Jacksonville Jaguars Among NFL Franchises Longing for Rookie Salary Cap

It is the season where young men coming from the college ranks will discover new wealth at the professional level. 

With nine draft picks to sign, the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be making a significant impact on the lives of many families.

This is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and dedication to a sport that can both financially reward players heavily and destroy them physically. 

With news that the Jaguars closed a deal yesterday with their sixth-round draft pick, Zach Miller, discussions should start to heat up with the remaining players waiting for their moment in the sun.

The contract signifies their arrival as a professional athlete.

Realistically, not every player is going to put pen to paper on a blockbuster deal that will give them life-changing financial freedom or generational wealth.

In fact, the average NFL salary in 2009 is a little more than $750,000, and the average for rookies entering the league hovers around $400,000 annually.

It is not bad coin if you can make it, and for the late-round draft picks like Miller, these deals amount to significantly more than they would probably make leaving college with their degrees in basket weaving or physical education.

The NFL has become a gravy train for many athletes with enough skills to latch on with a team. Each year it seems as if rookies coming into the league are setting new standards for compensation, while veterans who have been producing sit back and watch these unproven entities cash in.

As the league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) attempt to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to avoid sheer chaos for a league that has enjoyed relative calm on the labor front over the past 15 years, one of the major issues of contention is a rookie salary cap similar to what the National Basketball Association currently employs.

Equitable distribution of the salary cap would normally dictate that established players in the league would be more highly compensated than rookies just entering the NFL.

This scenario does eventually play itself out as veterans renegotiate their deals, but not before rookies get the advantage and establish the new bar.

Salaries border on the ridiculous, but under the current CBA, the league owners are obligated to designate 60 percent of league profits to the current salary cap.

Agents and players have taken this as an opportunity to cash in on the influx of cash, starting with the rookies and then trickling down to the veteran players.

Each year the salary cap expands significantly. Because there is currently no rookie salary, teams are annually raked over the coals by agents leveraging their draft picks to squeeze every penny possible out of the owners.

Something has to give.

Small market franchises are being pressured to keep up with big market teams. Rookie contracts continue to skyrocket, and with them the guaranteed money associated with these deals rises to the point where a $30 million signing bonus is not unheard of for rookies taken in the first round.

The lack of a rookie salary cap forces teams to spend an inordinate amount of energy negotiating these contracts.

In many instances, the negotiations drag on for weeks or even months. Players wind up missing valuable development time by holding out until a deal is reached. 

The Jaguars dealt with this last season with their first-round draft pick. Derrick Harvey held out and missed training camp completely as he waited for finalization of his contract.

In the end, the Jaguars got the deal that they were sticking with, but Harvey missed training camp entirely and consequentially struggled to get up to speed. By the end of the season, he was starting to catch up.

In a league where expectations are almost instantaneous, having a player miss weeks of preparation for the upcoming season can be catastrophic to a team.

By implementing a rookie salary cap, the parties would be able to slot the draft picks and establish the compensation level for each spot. No negotiation would be necessary.

Players would know exactly what they were going to receive contractually the moment they were selected.

In turn, teams would be better equipped to deal with veteran contract discussions, and players would be in a position to fully participate in all training camp activities.

The NFLPA has resisted the suggestion of putting a rookie cap in place for obvious reasons. As they market themselves, they can use the ever-increasing salaries of rookies coming into the league to show that they are serving the better interest of the players.

In reality, they are driving the league into a crisis situation as teams struggle to keep up with the salary demands.

With the prospect of an uncapped season in 2010, the league, the owners, and the NFLPA should all be working together to develop a new CBA. Any new agreement must take into account that untested rookies should have their salaries predetermined based upon where they are selected in the draft.

It would take away some of the power that agents have over the league currently, and it will diminish the influence that the NFLPA has as well. However, it will assure that the league can survive fiscally for the long haul.

All parties will need to make concessions in order to assure the viability of the NFL.

LeSean McCoy Signed To Four-Year Deal

Well, the Eagles don’t have Brian Westbrook back yet but at least they can get his apparent back-up signed before camp.  It has been reported that LeSean McCoy was signed to a four-year deal Monday though the full terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Second-round pick McCoy (53d pick overall) becomes the seventh of the Eagles eight 2009 draft picks to sign. 

The only one left to sign for the Eagles is first-round wide receiver Jeremy Maclin from Missouri.

McCoy, who gave the Birds a scare earlier in the month with a sprained left thumb, is expected to be the back-up behind Brian Westbrook going into training camp and is on the fast track to see a fair amount of playing time in 2009 as a rookie.

 

 

Dan Bandekow is a writer on Bleacher Report covering the Philadelphia Eagles. He is also the Lead Writer for www.thephillyeagles.com

Why Knowshon Moreno Is an Obvious Choice for the Preseason All-Rookie Team

Over the past few years, running backs have truly been booms or busts.

Think about backs like Reggie Bush, who is an exception. The jury is still out for Bush as is for the 2009 rookie backs.

Most running backs have turned out well, even after slow starts. DeAngelo Williams is a great example of this type of young running back. Some, though, have turned out to be decent NFL running backs, but haven’t lived up to expectations.

In recent years, Cedric Benson and Carnell Williams fit into that mold. There is only one other type of running back: a second-day gem. Second-day picks Kevin Smith, Steve Slaton, and Tashard Choice have already produced good numbers in their first NFL season.

Knowshon Moreno was the first running back drafted in the 2009 draft. He is easily the most balanced running back among the rookies, with great speed and strength.

Moreno’s best skill may be his vision. He finds the hole quick and doesn’t second-guess himself. Once he picks a hole, he doesn’t dance around in the backfield, he bursts through the hole and finds his way into the open field.

Moreno produced well at Georgia, even as a redshirt freshman. Not only did he rack up big numbers running the ball, but also catching it. He is a talented receiver out of the backfield. Being a receiving weapon allows him to get into the open field where he is at his best.

Moreno contains the ability to make any defender miss in the open field. I get flashes of Gale Sayers when he is operating in the open field. Moreno displays excellent peripheral vision and can stop on a dime. He also gets started very quickly and eludes defenders using all of his tools.

The only problem facing Moreno is a very crowded Denver backfield. He is undoubtedly the No. 1 back, but with eight running backs on the roster, chances are that Moreno’s numbers will get dipped into a little bit.

Moreno will soon become the franchise running back.

He is a leader on and off the field. He leads not by yelling, but by showing how his unbelievable work ethic translates to the field.

Denver is in a desperate search for motivation and Knowshon Moreno will prove to be a reason for optimism within the Broncos’ organization.

A Tale of Three Rookies: The Truth Behind the Mario Williams Pick

Mario Williams. A 6’7”, 291-pound, 24-year-old defensive end who has averaged over 13 sacks in his last two seasons.

 

And he’s still a kid.

 

Many feel the 2009-10 season will be Williams’ year. Where he breaks out from being a talented rookie, to a defensive megastar.

 

Think James Harrison.

 

The most surprising thing about the Williams story is the fact that he has to go down as one of the least known No. 1 picks in draft history.

 

Until Houston started courting him, not many fans had Mario very high on their draft boards.

 

So how did this deal come about?

 

Firstly, Mario didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Houston had been watching him for a long time, and liked what they saw.

 

GM at the time, Charles Casserly, watched Williams eight times during his final college year, and liked what he was seeing.

 

After a trip to watch Williams against Florida State, he told a friend at Sports Illustrated Magazine, “This guy might make more Pro Bowls than anyone else in the draft”.

 

They were still far from convinced though. Well until the combine.

 

They knew Williams was a powerhouse, but were concerned that he took plays off, lacked aggression, and wasn’t athletic enough.

 

Then they watched a 291-pound, 6’7” athlete, run a 4.65 forty (only marginally slower than Brian Urlacher’s combine time), bench press 35 times, and put in one of the all-time great combine sessions.

 

They were sold.

 

Houston’s problems, however, were to come in the form of the Heisman Trophy. Running back Reggie Bush winning it, and hometown hero Vince Young coming in second.

 

Running back was a big need, and Vince was a fan favorite. There would be pressure to pick both.

 

Vince Young was never seriously considered.

 

In fact, The Texans didn’t even grade Young as first-round talent.  They were alarmed by his inability to learn plays, and how, in truth, his college offense was dumbed down to help his game.

 

Then came his wonderlic score.

 

He had the physical tools, but not the footballing intelligence to lead an NFL offense.

 

I would say this was a smart talent assessment. Well, if the Texans hadn’t already offered David Carr a two-year contract extension, pre-draft.

 

Bush was a more difficult proposition. He was seemingly talented enough to make an immediate impact. But they liked Williams more.

 

A lot more.

 

The question for Houston was not who was the better player. It had already been established that they felt it was Mario Williams.

 

The question was whether they were prepared to turn down all of the attractive commercial bonuses that come with picking a star name like Bush, and at the same time alienate their fan base.

 

The fans wanted Bush. The owners wanted Williams.

 

Tough decision time.

 

They did the unthinkable. Picked their No. 1 choice, Williams, over the best player on the board (at the time), Reggie Bush.

 

Rumor had it that it was a fiscal pick. Financially motivated. Bush had priced himself out.

 

Rumor was wrong. Houston had basically agreed terms with both players on the eve of the draft, for basically the same pay.

 

It was a footballing decision. A very unpopular footballing decision.

 

Fans were perplexed.

 

Williams was booed pre-season.

 

The pick cost Casserly his job.

 

Fan feeling didn’t get any more placid when hometown hero Young won Rookie of the Year, and Reggie Bush starred for New Orleans in their deep playoff run.

 

This was a disaster.

 

Slowly, but surely opinion started to change.

 

Williams started to dominate.

 

Vince Young imploded on himself – suffering the exact same maturity problems that scared Houston off in the first place. 

 

Bush started having injury problems, and people began to question whether his college game would actually translate to pro football.

 

Suddenly drafting Mario Williams became one of the smartest first round picks of all time. A team rising above fan and media pressure, to make the right call.

 

The future. Don’t write Bush off.

 

Trent Green, in his weekend column, stated that he felt Reggie would have 4 or 5 monster seasons, before he retired—starting next year.

 

A rushing, catching, kick returning phenom. And possibly a future 1,000-yard rushing, 1,000-yard receiving season. Maybe a few.

 

I agree. Reggie’s skill set is unparalleled, and he’s been unnervingly quiet all off-season. He may not have 10 big seasons, but the three, four, five that he manages will be up there with the best of all-time.

 

Vince has much more to prove.  Even to win a starting place in the NFL.

 

However, Williams is already an elite Defensive End, and will only get better. He’s a franchise defensive player, who is maybe at the start of a Hall of Fame Career.

 

Historically, this may go down as one of the best picks in draft history.

 

Houston football fans should also give a cheeky “Thank you” to one time owner, Bud Adams, who controversially took the team to Tennessee in 1996.

 

Consensus opinion is that Bud picked Vince Young at three, purely to spite the Houston fans. And he quite simply couldn’t resist the prospect of Houston native Young, destroying the Texans twice a year.

 

Without this intervention, Young certainly wouldn’t have gone top five, and probably would have slid out of the top 10.

 

So Bud, ironically, made the Texans pick look even better with his mischief making.

 

If the fans made the pick, it would have been Bush. If not Bush then Young. If not Young then certainly not Williams.

 

On an ending note, a message to all fans, booing picks on draft day.

 

Sometimes we do get it wrong.

Why Mark Sanchez Holds the Edge Among Fellow Rookie Quarterbacks

Three quarterbacks were chosen in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, but only one will make a dramatic impact on his team; the big apple’s own Mark Sanchez.

Although Sanchez is in the midst of a quarterback ‘competition’ of his own with the unimpressive Kellen Clemens, Sanchez is sure to come out on top by the start of the season.

Sanchez, who has wowed coaches during minicamp, has all the tools that scouts drool over: rare accuracy, legitimate NFL arm strength, strong intangibles, and mobility in the pocket.

Playing in a pro-style offense at USC, Sanchez threw for 3,207 yards with 34 touchdowns, leading the Trojans to a 12-1 record. Sanchez impressed scouts and coaches with his exceptional leadership skills and rare abilities that translated to success on the field.

The Jets traded up in the draft to nap Sanchez and have already invested $28 million guaranteed and upward of $60 million over five years to their new face of the franchise and poster boy. In a huge New York market, where the pressure is on, it would be tough for everyone involved to have Sanchez ride the pine for most of his rookie season.

Sanchez holds the edge to make more of an impact this season than his fellow first-round quarterbacks for two reason: Sanchez has the best shot to start the season, as his team’s starting quarterback, and the Jets have a better supporting cast than the Lions and Buccaneers.

Even though the Jets play the seventh toughest schedule this season, Sanchez won’t need to throw the ball 30 times a game because he can hand the ball off to last years AFC leading rusher Thomas Jones.  Sanchez also has the speedy Leon Washington and fellow rookie Shonn Greene in his backfield arsenal.

New head coach Rex Ryan brings an aggressive, unorthodox style of play to an underachieving defense that has talent at nearly every position. If the defense plays to their potential, the Jets will resemble last years Baltimore Ravens, who started rookie Joe Flacco and made it to the AFC Championship game.

Coach Ryan and Sanchez have once frustrated Jets fans believing they will be in the playoffs this season after last years Brett Favre failure and playoff collapse.

Sanchez already has his mind made up about where he will be when the season starts. “I feel like I’m going to be on the field and that’s what you always want to do. You don’t grow up dreaming of being a backup, so I’m going to go for it.”

Undoubtedly, Sanchez will be the Jets starting quarterback from week one and will make the bigger impact on his team than both Matthew Stafford and Josh Freeman.  

Debate of the Week @ InsidetheGridIron.com

NFL QB Comparisons, Pt. 1: Can Matthew Stafford Live Up to Matt Ryan’s Success?

If you were Matthew Stafford, would you want the weight of changing the only 0-16 franchise into a winning one?

If you were Mark Sanchez, would you want the daunting task of not only filling in where Brett Favre left off, but also try to do it with a group of receivers who haven’t even established themselves yet at the pro level?

Take a moment; I’ll wait.

Last year, the bar was set for rookie quarterbacks coming into the NFL thanks to Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco—play like veterans from the get go, or enjoy the bench.

In this Pt. 1 of a two-part series, we will look at the two first-round draft picks, and compare them to the last two first-round picks from last year; are things really that different?

At the beginning of the year, we really didn’t know they were gonna be out there so soon, did we?

Ryan was supposed to be the guy who spent a year in training before getting out there. Coach Smith was adamant about keeping his prized rookie away from the game so he could learn—so much for that, and enter in his first pro pass for a TD.

Flacco had a somewhat different entry into the NFL.

Kyle Boller was all but washed up and Troy Smith, as you remember, had that strange bout with an illness that wouldn’t go away. Flacco started from day one, despite the worry of Harbaugh, who worried it was too soon. Flacco went a modest 15-of-29 with 129 yards in a win over Cincinnati, and won the next week against Cleveland.

The bar was set by these two even-keeled gunslingers as they surpassed the expectations of their coaches, and enamored their fans with poise and leadership. They afforded their fans with hopes of a brighter future, and solidified themselves as starters with every passing week.

So here we are in 2009. The new crop of QBs focuses on Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, and fans of New York and Detroit immediately want to know if the same success Atlanta and Baltimore enjoyed is on the horizon for them as well.

Sadly, it isn’t—at least not anytime soon.

Ryan was a first round third overall pick by Atlanta.

Matthew Stafford as everyone knows was the number one overall pick for the Lions, and although Stafford is rather comparable to Ryan, there are some things that separate the two:

Ryan was 25-7 as a starter; Stafford was 27-7.

Ryan had 15 games of 200-plus yards for BC; Stafford had 22 for the Bulldogs.

Ryan won three bowls and completed 59.9 percent of his passes; Stafford won two bowls while completing 57.1 percent of his passes.

Ryan was known for his decision-making skills and intangibles that were pro-ready; he was considered a plug-and-play-type guy despite Mike Smith’s early opposition.

Stafford is considered a pocket-oriented QB who played for a pro-style offense at UAG, but has displayed poor decision making skills, particularly his penchant for taking risks and throwing into coverage he shouldn’t be throwing into.

The two are very similar, yet interestingly different.

Take Ryan, and what you know about him now, and plug him into the current Detroit team coming into 2009, and you’ll probably agree there isn’t much he would be able to do.

Detroit is still very much suspect at the O-line especially the whole left side, and with the Lions making a switch to a more power-based running game, one has to wonder whether or not Kevin Smith will adjust and if not, whether Morris is any better of an option.

The receivers aren’t much better, either.

Obviously, the raw talent of Calvin Johnson is the highpoint of the team, but outside of him there really isn’t much to mention. Ronald Curry and Bryant Johnson were nice free agent pickups, but both underachieved.

In addition to all of this comes the defense’s history of being a bad as Matt Millen’s ability to run the team, including the team giving up over 500 points last year—as if 0-16 wasn’t bad enough.

A poor defense equals unnecessary stress for a QB. The Lions made strides in the off-season, but overall could have done better.

Stafford’s situation is far worse than Ryan’s ever was considering Ryan benefited from Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood in the backfield, Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, and Brian Finneran as receivers, a solid O-line that gave up only 17 sacks, and a defense that wasn’t all that bad despite having trouble stopping the run.

Ryan had green fields and blue skies in his rookie year while Stafford has looming storm clouds above desolate and shaky ground at his foot.

Stafford will not start right out of the gate so long as Culpepper stays healthy—a task all in its own. But if Culpepper can remain healthy and somewhat effective he can keep Stafford on the bench, affording Detroit more time to build.

All in all, Detroit will not turn things around in the fashion that Atlanta did last year. In fact, it could take two or three years, but, in time, if Stafford can grow, and if the organization can find the right talent, then perhaps the Lions can have their first Pro Bowl quarterback since the days of Bobby Layne—an aspiration only time will tell.

In Pt. 2 we will compare Flacco and Sanchez, but for now let’s discuss this comparison. I want to hear from everyone especially Detroit fans.

Domenik Hixon: Clinging to His Starting Spot with the Big Blue

While Domenik Hixon is listed as the starting wide receiver for the Giants opposite Steve Smith, that spot doesn’t figure to be his for long.

With Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham waiting in the wings, Hixon, a fourth-round choice for Denver in 2006, will have a tough time hanging on to his starting role.

Hixon’s stand-out game came against Seattle last season. He had 102 receiving yards, and eight catches. He also had a touchdown in the game. However, Seattle wasn’t a very good football team.

His play was mixed during the rest of the year. Who can forget the pass he missed when he was wide open against the Eagles? Hixon has admitted he needs to put previous plays behind him and concentrate on the current play at hand.

I believe Nicks or Manningham will get the starting nod over Hixon when the Giants play the Redskins in their opener. I see Hixon as more of a third wide receiver. He’s got the speed, but he doesn’t seem to have the concentration or the body type to be a No. 1 guy.

As far as Ramses Barden; he’s the wild card. I can see him helping in the red zone and some passing situations. But unless he learns the system quickly, it will take him time to step onto the field.

If the Giants were so happy with Hixon at the receiver position, why did they draft Nicks and Barden, not to mention Travis Beckum, who appears to be in Big Blue’s plans this season?

Hixon is a good player, but I’d rather see him as a third wide receiver and a return specialist. Let’s give the other guys a chance.

Under the Radar Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

Looking for sleepers in your draft come August?  Bruno Boys Greg will analyze who he feels should have a strong fantasy football showing in 2009. Throughout the course of two weeks Bruno Boys Greg will give you his position by position sleeper picks.  This week, he covers the quarterback position.

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Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: The All-Pro quarterback who only played in four games last year has no reason not to bounce back in 2009. Many people will rank him lower then he belongs due to injury concerns and the changes in Cincinnati but don’t pay any attention to that.  Palmer averaged nearly 4,000 yards the previous three seasons before being hurt and is just a year removed from being a top five fantasy football quarterback.  He did lose T.J. Housmandzadeh to free agency but gained veteran wide receiver Lavernaus Coles.   Odds are you will be targeting Palmer in the sixth or seventh round and drafting him as a low-end QB1, but if he can regain his form he will produce at the level of the top tier QB’s.

 

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks: Hasselbeck returns from an injury as well and gains Palmer’s former teammate, Housmandzadeh.  He has a lot left in his game and is still a starting quarterback in fantasy football. Reports out of Seattle indicate that Hasselbeck will operate at 100 percent this season and playing in a division that lacks defense he should be able to regain his form.  You should consider targeting Hasselbeck as a QB2 in all leagues and hope he stays healthy because there will be some weeks when he will produce like the good ‘ole days. Expect him to rebound in a big way in ’09.

Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns: Quinn struggled with injuries last year after taking over for 2007 Pro Bowler Derek Anderson.  While it is an open competition in Browns training camp, Quinn will likely grab the starting job.  The offense isn’t much different than the the one Anderson had success with two seasons ago (minus Kellen Winslow) and Quinn is a lot more talented of a player.  While you need to draft him as a backup, he could prove to be valuable, possibly providing a nice spot start for you.  If given the right match-up, Quinn could really put up some big numbers and and help take your fantasy football team to the promise land.

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READ MORE CONTENT AT WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

Mike Tomlin’s Steelers: Will they Achieve the Status of an NFL Dynasty?

The statuesque tree that stands shading my street with its voluminous leaves has begun to shed.  

Handfuls of yellow foliage flutter down with each passing breeze.

It doesn’t feel like the summer has gone that fast.  

I’ve yet to make my July trip to Kennywood Park.  I haven’t been there since I rode the Jackrabbit when I was dragged to Polish day as a lanky eight-year-old.  

It will be great to see some family that I haven’t seen in years.

A few more leaves drop and I start to forget about July.  I have the urge to find my iPod and put on some Sam Spence as the Monday Night Football Fanfare quietly slips into my mind.

Just under seven weeks until I experience my favorite reason to head to Pittsburgh, to watch the Steelers.

This is the time of year for reporting either minor team business or speculation.  

I’ve never been good at either.

I either see, or I feel.

So, without any actual football being played or atmospheres being created by the guys being together as a team, I have found some great books.

The best one so far is the 2006 Sports Illustrated publication, Sports Illustrated, Great Football Writing by Peter King.

My favorite piece above all is Myron Cope’s The Immaculate Reception and Other Miracles, originally published Aug. 20, 1973.

Charged with a privileged perspective earned by Cope, the story eloquently condenses a 40-year history of the Steelers into roughly 10 pages.

When the Walt Kiesling era Steelers of 1955 are recalled for their complete lack of offensive imagination, the pain that they inflicted on Cleveland’s Jim Brown during every loss is cited.

“Heroes we always had.  They thrived in the black pall that rose from the steel mills along the Monongahela.”  

Cope poignantly reminds the reader that even before the Steelers dominated, they inspired.

The balance of the story centers on Chuck Noll’s fledgling team, all written from a time before a single silver Lombardi sat behind glass in the Steeler’s trophy case.

Cope captures the opinion gaining momentum in the city, a conviction being set in motion.  Noll built a team of motivated men, and they were just getting rolling when Franco’s shoestring grab put a face on the feeling that the sky was the limit.

We all know what the Steelers went on to achieve in the 1970s, but can we feel, here and now, the optimism that was palpable in the city at the dawn of the dynasty?

I feel it.  

I felt it in the bitter cold game as the Steelers wouldn’t quit against Cowboys last December.  I felt it when Springsteen sang “The Rising” in Mellon Arena the night before the Penguins notched up another W over the Hurricanes as they advanced toward the Stanley Cup.

Personally, I’m going for it.

I’m believing in Tomlin.

I’m believing in the city.

I’m believing in Ben.

I trust LeBeau, the Defense, Santonio, Reed, and Ward.  I just feel good about the Steelers.  With a skillful plan, solid protection, and the resilience of their unconquerable attitude that they have developed, they can win seven.

I definitely live in the hopes of seeing a yardage seeking missile tacking more than one touchdown onto the scoreboard this year.

I have, however, re-watched enough of last year’s games to also look forward to seeing the Steelers doing their best work under pressure with a rapidly approaching deadline.

These days, Pittsburgh won’t quit.  

The team has momentum.

Myron Cope’s article was written around the time of the Steelers’ 40th year as Pittsburgh’s football team.  We waited 26 years with much higher expectations than the first group of Steeler fans who waited for their super team.  

History shows us that Super Bowl repeats are rare.  

But, as the cornerstone of the dynasty, “Mean” Joe Greene, once observed: “They say that when you’re the champs, everybody will try to beat you.  Well, I’m glad we’re champs, so bring ’em on, bring ’em all on.  If we die, we ain’t gonna die running.  It’s gonna be a fight.”

I can’t imagine that the 2009 Steelers would want it any other way.

Kevin Curtis, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the 2009 Super Bowl

Kevin Curtis. Most people that aren’t Eagles fans couldn’t put a name to his face. He is what some would call a “hidden talent.” He has speed, strength, explosiveness….you name it he has it. And he showcased all of it in 2007. But if you only watched the 2008 season, you wouldn’t have known.

Straight Outta Utah State (N.W.A’s new song) he was drafted to the Rams in 2003 being 74th overall.

He ran a hand-timed 4.21 40 at the combine that number dropped to 4.35, but the scouts knew he was fast.

The Wonderlic test? No problem, 48 out of 50. The highest among active players. 

But Curtis didn’t really show huge improvement until 2007 when he signed with Philadelphia and became the No. 1 receiver, finishing the year with 1,110 yards, 77 grabs, and a solid six TDs.

He had become a valuable asset to a team that had recently lost the infamous “No. 81.”

Curtis’s true colors emerged on the 23rd of September.

The Eagles 75th anniversary game.

The sun was high in the sky, and the yellow and blue jerseys of the Eagles made a beautiful yet almost ugly contrast against the dark green grass.

The stadium was booming with enthusiasm as the “Your Philadelphia Eagles!” was announced over the intercom.

Out came No. 5, then 36, then a large pack of defenders devoted to grabbing a “W.”

Then, mixed somewhere behind the pack, the little known Curtis emerged. You can see he was full of energy, but he kept calm…that is, until the kickoff.

Emerging from Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce’s shadows only six months before, he blew the Lions away with nine catches, 205 yards, and three TDs over the course of the game.

Later that year Curtis got injured (sports hernia) and only played a few games in 2008, coming away with two TDs, 390 yards, and 33 catches all year.

Low, but guess what? He is healthy for ’09.

With the addition of Jeremy Maclin in the draft this year, DeSean Jackson’s brilliant play in 2008, and a “revamped” Eagles offensive line, Curtis will be making open catches consistently up and down the field in 2009.

Why will this year be his best you ask?

Well, it’s simple. With Jackson’s speed and ability to get open deep, secondaries will have to play off him.

With Maclin’s speed, he should be able to utilize the screen pass consistently and effectively.

And Curtis will be able to roam either deep, posting, slants, curls—whatever, because he will have space with the defenses spread out, leaving gaps. He is a great fantasy pick this year and he will have his best year yet.

Can Curtis be that extra push the Eagles need to get over their NFC Championship blues?

Time will tell.

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