Bengals Poised To Return to ’05 Form

Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen swiped Carson Palmer’s legs in the 2005 AFC Wildcard game, and drastically changed the direction of the Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise.

The hit, which brought significant damage to Palmer’s ACL, PCL, and MCL, sealed a 31-17 victory for the Steelers, and also forced Palmer to put his rising team and career on hold.

Von Oelhoffen later apologized publicly.

I guess that makes up for the three years of turmoil that has ensued Bengals’ football. Despite not playing in the playoffs since that 2005 game, the Bengals are set to make a run at the postseason even while playing in the tough AFC North.

Carson Palmer expects to be at 100 percent after recovering from Tommy John surgery, and, while he will be without wide receiver TJ Houshmanzadeh, he will have a newly focused Chad Ochocinco.

Ochocinco has been emphatic about working hard and returning to Pro Bowl form, even wanting to stay with the Palmer family to work on chemistry.

Wide receivers Laveraneus Coles and Chris Henry will look to compliment Ochocinco and re-energize the potentially dominating offense.

After signing with the Bengals midway through last season, running back Cedric Benson quietly ran for 747 yards in 12 games. At age 26, Benson is still suitable in tailback years, and he can hold down the running game fort while Palmer and Co. do their thing.

With University of Alabama tackle Andre Smith falling to the Bengals at pick No. 6 in the draft, the offensive line will look to protect Palmer from further injury and clear holes for Benson.

Everyone can expect consistency from the offense, but the defense remains a huge question mark.

Second year defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer reached back to his Dallas roots and brought Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams to Cincinnati. Zimmer made Williams into a star safety, and it’s no coincidence that Williams’ Dallas decline was simultaneous with Zimmer’s departure. 

The Bengals also brought defensive tackle Tank Johnson from Dallas, and, while he isn’t the force he was in his Chicago days, Johnson can make high impact plays at the line of scrimmage.

Most importantly, the Bengals will get 2008 first round draft pick linebacker Keith Rivers back this year. Rivers missed the final nine games of the season after breaking his jaw from a Hines Ward hit.

Before getting injured, it was clear that Rivers was becoming a force, and, despite missing more than half of the season, he finished second in balloting for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Rivers will now come back and join a possibly formidable linebacking corp with last year’s leading tackler Dhani Jones and former Southern California teammate Rey Maualuga.

Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph will look to improve their coverage in the 4-3 scheme, and they might have to if Roy Williams is asked to cover like he did in Dallas.

The Bengals won’t win in a division stacked with the likes of the Steelers and Ravens, but they could be the surprise AFC team next year and sneak into a Wildcard spot.

Head Coach Marvin Lewis remains on the hot seat, but upper management should keep faith in Lewis if the team flashes its potential during the upcoming season.

If the Bengals don’t reach the playoffs this year, they still have enough youth to become the perennial playoff threat that they were destined to become before Kimo von Oelhoffen put the Bengals’ future on hold.

Season Preview: The NFC East

Last year’s NFC East race, while full of exciting games and plenty of drama, ended in relatively routine fashion. 

The Giants were the heavy hitters that many thought they would be. 

The Eagles contended like they do almost every year, despite some midseason drama. 

The Cowboys, while having a talented roster, were unable to get the job done in December, and thus missed the playoffs. 

The Redskins missed the playoffs as most expected, even after a hot start to the season.

So, where does that leave the NFC East, arguably the best division in the entire NFL, going into training camp, preseason, and ultimately the season? 

Will the Cowboys finally realize the potential of a talented roster? 

Will the Skins surprise some people by making a playoff push, or will the division be controlled once again by either the Eagles or Giants? 

This article examines those possibilities.

 

The Dallas Cowboys

Going into the upcoming season, the Cowboys’ roster looks very similar to the roster that got embarrassed in December against the Eagles. 

There is one key change, however. 

Jerry Jones decided to swallow his pride this offseason and released talented, but troublesome wide receiver Terrell Owens. 

The question becomes:  Does T.O’s departure improve this team by removing distractions, or does it hinder the team due to one less playmaker on the perimeter? 

I guess we will find out.

Even with the release of T.O., the Cowboys’ roster has plenty of talent. 

It has a dynamic trio of running backs in Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice.  Each one brings a different skill set to the backfield. 

Barber is a bruiser while Jones is a home run waiting to happen.  Choice is more of a scat back that can get decent yardage every play, but is unlikely to break any very long gains. 

This dynamic bunch will give offensive coordinaters nightmares if they can stay healthy, unlike last season.

The defense is pretty solid in Big D this year as well. 

DeMarcus Ware leads a group of very talented LBs that will pressure QBs all season. 

However, there are questions in the secondary. 

If Terrance Newman is healthy, he is one of the best CBs in the league, but the rest of the secondary can be suspect.  Hamilin is a decent safety, but the other CB spot and other safety spot are filled with unproven talent. 

They have the potential to be good, but they are young and inexperienced.

Now back to the offense. 

Beyond Jason Witten, who is Tony Romo going to throw to? 

Roy Williams has yet to prove he can be as productive as he was in Detriot, and the other receivers, while talented, are unproven in the No. 2 spot. 

Then there is Romo. 

Always a fantasy stud into November, Romo struggles in December.  He has yet to lead the Cowboys to a playoff victory this decade.  For this team to have success, Romo has to be able to overcome his Christmas woes.

Prediction: 9-7 while missing the playoffs.  No significant offseason additions (I view the T.O. departure as a net change of 0), and no immediate draft help means this team will have a shot.

But I believe they’ll fall just short again.

 

The Philadelphia Eagles:

Historically, this team just cannot quite get it done from year to year and win the hardware. 

This offseason has seen some major changes in the city of brotherly love. 

Brian Dawkins’ departure was a major blow to the team’s leadership.  Dawkins was a playmaker and also improved the game of all of the players around him. 

However, this defense should be able to replace the big plays and at least some of the leadership.  Quentin Mikell and Stewart Bradley are two under the radar playmakers on this defensive unit. 

Peter King of S.I. selected Bradley to second All-Pro team behind Ray Lewis.

This is a defense that ranked third in the NFL last season behind only the Steelers and Ravens. 

There are some holes though. 

Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are very good DTs that can stop the run.  However, they sometimes do not provide a consistent pass rush up the middle. 

Also, it has yet to be seen if Quentin Demps can adequately replace Dawkins as a playmaker in the secondary.  The other concern in the secondary is if Sheldon Brown, despite a contract dispute, will play to his full ability.

The offense also has its fair share of questions. 

Will Westbrook be healthy when the season starts? 

At this point, the prognosis is good that Westbrook will be ready to play. 

If he is unable to play at the beginning of the season, will talented rookie LeSean McCoy be able to step up? 

I believe Westbrook will be ready to go, but he will be on the wrong side of 30 at the start of the season.

Another question:  How will McNabb fare behind a new look offensive line, and will he gel with his new toy Jeremy Maclin? 

The O-line has the potential to be one of the best in the league.  The issue becomes if the price tag for Jason Peters was justified.  If it was, then McNabb should be given plenty of time to find his young and talented group of receivers. 

DeSean Jackson should be in for another good year, but I am wary of expecting big stats from Maclin just yet. 

Prediction:  11-5 with a playoff berth.  The Eagles always find a way to lose a couple of out of division games that they should win.  Coupled with the usual pedestrian division record means a battle for the top, but by no means running away with it.

 

The New York Giants:

After a disappointing loss to the Eagles in the playoffs, the Giants look to rebound in a big way in the 2009 season.

With the return of Osi Umenyiora, the Giants’ defensive line will be one of, if not the most, feared in all of the NFL. 

A combination of Justin Tuck, Umenyiora, and Mathias Kiwanuka is a formidable group.  The G-Men also have good interior pass rushers in Barry Cofield and Chris Canty in rotation with Rocky Bernard. 

They are also pretty stout against the run. 

This makes the secondary better than it may actually be, but still corners Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, and safety Kenny Phillips are no bunch to sneeze at.

Then there is the Giants’ running game. 

Fueled by one of the most powerful backs in the league, Brandon Jacobs, along with Ahmad Bradshaw, and one of the best O-lines in the league, the Giants will routinely run over opposing defenses. 

The problem with the running game comes when opposing teams stack the box with eight or nine defenders (more on that later). 

However, I still see this team putting up big rushing numbers in 2009.

There are two holes I see on this team.

First, is the lack of a No. 1 WR.  I do not think rookie Hakeem Nicks will step in right away and be a stud.  And, while I think the Giants have a good number of WRs with some talent, they lack the big time playmaker. 

Many Giants fans believe Dominique Hixon will fill the void left by Plaxico Burress.  He very well could, but I did not see that consistency at the end of last season.  So, I cannot say that he will produce consistently this season. 

With the lack of a true No. 1 receiver, opposing teams do not have to worry as much on the perimeter and can focus on the Giants’ powerful running game.

Second, the linebackers on this team are nicked up heading into training camp.  Big FA pickup Michael Boley may miss some time early in the season, and missing camp/preseason really hurts a player’s adjustment into a new system. 

Also, Antonio Pierce is not getting any younger.  While he is still the intellectual leader of the defense, he has lost a step. 

Can this unit get healthy and be productive? 

Young guys like rookie Clint Sintim may need to step up in order for that to happen.

Prediction:  11-5 with a playoff berth.  O-Line, D-Line, and a good running game is always a recipe for success, and the Giants have all of those areas covered.

 

The Washington Redskins:

This will be the first year that Jason Campbell will have the same offensive coordinator since he entered the league. 

I believe that will significantly help his production. 

Unfortunately, Campbell’s top receivers do not match the system that Redskins run.  While Santana Moss has had successful years, the Redskins’ offensive system is tailored more for larger, more physical receivers. 

This means that one of the young guys, such as Devin Thomas, needs to produce.  It also does not help that the O-line is still very suspect, and therefore does not afford Jason Campbell the time to make as many good throws.

If the receivers can produce, it provides Clintin Portis with more running room.  Portis is not the young man that he once was because he has been in the league for so long for a running back. 

He now relies more on power and vision to gain his yards because of the speed that he has lost.  He and Ladell Betts are still a tandem that needs to be accounted for but no longer impose as much fear as they did two to three years ago.

The defense, while good last year, should be better this year. 

The big issue last year was a lack of a pass rush.  This offseason has seen the additions of Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orapko, and, even though I feel both are slightly overrated, they should immensely improve the Redskins anemic pass rush.

The linebackers (including Orapko) are decent and anchored by tackling machine London Fletcher.  The other LBs have room to improve, but overall they are a decent bunch. 

One big question being asked is: Can Orapko make the transition and defend the run, cover backs, and tight ends?

The Skins’ secondary is much like the linebackers.  It is filled with decent players, but has no star power as of yet. 

LaRon Landry has the potential to make the next step and become a top safety in this league, but, at this point, has yet to reach the level of the late Sean Taylor.  Corners Fred Smoot, Carlos Rogers, and DeAngelo Hall are capable but can sometimes be taken advantage of. 

Chris Horton was a nice surprise last year as well.  Let’s see if he can keep up the high level of play of his rookie campaign.

Prediction:  7-9 while missing the playoffs.  This team’s record from last year is mostly a product of their hot start. 

I don’t see that happening this year due to a lack of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. 

I just don’t see Devin Thomas as a consistent reciever at the NFL level.

 

Final word:  Giants win division due to better division record but likely lose again in the playoffs to the Eagles.  The Birds seem to have their number in January.

I know predictions, especially ones in June, can be proven very, very false.  These may change by the end of training camp and teams/players may prove me wrong. 

That is the nature of the NFL, and that is what makes it worth watching once September finally gets here.

NFL’s Top 5 Questions Going Into Training Camp

Mini-camps have closed in the NFL and now we head into the worst four weeks in the NFL all year. These next four weeks are are full of anticipation as the players take their break before the start of the grueling five-to-six months of NFL Football.

As it is every year, there are many questions for all franchises heading into this part of the year. It is very hard to single out just a few, but in this article, I will take a look at, what in my view, are the biggest problems teams will be facing.

 

Before we start, here are some questions that didin’t make the list.

How will Jay Cutler fair in Chicago?

How will the three first round picks at quarterbacks do in their first year?

How will Josh McDaniels do after the controversial off season?

 

That’s enough with the questions that didn’t make the cut. So without further adieu, here are the Top Five questions going into training camp.

 

5. Will Julius Peppers be able to work out a long term deal with Carolina?

The Panthers were finally able to get Julius Peppers to sign his franchise tag contract, and he now says he is happy in Carolina and is looking forward to a long term deal with the franchise. This could be extremely important because it would be very costly to have to franchise tag him again next year. For Carolina it is the sooner the better.

 

4.  How will Brett Favre’s re-unretirement unfold with the Vikings?

This year’s sequel to the Brett Favre saga has been less interesting than the box-office sensation that kept us hanging on the edge of our seats last year. With a predictable ending, many fans and viewers will be disappointed with this failed attempt at remaking what was once an amazing thing.

I project this to be rated 2 out of 5 starts by most critics.

 

3. What will happen with Brandon Marshall and the Broncos?

“You’re not getting traded! Get your [butt] in training camp and we’ll give you the big money next year!” -Josh McDaniels (Late July, 2009)

This conversation needs to happen in order for Josh McDaniels to gain control of his team. I’m interested in seeing this one play out.

 

2. Will Plaxico Burress be suspended? If not, who will he play for?

At this point in time, I feel that Plaxico Burress will not be suspended.

Comissioner Roger Goodell would have done it by now if he was going to do that. That being said, I think that as soon as Goodell says he will not be suspended, teams will forget that they ever said they weren’t interested. I think he will most likely end up in Chicago, Tampa Bay, or Baltimore.

 

1. Will Michael Vick be reinstated? If so, who will want him?

Michael Vick did a bad thing, and did his time for it. He deserves a second chance and I believe he will be given one. The problem is, who is interested?

With such a troubled past, teams may be afraid to sign the once star quarterback. If he can’t make it into the NFL, he will have to try to make it in the UFL, which is begining its inaugueral season in October.

There it is. Not much surprising but that’s my take. If you disagree, comment or write a whole other article on your opinion. Looking forward to you opinion.

San Francisco 49ers: Log-Jam at Wide Receiver; Let Crabtree Sit

Heading into training camp, and looking forward to the start of the regular season, the 49ers have a log-jam at wide receiver.

For the San Francisco faithful, having a crowded receiving corps is a welcomed problem to have, as the team has been searching for top-flight wide receiver talent since the departure of Terrell Owens in 2003.

Currently, the 49ers have five wide receivers that saw significant playing time a year ago—the list includes future Hall-of-Famer Isaac Bruce, who is returning to the 49ers for a final season after contemplating retirement, third-year receiver Jason Hill, second-year receiver Josh Morgan, long-time 49er Arnaz Battle, and free-agent acquisition Brandon Jones.

The 49ers let go of receiver Bryant Johnson, who caught 45 balls for 546 yards and three touchdowns last season.

If the 49ers had held onto Johnson, they would have six capable wide receivers—even before adding Texas Tech standout Michael Crabtree into the mix, after drafting the former Red Raider with their tenth overall selection in this year’s draft.

Needless to say, even after releasing their former No. 2 receiver Bryant Johnson (who is now with the Detroit Lions), the 49ers still have six receivers worthy of significant playing time.

It is a great problem to have for head coach Mike Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, but the question remains—how are the 49ers going to spread the ball around to their numerous receivers, especially considering San Francisco is a running football team?

The chances San Francisco keeps all six receivers on the roster are extremely unlikely, as most depth charts of the season max 53 man roster include five receivers.

Therefore, unfortunately for 49er fans who have come to enjoy Arnaz Battle’s contributions on the field, he is most likely to be the odd man out; however, 49ers general manager Scott McCloughan ought to be searching for teams in need of a wide receiver, because Battle is definitely not washed up.

Cutting loose Battle would be a poor move, as Battle can serve as a quality slot receiver for a team who already has clear-cut No. 1 and No. 2 receivers.

From 2006-2007, Battle caught 109 balls for 1,268 yards and eight touchdowns on a 49ers team that then had a rather weak receiving corps. Hopefully, McCloughan can find a trade partner and pick up either a draft pick or more defensive line help in the deal.

Either way, with Battle most likely gone, that still leaves San Francisco with five quality receivers in Bruce, Morgan, Hill, Jones, and Crabtree.

Clearly, Isaac Bruce is still going to be the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart after a tremendous comeback season last year.

After catching just 55 balls for 761 yards and three touchdowns in 2007 with the Rams, Bruce caught 61 passes for 835 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season with San Francisco.

The numbers may not seem like that much of an improvement, but due to his age, putting up better numbers at all is a tremendous accomplishment. With the chemistry he built with quarterback Shaun Hill, those numbers could have been even better had Hill been under center the entire season.

Following Bruce on the depth chart should be none other than Josh Morgan. Last year, Morgan dazzled fans during the preseason and continued his superb play in the regular season, but missed significant time due to coming down with an illness that caused him to lose 15 pounds at the start of the season.

Coincidentally, Morgan was left behind in his development during his rookie year, and in 12 games managed just 20 receptions; however, in those 20 catches, Morgan racked up 319 yards, good for an even 16.0 average and three touchdowns.

Coming back healthy for the 2009 season, Morgan—not Crabtree—may end up being the big-time 49er receiver who breaks out for a Pro Bowl-caliber season; Morgan clearly has the ability to become a star.

In fact, even though most football fans know that Crabtree has nearly all the receiving records at Texas Tech, many people don’t know that Morgan holds nearly all the receiving records for Virginia Tech.

The former sixth round pick Morgan now has a year’s experience in the NFL, and it would be smart for the 49ers if they kept the pressure away from Crabtree and have Morgan start opposite Isaac Bruce.

After Morgan as the No. 2 wide receiver, many would think that Crabtree should be the next receiver onto the field in the three wide-receiver set.

However, Jason Hill showed some promise late last season, as all 30 of his receptions came in the team’s final nine games—coincidentally, the same nine games that were led by Mike Singletary.

Hill improved immensely from his rookie yea,r in which he caught just one pass while barely seeing the field. Now entering his third season, Hill could be an extremely effective possession receiver.

In the ideal world, Hill and Crabtree ought to rotate as the third receiver for the 49ers. On shorter third down situations, the more experienced Hill should see the field for important first down conversions; however, on third and long plays, Crabtree should get his first taste of the NFL, in situations where he has the opportunity to make big plays.

Instead of throwing Crabtree into the fire against NFL defensive backs who are years better than the corners he faced at Texas Tech, the 49ers ought to bring him in slowly and match him up against safeties and opposing team’s third- and fourth-string corners.

Taking their time with Crabtree is essential to keep any chance of a prima donna type receiver from developing with such a highly-rated draft pick. Not only that, but Crabtree’s foot injury that caused him to miss the NFL scouting combine prevented him from partaking in drills during mini camp.

Unless the 49ers stumble early on during the season, Crabtree should be used carefully and be put in situations to succeed. There is no need to rush his development unless the rest of the receiving corps starts to falter.

Therefore, the crowded receiving corps ought to look as such on a depth chart:

1. Isaac Bruce

2. Josh Morgan

3. Jason Hill/Michael Crabtree

4. Michael Crabtree/Jason Hill

5. Brandon Jones

Jones, the free-agent acquisition from Tennessee, may have a difficult time finding playing time. The rest of the 49ers receivers are either already familiar with coach Singletary, or—in Crabtree’s case—have high expectations to see quality playing time.

Last season, Jones caught 41 balls for 449 yards, but only one touchdown and 3.1 yards after catch on average.

Meanwhile, Josh Morgan caught less than half the amount of receptions, yet had two more touchdowns and 5.3 average yards after catch.

So, whether or not Jones can live up to the bill and be the speedy receiver that the 49ers brought him in to be is very much in question.

With the rest of the 49ers receivers prime for big seasons, Jones may be left behind.

Now clearly the depth chart is subject to change due to potential injuries and on-field performance, but as of right now, Josh Morgan should join Isaac Bruce as starting wide receivers, not Michael Crabtree.

However, we’ll all have to wait until September 13th to find out for ourselves how Singletary and Raye are going to manage this log-jam at wide receiver.

Joe Flacco to Derrick Mason: A Developing Fantasy Duo?

Rookie Joe Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the 18th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Flacco was originally a part of the Pittsburgh Panthers NCAA team, but decided to transfer to Delaware since he was not seeing regular playing time behind fellow QB Tyler Palko.

With the Fightin’ Blue Hens in 2006, he put up nearly 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 10 interceptions. The next year he accumulated over 3,300 yards and again threw 18 touchdowns. This time honed his accuracy and decision making, evident by his mere five interceptions.

In perhaps his finest performance while in Delaware, Flacco threw for 434 yards and four touchdowns in one game.

Joe Flacco was not supposed to start for the Baltimore Ravens, but injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith thrust him into the leading role, ready or not.

In his first game he struggled, totaling only 129 yards on 15 completions for a 51.7 completion percentage and throwing all of zero touchdowns.

Flacco settled down and showed his maturity through the season, and those numbers remained a season low.

Over his next five outings, Flacco increased his completion percentage by over 15 points and showed the NFL that he was a viable starting option. He ended the season with 2,971 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.

The knock on Flacco’s fantasy value this upcoming season directly correlates to the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive scheme.

Baltimore has long been a run-first team, severely hurting any potential of Flacco’s to become a top 10 fantasy QB. However, a report today from The Sporting News offers a glimmer of hope.

It reads “offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is expected to open up the Ravens air attack in Joe Flacco’s second season.”

This is certainly good news for potential Flacco owners, since it shows from a prominent source that the Ravens are considering becoming a more balanced team (at least offensively).

One wide receiver in particular might benefit tremendously from this news. 

His name is Derrick Mason.

Mason, the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart for the Ravens, is a 13-year vet of the NFL, and is heading into his fifth season with the team.

Last year, Mason didn’t show one sign of his age, grabbing 80 passes for 1,037 yards and five touchdowns, all team-leading statistics.

Flacco found Mason frequently last year, and should continue to this upcoming season. After all, a young quarterback’s best friend is a sure-handed veteran wide receiver.

Derrick Mason is going in the ninth round on average in 12-team mock drafts, while Flacco is going in the 13th.

 

Crazy Canton Cuts : Harold Carmichael

Harold Carmichael
6’8″ 225
Wide Receiver
Philadelphia Eagles
1971 – 1984
14 Seasons
182 Games Played
590 Receptions
8,985 Receiving Yards
79 Touchdowns
4 Pro Bowls
1980 NFL Man Of The Year

Lee Harold Carmichael was a seventh round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1971 NFL Draft. He was the 161st player chosen overall.

Carmichael attended Southern University in his collegiate career. While starting all four years at wide receiver, he never led the Jaguars in receptions.

Allen Jubilee Dunbar led Southern in receptions for two of those seasons, and he would go on to be a third round draft choice by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1972 draft. Though he did not make the team, Dunbar averaged over 19 yards on 23 receptions for the New Orleans Saints the next year. He was out of the league the following season, after playing with the Cleveland Browns.

Carmichael was named All Conference and All American in his senior year, while also serving as the team captain.

Harold Carmichael is a member of the Southern Hall of Fame, the State of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame.

The Eagles decided to move Carmichael to tight end for his rookie campaign, starting in six of the nine games he played. He led all Eagles tight ends with 20 receptions, which was the fourth most on the team that year.

He was then permanently moved to wide receiver the following season, and he started in five of the 13 games he appeared in. He caught another 20 passes, and scored the first two touchdowns of his career.

The 1973 season saw Carmichael establish himself as one of the top receivers in the league. He led the NFL with 67 receptions for 1,116 yards. His 79.9 receiving yards per game also led the league, which are all career best marks. While scoring nine times, he also ran the ball a career high three times for 42 yards and was named to his first Pro Bowl team.

The Eagles struggled to find a steady quarterback over the next three seasons, and Carmichael suffered somewhat because of this. He caught 147 balls over that time, along with 20 touchdowns, but his yard per catch average never exceeded 13 yards over that time.

Ron Jaworski was named the starting quarterback for the 1977 season, and provided much needed stability for the team. Carmichael averaged 14.5 yards on 42 receptions, along with seven scores, while helping break in the young signal caller.

He averaged a career best 19.5 yards on 55 receptions the next season, gaining 1,072 yards and scoring eight times. He was named to his second Pro Bowl as well, an honor he would attain in each of the two following seasons.

Carmichael caught 100 passes over that time, averaging 17 yards a reception, and scored 20 times. His 11 touchdowns in the 1978 season was a career high.

The 1980 season was special to many Eagles and their fans. The team would win the NFC crown, and appear in Super Bowl XV. Carmichael was a key member of that team. Though Philadelphia lost to the Oakland Raiders in that game, he led led the team with six receptions for 91 yards.

He followed that year up by gaining 1,028 yards on 61 receptions, along with six scores, in the 1981 season. He also caught a pass for a career long 85 yards.

The NFL went on strike in the 1982 season, and this event cut into Carmichael’s production. He was on his way to having another stellar year, catching 35 balls and scoring four times.

Now at 34 years old in 1983, Carmichael was nearing the end of his career. He snagged 38 passes, and scored the last three touchdowns of his career. He also tossed a 45 yard touchdown pass, the only one of his career.

The Eagles then released him after the season completed.

He joined the Dallas Cowboys the next year, and caught one pass for seven yards in the two games he suited up for. Carmichael then decided to retire from the game.

Harold Carmichael’s name is all over the Philadelphia Eagles record books. His 180 games played with the club is the most ever. He is still on top of the teams list for most receptions, reception yards, and receiving touchdowns for a career. He is still ranked 12th in receiving yards for a season, and 18th for receptions in a season.

Carmichael once held an NFL record by catching a pass in 127 straight games, and ranked sixth all time in league history in career receptions at the time of his retirement.

His 590 receptions still rank as the 53rd most in league history, his 8,985 receiving yards is the 42nd most, and his 79 total touchdowns is the 48th most ever.

Harold is also well known for his off the field accomplishments in community work. He was named the 1980 NFL Man of the Year, the Jacksonville Pro Athlete of the Year, and the New Jersey General Assembly Man of the Year.

Carmichael is a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll.

I have wondered, through the years, why Carmichael has not been inducted into Canton yet. Looking at his statistics, one might consider him a fringe prospect. If you look beyond that, you can easily see he is worthy.

Carmichael was the target on every down the Eagles dropped back to pass. Not only because of his enormous size, but because of his sure and steady hands. His long strides often got him far into enemy territory, as one can see by his 15 yards per catch average over his career.

He was much more than a very dangerous red zone threat. He was tough, and an excellent blocker. His battles with Pat Fischer, another CCC profilee, are legendary. Those two men would spend several Sunday’s putting welts on each others bodies.

Carmichael had to achieve his successes in an era where the ten yard chuck rule was in play, making it much more difficult to get open. Cornerbacks then were much more adept at man to man coverage than they are in these times. A receiver not only had to get open then, but he had to literally fight his way to the spot on the field where a ball was to be thrown.

Harold Carmichael has joined a long list of many of his contemporaries. This list is of forgotten players on a forgotten era by a society today that has little to no idea of the path paved to present time. Many of the Hall Of Fame voters never saw Carmichael play, nor the era he played in.

You will see inferior players inducted before Carmichael most likely. Men who benefited from the five yard chuck rule, the offensive linemens ability to hold, as well as the defenders inability to hit anyone like they used to.

It is more than a shame. It is a disgrace. Harold Carmichael certainly belongs in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, but time and opportunity for his respect trudge onward into obscurity.

Notable Players Drafted In 1971 ( * Denotes Canton Inductee )

1. Jim Plunkett, QB, New England
2. Archie Manning, QB, New Orleans
3. Dan Pastorini, QB, Houston Oilers
4. J.D. Hill, WR, Buffalo
6. John Riggins, RB, NY Jets *
8. Frank Lewis, WR, Pittsburgh
9. John Brockington, RB, Green Bay
10. Isiah Robertson, LB, LA Rams
14. Clarence Scott, DB, Cleveland
19. Jack Tatum, DB, Oakland
20. Jack Youngblood, DE, LA Rams *
27. Julius Adams, DE, New England
34. Jack Ham, LB, Pittsburgh *
43. Dan Dierdorf, OT, St. Louis Cardinals *
45. Phil Villapiano, LB, Oakland
48. Charlie Weaver, LB, Detroit
56. Lynn Dickey, QB, Houston
57. Jim Braxton, FB, Buffalo
67. Ken Anderson, QB, Cincinnati
79. Lyle Alzado, DE, Denver
99. Joe Theismann, QB, Miami
104. Dwight White, DE, Pittsburgh
106. Larry Brown, OT, Pittsburgh
142. Doug Dieken, OT, Cleveland
147. Mel Gray, WR, Saint Louis
206. Ron Jessie, WR, Dallas
230. Vern Den Herder, DE, Miami
268. Mike Wagner, DB, Pittsburgh
272. George Starke, OT, Washington

 

Boley Injury: Panic Or Patience For New York Giants’ Defense?

One of the worst case scenario’s that could have happened for the New York Giants this off season, happened last week.

Earlier this off season, the Giants signed free agent linebacker Michael Boley and had plans for him to fill in and start from day one with Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark. That linebacker core looks fantastic and would be very productive throughout the entire season, until something terribly wrong happened.

Boley had to go through surgery for his injured hip and will most likely be out for 8 – 10 weeks. That basically means that if that healing and recovering time is accurate, he will miss the next two months and who knows if he will be ready to play by Week one of the season.

With this injury taking place, do the Giants’ defensive coaches panic and try to rush players like Gerris Wilkinson and Chase Blackburn back into the starting rotation, or should they be patient and make sure that all players get their time and snaps?

If New York’s coaches did panic, that would not be the right thing to do and that would not allow the players to play their full potential. If they are just to be patient with everything, then the linebackers taking Boley’s repetitions will feel more comfortable and build chemistry with their teammates.

This also isn’t new for players like Wilkinson and Blackburn, who both started the majority games at the weakside linebacker position last year. They should have no problem at all getting back into the groove of things.

Second year man Bryan Kiehl, who saw most of his time last season on special teams, is another option the Giants can turn too to get some linebacker time in.

If Boley is not ready to go opening week against Washington, then the Giants will just move on with whoever is playing the best football at the time and wait till he is 100% and ready too go.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

What Brady Quinn Haters Don’t Realize

With the opening of training camp just a few weeks away, much of the focus on the Browns will be the quarterback competition between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

This is not another article that breaks down the competition. Instead it is one that takes a shot at those who don’t like Brady Quinn.

I have heard so many negative comments about him that it just makes me sick.

“He can’t throw the long ball.”

“He can’t win the big game.”

“He isn’t very good.”

It really has become a broken record. Since when is a quarterback evaluated after only three starts?

What bothers me is that most Quinn haters are really just recycled Notre Dame haters.

They don’t even realize that they are hating a player that everybody should be rooting for.

I am not putting him on a pedestal, but he really is a player who does things the right way.

Before you say “C’mon man!” let’s just look at the facts.

• It is a fact that Quinn has never been arrested at a night club.
• It is a fact that he has never taken a gun to a night club and shot himself.
• It is a fact that he has never run a dog fighting business.
• It is also a fact that he didn’t act like a crybaby, unlike Jay Cutler, when trade rumors surfaced.

Let’s look at some of the things he has done.

• He has earned degree from the University of Notre Dame.
• He took real classes at a tough academic school.
• He has been known to consistently be the first at practice and one of the last to leave. He practically lives in the film room during the offseason.

Even with his dedication to the team, he still finds a way to take graduate classes.

I bet most that bash him don’t even know that he is already working on his law degree. He wants to be a lawyer when his playing days are over.

That alone is a huge reason to root for him to succeed in the NFL, because we know he will be okay if he doesn’t.

With all the time he puts into the team and his law degree you would think he wouldn’t have time for anything else. Yet he was constantly seen at the Cavalier games while they were making their playoff run.

Brady Quinn supports the whole city and all its teams.

That is unlike Terrell Owens, who showed up to a finals game in Dallas wearing a Miami Heat jersey. He said that he was a Shaquille O’Neal fan and he wanted to support him. That was shortly after the Cowboys had acquired him in the trade; quite a way to endear himself to his new city.

In a day and age in which fans complain that there are far too many thugs, criminals, and prima donnas in the NFL, here is a guy that does it the right way, and he has far too many haters.

This is a kid that everybody should be rooting for because he truly is one to look up to, and is one of the rare athletes who deserves to be called a role model.

So this is to all the haters. Next time you want to question his arm strength, toughness, and ability to win the big game, remember what you are hating.

You are hating a kid who represents all that is good with sports and one who you should want your kid to be like.

Besides, it is not like all your criticisms will actually shake him—it will actually add more fuel to the fire.

401K’s for Football Players: Why More Needs To Be Done

You would think that after retiring from professional, life is great. Big houses, fast cars, lots of money. But that life is reserved for the big names, names like Dan Marino, Michael Strahan, John Ogden, Tiki Barber, Jerome Bettis, Troy Aikman, and other similar big-name players.

Welcome to the darker side of NFL retirement. Health problems, arrests, drug problems, bankruptcy, and gambling.

Someone like Dan Marino has his retirement set, broadcasting gigs, endorsements, commercials—he’s good for life. But let’s take a look at the average offensive linemen’s retirement. Average, I’m not talking about John Ogden or Matt Birk, but some no-name second stringer.

He gets paid the average for O-linemen, $850,000 a year. Pretty good right? Let’s say he plays 10 years. That’s $8,500,000 over his career. Hot damn! Normally, he wouldn’t have that much at the end of his career because he gets paid yearly, and there is no way he can spend $0 each year, but this is hypothetical.

Now there are factors in this equation that the retiree can control, and others that he can’t control, let’s go over the stuff that is in his hands.

 

Controllable

No more NFL means no more drug tests! So he goes to town, and buys all the weed he can. Now, weed is NOT going to kill you, it is certainly unhealthy, but is not going to ruin your life. BUT, in this world, one thing leads to another, and he gets into more hardcore drugs, cocaine, ecstasy, prescription painkillers and sedatives, and more.

Now he is in real trouble. Use of ecstasy slowly builds deposits of calcium in the user’s brain. Cocaine is highly addictive, as are painkillers (just ask Rush Limbaugh). Cocaine increases blood pressure dramatically, which isn’t good for someone the size of a lineman.

Add that high blood pressure to unrestricted eating habits, and you have a recipe for heart disease.

Drugs also bring troubles with the long arm of the law. Now he is getting arrested, and serving stints in jail. Jail isn’t good, he has to pay court fees, and his health is deteriorating quickly.

Now through all the health bills, fines, court fees, and drug payments are catching up to him.

Speaking of money, what else is he going to do other than spend it on drugs? Spend it on excess of course! Cars, clothes, houses, any thing money can buy, he has.

But that is catching up to him, too. He can’t afford to pay his taxes, bills, loans and mortgages and any other expense.

In short, he has ruined his life. Technically, it’s not the NFL’s fault. But they can do more to help, and I’ll get in to that in a bit.

 

Uncontrollable

There are several things that the retiree can’t control, mostly involving health complications from his tenure in the NFL.

O-line is a tough position to play, you have to be big with lots of muscle. But the one downside is the physicality of the people you play against. Many former linemen suffer chronic joint pains, weak and fragile bones, shoulder problems, and upper body bone disease.

But what happens to all that muscle? Well folks, here is a little science lesson. In turns to fat, and fat isn’t always a good thing. When 310 pounds of muscle deteriorate into fat, your health goes down with it.

Heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are the biggest problems resulting from the deterioration of muscles.

But one thing that happens not related to health is that the player runs out of money. Not because he blew it on drugs or gambling, but because his pension is so poor.

Some people need structure in their lives to keep them out of trouble. Lawrence Taylor and Michael Irvin are good examples. They both were lured by vices, and paid the price with drug addiction, financial and legal troubles. But as soon as the NFL did something to help, they turned out OK.

 

Flawed plans

The NFL has basically the same plan as the government, where age of retirement means everything.

Former Bills guard Joe DeLamielleure gets paid $992 a month. In today’s economy, that is barely enough. It could be worse, but it is simply un-American to be unable to give fair pension because he retired at age 45.

While the average person who retires at 60 gets $3,000 month, a football player gets less simply because his career ended early. The NFLPA does nothing to help retired players, only current players. Why? Because they sign their paychecks (figure of speech).

 

What can be done to stop these effects?

The NFL has moved in the right direction, but more needs to be done. They currently have initiated a program similar to Step Down programs for athletes, to help with the withdrawal from physical lifestyle to an unstructured and sedentary lifestyle.

This has reduced the amount of health complications from their tenures in the NFL, but more needs to be done financially. There needs to be an overhaul, where age of retirement is eliminated, and where the NFLPA can give the players enough money to get by on their basic expenses.

If the NFL doesn’t act now, then more and more retirees are doomed to financial, drug, and legal problems. The NFL makes $25 billion on TV deals alone.

If some of that can be spread to the retired players in need of help, then the quality of life retirees can be improved.

One Down, Eight To Go: Jaguars Sign Sixth-Round Pick Zach Miller

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed 2009 sixth-round draft pick Zach Miller, a tight end, to a four-year deal Monday.

Miller, a 24-year-old converted quarterback out of Nebraska-Omaha, is the first of the club’s nine draft picks to come to terms.

Miller has drawn rave reviews as a “difference maker” so far. GM Gene Smith told Jaguars.com that Miller is faster than the AFC South’s best tight ends, Dallas Clark and Owen Daniels.

He will compete to be the primary backup to Marcedes Lewis this season as he learns the new position.

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