by a persistent knee injury throughout the off-season, and Coach Mike Shanahan did not sound confident when addressing the press: ""If it is serious, at least we've got it done. And we haven't been able to get him back as quickly as we'd like. So, there's something in there."
Green Bay Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was impressive in last night's victory over the Broncos, going 18/22 with no interceptions and a TD. Rodgers described the performance as 'a step forward' for the Packers Offence.
In the same game, Broncos Receiver Brandon Marshall showed why the team will miss him so much during his four game personal conduct suspension, catching a 49yd TD from Jay Cutler.
Steelers Linebacker James Farrior was surprisingly rewarded with a new five year deal, aged 33. With Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley waiting to step into the Steelers 3-4 scheme, the move was unexpected.
The Patriots have now lost three Pre-Season games, after last night's defeat to Philadelphia. With Tom Brady expected to miss the next game, it seems likely that Matt Guttierez could beat out Matt Cassel for the number two job in New England. Guttierez impressed after replacing Cassel, throwing for more than 200yds and 2 TD's - neither of which Cassel has achieved in his three starts.
The Texans Offence looks good. QB Matt Schaub and receiver Kevin Walter have developed an effective partnership, and Rookie RB Steve Slaton is looking like a steal in the third round of this year's draft. Despite that, the Texans lost by a single point to Dallas - after attempting a 2pt conversion that would have won them the game with just two minutes left.
The Cowboys are starting to get into a rhythm. QB Tony Romo was 15/19 for a touchdown and an interception last night, while Terrell Owens caught four passes for 43yds. Running Back Marion Barber took on the bulk of the workload, rushing 13 times for 75yds and a TD.
Finally, tonight's games:
Cleveland 4:00
Detroit PM ET
NY Giants 7:00
NY Jets PM ET
Kansas City 7:30
Miami PM ET
Jacksonville 7:30
Tampa Bay PM ET
Washington 7:30
Carolina PM ET
New Orleans 7:35
Cincinnati PM ET
Baltimore 8:00
St. Louis PM ET
Pittsburgh 8:00
Minnesota PM ET
Arizona 9:00
Oakland PM ET
Kyle Orton put up a good display against the 49ers on Thursday night. The Bears' new starting Quarterback was 10/17 for 142 yards and threw 2two Touchdowns to Receiver Rashied Davis in a 37-30 loss.
Broncos Centre Tom Nalen underwent Arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday. The five time Pro-Bowler has been bothered by a persistent knee injury throughout the off-season, and Coach Mike Shanahan did not sound confident when addressing the press: ""If it is serious, at least we've got it done. And we haven't been able to get him back as quickly as we'd like. So, there's something in there."
Green Bay Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was impressive in last night's victory over the Broncos, going 18/22 with no interceptions and a TD. Rodgers described the performance as 'a step forward' for the Packers Offence.
In the same game, Broncos Receiver Brandon Marshall showed why the team will miss him so much during his four game personal conduct suspension, catching a 49yd TD from Jay Cutler.
Steelers Linebacker James Farrior was surprisingly rewarded with a new five year deal, aged 33. With Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley waiting to step into the Steelers 3-4 scheme, the move was unexpected.
The Patriots have now lost three Pre-Season games, after last night's defeat to Philadelphia. With Tom Brady expected to miss the next game, it seems likely that Matt Guttierez could beat out Matt Cassel for the number two job in New England. Guttierez impressed after replacing Cassel, throwing for more than 200yds and 2 TD's - neither of which Cassel has achieved in his three starts.
The Texans Offence looks good. QB Matt Schaub and receiver Kevin Walter have developed an effective partnership, and Rookie RB Steve Slaton is looking like a steal in the third round of this year's draft. Despite that, the Texans lost by a single point to Dallas - after attempting a 2pt conversion that would have won them the game with just two minutes left.
The Cowboys are starting to get into a rhythm. QB Tony Romo was 15/19 for a touchdown and an interception last night, while Terrell Owens caught four passes for 43yds. Running Back Marion Barber took on the bulk of the workload, rushing 13 times for 75yds and a TD.
Finally, tonight's games:
Cleveland 4:00
Detroit PM ET
NY Giants 7:00
NY Jets PM ET
Kansas City 7:30
Miami PM ET
Jacksonville 7:30
Tampa Bay PM ET
Washington 7:30
Carolina PM ET
New Orleans 7:35
Cincinnati PM ET
Baltimore 8:00
St. Louis PM ET
Pittsburgh 8:00
Minnesota PM ET
Arizona 9:00
Oakland PM ET
Friday 22 August 2008
Merriman battling to save career
In what is a stark reminder of the realities of life in the National Football league, San Diego Chargers LB Shawne Merriman has confirmed that he has a serious knee injury that could see him miss not just this season, but potentially jeopardise the rest of his career.
As yet, the only details known are that it is a loose ligament in his knee, and that Merriman is waiting to hear from specialist Dr James Andrews as to whether he will require reconstructive surgery, which would at minimum mean he would miss the entire 2008 season. The risks inherent with such an operation mean that even should he come back, there is no guarantee that the knee will be stable enough to allow him to perform to NFL levels.
At just 24, Merriman has commited to working with Fox Sports this season, something that indicates that he is already considering the implications of losing this battle. As an articulate and bright guy, Merriman should have no difficulty adapting to the TV lights, but it is unusual to see a player do so at such a young age. It's hard not to assume at this point that Merriman has been told that there is a high probability that he may not play in the NFL again.
As yet, the only details known are that it is a loose ligament in his knee, and that Merriman is waiting to hear from specialist Dr James Andrews as to whether he will require reconstructive surgery, which would at minimum mean he would miss the entire 2008 season. The risks inherent with such an operation mean that even should he come back, there is no guarantee that the knee will be stable enough to allow him to perform to NFL levels.
At just 24, Merriman has commited to working with Fox Sports this season, something that indicates that he is already considering the implications of losing this battle. As an articulate and bright guy, Merriman should have no difficulty adapting to the TV lights, but it is unusual to see a player do so at such a young age. It's hard not to assume at this point that Merriman has been told that there is a high probability that he may not play in the NFL again.
Thursday 21 August 2008
Jackson back in St. Louis
St. Louis Rams Running Back Steven Jackson has agreed terms on a monster new deal - one that takes him straight to the top of the salary league.
ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that the mega-deal is two tiered, and essentialy makes for a win-win situation no matter what happens to Jackson. Either he hits the performance triggers on a $49.3m 5 year deal, or the Rams cut short the deal after a 3 year $29m deal with $21m guaranteed. If Jackson were to hit Free Agency in 2011, he would be in position to land a rare 'third contract'.
Ironically, Jackson's drafting in the first round, is a typical example of how a Running Back can suffer by being tied to a long term, undervalued rookie deal. Jackson signed a contract worth just $7m as a Rookie in 2004, and was entering the final year of that deal. Once a Rusher falls past the top 10, the money they receive is often out of synch with their role on the field. A Running Back is unlikely to get a decent payday after the age of 28, and so most RB's are well aware that to make the big bucks, they need a big payday at the end of their rookie deal.
Should help pay for those colonics.
ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that the mega-deal is two tiered, and essentialy makes for a win-win situation no matter what happens to Jackson. Either he hits the performance triggers on a $49.3m 5 year deal, or the Rams cut short the deal after a 3 year $29m deal with $21m guaranteed. If Jackson were to hit Free Agency in 2011, he would be in position to land a rare 'third contract'.
Ironically, Jackson's drafting in the first round, is a typical example of how a Running Back can suffer by being tied to a long term, undervalued rookie deal. Jackson signed a contract worth just $7m as a Rookie in 2004, and was entering the final year of that deal. Once a Rusher falls past the top 10, the money they receive is often out of synch with their role on the field. A Running Back is unlikely to get a decent payday after the age of 28, and so most RB's are well aware that to make the big bucks, they need a big payday at the end of their rookie deal.
Should help pay for those colonics.
Gene Upshaw has died
Longtime director of the NFL Players Association, two-time Super Bowl winner and Hall of Famer, Gene Upshaw, has died of Pancreatic Cancer, aged 63.
Our thoughts are with his wife, Terri, and sons, Justin, Daniel and Eugene Jr.
Our thoughts are with his wife, Terri, and sons, Justin, Daniel and Eugene Jr.
Wednesday 20 August 2008
Dallas Cowboys: Season preview 2008
'America's team' as they have been daubed for nearly 30 years, move into the season with an enviable roster. Bill Parcells built strong foundations in recent years, and Wade Phillips will be hoping that his own refining of the roster will translate into another Superbowl for a franchise that remains one of the most popular in world sports. Much like the Bills, the Cowboys have suffered a postseason malaise since the mid nineties. In fact, despite several attempts, the team has not won a playoff game since 1996. During those twelve years, the team has seen a revolving door at the Quarterback position, and until Parcells took over, nobody strong enough to make better football decisions than owner Jerry Jones.
That is not a knock on Jones. As an owner, his commitment to the team is omparabale only to the Al Davis's of this world, but as that has proved, it is not always a guarantee of harmony within the organisation. What Parcells did admirably well, was balance both his own visions with that of Jones. Unfortunately, when Terrell Owens signed from Philadelphia (against Parcells wishes, if rumour is to be believed), the writing seemed to be on the wall for the Tuna. Nonetheless, his work is likely to have provided a more solid base for Phillips to work with than the one he himself inherited.
The Coach
Second year coach Wade Phillips did enough in 2007 to retain the support of not only Jerry Jones, but the fanbase. Certainly, it's hard to argue that the team is worse under him than Parcells. His management style is certainly very different to his predecessor, preffering a more relaxed, informal attitude with his players, something that veterans appreciate, but is not always the catalyst for greatness.
Phillips's biggest concern will be that his own successor is already anointed, in Jason Garrett, his Assistant. It's hard to imagine that without a Championship, he will be able to convince Jones to give him a third attempt. Garrett is highly coveted around the league, and in fact makes more money than some Head Coaches, such was Jones's commitment to him. If the owner believes that Garrett could walk next year, the chances are he will pull the trigger and get rid of Phillips. As such, it is common knowledge that without a ring, the genial Phillips may find himself looking for work next season.
Draft class of 2008
1 Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
1 Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
2 Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M
4 Tashard Choice, RB, Georgia Tech
5 Orlando Scandrick, CB, Boise State
6 Erik Walden, DE, Middle Tennessee State
The Cowboys were faced with three positions of need entering this year's draft. They addressed the Cornerback and Running Back positions with two picks each, but the Wideout situation is certainly a bone of contention amongst many fans. It could easily be argued that with the addition of Pacman Jones to the already solid pairing of Anthony Henry and Terrence Newman, the selection of Jenkins was a luxury rather than a neccesity. Patrick Crayton had a difficult season opposite Terrell Owens, and the loss of Terry Glenn further hurts the receiving corps.
The selection of Felix Jones is an inspired one, however. Jones is the perfect compliment to the brutal Marion Barber, who remains pound for pound, the hardest player in the NFL to tackle. Jones brings a similiar dynamic that Reggie Bush brings to the Saints - but crucially at a reduced salary, and with none of the expectation or pressure that Bush suffers from. Expect Jones to line up in the slot as much as he lines up behind Tony Romo.
Strong side
It is rare for a team to grade out as well as the Cowboys for long. The team is coming towards the end of a crucial window, as Owens ages, and Defensive stalwarts such as Greg Ellis and Zach Thomas coming towards the end of their time as truly elite players.
On the other hand, Phillips has got a good blend of youth and experience, especially on Defence. The linebacking corps is without doubt one of the top three in the league, and as mentioned, the team now arguably has an embarrassment of riches at Cornerback. Quarterback Tony Romo is another elite piece to this puzzle, and it's hard to imagine that he will not play in at least one Superbowl with this team.
Weak side
The Cowboys have one of the most complete teams in the league. Of that, there is little doubt, but there are still holes at crucial positions that continue to thwart their efforts to bring back the Vince Lombardi trophy. For one thing, despite a plethora of starting Corners, the Safety position is up in the air as we enter the season. Roy Williams has been deemed a liability in coverage by the current staff, and his 'boom or bust' style is a worry for a team that struggles against elite receivers. Profootballfocus.com lists Williams as the second worst Safety in the league in coverage, and coming from a site that simply deals with each player's numbers - not reputations - it is a damning verdict.
Another major concern has to be the underperforming Offensive Line. While Flozell Adams and Leonard Davis are both relatively solid, Centre Andre Gurode, RT Marc Columbo, and LG Kyle Kosier, are all underperforming. All three were listed towards the bottom of their respective positions according to PFF, and if Romo is to be given a chance to thrive in the pocket, it may be that upgrades are needed amongst the interior linemen.
Major transactions
In:
Zach Thomas, LB, Miami
Adam Jones, CB, Tennessee
Out:
Jacques Reeves, CB, Houston
Julius Jones, RB, Seattle
Jason Ferguson, NT, Miami
Anthony Fasano, TE, Miami
Akin Ayodele, LB, Miami
Terry Glenn, WR, FA
2008 Schedule
1 September 7, 2008 3:15 p.m. @ Cleveland Browns
2 September 15, 2008 7:15 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles
3 September 21, 2008 7:15 p.m. @ Green Bay Packers
4 September 28, 2008 3:15 p.m. Washington Redskins
5 October 5, 2008 3:15 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals
6 October 12, 2008 3:15 p.m. @ Arizona Cardinals
7 October 19, 2008 12:00 p.m. @ St. Louis Rams
8 October 26, 2008 12:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9 November 2, 2008 3:15 p.m. @ New York Giants
10 Bye week
11 November 16, 2008 7:15 p.m. @ Washington Redskins
12 November 23, 2008 12:00 p.m. San Francisco 49ers
13 November 27, 2008 3:15 p.m. Seattle Seahawks
14 December 7, 2008 3:15 p.m. @ Pittsburgh Steelers
15 December 14, 2008 7:15 p.m. New York Giants
16 December 20, 2008 7:15 p.m. Baltimore Ravens
17 December 28, 2008 12:00 p.m. @ Philadelphia Eagles
Wide-Right's view
Like any team, if 2008 is to be the Dallas Cowboys' Superbowl winning year, there are plenty of questions that will need answering. None of these will matter, however, if they cannot overcome the glass ceiling that exists when this franchise hits the Playoffs.
Last season, the team played the Giants three times. The regular season games were high scoring affairs that saw the Dallas Offence take the game by the scruff of the neck. Where the Defence gave up points, Romo controlled the Giants and in reality, the winning margins do not show the dominance that the 'boys had in either game. Fast forward to January, and the team's one and only playoff appearance. Again, the Giants came to town, but this time, the result was different. The Giants Defense managed to stifle what is a tremendously productive offence. Romo was consistently forced to check down for short gains to TE Jason Witten, and the weight of the playoffs appeared to weigh heavily on the entire team.
The Cowboys have every chance of breaking that psychological barrier this year, but the lack of a Wide Receiver to compliment Owens is still a major issue. T.O, even with his... what we will politely describe as 'eccentricities', is amongst not only the best receivers in the league, but also the best receivers ever. A grand statement? Not really. Very few players have had the production and impact that Owens has had in the NFL. A Superbowl would merely confirm his Hall of Fame credentials.
Prediction for 2008
It's hard to imagine the Cowboys not making the playoffs - though stranger things have happened. In what has quickly become the strongest division in football, nothing is guaranteed, and the Cowboys must not believe that they have any divine right to the crown of NFC East Champions. The schedule has been kind to Dallas though, and a relatively easy mid-season means that they should not be discounted from the playoff picture even if they start terribly.
To go out on a limb, this team will not make the Superbowl while such question marks surround the Offensive Line. A team can cover for many things, but poor line play will kill even the best Quarterbacks - though Romo should break his (and the team's) playoff duck.
Useful links for Dallas fans
Official site
Depth Chart
Cowboysnet - Blog
2008 Previews: New York Giants
It’s not very often that the Superbowl champions spend much of the preseason avoiding the limelight, but despite coming off one of the great Championship upsets, this is exactly the case for the New York Giants. Big Blue have been overshadowed in the Big Apple by the story of Brett Favre joining the Jets, and yet this is exactly how the Giants want to be. Unassuming, their defensive style kept them under the radar for all of 2007, even though they set an NFL record for consecutive road wins on their way to victory over the Patriots in Arizona.
They enter the 2008 season as a relatively unfancied team in the fiercely competitive NFC East. Many will see this as something of rebuilding season for the Giants having lost some key players, but have no doubt that they will continue to surprise, and will fully expect to still be in action come January.
Tom Coughlin
Rather unbelievably, Coughlin was almost sacked after 2 games of last season. The Giants were 0-2 and playing poorly, and amidst criticism that he was too hard on his players, many felt that a change of direction was needed. The Giants ownership felt differently, giving Coughlin one more chance to prove himself. He changed his ways, adapting his style of dictatorial rule to one where the senior players had more of a say, and the response was phenomenal.
Coughlin has helped mould several young players into established stars with New York, not least Eli Manning, who has constantly improved since his rookie season, and Osi Umenyiora, who was remarkable in 2007 and is now expected to take up the mantle left by the retiring Michael Strahan. Coughlin signed a 4-year, $21m contract extension in the summer, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the league.
Draft Class of 2008
- Kenny Phillips, Safety, Miami
- Terrell Thomas, Cornerback, Southern Cal
- Mario Manningham, Wide Receiver, Michican
- Bryan Kehl, Linebacker, BYU
- Jonathan Goff, Linebacker, Vanderbilt
- Andre Woodson, Quarterback, Kentucky
- Robert Henderson, Defensive End, Southern Miss
ESPN.com analyst John Clayton called the Giants, “first day losers,” following the draft, but many fans disagree. Kenny Phillips addresses weakness at safety (even if he doesn’t start this season), and was certainly the most NFL-ready safety available in the draft. Thomas provides versatility that could see him move to safety if needed, and Manningham put up impressive stats in college and would likely have gone higher had it not been for a poor combine and a questionable personality.
The general opinion seems to be that the Giants succeeded by taking Phillips, and also taking players who performed well during their time at college, but may have been overlooked due to a disappointing combine. Question marks were raised by the need for a Linebacker not being dealt with until the fourth round, as well as a total neglect for the Offensive Line.
Strong Side
On paper the strongest component in the Giants’ locker will be the Manning-Burress axis that caused so many problems for defences last season, but as ever the press enter the season worrying about whether or not Manning has the ability to make it as a true franchise quarterback, and whether Burress will actually be fully fit for the season. In the wake of that, it will be up to emerging players to deliver once again. Kevin Boss, Mario Manningham, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora will be the names to look out for. Whilst Umenyiora is expected to have another solid season, much will depend on how well Tuck steps into the void left by Michael Strahan on the left hand side of the defensive line. Boss will have the chance to be the number one TE following the departure of Jeremy Shockey, and Manningham will fight it out with David Tyree and Steve Smith for the 3rd receiver role.
A big key will be the performance of their experienced offensive line in protecting Eli Manning who has shown an ability to panic under pressure in the past, as well as the performance of Antonio Pierce at Linebacker, who will need to build upon a career year in 2007. The fact that the only free agent signing that is currently first string is Sammy Knight speaks volumes of Coach Coughlin’s in his current crop of players, which bodes well.
Weak Side
Without a doubt the weakness of the Giants is their lack of experience in key positions. Whilst they have two receivers in their 30s, no others have real experience in the number 3 role. Plaxico Burress’ fitness is a question mark, and there are doubts over the Giants’ ability to provide a deep threat (they ranked 25th in the league for 20+ yard completions last season), but this is an issue that clearly did not affect them in 2007 too much. Tight End Boss has played only a handful of NFL games, and there are obvious question marks about how well Justin Tuck will perform replacing Michael Strahan. But this is a team that appear to like adversity, and they showed that losing a potential Hall-of-Famer and team leader doesn’t always mean doom and gloom, following the retirement of Tiki Barber in 2006.
Major Transactions
In
QB David Carr (Car)
DE Renaldo Wynn (NO)
LB Danny Clark (Hou)
S Sammy Knight (Jax)
WR Craphonso Thorpe (Ind)
Out
FB Jim Finn
DT William Joseph (Oak)
LB Kawika Mitchell (Buf)
TE Jeremy Shockey (NO)
DE Michael Strahan (retired)
LB Reggie Torbor (Mia)
S Gibril Wilson (Oak)
DT Manny Wright
Schedule
1 Thu, Sep 4 Washington 7:00 PM Giants Stadium
2 Sun, Sep 14 @ St. Louis 1:00 PM Edward Jones Dome
3 Sun, Sep 21 Cincinnati 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
4 BYE WEEK
5 Sun, Oct 5 Seattle 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
6 Mon, Oct 13 @ Cleveland 8:30 PM Cleveland Browns Stadium
7 Sun, Oct 19 San Francisco 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
8 Sun, Oct 26 @ Pittsburgh 4:15 PM Heinz Field
9 Sun, Nov 2 Dallas 4:15 PM Giants Stadium
10 Sun, Nov 9 @ Philadelphia 8:15 PM Lincoln Financial Field
11 Sun, Nov 16 Baltimore 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
12 Sun, Nov 23 @ Arizona 4:15 PM U of Phoenix Stadium
13 Sun, Nov 30 @ Washington 1:00 PM FedEx Field
14 Sun, Dec 7 Philadelphia 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
15 Sun, Dec 14 @ Dallas 8:15 PM Texas Stadium
16 Sun, Dec 21 Carolina 1:00 PM Giants Stadium
17 Sun, Dec 28 @ Minnesota 1:00 PM Metrodome
Wide-Right’s View
It seems near impossible for the Giants to repeat their successes of 2007, but the lesson learnt from last year is to not write off Tom Coughlin’s team. Their schedule is not particularly kind for 2008, not least because they are in a division with two teams that are expected to challenge for the Superbowl in Dallas and Washington. Even the Philadelphia Eagles are expected to enter 2008 a stronger outfit – making the NFC East arguably the toughest division in the league.
Enough of the core team remains from last season to give Giants’ fans hope for the year ahead, and they are the sort of team that seems to find a way to win from apparently impossible situations, and they will need good fortune to win the division. And they hope to not replicate the fortunes of the last Wild Card Superbowl champions – the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers who went 8-8 and failed to reach the postseason in 2006.
Much will depend on the MVP Eli Manning. This year will mark a turning point in his career as to whether or not he can take the next step to becoming a great quarterback, as opposed to merely a good one who has had some great moments. In that respect there is a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders – but surely no more than comes with being a quarterback in New York anyway. Manning, in fact, could prove to benefit immensely by the arrival of Brett Favre to New York, who may attract more headlines throughout the season and thus keep Manning-mania to a minimum.
Prediction for 2008
The Giants are certainly not the strongest team to defend the Superbowl, but it would be foolish to write them off before the season starts. They will need to continue their prolific road form if they are to have any chance of the play-offs, as well as perform well in their divisional match-ups which could see them go from a 6-10 team to a 10-6 contender again. As long as they hold in the race going into Week 13 (when a run of 3 consecutive divisional match ups, two on the road, takes place) then they should have every hope of playing in January – although it seems safe to say that those 3 games will make or break the season.
Useful Links
Missing Manning?
Various news outlets, including NFL.com, appear concerned that Peyton Manning & Tom Brady are seriously injured, and could miss a chunk of regular season playing time.
We at Wide-Right are not. Think about it for a second, would Peyton Manning, 2nd to Brett Favre in the QB consecutive starts race, QB for the Indianapolis Colts who are due to officially open their new stadium in their 1st regular season game, QB who makes the Colts special, contemplate missing any games? No; Manning will start (and continue) the opening game of the season, and be just fine with his recovery.
Brady on the other hand is a tricker situation to analyse, primarily because of the Patriots' 'honesty' in injury reports. Hands up who thinks the story will get bigger and bigger, that Brady's foot is going to need extensive surgery, miss the season, will he be the same, etc, only to start the opening day throwing a handful of TD's against the Chiefs?
We at Wide-Right are not. Think about it for a second, would Peyton Manning, 2nd to Brett Favre in the QB consecutive starts race, QB for the Indianapolis Colts who are due to officially open their new stadium in their 1st regular season game, QB who makes the Colts special, contemplate missing any games? No; Manning will start (and continue) the opening game of the season, and be just fine with his recovery.
Brady on the other hand is a tricker situation to analyse, primarily because of the Patriots' 'honesty' in injury reports. Hands up who thinks the story will get bigger and bigger, that Brady's foot is going to need extensive surgery, miss the season, will he be the same, etc, only to start the opening day throwing a handful of TD's against the Chiefs?
Tuesday 19 August 2008
Browns Banged Up
A starting QB and the AFC's top punt returner going down in the same game? That's what happened in the Cleveland Browns' matchup with Super Bowl champion Giants late Monday night. After taking a big hit from Giants DE Osi Umenyiora, Derek Anderson was motionless for a few seconds before being helped from the field. Anderson suffered both a hand injury, which Head Coach Romeo Crennel doesn't appear to be too concerned about - he is more concerned with the severity of the concussion Anderson suffered.
He is already confirmed as being out of the Browns' third pre-season game, providing Brady Quinn with his first opportunity to show the Browns' Brass what he is capable of - leading your team on 69 and 63 yard scoring drives is a good way of starting this, and it will be interesting to see if this can continue; despite Crennel's protestations at the end of the season that there was a clear #1 in Cleveland, this situation could create another QB dilemma in the NFL, following Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco, Arizona and Atlanta.
He is already confirmed as being out of the Browns' third pre-season game, providing Brady Quinn with his first opportunity to show the Browns' Brass what he is capable of - leading your team on 69 and 63 yard scoring drives is a good way of starting this, and it will be interesting to see if this can continue; despite Crennel's protestations at the end of the season that there was a clear #1 in Cleveland, this situation could create another QB dilemma in the NFL, following Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco, Arizona and Atlanta.
Ronnie Brown rumours get blown out of all proportion
As Armando Salguero discusses here, There have been plenty of rumours that Ronnie Brown is done in Miami, and that the team will attempt to trade him, or release him, before the season begins.
There is an unprintable word for such rumours.
This reminds us of last season, when Jesse Chatman was supposed to run Brown out of town. Chatman was nothing more than a semi-decent backup, while Brown tore up the league in the 7 games that he played before a blown ACL ended his season prematurely. This year, Chatman's role is filled by the ageing Ricky Williams - who should still have gas in the tank after spending so long out of football - but we suspect a similiar ruse by the 'fins, if only to motivate Brown to recapture the form of last season.
Of course he could be completely done and his knee destroyed, but we'd imagine that would have been evident before now. Incidentally, should that be the case, the top 3 running backs from the vaunted 2005 draft class, Brown, Caddilac Williams, and Cedric Benson, will likely all not play in 2008 for varying reasons.
A stark reminder of the lottery that is the NFL draft.
There is an unprintable word for such rumours.
This reminds us of last season, when Jesse Chatman was supposed to run Brown out of town. Chatman was nothing more than a semi-decent backup, while Brown tore up the league in the 7 games that he played before a blown ACL ended his season prematurely. This year, Chatman's role is filled by the ageing Ricky Williams - who should still have gas in the tank after spending so long out of football - but we suspect a similiar ruse by the 'fins, if only to motivate Brown to recapture the form of last season.
Of course he could be completely done and his knee destroyed, but we'd imagine that would have been evident before now. Incidentally, should that be the case, the top 3 running backs from the vaunted 2005 draft class, Brown, Caddilac Williams, and Cedric Benson, will likely all not play in 2008 for varying reasons.
A stark reminder of the lottery that is the NFL draft.
Monday 18 August 2008
Orton named Bears starting QB
The dangerous times are over in Chicago - for now anyway.
In a move that shocked exactly nobody, the Bears today annointed Kyle Orton, who led the team to a 10-5 record as a starter during Rex Grossman's injury hit 2005 season, as the team's starting Quarterback.
Grossman has looked like a liability at times this offseason, and has done little to repay the faith shown in him by coach Lovie Smith. Despite a rocket arm and solid mechanics, Grossman has never been able to shake off the tag of a 'boom or bust' guy. As a first round pick out of Florida in 2003, he bounced back from two injury plagued seasons to lead the team to the Superbowl in 2006. He shouldered most of the blame for the team's failure to defeat the Colts in that game, and was ousted at the start of last season in favour of the veteran Brian Griese. Grossman regained the job late in the season, only to go down with yet another injury, and allow Orton to start the last two games of the season.
While Orton is more of the 'Game Manager' type, he does possess enough talent to succeed in the league, and has a deceptively strong arm. It will certainly be interesting watching him if the team decide to give him a longer leash than during his first stint at the helm. Orton's passer rating during 15 games in 2005 was just 59.7 - the lowest among qualifying Quarterbacks that year.
As for Grossman, it would be easy to write him off now, but we think that may be premature. For one thing, his arm will always be a fascination to personel departments across the league, and his ability to make every throw is always going to keep him on a roster. Plenty of teams would consider Grossman an upgrade at the second QB position, and it is unlikely that the Bears would part ways until the end of this season at least, as Smith gives him an opportunity to perhaps jump in should Orton implode.
On the other hand, Grossman is unable to take care of the ball to any degree neccesary to start in the NFL right now. His decision making has looked shaky since Chicago's Monday Night Football game in Arizona two years ago, when the team miraculously overcame a 0-20 half time deficit to win by a single point 23-24.
Indeed, that game was a microcosm of the team's reliance on the Defensive unit to overcome the deficiencies of it's Offensive counterpart. If Grossman is ever to play a meaningful role for the Bears, he will need the durable Orton to suffer an injury, and more pertinently, he will need to convince the fickle Chicago media that the best way to watch him play is not through gaps in their fingers.
In a move that shocked exactly nobody, the Bears today annointed Kyle Orton, who led the team to a 10-5 record as a starter during Rex Grossman's injury hit 2005 season, as the team's starting Quarterback.
Grossman has looked like a liability at times this offseason, and has done little to repay the faith shown in him by coach Lovie Smith. Despite a rocket arm and solid mechanics, Grossman has never been able to shake off the tag of a 'boom or bust' guy. As a first round pick out of Florida in 2003, he bounced back from two injury plagued seasons to lead the team to the Superbowl in 2006. He shouldered most of the blame for the team's failure to defeat the Colts in that game, and was ousted at the start of last season in favour of the veteran Brian Griese. Grossman regained the job late in the season, only to go down with yet another injury, and allow Orton to start the last two games of the season.
While Orton is more of the 'Game Manager' type, he does possess enough talent to succeed in the league, and has a deceptively strong arm. It will certainly be interesting watching him if the team decide to give him a longer leash than during his first stint at the helm. Orton's passer rating during 15 games in 2005 was just 59.7 - the lowest among qualifying Quarterbacks that year.
As for Grossman, it would be easy to write him off now, but we think that may be premature. For one thing, his arm will always be a fascination to personel departments across the league, and his ability to make every throw is always going to keep him on a roster. Plenty of teams would consider Grossman an upgrade at the second QB position, and it is unlikely that the Bears would part ways until the end of this season at least, as Smith gives him an opportunity to perhaps jump in should Orton implode.
On the other hand, Grossman is unable to take care of the ball to any degree neccesary to start in the NFL right now. His decision making has looked shaky since Chicago's Monday Night Football game in Arizona two years ago, when the team miraculously overcame a 0-20 half time deficit to win by a single point 23-24.
Indeed, that game was a microcosm of the team's reliance on the Defensive unit to overcome the deficiencies of it's Offensive counterpart. If Grossman is ever to play a meaningful role for the Bears, he will need the durable Orton to suffer an injury, and more pertinently, he will need to convince the fickle Chicago media that the best way to watch him play is not through gaps in their fingers.
Sunday 17 August 2008
Pre-Season: Houston 31 New Orleans 27
Houston 31 New Orleans 27
Drew Brees and Matt Schaub showed why you don't need to be a first round pick to become a franchise QB in the NFL. The pair combined for more than 300 passing yards in the first half of the Texans-Saints matchup, which Houston narrowly won thanks to rookie Steve Slaton's run late on. Indeed, great passing play was the order of the day here, with no interceptions thrown by either the starters or backups.
Kevin Walter showed why he could emerge as a breakout player for the Texans this year, catching 6 passes for 100yds and a TD, while Saints RB Reggie Bush took a back seat as Deuce McAllister made his long awaited return from injury. McAllister was greeted warmly by the Superdome crowd, and Bush did get on the scoreboard however, catching a 12yd pass from Drew Brees in the second quarter.
In a a pass-happy game, the real losers were the Secondaries. Both teams are struggling against the deep ball, and in New Orleans' case, it is a pretty damning indictment that this has been a gripe for two to three years now, with little progress made. The Texans will also be disappointed with receiver Jacoby Jones, who caught just one ball last night, and fumbled a punt return that gave the Saints a Field Goal.
Drew Brees and Matt Schaub showed why you don't need to be a first round pick to become a franchise QB in the NFL. The pair combined for more than 300 passing yards in the first half of the Texans-Saints matchup, which Houston narrowly won thanks to rookie Steve Slaton's run late on. Indeed, great passing play was the order of the day here, with no interceptions thrown by either the starters or backups.
Kevin Walter showed why he could emerge as a breakout player for the Texans this year, catching 6 passes for 100yds and a TD, while Saints RB Reggie Bush took a back seat as Deuce McAllister made his long awaited return from injury. McAllister was greeted warmly by the Superdome crowd, and Bush did get on the scoreboard however, catching a 12yd pass from Drew Brees in the second quarter.
In a a pass-happy game, the real losers were the Secondaries. Both teams are struggling against the deep ball, and in New Orleans' case, it is a pretty damning indictment that this has been a gripe for two to three years now, with little progress made. The Texans will also be disappointed with receiver Jacoby Jones, who caught just one ball last night, and fumbled a punt return that gave the Saints a Field Goal.
Saturday 16 August 2008
Football in the Olympics
An interesting article by Mike Florio on Sportingnews.com, proposes that Football (we'll refer to it as American Football for the purposes of this article) be made part of the Olympics. After watching all of 15 minutes of some kind of Swimming, it's hard not to agree that it would be a hell of a lot more exciting than watching that, or Ludo, or Scrabble, whichever event will make it into the Olympics for 2012.
However, I (and I say I because it's only my view, not Wide-Right's) am 100% against any such move, and here's why:
1) There are 16 days to play the required amount of games. That doesn't work in American Football. At best, you could play 3-4 games. You'd need a minimum of 5 (3 group games, a semi final, and a final) to make it work. Until that is possible, keep dreaming.
2) That time frame would also preclude any Professional from taking part. The risk in sending a player over for 1-2 games every 4 years would make most coaches balk, so imagine what playing a dramatically increased schedule would do? No, you'd be looking at amateur/college players to make it work. Then once you say that, you'd be eliminating the top tier of players in the rest of the world. A Catch 22 situation and a half.
3) The Olympics should be the pinnacle of your sporting career - not a nice trip and a chance to add a gold medal to your millions of dollars. Football (the one with feet) is in the Olympics, and in truth nobody cares. People are excited that the new Premiership season starts today, but the Olympics generally passes by a lot of people - and that has pro's in it.
4) Fourthly - and most importantly - is that the competition factor would be zero. I'll dwell on that point in a second, after some choice words from the original article:
- Mike Florio, Sportingnews.com
That the NFL wants to expand is undoubted. However, the idea that this can be achieved via simply showing people the product on offer is laughable. Why do sales of Tennis Rackets pick up when Wimbledon is on? Why do people start playing Golf as soon as the Masters hits our screens every year? The answer is because the infrastructures are in place to allow young kids to play these sports both casually and competitively, regardless of age.
The NFL - and most commentators - seem to be missing the point completely. If I wanted to play American Football, even as a die hard fan who is obsessed, I'd have no way of doing so, and wouldn't really know where to begin. The sport is not available to schools, which limits the amount of players at it's most basic level. I played Basketball at school, and it generated both ability and interest in the sport.
The sport needs funding at the very fundamental level before this idea could even get past the 'Idiot with a soapbox' phase that it is in now. How about instead of putting money into trying to convince the IOC to accept the sport, give youngsters a chance to play football from the age of 7-8, like kids in America. The natural talent pool exists around the world, it's just that for most kids who grow up with a football at their feet rather than in their hands, their dreams lie in the back of the net, rather than the end zone.
Until that grass-roots funding and support is in place, you can forget about the idea of American Football as an Olympic sport.
However, I (and I say I because it's only my view, not Wide-Right's) am 100% against any such move, and here's why:
1) There are 16 days to play the required amount of games. That doesn't work in American Football. At best, you could play 3-4 games. You'd need a minimum of 5 (3 group games, a semi final, and a final) to make it work. Until that is possible, keep dreaming.
2) That time frame would also preclude any Professional from taking part. The risk in sending a player over for 1-2 games every 4 years would make most coaches balk, so imagine what playing a dramatically increased schedule would do? No, you'd be looking at amateur/college players to make it work. Then once you say that, you'd be eliminating the top tier of players in the rest of the world. A Catch 22 situation and a half.
3) The Olympics should be the pinnacle of your sporting career - not a nice trip and a chance to add a gold medal to your millions of dollars. Football (the one with feet) is in the Olympics, and in truth nobody cares. People are excited that the new Premiership season starts today, but the Olympics generally passes by a lot of people - and that has pro's in it.
4) Fourthly - and most importantly - is that the competition factor would be zero. I'll dwell on that point in a second, after some choice words from the original article:
The question becomes whether the sport can grow beyond our borders to the point that inclusion in the Olympics becomes a no-brainer proposition. Its ability to do so depends in large part on the ability of the NFL to export regular-season contests to other countries. Hopefully, the next collective bargaining agreement will expand the regular season to 17 or 18 games, creating ample opportunities to send games that count to other countries.
- Mike Florio, Sportingnews.com
That the NFL wants to expand is undoubted. However, the idea that this can be achieved via simply showing people the product on offer is laughable. Why do sales of Tennis Rackets pick up when Wimbledon is on? Why do people start playing Golf as soon as the Masters hits our screens every year? The answer is because the infrastructures are in place to allow young kids to play these sports both casually and competitively, regardless of age.
The NFL - and most commentators - seem to be missing the point completely. If I wanted to play American Football, even as a die hard fan who is obsessed, I'd have no way of doing so, and wouldn't really know where to begin. The sport is not available to schools, which limits the amount of players at it's most basic level. I played Basketball at school, and it generated both ability and interest in the sport.
The sport needs funding at the very fundamental level before this idea could even get past the 'Idiot with a soapbox' phase that it is in now. How about instead of putting money into trying to convince the IOC to accept the sport, give youngsters a chance to play football from the age of 7-8, like kids in America. The natural talent pool exists around the world, it's just that for most kids who grow up with a football at their feet rather than in their hands, their dreams lie in the back of the net, rather than the end zone.
Until that grass-roots funding and support is in place, you can forget about the idea of American Football as an Olympic sport.
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