Live from the Loud House

NFL What If?

2009-06-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

Quarterback Donovan McNabb has missed 21 starts in his 10-year career due to injury; 5 games in 2002 with a broken Ankle, 7 in 2005 with a sports hernia, 6 in 2006 with a torn ACL and 2 in 2007 with a sprained thumb on his throwing hand. Even though these injuries are completely unrelated and none of them have had lasting effects on his playing ability many people have still (unfairly?) labeled him as injury prone - but that's an argument for another time.

Today my goal is to ask one simple question: What if McNabb had stayed injury free his entire
career up to this point? What kind of seasons would he have had statistically?

I don't have a fancy computer at my disposal like the guys at the real What If Sports do, so I relied on a very simple formula for computing McNabb's overall stats. I figured out what his per-game average for each category was and multiplied it by 16, then rounded to the nearest whole number (except for Completion %, Yards Per Attempt and QB ratings - those I rounded to the nearest tenth.)

I did not weight my calculations based on the defenses that he was facing, injuries to other Eagles or opponent players, weather conditions, home/away games, or any other factors. This is purely an examination of his statistical averages stretched out to an entire season.

The fewest games McNabb has ever started in one season is 9 - meaning that he has always started more than half a season - which is plenty of time to establish a statistical trend. It would be a completely different story if he had only started one game because that's not enough to establish anything. Essentially, the more games you have to calculate season totals from, the more accurate the calculations become.

Another thing to note: I did not account for time McNabb may have missed in a game that he started. For instance, McNabb tore his ACL before halftime against the Titans in 2006. He played less than half a game that week, but my process counts it as a full game. Therefore some statistics may be skewed slightly lower. Maybe later I'll go through and calculate his per-quarter statistics and I might get slightly more accurate totals.

Lastly, I only adjusted the totals for games that McNabb missed due to injury. He didn't play the last week of the 2004 season because the Eagles had already clinched home field advantage. He also didn't play some games his rookie season.

So, how does McNabb fare according to my statistics? Let's take a look.

Here are McNabb's official, unaltered stats (sorry it's kinda small):

Here are his "What If?" stats, with the altered seasons highlighted:
So, had McNabb stayed healthy, how would he have performed? Pretty darn well, actually.

In 2002 he would have ranked 8th in total yards, tied for 2nd in TDs and posted the 7th best QB rating.

In 2005 he would have ranked 1st in passing yards by nearly 350 yards and would have been tied for 2nd in TDs.

In 2006 he would have ranked 4th in passing yards and 2nd in TDs while posting the 4th best QB rating.

2007 was the year Tom Brady decided to rewrite the record books, but McNabb still would have ended with respectable totals, ranking 9th in yards and 10th in TDs with a 9th place QB rating.

All-in-all McNabb at his worst performs as a top-10 QB. At his best he's a top-3, right up there with Tom Brady and Payton Manning.

2009 NFC East Preview: QBs

2009-06-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Having the right Quarterback can make or break your team's championship hopes, so it makes sense to start this position-by-position preview with the most important cog in the wheel: the field generals.

Cowboys:
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Tony Romo comes from the Brett Favre school of quarterbacking. He has a tendency to be careless with the football and focus too much on the big-play. He often holds on to the ball for far too long and tosses up lame ducks when under pressure. When his guys come down with the ball he's praised as a hero and called a "gunslinger," but when the other team comes up with the ball - well - this happens. Or how about this one? And this one, too. (To be fair, that 44-6 loss to the Eagles wasn't all Romo's fault, it was a complete team collapse. Offense, defense and special teams.)

Romo's still here, but T.O. isn't. Owens only topped 100-yards on two occasions last season, but he still managed to find the end zone 10 times. Romo's numbers will drop this season, but not as much as you might expect. He still has the game's most reliable tight end not named Tony Gonzalez and there should be a heavier emphasis on the run game, which will keep some pressure off his shoulders.

The Cowboys made a good move bringing Jon Kitna in to back Romo. They blamed losses to St. Louis and Arizona squarely on Brad Johnson and realized they needed an upgrade. Kitna will give them a better chance to win if Romo misses any time. Brad Johnson clearly was not cutting it, but the entire team was outplayed in both of those losses. I'm not convinced Dallas would have won either of those games even if Romo was healthy.

Kitna is essentially the same type of player as Romo: a hopeless gunslingers that will put up lots of yards and TDs, but might also kill you with turnovers. Kitna is not as talented as Romo, but he is far more competitive which helps close the gap. He is not a liability like Brad Johnson, but he's certainly not going to push Romo for playing time.

Eagles:
As maligned as he may be, Donovan McNabb is the best QB in the division and a solid top-5 QB in the league. The Eagles must agree because they gave him a raise and now they're paying him like one. Outside of Brian Westbrook and one season with Terrell Owens, McNabb has been playing with inferior tools at the skill positions his entire career and has still managed to produce like an A-lister. Well the Eagles may have finally surrounded McNabb with enough offensive fire-power to put him over the hump and into a Super Bowl ring. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.

There are a lot of new pieces to this offense - we have to wait and see how they all gel together - but if everything goes as smoothly as it's looking in camp, McNabb can stay healthy and Tom Brady doesn't start shattering records again then McNabb is going to be in the MVP discussion late in the season.

What worries me is depth behind McNabb. Kevin Kolb is number two on the depth chart and has played well in preaseason, but he has been terrible in his sparing regular season action. He played in 6 games last season - mostly garbage time - and recorded 17/34 for 144 and 4 INTs, including at least 2 that were returned for TDs. The light might click on for him some day, but he looks lost in real action.

A.J. Feeley can run this offense well, unfortunately he's very turnover prone. The Eagles coaching staff believes the key to winning football games is protecting the ball. McNabb is excellent at it, flirting back and forth with Neil O'Donnell for lowest INT percentage in NFL history. He might launch a few bullets at his receivers' feet, but at least he's not tossing it into the opponents hands. Feeley, however, doesn't protect the football as well and has given games away with interceptions in the waning minutes. Still - I think he's a better option than Kolb at this point. If McNabb were unavailable for a do-or-die football game I think Feeley leapfrogs Kolb and starts. At the very least Kolb is on the NFL's shortest leash if he does start.

Giants:
Eli Manning has a solid case for best QB in the NFC East, simply because he has something no one else does: A Super Bowl ring. Still though, there have been plenty of pedestrian Quarterbacks that have gotten hot at the right time and riden an excellent defense to a championship. (Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have both done it this past decade.) I was almost ready to jump on the Eli bandwagon until Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg last season. With the freak-of-nature wide receiver out of the lineup Manning came crashing back to Earth. He no longer had the safety of lobbing a pass to a 6'5" giant when he got in trouble and it exposed all of his weaknesses. He was inaccurate, only managed 3 TD passes over the last 6 games including playoffs - only one of them to a wide receiver - and never cracked 200-yards. In short, he was pretty bad. You could certainly make the case that Plax made that air game run, not Eli.

This is a critical season for Eli to prove that the SB run was as much his doing as anyone elses. The defense is going to keep the Giants in every game they play, and the ground game is good for about 14 points and 40-minutes t.o.p each game. Eli just needs to prove that he can keep win a game or two with unproven receivers and he'll carve out his own legacy. The Giants should be a playoff team no matter what. The real test is going to be what happens in the playoffs. Do they make it to the Super Bowl, or are they one-and-done after an ugly loss at home? That's on Eli.

David Carr seems to have finally found a place he feels comfortable. Carr got a raw deal being the first franchise QB of the Houston Texans. He was put in a position where failure was guaranteed and then blamed for not succeeding. The Giants o-line keeps him upright long enough to complete his drop and make at least one or two reads and he proved that with that kind of support he can make smart decisions with the football. Carr looked better than Manning in the Week 17 loss to Minnesota last year. He'll never supplant Manning as the one in New York, but he is certainly the best reserve QB in the division.

Redskins:
Jason Campbell got screwed. Kind of like David Carr in Houston, Campbell has been forced into a situation where it was nearly impossible for him to succeed. He's had to endure system and regime changes on a yearly basis, criticism from just about everyone and a front office that shows no faith in him what-so-ever. Yes, Jason Campbell is the 4th-best starting Quarterback in the NFC East, but considering the talent at that position in the division that's not necessarily damning. Campbell has all the tools a successful Quarterback needs to win - he just needs the support of everyone around him.

It's clear the Redskins organization has bailed on Campbell - after essentially mortgaging the farm twice to replace him this offseason and failing miserably both times. What remains to be seen is how Jason responds. He could go out with a chip on his shoulder and prove that the Redskins made a mistake trying to replace him, or he could bail on an organization and fan-base that bailed on him long ago.

There is a growing contingency of fans that wants to see Colt Brennan replace Campbell at QB. Get a clue people, that's a HUGE mistake. I have no faith in Brennan's ability to be a starting QB in this league. First off, he went to college in Hawaii. Hawaii runs their offense out of 5-receiver sets about 70% of the time - more than any other team in college - which means that his passing statistics are significantly inflated. His college production is not a good indicator of his ability as a passer on the pro level.

Hawaii also plays in the WAC - a non-BCS conference - so they almost never play top-tier talent. Consequently their record is also significantly skewed. When they do play legitimate competition they get demolished, like during Brennan's swan song - the 2007 Sugar Bowl - when they were embarrassed by Georgia in one of the most lopsided BCS bowls I have ever seen.

Brennan might surprise me and develop into a first-rate starter, but I just don't have faith in a Hawaii quarterback. It's like me playing Pee-Wee football. Sure I can dominate against 8-year-olds, but put me in a league with a bunch of grown men and I'm probably average at best. If Brennan starts a game this year then it's pretty safe to say the 'Skins have already written this season off.

Todd Collins is a capable reserve and a good definition of game-manager. He does what is needed when he's called upon. He's not going to light anyone up, but if I need a reserve form the NFC East who's not going to blow a game that's already in the bag he's my choice.

Peters to Philly?

2009-04-17T10:40:00.001-07:00

I just posted an argument for an Eagles trade for Boldin, but I neglected to mention one factor...the only thing that could stop it would be a trade for Bills Left Tackle Jason Peters. Well, seconds after I posted that article I saw this news report.

A trade for Boldin isn't completely out of the question, but it's makes the chances much slimmer. We'll see what happens.

Boldin to Philly?

2009-04-17T09:37:00.000-07:00

Arizona Head Coach Ken Wisenhunt has gone on record saying the Cards are willing to listen to offers for WR Anquan Boldin. All offseason the team has been denying rumors they are interested in moving Boldin even though everyone knew they were.

It's no secret that Boldin thinks he's unerpaid (because he is) and it's also no secret that the Cardinals can't really afford to pay him what he's worth even if they wanted to. The best option for the Cardinals at this point is to get whatever value they can from him in a trade scenario, since he's not likely to re-sign unless he gets Larry Fitzgerald money ($10 Million a year range.)

Most people consider Boldin to be a number 1 wide receiver (essentially meaning he demands double coverage: a corner and a safety.) The going rate for a number 1 is a first- and third-round draft pick thanks to Jerry Jones and his foolish Roy Williams trade. I think there are a lot of front offices who don't want to start a trend of over-paying, though, and it's possible a deal might get done for a second and a fourth or fifth.

There are several teams who would be interested, but no team seems as intriguing as the Philadelphia Eagles. I personally think the Eagles are in a good position at receiver with second year phenom DeSean Jackson along with Curtis, Avant, Baskett and Brown, but they're almost certainly going to add another receiver at some point before the season starts, and with plenty of cap room and more draft picks than any other team they're in a great position to deal.

I can't imagine a much more explosive passing offense if the Eagles can manage to pull of a trade. Speedsters Curtis and Jackson stretching the field and the fearless Boldin working the middle. Boldin would go a long way towards improving the Eagles recent Red Zone struggles. McNabb and Baskett hooked up on a few fade patterns last season and Brent Celek came on really strong late in the season, add a tall (6'1"), tough receiver will only make it better.

McNabb has been one of the most prolific passers and proved in 2004 that he can put up historic numbers with a solid, dependable target (he was the first QB in history to throw for 30+ touchdowns and less than 10 INTs). The Eagles have a championship caliber defense and just need a little push to put them over the edge and into a Super Bowl victory. Boldin could give them that push.

Throw the Book at Burress

2009-04-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

It has been suggested recently by some sportswriters that Plaxico Burress will be able to plea to a lesser charge in his gun case, thereby limiting his prison time and/or avoid jail entirely. All I have to say is that's ridiculous and the courts should throw the book at him if (or rather when) he's convicted. I will consider it an abortion of justice if Burress isn't sentenced to at least 3 years in jail.

It's very clear that this player just doesn't get it. His narcissism and complete disregard for any and all authority is the mark of a sociopath. It's recently been made public that he repeatedly swore at and disrespected a police officer who pulled him over for reckless driving. Burress is an unrepentent jerk. The only thing seperating him from your garden variety thug is his multi-million dollar NFL contract (or, rather ex-contract.) If he dodges jail time it's only going to embolden him. He's only going to feel more invincible, and the next time his gun accidently goes off in a club it might kill him - or worse, kill an innocent bystander.

This guy whines like Terrel Owens on the gridiron and lives like Pacman Jones off it. Send him to prison for his own good.

What is "Upside?"

2009-03-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

I've seen this question all over the place recently:

"What is upside?"

Now let me try to explain...

Upside basically means potential. When you say that a player has a lot of upside it means that they have a lot of potential. They have all the physical tools to be an excellent player, the problem is they just haven't been able to put it all together at any point in their career.

Players with a lot of upside can be risky draft picks. I've heard Brian Dawkins say "Flashes of brilliance just means you're not trying hard enough all the time." (I'm paraphrasing.) So players with lots of upside may have a limitless ceiling, but their floor might also be a lot lower than other players at the position.

There are some NFL teams that get enamored with players with a huge upside. The Raiders are one of the most obvious choices. Al Davis drafted JaMarcus Russell because he could throw the football 70-yards from his knees. Forget the fact that he couldn't hit the broad side of the barn from 5-yards away (slight exageration.)

You'll see a lot of top-tier players with great upside being taken in the mid-to-late first round of the NFL draft. You'll see a lot of other less-polished players with upside taken later on the first day.

Traveling in the NBA

2009-03-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

To prove to you that I don't only write about the NFL I bring you this:

Is it just me, or does Lebron James travel all the time and get away with it?

I haven't watched the NBA seriously in a few years now. For one reason, my girlfriend can't stand watching sports, so I often have to make some concessions. I have to save my precious few allotted hours for March Madness and NFL Sundays and Mondays (and sometimes Saturdays and Thursdays.)

There's also this, though: it's just not that interesting anymore. When the Suns were running a fast-paced, run-n'-gun offense and Steve Nash was working his magic feeding the likes of Staudemire, Diaw, Bell, Thomas, Barbosa, etc. it was a thing of beauty. It was just so exciting! But basketball has changed a lot in the last few seasons. It seems to be a selfish league now, with a few superstars out for themselves and very little emphasis on team play.

But anyway, I digress. I was watching some of the Cavs game this evening and I was shocked by one thing: Lebron James travels. All the time. And he gets away with it! It's one thing to call him out for his "crab dribble" (which is clearly a travel) but that's not the extent of his happy feet.

There were at least 5 or 6 moments in this evening's game against the Nets where James got away with a walk. I might be wrong - I'm watching the game on a standard def TV, I'm not right there on the court like the refs - but from my vantage point the infractions seemed pretty eggregious.

There are essentially 2 major categories of Lebron travels. The first is what I call the "crunch time travel." This happens when Lebron is double- or tripple-teamed - often under the basket - and he pivots back and forth, often switching his pivot foot. He did that on the play under the basket and came away with a historic basket: His 2,000th point of the season, giving him 4 career seasons with 2,000 pts., 500 rebounds and 500 assists.

The second major category is the "Three step Dunk." Lebron will often cradle the ball and take 3, sometimes even 4? steps before a dunk or a layup. The killer on this one is that it usually happens on a fast-break when there's no one to stop him. Why don't the refs call the travel? Because it doesn't matter, it's not going to help him make the basket or give him an unfair advantage? Maybe, but if it's that obvious you have to make the call. Oh well.

And before anyone starts calling me a Cavs hater let me make it clear that I have no basketball allegiences what-so-ever. I have neither a favorite player nor a least favorite player. I have neither a favorite team nor a least favorite team.

NFC East Pre-draft Grades!

2009-03-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

So the meat of the free-agency period is over. There was an early run on the big name talent and secondary run on the role-players, but the market has mostly settled at this point. Now it's time to analyze the major moves in the NFC East and see which teams scored and which teams struck out.

New York Giants: A
Additions:
DT Rocky Bernard, LB Michael Boley, S C.C. Brown, DE Chris Canty, TE Lee Vickers.
Subtractions:
S James Butler, RB Reuben Droughns (cut), S Sammy Knight (cut), CB Sam Madison (cut), RB Derrick Ward, DE Renaldo Wynn.
Re-Signed:
QB David Carr, DT Leger Douzable, RB Brandon Jacobs, TE Darcy Johnson, DE Dave Tollefson

The Giants somehow managed to improve on the best Defensive Line in the NFL. They brought in Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty, who are both likely to start on the inside of the line. They also added LB Michael Boley, essentially adding a third new starter to the front seven. Can the addition of all the defensive aid make up for the loss of Steve Spagnuolo? We'll see.

The Giants lost a couple of key players in Safety James Butler and Running Back Derrick Ward. Hopefully this means the end of the worst-ever sports nickname, "Earth, Wind and Fire." The rest of the players were all expendable veterans on the downside of their career. I wonder if the loss of Ward will take the "wind" out of New York's sails? Get it?

David Carr proved to be a quality backup in limited playing time this season. I've always thought he was underrated after being forced into an impossible situation as the Texans first franchise QB.

The Giants were presented with the option of retaining either Jacobs or Ward - in my oppinion that's a no-brainer and they made the right choice - Jacobs makes this offense run and his early-game pummeling is the only reason Derrick Ward rushed for 1,000 yards last season.

The other players are mostly back-ups and role-players.

Washington Redskins: B-
Additions: RB Anthony Aldridge, P Zacrey Atterberry, LS Jeremy Cain, G Derrick Dockery, RB Dominique Dorsey, FB Jonathan Evans, DB Michael Grant, DT Albert Haynesworth, P Dirk Johnson, K Dave Raynor, OL Isaiah Ross, DE Renaldo Wynn
Subtractions: DE Demetric Evans, P Ryan Plackemeier, LB Matt Sinclair (cut), CB Shawn Springs (cut, NE), DE Jason Taylor (cut), LB Marcus Washington (cut)
Re-Signed: LS Ethan Albright, S Reed Doughty, LB Alfred Fincher, WR Marques Hagans, CB DeAngelo Hall, OL Rueben Riley, LB Tyson Smith, K Shaun Suisham, CB Byron Westbrook

It doesn't really matter who's in charge in Washington, they're invariably going to throw a lot of money at free agents and hope for the best. They certainly proved that the case this year with their monster contract to Albert Haynesworth and the large contract they gave to DeAngelo Hall.

I have reservations about Albert Haynesworth. I've heard from multiple sources that he is not really that motivated. He's only had two really good seasons as a pro and both of them were essentially contract years (his contract ended after the '07 season and he was franchised in '08.) How will he play now that the pressure's off and he got the monster deal he was looking for? Only time will tell. Also keep in mind that the level of talent surrounding Haynesworth in Tennessee was immensly better than in Washington. How is Haynesworth going to fare if he doesn't have guys like Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch demanding the offenses attention? Don't expect him to produce like he did last season, but he should still be solid.

As for Hall, he played well last year after the Redskins got him for a bargain basement price. They then overlooked the fact that he's been disapointing everyone for the last three seasons and gave him a monster contract. Let's hope he lives up to it here, even though he didn't in Oakland or Atlanta.

The 'Skins lost some solid contributors in Shawn Springs and Marcus Washington. They also parted ways with the underwhleming Jason Taylor. Ultimately they gained one big piece, at the expense of a couple medium sized pieces. Did they come out ahead? Maybe a little.

Dallas Cowboys: C+
Additions: LB Keith Brooking, QB Jon Kitna, DE Igor Olshansky, S Gerald Sensabaugh, LB Matt Stewart
Subtractions: LB Kevin Burnett, DE Chris Canty, CB Anthony Henry (trade, DET), QB Brad Johnson (cut), CB Adam "Pacman" Jones (cut), WR Terrell Owens (cut), S Roy Williams (cut)
Re-Signed: None

The Dallas offseason has been all about trimming the fat. The deadly, cancerous, soul-sucking fat. They couldn't wait to part ways with a delinquint Pacman Jones. Brad Johnson and Roy Williams were cut after several underwhelming seasons. After weeks of consideration Terrell Owens was finally cut, which you can file under the addition-by-subtraction category.

Keith Brooking should step into a starting role as a co-middle linebacker and should perform better than Zack Thomas. Gerald Sensabaugh should ease the loss of safety Roy Williams. Igor Olshansky is a step down from Chris Canty, but he should be solid against the run. I think the Cowboys would have wanted Canty back, but they don't have the money to pay him and Demarcus Ware. They're in a bit of a salary-cap bind, and cutting Owens - though necessary - didn't help.

The Anthony Henry for Jon Kitna trade didn't make any sense to me. Yes, the Cowboys were in desperate need of a quality backup to Romo, but trading a solid starting Corner wasn't the right move to make. I guess they must like their second year players to fill the spots vacated by Pacman and Henry.

The cowboys haven't made themselves better this season, but they still have a lot of talent on the roster. They're doing the best they can considering they're crunched for cap space.

Philadelphia Eagles: C+
Additions: OT Stacy Andrews, S Rashad Baker, RB Eldra Buckley, DL Amon Gordon, LB Charleston Hughes, S Sean Jones, CB Byron Parker, FB Leonard Weaver
Subtractions: RB Correll Buckhalter, S Sean Considine, S Brian Dawkins, WR Greg Lewis, CB Lito Sheppard, TE L.J. Smith, OT Tra Thomas, OT Jon Runyan
Re-Signed: LB Tank Daniels, CB Joselio Hanson

The Eagles lost a lot of talent this offseason, including 4 starters from last season and 4 players that saw regular playing time. Brian Dawkins is probably the most visible loss of the group, and the team will certainly lose his leadership and motivation. Dawkins clearly has something left in the tank as he proved by forcing 2 fumbles in the Eagles 44-6 dismantling of Dallas in the regular season finale.

I'm here to play devil's advocate...I think the Eagles are better off now - from a physical standpoint - than they were last season. Let's face it, he's good, and the Eagles wanted him back, but the Broncos were willing to (over)pay him more. The Eagles signed two safeties, Sean Jones and Rashad Baker. The Eagles now have a lot of options at safety. It will likely come down to Quintin Demps and Sean Jones duking it out for a starting spot opposite Quintin Mikell. If Jones wins there's a chance Mikell might move to the Free Safety spot, but anything is possible.

The Eagles signed RT Stacey Andrews to shore up one tackle spot. Andrews will likely start at RT, next to his younger brother Shawn (unless Shawn is moved to LT). I equate the Andrews signing to the Runyan signing of nearly a decade ago. It will solidify the right side of the line for years to come.

The Eagles have been trading players left and right for draft picks and seem to be gearing up for an offseason move or two. I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a run at Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards or Jason Peters at some point before or during the draft. If they Eagles could land one or two of those players their offseason grade will instantly get bumped up a full letter or more, as of now, they've made some quality additions, but also have a lot of holes to fill.

And I'm Back!

2009-03-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my hiatus folks, but I'm back, with a vengeance. (Well, I'm back at least.)

My all-sports blog quickly morphed into a NFL-centric blog, which then quickly evolved into an NFC East blog. I'm still going to cover whatever sports-related stories pique my interest, but for right now my interests are mostly focused around the NFC East and Syracuse University - who, by the way, are playing the best basketball since their 2003 title run and should not be underestimated in the NCAA tourney this year.

So the NFL offseason keeps chugging along, and interesting stories are few and far between:

- Sure, T.O. got cut. Who didn't see that coming when the Cowboys signed him? That's as close to a non-story as they come.

- Buffalo then signed the maligned receiver. Boring! The Bills were the only team in the AFC East that wasn't improving. They're desperate for any help they can get to compete with the re-Bradyed Pats.

- Donte Stallworth hit (and unfortunately killed) some bloke with his car. This is a sad story which shouldn't be getting so much attention, but there hasn't been much else to report about the last several weeks.

- Sportswriters continue to ignore the fact that Mel Kiper's hairstyle hasn't changed in decades. It makes me suspicious. Here's a picture of Mel on vacation with his wife, wearing sunglasses that appear to be MS Painted on:

My hair says "M." It stands for Mel.

- The owners met this past week. They made some subtle rule-changes to protect players and ensure the kicking team never recovers another on-side kick ever again.

- Jay Cutler and Josh McDaniels are having a feud. No one looks good in this situation. McDaniels made a big mistake not owning up to trying to land Cassell. He made an even bigger mistake when he didn't try to reassure Cutler after he failed to land Cassell. At the same time Cutler needs to grow up and realize that the NFL is a business and McDaniels just had interest in working with a player who he has intimate knowledge of. It's not a slight on Cutler's skills, it's just that Cassell was a known commodity.

- T.O. has Alzheimers? I dunno, I just saw the headline on ESPN. I didn't read the article. It sounds weird, but it actually makes perfect sense. The reason he's always demanding more balls is because he keeps forgetting that his quarterback targets him on 80% of the offensive snaps. He also forgets to actually catch the ball a lot, too.

- As per usual everyone under the sun considers themselves a draft-guru this time of year and is writing their own mock draft. Nevermind the fact that you can usually throw most mock drafts out the window before the fifth overall pick. Draft Gurus are like weather men: They can make a career out of being wrong 80% of the time.

- What's the over/under on the Eagles trading out of the 1st round?

- Can anyone tell me what over/under actually means?

Alright, so I've brought you up to speed on the offseason thus-far, now get preparred for NFC East offseason grades!

Didn't see this one coming...

2009-03-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

It was only a matter of time before Terrell Owens ran himself out of town, and last week he succeeded, for the third time in five seasons.

I was mildly surprised by the move. The Cowboys are Jerry Jones' team and he was the only employee in the organization that didn't want to cut T.O. Ultimately, though, Jerry let everyone else in the front office convince him that the team would be better off without the mercurial wide receiver.

But you know what I didn't see coming? The Buffalo Bills didn't waste much time in signing Owens to a 1-year $6.5 Million contract - all of it guaranteed.

Wait, what?

The Bills have gone 7-9 three seasons in a row now. They're close to getting over that hump, but just can't seem to do it. They certainly need to upgrade the talent on their roster, but WR isn't an immediate need. Lee Evans is a solid #1 receiver, with a heck-of-a-lot more of an upside than T.O. considering his age and (potentially) consistent QB play.

Terrell Owens is still a talented player, but he should be prepared to line up as the #2 behind Evans. Can Owens' ego take being the second Banana? He couldn't handle Romo's rapport with Witten in Dallas, something tells me he's going to have a similar reaction when Trent Edwards looks Evans' way with the game on the line.

What confuses me is why coaches, GMs and Owners still think that they can control T.O. The 49ers are off the hook, because they were Owens' first team. He hadn't esteblished any patterns of bad behavior until he palyed for them. The Eagles also aren't completely to blame. There are plenty of players that have a falling out with one franchise, but are completely reborn on team #2. But Dallas is another story. Jerry Jones knew what he was getting into and it blew up in his face. And Buffalo? Really?

Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo all had issues with Owens. Three solid, talented quarterbacks. Three Pro-Bowlers. Three Veteran leaders. Owens started a beef with each one of them (and over fabricated controversies to boot.) Andy Reid couldn't control Owens. Parcells delivered Jones a "it's him or me" ultimatum which led to his departure from Dallas. Trent Edwards is a talented player with potential, but he doesn't have the pedigree of the three players Owens has thrown under the bus. If Owens continues his nasty ways he might crush Edwards' budding confidence.

Is this move guaranteed to blow up in Buffalos face? Not necessarily. Owens managed to last an entire season in Philly before causing trouble. Ditto in Dallas. He might last through his contract without being a pain-in-the-ass, but I wouldn't count on it. Just wait until Owens calls Edwards out for tossing to a wide-open Evans in the 4th quarter against New England, even though Owens was double covered.

Considine visiting Jacksonville

2009-02-27T13:12:00.001-08:00

Eagles FA safety Sean Considine is headed to Jacksonville for a visit.

Considine is a solid player with starting ability who just had the misfortune of sitting behind Brian Dawkins and Quintin Mikell.

The Eagles would have liked to bring Considine back because of his production on special teams, but he is looking for the chance to start and he should get it with the Jags. They've been looking for answers at safety since they released Donovan Darius a few seasons ago.

Taylor agrees to deal with Pats

2009-02-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

Fred Taylor has agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots after being released by the Jaguars this offseason.

I don't think Taylor is a dominating every-down back anymore, but he could still work in a rotation or as a spot-starter. The Bills also tried to acquire Taylor, it must be extra bitter when you lose a player to a division rival.

Titans re-sign key players

2009-02-27T13:02:00.000-08:00

The titans have apparently agreed to terms with QB Kerry Collins and nickel CB Vincent Fuller.

Too bad they lost their biggest free agent. Oh well.

Meanwhile, Titans' reserve CB/return man Chris Carr has been courted by 4 other NFL teams.

Finally, Chris Canty called off his visit to Tennessee. He had originally planned to visit the Titans this weekend, but he was going to hit the Giants and Seahawks first. It appears as though a deal with one of those two teams is likely.

Housh starting tour in Seattle

2009-02-27T12:52:00.000-08:00

You know how a few minutes ago I said that a visit usually is a formality, and that if the player passes their physical they almost always sign a deal right away? Well, that's true 99% of the time, but it might not be so in the case of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Housh is set to visit Seattle today, which would normally lead you to believe a deal would be struck, but considering he's the top free-agent left he might be using the visit as leverage to force the hand of another team interested in acquiring his services.

Houshmandzadeh released a list of teams he'd like to play for that included the Seahawks, as well as the Giants, Eagles and Vikings. I think it's most likely that he'll end up a Seahawk after this visit, because they're the team that is most desperate to add a wide reciever. The other three teams all made the playoffs last season and all (except for maybe NY) already have a solid corps of receivers should they start the season today.

The 'Hawks know that the NFC West isn't going to be a cakewalk anymore, with the emergence of the Cardinals. They need help to stay competitive and they'll pay T.J. handsomely.

Winslow traded from Browns to Bucs

2009-02-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

Browns TE Kellen Winslow Jr. has been traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for "undisclosed" draft picks.

Those undisclosed picks appear to be a 2nd-round pick in this years draft and a 5th-rounder next year.

Good move by the Browns. 2007 was a fluke, and like-it-or-not this team needs to add talent at almost every single position. A good way to do that is to grab extra draft picks by dealing some of their quality players. It helps that Winslow was a disgruntled and wanted out anyway.

I don't know why the Bucs made the move though. After cleaning house and releasing so many integral veterans I really thought the Bucs were heading into full-blown rebuilding mode. That's why I'm confused that they'd give up draft picks to acquire anyone. Let's hope they know what they're doing.

Ravens sign CB

2009-02-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens have signed cornerback Domonique Foxworth to a 4-year $27.2-million deal. The Ravens seem to be doing a good job of revamping their aging cornerback spot. Foxworth has talent, youth and speed and should do a solid job replacing veteran Chris Mccalister and/or Samari Rolle.

Bills bringing in Veteran WR?

2009-02-27T12:29:00.001-08:00

Laveranues Coles is set to visit the Bills today.

Coles was released by the Jets earlier this week after they failed to come to amiable terms on a contract issue. Coles has seen his ability drop a little the last few seasons, and I'm hesitant to consider him a solid number 1, but if you pair him with superstar Lee Evans and he'll be a good addition.

Visits aren't official, but barring a failed physical you can expect a deal to get done. Now the Bills should focus their energy on finding a solid Tight End. L.J. Smith might still be available and should be a good fit in Buffalo.

Vrabel to Chiefs

2009-02-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

It looks like new Kansas City GM Scott Pioli is busy adding some old Patriot magic to the Chiefs, bringing in LB Mike Vrabel via trade from his old team.

KC gets some much needed experience and leadership from a veteran player, New England has the opportunity to inject some youth into their aging linebacking corps. I'm not sure what the Pats get in return, but so far this seems to be a pretty one-sided deal.

If you hadn't heard by now...

2009-02-27T12:12:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard yet, the Washington Redskins have signed Albert Haynesworth to a monster contract. The Redskins are throwing a lot of money around this week, making Haynesworth the highest played defensive player in the league as-well-as making DeAngelo Hall one of the highest paid corners. You have to wonder if they'll have anything left to sign their draft picks.

Both those guys are quality players, and they deserve to be paid, just maybe not that much.

Steelers Re-sign OG

2009-02-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Steelers re-signed Guard Kemoeatu to a 5-year $20 Million deal. The Steelers need to get better on the O-line. They were terrible, especially early in the year. The Steelers won the Super Bowl, but that's no excuse to get lazy. If they get complacent then everyone else in the league is going to catch up. I'm not saying Kemoeatu is guilty of poor play, just that I think the Steelers would be wise to keep adding to the line.

Eagles Bring in OT Help

2009-02-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing Offensive Tackle Stacy Andrews in for a physical to finalize a deal. Andrews is a free agent formerly with Cincinnati and he is also the older brother of OG Shawn Andrews.

Andrews is likely to play Right Tackle, starting right next to his brother. The Eagles will miss Thomas and Runyan, but if Stacy has half the Talent of Shawn then the Eagles O-line just got a lot stronger.

Potential Free Agents the Eagles Might Target

2009-02-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

The Eagles have a lot of cap room and a few holes that need to be addressed to improve on a squad that reached the NFC championship for the fifth time this decade. Let's take a look at some of the free agents the Eagles might target:

1. Baltimore Ravens center Jason Brown: Brown is a big, strong lineman and the Ravens would love to bring him back, but they're not very close to a deal and Brown will almost certainly get a much larger offer from another team. Brown has a lot of experience playing against 3-4 schemes (4 games per year against Pittsburgh and Cleveland) and he could be a good weapon against division rival Dallas.

The other benefit of Jason Brown is that it would add another strong piece to the interior line in the event that Shawn Andrews is moved from right guard to tackle. Right now Jamal Jackson is the starter in the middle, but he hasn't been lighting things up. Nick Cole is the reserve center, but he could be moved to guard full-time and compete with Max Jean-Gilles for the starting right guard spot. Andrews can then move outside and replace John Runyan at right tackle. Runyan is scheduled to be a free agent, but his age and recent microfracture surgery makes it very unlikely he's going to be coveted by anyone (let alone the Eagles.)

2. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison: It seems very likely that the Colts will release Marvin Harrison to clear up some cap room heading into free agency. Harrison is a hall-of-fame player. His skills have certainly diminished, but he's a HOFer none-the-less. The Eagles seem like a good fit because:

A) McNabb asked for more playmakers and Harrison is one of the best to ever play the game.
B) Harrison and McNabb have a history, playing together at Syracuse.
C) Harrison lives in Philly, so they might be able to get a hometown discount.
D) Harrison can help develop DeSean Jackson into an even better receiver.

The Eagles do not have a history of targeting over-the-hill players. In fact Andy Reid avoids them like the plague, but if I had to choose between Houshmandzadeh and Harrison, I'd choose Harrison.

3. New England Patriots fullback Heath Evans: Evans is a hard-nosed, versatile player. The Eagles suffered not having a true fullback on the roster last year and they can solve it without breaking the bank here. Evans is a good lead blocker and could help the Eagles pick up some of those 3rd-and-1's that they missed last season. He also has the ability to run and catch the ball if necessary. There's also the possibility of Philly looking for a FB in the draft. Tony Fiametta out of Syracuse is a possibility, but why not just spring for the known commodity?

4. Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins: I think this one is a long shot, but I have completely lost confidence in Kevin Kolb and would like to see the Eagles improve at the backup position. Collins is looking for a hefty starting QB contract from Tennessee, but it doesn't appear as though he's going to get it. My prediction is that he tests the water, no one is desperate enough to pay him the salary he wants and he ends up back in Tennessee at a price that satisfies both parties.

5. New York Giants running back Derrick Ward: This is another long shot. It appears as though Buckhalter is not going to be resigned, so the Eagles are in need of a quality backup. Ward, however is looking for (and likely to get) a starting position or at least starting salary somewhere. Not to mention the fact that there are much better prospects in the draft. It would be interesting to steal a player away from New York, especially if he contributes meaningfully to a victory against them.

These are all players that would immediately solidify their respective units. The Eagles would be smart to at least investigate these players and see what happens. In addition, I think the Eagles should investigate a possible trade for Anquan Boldin and should re-sign Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins. That would go a long way towards strengthening questionable areas on the Offense and Deffense.

Eagles Re-Sign Hanson

2009-02-21T02:02:00.001-08:00

Just as I predicted, the Eagles re-signed Nickel Corner Joselio Hanson to a 5-year contract. Lito Shepherd is going to have to work hard to get on the field if he's even on the team next season.

Offseason Preview...Finally! Eagles Part 2

2009-02-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia Eagles Part 2: Defense

See Part 1: Offense here.

DE: The Eagles are pretty deep at end. Trent Cole is probably the most talented End and faces frequent double teams. He posted a respectable 9 sacks in ’08, but it should have been more, considering he was coming off a 12.5 sack ’07. Still, the fact that he demands so much attention opens things up for the other ends. Cole is the Eagles only solid 3 down End.

Darren Howard led all Eagles with 10 sacks and frequently benefited from the extra attention Trent Cole received. Howard was shaping up to be a free agent bust until his strong showing this season. Victor Abiamiri is the Eagles biggest End and is used mostly in rushing situations. He will often move inside on passing downs to rush from the Tackle spot. The coaches were hoping Abiamiri would compete for the other starting position, but a hand injury kept him out until mid-way through the season. I expect Abiamiri to make a serious push to be at least a 2-down starter opposite Cole this season.

Juqua Parker and Chris Clemons were like mirror images of each other. Parker started the season pretty well, notching 5 sacks in the first 8 games and then disappearing. Clemons meanwhile recorded 4 sacks over the last 8 games and added a fumble recovery TD in week 17 against the ‘Boys after doing jack squat the first half of the season. If you lump them together as situational pass rushers then their production is pretty solid. Ideally, though, I’d like to see both play with more consistency.

The Eagles probably won’t see much turnover at the position. 3rd round pick Bryan Smith didn’t sniff the field in his rookie season, but he could push for playing time in year 2. I expect that Parker is the guy who should be looking over his shoulder.

Julius Peppers wanted out of Carolina and now that he’s been franchised he’s put together a list of 5 teams he’s willing to be traded to. The only team on that list that has been reported is the Dallas Cowboys, but the Cowboys traded their 1st round pick to the Lions for Roy Williams and don’t have enough ammo to snatch Peppers. It’s unlikely the Eagles are on the list (Peppers wanted to go to a 3-4 team where he could play a pass rushing OLB) but even if they are it’s unlikely they’ll pay the huge ransom the Panthers are looking for (I’m guessing at least a 1st and a 3rd round pick.) You can never have too many pass rushers though and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Eagles add one or two during the draft.

DT: The Tackles don’t make a lot of flashy plays but these guys are solid, aggressive, agile defenders that do a great job of plugging holes and leaving the linebackers free to chase the play down and make the tackle.

Jim Johnson likes to rotate his offensive lineman and he had a solid rotation of Patterson, Bunkley and Laws at tackle. Ideally he’d like to rotate 4 guys at the spot, but Klecko was often off working at FB.

I think this is the most underrated unit on the football team and I think they had everything to do with the Eagles’ excellent run defense all season long. They just stuffed the holes, occupied the offensive linemen and never let their men into the second level to block the Backers. In fact, Jim Johnson was flabbergasted that Broderick Bunkley wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl and I’m with him.

One criticism of the Tackles is their lack of sack production, but considering the Eagles frequently use Abiamiri and Howard at Tackle on passing downs that can be forgiven. I don’t see much change coming at the position. The Eagles will likely add a solid 4th tackle to the rotation. It might be Klecko, switching back to defense full-time, or it could be someone found through the draft. There is a game-changing Tackle available as a free agent: Albert Haynesworth. There’s no doubt Haynesworth is better than any of the guys on the roster, but he’s really the only marquee player hitting the market and there’s likely to be several teams willing to throw money at him. The Eagles will only go after him if they can get a very competitive price.

LB: The Linebacker position changed dramatically over the last 2 or 3 seasons. The Eagles dumped starting veterans Dhani Jones, Takeo Spike and Jeremiah Trotter in favor of a crew of unfamiliar, untested youngsters. Heading into this season most people were questioning the unit because of their inexperience, but I think most of those detractors have been silenced.

The Eagles have one of the most solid corps of young playmakers in the league. The projected starters for next season are Stewart Bradley at the Mike, Akeem Jordan at the Will and Chris Gocong at the Sam. Omar Gaither is their top reserve, having experience starting at both the middle and weak side and being effective. Joe Mays is a bit udersized, but people say he’s a wrecking ball. He got a reputation for laying massive hits on his teammates during preseason practices last year. Who knows what he has in store for opponents? Tank Daniels rounds out the top 6, now in his second stint with the Eagles in his short career.

I don’t see a lot of change in the rotation here. Stewart Bradley is a stud of Urlacher proportions (yeah, that’s right, I said it.) It’s nice knowing that you have 2 starting caliber Will’s in Jordan and Gaither. Gocong is solid, though not terribly flashy. He seems to still be learning subtle nuances of the linebacker position after converting from DE as a rookie. He’s a really smart kid and gets better every game. If he continues at this pace he’ll finish his career as a HOFer. I expect the Eagles to draft at least one or two Linebackers to push for reserve slots.

CB: Asante Samuel made the Pro Bowl in his first season as an Eagle – although I’m not convinced he deserved it based on his regular season. He managed to crank things up in the playoffs though and made game-changing plays against the Vikings and Giants.

Sheldon Brown was the other starting corner and he played really well all season. That is except when he was asked to cover Larry Fitzgerald one-on-one at the goal line. To be fair though, a corner with the cover skills of Deion Sanders and the height and leaping ability of Kevin Garnett couldn’t shut Fitzgerald down. Brown doesn’t make the flashy interceptions or returns like other players, but he also rarely makes highlight reel mistakes.

Lito Shepherd was a huge disappointment this season. He wanted a raise in the offseason but management (rightly so) wasn’t willing to give him one until he earned it. He asked for a trade and the Eagles shopped him around, but no one was offering value for him. The instead of going out and proving that he was worthy of a new contract Lito wilted and virtually disappeared. Some people have accused the Eagles of burying him on the depth chart to lessen his value, but come one, are you kidding me? What team would every put one of their most talented players on the bench for something like that? That’s just an ignorant accusation. Ultimately the Eagles probably would have been best-off taking whatever they were offered for Lito last season, even if it was below what they were looking for. There’s still hope for Lito, but he’s going to have to come to camp this year with a whole new attitude and work ethic, otherwise I think it’s doubtful he stays on the roster next season.

Joselio Hanson is going to be a free agent this year and I bet the Eagles make an offer. He has been a solid reserve and Nickel Corner for the team the last 2 seasons. I expect Hanson to re-sign and remain the Eagles Nickel Corner next year. There’s a chance he could be pushed by 2-year man Jack Ikegwuonu. Ikegwuonu was projected to go as high as the 1st round before he injured his knee working out at the combine. The Eagles ended up taking him in the 4th round, and if he can come back healthy he might end up being the steal of all steals.

S: Brian Dawkins and Considine are both free agents. I expect Dawkins to be back even though he’ll be turning 36 next October. Dawkins’ best seasons are behind him, but he still made the Pro Bowl this season and had some of the most outstanding performances of any player at any position on any team. The leaping strip-sack-recovery against the Steelers in week three and his 2 FF performance in a 44-6 rout of Dallas proved he still has gas left in the tank. Dawkins wants to retire an Eagle, fans want him to retire an Eagle and there’s no doubt he’s one of the most respected locker-room presences in the history of the NFL. The Eagles will probably offer him a 2 or 3 year deal to let him finish his career in Philly.

Considine is a solid reserve and a great special teamer, but he’s likely going to pursue a starting opportunity elsewhere. There are a few teams that would be willing to give him a shot so he’ll be going elsewhere.

Quintin Mikell had a Pro Bowl caliber season at the Strong Safety slot. It just goes to show that there is value in the rookie class, even amongst undrafted free agents. Mikell will be back next year as a starter and may even be gunning for a Pro Bowl bearth.

Quintin Demps showed flashes of good play throughout the season but sometimes seemed to be a little overwhelmed (just look at the Larry Fitzgerald TD in the NFC Championship where Demps got all twisted around and fell over.) Still though, I think he’s going to be a solid safety with a little more experience. He’s not ready to start yet, but if Dawkins comes back he and the coaching staff can groom Demps to take over.

There aren’t any gamebreakers on the market, but there’s a good chance the Eagles might add one or two veterans to compete for reserve slots. They also might draft a guy in the mid rounds. If they don’t re-sign Dawkins there is no evident replacement available.

K: David Akers played very well all season until the NFC Championship game when he missed 2 makeable field goals. Still though, there’s no pressure from competition and it seems as though kickers now-a-days are pretty interchangeable. Adam Vinaterri (who was overrated to begin with) has seemed to come back even with the pack and most kickers are pretty secure with their teams unless they pull a Vanderjagt (i.e. Suck.)

P: Punters are a different story. There are good punters and there are bad punters in the NFL. Sav Rocca started out last season as the best punter in the league, but his hot streak wore off. He ended the season near the middle of the pack in net yards, but he was 10th in number of punts inside the 20. He also had one of the highest percentages of punts inside the 20. All-in-all he is a solid punter and seems to be making a decent transition from Australian Rules football to the NFL.

KR: Lorenzo Booker was brought in from Miami to improve the return game, but he quickly lost his spots to DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps. Jackson primarily handled punt returns because of his shiftiness and agility. Demps handled most of the kickoff returns because of his size and straight-line speed.

Both Jackson and Demps posted a return touchdown during the season and each broke several long returns helping give the Eagles good field position. Both are likely to continue their return duties unless the coaches deem them too valuable in their primary spots. For instance, if the team thinks Jackson is too valuable as a receiver they’re not going to risk injuring him on punt returns. Ultimately, though, both these guys are too dangerous to leave off the field for returns. Devin Hester proved how important a good return man can be against the Cardinals a few seasons ago which ultimately led to one of the most amusing coach meltdowns in all of pro sports:

Offseason Preview...Finally!

2009-02-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

Alrighty folks, I’ve been gone for a little while, but I’m finally back. Did ya miss me? (Didn’t think so)

As every fan knows the Super Bowl - Combine stretch is a tough period for football journalists. It’s way too early to start speculating about offseason roster moves, but there’s no more real football to discuss.

Consequently most football articles consist of generic offseason previews or a superfluous amount of articles on a press manufactured controversy, usually revolving around T.O.

So to set myself apart from the pack I decided to delay my offseason preview until after the franchise tag deadline came and went. The NFL is structured so that the marquee players rarely ever hit the open market. The salary cap seems to rise every year and if a new contract can’t be agreed upon then the best players are usually franchised. Thus keeping them off the open market. Therefore it doesn’t make much sense speculating who will be available until after the franchise deadline.

So, I’m going to start my preview with a team that’s close to my heart: The Philadelphia Eagles.

QB: Believe it or not, the Eagles are set at this position. Donovan McNabb gets more unnecessary scrutiny than any other player in the NFL. Philly fans may disagree, but there are really only 2 players that are definitely better (Brady and Manning) and neither of them will ever hit the free agent market.

Expect McNabb to get a new contract. Some people are trying to call it an “apology” for his midseason benching, but that’s not really the case. A contract extension is in both the Eagles and the McNabb’s best interest. It gives McNabb some job security and possibly on last payday and it lowers his 8-figure cap number for the next 2 years.

I’m not sold on Kevin Kolb as a backup. He has done nothing to warrant consideration as a starter or even a 2nd-stringer. A.J. Feeley is a great 3rd QB, but that’s about it. I’d like to see the Eagles add some competition for the backup spot, but it’s not gonna happen. They’re OK at the spot anyway.

RB: Westbrook is over-the-hill. I’m not saying that he isn’t still an elite player – he is – but he has more touches than almost anyone else over the last 3 seasons and they’ve taken a toll on his body. The Eagles need to add a back to spell Westbrook to keep him fresh for those 70-yard screen passes he’s so good at.

I think Buckhalter could be that guy. He was excellent in spelling Westbrook this season. If anything I think he didn’t get enough touches, but the coaching staff must know something I don’t, because they didn’t put much faith in him this season. Plus Buckhalter has many of the same faults as B-west, namely his age and poor knees. Buckhalter’s contract is up and I doubt he’ll be back. He’ll catch on somewhere though.

The Eagles traded a 3rd-round pick to the Dolphins for Lorenzo Booker during the offseason last year. They coveted his ability as a return man and his potential to create offense “in space.” He’s been a terrible disappointment, but there’s still time to turn things around. I expect the eagles to target a running back on the first day of the draft – but I doubt it will be the first round. Solid running backs can always be found in later rounds.

FB: The Eagles ground game lagged last season and at least part of the blame must fall on not having a traditional fullback on the roster. Dan Klecko spent time at the position after converting from Defensive Tackle. Kyle Eckel also shared time at the position. Neither appears to be the answer. The Eagles will likely draft a fullback on the second day to compete for the job.

WR: One of Philly’s most maligned positions is actually one of their strongest heading into next season. DeSean Jackson is a stud on offense and special teams. If you redid the 2008 draft today he’d probably be a top-10 pick. Kevin Curtis played well once he came back healthy and Jason Avant was very impressive as Mr. Third Down. Hank Baskett started the season well, but virtually disappeared once Curtis returned. Baskett is a RFA and there’s a good chance the Eagles make an offer to him, considering his value on special teams.

Reggie Brown was a huge disappointment this season. He was injured early in the season, never made an impact on the field and ended up being a healthy-inactive during the NFC championship game. The Eagles will probably try to trade him, but it’s not clear what value – if any – he has. If the Eagles can’t get a fair price for him they’ll probably bring him back and see what he can do in camp. Greg Lewis is a scrappy player, and a good special teamer, but he’s the odd-man-out if the Eagles add a receiver and don’t move Brown.

T.J. Houshmanzadeh is going to be a free-agent this season and it appears unlikely he’ll resign with the Bengals. The Eagles would probably have pursued him at this point last year, but they don’t need a receiver that badly and Housh is probably going to see his skills diminish over the next few seasons. There are rumors Anquan Boldin wants out of Arizona. The Eagles were interested in him last season and likely still are. Boldin’s still a young guy and a solid pro-bowler who would solidify the Eagles WR squad.

Imagine Boldin on one side, Jackson on the other and Curtis in the slot. A mouth-watering proposition.

TE: L.J. Smith is done. The Eagles gave him one last chance to put things together, but injuries and inconsistent play – coupled with Brent Celek’s recent success – have spelled the end. There are several teams who are willing to pay him a lot more than the Eagles.

I would imagine Schobel is also walking on eggshells. He hasn’t done much for the team the last few seasons (1 catch for 7 yards this season) and the Eagles might need that roster spot elsewhere. Brent Celek came on late in the season as a receiver, but he still needs work on his blocking.

Many mock drafts have the Eagles taking a Tight End early in the draft. Now that the Titans have tagged Bo Scaife there are no real prospects in free agency, so the draft it is. Brandon Pettigrew, James Casey, Jared Cook and Cornelius Ingram are all players they might look for in rounds 1-3. Pettigrew is the best all-around TE, but he might not last until the Eagles pick at 21 and they certainly don’t covet him enough to trade up.

OT: This is the Eagles’ most pressing need. Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan are both free agents. Both played well this season, but at 34 and 35 respectively their careers are nearing the end. To add insult to injury Runyan had microfracture surgery and is sidelined 4-6 months, meaning he likely wouldn’t even return before the season began anyway.

The Eagles don’t have a tackle on the roster to step into the starting lineup. Winston justice is their most experienced tackle and he has struggled his whole career. Rumor has it the Eagles are looking to trade even though he’s shown improvement since moving from the left side to the right. The Eagles drafted Mike McGlynn and King Dunlap last season, but there are no indications that either are ready to take the reigns as a starter. With Jordan Gross getting a fat new contract from Carolina there aren’t any quality tackles on the market. There’s also talk of moving Herremans and Andrews outside to tackle.

The draft is deep at tackle, but the elite tackles (Andre Smith, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher) probably won’t last until the 21st pick. If Oher lasts until 21 he’ll be the Eagles first selection. If not they might grab a guy like Eben Britton, but he might be a stretch in the first round. Ultimately I think they bring Thomas back to keep protecting McNabb’s blind side and draft a tackle early.

OG: Herremans was solid as a rock at LG this year. He was the most consistent offensive lineman and played really well. The RG spot was a little more complicated. Shawn Andrews went AWOL in the preseason while battling depression. He then suffered a back injury that wiped him out all season.

Max Jean-Gilles stepped into the vacated spot and played really well until he also went down with a season ending injury. This paved the way for Nick Cole who then proceeded to pave the way for our running backs pretty well. It’s nice to know that the Eagles have some solid interior linemen.

There is talk of moving Herremans and Andrews outside to tackle to replace Thomas and Runyan, but why mess with a good thing? Jean-Gilles and Cole were good, but they weren’t as good as Herremans and Andrews. I think moving either player outside should be a last ditch effort. The Guard position is pretty strong and likely won’t change much unless someone’s moved to tackle. The key here is to get healthy, mentally and physically.

C: Jamal Jackson was unimpressive at center this season. He rarely screwed up too badly, but he also rarely excelled. Nick Cole is the primary backup at Center. I would like to see Cole push for playing time. I don’t see position as a need, but there’s a chance of adding someone late in the draft to push both players and add depth.

Alright, I’ll let that digest for a little while and I’ll be back soon with part 2: Defense.

Highlights from SU Coach Marrone's Signing Day Debriefing

2009-02-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

Doug Marrone gave a presentation at the Carrier Dome last night (before the basketball game? After? During? Who knows?) on the 14 players his staff managed to sign to LOI's on national signing day. Here's what he had to say according to Donnie Webb at the Post Standard:

"Rishard Anderson (DB; 6-0, 180): "He has done a great job here. He was rated the 40th best cornerback prospect by ESPN. He didn't play much his senior year, but we took him off what he did his junior year . . . and he was a tremendous player. We're happy to have this type of athlete coming into our university because academics are important and leadership is important."

Torrey Ball (DE; 6-4, 250): "We battled teams for him with high academic standards. When you talk about junior-college players, you're talking about someone who's at a level of maturity where he can come in and compete."

E.J. Carter (LB; 6-0, 220): "The biggest thing with him is his leadership ability. He came in on his recruiting visit and he tried to gather the class and say, 'Hey, we're going to be the foundation of this football team. We're going to be the leaders on our football team even though we're freshmen.' I was very impressed with him."

Zack Chibane (OL; 6-4, 280): "I go down to New Jersey and I do a clinic. Everyone knows my background in on the offensive line. One of the coaches at the clinic says, 'I saw you took this kid from Paramus High School. You know, I'm just going to tell you I think he's this. I think he's that.' And I said, 'I don't really care what you think.' This kid is a good football player. He's got leadership ability and he's an ex-wrestler. We all know what type of football players these ex-wrestlers are. He's someone who has a chance to compete early for us."

Alec Lemon (WR; 6-1, 175): "When you're looking for a wide receiver, what are you looking for? I'm looking for someone who caught the football. He's someone who caught the football 103 times. This is what we're looking for at the receiver position: Height . . . speed . . . someone who's shown the ability to catch the football."

Charley Loeb (QB; 6-5, 220): "Charley is someone who is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. He's one of the first people you want to get off the bus when the other team is looking across the field. We're very excited about him and where he can take our football program with his leadership skills and be able to compete for a starting position."

Dale Peterman (DB; 5-11, 155): "He had one of those big, major schools coming back in on him, trying to take him. But he stuck to his commitment. We're very excited about this player."

Andrew Phillips (OL; 6-5, 260): "Again, local. Just like I said before, I wish we could get 15 kids right around this area so all of a sudden I don't have to wait in airports, I don't have to take three planes, I don't have to fly all over the country. I can get them all right here in this community. This is someone who's going to help us bring our players back out to the community. Andrew will help us bridge that."

Torian Phillips (DB; 5-10. 175): "I'm from New York City. I chose to go to this great university. I wanted to make sure when I first went out that I had gotten a recruit from New York City so that all the other schools know that they're not going to come into this state anymore and take our prospects."

Justin Pugh (OL; 6-5, 275): "Justin held strong to his commitment. I believe in this player. He's someone with great ability and someone I would love, with Coach (Greg) Atkins, to develop into a guy who can compete for a position."

Brandon Sharpe (LB; 6-2, 220): "He was someone who was committed to another university who we were able to sway and convince that this is the best school for him. He's someone with a lot of range who can run. He played defensive end. We're moving him to linebacker. We're looking for great things out of Brandon."

Phillip Thomas (DB; 6-0, 178): "There was another big school trying to come in on him. He's a big hitter. What singled him out is that he can intercept the football and create turnovers. That's what we're looking to do on defense."

Shamarko Thomas (DB; 5-10, 196): "He's another defensive back who can play corner. He's big and physical. That's what we're looking for at that position - people who can hit and get us the football. As an offensive coach, I can't stand it when the other team has the football."

Andrew Tiller (OL; 6-6, 360): "If you're a big guy and you've had trouble staying in shape over the years, this is the guy you want to stand next to when he walks off the bus. You'll feel pretty good about yourself if you put on those extra pounds during the holidays."

Syracuse Still in the Running for #1 RB Prospect

2009-02-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

SU is still in the running for #1 ranked all-purpose running back prospect David Oku, according to Rivals.com. It appears as though Oku is leaning towards Tennessee, but there's still a chance he could end up in Syracuse Orange next year. Auburn is also reportedly in the mix. I guess he really wants to see himself in blue or orange at the next level.

If Oku ends up signing with the Orange that would be a huge catch for the coaching staff. He would be this seasons's only 4-star recruit and could be an immediate contributer. Syracuse has had a history of outstanding running backs including Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Ernie Davis, Larry Csonka and more recently guys like Rob Konrad, James Mungro, Walter Reyes and Damien Rhodes.

Curtis Brinkley had a good 2008 season, all things considered, rushing for 1,164 yards and 7 touchdowns on one of the worst D1 football teams. That ain't half bad. Now imagine putting a solid all-purpose running back in that position. Someone who can run hard, pass-block and catch the ball out of the backfield then the offense is looking a bit more potent. If you mix in touches by Antwon Bailey, Curtis Brinkley and Doug Hogue suddenly you have a stacked backfield.

My philosophy is that you build an offense from the ground (game) up. It looks like Marrone and I are on the same page here, because a large number of his commits were offensive linemen. If he can bring Oku into the fold then the ground game has the potential to be much more potent this year. Start by building a dominant run-game, then you can mix QB Charlie Loeb into the system in 2010 or 2011. Let him use his size and accuracy on the short and intermediate routes to complement the running backs. Who knows if it's going to work out like that, but a man can dream, can't he?

Syracuse University Signing Day

2009-02-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

Alright folks, I took a short break from the blog, but now I'm back and I'm weighing in on how Syracuse football faired on signing day.

New head coach Doug Marrone had his first opportunity to recruit and he made it clear that his focus was apparently to bring in the best players available, regardless of position:

"A lot of times in recruiting, people talk about filling up needs and taking care of those needs with your recruiting class," Marrone said. "Well, one of the things that we wanted to do is make sure we went out and get the best players we could. We were a little bit limited, obviously, with our scholarship numbers to what we could do. So we went out there and we tried to sign the best football players or the best student-athletes that we could. And in doing so with this class, we felt we've accomplished that."

So how did Marrone and the Orange fair? So far Syracuse has received signed LOI's from 14 players, including a few players coveted by programs like Vandy, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Wisconsin, Miami and Big East rivals South Florida, Rutgers and Louisville.

2009 Class According to ESPN.com:

2009 Class according to Rivals.com:
The class is heavy in defensive backs and offensive linemen - both pretty drastic needs - so it's a good thing they happened to be the best players available. The Orange's 4 three-star recruits isn't mind-blowing, but considering the slump they've been in the last 5 seasons it's a good start. 14 recruitments overall is actually pretty low, but like Coach Marrone said, they were limited by scholarship numbers which has led to the relatively small class.

The Syracuse offense has been dismal the last several seasons and it all starts with the O-Line. Remember when Perry Patterson was getting sacked before he'd even completed his drop? Yeah, that's on line O-line. I've always been of the philosophy that success radiates away from the ball, meaning a strong offensive line will open up holes in the run game and give the QB time to make his reads in the passing game, improving the entire offense. Marrone has a background as an lineman and a line coach, so he understands the value of a solid line. I expect this aspect of the team to improve immensely over the next few seasons.

The Orange brought in 4 offensive lineman, including a much-coveted JUCO transfer Andrew Tiller. Syracuse beat out Miami, S.C. State and Rutgers for Tiller, and he hopefully has the ability to start immediately. Chibane is a solid frosh recruit and should develop into a solid starting tackle. Justin Pugh and home-town hero Andrew Phillips are developmental projects but could push for playing time down the line, most likely as interior linemen.

Syracuse has been plagued by size problems in the defensive front 7 the last few seasons. Really, DT Arthur Jones is the only player with ideal size on the squad. They're going to get a little bit of help from 6-4, 250 pound* JUCO transfer Torrey Ball. He has ideal size, but I'd like to see what he has to contribute before I heap any praise on this addition. The orange only brought in one other D-lineman, 6-2, 210 pound Brandon Sharpe. Sharpe has decent height, but needs to add about 30 pounds of muscle to avoid being pushed around by opposing teams. He's not likely to get a lot of playing time until he bulks up a bit.

Syracuse is adding one linebacker in this class, E.J. Carter. Carter is a high-motor type player, but he's a bit on the small side at 6-0, 213. The good thing for undersized players is that males can keep growing into their early 20's so there's a good chance he could add another inch or two. Even if that doesn't happen he'll be better off if he hits the weights and gains 20 pounds or so.

The DB group is probably the most impressive of this class. Syracuse has been abused on the ground and through the air for the better part of this decade, so any defensive help is appreciated. The recruits all exhibit good size and decent speed. Rishard Anderson leads the group and he was even recruited by teams like Wisconsin, Auburn, Florida and Pitt. Ultimately SU won out in the end. Rishard is projected to be a cornerback in the college ranks, but his speed is a bit of a concern to me. He was clocked at 4.62 in the 40, which is a tad slow for corner, but decent for a safety. He has the size and versatility to play any DB position. Shamarko Thomas, Dale Peterman and Torian Phillips should factor into the scheme in the next couple seasons.

The Orange also added a solid pro-style quarterback in Charlie Loeb. Loeb has good size and 6-4, 218 and is noted for his accuracy in the short-intermediate routes. He pays attention to the intracacies of the position and has a decent touch on the ball. He's not likely to start as a freshman, but might take the field in following seasons.

Hopefully Loeb will develop a raport with incoming receiver Alec Lemon. Lemon has good size at 6-2 and good speed, running a 4.49 40. He's a wiry receiver, similar in stature and speed to recent wideout Taj Smith. He adds a good amount of versatility to the offense since he could be used for kick and punt returns. He also has some experience playing defense and could make an immediate impact on special teams.

*A note on all measurements: I'd take most High School and College measurements with a grain of salt. Taj Smith was listed at 6-4, I'm a humble 6-2. I once passed Taj on the SU campus and I had a solid 1 or 2 inches on him, putting him closer to 6 feet even. That's still pretty tall, but many stats may be exagerated.

Now's Your Chance to be a Dallas Cowboy!

2009-01-23T13:23:00.000-08:00

Ex-Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin is going to host a new reality show airing on Spike TV this spring where he gives 12 "football neophytes" the chance to compete for a spot on the Dallas Cowboy's 80-man training camp roster.

Casting is currently going on, and he's looking for 6 candidates to play wide receiver and 6 to play defensive backs - all but eliminating every 20- and 30-something that would actually be interested in this, because those positions actually require a certain amount of speed, dexterity and skill.

I'm torn about this idea. From the fan standpoint it sounds awesome! If you're moderately fit - maybe you played some high school ball, or at a DIII college - then you could actually compete for the chance to play in an NFL training camp! If you're good enough you might even make the team. Or at least the practice squad. Thirty years from now Disney might come out with a movie based on your life: Invincible 2: The Dallas Star.

But let's be honest, this is a terrible idea. The Dallas Cowboys are essentially agreeing to go into the preseason with a 1-player handicap. A roster spot that they could be using to analyze a draft-pick or undrafted free-agent is getting absorbed by some slob who wasn't good enough to play in the pros. Any pro - NFL, CFL or even Arena league. Surely whoever wins this contest is going to be the first player cut when rosters get trimmed.

I understand why Dallas would do this - I just don't agree with it at all. Jerry Jones is a media whore. He turned training camp this past year into a reality show. He thinks that the more attention he can call the the franchise the better. What he doesn't realize is that his team isn't winning, and in the NFL that's all that matters.

Actual photo taken during week 17. Eagles went on to win, 44-6.

If the Cowboys were at the bottom of the league like the Lions or the Chiefs then I could see pulling a stunt like this. It would bring more attention and press to their franchise. It might help move a few Personal Seat Licenses or team blankets. You also have the opportunity to take a risk on the off chance that you do find that miracle player. That Kurt Warner...a guy who's just bagging groceries and not living up to his potential.

If the Cowboys were at the top of the league I could understand it, too. If they had a solid player at every position and had no glaring weaknesses, and they had a stable of young, solid players under long-term contract then they could afford to take a flyer on a player. Unfortunately that's not the reality of the current Dallas Cowboys. (Plus, you wouldn't stay on top for long doing that anyway.)

The reality is that the Cowboys finished 3rd in their division and missed the playoffs. Again. If you exclude the Super Bowls I used to watch as a little kid - back before I really paid attention to the NFL - I have never actually seen the Cowboys win a playoff game. They need some serious help at receiver and safety, but they're not going to get it from a reality-TV contestant. They also need some stability and unity, and they're not going to get that if every aspect of their team, season and now even off-season are turned into a media circus.

Look within the 'Boys own division. The Eagles had 2 solid contributors in their defensive backfield that weren't even drafted. Starting strong safety Quintin Mikell and nickel corner Joselio Hanson were both rookie free agents. There's quality in the rookie class, even in the players that aren't drafted. There's a good chance that the Cowboys could miss out on a solid contributer giving away a roster slot like this. It's just a foolish idea.

Quintin Mikell 2008 Stats: 93 tkls, 2 Sacks, 3 INTs. These numbers match Roy Williams at his best and Williams was the 8th overall pick. Advantage:Eagles.

Although, as an Eagles fan I say "What the heck." If Jerry Jones wants to sit back as his team devolves into a bunch of whiny, apathetic, snitching, snitch-hating, crybabies then I'll let him. I won't shed a tear when the other NFC East teams are smoking the 'Boys 44-6 and T.O.'s head explodes when Romo throws to a wide-open Witten instead of him, even though he was double covered.

Thoughts on the Conference Championship Round

2009-01-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

Eagles/Cardinals:

- The Cardinals shocked everyone by beating three solid competitors on their way to the Super Bowl. Everyone is getting down on the Cards because they made the postseason with a 9-7 record after winning the hands-down worst division in football, but they brought it in the playoffs and have not just beaten, but utterly outplayed every team on their way through. Arizona has been playing on borrowed time all month long, there's no reason to think they're going to stop now.

- The Eagles were demolished in the first half, but somehow managed to turn the game into a real nail-biter in the fourth quarter, but in the end the Cardinals early lead was just too much to overcome.

- Eagles D-coordinator Jim Johnson called another game from the booth due to a back injury. Johnson likes to coach from the field so that he can have close contact with his players to give and receive feedback and make adjustments. You have to wonder if that had an impact on the defensive play in the first half.

- Brent Celek played an outstanding game on the NFL's second-biggest stage. There are some solid Tight Ends in the NFC East (Witten, Cooley, Boss) but the fact is only one of them was playing on Sunday. Does that make him the best of the bunch? That's your call. (Answer=yes)

- L.J. Smith is definitely not going to be in Philly next year. Even if the Eagles offer him a contract someone else will pay him more to be the number one on their depth chart.

- Did anyone catch that block by Hank Baskett? He leveled 2 defenders with one hit. That was the best block of the season, by any player, on any team, at any position. (Except maybe that Clemons block on Tarvaris Jackson during Asante Samuel's INT return in round 1.)

This is the best photo I can find. The problem with delivering a devastating block on a TD play is that every photographer is going to take a pic of the Touchdown.

- This is the one game of the season where I wish Andy Reid had passed more. I applaud him and Morningwheg for their renewed commitment to the run game and I hope it continues, but I really felt like the Cardinals were vulnerable (and they did give up some huge plays downfield to Jackson and Curtis.)

- I think Ref's call on the disputed kickoff was correct. The call wasn't that the kickoff illegally went out-of-bounds, but rather that Abiamiri touched it when he was out-of-bounds which would end the play. If you watch the replay closely the ball hits near the sideline and bounces up, and then appears to hit Abiamiri in the left forearm and starts spinning in a different direction. At least that's the way it appeared to me. Either way, once the whistle was blown the point was moot.

- There were 2 uncalled pass-interference penalties against the Cardinals that could have changed the game. Jason Avant was mugged on a third down catch in the first half and the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal and Kevin Curtis was absolutely interfered with on the fourth down play that sealed the game. I'm pretty sure it's never been legal for a defender to grab the legs of a receiver after getting beat. You have to wonder what might have been.

- This was really a down season for Brian Westbrook. Was it because he was banged-up all season long? Let's hope so, because the other option is far worse. Running Backs have a certain amount of carries they can handle in a carreer and when they hit that mark they decline very quickly. That number is different for each back, but all you have to do is look at Shaun Alexander and L.T. to see what I mean. Alexander set an NFL TD record only a few seasons ago and now he's out of football. L.T. broke that record a year later and the Chargers are seriously considering dumping him this offseason.

Ravens/Steelers:

- Defense wins championships and I don't think it's a coincidence that the league's top 3 defenses were all playing this weekend. I'm surprised there were so many points scored in a game between the first and second-ranked defensive units. I was half expecting a 3-0 victory in quintuple overtime.

- The Steelers' Offensive Line has turned things around pretty well. They were demolished by Philly early in the season, but now they're doing a better job at protecting Roethlisberger and they're getting things done with tough, physical run blocking.

- Excellent challenge by Harbaugh on the Santonio Holmes reception. Holmes clearly did not control the ball all the way to the ground. I heard someone complain that "The ground can't cause a fumble," but that was never the call. A receiver has to have complete control of the ball the entire time on a diving catch.

- Mike Tomlin is an excellent coach. I can't believe there were so many people out there who didn't believe he was experienced enough when he took the job.

- Harbaugh too.

- Joe Flacco played well for a rookie going up against the league's best defense in a conference championship game. This kid'll be back here real soon.

- My thoughts go out to Willis McGahee. All indications are that he'll be alright. He has movement in his arms and legs and is "neurologically intact." That's great news to hear. People get wrapped up in the sport sometimes and forget that it's just a game. It's not worth getting maimed for. Let's hope for a speedy recovery.

Plaxico Linked to '05 Shooting?

2009-01-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

Authorities in New York are looking for a match between bullets fired from the back of a truck that Plaxico Burress rented in 2005 and the guns seized from his house.

Apparently Plax's truck got stuck behind a Garbage truck in the Bronx and a shooting occurred (did they shoot up the back of the truck? Was it a road rage incident? Who knows, I'm not finding any specifics.) Anyway, the driver and a passenger fled on foot when the cops arrived, but two other passengers - both with criminal records - were arrested.

Plaxico claims that he lent the truck to his cousin that day and had no knowledge of the shooting. Well in that case he seems completely innocent in this whole situation. PSYCHE! This clearly isn't as bad as Michael Vick bodyslamming dogs to death or Pacman Jones ordering hits on people, but even if he wasn't present at the shooting (which he may well have been, two of the occupants of the car did manage to escape) and even if he had no knowledge of it until the police arrived he's still complicit. He gave the thugs the car, and if the authorities can match the bullets then he gave them the guns too. That's a really big deal.

Plax should have been smarter from the start. Don't associate yourself with thugs, especially when merely knowing them could land you in trouble with the fuzz. I don't care if they're childhood friends from the old hood, or if they're family or if they make you feel like a tough guy. You have everything to lose and shady characters like these are just going to ride your coat tails, mooch off your success and ultimately get you in trouble with their criminal acts. Even if you had no prior knowledge and weren't present you're still enabling their lifestyle, and they're eventually going to bring you down.

Incidently, the truck was the rental car that Plax was recently litigating over. Apprently the damages Plax had to pay for were incurred when the Police were impounding the vehicle.

This guy is just cocky and acts like he's above the law. He doesn't respect his coaches, his teammates, the NFL or the legal system. At first I was rooting for him, hoping the courts went easy on him for shooting himself in the leg, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe a few years in prison will humble him. Although if he does go to prison his football career will likely be over. A manditory 3.5 year sentence means that he'd be at least 35 when he got out. Likely too old to resume his career, especially after missing about 4 seasons.

Quote of the Day: 1/14/09

2009-01-15T02:26:00.000-08:00

This is entirely unrelated to sports, but I was reading this article on cracked.com. The hilarious quote in question was a subtitle for one of the photos:

"Are stereotypes still wrong when they're awesome?"

Pioli Leaves New England for Kansas City

2009-01-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

In one of the best examples of "from the penthouse to the shithouse" Scott Pioli has left his position as Vice President of Player Personnel for the New England Patriots in order to take the GM job with Kansas City.

I understand why Pioli left his position with the Pats - he wants to carve out his own legacy. He didn't have full control in New England, everyone knows that was Belicheat's team. Pioli is the only guy holding the reigns in Kansas City. He doesn't have to defer to anyone else (except maybe the owner.) If Pioli can build the Chiefs back into a contender then he's the hero, not Belichick. So, I understand why he took the job, I just don't agree with it.

Kansas City needs a lot of work, and there's a very good chance that Pioli could also tank his career by taking this job. If he builds a winner then he's going to get a lot of credit and respect, but the odds are stacked against him.

This also likely means the end of Herm Edwards in KC. ESPN's Michael Smith reported an unnamed source close to the team said not to rule out Herm Edwards to continue as Head Coach, but I don't buy it. I like Herm Edwards a lot, but I really don't like him as an NFL head coach. He is far too conservative for my tastes. He's an average coach. An 8-8 kind guy, meaning he has the ability to eek out 8 wins from a terrible team, but he'll also frusterate fans by losing 8 games with a great team. I just don't think he's the answer for the Chiefs and he will get the axe sometime this offseason.

Quote of the Day: 1/11/09

2009-01-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

This one comes from my girlfriend. She was on her computer and passively watching the Eagles/Giants game this afternoon when she said:

"That Philadelphia guy looks like a walrus."

"That Philadelphia guy" was, of course, Andy Reid. I'm not really sure where she's coming from though.

A walrus? I just don't see it.

Happy Birthday Jake Delhomme

2009-01-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

I'm flabbergasted. If you had told me yesterday that the score in the Arizona/Carolina game was 30 to 7 in the 4th quarter I wouldn't have been phased. If you told me that the Cards were on top I wouldn't have believed you. Not even for a second.

Jake Delhomme is delivering one of professional sports' all-time choke jobs. And to add insult to injury it's his 34th birthday.

This is even more embarrassing than that time I ripped my pants.

Congrats to the Cardinals. They're not ready to go home yet, and they're playing their hearts out.

Quote of the Day: 1/10/09

2009-01-10T17:52:00.001-08:00

I got my new issue of Sports Illustrated today and there's a great quote by Panthers LB Jon Beason in the Pop Culture Grid section. When asked what celeb he'd like to see take it easy in 2009 he replied:

"The Dallas Cowboys. All that off-the-field stuff and hearing about them in the media. I'm tired of it. they're like five-year-olds who say 'I'm mad he didn't come to my birthday party!'"

Right on Jon. The Cowboys are a bunch of crybabys. The entire organization, from Jerry Jones on down. This team needs a serious shot of chemistry. Pacman's gone and Tank Johnson should be out too. Now all they need is to oust T.O., bring in a coach that can inspire and unite and Jerry Jones needs to step back and let his players and coaches do their thing.

Everyone on that team spends way too much energy placating Owens. If they got rid of him Romo would finally be able to take over and make it his team. Not going to happen with JJ in charge, though. The city of Dallas wants winners, not whiners.

Quote of the Day: 1/09/09

2009-01-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

Today's quote comes from Bill Simmons' Sports Guy: Award-sinning Picks for round 2 article posted on ESPN today.

Simmons is defending a joke he wrote about Philip Rivers dropping f-bombs. Apparently Rivers is a devoutly religious person who prides himself on never swearing. Needless to say, Simmons got a lot of angry emails from fans:

"Here's a typical e-mail, courtesy of Roger in San Diego: "Have you ever heard Philip Rivers use the F-word? Have you ever met anybody who ever heard Philip Rivers use the F-word? Didn't think so. Your statement that Philip Rivers would be pacing the sidelines yelping out F-bombs is unfair, and quite frankly, nothing less than irresponsible journalism. It's almost as though you feel you have carte blanche to just make things up and put them in print." Irresponsible journalism? Who said I was a journalist? I just advised Joe Buck to become a drunk a few paragraphs ago!"

That one gave me a chuckle.

Gators are National Champs

2009-01-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer and the rest of the Florida Gators on winning the NCAA Football title game. They managed to overcome some early setbacks on offense to post a 24-14 victory.

Oklahoma played well, especially early on, but just didn't have an answer for Percy Harvin and Tebow in the second half. Maybe they were distracted by Tim Tebow's Girlfriend's boobs.

"My God, look at those Bazooms!"

In my opinion, Florida was the best college football team, even though they did lose one game this season. However, I still would have liked to see at least two other teams with a shot at the title. Texas missed out on the title game because of a tie-breaker with Oklahoma and an undefeated Utah squad was never considered. I think the Gators would have ousted both of those teams, but they deserved a shot. Mix in USC and a handful of other teams with legitimate claims and you have a murky mess at the top.

Wake up people, even our Commander-in-chief-in-waiting wants a college football playoff system. It's the only way to crown a legitimate champion.

"My Fellow Americans, I come before you to say we as a people are desperately in need of a College Football playoff syst--Holy Crap, check out those Bazooms!"

If Tebow returns, do the Gators repeat? They've got as good a shot as anyone.

It must be easy to recruit with Tebow there: "Come play with one of the greatest players to play the college game." How can someone pass that up? Even if they play quarterback.

Spagnuolo's Not Going Anywhere

2009-01-08T17:09:00.001-08:00

Steve Spagnuolo is atop every NFL team's short list for head coach candidates, but I don't think I'm going out on a limb here when I say he's not going anywhere. I do think that Spagnuolo has what it takes to be a solid NFL head coach. Which is exactly why the Giants aren't going to let him go without a fight.

Remember last year when Dallas coordinator Jason Garrett was the hot coaching candidate, and everyone wanted to interview him for their vacancy? Then Jerry Jones gave him a huge raise and basically made him the head-coach-in-waiting. I expect the same basic thing to happen with Spagnuolo. The Giants don't necessarily want to get rid of Caughlin, but they're not willing to let Spagnuolo get away either.

The major difference between Garrett and Spagnuolo is that Garrett was a flash-in-the-pan and needs more experience before he's ready to take over an NFL club. Jerry Jones (predictably) overpaid for a marginal talent. Spagnuolo, on the other hand, is ready to take on a club right now. In fact, he was probably ready to run a team as an Eagles assistant. So if the Giants give Spagnuolo a new contract they're going to get a good bang for their buck.

Candace Parker Pregnant

2009-01-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Reigning WNBA MVP Candace Parker has confirmed that she is pregnant. Congratulations to her and her husband (Sacramento King's Forward) Shelden Williams.

This is great for the couple, but could have ramifications for the WNBA. Candace Parker is not only one of the best players in the WNBA, she's one of the best Basketball players in the World. Male or female. No one want to see her sidelined for any ammount of time, even if it's for something joyful like having a baby.

Ultimately, Parker is only 22 and she has years ahead of her. She'll be back before you know it. The WNBA should be praying she has a daughter. Both parents have professional basketball pedigrees, and offspring they have would surely be turning pro in about 20 years.

Quote of the Day: 1/08/09

2009-01-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

Jim Rome talking about Pacman Jones on his show Jim Rome Is Burning (I'm paraphrasing):

"If you can't help acting felonious when you have everything to lose, what's going to stop you when you have nothing to lose?"

Right on Jim. Pacman can't keep his nose clean when his livelihood is at stake. Now that he's finished in the NFL he has nothing to lose. If Pacman Jones doesn't die in prison or as an act of violence I will be incredibly surprised.

NFL Film Room: 71-yard Screen Pass

2009-01-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

The Eagles were clinging to a scant 2-point lead against the Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. Brian Westbrook had been bottled up all game and the Vikings defensive line, lead by Jared Allen and reserve lineman Brian Robison were getting great pressure on McNabb.

The Eagles step to the line on first down with a bit under 7-minutes left in the game and bust out this play:

Sorry for the poor video quality. It's the best I could do.

Why was this play so successful?

1. It starts with the Vikings game plan. The Vikings had been very aggressive up to this point and they didn't disappoint on this play. Eagles' RG Nick Cole and C Jamal Jackson pass block for about one second and then slip out into the flat to block, followed closely by LG Todd Heremans. The Tackles, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan remain in to pass block. The D-line bites and they all rush the QB leaving a lot of room for Westbrook and his blockers.

2. Meanwhile, Vikings LB Ben Leber has the best shot at blowing this screen up, but he is taken out of the play by Correl Buckhalter. Buckhalter is lined up as the FB thanks to injury. When McNabb drops back and fakes a hand-off Leber steps up, but when he realizes it's a pass he backs into coverage, covering Buckhalter. Buckhalter knows it's a screen, so he charges Leber and takes him out of the play.

3. McNabb drops back and releases the pass to Westbrook. The play almost falls apart here as RG Nick Cole hasn't gotten out in front yet. In fact, he almost runs into Westbrook as he's catching the pass. Westbrook, though, has the presence to wait for his lineman to get in position. Jamal Jackson throws a block knocking his man back, and Cole picks up that man, taking him out and sealing the sideline. Westbrook takes it, and before you know it he's 20 yards downfield with the linemen still opening holes for him.

4. The Wide Receivers are what turns this from a 20-yard gain into a touchdown. DeSean Jackson blocks his man on the right side, but has the presence of mind to release him when his man turns (so as to avoid a holding penalty or an illegal block in the back.) Westbrook runs bye, but Jackson's not done yet, he sprints ahead of his man and screens him from making a play on Westbrook as the running back crosses the goal line. Meanwhile, Kevin Curtis makes one of the biggest blocks on the play, knocking the Viking's last line of defense to the turf and allowing Westbrook to run in for the score. Props to Avant for blocking well, too.

This was the perfect play, called at the perfect time. The Eagles have used the short screen almost as a running play for years now, and this was no different. Westbrook had been bottled up all game, but they gave him the ball in space, with blockers out front. He followed his linemen and receivers, slipped a couple tackles and it was all gravy after that.

The eagles took advantage of the aggressiveness of the Viking's d-line and also the fact that they had to treat Buckhalter as a legitimate receiving threat, so Ben Leber couldn't abandon him and blow up the screen.

The offensive linemen did a good job turning this into a 20-yard play, but the blocking downfield by receivers turned into a gamebreaking TD.

Every player on this offense executed it to perfection, and that's why it turned out so well.

Eagles GM withdraws Name From Browns Search

2009-01-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

Eagles GM Tom Heckert was going to interview for the Browns GM opening on Friday, but he withdrew his name after Eric Mangini was hired. I don't think Heckert has anything against Mangini, he's just not interested in taking a position where he isn't allowed to hire his own head coach.

I don't know why Heckert would even consider leaving a perennial contender like Philly for a perennial pretender like Cleveland (unless the paycheck is substantially larger). The fact that the head coach is already in place may make finding a GM more difficult, since the primary responsibility of a brand-new GM should theoretically be amassing a trusted coaching staff. Someone is certainly going to take the job, but it's most likely not going to be someone from Cleveland's short list.

Cowboys to Release "Pacman" Jones

2009-01-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

The Cowboys are going to release Adam "Pacman" Jones on February 9th, the first day the NFL allows waiver claims.

Jones was unimpressive this season both as a return man and a cornerback. He missed 6 games due to suspension for an alcohol fueled fight with a Jerry Jones-hired bodyguard, proving that he's not really ready to turn himself around.

He ended up with a 4.6 yard return average, no interceptions and countless missed coverage assignments. His season was capped off when Quintin Demps stripped the ball from him on a kickoff return at the end of the first half. The Eagles recovered, kicked a field goal and finished off a 24-point quarter.

I'd like to say that Pacman Jones is done in the NFL. Dallas was suppossedly his last stop, and he was one-and-done there. Unfortunately there are some teams in desperate positions that would be willing to risk another legal transgression if he was able to return to his pre-2007 suspension form.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Raiders make move. Lord knows Al Davis likes to throw millions at marginally talented trouble-makers.

Don't worry Pacman, you can always continue your carreer as a wrestler.

UPDATE: Apparently Pacman's release was not solely related to his poor play. The Cowboys released him because new information came up related to a 2007 shooting he ordered two months into his 1-year suspension. ESPN reports:

"The June 2007 shooting occurred outside a suburban Atlanta strip club. One of the shooting victims told "Outside the Lines" that he had a dispute with Jones inside the strip club and that not long after he and the two others left the club, a hail of bullets struck their car. The NFL knew about that incident, but charges were never brought against anyone because the victims did not see the shooter.
"Outside the Lines" obtained information that police, investigating a separate Atlanta-area case, had been told by an informant that Jones ordered the June 2007 shooting following his dispute with one of the men."

Well if this is true Pacman Jones is officially done in the NFL. Roger Goodell has put up with his shit for long enough and he's surely not going to overlook this. The NFL was aware of the incident, but didn't know the extent of Pacman's involvement. Now that there's a witness it's "bye bye Pacman."

Have fun in Canada - assuming you're not in jail.

"Prison ain't nothin' but a Thang."

Quote of the Day: 1/07/09

2009-01-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

This quote was too funny not to share, it comes from Ian O'Connor's article "McNabb shows what toughness, resolve can do" on foxsports.com:

"Philly crowds best match up with the torch-carrying mobs from those old Bela Lugosi films. In fact, Philadelphia fields the only teams in sports that try to score early to take their own fans out of the game."

That's really funny. I laughed out loud when I read that, especially because it's absolutely true. How many other cities can boast booing Santa Claus? Maybe Tehran? Kabul?

McNabb's had to fight through criticism from his own fans since he was booed when he was selected as the 2nd overall pick in the '99 draft.

Boston College Head Football Coach Fired

2009-01-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Boston College Head Football Coach Jeff Jagodzinski was officially fired this afternoon after interviewing for the Jets' head coaching position.

I'm a little bit confused why BC is firing Jagodzinski. Yes, he did defy the Athletic Director, the school, the team and the fans by interviewing for the position, but I would think they should be happy to let him interview.

There is a difference between coaching at the college level and coaching at the pro level. Not as big a difference as playing in college or playing in the pros, but an NFL head coaching position is the dream of any head coach. It's the top rung of their professional ladder. Boston College was essentially trying to block Jagodzinski's promotion. Why?

Secondly, Jagodzinski -- as far as I know -- was not offered the Jets' head coaching position. He just interviewed. Isn't that a good thing to have on a resume? "Interviewed for NFL Head Coaching position for a team in one of the largest media markets in the world." Even if he's not offered the job he was still considered a better candidate than all the other college head coaches and NFL coordinators in the league.

NCAA programs love to brag about all the players they've helped reach the pros. Why wouldn't they be equally proud of all the coaches they've helped reach that level as well? Doesn't that just help build the program? Make it that much stronger? Wouldn't that be huge for recruitment, letting players know they're playing for a pro-level coach?

I understand that the school feels slighted. I understand that they expected Jagodzinski to honor the contract that he signed. I understand that AD Gene DeFilippo felt personally insulted because he thought he had a handshake and an agreement that "Jags" wouldn't interview. Ultimately though, it's expected now-a-days that a coach seek out a promotion mid-contract if it's offered. Everyone does it. At least he's not abandoning a team mid-season like Bobby Petrino.

Chargers' WR Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

2009-01-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Vincent Jackson was arrested this morning on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence in San Diego. He was pulled over in the wee morning hours and failed a field sobriety test according to Highway Patrol Officer Ray Scheidnes. Scheidnes did not know Jackson's BAC.

Everyone makes mistakes (although athletes seem to make an awful lot of the alcohol-related variety) but this could be a biggie for Jackson and the Chargers. Jackson is on probation for a prior DUI arrest and we all know how serious Commissioner Goodell is when enforcing the personal conduct policy. Goodell's not afraid to hand down punishment regardless of the outcome of legal proceedings.

If Goodell decides to take immediate action and suspend Jackson then the Chargers might be short-handed when the take on Pittsburgh this weekend. They really need every weapon they can get if they hope to win against the Steelers and their tough defense.

The Falacy of the Pro Bowl

2009-01-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

I was reading Gregg Easterbrook's Tuesday Morning Quarterback article on ESPN's Page 2 today and something he wrote got me thinking:

"This weekend was distinctive in two other ways. First, the games were yet another argument the Pro Bowl voting should wait at least until the regular season is complete, not close around Armistice Day. The NFC Pro Bowl roster includes 16 players from teams that did not reach the playoffs, and only two Philadelphia Eagles. Yet the Eagles were the NFC's hottest team down the stretch and on Sunday played tremendous defense. The AFC roster has 20 players from teams that did not reach the postseason, and only two San Diego Chargers. Yet the Chargers were the AFC's hottest team down the stretch and on Saturday played tremendous defense. Both Pro Bowl rosters are dominated by gentlemen from clubs everyone was talking about at midseason (the Cowboys, the Jets) rather than those that performed well over the long haul. Please change the Pro Bowl voting so that full-season performance rather than early-season hype is what's rewarded!"

He's absolutely right! Pro Bowl voting is completely back-asswards. It makes Zero sense to vote for the best players of the year before the season is over.

I also believe that the fan vote counts for way too much in the voting formula. It's important to the league to put the most popular players in the Pro Bowl, but that means the Pro Bowl teams are loaded with players from bigger markets. Meanwhile it's practically a miracle to see a Brown or a Bill.

D'Qwell Jackson led the NFL in tackles with 154 but failed to make the Pro Bowl.

Washington and Dallas deserve nine Pro Bowlers even though they're stuck watching the playoffs from home? While playoff teams Atlanta and Philly are each only sending two?

Players like Mike Sellers and Chris Cooley get to go to the Pro Bowl but league-leading tackler D'Qwell Jackson and solid players like Brodrick Bunkley and Quentin Mikell from a playoff team don't? A travesty. The only thing I remember about Mike Sellers is a stuff and a stripped ball on consecutive plays against Cincinnatti. Washington lost that game.

It would be nice to see the Pro Bowl deadline held out until the end of the season, that way you can reward a player's entire campaign, as opposed to a few solid early-season games and preseason hype.

10 Athletes That Have Lost a Battle With Dignity: Part 1

2009-01-05T11:50:00.001-08:00

1. Charles Barkley:
Who?:
Charles Barkley (aka the “Round Mound of Rebound”) was an outstanding NBA forward, amassing 11 All-Star appearances and 1 League MVP in his 16-year career with Philly, Phoenix and Houston.

History:
Barkley once spit on a little girl during overtime of a 1991 game in New Jersey. In all fairness though, he was actually trying to spit on a decidedly more racist and less mature adult heckler.

After his playing career he joined TNT’s Inside the NBA where he went on to do some of the most ridiculous stunts in-between nearly incomprehensible rants. In 2006 he claimed he could hold his breath for 9 minutes and attempted it on-air in the studio. Let’s see how well he did:

24 seconds! He could only manage 24 seconds? And you know he thought he could actually do it. At least he didn’t go all Houdini with a locked tank and a straight jacket.

In 2007 he challenged 67-year-old referee Dick Bavetta to a foot race and barely won, even after false starting two times! Barkley has also admitted to losing more than $10 Million gambling. He says he once lost $2.5 Million in six hours playing Blackjack! When do you say enough is enough? Apparently after you’ve blown $2.5 mill in the time it takes to watch The Return of the King extended edition.

Where He Finally Lost The Battle:
Charles Barkley was arrested last week for Drunk Driving after he ran a stop sign because he was in a hurry to get his freak on. This was taken from the arresting officer’s report:

"He told me that he ran the stop sign because he was in a hurry to pick up the girl I saw get in the passenger seat."

The officer continues: "He asked me to admit that she was 'hot.' He asked me, 'You want the truth?' When I told him I did he said, 'I was gonna drive around the corner and get a blow job. He then explained that she had given him a 'blow job' one week earlier and said it was the best one he had ever had in his life."

I give him props for his honesty. It didn’t get him out of the DUI, but it was pretty hilarious. Apparently Barkley also offered to “Tattoo my name on your ass” if a civilian employee let him off the hook for the DUI. He then quickly corrected himself and said “Tattoo your name on my ass.” Sadly, I bet he thinks that would be a good offer when sober too.

NFL Awards

2009-01-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

MVP: Peyton Manning
Manning was the trendy pick for this award. He was red-hot through the last nine games of the season, but this is the weakest of his three MVP campaigns. Still, in the absence of a clear-cut MVP voters went with the safe, comfortable pick.

Biggest Snubs:
Michael Turner was the motor to Atlanta's offense and he made things a whole lot easier on Matt Ryan. A good running back can make any QB look good.

Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees had outstanding seasons, but the fact that their teams' underperformed really hurt their stock.

Offensive Rookie: Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan had a season for the ages, posting one of the best campaigns for a rookie QB. Ever. This kid has the skills to pay the bills and is going to be a perennial Pro Bowler if he can doesn't spiral out of control. Rookie QBs like Ryan, Flacco and Roethlisberger are putting a lot of pressure on any players that follow in their tracks. Coaches, GMs, owners and fans are going to be (unfairly) expecting immediate returns.

Biggest Snubs:
There are a lot of rookie running backs that got the shaft this year. Steve Slaton, Matt Forte and Chris Johnson all topped 1,200 yards and each had at least 8 TDs. Any one of those guys could have gotten serious consideration.

Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson both came up huge for their teams, but a receiver's never going to win this award.

Defensive Rookie: Jerod Mayo
It's easy to measure an offensive player's production in yards and touchdowns, but it's much harder to quantify defensive statistics. 128 tackles, 1 FF and 1 FR are outstanding wether you're a rookie or a veteran player, though. The Pats linebacking corps needed a youth transfusion and they got it.

Biggest Snub:
No one else really deserves the award over Mayo, but the Redskins' Chris Horton comes close. He had 76 tackles 3 INTs and a FR from the strong safety possition. That's an outstanding season.

Comeback Player: Chad Pennington
Pennington was unceremoniously dumped when the Jets picked up Favre, but he was quickly snapped up by Bill Parcells to Quarterback division rival Miami. There are a lot of knocks on Pennington, namely his arm strength and mobility (or lack thereof), but I think his pros outweigh his cons. Simply put this guy is one of the most accurate QBs in the league. I'd take him over at least half the starting QBs, including Favre. Pennington deserved this award.

Biggest Snubs:
Nobody's rise from the ashes was as big as Pennington's but Antonio Bryant's resurgance comes close. Bryant was basically ran himself out of the league with his bad attitude, but has returned, presumably humbled and become a top-tier receiver in Tampa. Remember that one-handed touchdown catch? Outstanding.

Kerry Collins should get a nod here too. He took over for Vince Young in Tennessee and quietly led an outstanding team into the playoffs. Critics claimed that the Titans couldn't win with Collins if you could shut down their ground game and he answered them in week 10 and 11 tossing for 519 yards and 5 TDs in those two weeks, both victories.

Coach of the Year: Mike Smith
No team was in as much turmoil last season as the Atlanta Falcons. Abandoned by Head Coach Bobby Petrino, star Quarterback (read vastly overrated coach-killer) on his way to federal prison for heinous crimes. The team just fell apart. Boy what a difference a year makes. Owner Arthur Blank and management made all the right moves. Hire a high-character coach, sign the best running back available and draft a franchise QB. This team had great success in just one season, but is built for the future.

Biggest Snubs:
Two other rookie head coaches also turned their franchises from doormats to contenders. The Dolphins went from 1-15 to the top team in the AFC East thanks in equal parts to Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells.

The Ravens struggled last year, but Harbaugh managed to turn them around into a playoff team. His feat isn't as impressive, though, since the Ravens were a vastly superior to the Falcons and Dolphins talent-wise.

Why's everyone Blaming T.O.? or: What's Really Wrong in Dallas

2008-12-30T15:09:00.000-08:00

I'm the last person in the world to defend T.O. I think his me-first attitude is detrimental to team chemistry. Placating his demands for more touches is detrimental to offensive balance. I think that he was a talented player, but his skills are on the decline and he's not willing to realize it.

T.O. was also instrumental in Jerry Jones running Parcells out of town. The Big Tuna wanted nothing to do with a selfish egotistical player with waning skills and basically gave Jones the "it's either him or me" ultimatum. JJ went with T.O. Big mistake.

That being said, I want to know why everyone is jumping on T.O.'s case all of a sudden. Everyone seems willing to blame the Cowboy's collapse on T.O. Let's not forget that he was the only player who decided to show up against Philly. He ended the game with 6 catches for 100+ yards. Granted they were 6 meaningless catches for 100+ meaningless yards, but everyone else posted the kind of stats you'd expect a peewee team to have against the Eagles.

If you want to point the finger you have to start at the top and work your way down. Jerry Jones is the number one problem with this franchise. He went into this season thinking that his team was infallible. He made umpteen boneheaded moves these last few years (signing T.O., Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, etc. etc.) He turned his franchise into a circus. He put this team together. He encourages the media frenzy that has surrounded this franchise these last two decades. He hired the coaches and the players, it all comes back to him.

After that you have the coaches. Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett are taking a lot of the heat, but let's not forget the amazing choke job by D-coordinator Brian Stewart. The Cowboys were terrible on defense in weeks 16 and 17. All three of these guys should be in hot water.

There's no way that I can see Phillips keeping his job. At one point in the second half Sunday he tried to send the punt team in after the 'boys were stopped on a 3rd and short. Romo waved them off and went for it on 4th down. He converted and kept the drive alive, but that's not the point. Phillips stood on the sideline completely bewildered as his Quarterback overruled him. If Parcells were still coaching you know that that would never have happened. If Parcells were still coaching Romo probably would have collapsed on the sidelines from a severe beating, as opposed to later, in the lockerroom from a rib injury.

Then you can trickle the rest of the blame down onto the players. They don't play like a team. There's a lot of infighting and suspicion. Players are shooting their mouths off the the press. They're fighting each other on the team plane. Everyone's pointing fingers at one another trying to deflect the blame. Hell, some players are even trying to distance themselves from the franchise entirely. When confronted about their team's poor play Tank Johnson said something to the tune of "What do I care, I'm a free agent." The stituation in Big D is shameful right now.

Jerry Jones is preaching consistency, claiming that all the players and coaches will remain in place for next season. If Jones wants his team to contend he needs to shake things up and build a talented team, not just a talented roster.

Most Underrated Players: NFC East

2008-12-21T12:49:00.000-08:00

The NFL announced the 2008/2009 Pro Bowl rosters earlier this week, heralding some of the league's Most Valuable Players (and a few underachieving fan favorites). It got me thinking about all the solid players that were left off the list. So here's my list of the most underrated players from each NFL team.

This list is subjective, but I do have a few rules:
1. No one who made the Pro Bowl will be considered.
2. Stats aren't everything. Consistency is key.
3. Most of these players aren't nationally known. Some of them are only familiar to die-hard fans.

So let's get started with the NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys were far-and-away the most over-hyped team heading into this season. Nearly everyone was willing to write them a free pass to the Super Bowl, allowing them to forgo those pesky regular season games. Well, nearly one season later and they’re on the verge of missing out on the playoffs entirely. You can make as many excuses as you want, but this team just isn’t that good. So how do you choose an underrated player from such an overrated team?

The easy answer would be Tashard Choice. A 4th round draft pick forced into a starting role because of injuries to Marion Barber and Felix ones. He has played very well, but with all the praise and coverage he’s been getting these last few weeks you’d think he was a perennial all-pro. Ultimately, Choice is the closes thing to an unheralded player the league’s most overexposed team has, so I have to give him the nod.

New York Giants – The Giants were the hottest team in the NFC through the first 12 weeks, but they’ve been stumbling towards the playoffs since. The Giants boast one of the league’s strongest ground games, so it would be easy to nominate an offensive lineman, but two of their linemen were selected to the Pro Bowl. That’s hardly underrated. Ultimately, I’m going with Steve Smith.

Smith has flown under the radar, letting receivers like Burress, Toomer and Hixon dominate the headlines, but Smith has been steady all season long. He leads the team in receptions with 52 and is second with 530 yards. He isn’t flashy – his longest reception is only 30 yards – but he has good hands and he knows how to move the chains. Every catch he makes seems to go for a first down.

Philadelphia Eagles – If you look at the statistics (ranked in the top 5 in almost every offensive and defensive category) you’d think the Eagles should be closer to 14-0 at this point in the season, but they have struggled at times on both sides of the ball.

Brian Dawkins and Asante Samuel were given Pro Bowl love this season, but the most consistent Eagle on defense has been Quintin Mikell. He’s second on the team with 82 tackles, second with 3 interceptions and has 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He’s been one of the most consistent performers on an up-and-down team. This guy deserved a Pro Bowl nod this season.

Washington Redskins – There’s no question who the most unheralded player on this team is: Rookie Strong Safety Chris Horton. It’s rare to see a 7th rounder latch on with any team, let alone contribute, especially as a rookie.

Horton is third on the team in tackles with 65, and leads the ‘Skins with 3 interceptions to go along with a sack. If this kid keeps up this pace he’ll be a future all-pro.

Reid Is Still Retarded

2008-12-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

Andy Reid has suffered my ire this season, but his effective coaching the last two weeks has given me hope that he's changed. I was willing to give him a second chance. Well, he blew it.

I don't know if it was Andy Reid or Marty Mornhinweg who called the DeSean Jackson pass from the "Wildcat" formation, but it was incredibly stupid.

Jackson is a rookie Wide Receiver, not a veteran Quarterback. He shouldn't be throwing the ball. If you ask me, he shouldn't be lining up under center either, I'm not a big fan of the Wildcat formation.

Boneheaded move, no matter how you look at it.

Steelers/Ravens: Was it a Touchdown?

2008-12-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

Each week the NFL sees at least one highly contested call that decides the outcome of the game. This week it was a late Santonio Holmes touchdown that helped the Steelers stun the Ravens in Baltimore.

Late in the fourth quarter Holmes caught a pass right at the goal line and was tackled. He was ruled down at the one-yard line, the referees claiming that the ball never broke the plane of the end zone. The booth called for a replay and after taking a look at it Walt Coleman ruled that the ball had broken the plane and the play was overturned: Touchdown.

Needless to say, this was a highly contested call as it handed the Steelers the win. I’m going to have to say that there was no clear evidence that the ball crossed the goal line. The replays showed the ball near the area, but there was no definitive angle that showed the ball touch the end of the white line, that’s why I’m so shocked that the play was overturned. I’m not arguing that the play wasn’t a touchdown; I’m arguing that there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call on the field.

Which leads directly into my next point: I’ve been saying for years – pretty much since I started watching the NFL – that they should put computer chips in the footballs and sensors in the field, that way it would take the guesswork out of touchdowns. Finally someone in the realm of legitimate sports media agrees with me.

Here’s my proposal:

Put a microchip in each nose of the football and eight chips in a ring around the fattest part of the football. The sensor technology might be a little trickier to figure out. It might be possible to put some sort of proximity sensor under the turf, or maybe place beams on the sidelines. I’m not sure how that would work – I’m no engineer – but if they have sensors to stop you from shoplifting at Sears the NFL should be able to figure something out.

The replay system would remain intact, but it would not be relied upon to determine something as inexact as whether the ball reached the end zone or not.

The system wouldn’t be foolproof. There are plenty of instances where the ball crosses the goal line and it doesn’t result in a touchdown, like incomplete passes or situations where a player’s knee goes down before the ball breaks the plane, but it would take the guesswork out of the was-he-in-or-not situations like a running back leaping and extending over the pile.

If the ball breaks the plane the sensor will be tripped and a red light or a siren or something like that will be activated, like in hockey. It’s then up to the referees to determine if the player was down before the ball crossed the plane, or if they retained possession, etc.

This isn’t a cure-all plan that would end reffing mistakes, all it would do is prove definitively whether the ball crossed the goal line or not.

Update:
There are plenty of other people out there proposing solutions to this problem.

This person proposes that you use GPS to track the football on the field for scoring and first-down purposes, although I don't think that would be exact enough. I'm pretty sure GPS is accurate to about 10 feet, not the 10 millimeters we'd need.

This person brings up an interesting point. We can make invisible fences and shock collars for dogs, why can't we just adapt that technology and give the refs buzzing pagers that would activate if the ball crosses the line. And on an interesting note, one of the commentors recommends putting light-up sensors in player's shoes, to determine if their feet are inbounds for catches, etc.

Doug Marrone Hired as Syracuse Head Coach

2008-12-12T11:55:00.001-08:00

New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone has been officially hired as the Syracuse University Head Football Coach.

I'm not terribly surprised by the hire, although I am a little bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I think Marrone is going to be great for the program, but I was really hoping Turner Gill would get the position.

Darryl Gross - the Syracuse University Athletic Director - was quoted as saying: "We've hired a guy that is a Syracuse graduate, who bleeds orange, who brings in tremendous, tremendous knowledge of football from his college and especially his pro experience," said Gross. "He's someone that we can look forward to exciting offenses, seeing a lot of snaps per game. Better than that, he's somebody that brings leadership, who comes from the Bronx. When you talk about New York's College team, he fits the profile perfectly. He will be a tremendous recruiter in the Northeast, who knows the coaches. He's somebody that we believe will win at Syracuse."

Marrone does have the benefit of being a Syracuse Alumni, and has helped put together the second coming for the "Greatest Show on Turf" this year in New Orleans, but unlike Gross, I'm suspicious of his ability to recruit in the Northeast. He has spent a large part of his career here in the northeast, but hasn't coached at the college level in this area since 1994. He's been away for nearly a decade-and-a-half, I'm afraid most of his connections aren't of much use anymore.

Poor recruiting killed Greg Robinson. He actually overachieved as a coach with the talent he brought in. I don't want to watch Syracuse go down the same road with another out-of-town hire. For years Syracuse has harvested talent from nearby states like New Jersey and Connecticut, but in recent years both Rutgers and UConn have experienced a resurgance and those recruiting wells have dried up. That is one of the reasons I was backing Buffalo Head Coach Turner Gill. He's proven that he can recruit well in the Northeast. He's familiar with the area and has the connections neccesary to bring the talent back to Syracuse.

I'm eager to see what Marrone can do, though. Syracuse has several really talented running backs, but their offensive line has been the epitome of terrible for years now, limiting the effectiveness of their offense. Marrone has a strong history as an O-line coach, and he should be able to come in and whip that unit into shape. Even though I wasn't pulling for him, I'm going to root for Marrone to help turn this disappointing Orange team around.

I Feel Bad for Jason Taylor

2008-12-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Jason Taylor must be kicking himself right about now. Taylor was traded to Washington from Miami after a well publicized falling out with new Dolphins management this past off season.

I don't fault Taylor for wanting to leave the foundering 1-15 'Fins and go somewhere with championship aspirations, but with the Dolphins sitting at 8-5 and in a good position to win the AFC East and the 'Skins all but eliminated from the playoffs he might be regretting running himself out of dodge.

Sorry Jason, but it looks like a Super Bowl isn't in your future.

Westbrook Finally Happy With Eagles Gameplan

2008-12-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

Brian Westbrook heaped praise on Andy Reid for sticking with the run game Sunday, when the Eagles defeated the Giants 20-14 in New York. But as Matt Mosley pointed out in his NFC East blog, you gotta love the backhanded compliments that he is delivering:

"We were able to run the ball successfully early, and Coach stayed with it," Westbrook said. "He was very committed to it, and I give a lot of credit to him because usually we're not that committed to it. He saw that we were getting it done.

"We always try to tell him 2 or 3 yards is not that bad, and we had a couple of carries where it was just 2 or 3 yards. But he stayed committed to it, and sooner or later, that turned into 5 or 6 yards, then we had the big run down the middle."

Yes Westbrook is complimenting Reid for sticking with the successful gameplan this week, but hidden in these remarks is a little bit of "I told you so." You can sense the "if this team had been more committed to the run earlier in the season we might be closer to 10-3 or 11-2." subtext.

I'm a big fan of what Andy Reid has done in Philly. He turned the franchise into perennial contenders. But NFL coaches - just like NFL players - have a finite shelf life. They can only be effective in one place for so long. I credit Reid for reverting back to the basics and sticking with what this team can do well: Control the line of scrimmage on offense and defense, mix in short, high percentage passes and take occasional shots down field. But if your players are constantly trying to convince you to stick with the ground game it might be time to take a step back for a little while.

I like Reid and I like his playcalling decisions over the last two weeks, but unless he can keep it up for the rest of the season I'm still in favor of a coaching change at the end of the season.

Reserve Carolina Guard Arrested

2008-12-07T22:05:00.001-08:00

Reserve Carolina Panthers Guard Jeremy Bridges was arrested late Sunday evening on assault charges.

Apparently he ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon at a North Carolina restaurant and then proceeded to shake it up and spray it all over the place. He was asked to leave by the management and agreed, but a female patron who took exception to her unwanted champagne shower followed him "complaining loudly."

Bridges took offense and was restrained by the bouncer. He then shoved the bouncer, but did not strike anyone else. Bridges was expected to be released after posting $2,500 bail. His attorney, George Laughrun, expects him to plead not guilty.

It is unclear what disciplinary action - if any - Carolina is likely to take before their Monday Night game against Tampa Bay.

If this were an isolated incident it wouldn't be anything to worry about, but Bridges was also arrested about a year-and-a-half ago for pulling a gun on a woman outside of a strip club. This is the beginning of a disturbing pattern of violence against women.

I'm sick of the growing prevalence of "thug culture" in professional sports, whether it's Bridges hosing a restaurant full of people with champagne, Plaxico carrying an unlicensed firearm in a club, Michael Vick dogfighting or the myriad of strip club shootings (or weapon brandishings) we've witnessed the last two or three years. I sense an upcoming article.

Some Props To My Old High School

2008-12-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Fayetteville-Manlius High School girls cross country team for winning the National Title for the 3rd year in a row! The boys cross country team finished 16th nationally.

And also, congratulations to coach Bill Aris for whipping together such perennially successful teams. It's very difficult to remain competitive as a public high school, since you don't have the recruiting ability of prep schools, universities or pro teams. It all comes down to good coaching, great training and a little bit of luck. Aris might be lucky, but he's also pretty damn good.

Congrats ladies and gentlemen!

Speaking of Upstate NY Football Coaches...

2008-12-06T16:52:00.000-08:00

Turner Gill coached his University of Buffalo team to a 42-24 win over 12th ranked Ball State, clinching the Mid-American Conference title and a bowl bid. Gill has done a great job bringing a perennial NCAA doormat to prominence. Is it possible he could do the same for SU?

Well, SU Athletic Director Darryl Gross is searching for Greg Robinson's successor and has brought Gill - amongst others - in to interview for the position. Several names have been thrown into the ring for the Syracuse post, including at one time Lane Kiffin, but the one name that always seems to make the most sense is Turner Gill. He has the upstate New York ties in terms of recruiting and he's obviously successful at building a team from the ground up.

The SU job is an improvement over Gill's post at Buffalo, but you have to wonder if he'd be willing to leave a successful team for a fixer-upper. Ultimately, I think it would be a good move for him. If he succeeds then everyone will see him as a savior and he'll cement his position as a coaching star. If he fails then most of the blame is going to be deflected to the Syracuse program. "First Robinson, the Gill...This program is unfixable!" Sounds like a win/win to me!

Coach Gill looks great in Buffalo Blue, but I think he'd look even better in Syracuse Orange!

Greg Robinson to LSU?

2008-12-06T16:33:00.000-08:00

Outgoing Syracuse University Head Coach Greg Robinson has apparently been contacted by LSU Head Coach Les Miles about possibly coming aboard as defensive coordinator in Baton Rouge.

This doesn't come as a surprise to me. Robinson is a great defensive mind and coached one of the nation's top defenses at his previous position as D coordinator at Texas. One of Robinson's main flaws in Syracuse was his lack of recruiting ties. He came into the situation with no real roots in the Northeast.

The resurgence of Rutgers also harmed Robinson's cause, since SU had been culling talent from New Jersey for years. Suddenly all those Jersey recruits have a reason to stay in-state and play for the home team.

I knew Robinson wouldn't be out of work for long, and he will quickly rebuild his reputation as a defensive mastermind working with the talent that LSU pulls in year after year.

NOTE: While doing some research for this article I attempted to google "SEC football" but I accidentally typed "SEX football." It's not my fault, the C and X keys are right next to each other! Needless to say, "sex football" did not return the results I was looking for.

I reminds me of the time I was looking for a specific piece of sporting equipment - I think it may have been a pull-up bar - and so I went online and typed in www.dicks.com. For the record, the real Dick's Sporting Goods website is: www.dickssportinggoods.com

Does Sean Taylor deserve Ring of Fame Honors?

2008-11-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

Sean Taylor was officially inducted into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame today (November 30, 2008.) Taylor was a very good player in his three-and-a-half year NFL career with the Redskins, but had he not been tragically murdered – had he instead retired or suffered a career ending injury – would he have a Ring of Fame caliber resume?

Sean Taylor recorded 299 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions in 55 games from ’04-‘07. Those are good stats for a starting NFL safety, but how good?

Let’s look at how some other noteworthy safeties played during that span of time:

Brian Dawkins played in 57 games from ’04-’07. He recorded 276 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions in that span.

Ed Reed had 211 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 22 interceptions in 58 games during that span of time.

John Lynch had 271 tackles, 7 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions in 60 games from ’04-’07.

Bob Sanders has only played in 43 career games, but he already has 279 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions.

Darren Sharper played in 61 games from ’04-’07, recording 254 tackles, 1 sack, 5 forced fumbles and 21 interceptions.

Ed Reed and Darren Sharper are running away with the interception category. Dawkins and Lynch have a substantial lead in sacks. The only stats that Taylor matches up well in are tackles - which may be inflated due to the fact that he spent the first two or three seasons playing on a poor defense – and forced fumbles.

It should also be noted that Dawkins, Lynch and Sharper all recorded better stretches of play than from’04 through ’07. If you take their best 4 consecutive seasons they look more like this:

Brian Dawkins ’99-’02: 315 tackles, 8 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions.

John Lynch ’96-’99: 420 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 9 interceptions.

Darren Sharper ’00-’03: 339 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 27 interceptions.

I would take all three of those guys over Taylor during their prime. Ultimately, the ‘Skins organization can induct anyone they want into their Ring of Fame, and Taylor may be one of the best safeties to play in Washington, but if he had not been killed he would not have been honored in this way.

Sadly, we’ll never really know what Taylor was truly capable of. He was a very talented player and finally seemed to be putting everything together. Not just on the field, but in his personal life as well. Teammates credited the birth of his daughter with turning his life around. Suddenly he had something in his life that forced him to be responsible.

Taylor had the tools and potential to put together a Hall of Fame career, but thanks to a senseless act of violence fans will never get a chance to see that, friends will never get a chance to enjoy his company, and a young girl will grow up without her father. Sad.

Burress Shoots Self in Leg

2008-11-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Giants WR Plaxico Burress has committed the gaffe of all gaffes in his tumultuous career, accidentally shooting himself in the leg on Friday night. He spent the night in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Burress was ruled out of this Sunday's game with a hamstring injury anyway, but he's in danger of missing several more games. Apparently the gun accidentally discharged when he was in the midtown nightclub the Latin Quarter. Is it legal to take a gun into a nightclub? I know everyone in the NFL seems to do it, I'm just wondering if it's legal. Or is it possible that there are going to be charges in the future?

I'm sick of the thug culture in professional sports. If you really think you need protection as a high profile athlete, and the fact that you're 6'5" and 200+ pounds isn't imposing enough, then just hire a bodyguard to stand around and look tough. That way if a gun ends up accidentally discharging the chances of it hitting you are limited. This guy's a moron.

Honestly, the Giants aren't going to miss him. They use their powerful three-man rushing attack to take a lot of pressure of Manning and the wide receivers, and I think this team is better off without Burress. He may be a talented player, but his selfish, me-first attitude drags everyone down, and when he does stupid things like berate refs and throw footballs into the stand he harms your team way more than he helps. I think the Giants should part ways with him the way they did with Shockey last season. Addition by subtraction.

Burress is on my short list of players that have worn out their welcome in the league. He's one notch below Pacman Jones and Michael Vick - neither of which should play another down in the NFL. Ever. Burress, on the other hand, deserves a suspension. The Giants should be proactive and tell him he's not welcome until he cleans up his act, and I half expect Tom Coughlin to do it.

Scapegoating McNabb was Shameful

2008-11-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

I reread the text message my father had sent me, but I still didn’t understand. “Kolb is starting 2nd Half. As faras I can tell McNabb is healthy – just benched.” It read. Even after forgiving the typo I couldn’t understand the reason Andy Reid would bench McNabb in favor of second year man Kolb, who has done absolutely nothing positive in his pro career to this point. I just couldn’t believe it.

I wasn’t watching the game because it wasn’t televised out here in Los Angeles, but my father was watching it back home in Syracuse. The thought crossed my mind that he might be playing a trick on me. We had been exchanging frustrated text messages throughout the first half, and neither of us liked the way the offense was looking. I checked the NFL Gamecast and, sure enough, Kolb was starting the second half.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. That’s it. That’s the straw that broke the camel’s back. Andy Reid is inventing amazing new ways to lose football games. Why on Earth would you bench your five-time pro bowl quarterback in a three point game? Even if he had committed three turnovers in the first half. What Andy Reid did was shameful, embarrassing and cowardly.

I can’t begin to explain how misguided the decision to bench Donovan McNabb is. The turnovers aren't an excuse to pull him, considering Donovan McNabb has spent his whole career flirting with Neil O’Donnell for lowest interception percentage in NFL history. Not to mention the fact that the Baltimore Ravens have an outstanding defense that ranks near the top of the league in forcing turnovers.

Then there was the unbalanced playcalling. Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg called another pass-happy game this Sunday. The Eagles attempted 41 passes, versus 21 rushes. Four of those rushes were by a quarterback, which means they likely started as pass plays. If you add in the two Baltimore sacks you have roughly 47 pass plays versus 17 run plays for the game. That’s nearly three-to-one!

The Eagles ground game has been nonexistent all season long. A team can’t win if they can’t run the ball. For some reason Reid continues to lean on an unhealthy Brian Westbrook instead of giving carries to a capable reserve in Buckhalter. In the NFL a strong running attack is used to set up the passing game. You get guys creeping up to the line of scrimmage and then you can hit them with play action and go over the top. If teams aren’t respecting the Eagles’ rush then they’re going to play the pass and four interception games will occur.

As far as I’m concerned, Donovan McNabb was the only player on this offense that was actually going out there and doing his job. He is the only player that has played well week in and week out. The offensive line has been offensive. They’ve been terrible in run blocking all season. The wide receivers have been erratic catching the football; the Eagles’ led the league in dropped passes going into Baltimore. That’s dropped passes, not incompletions. That means the ball was on target and hit the receiver’s hands, but they didn’t haul it in. The running backs have ripped off a lot of two-yard gains and not much else. McNabb was the lone bright spot on this team, even after committing seven turnovers in two weeks.

Reid should have benched every other offensive starter except for McNabb. But in the bizarro world Andy inhabits the onus was on McNabb and McNabb alone. When are you going to take some of the blame Andy? Your playcalling is hanging McNabb out to dry. He’s bound to throw a few interceptions when he averages 40 passes a game and he’s up against the league’s number two defense. When is it time to bench your gameplan? Reid can’t commit to a balanced attack or surrounding McNabb with reliable veteran receivers, but he has no problem committing to crapulence.

Let’s face it; Reid was outcoached by Jim Harbaugh in this game. Harbaugh had been with the Eagles for the last decade as an assistant and he knew Andy Reid’s gameplan inside and out. He coached his team to perfection to take advantage of all of Philly’s flaws. Andy Reid is getting too predictable. The only unpredictable thing that he manages to do is find mind-blowing new ways to lose games.

And for the coup de grace, Reid didn’t even inform McNabb of the benching; he had his quarterback coach do it. Andy, scapegoating your star quarterback instead of accepting responsibility for your failures as a coach was shameful. If McNabb weren’t such a class act you would have alienated your only chance at playoff salvation this season. Bottom line: This team’s failings are your fault, Andy.

Syracuse DT Arthur Jones will be a Stud NFL Defender

2008-11-22T13:36:00.000-08:00

Syracuse University Defensive Tackle Arthur Jones is a stud defender. He's one of the few bright spots on a miserable defense.

This guy's NFL draft stock is probably going to be hurt because of the terrible play of his teammates, but he's going to be a game-changing NFL player. Think Albert Haynesworth - except better. He's a classic 3 down line player. He's strong against the pass, absolutely dominant against the run. I expect to see him go to the 1st team that needs interior line help.

If Jones lasts until the second round then someone's going to get the steal of the draft.

Dallas Places Rookie RB Felix Jones on Injured Reserve

2008-11-20T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Cowboys placed first round pick Felix Jones on injured reserve. Jones suffered a season ending toe injury while rehabbing an early season hamstring injury.

This is a big blow to the Cowboy's playoff hopes. I have said repeatedly I don't think the Cowboys are going to make the playoffs this year. If they do manage to pull it off they'll certainly be the 6th seed in the NFC. Felix Jones wasn't their primary rusher, but he was the lightning to Marion Barber's thunder.

Jones was also an excellent kick returner with gamechanging ability. He had a 98 yard touchdown in week two against the Eagles.

The only shot the Cowboys had at making the playoffs was bringing Felix Jones back to improve the offense and special teams, because Lord knows their defense isn't going to get them into the post season. Now that shot is dead. Sorry Cowboys fans.

Jason Whitlock is the Smartest Working Sportswriter

2008-11-20T10:24:00.000-08:00

Jason Whitlock is the smartest working sportswriter. This guy just has a solid, intelligent head on his shoulder.

When everyone else in the sports media community is exaggerating (Don Imus) or outright manufacturing controversy (Donovan McNabb) he constantly steps in to be the level-headed voice of reason. Jason Whitlock can write engaging and memorable articles without creating a false brouhaha.

Whitlock wrote an article this week partially defending Donovan McNabb for not knowing the overtime rules. Let's be honest, the outcome of this game was no different than if McNabb had known that the game ends after one overtime. It's not like McNabb squandered the clock on a last-second scoring drive. The defense was not able to get the ball back, Cincinnati missed a field goal, and the Eagles had just enough time for a Hail Mary. If McNabb had scrambled on several plays in a row, or not played with urgency it may have been a different matter.

While we're on the topic of "not knowing the rule book." Let's throw some pressure on Al Michaels and John Madden, for not knowing the illegal forward pass rule during the Eagles game against the Giants. Madden was once an NFL head coach and these guys have been calling football games as long as I have been alive! Neither of them knew that the quarterback's entire body had to be past the line of scrimmage for a penalty? Really? I knew that that was the rule. And I would argue that broadcasters need to know the rules more than players.

Are there any other players in the NFL that have to deal with the scrutiny Donovan McNabb does? Any other players in American sports? I don't think so. T.O. and Joey Porter create the controversy on purpose. Pacman also brings it on himself because he can't help from breaking the law. There really isn't a professional athlete that takes more flak over nothing than Donovan McNabb. And all he does is go out every week, and perform at an elite level at one of the toughest positions in any sport.

Jason Whitlock is like the Donovan McNabb of writers. He does nothing but go out and write intelligent social commentary in his sports articles and somehow seems to find himself in controversy once-in-a-while. (Check out the Playboy article he wrote that editorial director Chris Napolitano retitled "The Black KKK," amongst others.) Keep on doin' what you're doin' Whitlock. You're my favorite writer and I'll stick by you through thick and thin.

Countdown to Pacman's Next Arrest

2008-11-19T18:55:00.000-08:00

Pacman Jones was reinstated by the NFL again today, though he's not going to play this Sunday for the Cowboys.

The NFL is being very generous, giving Pacman another chance. Mark my words, he's going to screw it up. This guy hasn't changed. He has no interest in cleaning up his act. He couldn't even keep his nose clean when he had a team bodyguards who were hired specifically to keep it clean for him. If the NFL (and the Cowboys) keep giving this guy chances he has no incentive to straighten up and fly right.

Well, Pacman's back and without the bodyguards. We all know he's going to relapse. The question is: "When?" I'm putting my money on the week after the regular season ends. If the Cowboys somehow manage to make the playoffs they're going to be without his services at the most critical point of the year.

There is no doubt in my mind that Pacman Jones will not get the chance to retire voluntarily. He is going to get kicked out of this league. I just hope that this is his last go-around, because he's never going to change his act, no matter what he or Jerry Jones might say.

Goodell, grow some balls and take a stand. Send Pacman packing for good next time! Lord knows he's earned it.

Bucs Earnest Graham Out For Season

2008-11-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their leading rusher to an ankle injury the same week they welcomed back former star Cadillac Williams.

Earnest Graham limped off the field after his first carry against the Vikings and never returned. The Buccaneers placed him in Injured Reserve this week.

Graham was the team's leading rusher, but he was by no means their featured back. He had 563 yards and 4 TDs to this point in the season. Warrick Dunn is expected to assume a larger role, Cadillac might see 10 or 12 carries a game, and recently signed 4th-year man Noah Herron might work into the action a bit too.

The Bucs have employed the running back by committee strategy so far this season, so it's not like they're losing their only offensive weapon. The team should be able to cope for the loss by spreading carries out amongst a different cadre of backs. Look for them to stay strong in the playoff hunt.

I wonder if the Bucs regret releasing Michael Bennet?

NFL Doesn't Owe Gamblers Anything

2008-11-18T18:55:00.000-08:00

Everyone in the sports media is making a big deal about the blown call at the end of the Chargers/Steelers game. Some people are claiming the NFL should allowed to revisit and reverse inappropriate calls, but I don't agree.

If the NFL were to start reviewing and altering games after the fact where do they draw the line? Can you only review the last play of the game? Or the last two minutes? Or can you look back at any blown call. What if they start looking at every play, and they determine that a player from team A failed to get into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter? Team A went on to win the game. Do they overturn that call? That wouldn't be fair, because Team A may have only played the rest of the game the way they did because they thought they had a lead.

Peter Schrager recently wrote an article titled "NFL needs to come to terms with gambling." I couldn't disagree more. The NFL has no obligations to gambling. If you're willing to put money on a football game you have to be willing to lose that money, whether the officials call a perfect game or not. The NFL - as well as most states - do not condone gambling.

If you want to stake your money on a game - legally or illegally - you do it at your own risk. If the officials make a mistake or two along the way - whether it comes at the beginning of the game, or the end - the NFL is in no way responsible. Your money. Your bet. Your problem. The NFL should keep pretending to be blissfully unaware of the money changing hands every Sunday, Monday and sometimes Thursday.

Easier to Bleed SU Orange than Philly Green

2008-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

It has been a tough few years for me as a football fan. My two favorite teams are the Syracuse Orange and the Philadelphia Eagles. And you know what? It’s a whole lot easier to be a fan when your team is non-competitive than it is when they consistently fall shy of victory.

Every Saturday when the Orange play I know what to expect. They’re going to lose. Big. I never get my hopes up for a victory. I never confidently bet my friends that they’re going to win. I just sit back and watch them surrender touchdown after touchdown. If the Orange do manage to pull out a victory – like against Louisville in ’07 and ’08 – then I am pleasantly surprised. I can run through the house cheering, waving my shirt above my head. But I always know it was a fluke. It won’t happen again.

At least I know where SU stands. Which is why it’s so much easier to by an Orange fan than an Eagles fan. The Philadelphia Eagles have the talent to compete in the NFL. They have the ability to be a playoff, even Super Bowl team. But why must they consistently disappoint me? The Eagles don’t make any sense; they can win against Pittsburgh, but can’t manage to eek out a victory against Cincinnati? Really?

The Eagles have been in every game this season until the very end. They’ve been competitive. But they somehow managed to find a way to come up just short of victory. They seem to underachieve in the most critical games: against NFC East opponents.

It’s a frustrating time to be an Eagles fan. It’s frustrating to know that we’ve lost at least five or six games these last two seasons because of one play in each. Imagine if we could change the Greg Lewis muffed punt against Green Bay last season. We would have been 9-7 and made the playoffs. If Andy Reid had called pass plays instead of runs on 4th and 1 against the Bears and Giants this year we might be 7-2-1 instead of 5-4-1. And tying the Bengals? Thar was supposed to be a blowout win, a win that was going to give the team confidence and help spur a second half run. Tying the previously 1-8 Bengals is tantamount to a crushing defeat at their hands.

The worst part is that I still have hope for this team. I can still see them running the table and making the playoffs. I can’t discount the Eagles until they’re officially, mathematically eliminated. Which means I’m likely going to be in for more heartache when our team registers 8 sacks against a pitiful squad and still can’t pull out a victory.

It’s harder to be a fan when you know your team can succeed but they keep disappointing you by finding new and interesting ways to blow it at the last minute. At least I know Syracuse is going to lose every game before it even starts. And with Syracuse I know that there’s nowhere to go but up. Any win is a positive win. With Philly, they have the ability to win at least 10 games a season, so falling short of that goal is a disappointment. And, unfortunately, it appears as if they’re heading down that road again.

So here’s a plea to the Eagles. Stop disappointing your fans! Learn from your mistakes (I’m looking at you, Andy) and stop repeating them. Dig deep down inside and find what it takes to get that one extra play that you need to finally win a game. You have the talent to win the Super Bowl. Now it’s time to live up to that. Please!

Czar: Andy Reid's Formula No Longer Working

2008-11-17T08:50:00.000-08:00

I wonder if John Czarnecki reads my blog, because he took the words right out of my mouth. In a Week 11 "Second Guesses" article on Foxsports.com he wrote "Reid remains a solid coach, but his formula is no longer working."

I've been saying this for weeks. Andy Reid is still a great coach, but he has just grown stagnant in Philly. Everyone's figured out his tricks and he's not willing (or able) to adapt. The league is becoming more and more a young man's game, with several young, first time coaches having so much success recently. Jim Zorn, Tony Sparano, Jim Harbaugh and Mike Smith are all having great success in their first year with their teams. Sean Payton and Jon Gruden have had great success as first year coaches this decade. Even Lane Kiffin was showing promise with the Raiders before he got canned. Honestly, any wins the Raiders get is massive improvement.

I like Andy Reid, a lot, but it's time for him to move on. Bring in some young, fresh blood. Someone to reinvigorate this team and have them playing inspired ball again. It's frustrating because this team is right on the verge. They could very easily be 10-0 right now, but have dropped so many winnable contests. That's just not going to cut it. Something's gotta give.

Robinson Out as Syracuse Coach

2008-11-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

Syracuse University has officially fired Head Coach Greg Robinson. In a move that was a long-time coming and a surprise to no one Robinson was canned after Saturday's 39-14 loss to Connecticut.

Robinson came to SU four years ago after coaching together one of the league's best defensive units as d-coordinator at Texas. There were high hopes that Robinson would come to the school, recruit and coach a tough defense and propel this team over the edge into annual bowl contention - a feat that Paul Pasqualoni had trouble managing in his last few seasons with the team. Paul Pasqualoni, meanwhile, has secured a job as Miami's defensive coordinator this season and is partially responsible for their huge turn around.

Instead, Robinson has gone 9-36 overall and has only managed to beat one decent opponent in his tenure: Louisville in '07 and '08. Everyone, including Robinson, knew that this would be his final season with the team. "I don't think it really comes as a surprise to anyone. It doesn't come as a surprise to me," Robinson said at a news conference Sunday. "I ran out of time. I still see improvement. As always, I'm optimistic, I think with more time I could do better. Obviously, I didn't get it done. That's the bottom line. I understand why the decision was made, so I go from there"

There have been several names batted about amongst the media and fans about who might replace Robinson. Some people think Lane Kiffin would be a good fit for the Orange. He was making strides with the Raiders before he was canned by the maniacal Al Davis. University of Buffalo head coach Turner Gill is another option to take over for Robinson. He's coached an underprivileged, underfunded Buffalo team to bowl contention this season and he's a really good recruiter with ties in the area. Either would be a good candidate in my book.

I really wish Robinson had been more successful, because he was a really nice, down to earth guy, but he just couldn't get the job done. I hope he goes back to his D-coordinator roots and has a good career.

Andy Reid's Seat is So Hot Hos Ass is ON FIRE!

2008-11-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

The Philadelphia Eagles tied the hapless Cincinnati Bengals 13-13 today, ending any delusions I had about this team making a Super Bowl run – or even reaching the playoffs.

But what can you expect from a team that has been underachieving for at least two seasons now?

And Reid has made coaching decisions that have led directly to losses to the Giants and Bears, and indirectly to a loss to the Redskins this season. Reid – also the Executive Vice President of Football Operations in Philly – has exhibited a pattern of stubborn behavior the last couple season that has harmed the Eagles franchise more than helped.

Reid gets fixated on players to the point of ineffectiveness. During the beginning of Reid’s head coaching career he leaned heavily on McNabb and the all-pro caliber QB carried the team to 4 consecutive NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.

Recently Reid has been fixated on Brian Westbrook, to the detriment of the team. Westbrook had two excellent seasons in ‘06 and ’07, but he has struggled through injuries and ineffectiveness this season.

Reid gets into stubborn ruts, where he keeps pounding away at a play or tactic that is clearly not working. It’s admirable to be dedicated, but an NFL head coach has to be able to adapt in order to survive. Reid’s motto: “If at first I don’t succeed, try, try again until I guide my team to last in the division two years in a row and get canned”

Reid has also made some interesting personnel decisions in the last two or three seasons. In 2007 he thought it was appropriate to start the season without a punt returner. Two costly specials teams’ fumbles lead directly to a Green Bay victory in week one. Had the Eagles won they would have made the playoffs.

Reid began this season without a true fullback, which has to be a contributing factor to our inability to gain yards on the ground. Dan Kleco – yes, the D-lineman – is currently playing fullback for the Eagles. He helped them this week with a costly false start in OT.

Andy Reid has also drafter two college Defensive Ends for the purpose of moving them to Linebacker: Chris Gocong and Andy Studebaker. Gocong has played okay as a SAM Linebacker, but you have to wonder if the Eagles would be better off having a true ‘backer at the position. Stewart Bradley played SAM at Nebraska, he’d be a natural fit. And the Eagles are high on rookie Joe Mays, who is a natural – if undersized – middle linebacker. And that would allow Gocong, and NCAA Sack Record-holding player to move back to End and rush the passer. I’m not the only person who thinks that makes sense.

Andy Reid was a great coach for this team, but he needs to learn to adapt. For a long time he was at the top of the NFC, but every team has become wise to his tricks. They’ve built their teams and schemes to stop what the Eagles were doing. Reid is standing still while the rest of the league is moving forward. Some of the blame has to go to the players for not executing well, but this team has the talent to win. Ultimately the blame has to fall on the coaching staff at some point.

Andy, I love you, I respect you, I thank you for what you’ve done for this franchise, but it’s time to shape up or ship out, before the rest of the league leaves us in the dust. Play to your strengths, play to the team’s strengths and don’t be afraid to throw the gameplan out the window if it isn’t working.

Matt Ryan is a Top-tier NFL QB

2008-11-16T12:39:00.001-08:00

Earlier I wrote about how Joe Flacco was a legitimate NFL starter. I'd like to sing Matt Ryan's praises as well. This kid can ball. If you watch him play he just hangs in the pocket, looks downfield, steps up and delivers the ball with speed and accuracy, right on his man.

Ryan doesn't get rattled. He keeps his eyes downfield all game long, but he does a great job reading the pass rush with his peripheral vision. The Denver Broncos aren't exactly top-tier defensive talent this season, but Ryan has shown excellent poise and skill all season long.

NFC rookie of the year? Absolutely Matt Ryan.

AFC? Joe Flacco.

Eagles Losing to Bengals at Half

2008-11-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Eagles are losing to a Ryan Fitzpatrick led Cincinnati team at halftime.

Some good teams have struggled with the Bengals this season, but for a team that put up 31 on the Giants last week, 3 points in the first half is unacceptable.

This Eagles team is looking completely ineffective. McNabb has thrown 2 interceptions in the game, his only multi-interception game of the season so far. Westbrook has 6 yards on 4 carries!

If the Eagles lose this game they can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye and Andy Reid should take some time this week to update his Resume. Let's face it, everyone knows his tricks. This teams has gotten stagnant, and if Andy Reid can't change things up then the Eagles might need to bring in another coach who could.

Flacco is a legit NFL QB

2008-11-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

Joe Flacco is primed for greatness as an NFL Quarterback.

You can tell as you watch him play against the Giants. He is making some big time throws. He had a beautiful pass to Derek Mason down the seam, threading three (maybe even four) Giants' defenders and hitting Mason on the hands in the end zone. Unfortunately Mason couldn't hold on to the pass, but it was a beautiful throw.

Flacco might be playing well, but the Giants are dominating. Brandon Jacobs ran for more yards in the first quarter than the Ravens allow on average this season.

These Giants look more and more dangerous every week.

Update: Flacco's going to be a good QB in this league. He's still a rookie, and he proved it with a late 1st half interception.

Although, Ben Roethlisberger has as many interceptions in his last 3 games (8) as Flacco has on the season now. If Roethlisberger can still be considered a solid QB you can make an argument for Flacco too.

Updated Update: Manning throws a late 1st half INT too. When you take into account all factors of the game. Strength of the run game, offensive line, defenses and receiving corps I'm going to say that Flacco is having a better game than Manning so far. They're at least tied.

Week 11 NFL Predictions Part 2

2008-11-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

St. Louis (2-7) at San Francisco (2-7)
The good news: these teams are tied for second place in their division. The bad news: They’re both stuck at 2-7 and way out of the playoff picture. Steven Jackson’s out, Frank Gore’s in. That’s the difference maker in this one.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers

Arizona (6-3) at Seattle (2-7)
Matt Hasselbeck and Deion Branch are both returning to the lineup for Seattle. Arizona has a commanding lead in the NFC West and it would take an outright, catastrophic collapse for them to blow it this time. Warner, Boldin and Fitzgerald are going to spoil Hasselbeck’s return.
Winner: Arizona Cardinals

Tennessee (9-0) at Jacksonville (4-5)
Frustration is setting in in Jacksonville. The team is underachieving and they’re turning on themselves. Any semblance of chemistry is long gone, as evidenced by Mike Peterson’s insubordination. The Tennessee Titans are absolutely going undefeated this season. In the division, that is.
Winner: Tennessee Titans

San Diego (4-5) at Pittsburgh (6-3)
This is a tough game to call. Under normal circumstances Pittsburgh would be an easy choice here, but Roethlisberger has been battling an injured shoulder the last several weeks, causing him to be quite ineffective. He’s thrown eight interceptions in his last three games! Phillip Rivers has 21 passing touchdowns and he can make the Steelers pay by converting turnovers into points. Ultimately, though, good defense beats good offense.
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

Dallas (5-4) at Washington (6-3)
Romo’s back, Portis and Springs are out. Dallas has some gaping holes that need to be addressed, and they’re not going to make the playoffs this season, but they do have enough to take care of the hobbled Redskins. Portis is the engine that makes this offense run, and the team will be crippled without him. At the end of the day there will be a three-way tie for second place in the NFC East, with the Cowboys, Eagles and Skins all sitting at 6-4.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys

Cleveland (3-6) at Buffalo (5-4)
This is a lackluster Monday Night game. The Browns aren’t living up to most people’s expectations. For the record, I thought they were over-hyped. Brady Quinn is going to be a legitimate Quarterback in this league, but he’s unfortunately going to fall to 0-2 as a starter.
Winner: Buffalo Bills

Click here to see part 1

Knicks, Marbury Meet to Discuss Buyout

2008-11-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

In a move that has been a long time coming, Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks have met to discuss a contract buyout. Marbury is a very talented but very selfish player, which does not mesh well with new coach Mike D'Antoni's coaching or personality styles. Marbury and D'Antoni have been butting heads since the beginning.

Stephon claims he wants "every penny" of is $21.9 million contract.

Once the buyout is complete Marbury would be allowed to sign with another team. Some teams reportedly in the mix include Boston, San Antonio, Miami, and the LA Clippers.

Good riddance. New York will be better off without him.

Safety John Lynch to Officially Retire

2008-11-14T14:00:00.000-08:00

9-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch, who was released by the Denver Broncos earlier this year, has decided to end his long NFL career instead of signing with another ball club. Lynch spent the first 11 years of his career with the Buccaneers.

Lynch will hold a press conference in Tampa Bay on Monday to announce his official retirement.

Nash, Barnes, Alston Suspended for Roles in Fight

2008-11-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

This just in: The NBA has suspended Matt Barnes and Rafer Alston for two games each for their roles in a confrontation in Wednesday night's game. Steve Nash was also suspended for one game. Tracy McGrady was fined $25K and Shaquille O'Neal was fined $35K.

The fight happened late in the third quarter, when Barnes reacted to a Rafer Alston screen by throwing an elbow. Alston took acception and got in Barnes' face. The shoving started. Nash ran in, McGrady pushed him down and Shaq jumped in pushing everybody. The Refs handed out 7 technicals. Alston and Barnes were ejected from the game. The Rockets went on to win.

The penalties are about what I suspected. I'm a little bit surprised Nash was suspended, but he did escalate the problem.

Check out video of the fight here.

Lebron James Likes Barry Manilow?

2008-11-14T11:04:00.001-08:00

ESPN's SportsCenter is making a big deal about LeBron James admitting to having Barry Manilow on his iPod. Apparently Carmello Anthony is a big fan, too.

Is it finally cool to like Barry Manilow? Can I stop hiding my shame? Can I finally sing "Mandy" without the fear of wedgies? Free at last!

"Oh Mandy,
Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away.
Oh Mandy,
Well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today. Oh Mandy"

Week 11 NFL Predictions Part 1

2008-11-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

Denver (5-4) at Atlanta (6-3)
Denver has a strong air attack. Atlanta has a strong ground attack. Neither team has a strong defense; so expect a lot of scoring. In the end the Broncos pass attack is too much for Atlanta to keep up with.
Winner: Denver Broncos

Detroit (0-9) at Carolina (7-2)
The Panthers have the second-best record in the NFC. The Lions have the worst. Daunte Culpepper is going to make the lions more competitive if he ever gets back on track, but it’s not going to be this week. Carolina’s defense is just too tough. Delhomme can’t afford to throw 4 interceptions and expect this team to keep winning, though.
Winner: Carolina Panthers

Philadelphia (5-4) at Cincinnati (1-8)
The Bengals are barely competitive with Carson Palmer behind center – they’re downright chumps with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Donovan McNabb has a solid game; Brian Westbrook finally gets back on track. The Eagles D dominates, even if Asante Samuel misses the game with a hip injury. Eagles win by a landslide, taking some heat of Andy Reid for last week’s loss to the Giants.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

New Orleans (4-5) at Kansas City (1-8)
The Saints have an unstoppable pass attack and is sure to put up easy points against a vulnerable Chiefs’ defense. But Tyler Thigpen has been playing excellent football these last few weeks and Larry Johnson’s return is only going to help this offense out. The Chiefs have home field advantage in this game and that puts them over the edge. I’m calling it here, Upset Special!
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Baltimore (6-3) at New York Giants (8-1)
The New York Giants are the hottest team in the NFC, but the Baltimore Ravens are no slouches. The Ravens have the league’s best run defense, allowing a measly 65.4 yards a game. They have the personnel to slow down Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw. Ultimately, the Giants pass rush gets to Flacco for at least three sacks is a surprisingly defensive game.
Winner: New York Giants

Minnesota (5-4) at Tampa Bay (6-3)
Tampa Bay is a tough team. They’re rolling on offense and defense and are a serious playoff threat. But Minnesota is coming into the game hot and hungry as well. Adrian Peterson is a once-in-a-generation running back, and the Vikings tough defense spoils Cadillac’s return.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings

Oakland (2-7) at Miami (5-4)
Oakland is a mess. The whole franchise is falling apart. Al Davis loves collecting “athletes” but has no interest in collecting football players. He’s rendered this team non-competitive. You’d like to think this is rock bottom, but I fear it’s going to get worse before it gets better. On the flip side, the Dolphins have turned things around quickly in Miami. Everyone’s giving credit to Parcells, Ireland and Sparano, but let’s give some credit to first year defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. He was a great head coach at Syracuse and has helped turn this defense from chumps to champs. The defense is keeping the Fins in every game.
Winner: Miami Dolphins

Chicago (5-4) at Green Bay (4-5)
No one in Green Bay is missing Brett Favre, but the Packers run defense has to step up if they want to make a playoff push. Chicago has a rookie of the year candidate in running back Matt Forte. Forte is going to be too much for Green Bay to handle, and Aaron Rodgers is going to come up just short of leading this team to a victory.
Winner: Chicago Bears

Houston (3-6) at Indianapolis (5-4)
Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Hands down. But with Matt Schaub out with a knee injury this team is going to struggle. Indianapolis isn’t used to trailing in the division, but these guys are winners. They’ll overcome a slow start and make the playoffs. The Colts are just too good to lose a division game to a Sage Rosenfels led team.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Rams Jackson Unlikely to Play Sunday

2008-11-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson is most likely going to miss this Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. This will be his third absence in four weeks.

Jackson has struggled mightily along with the rest of his team this season. His only solid game came in a week seven upset of the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson ran like a man possessed in the game, going for 160 yards and 3 TDs on only 25 carries.

The Rams are in rough shape this season, but let's look at the bright side. They're tied for second place in their division and a win this weekend coupled with a Seattle loss will put them in sole possession behind the Cardinals. The flip side is they're also tied for last place in the division and are flounder at 2-7, way out of the playoff picture.

Back to the bright side, this is the only team the Rams can compete with on a personnel level. These are two evenly matched teams and the Rams could easily claim a W, but it's going to be a much tougher fight without Jackson in the backfield.

Jets Beat Pats in OT, Take Control of Division

2008-11-13T21:03:00.000-08:00

The New York Jets squeaked by the New England Patriots Thursday night, winning 34-31 after a 34-yard Jay Feely field goal in OT. The Jets avenged a week 2 loss, and are now in sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

Brett Favre managed to avoid throwing in interception for only the third time this season, and Thomas Jones continued working running hard, going for 104 yards and a TD.

Several Patriots had big nights in the loss. Matt Cassel played the game of his life, passing for 400 yards and 3 TDs, while adding 62 yards on the ground! If he keeps this up Brady might have to fight to get his job back (not really - geeze, haven't you ever heard of a hyperbole?) Rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo added 16 tackles to his team-leading 65 on the season. Mayo is having an outstanding season, and the future of this defense is in excellent hands.

The Jets take sole possession of first place in the AFC East tonight, but they'll be looking over their shoulder every week, because the Patriots are looming. One misstep (or untimely Favre "jump-bal"l interception) and the Jets might be right back in a tie. Two missteps and they could tumble all the way to the AFC basement.

Chad Ocho Cinco Credits McNabb for Attitude Adjustment

2008-11-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Cincinnati WR Chad Ocho Cinco (nee Johnson) credits Philly QB Donovan McNabb with helping him change his disgruntled ways.

Ocho Cinco was growing uncomfortable with the direction the Bengals seemed to be heading and his role with the team. He was very vocal during the offseason about his desire to be released or traded. But that all changed near the beginning of the season, after McNabb urged him to put the team first.

“Donovan was a big influence. [He] really is one of the reasons why I really turned myself around and looked at my situation as more of a positive outlook and just thinking about all the people that would love to play this game, you know?” Ocho Cinco said. "He took me in that direction, instead of thinking about, 'Oh, I'm tired of losing and I don't want to be here anymore,' but just thinking about, 'Man, a lot of people wish they were in your shoes just to have the ability to play in the NFL.' That kind of turned me around, and that's why I've been as positive as I have been this year, and even though we're losing, man, I've just been plugging away."

Donovan McNabb is one of the league’s classiest – and most talented - players and he deserves some credit. I don’t understand why the media is always scrutinizing what he does and sensationalizing what he says. The fact is he's a solid top-5 quarterback when healthy, and he's handled scrutiny by the media, fans and even other players with nothing but class.

Can you imagine Peyton Manning or Tom Brady putting up with McNabb-level scrutiny? It would never happen. McNabb is a consummate professional. I wish some of his charm and good cheer could rub off on all of the league’s players.

Cowboys Will "Absolutely" Make Playoffs...Not So Fast Jerry Jones

2008-11-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

First it was T.O. who is confident that the Cowboys would make the Playoffs. Then it was Tony Romo claiming his team "has got a great second-half run in it." Now Jerry Jones is jumping into the game too, claiming he believes the Cowboys were "absolutely" going to make the playoffs.

I admire this team's confidence, I really do. But they've been talking a big game for years. It's very clear by now that this team's bark is bigger than it's bite.

Let's face it; the team only has two decent wins on the schedule, against Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. And it's not like the Philly game was a decisive victory. It’s more like they caught a lucky break.

The team lost to Washington, struggled with the Bengals and lost to Arizona, all with Romo in the lineup. Then they dropped a game to the St. Louis Rams. If this team were a real contender they would have won that game, even without Romo.

The second half schedule only gets tougher. They have road games against Washington, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia coming up, and they have the seemingly unstoppable Giants and a very tough Ravens team at home. Don’t be shocked it the Cowboys lose all of those games.

The offense will certainly improve with Romo back from his pinky injury, but last time I checked Romo didn’t play defense, too. This team can score as many points as they want, but if they can’t stop the other team it doesn’t really matter.

Add in the fact that T.O. and Roy Williams have each complained about the number of balls coming their way and you’ve got yourself a disaster brewing. There aren’t enough balls in the world that could satisfy Owens, and eventually both these guys have to realize that the key to victory for this team is a healthy dose of Marion “the Barbarian”, with a little Felix Jones mixed in. That is assuming Jones ever gets healthy.

This team can talk a big game, but everyone’s going to be pointing fingers and asking questions when they finish the season 8-8.

Who Will Win Thursday Night?

2008-11-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

New York Jets (6-3) at New England Patriots (6-3):

The Jets and Patriots are currently tied atop the AFC East. Things are going to change this evening, as the Jets head to New England to take on the Patriots. The winner gets sole possession of first place in the division. These two teams met in Week 2 this season, with the Patriots claiming a 19-10 victory.

Things have changed since then. The Jets have rediscovered how to play defense and Thomas Jones is running like a beast, with seven touchdowns in his last five games!

The Pats are no slouches, though. Matt Cassel is playing effective – albeit plain – football. He’s not lighting up the scoreboards, but he’s playing well enough to keep the Patriots competitive. It helps that they’ve discovered a decent running back named BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green-Ellis has scored once in each of his four starts this season.

The Patriots are playing without one of their top defensive player this week, after Adalius Thomas broke his arm last week. Add that to their weak secondary and nagging injuries to other players and it could be a recipe for a Jets victory.

The Jets defense has all the tools to keep the Patriots offense in check. Thomas Jones is going to have another big day on the ground. The key is Brett Favre. Favre has two throws in his arsenal: the quick slant, and the chuck-it-up-and-hope-a-player-in-a-green-jersey-comes-down-with-it. When they work, they work. When they don’t his team loses. If Favre can protect the ball the Jets will win. If he has another three-interception performance the Jets will lose.

Prediction: Jones goes for two scores, Favre only turns the ball over once. Jets win, 24-17.

Chargers Claim Bennett Off Waivers

2008-11-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

The San Diego Chargers claimed ex-Tampa Bay running back Michael Bennett off waivers. Bennett was released by the Buccaneers yesterday, to clear a roster spot for Cadillac Williams.

The biggest killer is that the Chargers stole Bennett right from under the desperate, division leading Denver Broncos nose. Denver - who has had to place their top 4 running backs on IR - was the only other team to put in a claim for the back.

L.T. has been unimpressive this season, but I didn't think the Chargers were in need of help. I'm wondering if they didn't claim Bennett just to spit their AFC West rivals.

Larry Johnson Returns to Field

2008-11-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

Larry Johnson has returned to practice for the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson has missed the last four games, three because he was benched by the team and one because he was suspended by the league for violating the personal conduct policy.

The Chiefs changed their gameplan in L.J.'s absence, opening up the air attack and allowing Thigpen to hurl the ball - which he did quite well.

The offense may look different, but it can only help having the team's top back return to the field. If anything, the emergence of a decent air attack is going to force teams to back off the line and give L.J. some extra running room, allowing him the chance to match his ridiculous '05 and '06 stats.

As for Johnson's continuing legal problems. He is being sued by a woman named Ashley Stewart for allegedly spitting a drink in her face at a club. I once had a law professor tell me that "you can't sue for hurt feelings." And since I doubt she has extensive medical bills from that liquid to the face I hope to God that she gets what she deserves: Nothing. Unfortunately this is America, where people love to punish the wealthy and successful. Johnson's probably going to end up "settling" out of court. Which is just code for hush money.

Fight, Fight, Fight!

2008-11-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

The Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns got into a shoving match last night on the way to a 12-point Rockets victory. The melee ended with two players getting ejected. Seven technicals were also handed out. Take a look:

Everyone gets down on sports-related fights and say things like "The win was marred by a fight..." or use words like "Disgraceful" or "Shameful." Get real people! Skirmishes like this are nothing but good for the league, the teams and the players.

I love fights like this! Listen, this isn't the Malice in the Palace, okay. That brawl was disgraceful because the fans got involved. The fans threw things at the players, the players ran into the stands, the fans flooded the court. That was chaos - but great TV*. This was a shoving match - at worst.

No matter what people might think, basketball absolutely is a contact sport. Bodies are bumping and banging into each other. It's a physical game riddled with adrenaline and testosterone. Not only am I not surprised when I see players get into it, I expect players to get into it. It proves they're playing with heart. They're playing with fire. And I'm not surprised when teammates jump in if two players are going to it. You protect your guys.

Shaq summed it up pretty well after the game. "Somebody pushed Steve so I had to take care of my little man," O'Neal said. "It wasn't nothing serious, though, just a push and shoving match."

There's nothing wrong with a little bit of shoving in any team sport. It gets everyone's ire up. Gets them competitive. Helps with team camaraderie. And it's free advertising for the league, when non-sports related news outlets pick up on the story. As long as the fans stay out of it and no one ends up throwing punches or worse, stomping players and using their helmets as weapons, then everything is fine.

*My favorite part of the whole video is about 7:00 in the video, when a short, pudgy fan runs out onto the court to fight the 6'7", 270-pound Ron Artest - a professional athlete in peak physical condition. Then about 15 seconds later Jermain O'Neal runs in and tries to nail the guy's buddy. If O'Neal hadn't slipped I bet that man's head would have exploded.

Hawk to Migrate to Mike

2008-11-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Packers lost middle linebacker Nick Barnett to a season ending knee injury last week against the Vikings, leaving a gaping hole in the center of their defense. Their solution is to move former number five pick A.J. Hawk inside from his Will spot and insert Brandon Chillar to replace Hawk.

The middle backer position is one of the most important positions for a defense, considering their generally called upon in most defensive schemes to provide a majority of the tackles in run support. The job of an outside linebackers is to seal off the edge of an outside run to either make the tackle themselves, or funnel the runners back towards the middle. Obviously you need a large, physical, sure-tackler in the middle of your defense. Barnett led the team with 49 tackles, but Hawk was a close second with 41.

Hawk has spent his entire Collegiate and Professional career playing the weak side, but he has the size and physical skills to perform well at the position. What I would be most concerned about is the mental aspect. While some people might think "linebackers are linebackers" there is a big difference in responsibilities depending on which of the three spots you play. If Hawk doesn't keep his head in the game he might find himself accidentally reverting back to Will assignments the first week or two he's in there. To complicate matters Hawk is also taking over the role of defensive playcaller, meaning he gets to wear the radio helmet.

While it might not be a flawless transition, from what I hear Hawk's a pretty bright guy and I think he'll pick it up quickly. The Packers are in a tough spot, trailing Minnesota and Chicago by one game in the NFC North. With a record of 4-5 it's more likely they'll get into the playoffs as division champions than as an NFC wildcard team, so every remaining division game is vital.

Roethlisberger Practices with Steelers

2008-11-13T08:00:00.001-08:00

Ben Roethlisberger was initially expected to miss this Sunday's contest against the Chargers with a sore throwing shoulder, but he has somehow manaaged to find his way back onto the practice field. He participated in a full practice on Wednesday and is expected to start on Sunday.

Roethlisberger has thrown eight interceptions in the last three weeks and his team lost two of those contests. The game they won was against Washington; the game Byron Leftwich finished.

Roethlisberger has been battling minor injuries all season, but there's a point where you have to let a guy sit if he's not 100-percent. Roethlisberger has been more of a detriment to this team recently, rather than a help.

Byron Leftwich has been successful in his limited role as a reserve. I think Leftwich should get the start this week. Big Ben can dress for the game and be available if the team absolutely needs him, but if Leftwich is plays well and the team is wins then having an extra week to heal will really help them out.

The Steelers have a championship caliber defense, but they need a healthy Roethlisberger to make a serious run in the playoffs. If he isn't given the time to rest and heal properly then this team isn't going to live up to expectations.

Defending Del Rio

2008-11-12T20:53:00.001-08:00

Some people are criticizing Del Rio for the controversy that has been simmering the last couple weeks between him and starting linebacker/team captain Mike Peterson. Del Rio sent Peterson home from practice twice last week for insubordination and has fined the linebacker a total of 10 grand.

Peterson admitted to the media today that he is unsure whether or not he's going to be allowed to take the field at all this week against the unbeaten Titans. Peterson conjectured that Del Rio was trying to "move him out of the way and get ready for next year."

Things haven't been going well for the Jags so far this season. They're trailing the division-leading Titans by five games, and have underachieved, losing games to the Bills, Browns and Bengals. Games the most figured to be easy wins before the season began. All five of their losses have come by seven points or less.

The key to the Jaguars' success over the last few seasons has been discipline, and discipline is exactly what they need to get back on top. Del Rio is a no-nonsense coach. He took an opportunity to ream his team for their many faults following a loss to the previously winless Bungles. He warned his players ahead that he didn't want anyone to speak - he didn't want any excuses. Del Rio ripped into Peterson for celebrating a meaningless sack with the Jags trailing big in a game they should have been winning big. Peterson sassed back. He and Del Rio got into a shouting match which resulted with Peterson getting sent home.

I don't fault Del Rio. I support Del Rio. He's the boss and he's in the right here. Tensions are high in Jacksonville, and frustration is setting in amongst the coaches and players, but everyone needs to know Del Rio is in charge. Peterson was insubordinate and now he's being held accountable.

Peterson's contract is up at the end of the season and he's not going to be back. The real question is whether or not he's going to see the field the rest of this season. If he doesn't humble himself and fall in line he's going to be watching the rest of the season from the sideline.

Hasselbeck, Branch Return for the 'Hawks

2008-11-12T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Seahawks Offense has been decimated by injuries this season, but the grim situation just got a little bit brighter: Matt Hasselbeck and Deion Branch finally returned to the practice field today.

Matt Hasselbeck is a three-time Pro Bowl Quarterback who missed the last five games with a bulging disc. Deion Branch, a former Super Bowl MVP with the Patriots, also missed five games with a heel injury.

Hasselbeck's return couldn't have come at a better time considering his backup Seneca Wallace suffered a groin injury this past week. Charlie Frye is set to back Hasselbeck - or start, if Hasslebeck doesn't quite make it.

The Seahawks are currently mired at 2-7 and - barring about a thousand miracles - are going to miss the playoffs this season, but it will be nice to have your two top playmakers back in the lineup. It would certainly make the next seven weeks a little more bearable for Seahawks fans.

National Exposure...Kind of

2008-11-12T18:43:00.000-08:00

This is a big day, I'm starting to get my first national exposure. FoxSports linked to one of my articles!

Well, they didn't exactly link straight to my site. Instead they linked to a Yardbarker article I started, which I linked to this article I wrote about Andy Reid.

I'm sorry to toot my own horn, but I'm a little bit excited. I've only been at this about a week. Thanks Fox Sports.

I bet it's because I called out Fox's own Adam Schein.

Denver Re-Signs RB Bell

2008-11-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Denver has suffered a streak of incredible bad luck recently, losing four running backs to season ending injuries. Four of them!

In a moment of desperation they called upon a familiar face, Tatum Bell. Bell is a former Broncos starter, who cracked the 1,000 yard mark in '06 and ran for eight scores in '05. Bell's stats are respectable, but he's most notorious for stealing Rudi Johnson's luggage after the Detroit Lions cut Bell to make room for the ex-Bengals running back earlier this year.

Bell has been out of football since being cut by the Lions and apparently working in a cell phone store. Ultimately, Bell had his most successful seasons in Denver and has a chance to resurrect his career, if he's lucky. The Broncos' run game used to be the focus of their offense, but it has been superseded this season by their strong air attack.

Bell's not likely to put up outstanding numbers, but the Broncos are desperate and hoping he can do just enough to help them keep ahead in the AFC West.

Buccaneers Upgrading to a Cadillac?

2008-11-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated Carnell "Cadillac" Williams off the Physically Unable to Perform list today.

Cadillac had an outstanding rookie season in 2005, rushing for almost 1200 yards and 6 TDs, on his way to an AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. His sophomore season was less impressive as he managed only one TD in 14 games. Williams suffered a torn Patellar Tendon early in 2007. The injury required surgery and prematurely ended his season.

Williams is not likely to be a major contributor in Tampa Bay, at least not immediately. There are serious doubts about him being able to return to previous form after such a devastating injury. Even if he does return to form he hasn't played football in over a year, so there's going to be plenty of rust to knock off. The addition of Cadillac doesn't automatically raise the Bucs' chances of challenging Carolina for the NFC South crown.

The Bucs released running back Michael Bennet to clear space to park Cadillac in their garage.

Celebrity Sighting!

2008-11-12T14:46:00.000-08:00

My mother attended the 2008 "Tickets for Charity" event at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY where Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim and his wife Juli were members of the Honorary Host Commitee.

Anyone who knows - or knows of - the Boeheims knows how charitable and giving they are. Boeheim is especially active with Coaches vs. Cancer - helping to fight an affliction the Hall of Fame coach himself once battled.

Here is a blurb about Boeheim from the SU Athletics website:

"A champion of many charitable causes, Boeheim has been most active with “Coaches vs. Cancer,” a national fundraising organization affiliated with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the American Cancer Society. Boeheim’s local campaign has led all others in money raised for seven of the last eight years. He has also lent his time to Crouse Hospital’s Kienzl Family MaternityCenter, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Pioneer Center for the Blind and Disabled, Lighthouse, People in Wheelchairs, Easter Seals, the Special Olympics, the Rescue Mission and the Jack Bruen Fund. The Crouse Health Foundation chose Boeheim as its honoree for Tribute Evening 2003, the Foundation’s annual fundraising gala. In May 2005, he received the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center Inspiration Award from the University of Rochester Medical Center."

Portis May Sit Sunday Against the Cowboys

2008-11-12T12:20:00.000-08:00

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis revealed yesterday that he has a sprained MCL, which he suffered in the game against the Steelers. Portis is optimistic that resting the remainder of the week may be enough to allow him to play on Sunday, but I wouldn't count on it.

The Redskins number two running back, Ladell Betts sprained his MCL a month ago and still hasn't returned to practice. Every body is different, but it's more likely Portis will miss three or four weeks than it is we'll see him on the field this weekend.

This is surely a huge blow to the Redskins who are sitting at 6-3 and serious playoff contenders. Portis was having an outstanding season and there were many people - myself included - whispering the possibility of MVP accolades. If Portis does miss the game Shaun Alexander or Rock Cartwright are likely to start in his place.

If Portis sits out 3-4 weeks he could miss contests against the Cowboys, Giants and Ravens. If the redskins drop those games they could be kissing their playoff aspirations goodbye.