The Value of The Top Pick. . .

The problem with having the first pick in any NFL draft is that it means you were the worst team in football and need a lot of work. Not just one player. The reality of it is your really going off potential. And most times this back fires. Which is why we see so many #1 picks not live up to all the expectations put in front of them. Some get close and that's not close enough for a team that just made you the franchise. The person everyone puts there hopes into. Because of this it is importantyou get "your guy." In a lot of cases teams just don't do that and the players taken under them excel making it look worse. I'll go over the past 10 years f the draft and show you a not of what I'm saying.

In 2001 Mike Vick was the first pick. The pick originally belonged to the Chargers and was traded to Atlanta. It got them Vick but cost them the 5th and 32nd picks. The players taken with them, Ladanian Tomlinson and Drew Brees. In hindsight it probably wasn't worth it to a Falcons team that's still battling to get over a playoff hump left by Vick after the dog fighting charges. Both Brees and LT will be Hall of Famers. Sorry Atlanta. Also taken in this draft was Reggie Wayne at 30. Adrian Wilson at 64 and speedy WR Steve Smith at 74. All better choices than Vick considering how things turned out.

In 02 my Texans took David Carr number 1. He never did love up to what was expected of him. No O line didn't help as he set the sack record and became gun shy in the pocket over years to come. Taken in that draft were Julius Peppers at #2. Sure we knew he'd be a beast but its got to be mentioned considering what he's done compared to Carr. Ed Reed was the 24th pick of this draft. Crazy he slipped to 24. Dwight Freeney was the 11th pick and continued to terrorize the AFC all the way until now. This is the perfect example of why the value of a #1 pick is so high.

03 saw Carson Palmer go first followed by a group of excellent players. Andre Johnson at 3. Terrell Suggs at 11. And get this Troy Polamalu was the 14th pick. Looking now you'd think both him and Ed Reed would have been #1 picks. Also taken in the late first was CB Nnamdi Asomugah. He was regarded as the best man corner in football till last season with the Eagles. He was almost the last pick of the first round.

In 04 the Chargers took Eli Manning #1. Then traded him straight across for Phillips Rivers. Eli 2 rings Phillip 0. That's the count. Bet the Chargers aren't to stoked about that outcome. All because they let Archie Manning talk them into a trade so his son wouldn't have to endure through a rebuilding process. They could have just traded down and got one of these players. Vince Wilford went at #21. RB Steven Jackson was the 24th pick. The man responsible for protecting Eli as well as his coaches daughter Chris Snee was the 34th pick. And this will sound crazy because of the talent he's developed into but Darnell Dockett was the 64tg pick that year.

Alex Smith wad the top pick in 05. He has finally shown what the Niner faithful expected from him this whole time. To win, consistently, and without turning the ball over. This draft was loaded in the back end though. Toddy White went to Atlanta with the 27th pick. Logan Mankins of the Patriots was the 32nd pick. Derrick Johnson MLB for the Chiefs went at 15. And the beast that is Demarcus Ware went 11th. He's worth any pick he's already over 100 career sacks and is the only person with a legit shot at the all time title right now.

2007 was loaded with talent too. Mario Williams went at 1. Talented and newly acquired Texan Jonathan Joseph was the 24th pick. Pro Bowler Demeco Ryan's was the 33rd pick. And the beat return man in the history of football Devin Hester was the 57th pick. Really weird because he did exactly what he does now at Miami. He broke every return record in college and couldn't be kicked to then so why he went so late is beyond me. Besides not having a natural position besides returner.

In 07 many of the at least a few players we consider dominant at there own positions now wee taken after #1 pick Jemarcus Russell. Patrick Willis was the 11th pick. Mr. "Revision Island" as many call him was the 14th pick my the Jets. And OLB Lamarr Woodley was the 56th pick out of Michigan. Every one of these players have already been to at least a Conference Championship and Russell hasn't even thrown for 50 TD's and won't.

Jake Long an O lineman went 1 to the Dolphins in 08. Again followed by players who've already accomplished a lot since they've entered the league. Jerod Mayo of the Patriots went 10th and is now a beast. Chris Johnson or CJ2K went to the Titans at 24. CB Brandon Flowers is one of the top flight corners in football and KC got him at 35 with a steal. And WR Desean Jackson of the Eagles went at number 49.

Matthew Stafford was the first pick in 09. He's been a bit injury prone but showed if given 16 games he could put up this season. But players were taken after him have performed since there entry. Clay Matthews was the 26th pick. CB Sean Smith was the 61st pick be Miami. He's been awesome paired with Vontae Davis. MLB Rey Maualuga was taken by the Bengals at 38. They have built there defense off late first and second round picks.and now have a great defensive unit.

2010 we knew Sam Bradford was the smart choice right? Since his entry into pro football he hasn't shown that he can get it done much like Stafford he's injured too much to make a difference. Jason Pierre Paul is now a super bowl champ. He was the 15th pick in this draft. Pat Angerer of the Colts led the league in tackling this arson. He was the 63rd pick of this draft. They should remember this as they now have the top pick and are already on the clock. Sensational TE Rob Gronkowski of New England was the 42nd pick of this draft. To say the least they got a steal.

I'm not going to go over the picks from last years draft. Its just to hard to judge talent after only one year of playing. But I have given you plenty of examples of why the first pick can be both a blessing and a burden. If not used wisely you can be put in a hole. How Indy handles this will determine there future and the future of the league for a long time. Knowing this do you just take Andrew Luck or do you do more homework before you commit?

What To Do With No. 2. . .

With the Rams already confirming there shopping there pick in the first round. I wonder what's best. Knowing they need a big threat to take pressure at WR for Sam Bradford you'd think they'd only move down so far. With the 5 they could still get Blackmon from Ok. St. Or even take care of some O line problems to get Bradford protected and go WR in the late first. This is my best case scenario.

The Browns have 2 first rounders so they're the obvious first choice to me. With the 4th pick the Rams could go and get Blackmon as I said before and by getting the 22 pick or the Browns 1st pick of the 2nd round they might still be able to grab one of the great tackles out there. My guess woulb be Jonathan Martin of Stanford or Nate Potter from Boise St. would still be available there.

By doing this they'd solve a lot of problems in two picks. A target to go to on 3rd Downs you must have or take the pressure off someone else to make the play somewhere else on the field. As well as getting another lineman to help block for star back Stephen Jackson. He might actually make it enough seasons to help Bradford push this team over the hump. Also in a division full of improving defenses in the NFC West it's going to be a must to protect the QB and control the clock. Jeff Fisher already knows this, its the same formula he used in Tennessee when he had Eddie George and the late great Steve "Air" McNair.

The Bart Scott Saga. . .

Only a few years into a deal that was suposed to be a career move. After coach Rex Ryan convinced a great MLB to leave a defense that would've been the best in football the next season without his departure. Bart Scott was allowed to seek a trade, or at least that is what ESPN was reporting last night.

Surprising to say the least. The defense wasn't the problem last season. Unfortunately they were on the field a bit too much compared to years past. Because of the struggling offense. But that's neither here noe there. Let me get into some good fits for Scott.

First off I'd hate to see it, but Indy is a top candidate. With a new coach and at least some sort of a 3-4 hybrid I could see him being paired with Clint Angerer. That's be nice but if he's planning to seek a trade it's more than likely he's requesting a move because of the state of the Jets. I don't think he'll go to a rebuilding situation.

The Redskins just switched to the 3-4 last year with Jim Hasslett running there defense. Brian Orapko and Ryan Kerrigan both showed they could get to the QB successfully. And London Fletcher's a great MLB but he isn't getting any younger.

Also look for the Bills, Cowboys, Chargers, and Chief's to show some interest as well. As they are all looking to improve this offseason after underachieving last years on defense.

Combine Winners, So Far. . .

Now I know that both Andrew Luck and RG3 are really the attention grabbers out of the combine. With so much of everyone's time going to them there have been some things happening that I've noticed. Some players not mentioned at all are rising on my board. And should be on yours too if your on the lookout for strong route running wideouts or a running back in the 2nd round or maybe the 3rd.

Marvin Jones out of Cal put together a 40 time of 4.47. Not the fastest but couple that with the fact he did 22 reps at 225 and that's pretty good. He'll have the strength to break the press and the speed to get separation afterwards. Good pick for say, the 49ers. A team looking for a possession receiver with break away speed. He should be around in the latter of the 1st for sure.

Jordan White led the country in receiving. Which really isn't that huge of a deal without this, 4.68 on the 40 and 14 repair at 225. He can only get better in my opinion. He had 1900 yards receiving this season. Over 125 receptions means he doesn't drop many balls.  He'll be perfect as a 2 or 3 receiver for someone. Give him time to mature and he could be your franchise player.

Doug Martin from Boise St wasn't one of my favorites. But he changed my mind during the combine. His 4.57 40 isn't mind blowing but take into account he did 28 reps on the bench and things look a lot better. Imagine a guy with that speed and build running at a safety or corner guaranteed they aren't trying to tackle him. He didn't her much where and tear last season because the amount of plays Kellen Moore threw the ball so look for him to look fresh. Could be a good spell back first year only to take over the next season. After learning the system he's in a bit better.

Tommy Streeter out of Miami only started this season. He's 6'5" tall, ran a 4.34 40, and did 17 reps on the bench. This cat looks good. I'm hoping he slips to my Texans to be paired up with Andre Johnson a former Miami player himself. If not whatever team grabs this kid is getting a steal.

There's more combine talk to come. Be ready everybody.

The Raven's Better Pay This Man. . .

The years 2008. The player I thought was the best RB coming into the draft slips to #55. To a team that needed a primary back to carry the load for years to come. The same team was in need of a QB to take them over on offense. They got what is to be believed both in Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. Now with both of there contracts coming up in the next year its time to pick who's the biggest priority. I believe it's Rice by a long shot and I'll explain why.

Since 08 Rice has been an all pro 3 times. Not including the 08 season because he wasn't the only back getting the carries. Flacco has been good, a bit better as of late but not quite what was expected. Does he get wins in the regular season and post season? Yeah, but not when it counts. And in most cases when they lose its because the lack of giving Rice the ball and actually allowing Flacco to air it out.

Rice is saying he wants Adrian Peterson money now. And Flacco is looking to get a long term contract as well. If the Ravens choose Flacco there in danger of turning into a team that must rely ob throwing the ball to win. And Flacco has yet to prove he can win games by himself. He did have flashes of greatness this season when rookie Tori Smith was hot but that fizzled quickly as teams caught on to the deep threat.

With the defense already built and set for the future in Baltimore I'd say Rice is more of a sure thing because of the playing style there. The defense gets stops, gets the ball back, and let Rice run the clock by doing what he does. The pass will open up after that. But by the time the Ravens figure this out it may be too late. Much like when former Raven Ricky Williams left Miami. Of course the Dolphins were upset about his abrupt exit but in hindsight without Williams the Dolphins had to change there whole team outlook. From a power running clock managing team, to a team in search of a QB and RB that could handle the load. Because of the lack of QB play. Hopefully it doesn't come to that for the Ravens. If they decide not to pay Rice it might though.

Combine Time. . .

To some the combine is just the NFL trying to keep your attention for the downtime to compensate for the off season. To some its just pointless because regardless of if you watch it most people won't recognize the players after the first 40 picks or so. If you watch college football then you probably disagree as I do though.

The combine is your first chance at really seeing the college players perform at the pro level. Yeah I known there's no pads of contact but it is what it is. Some of these players have only played there position throughout there college careers and this is the first good look at them comparing them to pro players. Perfect examples for me are the Redskins last season. They released Clinton Portis in the off season and drafted both Roy Helu and Evan Royster. When the season began Tim Hightower got the bulk of the carries. But after and injury we began to see what we saw from Helu and later in the season from Royster. The year before both had great seasons. But for some reason weren't ranked high scouting wise. This is something you get from the combine and watching college football.

This is the main reason I love the NFL it really is a no downtime league. After the Super Bowl there's tall about free agency. And to hold us real fans over till then there's the combine. Can't wait, guarantee there'll be some players we've never thought we'd hear about making noise. And that's what the combine is really for. To showcase the talents we didn't get to see nationally all season.

The Alex Smith Question. . .

After having a 30 minute conversation about this I told the person I talked to I'd dive into this soon. Now before we get started people need to know this. I'm not a Alex Smith hater, I'm a realist. I know his circumstances weren't the best until now and I know the Niners didn't have leadership until now as well. Nevertheless I do believe Smith holds back a team built to win it all now. And I'll tell you why in the blog. Let's go.

Smiths coming off his best season as a professional. He led his team to the NFC Championship game and that's saying a lot. He beat Drew Brees in a shootout the week before. And he showed he can play the position quite efficiently this season. The question is, is it worth it to bring him back with him being a free agent. I believe the answer is no. While he did move the ball more this year more than ever and it might have seemed like he threw a lot. These my friends are illusions. He completed 273 passes at 61%. Not bad unless you look to see where he ranks with the other starters in the league. His 445 attempts  were the lowest number among players with 16 games played this year. And there are 5 players with less that 16 games played with more completions than him. To put this in more contrast Matt Schaub played 10 games and completed 178 passes this season. Some would say that the Niner defense was so good they didn't have to pass the ball a lot. True. But it does help you score and that wins you games.

It was also said during the season that there playbook wasn't really opened up because of the shortened off season. And that could be true. But I believe that new coach Jim Harbaugh wasn't going to start this season with a rookie and really there weren't many options last off season without bringing Smith back. To begin the preseason he actually let Smith and rookie QB Colin Kaepernick battle for the starting spot. That's maybe a way to motivate Smith or just not trusting him fully.

He did put together a great QB Rating this year as well. He didn't turn the ball over but he did take 44 sacks. This is a crazy amount from a team that ran the ball 498 times this season. The sacks hurt more when your QB isn't able to move the ball consistently. With 44 sacks he was sacked 10% of the time he dropped back. Unlike most I don't blame it on the O-line. Smith just looks uncomfortable in the pocket at times. And it gets worst the more he's hit. Not to mention its hard for me to believe a line that gives holes for Frank Gore to the tune of 4.3 yards per carry aren't pass blocking.

At times when Joe Flacco was a rookie and even on into his career early the Ravens seemed to coddle him. Not let him throw in the red zone or out the other end zone when backed up. And arguably he was a young QB then. Since things have changed though. Jim Harbaugh did the same thing with Smith it seems to me. Perfect example, in the New Orleans game on a third and less than 10 rather than let Smith run a bootleg instead of making a pass that seems simple to a veteran. On a bootleg there's less chance he'll turn of over because he's running down the sideline.

During the conversation last night we also talked about projected stats. If you were to double his numbers because of more plays being called for him. Like if they passed more. I agree that his stats might look much better. But take into account the number of sacks that were already there. 44 now lets double that as well because as good as Smith was be didn't show the pocket presence to avoid them this season. 88 sounds bad. And it is bad. Really bad.

Has Smith had a slew of coordinators in SF over the years? Yes. Has he had to battle through an unstable coaching situation? Yes. But are these good enough reasons to keep Smith and take yet another chance on him? No.

Top 5 Defenses Going Into 2012. . .

First off I'm basing this off of what the teams did last season. Not off who the acquire in the off season. With that being said let's go.

The 49ers are the unanimous number to me. They did look more human in the New Orleans game in San Francisco. But who doesn't against Drew Breed? They have a core of young players with Willis, Bowman, Aldon Smith, and Donte Witner. The only aging player they really have is Justin Smith and he doesn't look like it. Now with the secondary coming off a stellar season they'll probably be better after actually playing a year together and now knowing each other's strengths and flaws.

The Texans are my 2. Yes I am a Texans fan but the proof is there. If not for the fact that we played a rookie QB in our playoff run we probably beat the what most say is the best defense in the AFC. On top of that it all happened without Marion Williams who's looking like he'll be resigned at this point. Jonathan Joseph showed up as a shut down corner. More so than many expected. With the emergence of Jason Allen on the other side and Kareem Jackson playing better our corner play was tops in football. Daniel Manning was huge this year even though he did miss some time he proved to be the safety net on the backside we needed. JJ Watt will get better after an amazing rookie season he'll be our anchor much like Ngata for Baltimore.

I'm going Baltimore here because of age and shotty secondary play early in the season. This was the first time in a long time there defense looked vulnerable losing to teams like the Seahawks early in the season. I think age and the constant rotation of coached through there is taking its toll on the Ravens. It would be better to pay Ray Lewis to do dual duty as DC and MLB/Captain thN keep shuffling guys through to head coaching jobs.

The Giants are my 4. Yes they won the Super Bowl this season but because of the aging linebacker core that was eventually pieced together with a rookie playing middle linebacker at times and the fact that there secondary can't stay healthy they fall. The loss of key pieces didn't seem to have a huge effect on them this season because of the depth they had a safety the were able to play Kenny Phillips and Antrelle Rolle on WR's at time this year. The Niners exploited that when they tries to match up on Vernon Davis but with that blueprint many more teams will get to tje G-Men. There D line is young for the most part but they haven't had a real DT in a long time. All the speed rushing will be harder the more they let Eli fling it. Got it done this year but don't see it happening again with the guys they have on D.

Last are the Steelers. Unfortunately they're really starting to age. With the only person not really getting spelled frequently was Troy Polumalu. MLB James Farrior is doubtful for next season in my eyes. The paid every LB on the team to lofty extensions and I could see them finally going young at his spot letting the guys currently locked up awhile mentor him. There D line is actually getting younger Can Heyward and Ziggy Hood got more time this year spelling Bret Keisel a lot. More or less getting more just as many snaps. The last place to go young is NT. Signs point to them doing that in a lot of Mocks.

There it is people. I'll be updating this post. Sometime after free and during Free Agency based on whether the signings will immediately make an impact in my mind.

Where To For T.O. and Moss. . .

Both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens want to make returns to the NFL next season. In the past both have been both top caliber receivers and team headaches. After a year away from the game they both need homes. Not just any homes but contenders with veteran players around to kept things okay during I'm sure will be a very crazy season for whomever decides to take chancez on these two. To some teams it may e worth it to go after one of the two though.

San Francisco is a place I could see Owens ending up. He started his hof career there and put up what would normally be record stats if not for Jerry Rice. He would obviously battle Crabtree for the starting slot you'd thin if not for any reason other than to challenge the youngster. He'd also be valuable in the grooming of Crabtree because of the QB situation in SF it might not be a bad idea to let Crabtree play in the 2 so he'd get less attention on the field as well. With Owens outside along with Crabtree they'd have what they'd get from Braylon Edwards earlier this past season. Someone to put it up in the air to when the pressures on Alex Smith and Vernon Davis is covered. Though Owens might have been a bit pf a problem before he's a winner. And that's another thing the 49ers need.

There's really only one fit for Randy Moss and that's back in New England. Last time he played there it was not just great play it was record breaking. He put up his best numbers since his early days in Minnesota. With Josh McDaniels returning as OC it is a strong possibility too. Think of this, Welker is smaller, shorter, and somewhat slower than mlst wideouts. In the Super Bowl does Moss make that stretch to make the catch? There's a high chance he does. Cris Carter just blasted Moss and called him a quitter. And at times it looks that way but never while on a team with stability. When e first got to Minnesota he wasn't a distraction. Well he was breaking records and taking balls away from Carter if that's what he means. While on the Raiders they weren't competitive. He didn't check out the whole team did. I do think at times hes lazy and selfish. But don't get it wrong he top 5 all time higher than Carter and really has done more in his career than Carter did. With Moss outside with Welker and teams having to worry about the tight ends of the Pats he'd be a great fit.

What Could Come From This Season

This upcoming season should determine a lot for the whole NFL. With so many coaching changes being made already and obvious signs of more to come if the teams don't have good seasons next year. Another factor is that there will be some good jobs opening up more than likely. A lot of teams currently loaded with talent will more than likely get marquee coaches. Guys like Gruden, Mancini, and Cohwer. Depending on the openings. A lot could change. Let us delve into it.

The Falcons have had tons of success no doubt saying Mike Smith is on the hot seat is crazy. But after the season ended I believe that the allowance of him to hire new coordinators of his own meant I'd they don't work your not working. 4 playoff appearances and no wins hurts. With a good core group on offense and an aging d-line a defensive minded coach might got there with the thought of only rebuilding the defense. That's what gets you wins in the playoffs anyway you look at it.

The Bengalsade the playoffs for the fisrt time in a long ttime last season. Never the less the last time they were there Marvin Lewis was still there coach. So to say he's done a good job is definitely over stating it. There defense is young, there offense is young. All but aging back Cedric Benson and with the pick they got from Oakland they'll have an opportunity to fix that problem. If they somehow become less competitive than there comp in that division like Baltimore and Pittsburgh than I could see changes being made. More than likely a promotions of offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. Or maybe his brother comes in and he keeps his position.

The Jets are a mess right now. Rex Ryan's mouth has now caused so much expectation that we forget thar really his team is a wild card team year in and year out. They are a goo team but a wild card team, saying your going to win it Evey year will put stress between you and your boss. Especially if you never have. Now he's not saying it this second and may not at all seeing the dysfunction between the team but saying it as much as he did means you have to come through. Maybe Sanchez stays or goes but they have a decent offensive line. And with a good playcaller and a every down back that can get more than 20 carries a game they would be a solid team. Unfortunately under Ryan they havent done much to that effect. They've used a lot on weapons for Sanchez. That will probably cost him his job. Don't fret though Rex, if Wade Phillips leaves we'll need a coordinator in Houston. Good fit cause we dont allow the talking.

Look for some name coaches to take these jobs. There's too much in place for them to resist. With Fisher taking over in St Louis and taking Gregg Williams with him we now see the power these guys have. If a guy like Fisher can do that isn't it believable that Cohwer could get Dick Leabu? I think it is. Its obvious that those guys were loyal to the Rooney's not Mike Tomlin. Bruce Arians said he was retiring and took a job with the Colts. We'll see how it all falls together. I'm already waiting and excited though.

Irsay: Manning welcome back, but on restructured deal

Crazy, Irsay is doing all he can to not look like the bad guy. Unfortunately Manning isn't interested in a QB battle with a rookie nor does he want to mentor a player. Colts fans, hope your not fooled by Irsay putting this out now. Regardless if he comes back or not they won't have enough money to bring the whole core back. Manning Wayne Garcon Saturday Mathis. So Its a lose lose for Indy. Should have put more time into getting the free agents you have back before they hit the market and less time tweeting about "The Horse Shoe" Mr. Irsay. Still Manning may come back though. Just to finish his career as a Colt. Because unlike Jim Irsay Peyton actually cares about the fans, the city, and the teams legacy. If the owner of the team put that before his own ego or relationships with celebrities the Colts wouldn't be in this situation. Period point blank.

Why The Colt's Might Get Some "Bad Luck."

The year's 1998. the Colt's have the number one pick and ironically enough they also have a veteran QB that's already been there a bit in Jim Harbaugh. Nevertheless they are picking their franchise player in then rookie Peyton Manning. So many things are the same about the situation then and now uet so many things are different. Then the Colt's weren't a team used to winning their division. They weren't constantly winning, and by no means were they contenders. Along with some other factors I'll delve into why the Colts might get something they didn't after taking Manning. A streak of "Bad Luck."

Now the Colt's owner Jim Irsay acts like taking Andrew Luck number 1 this year is a given. According to Irsay he's the teams next franchise QB. According to Irsay it's going to be worth it to not pay Manning the 28 million dollar signing bonus and put it towards a contract that's not expiring. In many cases he's right but he's forgetting what Manning had coming into Indy. He had playmakers on his team on day 1. Marvin Harrison, Marshall Faulk, Jerome Pathon, Ken Dilger, and Marcus Pollard. These players were with the Colt's before Manning got there without the exception of Pathon who was drafted with Manning. Now I'm not saying that all these players are the hall of famers but the fact that you as a reader remember these people means that they were notable players of there time.

Because of the way Jim Irsay has handled the whole situation throughout the off season its very unlikely Luck gets any of Manning's players. Like the teams best wide out Reggie Wayne. That's huge where would have Manning ended up career wise without Marvin Harrison?  That's what Wayne is now. He's going to be playing behind a young offensive line that could barely protect Curtis Painter or Fan Orlovsky this past season. Luck also wont have the luxury of a marquee back in the backfield. After losing Hall of Famer Marsha Faulk the Colt's drafted Edgerin James and he also put up Hall of fame numbers throughout his career. Luck will not have that, and really it'll be hard to convince a RB to play in Indy. Just like it was the last years of the Manning era. Its simple who wants to plat RB where the ball doesn't get ran.

Another thing to account for is that the Colt's as a team were really bad when they got Manning. 3-13 his rookie year. The Colts defense was not in the rebuilding process like it is now back then. Sure they were bad as a whole team but this next season they'll be literally switching defensive schemes and coordinators for the first time in a long time. And after putting together what may have been the best pass rush duo in football in Freeney and Mathis at the least Mathis will be gone. Manning never really could count on his defense anyway but he wasn't worried about them losing him games either. He's been putting so man points up for so long its just a given that once they were up 10 or so they'd just unleashed Freeney and Mathis around the edges picking up a ridiculous amount of strip sacks and constantly causing turnovers.

Knowing this now, do you think the Colt's really know what there getting into? Do they really believe drafting what they see as the best QB on the board and hiring a defensive minded coach will be enough. And if so are they willing to take the chance on Luck with the division there being very physical and defensive minded. All these things could spell "Bad Luck" for Indy in the end.

Romo. Saviour or Scapegoat?

It took Troy Aikman 11 years to accumulate these stats. 32,942 passing yards, 165 TD's, and a QB Rating of 81.6. These numbers look very modest considering how people remember the golden boy now. He's considered one of the games top performers in the playoffs and one of the league's most clutch by some people.

In about half that time Tony Tomorrow has literally put most of Aikmans numbers to shame because of the pace at which he's been doing things. Since 06 Rolo has accumulated 20,834 passing yards, 149 TD passes, and a QB Rating of 96.9 which ranks him first all time. When thinking about that it's a bit crazy the amount of flack Romp gets year in and year out despite the fact he's made glaring mistakes at times while being a Cowboy.

The benefit of playing with numerous great players and hall of famers hides the fact that Aikman was at best a game manager most of his career. On both sides of the ball each year Aikman had playmakers every year he suited up in Cowboy Blue. If it wasn't Emmit Smith it was Michael Irvin and if not Irvin it was Novacek. And of all those things failed they had one of the best defensive units put together back then or maybe ever.

Now Romo has had none of these things. He's had TO, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, and more recently Dez Bryant. That's just the receiving core. He's only had a consistent running game for this one season with a back in Demarco Murray that can shoulder the load of a whole season. Julio Jones and Marion Barber are not Emmit Smith. And defensively they aren't the team they were in the Aikman years by a long shot. One consistent player on that side of the ball in Demarcus Ware. Though he is the best pass rusher in football he's one man.

Jerry Jones the owner of the team really should be the scapegoat. It's hard to blame a man with the charisma and fame that he has. Jones has not done much to give Romo the help needed to make the team a winner. It's weird to think with all the numbers put up by Romo Dallas has yet to be in a Super Bowl under his watch. Maybe now with Murray and Bryant coming into there own and the team keeping defensive coordinator Rob Ryan another season they'll be in the hunt. In a division that has Eli Manning and Micheal Vick Romo has proven skill wise he's the most talented of the bunch year in and year out. The stats show us this is true. Jones must put together a team that doesn't want the spotlight, but can handle being in it when the time comes. Mature players that will not put there own publicity above the team. And last but not least a coach that can handle the personalities. Jason Garret might be that guy and we'll find out this next season.

The fact that Romo has always performed at high level is hard to believe now because of how the media covers him. If it's not Jessica Simpson its how he smiles too much or how his demeanor isn't that of a champion because he doesn't beat himself up enough over tough losses. They call it quarterback memory for a reason. You make a mistake, learn from it and let it go. That's what a professional QB has to do for his team to be ssuccessful. Along with thy they can't make the same mistake twice. And realistically Romo rarely does.

Jerry Jones unfortunately takes this form of thinking and he uses it. Owners have to strive to make there team better not just forget the bad moves made to put the team Whee they are. If Jerry Jones doesn't embrace the role of owner and stop trying to be a Cowboy himself the team is doomed. Quarterbacks memory applies to quarterbacks and not owners. So instead of just forgetting the bad moves he's made he should embrace them, learn from them, and make his team better.

And in case anyone was wondering Romo's TD to INT is 149-72. Aikman's is 165-141. One year from now Romo will have that record as well. The fact that Aikman has that many picks reiterates what I'm saying about QB memory. He still managed 3 rings out of all those picks because the next drive it was out of his head. Probably helped knowing he had a hall of Famer to throw or hand off to on the following drive though.

Remember Back When. . .

The year was 2007, the setting is Monday Night Football. First came of the season, and Chad Ochochinco(then Johnson) just caught a TD pass from Carson Palmer. After doing so against the Baltimore Ravens Chad runs to the sideline and puts on a jacket reading future hall of famer year 20??. Kind of ironic now, let me explain.

After looking at the actual stats last night I've come to this conclusion. Chad more than likely without some help from a winning teamwork won't make it in any time soon. Out of the top 25 receiving leaders of all time only 7 are actually hall of famers as we speaking. Let's take into account that at least Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Tim Brown, and Chris Carter are all not in and they're all shoe ins. Just a matter of when they make it.

Knowing that I'd say it takes a lot for receiver's not named Jerry Rice to make it to Canton. The question is after a dismal season in New England can Chad's legacy be helped enough to make it in. Though he was the best WR in Bengals history before him it was Issac Curtis. And he's not enshrined in Canton as of today.

Let me know what you think. And who's the next receiver's to make it in.

How The Divisions Will Reform. . . .

Every season ends with at least one coach being fired. This is a given, especially because the league's now turning into a win now type of league. But I feel as if this season will effect the ranks for a time to come though. More and more teams are hiring untested coaches without experience and coupling this with the young talent there already in place these some of the hirings could be devastating.

I'll start with what I think will change a division right away and years to come. In the NFC South there is really two teams at the top each year. The Falcons and the Saint's. The Panther's haven't really been competitive since the Delhomme days and the Bucs haven't been since Gruden was fired. Now the Bucs have gone out and hired Greg Schiano. A college coach. Not just that but he's bringing some of his own guys with him. Extremely bad idea with known young players and quitters on the offensive side of the ball like Josh Freeman. This is all bad people let's not sugar coat this one. Nothing says we're confused like hiring a guy who's never done the job and putting him in the same position the last guy was in. Maybe if they'd made a point to go offense or defense with the hiring process. But neither just college experience. Apparently they think that's enough in a division full of explosive QB's and good defenses. Realistically it's probably the worst decision made this offseason so far.

Within the same division is another team needing a big time coach to get over the hump. The Falcons have Matt Ryan yet still he's yet to put together a playoff win. Personally I'm a firm believer that the faults to fall at the feet of head coach Mike Smith. He's got a great regular season record and as a team they always look strong going into the post season. Usually what happens is they either have homefield and really because of the type of team they are it doesn't matter. Though the fans of the Falcons are great. Its hard for fans to stay loud through drives that always include at least two 2 yard gains by Michael Turner and then a 3rd and short in which you hope Roddy White or Tony Gonzalez are open because they'll actually male a catch. And after a half of this the scores either close or the Falcons are down big and they can't play form behind. This year I believe will be Smith's last year with the team. He was given the opportunity to fire his coordinators and bring in ones he wanted. After ownership does that you know what the next option is if you don't succeed. If and when the Falcons get that new coach and more aggressive coordinator they'll push the envelope. Remember because of the way they lost to the Packers in the playoffs two years ago they got more weapons for Ryan with Julio Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers. Bur there used in less effective ways by the staff in place now. Using Jones on reverses is not better than putting him in the slot against a safety or linebacker. Period. 

Within the same division the Saint's have just lost the one person I believe is not credited enough for the super bowl they won. Gregg Williams. A defensive genius of sorts. He's figured out how to pressure the best QB's in football. He's now with the team that cost New Orleans the chance at homefield in the Rams. They're young fast and really with Jeff Fisher there I bet they get much better extremely quick.

Indy just hired Chuck Pagano. A defensive coordinator from Baltimore and really that's not really a good trend to be under. Rex Ryan, Marvin Lewis, Mike Singletary. They were all defensive coaches for Baltimore of some sort and non have really panned out. Ryan's not that bad of a coach but when your saying your going to win the championship every year and fail then your a failure. Pagano will be in a tight spot they do have the #1 pick and it will be Andrew Luck. But the offense wasn't the problem the defense was. Losing someone like Robert Mathis most definitely wont help and inheriting a team set up to play Tampa 2 based defense. Angerer is probably the only linebacker that can play in the 3-4 and none of there lineman are really athletic enough to male the switch but Dwight Freeney. And he won't be all game for that either. With a handful of free agents on the offensive side of the ball I don't see them competing at a high level for at least a couple years.

Now in the AFC West the Chiefs and Raiders both made coaching changes and while the Chiefs keeping Romeo Cernell looks good the Raiders hire doesn't. There too unstable for a coach without a rep to step in and fix them. It'll take picks they don't have and personnel they can't afford to get them back in the hunt and unfortunately the Bronco's used both of those things to improve bunches over the years. Now both Oakland and Kansas City are playing catch up and I'm not sure if they can. Is Tebow that good right now, no. But he will be its in him to be that. Some players have and some don't. But he definitely does. With a stable coach and a front office that makes good moves Denver should have that division wrapped for years to come.

Will Ricky's Last Run Be to Canton?

Now that's its been officially announced lets get into it. Ricky Williams or as some may call him "Sticky Ricky" is retiring from the game of football. He is 1 of 26 men to have rushed for over 10,000 yards in a career. Of those 26 people 13 are in the hall. With a few no doubters also on the list like Ladanian Tomlinson, Jerome Bettie, and Edgerrin James. And yes James will be there. He totalled over 12,000 yards in his career and everyone with that many yards has been enshrined with exception to Bettis who's just waiting for eligibility as well.

Some people would say Ricky's actions during his first stint at supposed retirement would definitely take him out of the running for a bid in Canton. I say the opposite. After leaving the game to basically become a hippie that offseason, he took responsibility for his action's. He returned to the Dolphin's and actually contributed to the team. When first returning the Dolphin's were trying to go a different direction with there backs. A youngsters and then very productive Ronnie Brown needed touches. And because of the lack of consistent QB play they employed the wildcat offense. Both Williams and Brown benefited from this. More Brown than Williams. In 2006 Brown actually rushed over 1000 yards. Really other than that Williams has always out played Brown.

After sharing time with Brown for a season and a quarter or so Ricky got the touches needed to be Ricky. He averaged 4.1 a rush for his career so when he gets touches he takes care of business. In all honesty him leaving the Dolphins should have seen what they missed. Not saying he's there saviour but I am saying regardless of his off field antics he's the best RB in the history of their team.

If not for the fact that he actually takes a break from the game he does make the hall dirty tests and all on stats alone. Now what most people fail to understand is that he did fail a test given by the league or his team. And after that he failed another and instead of actually facing the penalties he decided to not play. If he plays the whole season in 05 he gets at least another 1000 yards maybe more. That's putting him really close to that 12,000 yard mark I spoke of earlier. If the Dolphins don't make the mistake of not giving him his role back because of trust issues he gets those yards as well. While playing on Baltimore Williams knew he wasn't going to be that guy. He wanted to win and Miami wasn't really trying to.

I'm not saying Williams doesn't hold any responsibility in the fact that his stats aren't where they could or the fact that we actually have to discuss it now. But the fact that he's not chasing it and staying around is saying a lot. He knows that there's a chance he could get in if he keeps at it. And still decided to leave the game to pursue something he feels is more important.

Of I had to make a comparison it would be to Jim Brown. I know he did more in less time. But after looking at the amount of time Ricky got to play and what he was dealt after his fiasco in Miami its easy to see that Williams was an elite talent. And after giving them his all it got him no where. It may take some time to let things settle but Williams should make it in.

Where Will The Golden Goose Land?

Its almost March people the month that we'll all find out which team Peyton Manning is going to end up on. I'm one of those who thinks the Colts will release him and start over. They're doing the same thing they did when he was drafted by gutting the whole team had bringing in new faces in almost every aspect of the front office. Manning isn't just any free agent and some aren't acknowledging this. He'll pick where he goes carefully. A team that's rebuilding or doesn't have any pieces to win now aren't on the list. He's also not going to a division top loaded either. So the AFC East is off limits in my opinion. Playing Brady and the Patriots twice a year just to make the playoffs doesn't sound strategic to me. Neither does entering a division loaded with talent including little brother. Sorry Skins fans you should move up and get RG3. That's really you one bright hope.

Miami though in the AFC East is still a maybe because of cap room and other things. Reggie Wayne is an ex Hurricane. New coach Joe Philbin is making a switch to 4-3 from 3-4 and Robert Mathis is a beast as we all know. And with a receiver like Brandon Marshall its easy to see why Manning would consider this move. If I were him I'd probably not go with this team but who knows. If they can get him and his entourage then it'll probably work out.

Now Arizona is a real possibility to me. Seeing how they have the players to make moves now to become a real contender. I know they just got Kevin Kolb and he was supposed to be the QB of the future in Arizona but really if Manning is available he'll be sought out. Kolb can easily be moved for a pick. Probably a 3rd or maybe a high 2nd rounder to the right team. Like Seattle, Cleveland, or maybe Washington if they fail in getting RG3 in the draft. The only positions they're aging is at OLB and SS. There d-line is aged but they drafted d-line last year and Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell are both great still. The Cardinals also have what some would call QB bait in wideout Larry Fitzgerald. No matter who's slinging it he gets numbers. Which means if you give him a quality QB you'll get more than just production from him. Last time he had a name tossing him the rock the Cardinals went to a Super Bowl then got beat the following season but never the less made the playoffs. With Manning there's a good chance he'll bring Reggie Wayne along with him. Meaning they'd have weapons outside. Beanie Wells just came off his best season as a pro and would more than likely do better with a QB that was actually feared to do something. 

Now I'm not saying where he'll end up. But I do know this wherever Manning ends up he will make a difference in the in the culture. He'll change the way that team plays week in and week out. A lot like Joe Montana did for the Chief's when he went there. One thing that can't be denied is that a player with a winning resume makes others believe. Sometimes belief is more than enough to propel a team from mediocrity to a contender. Like Favre did with the Vikes. Like Warner and the Cardinals. And maybe one day I can add Manning to the list. Only time will tell.

Elite, Lucky, or Just Blessed?

Now that the Super Bowl has come and gone. Now that the predictions I made haven't panned out obviously. And now that the Peyton vs. Eli debate is in full swing I figured I'd write this post.

So many people are asking the question is Eli as good or even better in the clutch than his big brother. Many are saying with this addition Eli has now become an elite QB, and though he is extremely good and at times seems to control a game all by his lonesome I am here to tell you guys the comparisons aren't even valid. Now that I've said that let me explain some things baby brother still lacks that Peyton doesn't.

One, Eli still makes simple rookie mistakes. Even last night he threw a pass to a double covered Victor Cruz. Unfortunately Jerrod Mayo doesn't have the instincts of a Teddy Bruschi or Mike Vrabel. That pass was the same pass he'd make the year Kurt Warner started in NY. Remember the biggest knock against Eli was his inability to take a sack. He'd rather put it up and give up the turnover than be hit.  Since that year and the season after he's been pretty sound as a QB. More credit should go to Tom Coughlin for the building of the O-line over those years. I still remember Eli being continuously being harassed in the pocket those years too. No one ever talks about that. Only how he's playing now. And yes I do understand we live in the now but lets not get it wrong people Eli is a great QB but elite? I'd say he's on the verge. I wouldn't even say with this win he's not still 3rd skills wise in the class of QB's he came in with. Ben and Phillip Rivers are both better all around players than Eli.

The elite class of QB's is a really short list. I'm talking 4 people long. Brees, Brady, Manning,  and Rogers. I don't even put Big Ben on the list because the years he won Championships the Steelers were run heavy team's. And though he threw a strike to Santonip Holmes to win one of those he hasn't shown anything you can call clutch since that game. Brady, Rogers, Brees, and Manning all led there teams to the title. Literally put there teams on there backs and got it done to win the titles. Eli's never done that. Both times he's been to the Super Bowl he's been on the good side of the best pass rush in the league. The Giant defense won that game last night not the offense. Take the Brady intentional grounding call away and the pick by the Giants defense and the Patriots win that game. 

Without a great defense, without the help of someone with a superior football mind(Big Brother), and without any sort of running game these other QB's won themselves titles. That makes them elite. Not season play, records, or MVP's. And by the way Eli has none of the above either in case anyone was wondering. 

No Ring, No Glory

After seeing the people that didn't make it to Canton this year I had to write about this. Not only was a person I can find annoying and arrogant at times rejected but Tim Brown too. That's crazy. He's first ballot material. Its written all over him. He spent his whole career with one team. He was always great with the media. And period point blank he's the best the best player that franchise has really ever had.(not counting those ended shortly by injury)

Bill Parcelled not making it is a complete outrage. Without him the two coaches in the game today might not even be coaching now. Not to mention he's won a Championship on his own. I find it disgusting title chasers like Deion Sanders would get in and not Parcells. For goodness sake they took one of the players he's closest to. Curtis Martin was with him on the Jets and came with him to New England. Work is he might actually ask Parcells to be his presenter. And because he's such a class act he'll probably do it.

Winning must not mean what it used to.

Super Sunday Preview

Entering this Sunday's game there is so much more to tall about that has nothing to do with the game itself. From the soap opera that is the relationship between Petting Manning and team owner Jim Irsay. To how the Colts will actual look next year after everything unravels this off season. But with all that out there I'm choosing to ignore it and tall about what's important in the right now. And that's the game being played Sunday.

Everyone out there gas agreed with this, put pressure on Brady and you put yourself in a good position to win any game against the Patriots. Many are comparing the Giants now to the team from 4 years ago. And its easy to see why like that team they have a great line. Still have Brandon Jacobs and still can run the ball and control the clock. What the Giants didn't have then was a young and talented receiving core. And they didn't have the Eli from this season. He's leaps and strides better than he was then. Unfortunately in my opinion he's still capable of losing a game for you though.

Now the Patriots are a completely different team now. New lineman, different receiving threats, different backfield, different defense and in spite of what some would call just plain bad defense it all works to there favor. I'm a huge believer in what I call " trap games." Not only did the Giants get the benefit of one of those. In that game the Giants got a great look at the what they were going to see later that year. The Patriots brought the house that game in an attempt to accomplish something only one team has before. Perfection.

This game is more on the opposite spectrum of things really. The Patriots have Wes Welker and Deion Branch outside. They are literally the most clutch combination you could have in terms of sure hands. Many are saying New York will plug the middle of the field and control the two spectacular New England tight ends. Even if that's possible they will have to ask their secondary to stop plays down field alone. With no safety help against to great route runners and that's asking a lot from them. Steeple Rolls and Kenny Phillips will no doubt on the tight ends mostly. And maybe Deion Grant for a few.

Patriots by about 10 on Sunday. Brady throws at least 3 TD's. The Patriot defense gets lucky and Eli forces one to Cruz that gets swiped by Mcourtey. Bejarvis Green Ellis gets about 65-70YDS along with some short Woodhead passes to nuetralize the pass rush.