15 Questions From Training Camp For Carson Palmer

If I were given the opportunity to interview any Cincinnati Bengal, it would have to be the leader of the team.

People in Cincinnati call him many things, Golden Boy, Franchise—I call him Carson.

 

Training Camp Questions for Carson Palmer

1. How do you feel after your first week of OTA’S?

2. With the departure of TJ, and Chad’s absence, has it been tough getting used to the new look of your wide receivers, Coles, Caldwell and Simpson?

3. Do you think you made the right decision in not having surgery to repair your elbow?

4. Did the knee injury at the end of the ’05 season help you prepare for the rehab you would have to be doing for your shoulder injury?

5. How do you think the pitch count you are on will effect when it comes time for two a days?

6. Do you think this team is more mature and ready to handle the national exposure of Hard Knocks?

7. Do you feel the attitude in the locker room has changed?

8. I hear that there have been plays added just for Chase Coffman, are you excited to finally have a dangerous TE like Coffman?

9. Were you surprised at how aggressive the Bengals were in free agency?

10. Are you 100 percent, and if so is the pitch count just a precaution?

11. How do you think you line will gel in minicamp?

12. Do you think having a rookie right tackle, and a center with no NFL experience will be able to protect you?

13. You have said that you think the Bengals can go to the playoffs and Super bowl. In your opinion, what is the biggest key to being able to make that happen?

14. How happy were you with the Bengals action in FA and all the big time players acquired through the draft?

15. I saved this one for last because I know you don’t like talking about Chad, but do you think he will be a distraction through training camp, or do you think he will come in ready to work?

 

 

Michael Boley: A Future Hero for the New York Giants’ Defense

The New York Giants’ defense has been known for their pass rushing ability. The defense has been known for its great defensive ends, Osi Umenyiora, Antonio Pierce and Justin Tuck who have led the team in sacks over the past two years.

Antonio Pierce has held down the line-backing corps, but during this off-season the Giants have added another weapon to their defense; this weapon is former Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Michael Boley.

Michael Boley is a 26 year old, 6’3″, 223-pound linebacker out of Southern Mississippi has five years of experience in the NFL. In 2008, Boley had 73 tackles, one interception, nine pass deflections, and was key to the Falcons playoff run last year. This loss severely hurts the Atlanta Falcons defense, but this addition adds a new factor for opposing teams to think about when facing the Giants.

The addition of Boley to the Giants’ defense is giving them another experienced linebacker. Last season the Giants’ line-backing corps consisted of Bryan Kehl, Antonio Pierce, and Danny Clark. Last season 200 tackles. Boley will be replacing Kehl at the starting weak side linebacker spot where he will replace Kehl’s 35 tackles with his 73.

The aspect of having another experienced linebacker adds a new facet to the Giants Strategy. The Giants can now add even more blitz schemes and blitz the linebacker more. Boley is also a great pass defender.

While playing the Eagles last year, the Giants struggled to defend Brain Westbrook when he ran receiving routes. Boley could be vital in the defense of Westbrook this year.

The Giants have improved their defense this year with the additions of Canty, Boley, and Bernard. They filled all their weak spots from last year, but Boley may be the best addition made by the Giants this off-season. Boley has a long career ahead of him, and he adds all sorts of aspects to the Giant’s defense.

Boley will be key in the success of the Giants this season, and if his career stays on the track that it is currently on, he will be a future hero for the New York Giants.

 

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens: My Favorite Team of All Time

My favorite team all time is the 2000 Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. This team is probably the favorite for all Ravens fans, but there are certain reasons why I liked them more then any other Ravens team.

This team had a nasty, cocky attitude that started with the head coach and worked its way down. Personally, I loved the fact that everyone outside Baltimore hated the Ravens because of their attitude, and I believe it united the city. The 2000 Ravens were viewed as ” bad boys” and “thugs” and they embraced this.

This team was littered with brash, outspoken personalities that all gelled together and led them to the Super Bowl. Brian Billick, Ray Lewis, and Shannon Sharpe were known to be “talkers,” but they backed up their talking with stellar play and good coaching.

Another reason I love this particular team so much was because of the defense and the adage that they won games “ugly.” This team went five games without scoring an offensive touchdown and won two of them, that shows how dominant this defense was. The Ravens defense, led by Ray Lewis, instilled fear in the hearts of all their opponents and gave their team a chance to win game in and game out.

This, in my opinion, was the greatest defense of all time, and their record proved it. They yielded the fewest amount of points in 16 games and even gave up fewer points if you include the post-season then the ’85 Bears did in 16 games. The Ravens defense led the league in take-aways and recorded a record tying five shutouts.

In every game that the Ravens won, everyone said that they had been dominated and lucky to escape, but I saw it in a different way. This team won because they had more heart and desire than all of their opponents.

This team was able to overcome a lot of adversity en route to winning a Super Bowl, and that is another reason that I loved them. No other team in the history of the NFL could have endured a five game drought in which they did not score an offensive touchdown and still won two of those games. Also, this team switched quarterbacks in the middle of the season, which is also something that is not easy to do.

After nine games the Ravens sat at 5-4 and seemed destined to finish the season without a playoff appearance. They then won seven straight in the regular season and the rest is history.

Another piece of adversity this team faced was the fact that the face of their franchise, Ray Lewis, had faced double murder charges prior to the season and the team was asked about it on a daily basis. This seemed to unite the team and definitely sparked the play of Lewis.

Baltimore sports fans always feel that we get no respect and that was the tone of the fans and the team in 2000. The Ravens players and fans were the only ones who seemed to believe that they were any good and the players played with chips on their shoulder because of this. Every week we heard reports and “experts” say that this team was no good or make excuses for why they won, and I loved that.

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens were brash, cocky, arrogant, and nasty. They has a quarterback that was run out of Tampa and a head coach who was proving to be anything but the offensive genius tag that he was labeled with. They went five games without scoring an offensive touchdown and had a rookie running back and won games “ugly” and that is why I loved them.

Nobody outside of Baltimore expected anything from this team and they proved everyone wrong. In 1996, Art Modell brought football back to Baltimore, but the 2000 Baltimore Ravens brought back the Lombardi trophy and I love them for that.

This is, and always will be, my favorite team of all time and I am sure many Ravens fans feel the same way.

 

Will Cornerback Depth Be an Issue For Titans In 2009?

Drafting a wide receiver might have gotten the offseason headlines, but the Tennessee Titans also used the time to improve at cornerback.

Depth at that position is something that should worry fans coming into the 2009 season.

Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan returns as the team’s No. 1 corner. The other starter, Nick Harper, also returns. But if one or both are injured, the Titans’ pass defense will be thin. The other returning corners: Tanard Davis is playing his sixth different team since 2006 and Cary Williams spent last season injured and on the practice squad.

The situation becomes more clouded because Harper underwent abdominal surgery in the offseason. He was a regular on the Titans’ injury report in the last quarter of the regular season. The 34-year-old is healthy going into training camp, but he is also entering the last year of his contract.

Before the draft, the Titans lost reserve corners when Detroit signed Eric King and Chris Carr signed with Baltimore. The Titans also opted to not re-sign Reynaldo Hill and Tyrone Poole at the end of last season.

The team did re-sign safety/nickel back Vincent Fuller. Fuller has appeared in 50 career games and registered 93 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions in four NFL seasons.

Knowing that depth was an issue last season, the team did make attempts to upgrade the position.

The Titans signed Texans free agent corner DeMarcus Faggins. Faggins played in all 16 games for the Texans in 2008 and started five games last year and eight in 2007. However, Texan fans aren’t exactly crying over his departure. They also signed Christian Morton, who last played for Carolina in the 2006 season.

The Titans used 2009 draft picks at the position. They drafted Ryan Mouton in the third round. The 5’9″ cornerback from the University of Hawaii tallied 69 tackles and three interceptions in 24 games at Hawaii and was All-Western Athletic Conference as a senior. Mouton has the talent to play corner and will likely get his chance to earn playing time.

Rutgers cornerback Jason McCourty was picked in the sixth round. McCourty, a three-year starter, made 52 tackles and two interceptions as a senior. The team also signed McNeese State corner Jeremy Haynes as an undrafted free agent. But neither are expected to contribute at cornerback right now.

Mouton will be a good addition and will likely join Faggins as the primary backup corners this season. Besides the starters, every other player at the position is either unproven or has underperformed.

There were some decent cornerbacks on the free agent market after the draft: Baltimore’s Chris McAlister, New York Jets’ Ty Law, Denver’s Dre Bly, and Arizona’s Roderick Hood. However, none of these players are realistic for Tennessee. Tennessee will need at least one of the corners to improve enough to earn significant playing time.

Hopefully, depth won’t be an issue. But one pulled hamstring might require these young cornerbacks to step in.

 

Not So Easy: The Super Bowl Returns to New Orleans

Only in New Orleans could this be classified as “a return to normalcy.” The Crescent City, torn asunder by Hurricane Katrina, stamped by federal neglect and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s neoliberal experimentation, will once again collide with the freewheeling, hard-partying frenzy of the NFL’s crown jewel: the Super Bowl.

It was announced this week that New Orleans will host their tenth Super Bowl in 2013, to the cheers of journalists with bionic livers and expense-account executives the nation over. It’s also being celebrated across the sporting spectrum as an act of altruism. It shouldn’t be, but that hasn’t stopped the soundtrack of salutations.

ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli wrote, “The Super Bowl was made for New Orleans. And as anybody who has attended a championship game there knows, New Orleans was made for the Super Bowl…. Great move owners!”

Governor Jindal said, “This is a huge win for New Orleans but also the entire state of Louisiana.” Previously, Jindal has decried federal spending on disaster relief, which is somewhat like a governor of Nevada making a push to outlaw gambling.

The NFL wants to play up the choice as an act of post-Katrina missionary work, with commissioner Roger Goodell saying, “I think this is a great statement about the spirit and people of New Orleans and the great relationship the Saints and the NFL have in that community.”

“No city has been through more than New Orleans,” said Rita Benson LeBlanc, a part owner of the New Orleans Saints. “This is just a true testament to what an entire community can do.”

Pasquarelli added, “Playing host to a Super Bowl should address some of the city’s lingering problems.” By “lingering problems” he must mean sky-high poverty and unemployment. Much has been made about the city’s comeback, on the basis of healthy employment numbers (relative to the rest of the country) and a mini-construction boom buoyed by post-Katrina reconstruction.

But many New Orleans residents still feel compelled to celebrate any infusion of business, particularly the business of unlimited expense accounts and debauchery the Super Bowl inevitably brings with it. This is because the poverty in the city is still persistent.

In March, the metro area lost jobs for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. And New Orleans, with some families still living in federal trailers and others still trying to return, remains the murder capital of the United States.

This is because the city has become profoundly dependent on its service economy since 2005.

This is also because the Obama administration has to date done nothing to help the Gulf Coast despite his repeated assurances to do otherwise. A look at politifact.com shows a depressing litany of broken promises straight from Obama’s mouth on everything from strengthening the levees to rebuilding hospitals and schools.

As New Orleans resident and commentator Harry Shearer wrote:

“The farther we get into this administration, the clearer it becomes that New Orleans is now enjoying its second consecutive federal administration which, far from offering to fix what it broke, far from offering a hand of support, is merely offering one finger.”

This is why, in the absence of alternatives, the Super Bowl money train looks all the more seductive.

Scott Fujita, a star linebacker for the Saints who lives within the New Orleans city limits, said to me, “I’m thrilled about it…. You’d be hard-pressed to find a city that throws a better party, or a city that deserves the business more than New Orleans.”

He is correct on both counts. But this is one party that will come with a price tag which should make us more than skeptical.

To paraphrase John Reed, the NFL never wants something for nothing. It will mean at least $85 million more in taxpayer money for Superdome improvements, including more luxury suites plus other bells and whistles.

This investment is being pushed hard by Jindal and the New Orleans business community. Jindal is very fond of saying that “government can’t solve our problems.” However, it can provide Jindal’s corporate backers with more luxury suites.

The Super Bowl decision perpetuates the status quo in New Orleans. The city will be forced to rise and fall on the basis of an external service economy.

Jobs and wages will fluctuate rapidly based on whichever circus happens to be in town that week. Taxpayer dollars will pour into amenities for moneyed tourists and not into building the kind of stable industrial base that can stabilize the community. This will be another sporting shock doctrine.

Saints owner Tom Benson said after the announcement, in a moment of unvarnished truth, “It won’t be all trickle-down, but it will definitely help.”

Someone needs to ask, When the Super Bowl party leaves town, who will really be helped and who will be left on the sidelines?

Brunell, Taylor, Thunder and Lightning: The Jaguars’ All-Time Team

One of the best bar stool debates in sports is the “All-Time Team.” If you could assemble a lineup of any players in a specific team’s history, which would you choose?

Would the Lakers center be Wilt, Kareem or Shaq? Would the Yankees center fielder be DiMaggio or Mantle?

Also, don’t forget the age-old question of the greatest running back in the illustrious history of the Houston Texans — Domanick Davis (or is it Williams?), Jonathan Wells or Steve Slaton? That’s a toughie.

Save that one until later. Here, the Jaguars, a franchise since the 1995 season, will be dissected.

QB – Mark Brunell –

Not much debate here. Brunell was the leader of the team during the Tom Coughlin era from 1995-2003 and holds pretty much every Jags career passing record.

On the bench: Byron Leftwich, David Garrard.

RB – Fred Taylor –

Again, an easy choice. In 11 seasons in teal, Taylor (pictured) rushed for 11,271 yards. The next closest, late-90s back James Stewart, had 2,951 yards.

On the bench: Maurice Jones-Drew, James Stewart

FB – Greg Jones –

The Jaguars have never had a Pro Bowl fullback, and their notable lead blocker list is very short. Jones and Daimon Shelton are the two that come to mind right away.

On the bench: Daimon Shelton

WRs – Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith –

Thunder and Lightning. Both relative unknowns before the Jags scooped them, McCardell and Smith became one of the best receiving duos in the NFL during the Jaguars’ heyday in the late 1990s.

On the bench: Reggie Williams, Matt Jones

TE – Kyle Brady –

Brady was a No. 9 overall pick by the Jets in 1995, but he didn’t hit his peak until his Jaguars stint. He caught at least 29 passes for Jacksonville each season from 1999-2003, including a 64-catch 2000 campaign.

On the bench: Pete Mitchell, Marcedes Lewis

OT – Tony Boselli, Leon Searcy –

Brunell was very thankful to have Boselli at left tackle and Searcy at right tackle his first few seasons. Boselli was a five-time Pro Bowler, and Searcy joined Boselli in Hawaii in 1999.

On the bench: Maurice Williams

G – Ben Coleman, Chris Naeole –

Coleman was a solid blocker during his 4 1/2 years with the club in the 1990s. Naeole came over from New Orleans in 2002 and has been just as reliable.

On the bench: Vince Manuwai

C – Brad Meester –

He actually started out at guard but won the job at center after John Wade left for Tampa Bay in 2003.

On the bench: Dave Widell

DE – Tony Brackens, Joel Smeenge –

Brackens is far and away the club’s career leader in sacks (55). Smeenge is second on the list with 34, but he also gets bonus points for his last name, which Jags fans loved reciting in unison after big plays.

On the bench: Paul Spicer

DT – Marcus Stroud, John Henderson –

These guys clogged the middle for the better part of a decade before Stroud was traded to Buffalo. Both received perennial Pro Bowl consideration.

On the bench: Gary Walker

LB – Kevin Hardy, Mike Peterson, Daryl Smith –

Hardy, an Illinois product, was the linchpin of the Jaguars defense in the early years. Peterson essentially replaced Hardy as the linebacking leader in 2003. Smith, a second-round pick in 2004, succeeded Peterson at middle linebacker last season.

On the bench: Akin Ayodele, Bryan Schwartz

CB – Rashean Mathis, Aaron Beasley –

Mathis, out of little Bethune-Cookman, has become the closest thing to a shut-down corner Jacksonville has seen. Beasley was always a fan favorite and a solid if not unspectacular player.

On the bench: Fernando Bryant, Brian Williams, Deon Figures

S – Donovin Darius, Deon Grant –

Darius was a hard-hitter on the field, yet completely opposite off of it as one of the great community Jaguars in team history. Grant came to Jacksonville with a great pedigree from the University of Tennessee and the Carolina Panthers and started 48 games in three seasons.

On the bench: Travis Davis

K – Mike Hollis –

Super reliable. Never missed more than two field goals in a season as the kicker from 1995-2002. Through Hollis’ first five seasons, only John Carney had a better accuracy in NFL history. 

On the bench: Josh Scobee

P – Bryan Barker –

Jacksonville’s punter from 1995-2000, he made a Pro Bowl in 1997.

On the bench: Chris Hanson

KR/PR – Reggie Barlow, Maurice Jones-Drew –

Barlow will always be remembered infamously for his fumbled punt in the team’s AFC Championship loss to Tennessee in 2000, his final game as a Jaguar. However, he is the most accomplished returner in team history and the only one with multiple punt returns for touchdowns. Jones-Drew had to make the all-time squad as a starter in some capacity, and he is deserving as a kick returner.

On the bench: Willie Jackson

The Patriots & Michael Vick…Are You Kidding Me?

I would absolutely love to able to sit down and write an entry that explains how and why the signing of Michael Vick by the New England Patriots is impossible.

I’m sure that even if I accomplished that however, there would still be an endless supply of people who are ready and willing to overlook blatant facts on their way to misguided reasons and explanations as to why the Patriots should, and will, sign him.

I’m going to give it a try anyway though. 

The Patriots do not need Vick and even if they did, they still don’t need him.

I’ve heard from other fans and writers who actually believe we need a veteran quarterback presence behind starter Tom Brady, and they somehow manage to connect the dots to Vick.

First we have to ignore the fact that the Patriots selected quarterback Kevin O’Connell in the 3rd round of last years draft, and then didn’t make a move when he became the backup last season.

Let’s say, just for kicks and giggles, that they actually needed a veteran signal caller.

How does a career completion percentage of 53.8 sound? Or how about a career touchdown to interception ratio of 7:5?

If those awesome stats don’t amaze you, hang in there because this resume isn’t over.

How does a six year career with only two winning seasons sound? Add in the fact that that he’s been out of the game for two seasons as well.

Michael Vick isn’t needed because the Patriots are more than content with their depth and he wouldn’t even be close to the best option if they did need a backup (and that’s only based on playing ability).

Never mind the fact that he just spent a term in federal prison on felony charges and hasn’t even been reinstated by the league or had his rights traded by the Atlanta Falcons.

The guy hasn’t been in the league since 2006, and has never impressed statistically as a quarterback. He wouldn’t match up one bit with the offensive system the Patriots run. 

This story has got to stop.

Sure the Patriots have had success with “troubled” players, but they don’t work magic. This is a felon who wasn’t very good to begin with, and it makes no sense for his name to be brought up in this discussion with all things considered.

Ten Reasons The Denver Broncos Should Sign Michael Vick

It has been two seasons since the National Football League and its fans have seen the greatest athlete to play the game since Bo Jackson.

Two seasons is much too long of a drought.

While he is still under contract with the Atlanta Falcons, many are already speculating as to which teams make logical sense for the beleaguered quarterback. Teams like Pittsburgh, New England, and Miami have been mentioned as possible destinations due to their elite level of management and history of dealing with personalities like Vick.

One franchise that has yet to be mentioned in the competition for Vick’s services is the Denver Broncos, who in case you have not heard, traded their Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears over a month ago.

Throughout the off-season I have been a huge supporter of Denver quarterback Kyle Orton. I firmly believe that Orton can run Denver’s offense sucessfully with all of the great weapons around him.

There is always a chance that Orton could flop or get injured however, and Denver’s backup plans are nothing to write home about.

Chris Simms has not started a game since rupturing his spleen, and rookie Tom Brandstater will not be ready to start for two or three years.

Does Michael Vick make sense for the Broncos? Can rookie head coach Josh McDaniels handle him? Here are some reasons why Vick in Denver does make sense, and why it would not make sense.

1.  Kyle Orton

As I stated before I have been, and will continue to be, a supporter of Kyle Orton. He has  experience in the spread offense in college where he became one of the nation’s top passers, and could really benefit from the excellent receivers, running backs, and offensive line that Denver has to offer.

Still, there is always a chance that Orton could flop or get injured. There is no guarantee that he will make a smooth transition to Denver, and the Broncos do not have a very stable option otherwise.

Chris Simms has not played in a regular season game for a long time, and Tom Brandstater is a big project at this position. Signing Vick as a backup would be an excellent option for the Broncos.

2.  Marketing

Prior to his dog-fighting incident there was not a more marketable player in the NFL.  Michael Vick would sell jerseys, tickets, and merchandise for Denver. In this dire economy, no team can pass that opportunity up.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning Vick’s past. What he did was downright putrid, but the man has paid his debt to society and the NFL. 

Even if the Broncos do not end up signing Vick, whatever team does go after him is going to sell out every single game next season. Vick is like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant in the sense that no matter where he ends up people always want to watch him play.  He is captivating on the field, and can make the impossible seem possible.

3.  Athleticism

Does anything even need to be said? Michael Vick is the second best athlete to have ever played professional football. He has one of the strongest arms I have ever seen, and he is also one of the fastest players I have ever seen.

Granted, he is probably a little rusty from his time in prison, but what do you think he has been doing since he got there? I would be willing to wager he has done nothing but work out and become a physical marvel.

4.  Risk/Reward

After two seasons out of the league and his background of off-field issues, how expensive is Michael Vick really going to be? Any team that signs him is going to get a great football player for a very, very reasonable price. 

5.  Versatility

Thanks to his excellent running ability, Vick could provide the Broncos with much more than a strong-armed quarterback. Even though he has had trouble fumbling the football (55 in his career), he could help Denver in kick returns, wide receiver, and maybe even running back.

6.  Tony Dungy

One of the most well respected and well known coaches in the National Football League thinks Vick has a chance to make a comeback in the league. If there is any opinion that an NFL fan or coach should hold in high regard, it is that of Dungy.

7.  Josh McDaniels

While Vick is probably a better fit for the “wildcat” offense, Josh McDaniels has a great track record of developing quarterbacks. Vick would benefit greatly from his tutelage.

8.  No Bull Allowed

McDaniels is running a really tight ship in Denver. If at any point he decided that Vick was a distraction or affecting the team in a negative way, his butt would be out of Denver faster than Maurice Clarett.

9.  Changed Man

Say what you want, but the time he has spent in jail has to have changed Vick for the better. I do not claim to know this man as a person, and given the circumstances, none of us really have any reason to believe he has changed his ways. 

I feel that being in jail for a year and a half, losing nearly $20 million, losing every endorsement, and being away from the game you love has to be a humbling experience.

Vick is now 28 years old, and likely has matured. Think Randy Moss.

10.  Vick has something to prove

Michael Vick knows he owes his life to the NFL. If the Denver Broncos are willing to give him a shot, I have no doubts he will give that team his everything, and do anything to help them win football games.

Can the Jets Make a Landing in the Playoffs Next Year?

At 9-7, the Jets didn’t quite have enough in the tank to extend their year past the regular season last year. 

Out are Eric Mangini and Brett Favre, in are rookies Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez.

But can they help the Jets extend their season this year?

The Jets finished in third place last year behind New England and Miami, who tied at 11-5. Since the end of the season—as happens every year—there has been a lot of player movement.

Miami brought in S Gibril Wilson to help solidify their defense, added depth with CB Eric Green, turned the reins at center over to Jake Grove, and replaced defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday with the much younger Tony McDaniel—none of which are exactly huge moves.

But in Bill Parcells’ second season making calls from an office deep in the bowels of LandShark Stadium, this team can not be totally counted out. Mr. Parcells was responsible for turning the Fins from a 1-15 joke to an 11-5 record last year, so who knows how far he can move them forward in another season.

Of course, any conversation about the AFC East has to involve the perennial contender New England Patriots. Tom Brady will be back under center this year after missing most of last year in a taxi-related injury.

Why don’t you let Gisele spring for a limo from now on, Tom?

Since the last whistle-blow of the season, the Pats were able to lure receivers Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis, tight ends Alex Smith and Chris Baker, and running back Fred Taylor to the dark side.  

Bill Belichick exiled defensive back Ellis Hobbs to the City of Brotherly Love and will try to fill his jersey with the Cerberus of Shawn Springs, Leigh Bodden and Brandon McGowan. 

Razor Blade Stadium will also now be home to LBs Vinny Ciurciu and Tully Banta-Cain as well. 

The Bills didn’t make any significant changes—in fact the only real move they made was trading away a Pro Bowl left tackle—so we can expect them to be nearly irrelevant by Halloween. Again. 

New England will be the team to beat this fall with the Fins teeth firmly implanted in their ankles and the Bills lumbering off on the planes. But what do we see for the Jets?

The new regime is just getting their feet wet in the vile, brown, muddy waters of the Meadowlands, and will have a chance to compete this year.

But honestly, we’re looking at a rebuilding season, and hopefully taking steps forward toward a much happier start to the next decade. 

 

 

Clayton, Washington Need to Provide Support

“Defense wins championships.”

When training camps open this summer, it will be the phrase you hear every team utter. If the saying holds true then the Baltimore Ravens look pretty good; they play excellent defense and run the ball well.

So should you start booking flights to Miami now?  Not quite.

Even with the best defense and a solid running game, a team is bound to find itself in a third and long situation.  Or maybe a two-minute drill, down four and the only option is to score a touchdown.

Therein lies the rub for the 2009 Baltimore Ravens.  When the game is on the line, who will second-year quarterback Joe Flacco throw to?

Derrick Mason has been a solid pro and a good safety net for the young Flacco to throw to, but he is going into his 13th season.  Mason caught 80 balls last year and held a solid 13.0 yard per catch average, however you can’t expect that to continue.

So this year, the Ravens need to find not only the No. 2 guy for this year, but the No. 1 and No. 2 guy for the future.

After failing to make a pass (pardon the pun) at Anquan Boldin, Terrell Owens, or long shot Braylon Edwards, the Ravens will look to the stable of receivers on the current roster.

Mark Clayton is the most logical choice to step up.  In four years with the Ravens Clayton has put up at least 40 receptions and last year averaged an impressive 17.0 yards per catch.  However, the Ravens are going to need more production from Clayton near the red-zone; Clayton has only 10 career touchdowns.

Free Agent acquisition Kelley Washington could provide a spark to the Ravens offense. Washington had trouble getting on the field with the crowded New England Patriots receiving corps, but showed flashes of being an every down receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals early in his career.

While Clayton and Washington are the obvious choices, there is one player who provides the big play ability that fits Mason’s possession receiver role. With a solid training camp and preseason, we could see more of Demetrius Williams lining up on the field.

Williams has 70 yard receptions in two of his three years with the Ravens, and has shown that he can help open up the Raven offense.

If I’m coach John Harbaugh, I would push Williams this training camp to see if he can make the jump. Because if Williams can make it, the Ravens might just jump into the Super Bowl.

 

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