Another Blow to Broncos Offense

By: Matt

Expectations were high when the Denver Broncos hired Josh McDaniels as their new head coach this off-season. McDaniels was the offensive genius of the New England Patriots who turned Matt Cassel into a starter and led to Tom Brady throwing a record 50 touchdowns passes. The Broncos offense in 2008 was one of the most potent in the NFL. Young quarterback Jay Cutler was a Pro Bowler and one of the NFL’s most promising rising stars. Cutler’s top target, Brandon Marshall, was one of the league’s biggest and strongest wide receivers. It was believed that under McDaniels there would be an offensive explosion in Denver; Cutler and Marshall would each be a year more experienced and new running backs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno were a massive upgrade over the Broncos many runners of 2008.

Disappointment came quickly in the McDaniels era. Cutler, the first potential franchise quarterbacks to play for Denver since John Elway retired ten years prior, was angry. McDaniels had tried to trade for his quarterback, Matt Cassel, and then lied about it. Cutler distrusted McDaniels and refused to play for the Broncos. People assumed that the tension would simmer down and Cutler would return to Denver, but it never happened. Just as John Elway spurned the Colts in 1983, Cutler left the Broncos in 2009 and joined the Chicago Bears (another team long deprived of an elite field general). Broncos fans were outraged, they had gone from having a pro-bowl quarterback to hosting a quarterback controversy between a Bears reject and comeback first-round bust. To make the situation worse, Brandon Marshall was also angry at the Broncos and wanted to leave.

Through the first 3 weeks of the pre-season it seemed that the Marshall situation would be OK; the receiver had vocalized his desire to be traded but had played for the Broncos anyway. That changed in a practice this past week when Marshall refused to catch footballs, instead slapping them to the ground, and even went so far as to punt one ball. The Broncos, already annoyed with prima donna players such as Cutler, immediately suspended Marshall for conduct detrimental to the team, the same thing that Terrell Owens was infamously suspended for by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005. IF history repeats itself, Marshall will be traded and the powerful Broncos offense of 2008 will be but a distant memory. It is hard to believe that a team as talented as the Broncos could really be sent back to the rebuilding phase, but the team now lacks the talent to truly compete, even in a weak NFC East. McDaniels, a coach people hoped could turn the Broncos offensive talent into a carbon copy of the New England Patriots,’ now has no pieces to build with. Despite high hopes for the young head coach, it appears that McDaniels will follow in the footsteps of Charlie Weiss and Romeo Crennel, two highly touted Patriots coordinators who failed to inspire as head coaches. One would imagine that it would be hard for the Broncos to recover from the loss of Cutler and a disgruntled Marshall; however, in the NFL, nothing is ever exactly what it seems.

Plan B Gets an A

By: Matt

It seemed like a match made in heaven. The Philadelphia Phillies, reigning World Series Champions, were a division winner with pitching woes. The Toronto Blue Jays were a rebuilding team with a disgruntled ace. The outcome seemed obvious, the Phillies would trade the Jays a handful of prospects for Roy Halladay. No other team had the prospects to satisfy the Jays. No team was as desperate for pitching help as the Phillies, whose playoff ace, Cole Hamels, had been consistently inconsistent in 2009. It only seemed like a matter of time before the Phillies and Jays reached a deal. Names such as Michael Taylor, Domonic Brown, JA Happ, and Kyle Drabek were thrown out as potential centerpieces, but despite the depth of talent in the Phillies farm negotiations reached a snag. The Jays wanted Drabek and Brown, the Phillies refused to trade either, and neither organization would compromise. Fans were sure that eventually one GM would give in, but neither did. In the end, the Phillies gave up on Roy Halladay and chose their plan B: trading lesser prospects for reigning AL Cy Young Winner Cliff Lee.

At first, Phillies fans were confused, Cliff Lee was the 2008 CY Young winner, but he was also 9-7 in 2009 and appeared to be far less dominant than in 2008. After four starts one thing is obvious: the fans were wrong. While Cliff Lee was only one game over .500 in Cleveland people failed to realize that as an Indian Lee received, arguably, the worst run support of any pitcher in baseball. After one month as a Phillie Lee has re-established himself as an elite pitcher and undeniable ace. In 2008 CC Sabathia joined the Milwaukee Brewers to help in a late season run. Sabathia was dominant with the Brewers, making himself a candidate for the NL Cy Young award despite only playing half a season in the National League. Amazingly, through five starts, Cliff Lee has been better than Sabathia. Sabathia was 4-0 with a sub 2 ERA but Lee is 5-0 and has a .680 ERA and 2 complete games with more strikeouts and fewer walks than Sabathia. Throughout the first half of 2009 it appeared that pitching would be the Phillies Achilles heel, now it is one of their greatest strengths. By not making the trade for Roy Halladay the Phillies were able to keep JA Happ, a Rookie of the Year candidate with a record above .750. The Phillies also signed Pedro Martinez, whose pitch velocity has returned to the low 90’s, well above his high mark while with the New York Mets. Today, the Phillies have a staff that features a true ace in Lee, a potential ace in Hamels, two workhorses in Joe Blanton and JA Happ, and two interchangeable, crafty veterans in Pedro Martinez and Jaime Moyer. After struggling to hold off opponents through the early months of the season, the Phillies now have 6 qualified starting pitchers and a tie for the fewest losses in the NL. Nobody knows if the Phillies newfound pitching success will last, but what people do know is that thus far, Plan B Lee gets an A+.

Dancing Tour of 90’s Continues

By: Matt

Reality TV show Dancing With The Stars has made a tradition of inviting an NFL player to compete in every season. While the competition has featured modern players such as Jason Taylor and Warren Sapp, the inclusion of Michael Irvin in this year’s competition completes a re-run tour of the NFL in the 1990’s.

In the last stretch of the 20^th century there were two titans of the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. During the 90’s both teams won their then record fifth Super Bowl and from 1992 to 1995 no other team came close to a Super Bowl win. The Cowboys and 49ers each featured the greatest skill position players of the decade now recognized as some of the more successful Dancing With The Stars competitors. 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice holds nearly every meaningful receiving record and finished second in the reality TV competition; Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith holds the record for all-time rushing yards and is the only professional athlete to ever win the Dancing title. Michael Irvin, the only current Hall of Fame member of the three, was the leading receiver on the Cowboy’s dynasty of decade. During the 90’s no teams were able to compete with the Cowboys and 49ers and they often made moves to counter the other. The Cowboys began by stealing 49ers linebacker Charles Haley, the 49ers countered by stealing former Cowboy Michael Norton Jr, and Deion Sanders, arguably the greatest cornerback of all-time, played for both teams, winning a Super Bowl in each of his first seasons. During the early 90’s the Cowboys and 49ers faced each other in three consecutive NFC Championship games and renewed, and intensified, a lost rivalry from the late 70’s and early 80’s (the Cowboys and 49ers had faced each in NFC Championship games in each of the prior two decades with each team winning once).

After the Cowboys 1995 Super Bowl victory injuries to the teams’ quarterbacks, Hall of Famers Steve Young and Troy Aikman, de-railed the two titans and in 1996 the Green Bay Packers, and their age-less wonder Brett Favre emerged as the new dominant power in the NFC. While the often legendary battles between the Cowboys and 49ers seem like a distant memory to some, nearly 15 years have passed since the final playoff match up between the two teams and neither has been to a Super Bowl since. While history is never forgotten, time has began to fade the luster of this once great match up and younger football fans fail to realize that two teams that are now borderline playoff contenders were once the two greatest teams in football. Despite the occasion re-airing of the 1992 NFC Championship Game the great rivalry has faded into the past; however, thanks to Dancing With The Stars, some of the greatest players on the two greatest teams on the 90’s are able to remain on-screen for one last season. Maybe someday legendary quarterbacks Aikman and Young will have their Dancing showdown.

Note: Lawrence Taylor, the greatest Defensive player of the 1990’s and Super Bowl winner has also competed on Dancing With The Stars.

NFL Fan Q&A Session: Dallas Cowboys

By: Chris

(note, picture displayed above is not a real reflection of fan interviewed)

To take a break from the division predictions (at a pretty good spot considering the AFC divisions are now done), we are going to start a new series of articles. Once in a while, we will post a Q&A session with a fan of a certain team in the NFL to get the and idea of the general sentiment of that fan base. To start off, we have the pleasure to interview a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Answering our questions today: Brendan from California.

Where do you see the Cowboys ending up this season? What is your prediction?

I have the Cowboys finishing third in a very tough division, and possibly grabbing a WC spot. 9-7 or 10-6 sounds accurate to me. I think the offense will be just as good, if not better without TO. Marion Barber and Felix Jones will be back, hopefully 100%, and along with Tashard Choice should comprise one of the NFL's best Three-Headed Rushing attacks. Dem Hataz will say that Roy Williams isn't up to being a #1 WR. That's okay, because Jason Witten will be the guy with the most targets at the end of the season. He will tear up the middle of the field, and if you try to put 8 in the box, Williams will burn you deep. D-Ware returns as the catalyst of a very strong rushing attack. I think Terence Newman is top-10 if he can stay healthy, and those two specifically will be the standouts of the Dallas Defense.

Thoughts on the Romo-Simpson break-up?

Jessica is an overrated piece of *** to be honest. She's hot I guess, but generic. From a sports perspective, this is nothing but gold for the Cowboys. She was a huge distraction. Glad she's gone. I think Tony made the right decision.

Describe (in one word) the Vick signing by the Eagles. Describe (in one word) how you feel about it.

Risky for the first. Undetermined for the second (it could roll either way).

Do you like Jerry Jones? Why or why not?

I like him, he has a genuine desire to win football games, and won't rest until his team is a dynasty once again.

Sure, he's a "genius" per say, but that bonehead installed a jumbotron that conflicts with the dimensions of a playing field. Epic fail if you ask me. What's your response?

No more of an epic fail than the band box in the Bronx. It was an unintentional (but fixable) architectural error, that I'm sure will be dealt with.

How did it feel to lose to the Giants in the NFC Championship game after beating them twice in the regular season? (Sorry, I had to.)

Next question.

Last (but certainly not least), how does it feel to have the NFL's hottest cheerleaders?

It feels like... well.. maybe I shouldn't say it on here, I don't think I'm allowed.

Thanks for your time. Any final comments?

Nothing. Well... maybe. Go USA?

NFL Division Preview Series: AFC WEST

By: Chris

1. San Diego Chargers (10-6)

Looking back on last season's standings, it is hard to believe the Chargers finished with a mediocre 8-8 record. Phillip Rivers had a career year, throwing for over 4,000 yards and putting up an impressive 105.5 QB rating. Much of the mediocrity lays in the fact that Ladanian Tomlinson's stats declined for the third straight year. The usually potent and sure-fire Pro Bowler was nagged by injuries all season and averaged a career low (minus his rookie season) 3.8 yards per carry. Many believe the age of decline is at 30 for NFL running backs and within a few years, they are done. Not the case with LT, in my opinion. I think he'll bounce back and have a very strong year, in combination with speedy spell back Darren Sproles. Rivers is poised to put up another great year as he is backed by the one of the NFL's finest O-line units and surrounded by receiver threats including Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, even Chris Chamber. Defensively, the much-hyped Antonio Cromartie had a very disappointing season following his double digit INT break out campaign in '07. The defense also boasts the ever improving Shawn Merriman and shut down corner Quentin Jammer. The defense is key for the Chargers this season, as the offense will most likely produce and put up big numbers. Still, they are lucky to be in a soft division and therefore are the clear favorite to finish on top.

2. Denver Broncos (7-9)

Sure, preseason doesn't mean much, but Kyle Orton hasn't looked great. Looking at his career numbers, it's hard to pick out one season that was remotely good, other than last season's (what could be called) "one year wonder". Still, his supporting cast is severely improved from his days in Chicago with guys like Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, and what should include Brandon Marshall, whose future in Denver is much in doubt. Recently, the Broncos traveled to Seattle for a preseason game. The disgruntled WR was left at home. At this point, the situation doesn't look pretty and who knows how it will go from here. The rest of the offense is quite concerning, starting with the running game. At least Broncos front office was smart enough to patch up the hole with the acquisition of Buckhalter and draft pick Knowshon Moreno. Still, whether this is enough to provide a decent rush is yet to be seen. Defensively, Bailey seems to have lost a bit of a step this past season, and entering September he will be 31 years old. The acquisition of Brian Dawkins was huge, even though I'm not sure how he will play in such a new setting having been with the Eagles his whole life. Overall, the team has many questions that remain unanswered. Once they hit the field, time will tell. It's hard not to put them second, considering the crap that comes after them in the division. Look for them to definitely miss the playoffs.

3. Oakland Raiders (7-9)

Although the record isn't fabulous, I still think the Raiders will surprise some teams. Jamarcus Russell is due to show some of his talent that left fans in awe watching his run with the LSU Tigers. Russell does have a few targets, including Heyward-Bay and TE Zach Miller. Additionally, Darren McFadden is an explosive back who was limited by his turf toe injury suffered in Week 2 all season and could go wild once healthy. Defensively, the Raiders feature the NFL's #1 cornerback in Nnamdi Osomugha, who is virtually the definition of shut-down CB. The much under-appreciated Kirk Morrison leads the front seven which lacks a big name on the line, but still provides decent pressure on the quarterback and plug on the rush. This team is full of talent (Morrison, Oso, Heyward-Bay, McFadden, Russell) but it is all about channeling that talent and converting it to success Tom Cable who seems more keen on instigating fights at camp rather than putting a winning product on the field. Get it together Larry.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

Last, and least, the Chiefs of Kansas City. Even with some nice offensive additions including Matt Cassell and Amani Toomer, the team is definitely lacking offensive fire power. Larry Johnson is virtually useless behind a terrible offensive line with the exception of stud Left Guard Brian Waters. Cassell, to me, is the definition of a "system quarterback". He truly fed off of Bill Belichick's spread offense loaded with weapons like Welker and Moss. In reality (aside from last year), Cassell has never been a starter since high school. Now, with the pressure on and the franchise QB label, I'm not sure he can live up to the hype. As for his #1 receiving target, Dwayne Bowe has reportedly slacked off with offseason workouts, leading me to believe Cassell won't perform up to expectations with a slacking #1 and dismal supporting cast. The Chiefs' defense was never anything to write home about, although the FO did try to address this need by drafting beastly 3-4 DE Tyson Jackson. Aging linebackers like Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas provide no upside to the defense, whose secondary isn't impressive either. This team will tank pretty early and most likely end up with another good draft pick for next year's draft.

NFL Division Preview Series: AFC SOUTH

By: Chris

1. Tennessee Titans (12-4)

As previously mentioned, I love the combinations of having a stout defense and dominant rushing attack which are key ingredients to a legit championship run. The Titans have both. Chris Johnson is poised to repeat his superb rookie campaign last season, and with Lendale (previously LenWHALE) White looking more athletic after offseason workouts, they should prove to be a nice 1-2 punch. The Titans were 7th in the league in rushing yards per game, and still have their O-line, including stud LT Michael Roos, intact. At QB, they have the grizzled vet Kerry Collins who is a great game manager and does enough to win games, mostly by never putting up remarkable stats. This season, he has a new weapon in possession/speed combination receiver Nate Washington, which can't hurt. On the defensive side of the football, the Titans suffered a huge loss in Albert Haynesworth. By far one of the biggest forces on the defensive line in the league, but smartly, the Titans didn't pay $100 million+ for this guy. Last year's defense was in the top 10 for both passing and rushing yards per game. Look for their pass defense to continue to thrive, boasting one of the best 1-2 cornerback combos in the league in Cortland Finnegan and Nick Harper, with reliable safeties Chris Hope and Michael Griffin over the top. This team has all of the elements to be a legit playoff team: rushing attack + defense + a veteran QB that knows his role. Look for them to make some hay in the AFC playoffs.

2. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

Even though Peyton Manning has been critiqued for having an "average" season last year, he still finished with over 4,000 yards passing (for the 3rd straight year), had over 65% of passes completed (for the 7th straight year), and threw even less picks last season than the year before. Still, this guy is arguably the best QB in football and therefore does assessed rather strictly sometimes. Either way, I expect for him to bounce back this season after looking a little hesitant at times in certain situations in regard to his past offseason knee injury. At this point, he looks great in camp and is praising the team overall. The offense carries over from last year, with no marquee additions, and Manning still has his spread offense weapons including Wayne, Gonzalez, and Clark. Meanwhile, their draft pick Donald Brown, has shown promise in the preseason and could be a nice sleeper this season, as he figures to steal some carries from aging Joseph Addai. The Colts are arguably deeper and more talented on the defensive side of the football field. Starting at the ends, with the scary double digit sack combo of Mathis and Freeney, opposing QBs constantly deal with pressure in their face. The secondary features an unbelievable safety tandem in All Pro stud Bob Sanders and his counterpart, tackle machine Antoine Bethea. One of the most underrated corners in the league, Kelvin Hayden, completes a legit 1-2 punch with Marlin Jackson, making the Colts defense very pass-proof (6th in the league in pass defense, allowing a mere 188.1 passing yards per game). This team is more than solid, but the division, conference, and schedule is tough, yet they are playoff bound for sure.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)

After a dismal and disappointing 2008 campaign, the Jaguars truly can't go any lower. The loss of Fred Taylor, although not major, should still not be overlooked. It's time for versatile back Maurice Jones-Drew to step into the #1 spot now and prove that he is an every down back. David Garrard, usually one of the rather quiet Top 15 quarterbacks in the league statistically, had a 20 point QB rating drop from the previous year. Now, with the addition of future Hall of Famer Torry Holt as their #1, he looks to improve that and return to old form. Furthermore, the offensive line, now completely healthy after being plagued by injuries last season, looks to be one of the best units in the AFC, with the addition of Tra Thomas. On the defensive side of the football, I am concerned about the lack of pressure from the defensive ends. Harvey and Hayward combined for a pitiful 8 sacks last season, allowing QBs enough time to let plays develop and pick apart the defense. In the middle, Big John Henderson is one of the top tackles in the league, and really plugs up the hole with his size (6'7", 335 lbs). The linebacking core is an underrated trio, especially Daryl Smith and young stud Justin Durant, who now moves to MLB with the loss of the aging Mike Peterson. The secondary, lead by shutdown corner Rashean Mathis and Free Safety Reggie Nelson, have upside. Overall, it is hard to imagine the Jaguars finishing any worse than last season, yet it won't be enough to make the playoffs in this tough division and conference.

4. Houston Texans (8-8)

Lastly, the Houston Texans. Although featuring two of the NFL's elite players on each side of the football in big time receiver Andre Johnson and freak defensive end Mario Williams, the team lacks consistency and stability to improve upon last season. Matt Shaub, who when healthy can absolutely light up a score board with weapons like Daniels and Walter, has struggled with injuries and rendered the Texans pass offense as ineffective at times, especially when Dan Orlovsky or Rex Grossman will have to come in. Steve Slaton was one of the three rookies to break out last season, rushing for over 1200 yards and 9 TDs. He will have to carry more of the load if Shaub goes down. On the defensive side of the football, DeMeco Ryans leads a Texans D that was subpar last season, ranking 22nd in the league in total yards per game. Mario Williams and Antonio Smith combine to make a wonderful combo off the ends, yet the tackles aren't apt at plugging up the hole, further disappointing Texan fans in regard to the young Amobi Okoye, who didn't show improvement after his stellar rookie year. Remember, he is still 22, and still possesses tremendous upside. Their secondary is what really hurt them last year, and it is hard to see any improvement there this season. In the NFC, this would be a solid team, but taking into account the division and conference, it is hard to imagine the Texans in the playoffs.

NFL Division Preview Series: AFC NORTH

By: Chris

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)

Overall, this division is still relatively mediocre. In addition to the frequent Superbowl slump that haunts teams following their championship win, there are a few further concerns when I look at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, these concerns do not amount to create a large enough threat to their chances as AFC North champs. My first concern is the lack of rushing attack. Last season, the Steelers ranked 23rd in the league in rushing yards per game and were among teams like Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, and other sub-par squads. Per rush, the Steelers amounted only 3.7, which ranked 29th in the league. Willie Parker needs to return to old form, since the spell backs Mendenhall (bothered by injuries himself) and Moore weren't exactly stellar in their short stints either. Next, Big Ben. The guy was sacked 49 times, ranking him 4th in the NFL, which tells me he takes a beating every Sunday he is out there. Just recently, he limped off the field with a minor foot injury. Again, not good news. Finally, the famous Steeler D which has been flat out dominant over the past few years is starting to age. Guys like Harrison and Farrior are both 30+ years old, and although they are obviously still producing at a very high level, it is hard to imagine this upward trend continuing for much longer. Overall though, if the team can keep the injury bug away, they should have another solid season and for sure be a contender. Still, I have them at a stellar 11-5 record after a bit of a bounce back following the Superbowl.

2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)

After the Ravens rather surprising performance in 2008, racking up 11 wins and a deep run into the playoffs, it is hard to figure they will repeat this with key losses like Bart Scott and former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. Although stats do not show it, Flacco has been praised league-wide as holding a very high NFL IQ, and being one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league. Although last year he was able to heavily rely on the dominant Ravens D, I believe this year things will change. Flacco is due for a breakout year, and with the return of veteran #1 receiver Derrick Mason alongside Todd Heap and other receivers, his arsenal remains intact. Additionally, the Ravens added multiple-time-Pro Bowler Matt Birk. Along with Flacco, with the help of the newly bolstered O-line, the speedy RB Ray Rice is going to have a much improved season as well. Slowly but surely, carries will be distributed more to Rice than to the aging, injury-ridden Willis McGahee. That is my evaluation for the offense. Underlining point: Two youngsters due for a breakout, evidently showing a shift from defense to offense. Still, the Ravens D will be dominant, however, after such an astounding performance last season by the whole unit composed of playmakers like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, the D looks to decline a fraction. Bart Scott was a huge loss and the afore mentioned playmakers are a year older. The D-Line is still stout and full of talent, featuring the likes of All Pro stud NT Haloti Ngata and more, making it very tough to have any adequate rushing attack against them. Still, the Ravens will change their identity a bit, and the offense will get more recognition season.

3. Cincinatti Bengals (7-9)

For this squad, there is nowhere to go but up. Carson Palmer looks to be fully healthy after off-season surgery and his now regenerated relationship with Chad Ochocinco spells nothing but TD in my mind. Still, the team has holes like the loss of stud WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh to Free Agency. Yet, Bengals FO was able to patch that hole with the addition of veteran Laveranues Coles, on top of the fact that former thug Chris Henry is looking fabulous in preseason. On the other hand, their rushing attack, if you even want to call it that, is dismal. For two straight years, Cedric Benson has averaged 3.5 yards per carry or less, and his compliment Brian Leonard, hasn't even sniffed the endzone once his whole career. The offensive line unit is below mediocre, and Palmer will most likely have to absorb a few hits and rushes week in and week out. Look for the Bengals to absolutely air it out all day... until Palmer goes down. As for the defense, starting with the line upfront, the Bengals really lack a big rushing defender that puts pressure on the QB. They ranked 30th in the league with a pitiful season sack number totalling 17. As for their LB core, Dhani Jones and Keith Rivers are both solid (Side note: Look out for Rivers, the guy is a young machine). Their secondary is still below average even after acquiring Roy "I can't do anything but hit hard" Williams. Small improvement from last year, but still a pretty bad team.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

Lastly, the Cleveland Browns. Off the bat, the QB situation is already making me feel uneasy. Having still not decided between Quinn or Anderson, the Browns are truly lacking an offensive identity. Both quarterbacks have been nothing more than average, and if no one breaks out soon, the rest of the season (which won't be pretty) will most likely be run as a "QB by committee" system. As for Braylon Edwards, I hope he is done seeing his shrink. Enough with the dropped balls already, please, especially considering he is either in or soon-to-be-in his contract year. No messing around anymore Braylon, or else your talent will be forever wasted. One of the bright spots of the team is the offensive line, already featuring stud LG Eric Steinbach, and now new rookie starting Center Alex Mack after moving Hank Fraley to RG. Meanwhile the rushing attack wasn't pretty either, ranking 26th in the league in yards per game and almost last in terms of yards per carry. Jamal Lewis, already way past his prime, is looking at another declining year. The defense isn't much prettier. The big name (pun intended) is Shaun Rogers, whose heart really does not seem to be with this team. Still, his talent on the field is undeniable and he's a great run stuffer and tackler at the NT position. D'Qwell Jackson is a truly special player whose talents are unfortunately (as harsh as it sounds) being wasted in the dump that Cleveland is. Cornerback Eric Wright has immense potential, but is not surrounded by the right elements (no pass rush, subpar complimentary corner) to put him over the top. Look for this team to continue their way to another high draft pick in next years draft and make absolutely no noise in the upcoming season. Sorry folks.

NFL Division Preview Series: AFC EAST

By: Chris

1. New England Patriots (12-4)

Amid reports both from the Patriots camp and preseason games that quarterback Tom Brady has looked better than ever, throwing across his body and moving around the pocket, it is easy to crown the Patriots champs of the much improved AFC East. This division, which used to be one of the least competitive divisions in the league, has improved in the offseason, yet the Patriots, now locked and reloaded, are poised to finish on top. Even after the horrific knee injury, followed by an infection causing further setback, it seems like Brady did that much more to come back to old form. Having added yet another weapon in grizzled veteran receiver Joey Galloway to the squad, Brady has a plethora of threats including Randy Moss and Wes Welker to dish the ball around in the spread offense. Additionally, an acquisition that could be overlooked, is running back Fred Taylor. The longtime Jaguar now seems to have set his sights on snagging a ring before retiring, and he finally provides at least some level of assurance for a running game that ranked as one of the worst in the NFL during the Patriots' epic 18-1 run. It's hard not to improve their running game, considering Maroney has never fully developed into the hard-nosed runner that they wished, and overall they barely even ran the ball anyway. On the defensive side of things, the Pats are still stacked in the box with Warren, Wilfork, and Seymour followed by Thomas, Bruschi, Mayo, and Woods to complete their 3-4 defense. This defensive unit will need to most likely hold opponents to under 21 points or so, as the offense will be sure to deliver big scores. Combined with their reloaded offense, stout defense, and a relatively easy schedule, look for the Pats to bounce back and finish the season 12-4, and return to title contention.

2. New York Jets (10-6)

For the first time in a (seemingly) long, long time, the Jets' pick at the NFL Draft was not booed, but rather celebrated. QB Mark Sanchez was the obvious pick, and luckily, they were able to trade up for him and bring him to the lesser talented New York team. Last season, the supposedly "no heart for this team" Favre led the team to a mediocre 9-7 record. Now, with Rex Ryan as their coach, I believe the Jets will be able to step up their defensive game (albeit having lost Pace for a chunk of the season). Still, there is one positive that arises from the suspension and that is the spot opening up which they are allowing the strong, young Vernon Gholston to sub until Pace returns. A good recipe for championship contention includes a good rushing attack (Thomas Jones + Leon Washington) and a good defense, which the Jets seem to have as well (with upside). Do not expect Mark Sanchez to post Matt Ryan-like numbers, but the fact is he will be able to deliver. He already looks good in preseason and they really don't need him to throw for 300 yards a game, but rather just avoid making mistakes and forcing turnovers. The Jets raced out to an 8-3 start, and as the season progressed, ended up fading along with Favre's arm. This will not happen with Sanchez. Look for this team to surprise and maybe, just maybe, grab an AFC Wildcard berth.

3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

After a pleasantly surprising 11-5 record this season, one can't help but see a decline for '09. The usually erratic Chad Pennington actually finished second in MVP voting (Wow! Who would have thought that going into the season?). Even with Parcells on-board, I don't see this team making noise in an already tough division and conference, coupled with a tough schedule. If Pennington repeats his performance, I will gladly shut up. The team's success does not only lie in the passing game though, which I predict will be mediocre at best, but also their rushing attack. The much-hyped Ronnie Brown is far from a typical rushing back, which Miami was able to mold and take advantage of through the Wildcat formation. He went absolutely wild one game, and if excluded, his season as a whole is rather unremarkable, with a yard-per-rush hovering a hair above 4.0. One has to consider though, the effectiveness of the Wildcat might be either a) limited as teams will no be preparing to stop this previously unknown tactic or b) advance having now added Pat White as a double threat (arm wise and leg wise). As for the defense, they obviously have one of the NFL's most exciting pass rushers in Joey Porter and a solid stud, Channing Crowder. The rest of the box is mostly mediocre, which is made up for with their solid secondary. I am a huge Gibril Wilson + Will Allen fan and think Bell is better than people give him credit for. Still, this team is doomed to decline from their shocking '08 performance. Again, due to tough schedule + even tougher division = mediocre 7-9 finish for the Jets.

4. Buffalo Bills (7-9)

As much as I love Trent Edwards and other talented, young players the Bills have, ultimately this team will have loads of trouble racking up significant wins this season. Almost by default, the Bills are always last in this division, sorry Buffalo. I'm wondering how long T.O. will last before he absolutely blows up. Buffalo was front-page news for barely a week, and things seemed to have calmed down again. Evans + Owens does provide an intriguing and explosive wide receiver duo, but I would feel much more comfortable if passes were thrown from a guy with a stronger arm rather than the "short-pass-accurate" Trent Edwards. The suspension of Marshawn Lynch which is set to last three games certainly doesn't help, although I am excited at the prospect of Fred Jackson being a starter for that stretch. Defensively, the line upfront seems to be getting older and older, with dinosaur-like veterans like Shobel and Stroud who are heavily declining. Still, there are glimmers of upside include Penn State product Paul Posluszny and secondary studs Donte Whitner and Terrence McGee. Overall, this team does not have the firepower and talent on both sides of the football to make any noise in the AFC. Still, don't write them off for the future.

2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame

By: Matt

This weekend the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009 was inducted. Each member made significant contributions to both the NFL and their teams. This article profiles each of the honorees.

Derrick Thomas – As a member of the Kansas City Chief’s during the 1990’s Derrick Thomas was, arguably, the most feared linebacker in the NFL. Thomas was a nightmare for quarterbacks around the league, he set the single game record for sacks when he took down the Seattle Seahawks signal-caller 7 times. In addition to setting the record, Thomas is really the only player to challenge this record: he almost recorded and 8^th sack in the game where he set the record and two years later had 6 in the 3^rd quarter before being benched in the blowout victory over the Raiders. Thomas made the Pro-Bowl in 9 of his 11 seasons and was taken tragically from the NFL when, at the age of 31, he died in a car crash.

Bob Hayes – At the time of his NFL career, “Bullet” Bob Hayes was not only the fastest player in the NFL but also the fastest man alive. An Olympic gold-medal winner, Hayes was critical to the infusion of speed into football in the 1970’s. As a member of the Dallas Cowboys during the 60’s and 70’s Hayes was the teams top receiver during both of the Cowboy’s NFL Championship losses to the Packers, one of which was the legendary ice bowl, their Super Bowl 5 loss and 1971 Super Bowl Victory. Widely regarded as one of the most dangerous players in football, the delay in Hayes’ enshrinement is the result of a drug-dealing bust during his post-career life.

Bruce Smith – The defensive anchor of a Buffalo Bills team that went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls during the early 90’s, Bruce Smith is one of the greatest defensive lineman of all-time. While he was not the biggest, fastest, or strongest DE of all time, Smith is the greatest statistical pass rusher of all time, holding a record 200 career sacks. Smith was the defensive anchor of a Bills team known for its plethora of stars, a list that includes Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, and Cornelius Bennett. Smith is an 11-time all-pro who recorded over 10 sacks in a record 13 seasons.

Rod Woodson – One of the greatest cornerbacks of all-time, Rod Woodson is 17-year veteran who played in two Super Bowls for the Steelers and Ravens. Throughout his career Woodson was a terror too quarterbacks, often shutting down an entire half of the field and eliminating team’s best receivers. Woodson is 2^nd all-time in career sacks with 71 and holds the record for interception returns for touchdowns, 12. Woodson’s lengthy career seemed unlikely in the mid 90’s when he suffered a severe knee injury that would have ended the career of a lesser player. Woodson recovered and went on to continue playing for nearly a decade.

Randall McDaniel – An elite guard, Randall McDaniel anchored the Minnesota Vikings offensive line for over a decade. A smart player, McDaniel was equally effective at blocking speed rushers as he was at blocking power rushers. McDaniel was an elite guard for his entire career, playing in 11 Pro-Bowls, making the All-Pro roster 9 times, and starting in 202 consecutive games and 13 playoff games.

Ralph Wilson Jr. – The owner of the Buffalo Bills for nearly half a century, Ralph Wilson Jr, has been one of the NFL’s greatest owners throughout his reign. The Bills have often been a competitive team with elite NFL talent. In the 70’s the Bills had OJ Simpson, one of the most prolific running backs in league history, and the 90’s Bills made it to a record 4 consecutive Super Bowls. Wilson was instrumental to the AFL-NFL merger that created the Super Bowl and helped to make football the most popular sport in America. Wilson has also preserved a good relationship with Buffalo, one of the league’s smaller markets. While Wilson has started to play games in Canada, has kept his team in Buffalo, avoiding the infamy received by former owners Art Model and Jim Irsay, who moved their teams from Cleveland and Baltimore respectively.

Jags Training Camp Capsule

By: Jake

With the annual intra-squad scrimmage coming up tomorrow (Saturday), now is a good time to check up on how training camp has gone thus far for the Jags.

My early thoughts from what i've heard about the camp, are very very positive. No serious injuries like the one mentioned in the article below and no off the field drama like the Eagles Juqua Parker's marijuana arrest. All this is a big plus for the Jaguars who were bitten badly by the injury bug last year as more than half the O-Line missed at least 6 weeks, while both guards were lost for the season in the first game. However the play of the rookie WRs has been the biggest and best surprise of all. WR Jarrett Dillard out of Rice University has stood out the most in practice, making catch after catch after catch from QB David Garrard. WR Mike Thomas also stood out in the return game and as a slot receiver going across the middle. Second year WR Mike walker has gotten past a slow start and really shined just like he did last year during cap. Hopefully with a year under his belt and time to get over the chronic injuries of last year, he can achieve his full potential as a 3rd round receiver last year.

The absence of first round pick Eugene Monroe is starting to give fans eerie memories of last years Derrick Harvey holdout which lasted 32 days and caused him to lose much of the learning time he needed as a rookie, even though he showed many flashes near the end of the season and ended up with 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Monroe's absence would be much scarier for the team had they not signed free agent OT Tra Thomas in the offseason. Thomas provides the Jaguars with plenty of depth and a great mentor to catch up Monroe when he finally signs his deal. There is much speculation that Monroe's deal is being held up by that of Michael Crabtree and BJ Raji who the Jaguars seem to be waiting to sign. The Jaguars also hope that Monroe's agent recognizes that the Raiders vastly over paid when they gave the surprise pick of the draft, Darrius Heyward-Bey, a 5 year 38 million dollar contract.

Another big story out of camp is how great the starting group of LBs is looking. Daryl Smith is looking like the solid veteran he his, second year LB Justin Durant is making tons of plays behind the line of scrimmage, and Clint Ingram appears to have rebounded from a sub-par year and is reportedly laying the wood. If the Jaguars want to have any success, they are gonna need stellar years out of all 3. However, this group cannot withstand a season ending injury due to the lack of depth behind them as it consists of Thomas Williams and Brian Iwuh.

Last but not least, the D-line. All eyes are on last years first round pick Derrick Harvey and second round pick Quentin Groves. How they develop into pass rushers will be a huge part of how well the defense performs in the 2009 season. After cutting Paul Spicer, Harvey has a starting spot all lined up for him and a DT in John Henderson who will routinely take up double teams. The mentioning of Henderson brings up the next major thing to keep an eye on during the remainder of training camp and pre-season, third round DT Terrance Knighton. Ever since the Jaguars traded Marcus Stround before the draft last year, the Jaguars have seen how much they actually do miss him. And all of our hopes are that Knighton can make us forget about Stroud and bring back the days where no one ever ran on the Jags.

After the first few pre-season games and before the season starts, expect to see some more reports on how things are stacking up for Jacksonville.

Another Blow to Eagles Defense

By: Matt

The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the best and most consistent teams in the NFC over the last 9 years. After losing in the NFC Championship last year, the Eagles 5^th appearance in 8 years, the team appeared poised to make a championship run in 2009. The Eagles Offense this year is arguably the most talented group the team has had since Terrell Owens joined the team in 2004. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook are still around, the offensive line is deep and talented, and the receiving core includes sophomore sensation DeSean Jackson, veteran Kevin Curtis, and rookies Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, and Cornelius Ingram could all become big contributors. Offensively, Donovan McNabb finally has the “weapons” he has so desperately wanted since TO’s departure in 2006.

While the Eagles offense is talented, the trademark feature of the team during their extended run of success was the defense. Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson came to the team the same year as Head Coach Andy Reid and Brian Dawkins has long been the heart of both the defense and team. The Eagles defense, even when the offense has struggled, has kept the team in contention; however, Dawkins left after the team refused to pay their emotional leader, Johnson recently passed away as a result of cancer, and now middle linebacker Stewart Bradley has a torn ACL and will likely miss the season. The injury to Bradley is scary for a multitude of reasons: the Eagles line backing core clearly the weakest part of the defense and Bradley was really the only great linebacker on the roster, Bradley was the middle linebacker and a new player will have to receive a green dot and become the defensive play caller, and Bradley was also a player whose position and talent made him a likely candidate to take Dawkins place as the emotional leader of the defense. While none of these losses alone would cripple the Eagles, the combination of the three will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on what has been a rock-solid team. New Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott knows the schemes but lacks the experience of Johnson and will likely fail to bring and remove pressure in as timely a fashion as his predecessor. Dawkins was an aging veteran, but he was clearly the leader of the team (the Eagles beards during last season’s playoffs was Dawkins idea). The Eagles defense still has talent, but in one off-season the team has lost its brain, brawn, and heart. The talent of the Eagles offense could take the team to the playoffs, but the compound blows to the defense will hurt the team. Ultimately, the defense today is not nearly as good as it was 5 months ago, and the team has fallen from Super Bowl contender and will be hard pressed to reach their final goal.

Update: UFL Team Names Leaked

By: Jake

A reporter from the Orlando Sentinel has leaked the supposed names of the four UFL teams: 

Orlando Tuskers

San Francisco RockFish

Las Vegas Locomotives

New York Sentinels

No color schemes or jersey plans have been leaked and the names of the teams have yet to be officially announced. However, the strange names of the teams warrant more research and explaining before judgement can be passed. 

First, why not start with the Orlando Tuskers. A "Tusker" is a wild boar that has constantly inhabited the everglade region of Florida. So, at first glance, the name may be a bit confusing, but with proper knowledge, it can make sense. (The name was initially not that appealing to me, but now its growing on me as a pretty good name that I can see people referring to their team by) Next, we will investigate the San francisco RockFish. A "RockFish" according to Yourdictionary.com is : any of various fishes of rocky coastal areas, as the striped bass, various groupers, and various scorpaenids. So by connecting San Francisco's rocky coast and it's history of fishing prowess, the name makes sense... kinda. Third, we have the Las Vegas Locomotives. Las Vegas is currently home to the only railroad station that is inside a casino-hotel, but that is hardly the reason that I believe they were given this name. Today, Las Vegas is the site of where the original Union Pacific Railroad Depot was back when it originally started. Last but not least, the New York Sentinels. I believe they were just given this name because it sounds cool and is a respected sporting name. Sure, there might be some history about sentinels in New York, but I stick to my reasoning.