Be It Offensive Lines or Cancer, the Late Jim Johnson Coached His Way Through

To the city of Philadelphia and its fans, he was known as a defensive genius who loved to blitz the opposing team’s quarterback.

For the rest of the NFL, he was not only a defensive genius who caused headaches for opposing offenses, but also one of the most respected defensive coordinators in all of football.

Sad news came for the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia this week as long-time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle with cancer at the age of 68. 

The news came just four days after the team named Sean McDermott the defensive coordinator for the 2009 season.

Back in January, the team announced Johnson was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on his spine, around the same area where he was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2001. Shortly after doctors noticed the tumor, he began radiation treatment.

Over his 10-year career as the Eagles defensive coordinator, Johnson always had his defense near the top of the rankings.

From 2000-08, his defenses ranked second with 390 sacks. He has helped develop 26 Pro Bowlers and made the playoffs seven times, including five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl.

One of Johnson’s best seasons as a defensive coordinator came in 2001, when the Eagles became the fourth team in NFL history to go 16 regular season games without allowing more than 21 points. That season, the Eagles made it to their first of four straight NFC Championship game appearances.

Johnson arrived as a defensive coordinator in the City of Brotherly Love in 1999, the same year Andy Reid was named head coach. According to an interview from CSNPhilly.com, Reid claims he would not be where he is today if it weren’t for Johnson.

“The Andy Reid regime here that’s taken place wouldn’t have been possible without Jim,” coach Andy Reid said. “I’m not sure there’s a person that I’ve met that isn’t a Jim Johnson fan. He really represented everything this city is all about with his toughness and grit—that’s the way he fought this cancer.”

Reid’s comments regarding Johnson’s battle with cancer could not be more true. During the Eagles’ last two playoff games last January, Johnson coached the games from the press box due to back pain.

In May, he coached during the post-draft minicamps from the sideline on a scooter and a cane to help him walk around.

Not only did Johnson have an impact on Reid’s career as the Eagles head coach, but he had a major impact on the players who played under him. Former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins appeared in seven Pro Bowls in the 13 years he played under Johnson.

Everybody knows the type of talent Dawkins was gifted with, but Johnson’s desire to draw up specific plays to help maximize his talent level shows us the type of relationship he had with his players.

“Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia,” Dawkins said in a statement. “He was a tough coach who wasn’t afraid to let you know how he was feeling. He was an absolute blessing to me with the way he used me on the football field and allowed me to show my God-given ability.”

He may have lost his battle with cancer, but Johnson did everything within his power to avoid letting the disease keep him from coaching the game he loved. When he was diagnosed with melanoma back in January, most of us can’t even imagine the type of pain he must have been going through.

Instead of taking a leave of absence like most coaches or players would do, he did everything he could to stay on the field during post-draft minicamps as a coach until it became too much for his body to handle.

There is no doubt any one’s mind that Sean McDermott will succeed as the Eagles new defensive coordinator. He has been involved with the team’s defense as an assistant over the years and had one of the best mentors show him the way in Johnson.

Johnson’s passing leaves a void in the Eagles organization that some can only describe as irreplaceable. He may no longer be with the team, but his presence will live on with the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia for years to come.

He has developed a successful system that has worked wonders for the Eagles over the last 10 seasons. This system will continue to be used by McDermott and the Eagles for years to come, no matter what.

As a die-hard Eagles fan, all I can say is that on behalf of the city of Philadelphia and their fans, we will miss you on the sidelines each week in the fall.

Thank you for all of exciting playoff runs, the intense, consistent blitzes on opposing quarterbacks, and the hard work and dedication you have put into this organization over the last 10 years.

Everything you have done for the organization will never be forgotten and you will truly be missed. Be sure to look down upon the Eagles and their 2009 season.

 

Dan Parzych is the Eagles Fan Voice for www.NFLTouchdown.com

The Chicago Bears’ Defense: Is the Secondary That Bad?

In today’s world of statistics and fantasy sports, the Bears’ secondary has caught a bad rap. 

 

I’m not going to say that the secondary is made up of world class cornerbacks and safeties, but I will defend them and say that they are a victim of circumstance.

 

When people look at the “main” statistic, they are going to see that the Bears were 30th in passing yards against, with an average of 241 yards per game they allowed through the air.

 

Now, with people getting too caught up in the stats, they are going to see that and think the Bears secondary was horrible at its job. 

 

And, I will admit that there were some blown coverages, and some bad decisions made on their part, but the whole story needs to be viewed before everyone decides to jump down their throats and call them the third worst secondary in the NFL.

 

The Bears’ defense ranked fifth in rush defense, giving up only 93.5 yards per game, making opponents retreat from game plans revolving around the run.  And, if you aren’t going to develop a game plan involving the run, that means you are left with one option, and that is the pass. 

 

Since teams knew they couldn’t run on the Bears, they had to design more pass plays against them, which meant that the Bears’ secondary had to face more passing plays than most other teams.

 

In fact, the Bears’ defense saw the most pass plays against them out of the entire NFL.  There were 622 passing plays against them, which came out to an average of 39 per game.  Second place was San Diego, with 605. 

 

They were the only two teams with more than 600 passing plays against them.  So, with the Bears only ending up in 30th for passing yards allowed per game, I would say that is quite an accomplishment.

 

I will throw some other statistics at you that might shock you to know about last years secondary.  They only gave up 21 passing touchdowns, which put them right in the middle of the league.

 

They were third in the NFL in interceptions, behind only Baltimore and Cleveland.  And they led the league in pass deflections, with 105.  But after seeing 622 passes, I would hope that you led the league in pass deflections.

 

For those who said they gave up too many big plays.  They were, again, in the middle of the league, with allowing only 40 passing plays of 20 yards or more.  And they were tied for second on the league, only allowing three passing plays of 40 yards or more.  In comparison, Jacksonville allowed 17 passing plays of 40 yards or more.

 

And they did all this with one of the league’s worst pass rushes, which allowed the opposing quarterbacks ample amount of time to find open receivers.

 

Before you want to chastise the likes of Peanut Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Danieal Manning, Corey Graham, Craig Steltz, Kevin Payne, and whoever else may play in the Bears’ secondary this year, I advise you to learn the whole story.  Statistics tell one story, but actual play tells another.

 

Even though I have spouted off all of these statistics, I still understand that the secondary is a major issue with the Bears.  The 2009 season is one of the most hyped seasons I can remember in my short tenure on this Earth, and that is mostly to do with Jay Cutler coming over via trade.

 

And, rightfully so, Bears fans should be enthused about what he brings to the team, because in past years our quarterback play has been subpar.  But, the offense can only do so much. 

 

It is up to the defense to stop the other team from beating us.  Jay Cutler knows all too well what a potent offense does for a team when the defense can’t stop anyone.

 

I think that the Bears’ secondary is a lot better than what people give them credit for, and I believe they are going to surprise a few teams this year with their play.  I liked what I saw out of Kevin Payne last year, and think with that full season of experience under his belt, he is going to come up big at strong safety this year. 

 

As of right now, I think Manning is the right choice to start next to him, at free safety, but believe Steltz is more than serviceable as his backup.  Both of them are athletic and have decent speed, but they just need to find their rhythm inside the defensive schemes and everything will fall into place.

 

With Tillman being injured, we do have to worry about his conditioning for the start of the season, seeing as how he’s going to miss most of training camp, and part of the preseason. 

 

But if he can come back healthy, and Vasher can stay healthy, as well, and revert back to his 2006 form, the Bears might have a chance at becoming one of the most feared defenses in the NFL again.

 

The biggest issue is health.  Our depth at cornerback is an issue, with our backups not having much game experience in them.  So, Bears fans just need to hope that the gods of football are going to shine down upon the team this season and keep everyone safe for the entire season.

 

What are your concerns about the secondary this upcoming season?

No More San Francisco 49ers Failures at QB

The stomachs of many 49ers fans are probably growling this summer as they look with uneasy anticipation at a season with the quarterback position unsettled.

Again.

This year, however, our intellects are not insulted with a repeat of last summer.

That was one of the low points in San Francisco quarterback infamy.

In fact, since our last playoff appearance, it’s best just to forget the bad run of quarterbacks who were NFL-challenged.

Well, that’s a nice way of putting it.

The San Francisco quarterback implosion has been nasty for fans who have witnessed some of the worst quarterbacks ever to take the field for this franchise.

The disaster cannot be overstated.

Just look at the 49ers record, the stats, and the fact that opposing defenses basically know they can breathe a big sigh of relief when they face the 49ers.

The pass? What’s that?

Their defensive game plan? Stop Frank Gore.

After all, we’re fortunate to get a tight end who can block, let alone catch.

We haven’t had a reliably consistent receiver for some time.

And now we have yet another new offensive coordinator.

When will this revolving door stop?

My take on that is that Mike Singletary is correct: Stability is the prime motivation, as Jimmy Raye may only be here a year or two. He’s a bridge.

Let’s hope it’s a bridge to success, not a bridge to nowhere.

At quarterback, Shaun Hill seems to have the confidence of players, yet Alex Smith is not ruled out.

Can Smith excel in combat?

Will he be the hero or the goat?

Will he justify the initial huge contract and the expensive re-signing?

This season will let us know.

No more experiments, 49ers.

It should be the last that this franchise feeds failure to its fans at the position of quarterback, if that scenario turns to be true yet again.

If that means signing a proven NFL veteran who may not be at the top of his career, it would still be an improvement.

Hopefully, Jed York and Mike Singletary are thinking the same thing, especially after their pursuit of Kurt Warner.

TE Heath Miller Re-Signs with Pittsburgh Steelers, Signs Six-Year Deal

As reported on Steelers.com last night, the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a six-year contract extension with tight end Heath Miller.

Financial details of the contract are not yet known.

Had the Steelers not re-signed Miller, he would have been eligible for restricted free agency after the 2009 season.

Miller was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Virginia.

San Francisco 49ers: Eat Contract Cake and Have Easier Games, Too

Some teams seem to be a little frustrated about the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. They say he is holding up the entire signing process. They say he is stunting and screwing with the rest of the NFL.

 

Whether or not you agree or disagree with this logic, the 49ers should be thinking,
“good.” Because if it is hurting other teams, it is relatively giving the 49ers the same edge.

 

One might think the 49ers are disappointed that Crabtree’s agent, Eugene “The Dream” Parker, is imagining a contract FAR larger than his clients draft slot. But think again…

 

You see, the 49ers don’t NEED Crabtree as much as other teams need their top picks; which is even MORE true in the 49ers own division.

 

Which games are the most important games in a football season? Division games.

 

Why? Because there are more total division games, and the leader of the division goes to the playoffs no matter what.

 

If I were the 49ers, I would gladly sacrifice Crabtree this year, if it means that all the other teams in our division will miss out on their first round picks as well.

 

The Rams are in desperate need of a high quality offensive tackle, especially now that the Orlando Pace era is no more.

 

Enter Jason Smith, or wait! No. Not yet, he’s waiting for Crabtree…Sorry.

 

The Seahawks released Julian Peterson, which coincided with the arrival of Aaron Curry which is wonderful, because he will step right in and…err, hang on a sec…woops, my bad, he’s also sitting on his own thumb waiting for Crabtree. Yikes.

 

The Cardinals have brought in many running backs to be “the guy,” but it looks like their wait might finally be over, you see, they got a steal with the 31st overall pick in the draft, with Chris “Beanie” Wells, he arrives at the perfect time for them, like a gift from heaven, oh hell, hang on again…#$@!, sorry about that again, he and his agent are sitting on both of their thumbs waiting for Crabtree, too!

 

Shame on you Michael Crabtree!

 

As a result of “your” actions…

 

The Rams will have no pass protection, AGAIN. Two easier games for the 49ers.

 

The Seahawks will not be able to replace Julian Peterson’s production. Two easier games for the 49ers.

 

The Cardinals will still have a running back by committee. Two easier games for the 49ers.

 

The 49ers without Crabtree, does not mean NEARLY as much.

 

First of all, WRs don’t usually make as big an impact in their rookie seasons. Second, the 49ers still have Isaac Bruce, just signed free agent Brandon Jones, and are expecting very big things from last year’s sixth round steal (and Crabtree clone), Josh Morgan. Jason Hill and others will have a chance to emerge as well.

 

You see, unfortunately for Eugene Parker and Michael Crabtree and the rest of the poor, poor *snip* *snip* teams in the NFL, especially those in our division (oh, it breaks my heart!), the 49ers don’t NEED Michael Crabtree that badly.

 

The 49ers WILL NOT sign Crabtree to an outlandish top 5 contract; GUARANTEED.

 

You can go ahead and write it down. It won’t happen, it can’t happen.

 

They simply have NO reason to do it. NONE. AT ALL.

 

You see, the 49ers are happily sitting down (on their butts) while the rest of the NFL sits on their thumbs waiting for the 49ers to do something they will NOT (not in a million years) do.

 

The 49ers will wait for the other teams in the top 10 to sign their picks FIRST. It is not the other way around. Don’t get confused.

 

If the other picks never sign, then good, because of the reasons outlined above.

 

If the other picks DO sign, then good, because then “El Dumbo” (his mother knows him as Eugene Parker) will have to at least feel the heat turn up a notch or two on his side of the universe (although I doubt his brain is even IN this particular universe).

 

In other words, the 49ERS are WAITING FOR YOU (the rest of the league) to sign YOUR picks, NOT the other way around.

 

And UNTIL you (the rest of the league) realize this, every team but one (the 49ers) will have a bunch of rookies with smelly thumbs.

 

 

Hey, Eagles Fans, if You Want a Real Mess, Check Out the Mets’ Locker Room

Worrying that Jeremy Maclin isn’t in Eagles camp is akin to being the mom who goes ballistic if her kids splash in a puddle or the police officer who frets over jaywalking.

 

It’s pointless, a waste of time and distracting from what’s truly important.

 

The sports world has given us a great example of true organizational ineptitude this week: The New York Mets managing to turn what should have been a rather routine, boring press conference on the firing of a VP into a mega farce that will eventually cost general manager Omar Minaya his job. Not having Maclin in camp by this weekend, next weekend—or next month for that matter doesn’t come close.

 

Despite the hullabaloo over the Philadelphia Eagles finally drafting an offensive skill player in the first round, the truth is that Maclin never had much of a chance of making a huge impact this season.

 

Rookie wide receivers are seldom game changers. DeSean Jackson is more the exception than the rule and expecting the Eagles to have hit twice in a row on early impact wideouts is stretching it. Probably more than Maclin will end up stretching the field in ’09.

 

Calvin Johnson—he No. 2 pick in the entire 2007 draft and a consensus scout-drooled-over physical freak—went to the Detroit Lions, arguably the worst franchise in the history of professional sports (with apologies to the LA Clippers). Johnson had more opportunity his first year than Brad Pitt at the Playboy Mansion.

 

And he still managed only 48 catches and four touchdowns.

 

Did you really expect Maclin—the No. 19 pick in this year’s draft—to even approach those numbers? Even if Maclin showed up to training camp two weeks early or helped Andy Reid go on that Lloyd from Entourage diet that has the Eagles coach 80 pounds lighter, Maclin still wouldn’t have been more than an occasional deep threat this season.

 

Now, the focus on Maclin being the only Eagle not in camp threatens to obscure real issues for a team that needed several minor miracles to make the playoffs last season. Chief among those are the loss of the franchise’s two most important defensive voices with the recent cancer death of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and the free agent departure of Brian Dawkins.

 

Whether Donovan McNabb can stay healthy through the whole season as he turns 33 is another. One that becomes more critical with every lame training camp duck tossed by bust-in-the-making Kevin Kolb.

 

Instead of concentrating on this, on anything important, there is more talk about the missing Maclin though.

 

This is one of those made-up training camp crises spurred on by people with too much time on their hands (sports writers at the start of a long, long season) and people with clear agendas (Eagles coach Andy Reid).

 

Sure, Reid is talking tough about how far behind Maclin is going to fall. That’s in the Eagles’ best negotiating interests. Why not put a little pressure on the kid and see if he signs for less before the market for receivers in this draft is set?

 

This is not going to affect the Eagles once the games count though. For something beyond a pretend crisis, you have to go a little further north to another sport.

 

Mets show Eagles what a real problem is

 

As crazy and absurd as things get around the Mets—and GM Omar Minaya charging that New York Daily News beat writer Adam Rubin has a conflict of interest in the middle of what should have been a quick, headline-light press conference is certainly up there on the loony scale—one thing remains constant.

 

Whenever there’s a Mets mess, the Wilpons hide.

 

This is an ownership family that largely controls its own TV network and yet, they still cannot get their message out. Where was Jeff Wilpon as Omar Minaya blew up that press conference?

 

If any time screamed for strong ownership, it’s now after the needed firing of vice president of player personnel Tony Bernazard spun far out of the Mets control.

 

No matter whether you believe Minaya when he says that Rubin lobbied for a job in the Mets front office or Rubin when he says that he merely innocently asked what it takes to get any baseball job, it’s clear this is an age when lines are blurring between reporters and teams.

 

That is a legitimate discussion. But it’s obscured by the Mets complete bungling of the situation.

 

The Yankees do mystique and aura. The Mets do strange and stupid.

 

Because they’re owned by the Wilpons. Is it any wonder that Bernie Madoff managed to con this family? With the Wilpons, he’s just one in a long line.

 

You can put Minaya in that group too. For Minaya clearly showed he’s incapable of leading a major organization with the way he reacted to the stress of firing a friend. Even if everything Minaya coldly insinuated about Rubin is true, there’s no reason to broach it while firing a guy who screamed himself out of a job.

 

And if a Wilpon told Minaya to do it, he needed to say no.

 

This isn’t lying about not needing or wanting Manny Ramirez. This is directly attacking an average guy’s ability to do his job. At the very least, Minaya effectively kicked a reporter off the Mets’ beat who broke stories that embarrassed the team.

 

In an era where Minneapolis Star Tribune beat writer Chris Snow went from covering the Minnesota Wild to joining the team’s front office, questions about reporters making a play for employment are legit.

 

But as usual, the Mets handled it all wrong. You don’t martyr yourself for Tony Bernazard, the shirtless lunatic.

 

Unless you’re led by those spooked Wilpons.

 

This is what a real mess looks like. Maclin and the Eagles aren’t even close to that—no matter how far apart they stay at the bargaining table.

 

You don’t lose sleep over a bit piece. And that’s all Jeremy Maclin will likely be in his rookie year.

What Would Jason Do?: NFL Edition

Round 2: Roger Goodell

 

How do I begin?

We’ll start with this.  I apologize Mr. Goodell.  I can honestly say that there is no other person in the business of sports that I admire more for what he has already done.  From holding players and coaches accountable for their actions, to summitting mountains in the name of charity, you are truly epitomizing your position.

That said, I have a bone or two to pick with you.

I need someone to explain to me why a rookie quarterback deserves a $72 million contract with $41 million guaranteed.

I need someone to explain to me why JaMarcus Russell, an unproven commodity felt that he could hold out through training camps, OTAs, minicamp, etc.

I need someone to explain to me why I’m watching players, who do something they love for a living, while making more money by age 24 than I will, um…ever, miss activities important to the health of our teams.

Why is this happening?

Why is there so much scrutiny over taking a skill position first overall?

 

And then, the answer.

Let’s say you go to Vegas.  You walk up to the craps table.  You have $1,000 or so dollars to gamble with as you see fit.  Are you going to lay a $100 bet on the pass line?

If you do, you’re an idiot.  That’s not a gamble worth making.

Just as$41  million to Stafford.

Just as $31 million to Russell.

Just as, even, $35 million to Ryan.

 

And then, the solution.

Predetermined contracts.

-After all, I was an honor student in middle school, not so much in high school (I found “fun”). Point being: Transition is tough to estimate.

 

So you went in the first round, good for you, here’s your choices:

A: 5 yrs – $30 mil, $12m guaranteed

B: 3 yrs – $20 mil, $8m guaranteed

C: 1 yr – $10 mil, $4m guaranteed

Now you make adjustments for each round, and you say, again, these are your choices.

I know which Stafford would pick.

I know which Sanchez would pick.

Truth be told, and I’m sorry if you disagree, this is the fairest way for both sides.

 

I’ll cut to the chase on another point: Let Vick play.

Now, you’ll find no one that thinks the dogfighting was more disgusting than I.  On top of that, this was a man who was caught with pot in an airport, flipped off his fans, etc…

But he did his time, now it’s benefit of the doubt time.  Continue with Dungy mentoring, and tell him—one more shot.  One more mistake. One parking ticket.

You’re done.

See, Roger, there’s a time to be tough.  There’s a time to punish people.  There’s a time to reinforce the fact that to play in the NFL is a privilege.

And then there’s a time to give a man the benefit of the doubt based on time served.

Same goes with Plax.

Same will go with Stallworth next year.

Just not Pacman Jones—that’s an example of too many opportunities.  Let him be UFL fodder.

 

And lastly, after a touchdown, players are fined for throwing the ball into the stands. 

They should be encouraged to.

Fix that, too.

 

-J

No Man Better for the Job : Why Kyle Orton Will Excel for the Denver Broncos

Let’s clear the air.

Brandon Marshall will stay in Denver.

At least this year.

Now, with that being said, let’s focus on Kyle Orton, the man traded from the Bears to the Broncos for Jay Cutler.

With all the Cutler talk that has been going on, it’s time we focus on the other side of the trade and the man who will lead Denver into the playoffs, and put them in contention once again to win the AFC West.

Before people begin to list Orton’s NFL statistics with the Chicago Bears, let’s address them.

2005 (Rookie Year): 51.6 percent completion, 1,869 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He started 15 games for the Bears, leading them to a 10-5 record before he was replaced for former first round draft pick Rex Grossman. Minus a five interception game against the Cincinatti Bengals, a decent rookie season for a fourth round pick out of Purdue.

2006: Chicago decided to sign free agent Brian Griese, demoting Orton to third string. Grossman “led” the team to the Super Bowl, but poor performances both during the regular season and post season, led to him being replaced in 2007 by Griese, and then Orton.

2007: Orton played in the final three games of the season, in his debut he was 22-38 for 184 yards and one interception. He ended the year with 478 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He improved upon his 51.6 completion percentage to 53.8 percent.

2008: Kyle was named the starter, out right. He started 15 games, completing 58.5 percent of his passes for 2,972 yards 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

These may seem like mediocre numbers at best to many critics and skeptics out there, but the Bears, for the past four years have not only lacked a premiere quarterback, but a starting wide receiver as well; at least when Orton was at the helm.

In 2005, Muhsin Muhammed led the team with 64 receptions for 750 yards and four touchdowns. Behind him was Justin Gage with 31 receptions for 346 yards and two touchdowns. The third leading receiver?

Running back Thomas Jones.

In 2008, rookie running back Matt Forte was the team’s leading receiver with 63 receptions for 477 yards and four touchdowns. Tight end Greg Olson was the second leading man with 54 receptions, 574 yards and five touchdowns.

Lastly, was return man-converted-to-wide-receiver, Devin Hester with 51 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2008 for the Broncos, Brandon Marshall had 104 receptions for 1265 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rookie Eddie Royal had 91 catches for 980 yards and five touchdowns.

After him was slot receiver Brandon Stokley with 49 grabs for 528 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Tony Scheffler rounded out the group with 41 receptions for 645 yards and three touchdowns.

Last time I checked, all four of these men were still in Denver (no matter how hard one wants to get out).

With that being said let us travel back to 2005, when a college senior from Altoona, Iowa was preparing to enter the NFL Draft.

Coming out of Purdue, Orton was one of the nation’s best passers.

A preseason All-American, rated the third best quarterback in the nation by Phil Steele, he was considered by The Sporting News to be the preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and was touted to be the Most Accurate Passer, have the Strongest Arm, and be “Coolest in the Clutch” in the Big Ten by Lindy’s Sports.

In his final game as a quarterback, Orton threw for 522 yards, tying a record held by a former Boilermaker QB, Drew Brees. Needless to say, Orton was in good company. He ended his career with 9,337 yards, with 63 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions.

Every scout praised Orton for his accuracy:

“does not make many mistakes with the ball, and is accurate in most areas..”-Len Pasquarelli

“…can fit the ball into some tight spots in coverage. Shows excellent touch and accuracy when throwing vertically…”-ESPN Draft Tracker

Yet, they all criticized him for the same thing as well, slow delivery and his lack of experience in a pro-style offense:

“Elongated delivery is a big concern. He needs to improve his mechanics by getting the ball up and quickening his delivery…is he a bit of a system quarterback?”-Draft Tracker

“Played in a quarterback-friendly offense, often works out from the shotgun, and lacks top-shelf arm strength. Has an elongated throwing motion, and throws sidearm way too often…”-Len Pasquarelli

As Aaron Rodgers can attest, when scouts begin to knock your throwing motion, your stock falls.

So he was drafted in the fourth round, and has done nothing, besides get better since he entered the league. 

He led the team to a 10-5 record as a rookie, and was wrongly benched.

Then came back in 2008 and led the Bears to a 9-7 record without a number one receiver.

He improved his completion percentage from 2005 by nearly six percent in 2008, and in the last three games of the season Orton completed 71 of 109 passes for 903 yards with five touchdowns, no interceptions and a 106.2 passer rating.

That’s a 65.1 completion percentage.

The comparison may be unfair, but it took his predecessor Drew Brees, three years before he cemented his place as a good, if not great quarterback in the NFL.

Is it fair to say that by Orton’s eight or ninth year in the league he’ll be throwing for 5,000 yards in Denver?

Probably not.

But I think Orton is wrongly perceived by the media, and possibly Broncos’s faithful. He is not a conservative, dink and dunk passer. You don’t throw for 522 yards by throwing screens, and you don’t throw for nearly 10,000 yards in three years by throwing ten yard out patterns.

Orton is a gunslinger, do not underestimate him.

Just give him the weapons he needs, e.g. Marshall, Royal, Stokley, Schleffler.

Denver fans, if you were worried about Kyle Orton, you need not be.

In Illinois we have a theory; when a player leaves a Chicago team, he naturally gets better.

Just sit back and enjoy watching Orton get better Bronco fans.

To encourage thought here’s one more statistic:

He’s 21-13 as a starter, Cutler was 17-20.

As Fans, Should We Let Vick Back In?

As far as the NFL is officially concerned, Michael Vick is allowed to resume his career as a professional football player. Roger Goodell has set the terms including a suspension and the assignment of a mentor (Tony Dungy). Teams are free to contact him, evaluate him, and ultimately sign him.

But as a fan—as a society—should we let Michael Vick back in? Should we support a franchise’s decision to bring him into camp, or should we protest it?

Professional athletes are role models for our children and they are idolized in our society (justifiably or not). Do we want someone who has engaged in dog fighting, or any other serious criminal activity, to achieve such status?

But we can’t forget: we live in a free and capitalist country. If an organization decides to invest in someone, and there is no restrictions placed on that person, it is free to do so.  This is both under the NFL’s terms and in terms of US law.

From Vick’s perspective, “professional football player” is the only thing Vick has on his resume, so telling him he free to the pursuit of happiness and then telling him he is not, however, free to play professional football, would be a contradiction. We simply don’t have a right to prevent him from playing football to earn a paycheck.

The NFL has this power—within it’s closed-circuit socialist regime—by blacklisting him, but there are other professional football leagues (CFL, UFL) where he can make a living (albeit he won’t make as much).

Losing Vick to another league isn’t in the best interest of the NFL, and even with the special status sports leagues are given to rule over their constituents, it’s gray whether the NFL would be violating Vick’s constitutional rights by banning him after he had paid back his debt to society.

What it really comes down to is how NFL franchises forecast the local and national public reaction to a Vick signing but some organization is going to play the Guinea pig with this one.

In some places it will play better than others, but certainly the more teams show interest in Vick the more comfortable we’ll all get with the idea. So time is in Vick’s corner right now.

And what then? Do we turn our backs on a franchise we’ve supported all of our lives? Or do we stomach the national scorn that will persist for at least a couple of seasons, maybe longer—especially if he wins?

How would the average fan react?

If history serves us, this will not be a really big story in 2010 either way, and teams know that. Ultimately, we’ll get used to the idea and this will lose it’s relevance.

Washington Redskins’ Key Position Battles

With training camp starting tomorrow (or today, since it’s after midnight), it’s time to look at the Redskins’ preseason position battles.

There will be several key battles that will help determine how the season turns out, so you can be sure the coaches will not take them lightly, and neither will the media. The attention given to some of these battles over the course of training camp will be covered constantly.

There was some talk about the Redskins signing Michael Vick, and then having him and Jason Campbell battle it out for the starting job. However, Jim Zorn quelled those rumors very quickly. I don’t know why signing Vick even came up, because constantly second guessing your franchise QB who has performed reasonably well in the tough NFC East is stupid. Also, Campbell is better than Vick, especially after his extended prison stay.

The rosters cut down to 75 players on September 1st and to 53 on September 5th, so these positions will be set by then.

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