During many football discussions, I have come across this argument several times.
"He's good, but he's just a good fantasy player."
After struggling to keep my brain from exploding, I say,
"What is the difference? Don't fantasy points come directly from the game?"
Then I get an hour of BS about how you can be some clutch awesome player, but not put up good fantasy numbers.
Here's the deal people. There is no difference between fantasy production and on the field production. If you're a good player you will be both a good fantasy player and a good on the field player. Peyton Manning is literally amazing. Last year, he played AMAZING despite having no supporting cast aside from Reggie Wayne. Because the Colts didn't win, Peyton Manning is automatically at fault to some people. This is when people turn their brains off and refuse to admit he's a top 5 QB. He can't win! He's got a losing playoff record! Peyton Manning can go 50/50 500 Yards and 5 TDs and he would be "just a good fantasy player" to most football fans.
This needs to stop. Football is a sport consisting of offense, defense, and special teams. 3 parts that are not related. 11 guys are on the field at any give time for each unit. QB is one of those 10. While QB is more important, it is not always the QBs fault for a win or loss. There was a game between the Jets and Dolphins when Marino was playing where he threw for 400+ yards and 6 TDs and the Dolphins lost 62-45. Is it really Marino's fault? Is he really just a "fantasy" QB who can't win? Should he have played LB and picked off the opposing QB?
Special teams has a huge effect too. This past season, the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers (had to get that in there) played the Atlanta Falcons during the regular season. The Packers, trailing by 7, were lead on a 90 yard drive by Aaron Rodgers. The drive was capped off by a 10 yard TD pass to Jordy Nelson on 4th down. The score was tied at 17. There is under a minute left when the Packers kickoff. Falcons return man Eric Weems gets a big return to the 30 and when he is tackled, Packers LB Matt Wilhelm grabs his face mask. 15 yards were tacked on. Matt Ryan completed a couple of easy passes and he kicked a FG to win the game in regulation. Aaron Rodgers did everything right to tie the game, but his special teams failed him. True, Rodgers could have done more during the game to win, but it was a tightly contested matchup.
Just because a QB is on the losing end of a game, doesn't mean he is bad. When the Colts and Patriots play, is the losing QB suddenly bad and "just a fantasy player"? Of course not. So remember this the next time you get into a debate with someone on football. Romo, Rodgers, Manning, Brady, Brees, etc., are all great QBs. And no. Mark Sanchez is neither clutch nor better than those guys.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Week 1 Pick 'Em
Well, last post on here the lockout was still going strong! Things have changed and now there is labor peace for ten years!! Kudos to Goodell and Smith for ironing things out and salvaging the entire NFL season as well as 64 of the 65 preseason games. I'm sure all of you are sick and tired of the business BS (even though I can NEVER get tired of it) so let me get back into the groove with some picks! I'll be doing this every week along with some other weekly articles. Enjoy and as always comments are welcome and encouraged!
Thursday September 8, 2011
New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers 8:30 PM NBC Lambeau Field
The 2009-2010 Super Bowl Champs travel to Lambeau to square off against the 2010-2011 Super Bowl Champs. The Saints come to town with their brand new shiny running back, Mark Ingram, who they selected in the first round of the NFL Draft this year. The Saints are expecting big things out of Ingram and he will likely contribute to the backfield as well as Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, and Chris Ivory. One big name absent from the Saints backfield is tailback Reggie Bush. Bush signed a free agent contract with the Dolphins this offseason. Drew Brees returns as the saints marquee player and remains one of the elite QBs in the NFL. Questions linger around Marques Colston after offseason surgery and the saints other WRs are questionable at best. Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem can all produce but are inconsistent. Tight End Jimmy Graham looks poised to have a breakout year. The defense, while porous at times, remains a group of playmakers who can change the flow of the game at any time.
The Packers have a big problem. What do you do with all of this talent? The defending champs suffered a slew of injuries last season and players stepped up to make the Super Bowl run. Four key guys who were sent packing were Linebacker Nick Barnett, Left Guard Darryn Colledge, Running Back Brandon Jackson, and Defensive End Cullen Jenkins. Replacing Barnett is Linebacker Desmond Bishop who stormed onto the scene with over 100 tackles last season. Bishop exceeded Barnett's play and got a contract extension. Colledge played fairly well last year, but his sense of entitlement didn't sit well with the Packers' front office. They let him sign a free agent contract with Arizona. Replacing him is TJ Lang who outplayed rookie Derrick Sherrod for the starting spot. Brandon Jackson had his chance to shine last season after starter Ryan Grant went down, but he was not able to perform as a true number one back. The Cleveland Browns signed him to back up stud RB Peyton Hillis. Replacing him is a crowded backfield of Ryan Grant, James Starks, and Rookie 3rd round pick out of Hawaii Alex Green. One will no doubt be the front runner. Cullen Jenkins, who was often injured, is being replaced by 2nd year player Mike Neal, who cannot stay healthy either. Aaron Rodgers returns with Jermichael Finley healthy again as well as rookie Randall Cobb who looks poised to make some noise this season at least in the return game. The defense returns minus Frank Zombo for a while with a broken shoulder blade and Cullen Jenkins. Dom Capers' unit remains mostly intact which is scary.
How the Saints can win:
-Stop Rodgers. That's not an easy task, but it has been done.
-Run the ball down the Packers throat. The defense doesn't have many weak spots, but the run defense is one. OLB Clay Matthews is an excellent pass rusher, but he is a liability against the run. Drew Brees can keep the Packers defense honest.
-Contain Randall Cobb. I know he's a rookie, but you better believe the Packers are going to use their new toy on punt returns and kick returns. Ted Thompson loves his draft picks and it's a compliment to have him use such a high pick on you.
How the Packers can win:
-Protect Rodgers. TJ Lang will be starting at left guard and he needs to hold his own. Bulaga, Sitton, Clifton and Wells all return and should be solid starters once again.
-Spread the ball out. Rodgers tried to force the issue to Finley last season before he got hurt. This didn't always work out. Rodgers need to keep the Saints honest by spreading the ball out.
-Keep the Saints honest by rushing. The Packers need to utilize their stable of backs. This will allow Rodgers to have more open throwing lanes.
PREDICTION: Packers 24 Saints 17
Sunday, September 11th, 2011
Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM FOX Soldier Field
The 14 win Falcons travel to Chicago to square off against the NFC runner-up Chicago Bears in what should be an exciting matchup. The Falcons return the star trio on offense of Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White. New on the scene is rookie wideout Julio Jones. It's scary to think that Jones and White will line up together on the same field. The Falcons will be playing on the questionable turf at Soldier Field rather than the indoor artificial turf back home in Georgia, where Matt Ryan seems nearly unstoppable. Young cornerback Brent Grimes returns and will likely quietly remain one of the top CBs in the NFL.
The Chicago Bears were a surprise last year. The Bears were a Caleb Hanie drive away from a tie ball game in the NFC Championship game. Jay Cutler remains the starter, however, and he will start year 2 under Mike Martz's offensive scheme. Matt Forte, despite contract issues, seems like he will play this year and he will likely be motivated by the contract year to play out of his mind. One big name that will be absent from the Bears is Tight End Greg Olsen who was shipped to Carolina. Olsen was underutilized in Martz's offense and was a waste of capspace. The tight end spot is now all for Kellen Davis. The offensive line will hopefully be better for Cutler. It has looked rocky at times in preseason, but there is still time. The defense returns led by Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers, and Brian Urlacher. The one problem for the Bears this year is the new rule that moves kickoffs from the 30 to the 35. A lot of the success of the Bears last season stemmed from the perk of having a great return game. Look for the Bears to lose a game or two because of this.
How the Falcons can win:
-Shut down Jay Cutler. It's not a hard thing to do. When Cutler becomes frustrated, he becomes erratic. When he becomes erratic, that leads to turnovers.
-Contain Matt Forte. Forte remains one of the most dangerous players in the NFL. He is very shifty and is dangerous as both a pass catcher and a rusher. Atlanta will have its hands full trying to contain him.
-Kick the ball away from Hester. On kickoffs, the ball needs to go out of the back of the end zone. On punts, the ball needs to be angled out of bounds. The Bears special teams are a special unit.
How the Bears can win:
-Disrupt the passing lanes for Ryan. Matt Ryan is a good QB, but he's a young QB. He can be fooled by a crafty defense and the Bears have had a perpetually crafty one. Look for the Bears DL to get their hands up on passes and look for the CBs to jump routes.
-Shut down Jones and White. The Bears need to take this tandem seriously. Though Jones is a rookie, his talents are unquestionable and the Falcons gave up A LOT to get him.
-Make Matt Forte ubiquitous. The Bears have to make sure that their best player has the ball in his hands. With the question marks at receiver, Forte is the safest option on offense and the most effective one.
PREDICTION: Bears 24 Falcons 23
Cincinatti @ Cleveland Browns 1:00 PM CBS Cleveland Browns Stadium
The Bengals and the Browns have been basement dwellers in the AFC North recently. For the Bengals, the title of having the most players arrested has slowly slipped away and they are now in the running for the title of having the craziest ownership. Carson Palmer wants to be traded or he will retire. The Bengals are letting him retire. The Bengals need a running back, but they chose to stick with Cedric Benson who is mediocre at best. There isn't ALL bad news, however, for the Bengals. Rookie QB Andy Dalton looked sharp last night as the Bengals steamrolled the Panthers. Rookie WR AJ Green looks every bit the part. With Jermane Gresham at TE and Jerome Simpson poised to have an all right season, the Bengals may surprise some.
The Browns go into this season with optimism. They installed a new west coast system and Colt McCoy looks better than last year. Monterio Hardesty is healthy and the Browns added RB Brandon Jackson from Green Bay as depth for Madden Coverboy Peyton Hillis. The Browns strategy is to limit Hillis' carries and keep him fresh. Joe Thomas returns as one of the best offensive linemen in the league and Alex Mack remains one of the better centers in the league. The Browns do lack depth at WR. Josh Cribbs will never be a true WR and Mohammad Massaquoi has been disappointing. TJ Ward and Joe Haden spearhead a young secondary poised to make noise. This Mike Holmgren run team seems to be pulling itself together.
How the Bengals can win:
-Stop the run. The Browns are expanding their passing game, but the WRs are still young and unproven. The Browns bread and butter is the rushing game. Stop that and you're in business.
-Keep the ball away from Josh Cribbs. Like Chicago, special teams is a HUGE part of the Browns organization. Keep Cribbs quiet and you have a good shot at winning.
-Pressure Colt McCoy. McCoy is a young QB and is still prone to mistakes. Turnovers are key and pressuring Colt will likely lead to a couple.
How the Browns can win:
-Use Colt McCoy creatively. Surprise the Bengals and come out firing with Colt McCoy. They won't be expecting it and I think McCoy can handle it.
-Stop the short passes. QB Andy Dalton is very good for the Bengals, but his one glaring hole is he does not have a very good deep ball. Contain the Bengals short and dare Dalton to go long.
-Hillis, Hillis, Hillis. When all else goes wrong, use your steamroller running back.
PREDICTION: Browns 20 Bengals 13
Buffalo @ Kansas City 1:00 PM CBS Arrowhead Stadium
The fiesty Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in this inter-division matchup. Buffalo sports surprise wideout Stevie Johnson and surprising QB Ryan Fitzpatrick with an underrated aerial attack. Fred Jackson refuses to relent his starting RB role to 2nd year back out of Clemson C.J. Spiller. Buffalo revamped its defense by adding Shawne Merriman last year as well as Linebacker Nick Barnett and rookie defensive tackle Marcel Dareus.
Kansas City plans to use running back Jamaal Charles more this year and he's poised to take control of the running game. Veteran Thomas Jones will likely see a smaller role as he enters the twilight of his career. The Chiefs added Johnathan Baldwin in the 1st round of the draft, but all indications are that he's not playing very well. Still, the Chiefs have veteran wideout Dwayne Bowe as well as free agent acquisition Steve Breaston who arrived from Arizona. Kansas City is excited about rookie 3rd round pick Justin Houston.
How the Bills can win:
-Fitz to Johnson. The Bills need to utilize Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's a fierce competitor and he's willing to take risks. Johnson is poised to have another big year.
-Play good run defense. Nick Barnett and Marcel Dareus need to step up in their first game as Bills and stop Jamaal Charles.
-Score early. Arrowhead is a very hostile place for a visiting team to play. Score quickly and quiet the crowd.
How the Chiefs can win:
-A steady dose of Charles. He's the best player on the team, use him.
-Get Tony Moeaki involved. The young tight end is very talented and defenses still aren't giving him enough attention.
-Give Cassel safe, easy completions. Cassel is a great system QB, keep him in the system and he'll play well.
PREDICTION: Kansas City 31 Buffalo 17
Philadelphia Eagles @ St. Louis Rams 1:00 PM FOX Edward Jones Dome
The Dream Team travels to St. Louis for this matchup. Michael Vick returns to spearhead this optimistic season for Eagles fans. The offense remains the same with Vick, Jackson, Maclin, Celek, and Shady McCoy as well as former Giants wideout Steve Smith. Defensively, the Eagles went overboard. Nnamdi Asomougah comes over from Oakland in a blockbuster free agent signing. He and Asante Samuel, and newcomer Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will man the league's top CB trio. The defensive line got a boost with free agents Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin. Rookie linebacker Casey Matthews looks to contribute immediately.
The Rams have stayed relatively quiet in the offseason. Josh McDaniels has joined the coaching staff and will likely push 2nd year QB Sam Bradford to have a fantastic Sophomore campaign. The rams added Mike Simms Walker from Jacksonville and hopefully he revives his career with the Rams and a more potent passing offense. Steven Jackson returns and remains quietly one of the best runners in the league. Cadillac Williams comes over from Tampa to back Jackson up.
How the Eagles can win:
-Shut down Bradford. McDaniels will likely try to air the ball out. With their awesome CBs, the Eagles should be able to shut him down no problem.
-Stop Jackson. That may be harder to do. If the Dream Team has one weakness, it's run defense.
-Protect Vick. Vick has taken some SHOTS in preseason. Keep him upright and give him time. He's a dangerous player with time.
How the Rams can win:
-Contain Vick. Nearly impossible.
-Exploit rushing defense and control the ball. The Eagles one weakness is rush defense. Run the ball down their throats and control the clock. Keep the ball out of Vick's hands.
-Give Bradford time. The Eagles will bring the pressure. Keep Bradford upright.
PREDICTION Eagles 31 Rams 13
Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1:00 PM FOX Raymond James Stadium
The Lions are optimistic this season. 3rd year pro out of Georgia Matthew Stafford is healthy after missing significant time last year. A fierce competitor and a talented passer, Stafford possesses the tools to be a top QB in the NFL. At RB, the Lions boast the shifty Javid Best. The Lions took Mikel Leshoure to be the between the tackles guy, but he suffered an achilles injury that may threaten his career. Megatron continues to be an absolute monster. The Lions defensive line will be absolutely fantastic. Returning to the lineup are Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams, and Ndomukong Suh. Coming into the fold is rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley who will contribute immediately.
The Buccaneers were surprising last year, but I have a gut feeling they won't be as good. Josh Freeman had a great year, but his numbers will likely regress. He had a ton of crazy throws that should have been intercepted that weren't. LeGarrett Blount will likely play well but I don't think he will exceed expectations. Mike Williams will continue to be a stud WR in his second year. The Buccaneers were more of a product of an easy schedule. The only win against a team with a winning record was against the Saints who sat their starters the last week of the season. I think the Bucs will be humbled.
How the Lions can win:
-Pressure, Pressure, Pressue. Use your big guys up front.
-Stafford to Megatron. They need to get the ball to their best WR. Common sense.
-Keep Mike Williams contained. The Lions shaky secondary needs to step up.
How the Bucs can win:
-Keep Freeman under control. The Lions will be coming and he needs to stay calm and throw clean passes.
-Pressure Stafford. Stafford is talented, but fragile. Scare him.
-Get Blount going. If you can keep the line honest, that will keep Freeman calm.
PREDICTION: Lions 24 Bucs 20
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 PM CBS EverBank Field
The Titans come to Jacksonville with some new faces and some big question marks. Veteran QB Kerry Collins retired (and has since signed on with the Colts) which left a big hole at QB for the Titans. The Titans, with new head coach Mike Munchak, took this issue seriously and got former Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck as well as Rookie QB Jake Locker. Star RB Chris Johnson continues his holdout and it has been said he requested a trade. WR Kenny Britt awaits a possible suspension for offseason crimes. The Titans need stability on offense and they just do not have it. The Titans need to figure out what's going on or it could be a LONG season.
The Jaguars have their own problems to deal with. David Garrard has been mediocre at best at quarterback and rookie Blaine Gabbert is pushing him to start. Stud rusher Maurice Jones-Drew is coming off of another injury and there are question marks surrounding him. Jones-Drew is a tough guy and will do everything in his power to play his best, but sometimes these things can't be fixed. Beyond TE Marcedes Lewis there isn't much of a threat receiving for the Jags. The defense doesn't really have anyone to talk about.
How the Titans can win:
-Get Chris Johnson under contract. He's the best guy on your team. Pay him so you guys can salvage your season.
-Get Hasselbeck involved early. Surprise the Jaguars.
-Get pressure on Garrard quickly. Rattle him and force turnovers.
How the Jaguars can win:
-Hope MJD can play up to his level. The Jags need him on offense.
-Bench Garrard. Gabbert is better and Garrard has had more than his fair chance to win.
-Get in Hasselbeck's face. It's his first game in Tennessee. Sure, he's a great pro, but he's still learning a new offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens 1:00 PM CBS M&T Financial Field
The Super Bowl Chumps travel to Baltimore to face the division rival Ravens. Roethlisberger returns at QB and looks poised to have another good year as well as the whole offense. The Steelers added Jericho Cotchery at WR and he's likely to get a fair share of passes from Ben. 1st round pick Cameron Heyward looks like a prototypical Steeler guy and he will likely get playing time early. Joining him on defense is reigning defensive MVP Troy Polamalu, who will be fully healthy this season after missing time last year. The Steelers look poised to have another great year.
The Ravens said goodbye to a couple of faces that have become faces of the franchise. Departing this offseason were TE Todd Heap, WR Derrick Mason, and RB Willis McGahee. TE Dennis Pitta looks like he's ready to step up and play tight end. To make up for the loss of McGahee, the Ravens signed Ricky Williams, the former Saints and Dolphins back. He will back up star RB Ray Rice. Their defense returns in full force and it looks just as menacing as ever. Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs...this defense is poised to kick some ass.
How the Steelers can win:
-Call bootlegs for Ben. Roethlisberger is a much better QB when he's in space and he's playing in school yard type situations. Get him outside of the pocket and it will get the Ravens on edge.
-A steady dose of Mendenhall. It's always key to control a game vs a great defense.
-Stop Rice. That's not easy, but the Steelers had the best defense in the NFL last year, and there's no reason why that would change this year.
How the Ravens can win:
-Contain Ben. Green Bay used Clay Matthews as a QB spy in Super Bowl XLV. This forced ben to throw from the pocket where he looked uncomfortable at times. The Ravens need to do this.
-Get Rice involved. He's the most dynamic weapon on the field for the Ravens.
-Utilize Dennis Pitta. The young TE will take the league by surprise this year. Start him out early.
PREDICTION: Steelers 23 Ravens 21
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM CBS Reliant Field
The Colts travel to Houston to face their rivals who have been playing the Colts very tough lately. There is a very strong possibility that QB Peyton Manning will miss this game. If he can't go, the Colt's contingency plan is vet QB Kerry Collins. There is a large dropoff in play, but it's an even bigger drop off to Curtis Painter. Joseph Addai returns as the starter, but rookie Delone Carter is pushing for at least 3rd down/goaline carries. Austin Collie and Dallas Clark return to the team to open up the passing game for the Colts. On defense, oft-injured safety Bob Sanders departed and the Colts signed free agent Tommie Harris at DT. The defensive line remains the strongpoint.
Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Andre Johnson return as one of the most dangerous trios in the NFL. Their offense remains essentially the same with Owen Daniels returning and Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones are still there. The biggest changes to the Texans come on defense. Wade Phillips came over from Dallas and the Texans switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Star defensive end Mario Williams is now an outside linebacker and he looks lost. The advantage of his size/speed combination is partially nullified by the fact that he's forced to start outside standing up. Rookie Brooks Reed looks like he's the real deal and he's becoming a good pass rusher. The shaky pass defense is shored up with free agent CB Jonathan Joseph coming over from Cincinatti
How the Colts can win:
-Get Peyton Manning healthy. Peyton Manning > Kerry Collins
-Stop Foster. Tall order. Their defensive line is good, but it's more pass rushers than run stoppers.
-Use Dallas Clark. Manning's play dropped off after Clark's departure. He's a great TE and he can stretch the field.
How the Texans can win:
-Shut down Manning if he can play. Obvious fact. Nothing surprising there.
-A steady dose of Foster. If you can't shut down Manning, keep the ball out of his hands.
-Get Mario Williams up to speed. The Texans need to get him up to speed or teams will run the ball right at him.
PREDICTION Texans 31 Colts 27
New York Giants @ Washington Redskins 4:00 PM FOX FedEx Field
The New York Giants and Washington Redskins meet to play a game on a day that overshadows the game of football. This game will be played on the 10th anniversary of September 11th and these two teams were the teams most closely effected by the attacks. Both teams will be playing with heavy hearts. The Giants gutted their offensive line this offseason and they will likely have some trouble there. Free agent Center David Bass is a mauler and he seems like he's going to be the starter there for a long time, but a lot of their other linemen are going to struggle. The Giants sent TE Kevin Boss packing to Oakland and they are left with a gaping hole. Division rival Philadelphia Eagles scooped up wideout Steve Smith. The Giants cupboards are bare. To make things worse, Rookie CB Prince Amukamara is out for 2 months with an injury and the Giants lost 3 other defensive backs. On the bright side, Brandon Jacobs looks like the Brandon Jacobs of old.
The Redskins are pretty bad as well. One-year experiment Donovan McNabb was shipped to Minnesota, so there is a QB battle between Rex Grossman and John Beck. Clinton Portis appears to be done, so the Redskins drafted Roy Helu who seems to be poised to get some playing time and they signed former Cardinal Tim Hightower who has been the one glimmer of hope for this team during the preseason. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley return, but are both another year older. Brian Orakpo continues to be the best defensive player on the field and DeAngello Hall is making plays in the preseason.
How the Giants can win:
-Keep the ball out of Manning's hand. He thinks he's elite, but I think if you're coming off a 20+ INT season, you can't say that.
-Pressure Grossman/Beck. The Giants have the league's best defensive line (Detroit fans may disagree, but the Giants are just freakishly good on the DL) and either one of those guys will be pressured easily.
-Get Jacobs the ball in space. It always seems like if you give Jacobs the ball to run between the tackles, he runs directly into the pile. If Jacobs gets a head of steam, he's VERY dangerous.
How the Redskins can win:
-Confuse Manning. DeAngello Hall is salivating to grab some erratic passes.
-Keep it simple for Grossman/Beck. They need to vanilla the offense so that the defensive line is nullified.
-Take advantage of the Giants depleted secondary. They will be shorthanded.
PREDICTION: Giants 24 Redskins 10
Minnesota Vikings @ San Diego Chargers 4:00 PM FOX Qualcomm Stadium
The Vikings travel to take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers. The Vikings are without Brett Favre this year, replacing him is Donavan McNabb who most people aren't optimistic about. The Vikes also lost WR Sidney Rice to Seattle. Tackle Bryant McKinnie was let go and signed on with the Ravens. This Minnesota Vikings offensive line is depleted. Expect to see a significant drop off in play. Adrian Peterson will also likely take a hit because of this. The defense was not upgraded significantly and will likely struggle. Christian Ponder will backup McNabb, but Ponder isn't looking great.
On the other side of the field comes Philip Rivers, the Chargers' top 5 QB. All reports indicate that his favorite target, Tight End Antonio Gates, is ready to go for the season. Last year, Rivers performed exceptionally well without Gates for part of the year as well as WR Vincent Jackson. With these players returning as well as RB Ryan Matthews, the offense is set to have another top tier season. Bob Sanders was added to shore up the defense, which was ranked #1 in yards in 2010, and will provide help if he can stay healthy. There is a lot of buzz going around about rookie defensive tackle Corey Liguet. Liguet boasts an insanely low pad level and a quick burst off the ball. He should make an immediate impact.
How the Vikings can win:
-Great offensive line play. The Vikings have questions at the offensive line. They need to come out firing and maul the Chargers' d-line.
-Steady dose of AP. The best back in the league needs the ball in his hand.
-Keep McNabb's role simple. Create an easy offense for McNabb to run. He's a smart QB, but he's coming off a bad year and he needs to build confidence again.
How the Chargers can win:
-Shut down AP. The Chargers need to stop AP. If they can handle that, the Vikings should be an easy W.
-Contain Harvin on returns. Percy Harvin remains a dangerous return man.
-Put the game in the hands of Phil Rivers. He's one of the top QBs in the league and he's going to lead you to victory.
PREDICTION: Chargers 38 Vikings 13
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers 4:00 PM FOX Candlestick Park
The Seahawks traven to the Bay Area for this NFC West showdown. Coach Pete Carroll, in his second year, got rid of veteran Matt Hasselbeck and instead is holding a competition for ex-Viking Tavares Jackson and ex-Charger Charlie Whitehurst. It seems like Whitehurst is the front runner. To protect his young QBs, Carroll has recruited ex-Raiders head coach Tom Cable to coordinate his offensive line. With him, Cable brought TE Zach Miller and OG Robert Gallery. This will surely help on the offensive line. Adding even more to the line is rookie OL James Carpenter. Giving the new QBs another target was a top priority and the Seahawks landed Sidney Rice from Minnesota.
The 49ers still cannot cut ties with 2005 #1 overall pick Alex Smith. In the draft this year, the 49ers drafted QB Colin Kaepernick. He will likely put some pressure on Smith for the job, but the job is pretty much Smith's. Vernon Davis returns at TE, diva WR Michael Crabtree misses another offseason but will play come week 1, and RB Frank Gore is unhappy with his contract and is asking for a trade or a new deal. The 49ers are in trouble. Center David Bass left for New York and leaves a hole, though Joe Staley, Anthony Davis, and Mike Iupati still provide a solid frame to work with. On defense, CB Nate Clements departed and S Taylor Mays was traded. Replacing them are CBs Carlos Rodgers and Karl Paymah, and safety Madeiu Williams. Patrick Willis returns and remains one of the best LBs in football.
How the Seahawks can win:
-Have a big game out of Marshawn Lynch. The QB play isn't where it needs to be.
-Get Zach Miller involved. It's always good to have a good outlet guy. The Seahawks have 2 good outlet guys in Miller and TE John Carlson.
-Stop Gore...if he plays.
How the 49ers can win:
-Pay Gore. That's all.
-Crabtree and Ginn. Both guys need to step it up to have a shot against Seattle.
-Stop Seattle's rushing game. It's apparent that Carroll favors the rush game. Make him uncomfortable.
PREDICTION: Seattle 17 San Francisco 10
Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals 4:00 PM FOX University of Phoenix Stadium
The Panthers travel down to the desert to take on the Cardinals. Rookie Cam Newton may make his first start, though it's up in the air. 2nd year QB out of Notre Dame, Jimmy Clausen, has looked okay in his preseason action. The Panthers added TE Greg Olsen from Chicago and TE Jeremy Shockey from New Orleans. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are back as one of the better tandems in the NFL. Wideout Brandon LaFell is turning heads in the preseason and it seems that he may contribute. Steve Smith remains a threat despite his age. On the defensive side of things, Jon Beason remains a top LB.
The big news out of Arizona this year was their trade for QB Kevin Kolb from the Eagles. They lost CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but gained rookie Patrick Peterson who was dubbed a "can't miss" prospect. They expect big things out of him. They also expected big things out of rookie RB Ryan Williams, but Williams recently suffered a season ending injury. This is an even bigger blow because the Cardinals got rid of one of their reserve backs, Tim Hightower. Beanie Wells will have his shot at the starting job. Larry Fitzgerald remains the focal point of the offense. Todd Heap is a nice addition at TE for the Cards.
How the Panthers can win:
-Start Jimmy Clausen. It may be tempting to start Cam Newton, but he has been wildly inaccurate thus far. He is a talented rusher, but he looks lost in the pocket and his preseason completion percentage is around 40% right now. That won't cut it.
-Return to the power running game. Use Stewart and Williams, you have them.
-Get LaFell involved. He is the most explosive player on your team. Use him for returns and as a receiver.
How the Cardinals can win:
-Get the ball to Larry. Larry Fitzgerald makes the Cardinals better.
-Beanie Wells needs to have a big game. The Cardinals cannot rely soley on the pass game. Even if it beats the Panthers, they need to establish a rushing presence.
-Pressure young QBs. Regardless of who starts, the Cards need to pressure them.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 20 Panthers 6
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets 8:20 PM NBC Metlife Stadium
Rob Ryan tries to beat Rex Ryan in this week 1 matchup. The Cowboys come in optimistic after last year's disappointing campaign. Tono Romo and Dez Bryant return and make this unit a lot more dangerous than people will think. Tyron Smith comes in to help out the offensive line that had problems last year. Jason Witten is probably the most consistent player in the league. Expect another 60+ catch and 1,000+ yard season from him. The Cowboys finally cut ties with Marion Barber. The starting job is Felix Jones' right now, but rookie DeMarco Murray may overtake him. The Cowboys' glaring hole continues to be their secondary. It's swiss cheese. Harr Harr...
The Jets are essentially the same team as last year. They got rid of Braylon Edwards and they signed Plaxico Burress. Both wear the same number, the only difference is that Edwards drops a bunch of balls and it seems Burress can't stay healthy. The Jets only major departures were Jericho Cotchery and Shaun Ellis, but they landed former Ravens WR Derrick Mason. The Jets defense remains intact and they added Temple defensive lineman Mohammad Wilkerson, he will likely contribute quickly.
How the Cowboys can win:
-Throw the ball to Witten. It seems that every critical down the Cowboys have, Witten is wide open. Why not use him more? He's awesome.
-Throw the ball to Dez Bryant. Revis will likely be on Austin, but I think Bryant will be able to burn Cromartie.
-Limit Jones' carries, but keep the Jets defense honest at the same time.
How the Jets can win:
-Pressure Romo. The Cowboys have plenty of offensive targets. The Jets have a great secondary, but it's asking a lot out of them to cover Witten, Bryant, and Austin. Pressure is the safest option.
-Exploit Dallas' secondary. It's weak. Holmes and Burress should get some chances.
-Hope that there isn't inclement weather. Sanchez plays poorly the worse the weather is.
PREDICTION: Jets 27 Cowboys 24
Monday, September 12, 2011
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins 7:00 PM ESPN Sunlife Stadium
The Patriots ended their season the same way the Dolphins did last year. At home watching the Super Bowl. The difference is the Patriots seemed to be the class of the league while the Dolphins were chum (haha nautical references). The Patriots responded this offseason by adding a ton of free agent talent. Joining the Patriots squad are ex-Bengal Chad Ochocinco, ex-Redskin and Titan Albert Hanseworth, and ex-Jet Shaun Ellis. Joining Logan Mankins on the offensive line is rookie Nate Solder. Jerrod Mayo returns as the team's best defender.
The Dolphins flirted with trading for QB Kyle Orton from the Broncos, but the Broncos didn't go through with it. Chad Henne returns as the team's starter. Gone is the tandem fans have grown to love in Miami of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, now the Phins have Reggie Bush from New Orleans and Daniel Thomas, a rookie. Jake Long remains one of the league's top offensive linemen. On defense, Vonte Davis and Karlos Dansby lead the marginal at best unit.
How the Patriots can win:
-Shut down Henne. Check.
-Stop the run. Check.
-Show up to the stadium. Check
How the Dolphins can win:
-Shut down Brady. Not happening.
-Shut down Ochocino, Welker, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Woodhead, etc. Not happening.
-Luck. Maybe?
PREDICTION: Patriots 41 Dolphins 10
Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos 10:15 PM ESPN Invesco Field
The Raiders travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in this underwhelming AFC West matchup. The Raiders are going through an overhaul. New head coach Hue Jackson took the strategy of stocking offensive line depth in the draft and is building the team from the ground up. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush return to bring an insanely good rushing game to the table. Kevin Boss came onboard from the Giants and adds depth at tight end after Zach Miller departed for Seattle. On defense, the biggest loss was star CB Nnamdi Asomugha, which will hurt the defense greatly. Terrelle Pryor was taken with the Raiders' 3rd round pick in the Supplemental Draft and may contribute after serving his 5 game suspension.
The Broncos come in as one big mess. Tim Tebow was supposed to start, now he's the #4 QB. Nobody really knows what is going on with RB Knowshon Moreno. Brandon Lloyd and Von Miller are about the only positives you can come up with with this team. Maybe Kyle Orton as well.
How the Raiders can win:
-McFadden. All day.
-Shut down Lloyd. Tall order without Nnamdi.
-Limit Jason Campbell's touches. He's an all right QB, but he's not always careful.
How the Broncos can win:
-Have faith in Orton. He can play and the Raiders took a hit in their secondary.
-Contain McFadden. They need to keep him in check to have a shot.
-Establish some sort of a run game with Moreno.
PREDICTION: Raiders 23 Broncos 14
Thursday September 8, 2011
New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers 8:30 PM NBC Lambeau Field
The 2009-2010 Super Bowl Champs travel to Lambeau to square off against the 2010-2011 Super Bowl Champs. The Saints come to town with their brand new shiny running back, Mark Ingram, who they selected in the first round of the NFL Draft this year. The Saints are expecting big things out of Ingram and he will likely contribute to the backfield as well as Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, and Chris Ivory. One big name absent from the Saints backfield is tailback Reggie Bush. Bush signed a free agent contract with the Dolphins this offseason. Drew Brees returns as the saints marquee player and remains one of the elite QBs in the NFL. Questions linger around Marques Colston after offseason surgery and the saints other WRs are questionable at best. Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem can all produce but are inconsistent. Tight End Jimmy Graham looks poised to have a breakout year. The defense, while porous at times, remains a group of playmakers who can change the flow of the game at any time.
The Packers have a big problem. What do you do with all of this talent? The defending champs suffered a slew of injuries last season and players stepped up to make the Super Bowl run. Four key guys who were sent packing were Linebacker Nick Barnett, Left Guard Darryn Colledge, Running Back Brandon Jackson, and Defensive End Cullen Jenkins. Replacing Barnett is Linebacker Desmond Bishop who stormed onto the scene with over 100 tackles last season. Bishop exceeded Barnett's play and got a contract extension. Colledge played fairly well last year, but his sense of entitlement didn't sit well with the Packers' front office. They let him sign a free agent contract with Arizona. Replacing him is TJ Lang who outplayed rookie Derrick Sherrod for the starting spot. Brandon Jackson had his chance to shine last season after starter Ryan Grant went down, but he was not able to perform as a true number one back. The Cleveland Browns signed him to back up stud RB Peyton Hillis. Replacing him is a crowded backfield of Ryan Grant, James Starks, and Rookie 3rd round pick out of Hawaii Alex Green. One will no doubt be the front runner. Cullen Jenkins, who was often injured, is being replaced by 2nd year player Mike Neal, who cannot stay healthy either. Aaron Rodgers returns with Jermichael Finley healthy again as well as rookie Randall Cobb who looks poised to make some noise this season at least in the return game. The defense returns minus Frank Zombo for a while with a broken shoulder blade and Cullen Jenkins. Dom Capers' unit remains mostly intact which is scary.
How the Saints can win:
-Stop Rodgers. That's not an easy task, but it has been done.
-Run the ball down the Packers throat. The defense doesn't have many weak spots, but the run defense is one. OLB Clay Matthews is an excellent pass rusher, but he is a liability against the run. Drew Brees can keep the Packers defense honest.
-Contain Randall Cobb. I know he's a rookie, but you better believe the Packers are going to use their new toy on punt returns and kick returns. Ted Thompson loves his draft picks and it's a compliment to have him use such a high pick on you.
How the Packers can win:
-Protect Rodgers. TJ Lang will be starting at left guard and he needs to hold his own. Bulaga, Sitton, Clifton and Wells all return and should be solid starters once again.
-Spread the ball out. Rodgers tried to force the issue to Finley last season before he got hurt. This didn't always work out. Rodgers need to keep the Saints honest by spreading the ball out.
-Keep the Saints honest by rushing. The Packers need to utilize their stable of backs. This will allow Rodgers to have more open throwing lanes.
PREDICTION: Packers 24 Saints 17
Sunday, September 11th, 2011
Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM FOX Soldier Field
The 14 win Falcons travel to Chicago to square off against the NFC runner-up Chicago Bears in what should be an exciting matchup. The Falcons return the star trio on offense of Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White. New on the scene is rookie wideout Julio Jones. It's scary to think that Jones and White will line up together on the same field. The Falcons will be playing on the questionable turf at Soldier Field rather than the indoor artificial turf back home in Georgia, where Matt Ryan seems nearly unstoppable. Young cornerback Brent Grimes returns and will likely quietly remain one of the top CBs in the NFL.
The Chicago Bears were a surprise last year. The Bears were a Caleb Hanie drive away from a tie ball game in the NFC Championship game. Jay Cutler remains the starter, however, and he will start year 2 under Mike Martz's offensive scheme. Matt Forte, despite contract issues, seems like he will play this year and he will likely be motivated by the contract year to play out of his mind. One big name that will be absent from the Bears is Tight End Greg Olsen who was shipped to Carolina. Olsen was underutilized in Martz's offense and was a waste of capspace. The tight end spot is now all for Kellen Davis. The offensive line will hopefully be better for Cutler. It has looked rocky at times in preseason, but there is still time. The defense returns led by Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers, and Brian Urlacher. The one problem for the Bears this year is the new rule that moves kickoffs from the 30 to the 35. A lot of the success of the Bears last season stemmed from the perk of having a great return game. Look for the Bears to lose a game or two because of this.
How the Falcons can win:
-Shut down Jay Cutler. It's not a hard thing to do. When Cutler becomes frustrated, he becomes erratic. When he becomes erratic, that leads to turnovers.
-Contain Matt Forte. Forte remains one of the most dangerous players in the NFL. He is very shifty and is dangerous as both a pass catcher and a rusher. Atlanta will have its hands full trying to contain him.
-Kick the ball away from Hester. On kickoffs, the ball needs to go out of the back of the end zone. On punts, the ball needs to be angled out of bounds. The Bears special teams are a special unit.
How the Bears can win:
-Disrupt the passing lanes for Ryan. Matt Ryan is a good QB, but he's a young QB. He can be fooled by a crafty defense and the Bears have had a perpetually crafty one. Look for the Bears DL to get their hands up on passes and look for the CBs to jump routes.
-Shut down Jones and White. The Bears need to take this tandem seriously. Though Jones is a rookie, his talents are unquestionable and the Falcons gave up A LOT to get him.
-Make Matt Forte ubiquitous. The Bears have to make sure that their best player has the ball in his hands. With the question marks at receiver, Forte is the safest option on offense and the most effective one.
PREDICTION: Bears 24 Falcons 23
Cincinatti @ Cleveland Browns 1:00 PM CBS Cleveland Browns Stadium
The Bengals and the Browns have been basement dwellers in the AFC North recently. For the Bengals, the title of having the most players arrested has slowly slipped away and they are now in the running for the title of having the craziest ownership. Carson Palmer wants to be traded or he will retire. The Bengals are letting him retire. The Bengals need a running back, but they chose to stick with Cedric Benson who is mediocre at best. There isn't ALL bad news, however, for the Bengals. Rookie QB Andy Dalton looked sharp last night as the Bengals steamrolled the Panthers. Rookie WR AJ Green looks every bit the part. With Jermane Gresham at TE and Jerome Simpson poised to have an all right season, the Bengals may surprise some.
The Browns go into this season with optimism. They installed a new west coast system and Colt McCoy looks better than last year. Monterio Hardesty is healthy and the Browns added RB Brandon Jackson from Green Bay as depth for Madden Coverboy Peyton Hillis. The Browns strategy is to limit Hillis' carries and keep him fresh. Joe Thomas returns as one of the best offensive linemen in the league and Alex Mack remains one of the better centers in the league. The Browns do lack depth at WR. Josh Cribbs will never be a true WR and Mohammad Massaquoi has been disappointing. TJ Ward and Joe Haden spearhead a young secondary poised to make noise. This Mike Holmgren run team seems to be pulling itself together.
How the Bengals can win:
-Stop the run. The Browns are expanding their passing game, but the WRs are still young and unproven. The Browns bread and butter is the rushing game. Stop that and you're in business.
-Keep the ball away from Josh Cribbs. Like Chicago, special teams is a HUGE part of the Browns organization. Keep Cribbs quiet and you have a good shot at winning.
-Pressure Colt McCoy. McCoy is a young QB and is still prone to mistakes. Turnovers are key and pressuring Colt will likely lead to a couple.
How the Browns can win:
-Use Colt McCoy creatively. Surprise the Bengals and come out firing with Colt McCoy. They won't be expecting it and I think McCoy can handle it.
-Stop the short passes. QB Andy Dalton is very good for the Bengals, but his one glaring hole is he does not have a very good deep ball. Contain the Bengals short and dare Dalton to go long.
-Hillis, Hillis, Hillis. When all else goes wrong, use your steamroller running back.
PREDICTION: Browns 20 Bengals 13
Buffalo @ Kansas City 1:00 PM CBS Arrowhead Stadium
The fiesty Buffalo Bills travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in this inter-division matchup. Buffalo sports surprise wideout Stevie Johnson and surprising QB Ryan Fitzpatrick with an underrated aerial attack. Fred Jackson refuses to relent his starting RB role to 2nd year back out of Clemson C.J. Spiller. Buffalo revamped its defense by adding Shawne Merriman last year as well as Linebacker Nick Barnett and rookie defensive tackle Marcel Dareus.
Kansas City plans to use running back Jamaal Charles more this year and he's poised to take control of the running game. Veteran Thomas Jones will likely see a smaller role as he enters the twilight of his career. The Chiefs added Johnathan Baldwin in the 1st round of the draft, but all indications are that he's not playing very well. Still, the Chiefs have veteran wideout Dwayne Bowe as well as free agent acquisition Steve Breaston who arrived from Arizona. Kansas City is excited about rookie 3rd round pick Justin Houston.
How the Bills can win:
-Fitz to Johnson. The Bills need to utilize Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's a fierce competitor and he's willing to take risks. Johnson is poised to have another big year.
-Play good run defense. Nick Barnett and Marcel Dareus need to step up in their first game as Bills and stop Jamaal Charles.
-Score early. Arrowhead is a very hostile place for a visiting team to play. Score quickly and quiet the crowd.
How the Chiefs can win:
-A steady dose of Charles. He's the best player on the team, use him.
-Get Tony Moeaki involved. The young tight end is very talented and defenses still aren't giving him enough attention.
-Give Cassel safe, easy completions. Cassel is a great system QB, keep him in the system and he'll play well.
PREDICTION: Kansas City 31 Buffalo 17
Philadelphia Eagles @ St. Louis Rams 1:00 PM FOX Edward Jones Dome
The Dream Team travels to St. Louis for this matchup. Michael Vick returns to spearhead this optimistic season for Eagles fans. The offense remains the same with Vick, Jackson, Maclin, Celek, and Shady McCoy as well as former Giants wideout Steve Smith. Defensively, the Eagles went overboard. Nnamdi Asomougah comes over from Oakland in a blockbuster free agent signing. He and Asante Samuel, and newcomer Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will man the league's top CB trio. The defensive line got a boost with free agents Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin. Rookie linebacker Casey Matthews looks to contribute immediately.
The Rams have stayed relatively quiet in the offseason. Josh McDaniels has joined the coaching staff and will likely push 2nd year QB Sam Bradford to have a fantastic Sophomore campaign. The rams added Mike Simms Walker from Jacksonville and hopefully he revives his career with the Rams and a more potent passing offense. Steven Jackson returns and remains quietly one of the best runners in the league. Cadillac Williams comes over from Tampa to back Jackson up.
How the Eagles can win:
-Shut down Bradford. McDaniels will likely try to air the ball out. With their awesome CBs, the Eagles should be able to shut him down no problem.
-Stop Jackson. That may be harder to do. If the Dream Team has one weakness, it's run defense.
-Protect Vick. Vick has taken some SHOTS in preseason. Keep him upright and give him time. He's a dangerous player with time.
How the Rams can win:
-Contain Vick. Nearly impossible.
-Exploit rushing defense and control the ball. The Eagles one weakness is rush defense. Run the ball down their throats and control the clock. Keep the ball out of Vick's hands.
-Give Bradford time. The Eagles will bring the pressure. Keep Bradford upright.
PREDICTION Eagles 31 Rams 13
Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1:00 PM FOX Raymond James Stadium
The Lions are optimistic this season. 3rd year pro out of Georgia Matthew Stafford is healthy after missing significant time last year. A fierce competitor and a talented passer, Stafford possesses the tools to be a top QB in the NFL. At RB, the Lions boast the shifty Javid Best. The Lions took Mikel Leshoure to be the between the tackles guy, but he suffered an achilles injury that may threaten his career. Megatron continues to be an absolute monster. The Lions defensive line will be absolutely fantastic. Returning to the lineup are Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams, and Ndomukong Suh. Coming into the fold is rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley who will contribute immediately.
The Buccaneers were surprising last year, but I have a gut feeling they won't be as good. Josh Freeman had a great year, but his numbers will likely regress. He had a ton of crazy throws that should have been intercepted that weren't. LeGarrett Blount will likely play well but I don't think he will exceed expectations. Mike Williams will continue to be a stud WR in his second year. The Buccaneers were more of a product of an easy schedule. The only win against a team with a winning record was against the Saints who sat their starters the last week of the season. I think the Bucs will be humbled.
How the Lions can win:
-Pressure, Pressure, Pressue. Use your big guys up front.
-Stafford to Megatron. They need to get the ball to their best WR. Common sense.
-Keep Mike Williams contained. The Lions shaky secondary needs to step up.
How the Bucs can win:
-Keep Freeman under control. The Lions will be coming and he needs to stay calm and throw clean passes.
-Pressure Stafford. Stafford is talented, but fragile. Scare him.
-Get Blount going. If you can keep the line honest, that will keep Freeman calm.
PREDICTION: Lions 24 Bucs 20
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 PM CBS EverBank Field
The Titans come to Jacksonville with some new faces and some big question marks. Veteran QB Kerry Collins retired (and has since signed on with the Colts) which left a big hole at QB for the Titans. The Titans, with new head coach Mike Munchak, took this issue seriously and got former Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck as well as Rookie QB Jake Locker. Star RB Chris Johnson continues his holdout and it has been said he requested a trade. WR Kenny Britt awaits a possible suspension for offseason crimes. The Titans need stability on offense and they just do not have it. The Titans need to figure out what's going on or it could be a LONG season.
The Jaguars have their own problems to deal with. David Garrard has been mediocre at best at quarterback and rookie Blaine Gabbert is pushing him to start. Stud rusher Maurice Jones-Drew is coming off of another injury and there are question marks surrounding him. Jones-Drew is a tough guy and will do everything in his power to play his best, but sometimes these things can't be fixed. Beyond TE Marcedes Lewis there isn't much of a threat receiving for the Jags. The defense doesn't really have anyone to talk about.
How the Titans can win:
-Get Chris Johnson under contract. He's the best guy on your team. Pay him so you guys can salvage your season.
-Get Hasselbeck involved early. Surprise the Jaguars.
-Get pressure on Garrard quickly. Rattle him and force turnovers.
How the Jaguars can win:
-Hope MJD can play up to his level. The Jags need him on offense.
-Bench Garrard. Gabbert is better and Garrard has had more than his fair chance to win.
-Get in Hasselbeck's face. It's his first game in Tennessee. Sure, he's a great pro, but he's still learning a new offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens 1:00 PM CBS M&T Financial Field
The Super Bowl Chumps travel to Baltimore to face the division rival Ravens. Roethlisberger returns at QB and looks poised to have another good year as well as the whole offense. The Steelers added Jericho Cotchery at WR and he's likely to get a fair share of passes from Ben. 1st round pick Cameron Heyward looks like a prototypical Steeler guy and he will likely get playing time early. Joining him on defense is reigning defensive MVP Troy Polamalu, who will be fully healthy this season after missing time last year. The Steelers look poised to have another great year.
The Ravens said goodbye to a couple of faces that have become faces of the franchise. Departing this offseason were TE Todd Heap, WR Derrick Mason, and RB Willis McGahee. TE Dennis Pitta looks like he's ready to step up and play tight end. To make up for the loss of McGahee, the Ravens signed Ricky Williams, the former Saints and Dolphins back. He will back up star RB Ray Rice. Their defense returns in full force and it looks just as menacing as ever. Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs...this defense is poised to kick some ass.
How the Steelers can win:
-Call bootlegs for Ben. Roethlisberger is a much better QB when he's in space and he's playing in school yard type situations. Get him outside of the pocket and it will get the Ravens on edge.
-A steady dose of Mendenhall. It's always key to control a game vs a great defense.
-Stop Rice. That's not easy, but the Steelers had the best defense in the NFL last year, and there's no reason why that would change this year.
How the Ravens can win:
-Contain Ben. Green Bay used Clay Matthews as a QB spy in Super Bowl XLV. This forced ben to throw from the pocket where he looked uncomfortable at times. The Ravens need to do this.
-Get Rice involved. He's the most dynamic weapon on the field for the Ravens.
-Utilize Dennis Pitta. The young TE will take the league by surprise this year. Start him out early.
PREDICTION: Steelers 23 Ravens 21
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM CBS Reliant Field
The Colts travel to Houston to face their rivals who have been playing the Colts very tough lately. There is a very strong possibility that QB Peyton Manning will miss this game. If he can't go, the Colt's contingency plan is vet QB Kerry Collins. There is a large dropoff in play, but it's an even bigger drop off to Curtis Painter. Joseph Addai returns as the starter, but rookie Delone Carter is pushing for at least 3rd down/goaline carries. Austin Collie and Dallas Clark return to the team to open up the passing game for the Colts. On defense, oft-injured safety Bob Sanders departed and the Colts signed free agent Tommie Harris at DT. The defensive line remains the strongpoint.
Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Andre Johnson return as one of the most dangerous trios in the NFL. Their offense remains essentially the same with Owen Daniels returning and Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones are still there. The biggest changes to the Texans come on defense. Wade Phillips came over from Dallas and the Texans switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Star defensive end Mario Williams is now an outside linebacker and he looks lost. The advantage of his size/speed combination is partially nullified by the fact that he's forced to start outside standing up. Rookie Brooks Reed looks like he's the real deal and he's becoming a good pass rusher. The shaky pass defense is shored up with free agent CB Jonathan Joseph coming over from Cincinatti
How the Colts can win:
-Get Peyton Manning healthy. Peyton Manning > Kerry Collins
-Stop Foster. Tall order. Their defensive line is good, but it's more pass rushers than run stoppers.
-Use Dallas Clark. Manning's play dropped off after Clark's departure. He's a great TE and he can stretch the field.
How the Texans can win:
-Shut down Manning if he can play. Obvious fact. Nothing surprising there.
-A steady dose of Foster. If you can't shut down Manning, keep the ball out of his hands.
-Get Mario Williams up to speed. The Texans need to get him up to speed or teams will run the ball right at him.
PREDICTION Texans 31 Colts 27
New York Giants @ Washington Redskins 4:00 PM FOX FedEx Field
The New York Giants and Washington Redskins meet to play a game on a day that overshadows the game of football. This game will be played on the 10th anniversary of September 11th and these two teams were the teams most closely effected by the attacks. Both teams will be playing with heavy hearts. The Giants gutted their offensive line this offseason and they will likely have some trouble there. Free agent Center David Bass is a mauler and he seems like he's going to be the starter there for a long time, but a lot of their other linemen are going to struggle. The Giants sent TE Kevin Boss packing to Oakland and they are left with a gaping hole. Division rival Philadelphia Eagles scooped up wideout Steve Smith. The Giants cupboards are bare. To make things worse, Rookie CB Prince Amukamara is out for 2 months with an injury and the Giants lost 3 other defensive backs. On the bright side, Brandon Jacobs looks like the Brandon Jacobs of old.
The Redskins are pretty bad as well. One-year experiment Donovan McNabb was shipped to Minnesota, so there is a QB battle between Rex Grossman and John Beck. Clinton Portis appears to be done, so the Redskins drafted Roy Helu who seems to be poised to get some playing time and they signed former Cardinal Tim Hightower who has been the one glimmer of hope for this team during the preseason. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley return, but are both another year older. Brian Orakpo continues to be the best defensive player on the field and DeAngello Hall is making plays in the preseason.
How the Giants can win:
-Keep the ball out of Manning's hand. He thinks he's elite, but I think if you're coming off a 20+ INT season, you can't say that.
-Pressure Grossman/Beck. The Giants have the league's best defensive line (Detroit fans may disagree, but the Giants are just freakishly good on the DL) and either one of those guys will be pressured easily.
-Get Jacobs the ball in space. It always seems like if you give Jacobs the ball to run between the tackles, he runs directly into the pile. If Jacobs gets a head of steam, he's VERY dangerous.
How the Redskins can win:
-Confuse Manning. DeAngello Hall is salivating to grab some erratic passes.
-Keep it simple for Grossman/Beck. They need to vanilla the offense so that the defensive line is nullified.
-Take advantage of the Giants depleted secondary. They will be shorthanded.
PREDICTION: Giants 24 Redskins 10
Minnesota Vikings @ San Diego Chargers 4:00 PM FOX Qualcomm Stadium
The Vikings travel to take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers. The Vikings are without Brett Favre this year, replacing him is Donavan McNabb who most people aren't optimistic about. The Vikes also lost WR Sidney Rice to Seattle. Tackle Bryant McKinnie was let go and signed on with the Ravens. This Minnesota Vikings offensive line is depleted. Expect to see a significant drop off in play. Adrian Peterson will also likely take a hit because of this. The defense was not upgraded significantly and will likely struggle. Christian Ponder will backup McNabb, but Ponder isn't looking great.
On the other side of the field comes Philip Rivers, the Chargers' top 5 QB. All reports indicate that his favorite target, Tight End Antonio Gates, is ready to go for the season. Last year, Rivers performed exceptionally well without Gates for part of the year as well as WR Vincent Jackson. With these players returning as well as RB Ryan Matthews, the offense is set to have another top tier season. Bob Sanders was added to shore up the defense, which was ranked #1 in yards in 2010, and will provide help if he can stay healthy. There is a lot of buzz going around about rookie defensive tackle Corey Liguet. Liguet boasts an insanely low pad level and a quick burst off the ball. He should make an immediate impact.
How the Vikings can win:
-Great offensive line play. The Vikings have questions at the offensive line. They need to come out firing and maul the Chargers' d-line.
-Steady dose of AP. The best back in the league needs the ball in his hand.
-Keep McNabb's role simple. Create an easy offense for McNabb to run. He's a smart QB, but he's coming off a bad year and he needs to build confidence again.
How the Chargers can win:
-Shut down AP. The Chargers need to stop AP. If they can handle that, the Vikings should be an easy W.
-Contain Harvin on returns. Percy Harvin remains a dangerous return man.
-Put the game in the hands of Phil Rivers. He's one of the top QBs in the league and he's going to lead you to victory.
PREDICTION: Chargers 38 Vikings 13
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers 4:00 PM FOX Candlestick Park
The Seahawks traven to the Bay Area for this NFC West showdown. Coach Pete Carroll, in his second year, got rid of veteran Matt Hasselbeck and instead is holding a competition for ex-Viking Tavares Jackson and ex-Charger Charlie Whitehurst. It seems like Whitehurst is the front runner. To protect his young QBs, Carroll has recruited ex-Raiders head coach Tom Cable to coordinate his offensive line. With him, Cable brought TE Zach Miller and OG Robert Gallery. This will surely help on the offensive line. Adding even more to the line is rookie OL James Carpenter. Giving the new QBs another target was a top priority and the Seahawks landed Sidney Rice from Minnesota.
The 49ers still cannot cut ties with 2005 #1 overall pick Alex Smith. In the draft this year, the 49ers drafted QB Colin Kaepernick. He will likely put some pressure on Smith for the job, but the job is pretty much Smith's. Vernon Davis returns at TE, diva WR Michael Crabtree misses another offseason but will play come week 1, and RB Frank Gore is unhappy with his contract and is asking for a trade or a new deal. The 49ers are in trouble. Center David Bass left for New York and leaves a hole, though Joe Staley, Anthony Davis, and Mike Iupati still provide a solid frame to work with. On defense, CB Nate Clements departed and S Taylor Mays was traded. Replacing them are CBs Carlos Rodgers and Karl Paymah, and safety Madeiu Williams. Patrick Willis returns and remains one of the best LBs in football.
How the Seahawks can win:
-Have a big game out of Marshawn Lynch. The QB play isn't where it needs to be.
-Get Zach Miller involved. It's always good to have a good outlet guy. The Seahawks have 2 good outlet guys in Miller and TE John Carlson.
-Stop Gore...if he plays.
How the 49ers can win:
-Pay Gore. That's all.
-Crabtree and Ginn. Both guys need to step it up to have a shot against Seattle.
-Stop Seattle's rushing game. It's apparent that Carroll favors the rush game. Make him uncomfortable.
PREDICTION: Seattle 17 San Francisco 10
Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals 4:00 PM FOX University of Phoenix Stadium
The Panthers travel down to the desert to take on the Cardinals. Rookie Cam Newton may make his first start, though it's up in the air. 2nd year QB out of Notre Dame, Jimmy Clausen, has looked okay in his preseason action. The Panthers added TE Greg Olsen from Chicago and TE Jeremy Shockey from New Orleans. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are back as one of the better tandems in the NFL. Wideout Brandon LaFell is turning heads in the preseason and it seems that he may contribute. Steve Smith remains a threat despite his age. On the defensive side of things, Jon Beason remains a top LB.
The big news out of Arizona this year was their trade for QB Kevin Kolb from the Eagles. They lost CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but gained rookie Patrick Peterson who was dubbed a "can't miss" prospect. They expect big things out of him. They also expected big things out of rookie RB Ryan Williams, but Williams recently suffered a season ending injury. This is an even bigger blow because the Cardinals got rid of one of their reserve backs, Tim Hightower. Beanie Wells will have his shot at the starting job. Larry Fitzgerald remains the focal point of the offense. Todd Heap is a nice addition at TE for the Cards.
How the Panthers can win:
-Start Jimmy Clausen. It may be tempting to start Cam Newton, but he has been wildly inaccurate thus far. He is a talented rusher, but he looks lost in the pocket and his preseason completion percentage is around 40% right now. That won't cut it.
-Return to the power running game. Use Stewart and Williams, you have them.
-Get LaFell involved. He is the most explosive player on your team. Use him for returns and as a receiver.
How the Cardinals can win:
-Get the ball to Larry. Larry Fitzgerald makes the Cardinals better.
-Beanie Wells needs to have a big game. The Cardinals cannot rely soley on the pass game. Even if it beats the Panthers, they need to establish a rushing presence.
-Pressure young QBs. Regardless of who starts, the Cards need to pressure them.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 20 Panthers 6
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets 8:20 PM NBC Metlife Stadium
Rob Ryan tries to beat Rex Ryan in this week 1 matchup. The Cowboys come in optimistic after last year's disappointing campaign. Tono Romo and Dez Bryant return and make this unit a lot more dangerous than people will think. Tyron Smith comes in to help out the offensive line that had problems last year. Jason Witten is probably the most consistent player in the league. Expect another 60+ catch and 1,000+ yard season from him. The Cowboys finally cut ties with Marion Barber. The starting job is Felix Jones' right now, but rookie DeMarco Murray may overtake him. The Cowboys' glaring hole continues to be their secondary. It's swiss cheese. Harr Harr...
The Jets are essentially the same team as last year. They got rid of Braylon Edwards and they signed Plaxico Burress. Both wear the same number, the only difference is that Edwards drops a bunch of balls and it seems Burress can't stay healthy. The Jets only major departures were Jericho Cotchery and Shaun Ellis, but they landed former Ravens WR Derrick Mason. The Jets defense remains intact and they added Temple defensive lineman Mohammad Wilkerson, he will likely contribute quickly.
How the Cowboys can win:
-Throw the ball to Witten. It seems that every critical down the Cowboys have, Witten is wide open. Why not use him more? He's awesome.
-Throw the ball to Dez Bryant. Revis will likely be on Austin, but I think Bryant will be able to burn Cromartie.
-Limit Jones' carries, but keep the Jets defense honest at the same time.
How the Jets can win:
-Pressure Romo. The Cowboys have plenty of offensive targets. The Jets have a great secondary, but it's asking a lot out of them to cover Witten, Bryant, and Austin. Pressure is the safest option.
-Exploit Dallas' secondary. It's weak. Holmes and Burress should get some chances.
-Hope that there isn't inclement weather. Sanchez plays poorly the worse the weather is.
PREDICTION: Jets 27 Cowboys 24
Monday, September 12, 2011
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins 7:00 PM ESPN Sunlife Stadium
The Patriots ended their season the same way the Dolphins did last year. At home watching the Super Bowl. The difference is the Patriots seemed to be the class of the league while the Dolphins were chum (haha nautical references). The Patriots responded this offseason by adding a ton of free agent talent. Joining the Patriots squad are ex-Bengal Chad Ochocinco, ex-Redskin and Titan Albert Hanseworth, and ex-Jet Shaun Ellis. Joining Logan Mankins on the offensive line is rookie Nate Solder. Jerrod Mayo returns as the team's best defender.
The Dolphins flirted with trading for QB Kyle Orton from the Broncos, but the Broncos didn't go through with it. Chad Henne returns as the team's starter. Gone is the tandem fans have grown to love in Miami of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, now the Phins have Reggie Bush from New Orleans and Daniel Thomas, a rookie. Jake Long remains one of the league's top offensive linemen. On defense, Vonte Davis and Karlos Dansby lead the marginal at best unit.
How the Patriots can win:
-Shut down Henne. Check.
-Stop the run. Check.
-Show up to the stadium. Check
How the Dolphins can win:
-Shut down Brady. Not happening.
-Shut down Ochocino, Welker, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Woodhead, etc. Not happening.
-Luck. Maybe?
PREDICTION: Patriots 41 Dolphins 10
Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos 10:15 PM ESPN Invesco Field
The Raiders travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in this underwhelming AFC West matchup. The Raiders are going through an overhaul. New head coach Hue Jackson took the strategy of stocking offensive line depth in the draft and is building the team from the ground up. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush return to bring an insanely good rushing game to the table. Kevin Boss came onboard from the Giants and adds depth at tight end after Zach Miller departed for Seattle. On defense, the biggest loss was star CB Nnamdi Asomugha, which will hurt the defense greatly. Terrelle Pryor was taken with the Raiders' 3rd round pick in the Supplemental Draft and may contribute after serving his 5 game suspension.
The Broncos come in as one big mess. Tim Tebow was supposed to start, now he's the #4 QB. Nobody really knows what is going on with RB Knowshon Moreno. Brandon Lloyd and Von Miller are about the only positives you can come up with with this team. Maybe Kyle Orton as well.
How the Raiders can win:
-McFadden. All day.
-Shut down Lloyd. Tall order without Nnamdi.
-Limit Jason Campbell's touches. He's an all right QB, but he's not always careful.
How the Broncos can win:
-Have faith in Orton. He can play and the Raiders took a hit in their secondary.
-Contain McFadden. They need to keep him in check to have a shot.
-Establish some sort of a run game with Moreno.
PREDICTION: Raiders 23 Broncos 14
Thursday, June 2, 2011
My NFL Top 100
Since the NFL doesn't know what the hell it's doing with their top 100 list, I took it upon myself to make my own list of the NFL's top 100 players. This is based off of 2010-2011 ONLY. Guys like Tony Romo will not be on this list because he was hurt for too long to make an impact.
100. Brad Smith, KR, New York Jets
99. Stefan Logan, KR, Detroit Lions
98. Jahri Evans, G, New Orleans Saints
97. Ryan Kalil, C, Carolina Panthers
96. Leon Washington, KR, Seattle Seahawks
95. Sebastian Janikowski, K, Oakland Raiders
94. Kris Dielman, OL, San Diego Chargers
93. Terrell Owens, WR, Cincinati Bengals
92. Chris Snee, G, New York Giants
91. Donald Penn, T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
90. Mat McBriar, P, Dallas Cowboys
89. Marc Mariani, KR, Tennessee Titans
88. David Akers, K, Philadelphia Eagles
87. Donte Whitner, S, Buffalo Bills
86. TJ Ward, S, Cleveland Browns
85. Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
84. Jordan Gross, T, Carolina Panthers
83. LaRod Stephens Howling, KR, Arizona Cardinals
82. BenJarvis Green Ellis, RB, New England Patriots
81. Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons
80. Andre Gurode, C, Dallas Cowboys
79. Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
78. Trent Cole, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
77. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
76. Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants
75. Nick Mangold, C, New York Jets
74. London Fletcher, LB, Washington Redskins
73. Dez Bryant, WR/KR, Dallas Cowboys
72. Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins
71. Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota Vikings
70. Justin Tuck, DE, New York Giants
69. Paul Posluzny, LB, Buffalo Bills
68. Devin Hester, WR/KR/PR, Chicago Bears
67. LeGarrett Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
66. Santonio Holmes, WR, New York Jets
65. Aqib Talib, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
64. Joe Haden, CB, Cleveland Browns
63. Jason Babin, DE, Tennessee Titans
62. Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
61. BJ Raji, NT, Green Bay Packers
60. Joe Thomas, T, Cleveland Browns
59. Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
58. Haloti Nagta, NT, Baltimore Ravens
57. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
56. Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
55. Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
54. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington Redskins
53. Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys
52. Tramon Williams, CB, Green Bay Packers
51. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
50. Nick Collins, S, Green Bay Packers
49. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
48. Desean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
47. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chielfs
46. Logan Mankins, G, New England Patriots
45. Santana Moss, WR, Washington Redskins
44. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
43. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens
42. Stephen Tulloch, LB, Tennessee Titans
41. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons
40. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
39. Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
38. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers
37. Stephen Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
36. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
35. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
34. Jerome Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
33. Cameron Wake, DE, Miami Dolphins
32. Jake Long, OT, Miami Dolphins
31. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons
30. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
29. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
28. Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
27. Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
26. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
25. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
24. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
23. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
22. Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
21. Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers
20. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
19. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
18. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
17. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
16. Devin McCourty, CB, New England Patriots
15. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs
14. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
13. Nnamdi Asomugah, CB, Oakland Raiders
12. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
11. Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers
10. Jarod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots
9. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
8. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons
7. Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Demarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys
5. Maurice Jones Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
2. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
100. Brad Smith, KR, New York Jets
99. Stefan Logan, KR, Detroit Lions
98. Jahri Evans, G, New Orleans Saints
97. Ryan Kalil, C, Carolina Panthers
96. Leon Washington, KR, Seattle Seahawks
95. Sebastian Janikowski, K, Oakland Raiders
94. Kris Dielman, OL, San Diego Chargers
93. Terrell Owens, WR, Cincinati Bengals
92. Chris Snee, G, New York Giants
91. Donald Penn, T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
90. Mat McBriar, P, Dallas Cowboys
89. Marc Mariani, KR, Tennessee Titans
88. David Akers, K, Philadelphia Eagles
87. Donte Whitner, S, Buffalo Bills
86. TJ Ward, S, Cleveland Browns
85. Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
84. Jordan Gross, T, Carolina Panthers
83. LaRod Stephens Howling, KR, Arizona Cardinals
82. BenJarvis Green Ellis, RB, New England Patriots
81. Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons
80. Andre Gurode, C, Dallas Cowboys
79. Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
78. Trent Cole, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
77. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
76. Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants
75. Nick Mangold, C, New York Jets
74. London Fletcher, LB, Washington Redskins
73. Dez Bryant, WR/KR, Dallas Cowboys
72. Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins
71. Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota Vikings
70. Justin Tuck, DE, New York Giants
69. Paul Posluzny, LB, Buffalo Bills
68. Devin Hester, WR/KR/PR, Chicago Bears
67. LeGarrett Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
66. Santonio Holmes, WR, New York Jets
65. Aqib Talib, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
64. Joe Haden, CB, Cleveland Browns
63. Jason Babin, DE, Tennessee Titans
62. Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
61. BJ Raji, NT, Green Bay Packers
60. Joe Thomas, T, Cleveland Browns
59. Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
58. Haloti Nagta, NT, Baltimore Ravens
57. Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
56. Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
55. Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
54. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington Redskins
53. Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys
52. Tramon Williams, CB, Green Bay Packers
51. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
50. Nick Collins, S, Green Bay Packers
49. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
48. Desean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
47. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chielfs
46. Logan Mankins, G, New England Patriots
45. Santana Moss, WR, Washington Redskins
44. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
43. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens
42. Stephen Tulloch, LB, Tennessee Titans
41. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons
40. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
39. Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
38. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers
37. Stephen Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
36. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
35. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
34. Jerome Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
33. Cameron Wake, DE, Miami Dolphins
32. Jake Long, OT, Miami Dolphins
31. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons
30. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
29. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
28. Asante Samuel, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
27. Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
26. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
25. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
24. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
23. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
22. Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
21. Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers
20. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
19. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
18. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
17. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
16. Devin McCourty, CB, New England Patriots
15. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs
14. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
13. Nnamdi Asomugah, CB, Oakland Raiders
12. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
11. Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers
10. Jarod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots
9. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
8. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons
7. Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Demarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys
5. Maurice Jones Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
2. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Monday, May 2, 2011
2011 Green Bay Packers Draft Grade
First Round:
#32 Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi St.
Great pick for the Packers. I think this is directly in response to Nick Fairley being drafted by Detroit. The Lions manhandled the Packers up front last year and the Packers offensive line was exposed. The Packers upgraded the position for the future. One idea I heard being tossed around is to move Bulaga to LG and put Sherrod at RT. This would groom him for the future and give the team the best 5 linemen on the field at the same time.
Grade: A
Second Round:
#64 Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky
Cobb has drawn comparisons to Percy Harvin. A dynamic receiver, the Packers offense becomes better because of Cobb. He can be used as a receiver, a wildcat QB, a returner, etc. Cobb helps make the Packers better. Cobb also allows the Packers to get rid of James "Stone Hands" Jones and makes Donald Driver's transition to retirement easier.
Grade: B+
Third Round:
#96 Alex Green, RB Hawaii
Green is a big, hard running back. His downside is that he does not have "second level" speed and is not shifty. It seems like the Packers want Green for his short yardage ability. The Packers did struggle a bit with goal line situations and short yardage runs. John Kuhn did all right, but an upgrade would be nice.
Grade: B+
Forth Round:
#131 Davon House, CB New Mexico State
A project with the physical attributes to become a solid starter in the NFL. The Packers have had solid CBs since Ted Thompson came to town. Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Sam Shields were all playing at a high level last year. House has the privilege of learning from this solid group of players. Hopefully, he will be groomed well enough to be an eventual starter.
Grade: C+
Fifth Round
#141 D.J. Williams, TE Arkansas
Williams is an interesting prospect. He is one of Thompson's "value" picks. He has great route running ability, but he lacks blocking ability. The bigger question here is where do the other TEs fit in? Obviously, Finley is a staple. Donald Lee is likely gone. Are Quarless and Crabtree safe? Quarless had a less than stellar season, but he did flash ability. Crabtree's blocking ability may keep him in the mix. So will Quarless be gone? Only time will tell.
Grade: B-
Sixth Round
#179 Caleb Schlauderaff, OG Utah
Not a player who can come in and help right away. Will likely spend time on the practice squad. He is a hard worker, but he will need lots of work to make a serious run at the starting lineup.
Grade: D
#186 D.J. Smith, LB Appalachian State
Another body for camp. Will try and compete for a roster spot, but Zombo, Walden, and Jones will be the front-runners for the starting ROLB spot.
Grade: D
#197 Ricky Elmore, DE Arizona
At 260 pounds, will likely be an OLB in the 34 defense. I think he's also going to be a camp body, but I like him better than Smith.
Grade C-
Round Seven
#218 Ryan Taylor, TE/FB North Carolina
A big TE/FB who will likely see a lot of time on special teams. He was captain for the special teams unit in 2008 and 2010 for NC. Thompson goes for special team help here because the Packers were lacking in this area.
Grade: C-
#233 Lawrence Guy, DT Arizona State
A solid 5-technique DE in a 3-4, Guy has ideal size to help out. He has a learning disability as well as ADD, so the Packers must be patient. If the Packers can harness his potential, this is a steal at pick 233. A developmental guy with tremendous upside.
Grade: B-
#32 Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi St.
Great pick for the Packers. I think this is directly in response to Nick Fairley being drafted by Detroit. The Lions manhandled the Packers up front last year and the Packers offensive line was exposed. The Packers upgraded the position for the future. One idea I heard being tossed around is to move Bulaga to LG and put Sherrod at RT. This would groom him for the future and give the team the best 5 linemen on the field at the same time.
Grade: A
Second Round:
#64 Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky
Cobb has drawn comparisons to Percy Harvin. A dynamic receiver, the Packers offense becomes better because of Cobb. He can be used as a receiver, a wildcat QB, a returner, etc. Cobb helps make the Packers better. Cobb also allows the Packers to get rid of James "Stone Hands" Jones and makes Donald Driver's transition to retirement easier.
Grade: B+
Third Round:
#96 Alex Green, RB Hawaii
Green is a big, hard running back. His downside is that he does not have "second level" speed and is not shifty. It seems like the Packers want Green for his short yardage ability. The Packers did struggle a bit with goal line situations and short yardage runs. John Kuhn did all right, but an upgrade would be nice.
Grade: B+
Forth Round:
#131 Davon House, CB New Mexico State
A project with the physical attributes to become a solid starter in the NFL. The Packers have had solid CBs since Ted Thompson came to town. Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, and Sam Shields were all playing at a high level last year. House has the privilege of learning from this solid group of players. Hopefully, he will be groomed well enough to be an eventual starter.
Grade: C+
Fifth Round
#141 D.J. Williams, TE Arkansas
Williams is an interesting prospect. He is one of Thompson's "value" picks. He has great route running ability, but he lacks blocking ability. The bigger question here is where do the other TEs fit in? Obviously, Finley is a staple. Donald Lee is likely gone. Are Quarless and Crabtree safe? Quarless had a less than stellar season, but he did flash ability. Crabtree's blocking ability may keep him in the mix. So will Quarless be gone? Only time will tell.
Grade: B-
Sixth Round
#179 Caleb Schlauderaff, OG Utah
Not a player who can come in and help right away. Will likely spend time on the practice squad. He is a hard worker, but he will need lots of work to make a serious run at the starting lineup.
Grade: D
#186 D.J. Smith, LB Appalachian State
Another body for camp. Will try and compete for a roster spot, but Zombo, Walden, and Jones will be the front-runners for the starting ROLB spot.
Grade: D
#197 Ricky Elmore, DE Arizona
At 260 pounds, will likely be an OLB in the 34 defense. I think he's also going to be a camp body, but I like him better than Smith.
Grade C-
Round Seven
#218 Ryan Taylor, TE/FB North Carolina
A big TE/FB who will likely see a lot of time on special teams. He was captain for the special teams unit in 2008 and 2010 for NC. Thompson goes for special team help here because the Packers were lacking in this area.
Grade: C-
#233 Lawrence Guy, DT Arizona State
A solid 5-technique DE in a 3-4, Guy has ideal size to help out. He has a learning disability as well as ADD, so the Packers must be patient. If the Packers can harness his potential, this is a steal at pick 233. A developmental guy with tremendous upside.
Grade: B-
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Running List of Ridiculous Player Statments During the Lockout
It seems as though the players cannot keep their mouths shut. I'm going to keep a comprehensive list of what these guys said and make some comments to go with it. Enjoy.
3.15.11-"It's like modern day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money, the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."-Adrian Peterson, Vikings RB
I already ripped into him for this one, so I'll avoid it. But here's some more...
"Well, show us.' We want more information, and they want to bull****, going around, saying this and that, just open it up and give us the information we want. If they have nothing to hide, just give us the information"
Adrian. Adrian. Adrian. You make $10 Million a year, and you're saying the LEAGUE is bull****ing you? Have you even run a business? Don't you think these teams want a competitive advantage over each other? How about you get Wal-Mart together with Target and they look over how they spend their money. Yeah. Good one. Oh...and the NFL has already given an unprecedented amount of financial info to a 3rd party arbitrator. Is that not enough, Adrian?
NOTE: *Rashard Mendenhall and Leonard Weaver have stated the same thing publicly, but for sake of keeping it sort of fresh, I'll avoid posting lengthy posts about them.*
3.16.11-"Goodell's full of it. He's a liar. You're a blatant liar. 'It's our league, it's we, we love the players, we want the league,' but what have you done for the players? What have you done, in all honesty, to improve the game, besides fine guys, besides take money away from guys, besides change a game that you've never played? … He's done nothing to improve the game."-Kevin Burnett, Chargers LB
Kevin Burnett? Is he even in the NFL anymore? Anyway. Let's start with your question, 'what have you done for the players?' Well where do we start? Roger Goodell has expanded the league continually. Goodell has acknowledged and taken action on the concussion problem. If anyone doesn't believe that Tagliabue's regime didn't believe concussions were an issue, go to 8:20-9:12 in the clip below. Oh and the fining? That's trying to make the game safer, Kevin.
3.18.11-“He and the owners lie to the public every day,” Pitts said of Goodell. “That letter is the equivalent of spam! How is it all of sudden he now wants to negotiate when he knows that window has closed. A Trade Association can not collectively bargain! The courts must now decide.”-Chester Pitts, Seahawks G
Thankfully, Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com pointed out how you were wrong. The two sides can negotiate using lawyers. That's all. Thanks for playing, Chester. Enjoy your "spam" you bumbling oaf.
4.6.11-"He needs to stop crying about blood tests and HGH. He needs to try to get a deal done, that's what he needs to do. He's been on this crusade about HGH, but he needs to be on a crusade about getting these owners together and trying to work out a deal. To me, he's a joke, because every time I look, he's talking about performance enhancements instead of talking about trying to figure out a way to make sure football is played in August."-Derrick Mason, Ravens WR
No, the players need to stop crying about a needle being too intrusive. The players need to stop taking these performance enhancing drugs. Oh and he tried to get a deal done with you guys, but you know...you players are totally unreasonable and would rather have the legal system do its thing than actually negotiate for the greater good of football. You guys are holding it back, not the NFL.
4.27.11-According to Chester Pitts (no long quote here) Commissioner Roger Goodell is a "fraud" and the NFL's counsel Jeff Pash is a "consistent turd". Roger Goodell made legitimate points about the NFL Draft, salary cap, etc., being in danger. That is how Pitts has responded.
If anyone reading this wonders "well, why can't they just get a deal done already?!" think of these quotes. There are sure going to be more to come. It's only April. The night is young.
3.15.11-"It's like modern day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money, the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."-Adrian Peterson, Vikings RB
I already ripped into him for this one, so I'll avoid it. But here's some more...
"Well, show us.' We want more information, and they want to bull****, going around, saying this and that, just open it up and give us the information we want. If they have nothing to hide, just give us the information"
Adrian. Adrian. Adrian. You make $10 Million a year, and you're saying the LEAGUE is bull****ing you? Have you even run a business? Don't you think these teams want a competitive advantage over each other? How about you get Wal-Mart together with Target and they look over how they spend their money. Yeah. Good one. Oh...and the NFL has already given an unprecedented amount of financial info to a 3rd party arbitrator. Is that not enough, Adrian?
NOTE: *Rashard Mendenhall and Leonard Weaver have stated the same thing publicly, but for sake of keeping it sort of fresh, I'll avoid posting lengthy posts about them.*
3.16.11-"Goodell's full of it. He's a liar. You're a blatant liar. 'It's our league, it's we, we love the players, we want the league,' but what have you done for the players? What have you done, in all honesty, to improve the game, besides fine guys, besides take money away from guys, besides change a game that you've never played? … He's done nothing to improve the game."-Kevin Burnett, Chargers LB
Kevin Burnett? Is he even in the NFL anymore? Anyway. Let's start with your question, 'what have you done for the players?' Well where do we start? Roger Goodell has expanded the league continually. Goodell has acknowledged and taken action on the concussion problem. If anyone doesn't believe that Tagliabue's regime didn't believe concussions were an issue, go to 8:20-9:12 in the clip below. Oh and the fining? That's trying to make the game safer, Kevin.
3.18.11-“He and the owners lie to the public every day,” Pitts said of Goodell. “That letter is the equivalent of spam! How is it all of sudden he now wants to negotiate when he knows that window has closed. A Trade Association can not collectively bargain! The courts must now decide.”-Chester Pitts, Seahawks G
Thankfully, Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com pointed out how you were wrong. The two sides can negotiate using lawyers. That's all. Thanks for playing, Chester. Enjoy your "spam" you bumbling oaf.
4.6.11-"He needs to stop crying about blood tests and HGH. He needs to try to get a deal done, that's what he needs to do. He's been on this crusade about HGH, but he needs to be on a crusade about getting these owners together and trying to work out a deal. To me, he's a joke, because every time I look, he's talking about performance enhancements instead of talking about trying to figure out a way to make sure football is played in August."-Derrick Mason, Ravens WR
No, the players need to stop crying about a needle being too intrusive. The players need to stop taking these performance enhancing drugs. Oh and he tried to get a deal done with you guys, but you know...you players are totally unreasonable and would rather have the legal system do its thing than actually negotiate for the greater good of football. You guys are holding it back, not the NFL.
4.27.11-According to Chester Pitts (no long quote here) Commissioner Roger Goodell is a "fraud" and the NFL's counsel Jeff Pash is a "consistent turd". Roger Goodell made legitimate points about the NFL Draft, salary cap, etc., being in danger. That is how Pitts has responded.
If anyone reading this wonders "well, why can't they just get a deal done already?!" think of these quotes. There are sure going to be more to come. It's only April. The night is young.
Ranking the QBs: 2002 NFL Draft
David Carr # 1 Overall to the Houston Texans
David Carr was the first QB in Houston Texans history. He was soon shuffled out and was given little respect for being the guy to take all the hits for a growing franchise. Was he the best QB in 2002?
Career Stats
79 GS
1340/2242 Comp/Att
59.8% Comp
14,313 Yards
65 TDs
70 INTs
75.1 QB Rating
Per Game:
17/28 59.8% 181 Yards .8 TDs .88 INTs
Joey Harrington #3 Overall to the Detroit Lions
Joey Harrington tried unsuccessfully with several teams. We already saw the number 1 QB wasn't great, how about the 2nd QB taken?
Career Stats
66 GS
1424/2538 Comp/Att
56.1% Comp
14,693 Yards
79 TDs
85 INTs
69.4 QB Rating
Per Game:
21/38 56.1% 223 Yards 1.2 TDs 1.3 INTs
Patrick Ramsey #32 Overall to the Washington Redskins
Patrick has been with 9 different teams, yet only has 24 starts. A colossal disappointment for the Redskins, Ramsey never panned out to projections. Lets see how he stacks up.
24 GS
511/913 Comp/Att
56% Comp
5,930 Yards
35 TDs
30 INTs
74.9 QB Rating
Per Game:
21/38 56% 247 Yards 1.5 TDs 1.25 INTs
David Garrard #108 Overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars
78 GS
1406/2281 Att/Comp
61.6 Comp
16,003 Yards
89 TDs
54 INTs
85.8 QB Rating
Per Game:
18/29 61.6% 205 Yards 1.1 TDs .69 INTs
Well, looking at the numbers, it's clear that the 2002 NFL Draft's best QB was David Garrard. Garrard has been underwhelming to say the least, but he's got the best stats and has one less start than David Carr while being taken 107 picks after him to a team with a QB already. This draft was embarrassingly weak at QB, most QBs never panned out and are out of the league.
David Carr was the first QB in Houston Texans history. He was soon shuffled out and was given little respect for being the guy to take all the hits for a growing franchise. Was he the best QB in 2002?
Career Stats
79 GS
1340/2242 Comp/Att
59.8% Comp
14,313 Yards
65 TDs
70 INTs
75.1 QB Rating
Per Game:
17/28 59.8% 181 Yards .8 TDs .88 INTs
Joey Harrington #3 Overall to the Detroit Lions
Joey Harrington tried unsuccessfully with several teams. We already saw the number 1 QB wasn't great, how about the 2nd QB taken?
Career Stats
66 GS
1424/2538 Comp/Att
56.1% Comp
14,693 Yards
79 TDs
85 INTs
69.4 QB Rating
Per Game:
21/38 56.1% 223 Yards 1.2 TDs 1.3 INTs
Patrick Ramsey #32 Overall to the Washington Redskins
Patrick has been with 9 different teams, yet only has 24 starts. A colossal disappointment for the Redskins, Ramsey never panned out to projections. Lets see how he stacks up.
24 GS
511/913 Comp/Att
56% Comp
5,930 Yards
35 TDs
30 INTs
74.9 QB Rating
Per Game:
21/38 56% 247 Yards 1.5 TDs 1.25 INTs
David Garrard #108 Overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars
78 GS
1406/2281 Att/Comp
61.6 Comp
16,003 Yards
89 TDs
54 INTs
85.8 QB Rating
Per Game:
18/29 61.6% 205 Yards 1.1 TDs .69 INTs
Well, looking at the numbers, it's clear that the 2002 NFL Draft's best QB was David Garrard. Garrard has been underwhelming to say the least, but he's got the best stats and has one less start than David Carr while being taken 107 picks after him to a team with a QB already. This draft was embarrassingly weak at QB, most QBs never panned out and are out of the league.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Mock Draft picks 21-32
For the sake of time, I'm not going to do a write up for each team, but I need to finish the mock draft.
Link to picks 1-10
Link to picks 11-20
21. Kansas City-Corey Liuget, DT Illinois
22. Indianapolis-Benjamin Ijalana, OT Villanova
23. Philadelphia-Tyron Smith, OT USC
24. Washington-Ryan Mallet, QB Arkansas
25. Seattle-Jake Locker, QB Washington
26. Baltimore-Danny Watkins, OG Baylor
27. Atlanta-Ras-I Dowling, CB Virginia
28. Arizona-Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
29. Chicago-Mohammad Wilkerson, DE Temple
30. NY Jets-Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA
31. Pittsburgh-Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
32. Green Bay-Cam Heyward, DE Ohio St.
Link to picks 1-10
Link to picks 11-20
21. Kansas City-Corey Liuget, DT Illinois
22. Indianapolis-Benjamin Ijalana, OT Villanova
23. Philadelphia-Tyron Smith, OT USC
24. Washington-Ryan Mallet, QB Arkansas
25. Seattle-Jake Locker, QB Washington
26. Baltimore-Danny Watkins, OG Baylor
27. Atlanta-Ras-I Dowling, CB Virginia
28. Arizona-Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
29. Chicago-Mohammad Wilkerson, DE Temple
30. NY Jets-Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA
31. Pittsburgh-Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
32. Green Bay-Cam Heyward, DE Ohio St.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Ranking Each Draft's QBs: 2001 NFL Draft
Michael Vick #1 Overall to the Atlanta Falcons
Michael Vick, one of the most controversial players, was taken first overall in this draft. Whether or not you agree with his criminal record, you can't deny he's one of the best players in the NFL right now. Let's look into it:
Career Stats
74 GS
1169/2115 Comp/Att
58.3% Comp
14,604 Yards
93 TDs
58 INTs
80.2 QB Rating
Per Game:
16/29 58.3% 197 Yards 1.26 TDs .78 INTs
Drew Brees #32 Overall to San Diego
Drew Brees was the 2nd QB off the board, but he fell to the second round. 35,000 yards and 235 TDs later, Brees is making people question why Vick was taken first.
135 GS
3145/4822 Comp/Att
65.2% Comp
35,266 Yards
235 TDs
132 INTs
91.7 QB Rating
Per Game:
23/36 65.2% 261 Yards 1.75 TDs .98 INTs
Quincy Carter #53 Overall to the Dallas Cowboys
Quincy had an okay career with Dallas. He made the playoffs and added a bit of a spark to the Dallas Cowboys team. Let's see how much he helped.
34 GS
542/960 Comp/Att
56.5% Comp
6,337 Yards
32 TDs
37 INTs
71.7 QB Rating
Per Game:
16/28 56.5% 186 Yards .94 TDs 1.09 INTs
Chris Weinke #106 Overall to Carolina
Weinke wasn't good for much more than being the joke that Chris Berman could never make on NFL Primetime. Chris "Touch My" Weinke had some pretty awful games, lets see.
20 GS
386/709 Comp/Att
54.4% Comp
3,904 Yards
15 TDs
26 INTs
62.2 QB Rating
Per Game:
19/35 54.4% 195 Yards .75 TDs 1.3 INTs
So let's look at the rankings here. This one isn't too hard, it's pretty much a two horse race.
1. Brees
2. Vick
3. Carter
4. Weinke
Brees has been much more consistent. Vick is definitely more of a threat at any given time, but Brees gives you the best chance to win. Carter and Weinke had short stints and had pretty bad stats. Part 3 Coming soon!!
Michael Vick, one of the most controversial players, was taken first overall in this draft. Whether or not you agree with his criminal record, you can't deny he's one of the best players in the NFL right now. Let's look into it:
Career Stats
74 GS
1169/2115 Comp/Att
58.3% Comp
14,604 Yards
93 TDs
58 INTs
80.2 QB Rating
Per Game:
16/29 58.3% 197 Yards 1.26 TDs .78 INTs
Drew Brees #32 Overall to San Diego
Drew Brees was the 2nd QB off the board, but he fell to the second round. 35,000 yards and 235 TDs later, Brees is making people question why Vick was taken first.
135 GS
3145/4822 Comp/Att
65.2% Comp
35,266 Yards
235 TDs
132 INTs
91.7 QB Rating
Per Game:
23/36 65.2% 261 Yards 1.75 TDs .98 INTs
Quincy Carter #53 Overall to the Dallas Cowboys
Quincy had an okay career with Dallas. He made the playoffs and added a bit of a spark to the Dallas Cowboys team. Let's see how much he helped.
34 GS
542/960 Comp/Att
56.5% Comp
6,337 Yards
32 TDs
37 INTs
71.7 QB Rating
Per Game:
16/28 56.5% 186 Yards .94 TDs 1.09 INTs
Chris Weinke #106 Overall to Carolina
Weinke wasn't good for much more than being the joke that Chris Berman could never make on NFL Primetime. Chris "Touch My" Weinke had some pretty awful games, lets see.
20 GS
386/709 Comp/Att
54.4% Comp
3,904 Yards
15 TDs
26 INTs
62.2 QB Rating
Per Game:
19/35 54.4% 195 Yards .75 TDs 1.3 INTs
So let's look at the rankings here. This one isn't too hard, it's pretty much a two horse race.
1. Brees
2. Vick
3. Carter
4. Weinke
Brees has been much more consistent. Vick is definitely more of a threat at any given time, but Brees gives you the best chance to win. Carter and Weinke had short stints and had pretty bad stats. Part 3 Coming soon!!
Ranking Each Draft's QBs: 2000 NFL Draft
I decided to undertake an interesting endeavor. I'm going to rank the QBs from each draft from 2000-2010. For this experiment each QB must have at least 16 starts. I will grade based off of performance only, not wins. Let's go!
Chad Pennington #18 Overall to the NY Jets
Chad has had a tough career lately, but he had some flashes of greatness with the Jets. How does he stack up?
Career Numbers:
81 Starts
1632/2471 Comp/Att
66% Comp
17,832 Yards
102 TDs
64 INTs
90.1 QB Rating
Averages:
20/30 66% 220 Yards 1.25 TDs .79 INTs
Marc Bulger # 168 Overall to the New Orleans Saints
Bulger proved to be a solid starter in the NFL despite falling to pick 168, how does he stack up?
Career Numbers
95 Starts
1969/3171 Comp/Att
62.1% Comp
22,814 Yards
122 TDs
93 INTs
84.4 QB Rating
Averages:
21/33 62.1% 240 Yards 1.28 TDs .98 INTs
Tom Brady #199 Overall to the New England Patriots
One of the best QBs of all time, do his numbers stack up?
143 Starts
2996/4710 Comp/Att
63.6 Comp%
34,744 Yards
261 TDs
103 INTs
95.2 QB Rating
Averages:
21/33 63.6% 243 Yards 1.83 TDs .72 INTs
Out of a weak QB class, 3 solid starters emerged. What do the stats show?
1. Tom Brady
2. Chad Pennington
3. Marc Bulger
There you have it folks. The only 3 QBs that mattered in the 2000 NFL Draft ranked. Brady has the yardage of Bulger, the INT % of Pennington, and he crushes both with TDs. If you're in a pass happy offense, take Bulger, if you're in a conservative offense, take Pennington. If you're looking for the best QB in the 2000 NFL Draft, take Brady.
Chad Pennington #18 Overall to the NY Jets
Chad has had a tough career lately, but he had some flashes of greatness with the Jets. How does he stack up?
Career Numbers:
81 Starts
1632/2471 Comp/Att
66% Comp
17,832 Yards
102 TDs
64 INTs
90.1 QB Rating
Averages:
20/30 66% 220 Yards 1.25 TDs .79 INTs
Marc Bulger # 168 Overall to the New Orleans Saints
Bulger proved to be a solid starter in the NFL despite falling to pick 168, how does he stack up?
Career Numbers
95 Starts
1969/3171 Comp/Att
62.1% Comp
22,814 Yards
122 TDs
93 INTs
84.4 QB Rating
Averages:
21/33 62.1% 240 Yards 1.28 TDs .98 INTs
Tom Brady #199 Overall to the New England Patriots
One of the best QBs of all time, do his numbers stack up?
143 Starts
2996/4710 Comp/Att
63.6 Comp%
34,744 Yards
261 TDs
103 INTs
95.2 QB Rating
Averages:
21/33 63.6% 243 Yards 1.83 TDs .72 INTs
Out of a weak QB class, 3 solid starters emerged. What do the stats show?
1. Tom Brady
2. Chad Pennington
3. Marc Bulger
There you have it folks. The only 3 QBs that mattered in the 2000 NFL Draft ranked. Brady has the yardage of Bulger, the INT % of Pennington, and he crushes both with TDs. If you're in a pass happy offense, take Bulger, if you're in a conservative offense, take Pennington. If you're looking for the best QB in the 2000 NFL Draft, take Brady.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
It's official: Some players have lost their minds.
These players are really out of their minds.
Seriously.
I truly believe most of them have no understanding of anything that goes on in the world. I'm going to destroy 4 people on here today. Adrian Peterson, Rashard Mendenhall, Leonard Weaver, and Kevin Mawae.
Adrian Peterson-
You've probably heard his idiotic remark by now. "The NFL...well it's pretty much modern day slavery.". NO YOU IDIOT!! MODERN DAY SLAVERY?! There is an estimated 1.2 million people who would take offense to that, Adrian. 1.2 million...hmmm what could that number represent? Can't be the players...no there are only 1,900 of them. The owners? No...only 32. Hummm...OH! I KNOW!! That's the number of TRUE modern day slaves. You know...those people who will never in their lifetime know what you said...because...they're you know...slaves.
All the way back to the Maurice Clarett case when ESPN was talking about you possibly being the first HS player drafted if he won the case, you understood the rules and regulations of the NFL. That was your desired career choice. I'm sure people idolized you back then. I'm sure people idolize you now. All the glory and fame and wealth you've accumulated. It must be nice to go home to the land YOU own. In the car YOU own. And have time off. And not be forced to work every single day without pay. Oh that's right. You get paid. Let's see how much modern slavery gets paid.
In 2011, if there's football (there may not be thanks to clowns like AP) Adrian Peterson, Zigy Wylf's slave, will be paid $10.2 Million. TEN MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. Let's put this into perspective. Say someone works for the federal minimum wage, $7.25. That is $7.25 an hour MORE than slaves got. Let's say the worked 40 hours a week for all 52 weeks. No vacations, no sick days. That comes out to $15,080. Now lets take AP's salary and divide it by what someone who makes minimum wage makes in a year. What does that come to??? 676.39 years. It will take someone making minimum wage SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX POINT THREE NINE YEARS to make what he makes in ONE! Hey! Being a slave sounds pretty awesome! Oh and what happens when they become ill? Their employer takes money out of their pocket and pays for healthcare, just like the NFL right? Nope AP, sorry we're in the real world here. Most people don't get to play a childrens game for a living.
Rashard Mendenhall-
Now, it's one thing for AP to speak out of frustration (even though he said it twice and hasn't gone back on his word). It's another thing to blindly follow another players ignorant words and back them up even though the majority of people think he's an idiot for saying them. In the wise words of Rashard Mendenhall, "Learn to LISTEN before passing judgement." And then he goes and blindly agrees with AP, continuing to trivialize a horrific practice that still goes on TO THIS DAY.
This in itself is worse in a way than what AP said. Mendenhall had the time to think about the reaction. He saw how negatively it was taken and he could have drawn better parallels than slavery for the point he and AP were trying to make (I'll explain that later). Let's look at how much this slave makes (working for literally the most player friendly/civil rights friendly owner in the whole league). He doesn't make as much as AP. Oh god...how is he going to live off of...$3 Million a year..? Well put it this way...if he took a minimum wage job, he would have to work for 198.94 years to make what he makes in a year.
Leonard Weaver-
Now I have to admit, he redeemed himself just minutes before I started writing this. He publicly said he watched the clip of him agreeing to the other two players, I mean slaves...sorry...for some reason I keep thinking they play a childrens game for a living. Right, they're slaves. Sorry. He said publicly that he watched the video of him saying the NFL was like slavery made him embarrassed. He still claimed that the NFL was unfair...blah blah blah. I'll get to that after I break down this slave's contract. Wait...I thought the slave was supposed to have no rights...how can slaves sign a contract...
He makes slightly more than Mendenhall (I guess his Masta is better!!). $3.3 Million. Pssssssshhhh...that's nothing! Unless you're working for minimum wage. Then that's 218.83 years to you.
But okay, I can see you guys saying, "oh that's not fair nobody makes minimum wage for their entire life". Fair point, let's use $70,000 a year. You can live comfortably with that.
AP-145.71 years at $70K
Mendenhall-42.86 years (might not sound like a lot, but he'd be able to retire after one year living on $70K per year)
Waver-45.71 (play a year on his plantation--football field--sorry...and you'll have worked 45.71 years in the shoes of a person making $70K)
(I'll rip on Mawae after this--stay tuned)
To be fair, let me explain to you why these guys think the NFL is like modern day slavery since their free education at esteemed universities didn't teach them how to articulate thoughts without resorting to buzz words in attempt to garner sympathy.
-The NFL Draft-This is the biggest one. The players fell that in order to play in the NFL, they are unfairly put on teams without their control. While this is true, there are several ways to circumvent this. First, nobody is forcing you to play football, or even NFL football. There's the CFL, UFL (though you may not even get a check...just ask last year's champs), AFL, afl2. It was the player's choice to pursue this career path. But let's assume that the player has his heart set on playing football and can't go into ANY OTHER career field. What do they do then? Make it clear you don't want to play for certain teams. Eli Manning did this in 2004, John Elway did this. To be fair, technically speaking the draft IS illegal without the CBA, but it is something that helps the league stay competitive. Without it, the league would have a few good teams and the rest garbage. Part of the reason the game is a $9 Billion industry is the fact that come week 1, teams are all 0-0 and teams all have a chance to improve thanks to the draft.
-The Combine-This is often compared to slave auctions. A bunch of scary rich old white men make a bunch of young black men (of course a lot of them are white too, but for argument's sake on their part, it's only blacks) run around in their underwear, get poked and prodded by doctors and take a test. There are a few things wrong with the theory. First off, the combine is VOLUNTARY. If you don't want to get poked and prodded and run and jump and lift weights and get a physical, you don't have to. It only helps you to do it though. See when slaves were auctioned off, the best ones were taken by the richest people and if you couldn't work, you were usually killed (yes...it was legal to kill slaves in some places). The combine HELPS these people make MILLIONS. And do you blame the owners for wanting these multi-million dollar investments to be inspected?? There's no insurance for them when they sink money into prospects who are huge busts (JaMarcus Russell??). Most of these guys have tons of money GUARNATEED. Those awful owners...wanting to make smart investments HOW DARE THEM.
-Racial remarks said by owners/coaches-This one is laughable at best. If those stories are true, then that only means one thing, the individual who said it is an asshole. It doesn't mean that the league itself is full of racist people and they're trying to oppress the blacks and make money off of them and leave them with nothing. The opposite is true.
Finally, Kevin Mawae-
He's not nearly as much of an idiot as the other 3 I mentioned. He technically IS doing his job the way it should be done. It doesn't mean he can't be wrong.
Kevin Mawae was quoted as saying that some of the players won't be able to afford insurance for the lockout. He quoted the price of about $2,400 a family a month for insurance. Okay, Kevin, let's use that number. How about we also use these numbers. League rookie minimum salary? $325K. So for the LOWEST PAID PLAYER IN THE NFL, he HAS TO MAKE $325K. But what about the league average salary?? What's the league average?!?! Surely it HAS to be HORRIBLY LOW!! Well just BASE SALARY (not including signing/incentive bonuses)?? $990,000 (this is the 2009 number, 2010 may be higher). Okay so let's look at this.
1 year of insurance at $2,400 a month/family= $28,800
Amount of insurance an NFL player can buy with 1 year worth of salary at NFL minimum= 11.28 years...for a player who likely didn't contribute much of ANYTHING to the game of football.
Amount of insurance an NFL player who makes the league average can buy after one year of work=35.36 years.
Each insurance payment for the mimumum salaried players is 1/135.42nd of their total annual salary.
Each insurance payment for the average player is 1/412.5th of their annual salary.
Those poor, awful players.
Now look, I don't have a problem with the players trying to get more. It's America and they have EVERY RIGHT to try and maximize their income. My problem is when they try to tug at the emotions of the public. How about they stop for one second and think about this:
The more they make, the more (some) owners have made, which means the more the league has made, which means the more YOU AND ME AND EVERY OTHER FAN HAS PAID OUT OF OUR SALARY THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN TOUCH WHAT THE NFL PLAYERS GET IN A SIGNING BONUS. By the players sobbing and wanting more, it's only going to drive up prices for EVERYTHING. Keep siding with the players, people.
Seriously.
I truly believe most of them have no understanding of anything that goes on in the world. I'm going to destroy 4 people on here today. Adrian Peterson, Rashard Mendenhall, Leonard Weaver, and Kevin Mawae.
Adrian Peterson-
You've probably heard his idiotic remark by now. "The NFL...well it's pretty much modern day slavery.". NO YOU IDIOT!! MODERN DAY SLAVERY?! There is an estimated 1.2 million people who would take offense to that, Adrian. 1.2 million...hmmm what could that number represent? Can't be the players...no there are only 1,900 of them. The owners? No...only 32. Hummm...OH! I KNOW!! That's the number of TRUE modern day slaves. You know...those people who will never in their lifetime know what you said...because...they're you know...slaves.
All the way back to the Maurice Clarett case when ESPN was talking about you possibly being the first HS player drafted if he won the case, you understood the rules and regulations of the NFL. That was your desired career choice. I'm sure people idolized you back then. I'm sure people idolize you now. All the glory and fame and wealth you've accumulated. It must be nice to go home to the land YOU own. In the car YOU own. And have time off. And not be forced to work every single day without pay. Oh that's right. You get paid. Let's see how much modern slavery gets paid.
In 2011, if there's football (there may not be thanks to clowns like AP) Adrian Peterson, Zigy Wylf's slave, will be paid $10.2 Million. TEN MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. Let's put this into perspective. Say someone works for the federal minimum wage, $7.25. That is $7.25 an hour MORE than slaves got. Let's say the worked 40 hours a week for all 52 weeks. No vacations, no sick days. That comes out to $15,080. Now lets take AP's salary and divide it by what someone who makes minimum wage makes in a year. What does that come to??? 676.39 years. It will take someone making minimum wage SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX POINT THREE NINE YEARS to make what he makes in ONE! Hey! Being a slave sounds pretty awesome! Oh and what happens when they become ill? Their employer takes money out of their pocket and pays for healthcare, just like the NFL right? Nope AP, sorry we're in the real world here. Most people don't get to play a childrens game for a living.
Rashard Mendenhall-
Now, it's one thing for AP to speak out of frustration (even though he said it twice and hasn't gone back on his word). It's another thing to blindly follow another players ignorant words and back them up even though the majority of people think he's an idiot for saying them. In the wise words of Rashard Mendenhall, "Learn to LISTEN before passing judgement." And then he goes and blindly agrees with AP, continuing to trivialize a horrific practice that still goes on TO THIS DAY.
This in itself is worse in a way than what AP said. Mendenhall had the time to think about the reaction. He saw how negatively it was taken and he could have drawn better parallels than slavery for the point he and AP were trying to make (I'll explain that later). Let's look at how much this slave makes (working for literally the most player friendly/civil rights friendly owner in the whole league). He doesn't make as much as AP. Oh god...how is he going to live off of...$3 Million a year..? Well put it this way...if he took a minimum wage job, he would have to work for 198.94 years to make what he makes in a year.
Leonard Weaver-
Now I have to admit, he redeemed himself just minutes before I started writing this. He publicly said he watched the clip of him agreeing to the other two players, I mean slaves...sorry...for some reason I keep thinking they play a childrens game for a living. Right, they're slaves. Sorry. He said publicly that he watched the video of him saying the NFL was like slavery made him embarrassed. He still claimed that the NFL was unfair...blah blah blah. I'll get to that after I break down this slave's contract. Wait...I thought the slave was supposed to have no rights...how can slaves sign a contract...
He makes slightly more than Mendenhall (I guess his Masta is better!!). $3.3 Million. Pssssssshhhh...that's nothing! Unless you're working for minimum wage. Then that's 218.83 years to you.
But okay, I can see you guys saying, "oh that's not fair nobody makes minimum wage for their entire life". Fair point, let's use $70,000 a year. You can live comfortably with that.
AP-145.71 years at $70K
Mendenhall-42.86 years (might not sound like a lot, but he'd be able to retire after one year living on $70K per year)
Waver-45.71 (play a year on his plantation--football field--sorry...and you'll have worked 45.71 years in the shoes of a person making $70K)
(I'll rip on Mawae after this--stay tuned)
To be fair, let me explain to you why these guys think the NFL is like modern day slavery since their free education at esteemed universities didn't teach them how to articulate thoughts without resorting to buzz words in attempt to garner sympathy.
-The NFL Draft-This is the biggest one. The players fell that in order to play in the NFL, they are unfairly put on teams without their control. While this is true, there are several ways to circumvent this. First, nobody is forcing you to play football, or even NFL football. There's the CFL, UFL (though you may not even get a check...just ask last year's champs), AFL, afl2. It was the player's choice to pursue this career path. But let's assume that the player has his heart set on playing football and can't go into ANY OTHER career field. What do they do then? Make it clear you don't want to play for certain teams. Eli Manning did this in 2004, John Elway did this. To be fair, technically speaking the draft IS illegal without the CBA, but it is something that helps the league stay competitive. Without it, the league would have a few good teams and the rest garbage. Part of the reason the game is a $9 Billion industry is the fact that come week 1, teams are all 0-0 and teams all have a chance to improve thanks to the draft.
-The Combine-This is often compared to slave auctions. A bunch of scary rich old white men make a bunch of young black men (of course a lot of them are white too, but for argument's sake on their part, it's only blacks) run around in their underwear, get poked and prodded by doctors and take a test. There are a few things wrong with the theory. First off, the combine is VOLUNTARY. If you don't want to get poked and prodded and run and jump and lift weights and get a physical, you don't have to. It only helps you to do it though. See when slaves were auctioned off, the best ones were taken by the richest people and if you couldn't work, you were usually killed (yes...it was legal to kill slaves in some places). The combine HELPS these people make MILLIONS. And do you blame the owners for wanting these multi-million dollar investments to be inspected?? There's no insurance for them when they sink money into prospects who are huge busts (JaMarcus Russell??). Most of these guys have tons of money GUARNATEED. Those awful owners...wanting to make smart investments HOW DARE THEM.
-Racial remarks said by owners/coaches-This one is laughable at best. If those stories are true, then that only means one thing, the individual who said it is an asshole. It doesn't mean that the league itself is full of racist people and they're trying to oppress the blacks and make money off of them and leave them with nothing. The opposite is true.
Finally, Kevin Mawae-
He's not nearly as much of an idiot as the other 3 I mentioned. He technically IS doing his job the way it should be done. It doesn't mean he can't be wrong.
Kevin Mawae was quoted as saying that some of the players won't be able to afford insurance for the lockout. He quoted the price of about $2,400 a family a month for insurance. Okay, Kevin, let's use that number. How about we also use these numbers. League rookie minimum salary? $325K. So for the LOWEST PAID PLAYER IN THE NFL, he HAS TO MAKE $325K. But what about the league average salary?? What's the league average?!?! Surely it HAS to be HORRIBLY LOW!! Well just BASE SALARY (not including signing/incentive bonuses)?? $990,000 (this is the 2009 number, 2010 may be higher). Okay so let's look at this.
1 year of insurance at $2,400 a month/family= $28,800
Amount of insurance an NFL player can buy with 1 year worth of salary at NFL minimum= 11.28 years...for a player who likely didn't contribute much of ANYTHING to the game of football.
Amount of insurance an NFL player who makes the league average can buy after one year of work=35.36 years.
Each insurance payment for the mimumum salaried players is 1/135.42nd of their total annual salary.
Each insurance payment for the average player is 1/412.5th of their annual salary.
Those poor, awful players.
Now look, I don't have a problem with the players trying to get more. It's America and they have EVERY RIGHT to try and maximize their income. My problem is when they try to tug at the emotions of the public. How about they stop for one second and think about this:
The more they make, the more (some) owners have made, which means the more the league has made, which means the more YOU AND ME AND EVERY OTHER FAN HAS PAID OUT OF OUR SALARY THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN TOUCH WHAT THE NFL PLAYERS GET IN A SIGNING BONUS. By the players sobbing and wanting more, it's only going to drive up prices for EVERYTHING. Keep siding with the players, people.
Monday, March 21, 2011
NFL Labor Dispute 2.0
I haven't written about this in a while, but I feel I should. I'll start with a brief summary of what's going on then get into my usual rant. The NFL and NFLPA*(technically a trade association now) can't agree on squat. Why not?
Well it goes back to 2006. The late Gene Upshaw and the now retired Paul Tagliabue agreed on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. One of the stipulations of the agreement was a change to the way the salary cap worked. Under the previous agreement, the players received 64.5% of all SHARED revenue. Shared revenue is the revenue received from TV deals, league wide ads, licensing agreements, ect. The new deal shaved about $1 Billion off of the $9 Billion pot for the owners to split evenly to use towards capital investment. The rest of the $8 Billion was split 57% players 43% owners. The problem arises from the fact that the number now includes both shared and unshared revenue instead of just shared. Why is that a problem?
Unshared revenue is different for each team. A team like Jacksonville may have a much smaller unshared revenue than the Cowboys, yet they must allocate the same am out of money to the players. The current system is unsustainable to certain teams. The owners need to change this and in order to do so, they need to take some from the players. In 2008, the owners opted out of the CBA for after the 2010 season claiming that the current model is unsustainable. The players responded with this statement: show us your books.
Understandably, the owners didn't feel the need to release every single financial document to the players. What is intriguing though is that the Packers are publicly owned. This means that by law they HAVE to open their books. What came wasn't surprising. They had record revenue, but also low profits. The season before the new CBA, they realized profits of close to $40 Million. This number dwindled. 2008-2009 profits were $20 million. 2009-2010 profits were $9 million. What's going on? Well to see that, we have to go to the player costs. In the same time span, costs have gone from around $110 million to $150 million. Still this evidence wasn't enough. The players demanded to see more. Even after the NFL gave an unprecedented amount of financial data to a 3rd party financial auditor and gave the NFLPA an offer that included several concessions, the NFLPA chose to stop negotiating and decertify.
What is decertification and why is it such a big deal? Decertification is the union ceasing to exist. This is significant because the NFL is protected from antitrust lawsuits because of the union. Because there is no union, they players can now sue the NFL under antitrust law. The NFL is countering that by locking the players out, and submitting a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board claiming the NFLPA was not negotiating in good faith and that the decertification is a sham to gain leverage. This all culminates to an April 6th hearing. If the players win, the lockout could be lifted. There would be football under the last rules while the two sides fight in court. This outcome sounds appealing, but it may drastically change the game. The other outcome would be the union forced to come back to the negotiating table. This will delay things from getting done but would most likely end in a new CBA deal.
Now after that "brief" explanation...on to my rant. Many people think that the players "deserve" everything they get. They deserve more money because they bring in the money. People forget a fundamental detail here. The owners invest their capital. They spend their money on the logos, stadium, marketing, practice facility, transportation, coaching staff, grounds crew, training staff, front office guys, weight room, security, insurance, player pension, player healthcare, retired player pensions and healthcare, scouts, equipment, water boys, taxes...the list goes on. Now remember...this comes out of the OWNER'S pocket.
Without the things above...there is no football. Without the owners providing these things and giving the players a forum to display their talents, they would be really athletic guys working normal jobs. People forget this. They say "the players are partners! Without them there is no football". That's only half true. Sure without them there is no football, but without employees at any job there is no product. But they are not partners. Partners share a financial risk if the company tanks. If a team folds, the players aren't going to help the owner pay his debt. That's all on him.
I'm not saying don't pay the players or that they don't deserve anything or that they don't sacrifice their bodies. They do deserve to be compensated and they do sacrifice their bodies. My point is they don't share the financial risks that the owners do. I don't think it's right to tell the owners, the guys who fun the league, how to spend their money. The player's sense of entitlement needs to stop. The owners have demonstrated a need for reform and the players have given them stubbornness. If the players were really "partners" they would understand this and help the owners out. Instead they're suing them.
Well it goes back to 2006. The late Gene Upshaw and the now retired Paul Tagliabue agreed on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. One of the stipulations of the agreement was a change to the way the salary cap worked. Under the previous agreement, the players received 64.5% of all SHARED revenue. Shared revenue is the revenue received from TV deals, league wide ads, licensing agreements, ect. The new deal shaved about $1 Billion off of the $9 Billion pot for the owners to split evenly to use towards capital investment. The rest of the $8 Billion was split 57% players 43% owners. The problem arises from the fact that the number now includes both shared and unshared revenue instead of just shared. Why is that a problem?
Unshared revenue is different for each team. A team like Jacksonville may have a much smaller unshared revenue than the Cowboys, yet they must allocate the same am out of money to the players. The current system is unsustainable to certain teams. The owners need to change this and in order to do so, they need to take some from the players. In 2008, the owners opted out of the CBA for after the 2010 season claiming that the current model is unsustainable. The players responded with this statement: show us your books.
Understandably, the owners didn't feel the need to release every single financial document to the players. What is intriguing though is that the Packers are publicly owned. This means that by law they HAVE to open their books. What came wasn't surprising. They had record revenue, but also low profits. The season before the new CBA, they realized profits of close to $40 Million. This number dwindled. 2008-2009 profits were $20 million. 2009-2010 profits were $9 million. What's going on? Well to see that, we have to go to the player costs. In the same time span, costs have gone from around $110 million to $150 million. Still this evidence wasn't enough. The players demanded to see more. Even after the NFL gave an unprecedented amount of financial data to a 3rd party financial auditor and gave the NFLPA an offer that included several concessions, the NFLPA chose to stop negotiating and decertify.
What is decertification and why is it such a big deal? Decertification is the union ceasing to exist. This is significant because the NFL is protected from antitrust lawsuits because of the union. Because there is no union, they players can now sue the NFL under antitrust law. The NFL is countering that by locking the players out, and submitting a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board claiming the NFLPA was not negotiating in good faith and that the decertification is a sham to gain leverage. This all culminates to an April 6th hearing. If the players win, the lockout could be lifted. There would be football under the last rules while the two sides fight in court. This outcome sounds appealing, but it may drastically change the game. The other outcome would be the union forced to come back to the negotiating table. This will delay things from getting done but would most likely end in a new CBA deal.
Now after that "brief" explanation...on to my rant. Many people think that the players "deserve" everything they get. They deserve more money because they bring in the money. People forget a fundamental detail here. The owners invest their capital. They spend their money on the logos, stadium, marketing, practice facility, transportation, coaching staff, grounds crew, training staff, front office guys, weight room, security, insurance, player pension, player healthcare, retired player pensions and healthcare, scouts, equipment, water boys, taxes...the list goes on. Now remember...this comes out of the OWNER'S pocket.
Without the things above...there is no football. Without the owners providing these things and giving the players a forum to display their talents, they would be really athletic guys working normal jobs. People forget this. They say "the players are partners! Without them there is no football". That's only half true. Sure without them there is no football, but without employees at any job there is no product. But they are not partners. Partners share a financial risk if the company tanks. If a team folds, the players aren't going to help the owner pay his debt. That's all on him.
I'm not saying don't pay the players or that they don't deserve anything or that they don't sacrifice their bodies. They do deserve to be compensated and they do sacrifice their bodies. My point is they don't share the financial risks that the owners do. I don't think it's right to tell the owners, the guys who fun the league, how to spend their money. The player's sense of entitlement needs to stop. The owners have demonstrated a need for reform and the players have given them stubbornness. If the players were really "partners" they would understand this and help the owners out. Instead they're suing them.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
What's the deal with Eli Manning???
Seriously? What's the deal? I think most people would agree that Eli has the potential of being a top 10 QB. Sometimes he plays like it, others he plays like a bottom 10 QB. Last year he had 31 TDs, which is one of the best but also 25 INTs which was good for dead last in the NFL. It got me thinking...why is that? Is it the receivers or is it him? Well, let's do something unprecedented on DFFPMO and let's look at the game tape. Every multi-INT game Eli had as well as a couple other plays will be dissected here.
Panthers @ Giants Week 1
@ 0:11 Eli Manning is going deep for Hakeem Nicks. With Nicks wide open, Eli airs the ball out and misses high. Yes, technically the ball did hit Nicks in the hands, but to call that ball catchable is a stretch.
Giants @ Indy Week 2
@1:04 Eli has Smith deep. The ball is a hair underthrown and it was picked off. Bad throw by Eli.
Titans @ Giants Week 3
@ 0:04 This is an example of Eli having bad luck. He makes a great read, hits Nicks in the chest and Nicks can't be blamed for it. 100% on Nicks.
@ 0:15 Now if Eli just had the above INT, nobody would be able to fault him. That's not the case. If there was ever an audition for taking over for Brett Favre, this would win it. No room in football for that kind of improvisation unless you truly have the talent to do it.
Giants vs Texans Week 5
Here are both of Eli's interceptions vs the Texans. Both of them, Eli has pressure in his face and the DBs jump the routes.
Giants @ Dallas Week 7
@ 0:08 Here is example number 2 of tipped balls resulting in an INT. This ball was a bit high, but I think in this situation the receiver is to blame for the drop/INT.
@ 0:38 Eli again sails a ball high. This one seems less catchable than the first one. Still I'd say this one is more 50/50 down the middle.
Giants vs Dallas Week 10
@ 0:33 In the redzone, against a Cowboy's defense without Terrance Newman OR Mike Jenkins, Eli decides to go inside on an inside curl. McCann intercepts Eli and it turns into a quick TD. Terrible read.
@ 4:30 Eli throws late and behind over the middle. The receiver had to come back for the ball, and the Cowboys DB was able to make a break on the ball. Easy INT.
Eagles vs Giants week 11
@ 0:24-Eli Manning looking for Nicks on the right side of the field. He telegraphs where the ball is going to be and Samuel easily intercepts the ball.
@ 3:30-Eli makes the right read here, but a horrible throw. Eli is going deep for Hagan but grossly underthrows him. Hagan has to go back and leave his feet for the ball and it is deflected into the hands of Samuel.
Redskins @ Giants Week 13
@2:06 Eli has pressure in his face and heaves a ball into the endzone. London Fletcher drops back into coverage and makes a nice play on the ball. Eli should not have blindly thrown that ball.
Giants @ Vikings Week 14
@ 0:10 Eli is looking for the deep post and underthrows his man. The DB has inside coverage and easily broke on the route to pick the ball off.
@ 0:47 Bad ball by Eli again, throws it right to Asher Allen.
Giants @ Packers Week 16
@ :33 maybe Nicks did continue his route when Manning thought he would stop, very possible.
@ 3:58 you can't make any excuses that's on Eli
@ 4:49 he floated that ball up...totally on Eli
Giants @ Redskins Week 17
@ 0:40 Eli gets picked on a horrible play by the WR. The pass was there for the WR, but he couldn't hang on. Definitely NOT on Eli.
So there are 19 of Eli's 25 interceptions. Of those 19, 2 were 100% not Eli's fault. If you want to use excuses like "he wasn't working with his normal WRs", all but one of them was intended for either Boss, Nicks, Manningham, or Smith. So really the question is why was Eli off so badly this season? That's a good question. He was sacked just 16 times this year, down from 30 in 2009. He also was with the same WRs as last year. Yes some of them missed large amounts of time, but Nicks was over 1,000 yards this year. Something happened to Eli. What do you think happened?
Panthers @ Giants Week 1
@ 0:11 Eli Manning is going deep for Hakeem Nicks. With Nicks wide open, Eli airs the ball out and misses high. Yes, technically the ball did hit Nicks in the hands, but to call that ball catchable is a stretch.
Giants @ Indy Week 2
@1:04 Eli has Smith deep. The ball is a hair underthrown and it was picked off. Bad throw by Eli.
Titans @ Giants Week 3
@ 0:04 This is an example of Eli having bad luck. He makes a great read, hits Nicks in the chest and Nicks can't be blamed for it. 100% on Nicks.
@ 0:15 Now if Eli just had the above INT, nobody would be able to fault him. That's not the case. If there was ever an audition for taking over for Brett Favre, this would win it. No room in football for that kind of improvisation unless you truly have the talent to do it.
Giants vs Texans Week 5
Here are both of Eli's interceptions vs the Texans. Both of them, Eli has pressure in his face and the DBs jump the routes.
Giants @ Dallas Week 7
@ 0:08 Here is example number 2 of tipped balls resulting in an INT. This ball was a bit high, but I think in this situation the receiver is to blame for the drop/INT.
@ 0:38 Eli again sails a ball high. This one seems less catchable than the first one. Still I'd say this one is more 50/50 down the middle.
Giants vs Dallas Week 10
@ 0:33 In the redzone, against a Cowboy's defense without Terrance Newman OR Mike Jenkins, Eli decides to go inside on an inside curl. McCann intercepts Eli and it turns into a quick TD. Terrible read.
@ 4:30 Eli throws late and behind over the middle. The receiver had to come back for the ball, and the Cowboys DB was able to make a break on the ball. Easy INT.
Eagles vs Giants week 11
@ 0:24-Eli Manning looking for Nicks on the right side of the field. He telegraphs where the ball is going to be and Samuel easily intercepts the ball.
@ 3:30-Eli makes the right read here, but a horrible throw. Eli is going deep for Hagan but grossly underthrows him. Hagan has to go back and leave his feet for the ball and it is deflected into the hands of Samuel.
Redskins @ Giants Week 13
@2:06 Eli has pressure in his face and heaves a ball into the endzone. London Fletcher drops back into coverage and makes a nice play on the ball. Eli should not have blindly thrown that ball.
Giants @ Vikings Week 14
@ 0:10 Eli is looking for the deep post and underthrows his man. The DB has inside coverage and easily broke on the route to pick the ball off.
@ 0:47 Bad ball by Eli again, throws it right to Asher Allen.
Giants @ Packers Week 16
@ :33 maybe Nicks did continue his route when Manning thought he would stop, very possible.
@ 3:58 you can't make any excuses that's on Eli
@ 4:49 he floated that ball up...totally on Eli
Giants @ Redskins Week 17
@ 0:40 Eli gets picked on a horrible play by the WR. The pass was there for the WR, but he couldn't hang on. Definitely NOT on Eli.
So there are 19 of Eli's 25 interceptions. Of those 19, 2 were 100% not Eli's fault. If you want to use excuses like "he wasn't working with his normal WRs", all but one of them was intended for either Boss, Nicks, Manningham, or Smith. So really the question is why was Eli off so badly this season? That's a good question. He was sacked just 16 times this year, down from 30 in 2009. He also was with the same WRs as last year. Yes some of them missed large amounts of time, but Nicks was over 1,000 yards this year. Something happened to Eli. What do you think happened?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
2011 Mock Draft Picks 11-20
11. Houston Texans
Offense
The Houston Texans boasted an impressive offense like always last year. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson made fantasy owners pretty happy last year. Arian Foster was the surprise of the year and joined Priest Holmes as one of the best undrafted RBs in the history of the league. The offense was not the problem.
Defense
The Texans fielded an embarrassing defense last year, which contributed to their horrible rankings. Mario Williams and Brian Cushing are the two defensive starters who made the biggest impact. The Texans desperately need pass defense help and they may need to reach here.
This is why Houston will select...
Brandon Harris, CB-Miami
The Texans need DB help and fast. Harris can help mitigate the problems that plagued the Texans last year. Case in point: the game vs the Jets.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Offense
The Vikings were average on offense last year. Quarterback Brett Favre seemed to be ineffective and was a large reason the Vikings were so bad last year. He wasn't the only problem, though. Reciever Sidney Rice and Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe were non factors for most of the season as well. The loss of Chester Taylor helped to slightly diminish the effectiveness of Adrian Peterson.
Defense
The Vikings pass defense suffered for much of last year with young DBs manning the secondary. The pass rush came to life the second half of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings had a sub-par year. Ray Edwards is likely leaving in free agency which will hurt the Vikes.
This is why Minnesota will select...
J.J. Watt, DE-Wisconsin
The Vikings usually have a good defensive front and with the loss of perhaps one member of the Williams Wall and Ray Edwards, the Vikings are in the market for some DL help. The secondary needs help too, but a good pass rush will help that.
13. Detroit Lions
Offense
The Lions showed some glimmers of hope this past season. If quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, the Lions offense may be a dominating force. It's amazing what a couple years without Matt Millen can do to your team.
Defense
The Lions have improved on defense as well. The once porous defense has fixed some of it's holes and is becoming more of a solid unit. Still, the pass defense is hurting.
This is why Detroit will select...
Jimmy Smith, CB-Colorado
Good pick for the Lions if they can get it. With the front 7 playing well, a good secondary will make this defense become a top 10 unit.
14. St. Louis Rams
Offense
The Rams exceeded expectations in 2010. Led by rookie QB Sam Bradford, the Rams were contenders for the NFC West title. The Rams have the least know star in all of sports, Stephen Jackson, at running back and he is able to put up good numbers year after year. The WRs are a problem for STL, however.
Defense
The Rams front few are a solid group. The secondary is lacking a bit, especially after OJ Atogwe left for Washington. The problem is the safety class is extremely weak this year and taking one at 14 is more than a reach.
This is why St. Louis Rams will select...
Torrey Smith, WR-Maryland
This pick will help St. Louis offensively. Bradford lacked weapons most of the year. Smith will help shore up this group.
15. Miami Dolphins
Offense
The Dolphins sputtered on offense last year. The running game couldn't get going, Chad Henne was mediocre at best, and Brandon Marshall was disappointing to say the least. The offensive line continued to play well, however.
Defense
On defense, Cameron Wake was a surprised to most people outside of Miami. The OLB racked up sacks and was in the running for defensive player of the year. The secondary, however, was much more suspect. Benny Sapp was the only player for Miami to intercept more than one ball. He only had 2 interceptions. But the talent well has been sucked dry for defensive backs this early, so look for Miami to go elsewhere.
This is why Miami will select...
Mark Ingram, RB-Alabama
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams may BOTH be shown the door. Neither had a particularly impressive season. Look for Miami to move on.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
Offense
Maurice Jones-Drew had another impressive year, but the Jaguars are lacking some top players. QB is a big question mark for Jax as well as WR. Mike Simms Walker was disappointing and David Garrard has been less than stellar.
Defense
The Jaguars need some upgrades on defense. The DBs weren't terrible, but the DL was very average. The Jags had one of the bottom defenses.
This is why Jacksonville will select...
Aldon Smith, DE-Missouri
The Jags need a pass rusher to compliment Aaron Kampman and give them a nice ROI on him. If Kampman can stay healthy, the Jags will have a nice front 4.
17. New England Patriots
Offense
Tom Brady led one of the most ridiculously precise offenses I've ever seen. Throwing only 4 interceptions in 16 games is unheard of. The Pats do lack a full time running back, but BenJarvis Green Ellis is more than serviceable. The receivers are pretty solid as well.
Defense
The Patriots have a young defense. They create lots of turnovers but also give up yardage. The Patriots benefited a lot from this aggressive group of young guys.
This is why New England will select...
Anthony Castonzo, OT-Boston College
The Patriots don't have too many holes, but their offensive tackles are getting up there in age. This is a great opportunity for the Patriots to stockpile a quality offensive tackle.
18. San Diego Chargers
Offense
Philip Rivers continued to make something out of nothing last year. Whatever receivers were given to him, he utilized. Ryan Matthews was a very solid RB and the line held up relatively well.
Defense
The Chargers were one of the better defenses as well last year. If there was a hole that needed to be addressed it would be along the defensive line.
This is why San Diego will select...
Phil Taylor, DT/DE-Baylor
The Chargers will be able to use him for run support and is a good, big body to use in the 3-4.
19. New York Giants
Offense
Please don't kill me for saying this, Giants fans. The fact that you were 10-6 was nothing short of a miracle. Eli Manning had one of the worst seasons of his career tossing tons of INTs. Eli never had time to throw and the WRs, often young and inexperienced, dropped several catchable balls. Some of those drops even turned into interceptions.
Defense
The Giants have plenty of depth here, the problem is staying healthy. The Giants do need a LB, but this class is very weak at that position.
This is why New York will select...
Nate Solder, OT-Colorado
The Giants will get immediate dividends from this pick. Solder is versatile and is an extremely hard working player. He fits the mold of a traditional New York Giant lineman and will be a solid contributor.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offense
Josh Freeman was a surprise for the Bucs as he was a top contributor. He helped lead the Bucs along with Mike Williams, LeGarrett Blount, and Kellen Winslow Jr. These players create a solid core of players who will be around for years to come in Tampa.
Defense
Geno Hayes and Barrett Ruud were both solid contributors and Aqib Talib led a secondary that forced 19 interceptions in 2010. With rookie Gerald McCoy playing well, this defense looks good as well.
This is why Tampa will take...
Justin Houston, DE/OLB-Georgia
The Bucs have a solid defense, but need more explosive pass rushers. The Bucs will benefit from a player like Houston and he can even help make the secondary stronger.
Offense
The Houston Texans boasted an impressive offense like always last year. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson made fantasy owners pretty happy last year. Arian Foster was the surprise of the year and joined Priest Holmes as one of the best undrafted RBs in the history of the league. The offense was not the problem.
Defense
The Texans fielded an embarrassing defense last year, which contributed to their horrible rankings. Mario Williams and Brian Cushing are the two defensive starters who made the biggest impact. The Texans desperately need pass defense help and they may need to reach here.
This is why Houston will select...
Brandon Harris, CB-Miami
The Texans need DB help and fast. Harris can help mitigate the problems that plagued the Texans last year. Case in point: the game vs the Jets.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Offense
The Vikings were average on offense last year. Quarterback Brett Favre seemed to be ineffective and was a large reason the Vikings were so bad last year. He wasn't the only problem, though. Reciever Sidney Rice and Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe were non factors for most of the season as well. The loss of Chester Taylor helped to slightly diminish the effectiveness of Adrian Peterson.
Defense
The Vikings pass defense suffered for much of last year with young DBs manning the secondary. The pass rush came to life the second half of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings had a sub-par year. Ray Edwards is likely leaving in free agency which will hurt the Vikes.
This is why Minnesota will select...
J.J. Watt, DE-Wisconsin
The Vikings usually have a good defensive front and with the loss of perhaps one member of the Williams Wall and Ray Edwards, the Vikings are in the market for some DL help. The secondary needs help too, but a good pass rush will help that.
13. Detroit Lions
Offense
The Lions showed some glimmers of hope this past season. If quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, the Lions offense may be a dominating force. It's amazing what a couple years without Matt Millen can do to your team.
Defense
The Lions have improved on defense as well. The once porous defense has fixed some of it's holes and is becoming more of a solid unit. Still, the pass defense is hurting.
This is why Detroit will select...
Jimmy Smith, CB-Colorado
Good pick for the Lions if they can get it. With the front 7 playing well, a good secondary will make this defense become a top 10 unit.
14. St. Louis Rams
Offense
The Rams exceeded expectations in 2010. Led by rookie QB Sam Bradford, the Rams were contenders for the NFC West title. The Rams have the least know star in all of sports, Stephen Jackson, at running back and he is able to put up good numbers year after year. The WRs are a problem for STL, however.
Defense
The Rams front few are a solid group. The secondary is lacking a bit, especially after OJ Atogwe left for Washington. The problem is the safety class is extremely weak this year and taking one at 14 is more than a reach.
This is why St. Louis Rams will select...
Torrey Smith, WR-Maryland
This pick will help St. Louis offensively. Bradford lacked weapons most of the year. Smith will help shore up this group.
15. Miami Dolphins
Offense
The Dolphins sputtered on offense last year. The running game couldn't get going, Chad Henne was mediocre at best, and Brandon Marshall was disappointing to say the least. The offensive line continued to play well, however.
Defense
On defense, Cameron Wake was a surprised to most people outside of Miami. The OLB racked up sacks and was in the running for defensive player of the year. The secondary, however, was much more suspect. Benny Sapp was the only player for Miami to intercept more than one ball. He only had 2 interceptions. But the talent well has been sucked dry for defensive backs this early, so look for Miami to go elsewhere.
This is why Miami will select...
Mark Ingram, RB-Alabama
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams may BOTH be shown the door. Neither had a particularly impressive season. Look for Miami to move on.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
Offense
Maurice Jones-Drew had another impressive year, but the Jaguars are lacking some top players. QB is a big question mark for Jax as well as WR. Mike Simms Walker was disappointing and David Garrard has been less than stellar.
Defense
The Jaguars need some upgrades on defense. The DBs weren't terrible, but the DL was very average. The Jags had one of the bottom defenses.
This is why Jacksonville will select...
Aldon Smith, DE-Missouri
The Jags need a pass rusher to compliment Aaron Kampman and give them a nice ROI on him. If Kampman can stay healthy, the Jags will have a nice front 4.
17. New England Patriots
Offense
Tom Brady led one of the most ridiculously precise offenses I've ever seen. Throwing only 4 interceptions in 16 games is unheard of. The Pats do lack a full time running back, but BenJarvis Green Ellis is more than serviceable. The receivers are pretty solid as well.
Defense
The Patriots have a young defense. They create lots of turnovers but also give up yardage. The Patriots benefited a lot from this aggressive group of young guys.
This is why New England will select...
Anthony Castonzo, OT-Boston College
The Patriots don't have too many holes, but their offensive tackles are getting up there in age. This is a great opportunity for the Patriots to stockpile a quality offensive tackle.
18. San Diego Chargers
Offense
Philip Rivers continued to make something out of nothing last year. Whatever receivers were given to him, he utilized. Ryan Matthews was a very solid RB and the line held up relatively well.
Defense
The Chargers were one of the better defenses as well last year. If there was a hole that needed to be addressed it would be along the defensive line.
This is why San Diego will select...
Phil Taylor, DT/DE-Baylor
The Chargers will be able to use him for run support and is a good, big body to use in the 3-4.
19. New York Giants
Offense
Please don't kill me for saying this, Giants fans. The fact that you were 10-6 was nothing short of a miracle. Eli Manning had one of the worst seasons of his career tossing tons of INTs. Eli never had time to throw and the WRs, often young and inexperienced, dropped several catchable balls. Some of those drops even turned into interceptions.
Defense
The Giants have plenty of depth here, the problem is staying healthy. The Giants do need a LB, but this class is very weak at that position.
This is why New York will select...
Nate Solder, OT-Colorado
The Giants will get immediate dividends from this pick. Solder is versatile and is an extremely hard working player. He fits the mold of a traditional New York Giant lineman and will be a solid contributor.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offense
Josh Freeman was a surprise for the Bucs as he was a top contributor. He helped lead the Bucs along with Mike Williams, LeGarrett Blount, and Kellen Winslow Jr. These players create a solid core of players who will be around for years to come in Tampa.
Defense
Geno Hayes and Barrett Ruud were both solid contributors and Aqib Talib led a secondary that forced 19 interceptions in 2010. With rookie Gerald McCoy playing well, this defense looks good as well.
This is why Tampa will take...
Justin Houston, DE/OLB-Georgia
The Bucs have a solid defense, but need more explosive pass rushers. The Bucs will benefit from a player like Houston and he can even help make the secondary stronger.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Top 10 QBs?
There's plenty of debate over who should be in the top 10 for QBs. As you guys know by now, I don't go by unquantifiable gauges such as heart, passion, leadership, clutch ability, ect. I feel that those things are all 2nd to production. I am going to rank QBs in each category, there are no parameters to who is in each top 10 other than the QB needs at least 10 starts. I will total the rankings for each player and conclude who the top 10 statistical QBs are.
TD Passes/game
1. Tom Brady-2.25
2. Drew Brees-2.06
2. Peyton Manning-2.06
4. Eli Manning-1.94
5. Philip Rivers-1.88
6. Aaron Rodgers-1.88
7. Matt Cassel-1.80
8. Ryan Fitzpatrick-1.77
9. Matt Ryan-1.75
9. Michael Vick-1.75
% of attempted passes that were TDs
1.Tom Brady-7.3%
2. David Garrard-6.3%
3. Matt Cassell-6.0%
4. Aaron Rodgers-5.9%
5. Eli Manning-5.8%
6. Michael Vick-5.6%
7. Philip Rivers-5.5%
8. Jay Cutler-5.3%
8. Josh Freeman-5.3%
10. Ryan Fitzpatrick-5.2%
Yards/Game
1. Philip Rivers-294.4
2. Peyton Manning-293.8
3. Drew Brees-288.8
4. Kyle Orton-281.0
5. Matt Schaub-273.1
6. Ben Roethlisberger-266.7
7. Aaron Rodgers-261.5
8. Donovan McNabb-259.8
9. Michael Vick-251.5
10. Eli Manning-250.1
Completion %
1. Drew Brees-68.1%
2. Peyton Manning-66.3%
3. Philip Rivers-66.0%
4. Tom Brady-65.9%
5. Aaron Rodgers-65.7%
6. David Garrard-64.5%
7. Matt Schaub-63.6%
8. Eli Manning-62.9%
9. Joe Flacco-62.6%
10. Michael Vick-62.6%
INT/Game
1. Tom Brady-0.25
2. Josh Freeman-0.38
3. Ben Roethlisberger-0.42
4. Matt Cassel-0.47
5. Michael Vick-0.50
6. Matt Ryan-.56
7. Aaron Rodgers-0.60
8. Joe Flacco-0.62
9. Jason Campbell-0.67
10. Kyle Orton-0.69
Yards/Comp
1. Ben Roethlisberger-13.3
2. Philip Rivers-13.2
3. Michael Vick-13.0
4. Aaron Rodgers-12.6
5. Jay Cutler-12.5
5. Kyle Orton-12.5
7. Jason Campbell-12.3
7. Donovan McNabb-12.3
9. Matt Schaub-12.0
9. Tom Brady-12.0
Adjusted Ranks--Final top 10 list for 2010-2011
1. Tom Brady
2. Philip Rivers
3. Drew Brees
3. Peyton Manning
5. Ben Roethlisberger
6. Aaron Rodgers
7. Michael Vick
8. Matt Cassel
9. Eli Manning
10. Kyle Orton
These rankings were created by taking into account the QBs rankings per list as well as the number of times the QB was ranked. Rankings were given by means of consistency. The more a QB appeared, the higher the QB was listed as well as the better the QB was the higher they were listed. Aaron Rodgers appeared on every list, he was 6th because he was never in the top of any of the lists. Brees and Manning only appeared on 3 lists, but they were on the top of those 3, hence why they are ranked higher.
TD Passes/game
1. Tom Brady-2.25
2. Drew Brees-2.06
2. Peyton Manning-2.06
4. Eli Manning-1.94
5. Philip Rivers-1.88
6. Aaron Rodgers-1.88
7. Matt Cassel-1.80
8. Ryan Fitzpatrick-1.77
9. Matt Ryan-1.75
9. Michael Vick-1.75
% of attempted passes that were TDs
1.Tom Brady-7.3%
2. David Garrard-6.3%
3. Matt Cassell-6.0%
4. Aaron Rodgers-5.9%
5. Eli Manning-5.8%
6. Michael Vick-5.6%
7. Philip Rivers-5.5%
8. Jay Cutler-5.3%
8. Josh Freeman-5.3%
10. Ryan Fitzpatrick-5.2%
Yards/Game
1. Philip Rivers-294.4
2. Peyton Manning-293.8
3. Drew Brees-288.8
4. Kyle Orton-281.0
5. Matt Schaub-273.1
6. Ben Roethlisberger-266.7
7. Aaron Rodgers-261.5
8. Donovan McNabb-259.8
9. Michael Vick-251.5
10. Eli Manning-250.1
Completion %
1. Drew Brees-68.1%
2. Peyton Manning-66.3%
3. Philip Rivers-66.0%
4. Tom Brady-65.9%
5. Aaron Rodgers-65.7%
6. David Garrard-64.5%
7. Matt Schaub-63.6%
8. Eli Manning-62.9%
9. Joe Flacco-62.6%
10. Michael Vick-62.6%
INT/Game
1. Tom Brady-0.25
2. Josh Freeman-0.38
3. Ben Roethlisberger-0.42
4. Matt Cassel-0.47
5. Michael Vick-0.50
6. Matt Ryan-.56
7. Aaron Rodgers-0.60
8. Joe Flacco-0.62
9. Jason Campbell-0.67
10. Kyle Orton-0.69
Yards/Comp
1. Ben Roethlisberger-13.3
2. Philip Rivers-13.2
3. Michael Vick-13.0
4. Aaron Rodgers-12.6
5. Jay Cutler-12.5
5. Kyle Orton-12.5
7. Jason Campbell-12.3
7. Donovan McNabb-12.3
9. Matt Schaub-12.0
9. Tom Brady-12.0
Adjusted Ranks--Final top 10 list for 2010-2011
1. Tom Brady
2. Philip Rivers
3. Drew Brees
3. Peyton Manning
5. Ben Roethlisberger
6. Aaron Rodgers
7. Michael Vick
8. Matt Cassel
9. Eli Manning
10. Kyle Orton
These rankings were created by taking into account the QBs rankings per list as well as the number of times the QB was ranked. Rankings were given by means of consistency. The more a QB appeared, the higher the QB was listed as well as the better the QB was the higher they were listed. Aaron Rodgers appeared on every list, he was 6th because he was never in the top of any of the lists. Brees and Manning only appeared on 3 lists, but they were on the top of those 3, hence why they are ranked higher.
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