This Should Be The Year The Lions Roar

Most fans of sports are aware of the “Curse Of Babe Ruth”, which loomed over the Boston Red Sox franchise for decades.

Some lived their entire lives believing in its existence.

Those who don’t believe in curses rationalize the reasons for the lack of championships by the Red Sox were either due to teams unlucky, not good enough, or a combination of both.

Regardless to whether curses are real or not, the Red Sox have certainly shoved that myth into the derriere of oblivion the past several years.

Where am I going with this?

Well, it was just over 50 years ago when the Detroit Lions Hall Of Fame Quarterback Bobby Layne was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The story goes that, as Layne was ready to go to Pittsburgh, he told a group of people that the Lions would not win another championship for 50 years.

What has followed in the Lions franchise has circumstances that could have Lions fans believing in the curse laid down by Layne.

From the quarterback carousal that has followed since Layne’s departure, to the numerous #1 draft picks that failed, to the several head coaches that have come and gone without much impact, the Lions have floundered for the better part of the 50 years that have followed.

The past decade, the Lions have the worst record in the NFL, and many Detroit fans lay this blame on the Lions ownership.

But, it is really their incompetence, or “Bobby Layne’s Curse” in effect?

Though “Ruth’s Curse” never had a time-line, nor did the Babe ever utter that he placed a curse on the Red Sox, there can be similarities for Lions fans to draw from for the sake of hope.

It certainly would be better to latch onto the Red Sox curse than the Chicago Cubs curse. At least until the Cubs win another championship.

Neither franchise has suffered as much as the Lions, who have won just one playoff game since Layne’s departure.

The time is ticking on this curse.

If it is true, this indicates the Lions are bound for glory in 2009.

I know this whole idea seems far fetched, but so does the thought that curses are real. Well, at least to some.

So cheer up Lions fans.

Get your 2009 calender ready.

Maybe even buy your Super Bowl tickets early. If this curse is real, it expired at the end of last season. Which it did with an 0-16 flourish.

Then, you can feel that joy Red Sox fans have been feeling the past few years. A joy so grand, that even 100 year old BoSox fans walk around without the need for Viagra.

Detroit Lions fans deserve that joy as well.

Green And Gold Is In My Blood

I was born into a family of avid Green Bay Packer fans so it’s no wonder I developed such a passion and love for the real “America’s team” at an early age. Growing up in the 90’s when the Packers were in their prime only added fuel to the intense passion I feel for the team.

Packer fans are unique in so many ways and I am certainly no exception. When I recall memories from my childhood, my point of reference is always what the Packers were doing at that time. Some of my favorite memories are centered around the green and gold.

Each Christmas Eve I find myself back in 1995 crouched in front of the television watching Yancey Thigpen mysteriously drop a winning touchdown at Lambeau Field, only adding to the mystery and legend of the infamous stadium.

Fast forward to 2004 and I’m at Christmas Eve Mass listening to the Packers defeat the Vikings to win the NFC North on my headphones.

This passion surely didn’t develop overnight. I still remember back to the pre-Brett Favre days when I would have to leave the house during Packer games because my dad would get so mad we couldn’t stand to be around him. This is where the story of my fan hood really begins.

In the early days I wanted the Packers to win so my dad would be happy, but then one day a quarterback from Southern Mississippi came along and transformed the way I felt about the Packers and football forever.

When Brett Favre took over for the injured Don Majkowski on Sept. 20, 1992, the Packers went from small-town pretenders to big-time contenders. From that moment on, I was captivated. I was caught up in the history of the storied franchise, and the bright future that suddenly lay before it. I couldn’t help but be overcome with the incredibly unique bond that this team has with its fans.

The Packers are the only publicly owned team in all of professional sports. When they decided to sell stock for $200 a share in the late 90’s, thousands of eager fans lined up to buy an essentially worthless piece of paper. Worthless to anyone except for a Packer fans. That piece of paper makes each owner a part of the team in some small way.

January 26, 1997 still remains the best day of my life. That of course was the day my beloved Pack beat the New England Patriots in Superbowl XXXI. Though I was only 11 at the time, I can still remember every detail of the historic day. I’ll never forget the next day when thousands of people packed the streets of Green Bay and filled Lambeau Field to welcome home our heroes in sub-zero temperatures. The frostbite on my toe remains a souvenir from the heart-warming moment.

It’s hard not to love the green and gold when you’re surrounded by five million Wisconsinites who feel the same way. Lambeau Field is sold out for every game with no exceptions. In fact, it is sold out for every preseason game. Better yet, it sells out every year for an inter-squad scrimmage in August. That’s right; people pay money to watch the offense scrimmage the defense under the lights at Lambeau Field.

While my love for the franchise began with Brett Favre’s gun slinging ways and the success and Superbowls of the nineties, it continues on for many more reasons. The Packers are part of who I am. I have been to 12 games at Lambeau, including three playoff games. Each time I step in the legendary stadium I get goose bumps throughout my body (and not just from the extreme cold). I can’t help but get caught up in the history and mystique of the building.

Even though Brett Favre is no longer with the Packers, my love for the team still burns strong. He got me hooked on the green and gold and I will always be grateful for the memories he gave me, but the Packers are moving into a new era and I will move on with them. Some day I will tell my children about the Packers of the 90’s as my dad told me about the Packers of the 60’s, and I’ll usher in a new generation of Packer fans.

Being Classy In The NFL Finally Pays Off

Being the best TE in NFL history and also being one of the classiest players in the game today is a pretty rare combination.

Many NFL executives and coaches will tell you that the best 53 athletes at camp aren’t necessarily the players that make up the final 53 man roster. Finding players that have that special mix of athleticism and class is every GM’s dream come true.

The Kansas City Chiefs were able to live out this dream when they traded up to draft Tony Gonzalez out of California in the 1997 NFL Draft. Over the course of the offseason, the Chiefs sent Gonzalez to the Falcons that added a great weapon for young QB, Matt Ryan.

Highlighting a 12 year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Gonzalez was voted to the Pro Bowl 10 straight times. And did I forget to mention that he holds the pretty much every significant record for TEs? Receptions in a season and in a career, TD receptions, and yardage in a career. Seems like he has been able to accomplish everything on the field that one could ask for, right?

Wrong. During his tenure as a Chief, Gonzalez was able to reach the playoffs a total of three times. Winning a stunning zero postseason games.

I won’t go as far as saying that these teams didn’t have talent, because they did, but they were never built to win championships. Sadly, Carl Peterson, who held the Chiefs hostage for nearly two decades settled for mediocrity.

The Chiefs were never so bad that they were forced into rebuilding mode (until recently) but they were never championship caliber, even after starting one season 9-0 and finished 13-3… The Chiefs failed to meet expectations once again. Marty Schottenheimer and Dick Vermeil were no slouches while wearing the headset, but could never deliver in the postseason.

Tony knew that as every year passed, it was one more year that he would not be holding the Lombardi trophy. Not only that, but after the Herman Edwards honeymoon was over, the wins stopped coming as well.

Gonzalez requested a trade during the 2008 season, and commented numerous times that it was nothing against the Chiefs organization. Time was running out in his career, and he felt that his talents were best suited on a contender. He made it no secret that he wanted to win football games and get the chance to fight for a championship.

The only problem being… How does an NFL GM trade away the face of the franchise, and arguably the best player on the team?

The trade deadline came and went. The Packers had one of the more serious offers on the table for Tony, but the Chiefs declined and continued down the path to a 4-12 record.

Being traded to the Falcons for a secon-round pick this offseason was the best case scenario for both parties. Scott Pioli will enjoy the draft selection as he continues to rebuild the Chiefs franchise and Gonzalez gets to play the remainder of his career with a contender.

While I personally do not see the Falcons reaching the Super Bowl in the ’09 season, I would like to think that they can make it to the second round, giving Tony his first playoff victory. It would potentially recharge those batteries a little so that he would be more willing to play in proceeding years.

My Not So Bold Prediction: Matt Ryan will find Tony Gonzalez in 2009, and often.

While it may seem odd seeing Tony Gonzalez, the face of Kansas City for over a decade, suiting up and playing for Atlanta, realize that it wasn’t just something that should have happened. It was something that had to happen.

Five Cowboys that Will Step Up their Game

Going into 2009, the Cowboys will be looking for contributions from the usual suspects: Tony Romo, Marion Barber, DeMarcus Ware and company.

In an effort to get younger (and generally cheaper) players on the field, the Cowboys have cut loose some talented veterans who appear to be on the downward trend of their careers. Players such as Roy Williams (the safety), Tank Johnson, Anthony Henry, Brad Johnson, Zach Thomas and of course Terrell Owens have all been given the boot, as the Cowboys will focus on getting younger alternatives to fill the voids.

The term “progress stoppers” has been bantered about a lot this offseason. General manager Jerry Jones seems serious about giving young players more opportunity to compete for playing time and produce. Even team leader Greg Ellis has been recently rumored in trade talks. Anthony Spencer was the team’s first round pick in 2007, and will now be given every opportunity to prove his draft status worthy.

Spencer won’t be alone. These five young veterans will look to step their game up and become productive players in their respective roles for the 2009 season. For the Cowboys to make a serious playoff run, it’s paramount that these players develop into solid if not spectacular contributors.

With the Jets Offense Grounded, the Defense Must Dominate

Brett Favre failed to deliver a playoff appearance, much less a Lombardi Trophy, to New York. His cataclysmic late-season fall led to his own departure and the ouster of coach Eric Mangini.

After the crippling conclusion to a once-promising 2008 campaign, the New York Jets aim for the playoffs with a veritable host of fresh faces and, most notably, a new quarterback/coach duo. 

First-year head coach Rex Ryan will need the Jets’ revamped defense to live up to its lofty expectations and carry the team. The offense will undoubtedly be anemic at times due to its lack of sufficient playmakers and inexperience at the quarterback position. As a result, ball control and defense is central to the Jets 2009 philosophy.

Ryan could easily have rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez under center for the regular season opener in Houston. Inspired by Joe Flacco’s 2008 success, Ryan will not be reluctant to immediately throw the former USC star into the fire.

Sanchez, assuming he wins the job, has his work cut out for him. The reliable, though declining Laveranues Coles defected to Cincinnati, leaving Jerricho Cotchery surrounded by a slew of question marks within the wide receiving corps. David Clowney, Brad Smith, and Chansi Stuckey are among the candidates to start opposite Cotchery.

If the defense is not an impenetrable force as advertised, that vast collection of unknowns at receiver could be the Jets’ downfall. Clowney has game-breaking speed, but has yet to display it on the regular season stage. Smith has been used as a gadget player to this point in his career, and Stuckey is best served in the slot. 

Tight end Dustin Keller will have an expanded role in his second year and is critical to the growth of the offense.

The running game, anchored by a solid offensive line, should be the offense’s bread and butter. Disgruntled backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington return amid contract disputes, while rookie Shonn Greene was added to the mix in a draft day trade.

Greene’s bruising style is a perfect complement to the speedy and illusive Washington. Jones has no leverage in contract talks despite being the AFC’s leading rusher last season and is expected to be in camp.

Offensively, the major concern is that opposing defenses will put eight men in the box, negating the run. The onus then would shift to Sanchez or Clemens to make plays, almost certainly leading to failure. Simply devoid of plentiful receiving weapons, the Jets are not constructed to enable the quarterback to succeed in that scenario.

Defensively, the acquisitions of Bart Scott, Lito Sheppard, Jim Leonhard, and Marques Douglas have many believing the Jets can be an elite-level defense. Though the secondary figures to be much improved, the pass rush is still somewhat of an uncertainty. 

Calvin Pace was excellent in his first year, but veteran defensive end Shaun Ellis is aging and had offseason legal issues. Bryan Thomas still does too many disappearing acts and has yet to put back to back good years together. Vernon Gholston, last season’s first round pick, was a complete disaster recording zero sacks.

The impending return of Tom Brady elevates New England to the class of the division, yet again. Although Miami won the AFC East last year, the Dolphins should come back to earth after overachieving beyond their wildest dreams in 2008. Buffalo, riding the coattails of the hype surrounding Terrell Owens’ arrival, should be around a .500 club.

If the defense is as good as advertised, and the offense doesn’t bury the team in turnovers, the Jets can be the second best team in the AFC East. Securing a wild card spot should be the goal with playoff wins contingent upon the development of the quarterback position and the emergence of a second receiver behind Cotchery.

Born Into Bengals Nation

My name is Tom Mirick and I have been a fan of the Bengals every since I can remember. My family is all huge Bengals fans so it really wasn’t an option, I was born into Bengals Nation, and I have no regrets.

If you’re a fan of the Steelers or Patriots get out of my tragedy, I sat through the 90’s and early 2000’s watching every game and having my yearly mantra of  “wait to next year were going to be good” destroyed. I hear a lot of sports pundits talk of all the great fans and rarely does anyone mention Cincinnati, which is a shame, because Cincinnati has some of the best fans of any team in any sport.

There are few teams that have had the futility of the Cincinnati Bengals. There are no fans of the Cincinnati Bengals that would fall under the category of bandwagon; if you’re a Bengals fan you earned the right to wear your stripes, through years of futility and mismanagement by the Bengals organization.

My mom and Dad divorced when I was about three years old, and like a lot of kids with divorced parent’s trips to Dad’s house every other weekend and a couple weeks of the summer became ritual.

It was Christmas time and I was about seven years old, my Dad called me into the living room where the tree was set up, and told me he had one more present for me, he handed me a envelope and inside it was my seat confirmation for the 84-85 Bengals season. Up until this point we had parties at the house with friends and family and watched the Bengals game, always’ a festive event with food and drink.

 Since I can remember my dad took me to Wilmington OH, to watch the Bengals at training camp, I used this time to fill my autograph books and get pictures of my favorite players. At my first game my dad gave me a new Chris Collinsworth jersey, a Bengals hat, and he painted our faces with Bengals stripes. In the colder months I was armed with my orange and black Bengals tiger gloves.

The people who had seats around us became like family more than our friends, seeing the same people for six months for six years has that effect. The ladies in the stands always brought me some kind of sweets and a jug of hot chocolate, and every Christmas they brought me Bengals related Christmas gifts.

I have great sports memories in the old Bengals home, Riverfront Stadium, even though there were rough times as a Bengals fan. I have alot of great childhood memories such as getting up early on Sunday so that my Dad, Uncle, and I could tailgate, eating burgers and metts tossing the pigskin as well as rooting for the Bengals.

Could there be anything more fun on a cold Sunday afternoon?

I have early memories of us having season tickets that are foggier than others, like when the Bengals hosted the Chargers and the Bengals were in the lead and San Diego drove and scored with just over a minute left. I remember how disheartened I felt. The Bengals took over at the twenty as fans started to exit the aisles. They needed a touchdown to win, and had 80 yards to go, the first play was of no big significance, however the next play made the jungle erupt, James Brooks took a handoff and took it to the house; touchdown Bengals win.

Other memories are as clear as if it were just yesterday, like January 8 1989, the first time the Bengals made it to the playoffs when we had season tickets.

Cincinnati was at a fever pitch and the Ickey shuffle was running rampant. Enter the Buffalo Bills led by HOF QB Jim Kelly and RB Thurman Thomas in their first AFC Championship game; however the Bengals defense proved to be too much. They hassled the Bills QB all day long right from the first series.

The Bills got the ball first and Jim Kelly threw an interception to Bengals CB Eric Thomas. The Bengals drove down inside the three and everyone in Cincinnati knew what was coming next, handoff Icky Woods, touchdown Bengals.  

The whole city of Cincinnati celebrated doing their own versions of the Ickey shuffle. The Bengals took a 14-10 halftime lead which proved to be enough. The Bengals came out on defense playing like the Kings of their Jungle, allowing Buffalo only two first downs in the second half. The Bengals had one more scoring drive which ended the same way as the game began, handoff Ickey Woods’s, touchdown.

I can still remember watching Ickey Woods do his shuffle and trying my best to imitate no matter how goofy I looked. Like I said I was born into the Bengals Nation I didn’t have a choice, but I would have it no other way.

Can Ted Ginn Jr. Become the No. 1 Miami Dolphins Receiver?

The race for the No. 1 wide receiver spot for the Miami Dolphins is on.

In my mind, Ted Ginn Jr. clinched the spot with his dramatic, game-clinching catch against the Seattle Seahawks last year when he was double-covered and had only inches to spare at the back of the end zone on a perfect throw from Chad Pennington.

Despite not getting the respect with Dolphin fans and the rest of the NFL alike, Ginn has made a major imprint on the return game alone since he was drafted by former coach Cam Cameron. That year alone, Ginn had four touchdowns called back because of penalties.

No one seems to mention that when they talk about Ginn taking over for a team that traded the popular and gifted Chris Chambers in the middle of the season. With Chambers having a lot of injuries since then, the trade looks good now but during a 1-15 campaign, it looked dreadful and forced Ginn into the lineup without a coach on the field.

Well now after a playoff run and a whole season at WR under his belt, it seems Ginn is poised to lead a young receiver corps that seems to thrive in anonymity. Let’s go through the names and see if the average fan will know any without saying “nope.”

Camarillo, London, Bess, Patrick Turner (rookie), Brian Hartline (rookie), Wilford, Armstrong, Lowber, Brennan Marion (rookie) and Chris Williams (rookie).

Are you stumped yet?

Believe it or not, they’re a very talented and extremely gritty group that remind me of the 1970s Dolphins. The rookies will be tested very soon but the others do nothing but catch the ball and get “another Miami Dolphin first down.”

Adding a QB like Pennington, who believes any one in his huddle can get it done, you have the makings of a solid offense with everything depending on a healthy offensive line to set up the run game, with above average running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.

It seems WR Earnest Wilford is being set up to be an all-purpose receiver, blocker, and h-back even though he was frustrated by not seeing the ball a lot in his first year with the team. The Dolphins’ front office’s strong point is loyalty, consistency, and the belief that every player can make a difference.

Keep your eye on this situation since the Dolphins have two good tight ends in Fasano and Martin. Don’t be surprised if Nalbonne isn’t given a shot to catch the ball because of his size and strength at 6’5″ and 260 lbs. Ireland and Parcells haven’t really missed on a TE in years.

Dolphin fans should be very excited, because the offense will be even more creative since the team has been together for a while and aren’t looking to pay big money for costly stars like Anquan Boldin to come in and lack results. Now I’m not saying Boldin wouldn’t be a good fit, he would. But at what cost?

Receiver coach Karl Dorrell is a former receiver in the NFL and was a head coach for the UCLA Bruins, so he has the pedigree to develop this unit into the top half of the AFC. With the “Wildcat” and a successful run game though, how good do they really have to be?

Against teams like their AFC rivals the Patriots, Jets and Bills, the Dolphins won with ball control and not high scoring shootouts.  Therefore, the receivers just need Ginn to be the superstar, Bess as the replacement if he goes down, Camarillo as the latest edition of Welker, and the rest to work hard and learn their roles in the clutch.

This particular aspect of the offense will be improved and the rest of the league will find it hard to defensively match the offensive playbook of the 2009 Miami Dolphins.

The Top Eight NFC Teams Capable of Making the Trip to Super Bowl XLIV

If you’re a fan of football, this is the WORST time of the year for you.

The Draft is over, training camp is months away and the NBA and NHL playoffs are getting all the pub.

So to satisfy my football jones I put together a list of the 8 teams I think could represent the NFC in the 2010 Superbowl.

Coming up AFC top 8! Enjoy!

The Top 10 Early Candidates for 2009 NFL MVP

There are more lists filtering through this site than pop-up ads. It’s getting to that “awesomely ridiculous” stage.

And I’m not complaining. God, no. I love it.

What’s better than the actual NFL season? The answer is nothing, but a close second is the constant coverage it gets, despite being almost four months away.

We have the Brett Favre Saga, fantasy football hype, trades, roster changes, and best of all, rankings that in no way matter right now.

Such is the life of an NFL fan-waiting and praying over their team, their decisions, and crossing their fingers that their top guy doesn’t go all “Tom Brady” on them in training camp.

Oh, and then there’s the Madden Curse. Will Troy Polomalu and Larry Fitzgerald put an end to the curse? Heck, will we be seeing them facing off again in 2010’s title game?

To all, I say maybe.

But as long as we’re all stuck on maybe’s, let’s add a few more to the fire. Here are 10 guys who, based on past history and current situations, have a real shot at claiming this upcoming season’s MVP award.

 

1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

His chances greatly increase if Brett Favre strolls into town, but even if he’s backed by Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, Peterson is primed for another huge year.

If the Vikings are going to have another shot at the division, Peterson will have to be at his best. In fact, even if he can simply match last season’s totals of 1,700 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, he’s a shoe-in.

Regardless, just a healthy season and a trip to the playoffs could lock it up for him.

 

2. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

He’s up for Comeback Player of the Year in many people’s minds (and I’d agree), but how about two awards in one season?

If Brady doesn’t have any set-backs, it shouldn’t be too outlandish to expect at least 35 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards.

Oh, is that the definition of outlandish?

Sure, he tore his knee up and his been out of football for a year now, but his system, coaches, and offensive weapons are too good to slow him down for long.

Oh, and he’s Tom-friggin-Brady. Remember when Carson Palmer came back from his knee injury? Yeah, he was still pretty good.

Just imagine Brady.

 

3. Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals

I know he’s old, but I’m tired of doubting Warner. He’s just too nice of a guy.

Still, I’m not picking him as a candidate because he gives thanks to God or bagged groceries with a smile on his face. He makes the list because with or without Anquan Boldin, he has a sick offense, and last time we saw him, he was still ungodly amazing.

Unless an unfortunate injury vaults Matt Leinart into the line-up, we can get ready to see another 3,700+ yard season, and close to 30 touchdowns.

There has to be a drop-off eventually, but something tells me 2009 isn’t the year it happens.

 

4. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

After coming out of nowhere to put up over 1,600 yards a few years ago, Gore has put together two average seasons for a starting running back.

However, it’s nowhere close to being his fault, and any kind of positive results from the quarterback position could pay huge dividends, both for Gore and the entire offense.

As that passing game begins to get more respected (a big if), Gore will be able to run more freely.

 

5. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Can we expect another run at Dan Marino’s yardage record (5,084)? Sure.

Brees still has the same weapons and system, and last time I checked, is still Drew Brees.

As long as the Saints defense can hold up, and they can get consistency out of their running game, Brees keeping his 2008 form is very possible.

To snag the MVP, though, he may have to do more than just make the playoffs. The Saints may have to win the division.

 

6. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Manning is the poster boy for consistency, and is constantly among the league leaders in every passing category.

He loses offensive coordinator Tom Moore, as well as Marvin Harrison, but still has the same offense (roughly), and a ton of weapons.

The deciding factor on Manning is if the Colts can stay among the elite, despite drastic loss, and whether or not Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie can step-up and produce behind Reggie Wayne.

 

7. Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb finally put in a full 16 games in 2008, and it paid off.

Despite his team’s early struggles, McNabb and his offense re-grouped, and ended the season with a hard-fought battle with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

McNabb now has three solid receivers at his disposal after the front office nabbed Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin, ensuring him the chance at another top-ten season if he can stay healthy.

As long as he’s healthy and doesn’t drop-off, McNabb now has the necessary tools to pick defenses apart, while having a one-two punch at running back to help finish the job.

 

8. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Too soon? I don’t think so.

In his first season, amidst all the controversy of the Brett Favre situation, Rodgers stepped up in a big way, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Rodgers proved to be an exceptional leader, and made enough big plays to suggest that he has a very bright future in Green Bay.

If the defense can get significantly better, Rodgers and his well-groomed offense could guide the Packers to a division crown.

 

9. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons

I’m almost tempted to put Matt Ryan here, but it’s clear that the Falcons’ biggest offensive strength is their rush offense. That is, until we see what the addition of Tony Gonzalez does for Ryan and the rest of the passing game.

Regardless, Turner jumped out on day one with a huge 220-yard game, as well as three touchdowns. He brought in consistent production the rest of the way, as he ran for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns.

He could have arguably been the MVP last season, but if he can repeat his 2008 success, he’d be a strong candidate.

 

10. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers

After piecing together a wonderful season as the lead back, Williams is looking forward to 2009 as his “2008 wasn’t a fluke” proof.

Williams is a great back with excellent speed and quickness, and also possesses fantastic vision in the open field.

He does share carries with Jonathan Stewart, another impressive back, so getting back to 1,500 yards and 18 scores.

(Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, LaDainian Tomlinson, Chris Johnson, and Clinton Portis were also considered for this list.)

Enough Is Enough With Michael Vick Critics

No, this is not another nagging article attempting to persuade an audience of Michael Vick’s bad sportsmanship or to prevent him from re-entering the NFL. And no, I’m not an associate of PETA.

I’m just a sports fan. Who likes his sports. And his games. And his players.

And I am over the constant pestering over Michael Vick as he is released from prison and returns back to his Virginia home.

I also believe his 23 month sentence was sufficient for his previous actions. The dog fighting he participated in was both illegal and immoral. And I don’t condone it whatsoever.

But he has served his time.

Now that he is in the home stretch of his sentence—and now in home confinement— serious thoughts about playing football are coming afloat—by both us fans and Vick, himself. Paralleled with that is NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell’s decision on reinstating Vick.

Which ultimately becomes the biggest and most important decision in this whole Vick case.

Many people are arguing he shouldn’t be reinstated because of his crude acts committed years ago.

That’s ridiculous.

If my memory serves me correctly, didn’t Adam “Pac-Man” Jones get reinstated this past offseason? Yes. After repeated instances of weaponry and strip club antics? Yes.

I am a strong believer in second chances. But “second” chances are over after a few. Adam Jones abused that privilege of “second chances” about 12 times. Vick has yet to do that.

He deserves another shot in the League. I believe that he remorsed often in prison and changed his life around, learning what is right and what is wrong.

Sometimes it’s even more meaningful to go through something like a two-year hiatus, learn from mistakes, and grow emotionally.

Even though I have never met Mike Vick, I can guarantee he went through some kind of emotional and remorseful mediation process to get his head in the right place.

But I will need to see Vick come out publicly. He needs to apologize for his heinous acts once more. And truly and genuinely convey his sorrow and apologetic personality. Maybe even work in the public eye against dog fighting in the future.

Back to the playing field, Mike Vick is an athlete with skills that most of us probably have forgotten to a degree. Do you remember, in 2006, Vick was the first QB to rush for over 1,000 yards? Yea, pretty unreal.

And it is with my whole heart that I hope Vick will get a chance to play for a club this season in the NFL. Whether it be starting in September or sitting back for a year or two to learn the offense again, he deserves a shot to show his uniquely rare skill set.

Yes, he hit a big bump a few years ago. And yes, it was a major speed bump. But now he has spent the time of punishment and has equally paid for what he did.

If the world is right, it should be a clean slate for Vick; and a whole new venture in the NFL.

As a sports fan, I cannot wait. 

 

This article was orginially published on The Purple Trojan

Brian Wagner is a Minnesota Vikings staff writer at Most Valuable Network.

 

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