New York Jets & NFL Should Stop Selling Sex

Half of the Jets’ four preseason games (Aug. 14 vs. the Rams and Sept. 3 vs. the Eagles) will be televised in the metropolitan New York area on WCBS-TV. That means Samantha Ryan, the station’s attractive sports anchor, will again be “reporting” from the sidelines.

 

You see women on the sidelines now on almost every football telecast, telling us the status of an injured player, interviewing an athlete’s parents in the stands, questioning a coach at halftime who just wants to get into the locker room, or demonstrating a firm grasp of the obvious:

 

“The Bills are down 24-0 in the fourth quarter, and the players are just so depressed down here on the sideline. Guys with their heads down. No emotion. No life. They just look totally beaten. Back to you in the booth.”

 

Sideline reporting has become a way to showcase pretty women on men’s sports events where they weren’t seen before. But is the job is unnecessary?

 

CBS admits as much once the regular season begins because it doesn’t use sideline reporters on NFL games. Instead, the announcers in the booth tell us about injured players and conduct post-game interviews.

 

Sideline reporters make news only when something embarrassing happens.

 

During a Jets-Patriots game on Dec. 20, 2003, ESPN put a clearly intoxicated Joe Namath on the air only to have him tell sideline reporter Suzy Kolber, “I want to kiss you.”

 

Because of a needless sideline interview, the greatest player in Jets history thoroughly humiliated himself on national television.

 

And remember the Monday Night Football debut of Lisa Guerrero in 2003? Guerrero, who went from modeling lingerie for FHM magazine to imitating a journalist, confused Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsay with Jets quarterback Chad Pennington during a postgame interview.

 

Before an NFL game last season, comely Fox sideline reporter Danyelle Sargent asked 49ers coach Mike Singletary in a taped interview about a phone call he had received days earlier from coaching mentor Bill Walsh.

 

The problem: Bill Walsh is dead. She meant Mike Ditka, although she probably didn’t know the difference. The interview never went on the air.

 

Now, ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews is in the news because of a videotape, apparently shot through a peephole, showing her nude in a hotel room.

 

Despite all of her victories in Internet “Sexiest Sportscaster” polls, Andrews has not made one truly insightful or knowledgeable comment about sports on any network telecast. She is eye candy, nothing more.

 

And the existence of an X-rated video of her is not surprising. Sometimes, the aggressive selling of eye candy will compel someone to try to break into the store.

 

Unfortunately, every network that televises football, and every NFL team, is selling sex when the game itself used to be enough.

 

Why, for instance, do the Jets have an ad promoting their cheerleaders’ “Flight Crew” Swimsuit Calendar at the top of their Web site?

 

Why are busty, scantily clad “cheerleaders” on NFL sidelines at all? What message are the NFL and its TV partners sending?

 

A man can be obese, bald, wrinkled or all of the above and still get a job broadcasting football. But for a woman to get a high-profile gig at an NFL game she has to look like she interned inside the pages of Maxim.

 

If the TV networks want to groom women to work as studio hosts during NFL games, fine. If they want to hire women to do play-by-play (like Pam Ward of ESPN, who does college football), fine.

 

But don’t distract viewers with sideline reporters who couldn’t pass a football IQ test.

 

Stop pushing eye candy as if it were virtual crack and just give us football.

 

What Will Mewelde Moore’s Impact Be In 2009?

Last season, the two Steelers coveted backs, a guy with a track record in Willie Parker and a rookie who played with Darren McFadden in Rashard Mendenhall both missed time with injuries. That paved the way for an older guy with experience as a backup running back- Mewelde Moore.

As training camp approaches, I am curious if Parker and Mendenhall can stay healthy for a full season. If they do, I think this team has already written it’s ticket for a division title because now that Fred Taylor is on the Patriots, there really isn’t a better running back combination in the league except for down in Charlotte where DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart challenge the Steelers. But, the bottom line is, the Panthers didn’t win a super bowl last season.

However, where will that put Moore, who was the only Steelers back to play in all 16 games last season? He had a very solid season for a backup with nearly 600 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.

I have a lot more confidence in him right now then I do in Mendenhall. In fact, I bet you’d never guess Moore has played in 16 games 3 times in his 5 year NFL career. He’s been very reliable.

But how reliable will he be this year, assuming Mendenhall can stay healthy and play more than four games? This is an interesting case on Pittsburgh with three running backs who all can get viable shots at racking up numbers this year, assuming Parker misses a couple of games to get Moore and Mendenhall in for some snaps.

Cleveland Browns Rookies Have Reported, But Their Top Four Have Not Yet Signed

Written by Daniel Wolf

Article originally posted on Dawg Scooper: An Unofficial Cleveland Browns News Source

NFL football has officially started in Cleveland.

Well kind of.

The Cleveland Browns may have finished last in the AFC North in 2008 but they are the first team to begin training camp in 2009 with their rookies reporting to camp on Friday.

All other players are to report to camp on August 1st for the first official day of Browns training camp as an entire team.

The problem with the rookies reporting is that not all of them are signed to contracts and unless they have signed, then they cannot report.

Of the rookies that have been signed and have reported are all of the second day picks: LB Kaluka Maiava, CB Coye Francies, CB Don Carey and RB James Davis.

The most notable rookies that have not signed are all of the teams first day selections which are: C Alex Mack, WR Brian Robiskie, WR Mohamed Massaquoi and DE/LB David Veikune.

Reports out of the Browns training facility have said that Mack is currently in Cleveland and trying to work out his deal so that he will be able to practice with the other signed rookies. Rumors state that the only thing keeping Mack from signing on the dotted line is the amount of guaranteed money involved.

Also, the Browns have also reported that negotiations with Robiskie, Massaquoi and Veikune have not gone well at all and are at a stand still.

Not good.

The Browns need to get all of their rookies signed immediately because they will only help the team in 2009, especially Mack and Robiskie, who are already being projected as starters come opening day against the Minnesota Vikings.

Fans will have to hope and pray that the team can get all of its rookies signed in time for the entire teams first practice at 8:45AM on August 1.

If the Browns know what’s good for them, then they will have their negotiators work 24 hour shifts in order to get these guys signed in time because if they cannot then that may be a sign of what’s to come in 2009.

 

 

 

Life Without Johnson: Can The Eagles Continue Their Top 3 “D” in ’09?

Jim Johnson left the team a few months back indefinitely due to his cancer treatment. It now looks like he has hung up the defensive coordinator hat for good. We all wish him the best of luck with his ongoing treatment and hope for the best.

However, the football season is coming ever closer and the loss of a top 5 defensive coordinator could change the outlook of the entire season for Philadelphia.

In 2008 the Eagles were:

4th in the league for stopping the run.

3rd in the league for stopping the pass.

3rd overall for defense in the NFL.

How can they continue this without the beloved Brian Dawkins? How can they keep up the pressure they put on offenses without Jim Johnson at the helm?

In steps Sean McDermott.

McDermott has the credentials, he was the linebacker coach in 2007 and was the secondary coach in 2008. 2009 he is the defensive coordinator.

For one, he has a reasonably young defense. They have a very young MLB and no solid leader at safety, yet. Quentin Mikell has reportedly been saying he will become the leader in the coming season, but I see Asante Samuel to be the one stepping up.

Two, the Eagles are still going to run Johnson’s defense. Johnson would be very fluent with this playbook, showing he made it, and McDermott needs to step up and fill some big shoes.

Johnson made the Eagles known for their unique blitzes.

Well hidden and hard hitting.

The Eagles’ defense is very scheme orientated and there is a huge question hanging over McDermott’s ability to run and fully understand it.

Andy Reid says he has “full confidence” in McDermott running this defense, and to be honest, I don’t share his confidence.

McDermott has been around long enough to see this team develop and this defense turn into one of the greatest in the NFL, but without leaders like Dawkins, he could have trouble keeping this defense where it was at the end of last year.

But, Andy Reid could be making a great move.

McDermott could be great. He has been around for a long while and he obviously knows how to play the game. He has trained the secondary to grab all of the interceptions they did, and he has taught the linebackers how to wrap up a Brandon Jacobs or Marion Barber so very well.

Who is to say he can’t just step in and fill the gaping hole left by Johnson?

Who is to say he won’t bring the team to number one?

I heard a reporter from NFL.com say “I can go onto the Internet and find a recipe and I can make it, but that doesn’t mean I know how to make it well.” McDermott has a very good recipe on his hands, filled with corner and safety blitzes, smothered with Cover 1 plays, and sprinkled on top with a touch of all out zone coverage.

But can McDermott make the cake?

The Ben Roethlisberger Allegations From A Female Perspective

When Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger began his meteroric rise to stardom in 2004, I was on the bandwagon. I got his jersey for Christmas and wore it proudly, rooted for him, cheered when he got his first Super Bowl. When he had his motorcycle accident in 2006 you would have thought I knew him personally with the flood of e-mails I got. His bobblehead is among my collection on my office desk.

At the same time, though, I never thought he was “Big Ben Godsend” as the famous fan banner at Heinz Field reads. There were those that whispered that he didn’t go top ten in the draft due to some heavy partying at Miami of Ohio. 

A friend of mine who was attending the University of Pittsburgh told me of seeing him at popular college bars, confirmed by the infamous pictures at a bar called Halo that were splashed all over the place. Some said he was rude, threw his celebrity about, and was crude when it came to women.

At the same time he was on TV, pointing to the sky after throwing touchdowns, talking about his relationship with the Lord, portraying himself as just a small town kid from Ohio made good while a diamond-paved platinum cross worthy of a rapper hung around his neck.  I shrugged.  Not the first case of athlete hipocrisy, not the last, either.

When news of the civil suit filed against Roethlisberger accusing him of sexual assault surfaced this week, I was not at all surprised that the misogynists immediately came out to play all over the internet.  If I had a dollar for every time I read the words “slut,” “whore,” “gold digger” and “b***h” in connection with Andrea McNulty’s name I’d be a millionaire.  What made it worse was that there were women writing these words as well.

And then there was “why would he rape her, she’s not even pretty” and “he could have done way better than her.” It’s times like this when I wish the internet was only accessible to those who have higher level IQs because the ignorance is astounding.  Sexual assault is not about sex, but about power. If looks played a part in it, why do children and the elderly get raped, hmm?

By all accounts Andrea McNulty was on a fast career path at Harrah’s, rising into a position that paid six figures.  That might be chump change in Manhattan or L.A. but not Nevada.  Because of Harrah’s convoluted security rules she had to report the incident to the chief security officer before calling 911… and he dismissed it. 

The Reno Journal-Gazette ran an interesting timeline of the events as McNulty reported them.  Somehow to me that doesn’t read like someone who was only interested in money.

I know that women have falsely cried rape in the past, which disgusts me because it makes it that much harder for real victims to get justice. Andrea McNulty had to have known that the second she went public with this that her life would be dragged through the mud of the media and public opinion. 

I don’t know if her story is true or false, that’s for the courts to decide. When I saw Roethlisberger’s press conference, however, something struck me—he said he never assaulted McNulty.  He did not say he didn’t have sex with her.

Sexual assault doesn’t have to involve blood, broken bones and bruises. It can be a man deciding that a short skirt, a low-cut top, a drunken dance or a chat about fly fishing means a woman wants it and he should take it regardless of her feelings. 

To those who call Andrea McNulty names, consider how you’d feel if a woman you love told you that this happened to her. Would you be so quick to condemn her then?

Brandon Marshall’s No. 15 Should Be Replaced by Tim Tebow

There is still another football season to be played before any of us fans begin to think about the NFL Draft, but the news of a three day extension of the greatest event of the NFL season (unless of course your team competes for the Lombardi Trophy in February) got me thinking.

Brandon Marshall, the Denver Broncos’ star wide receiver, has requested a trade.  He has gone public via Twitter and his “official” website as saying “change is best”. 

While this act is cute and all, the Broncos fully expect Marshall to show up for training camp next Friday, and he plans on doing so also, much to his chagrin.

When asked whether or not Marshall would be wearing number 15 for the Denver Broncos in 2009, Marshall responded with a smile, “I’ll be wearing number 15.”

Truth be told, those five words were enough to set off many, if not all Denver Bronco fans. 

The gloves are off.

On multiple occasions, I have met Marshall, and I can say first hand that he is a class act to the fans of the Denver Broncos.  He is always willing to sign extra autographs, take pictures, and despite his off-field issues, I feel Marshall is a good person at heart, or at least wants to be.

The fact remains that Marshall has yet to prove that he can be a reliable citizen, much less a dependable employee and superstar athlete.

So why do the Broncos not unload him?

The first answer that comes to mind is because they do not have any desire to.

Marshall is undoubtedly a top-10 receiver in this league.  He is an absolute beast with the ball in his hands, and no player has been thrown to more times over the last two seasons. 

Another reason?

Marshall has only one year left on his rookie contract, and in 2009, he is going to come at an outstandingly reasonable price.  That being said, how diminished will his trade value be since the team potentially getting him will not be guaranteed more than a one year rental?

Yet another road bump in any potential Marshall trade is his recent hip injury, which he has yet to fully recover from. 

Do not forget about Marshall’s legal history, as well as pending case in mid-August.

So what can the Broncos really get in return for an injured, legally troubled rental of a wide receiver who claimed he was “nowhere near” as fast as the great Larry Fitzgerald at a recent workout session?

The answer to that, my friends, is “not a whole heck of a lot”, which is why I have a proposition for Broncos fans and critics alike.

As you can see by simply viewing the article’s photo, the crux of this rant is Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, arguably the greatest player to ever grace a college football field.

I propose that the Denver Broncos keep Brandon Marshall for 2009, franchise tag him in 2010, trade him, and draft Tebow.

I cannot think of a better player to replace the number 15 jersey in my closet at the current moment.

Tebow has been absolutely hammered by NFL scouts, many saying he is not going to be a good fit for the NFL.  One Todd McShay predicted him as a second day pick at best.

I would like to use this space to say right now that Tim Tebow will be a superb NFL quarterback, just like I think Tyler Hansbrough will be one of the most consistent power forwards in the NBA for the next decade.

Like Hansbrough, Tebow is supposedly not fit to excel at the next level.

Alright, so there is a flaw in that reasoning.  The NBA is not even close to being similar to the NFL, but Tebow and Hansbrough have strikingly similar backgrounds. 

Both are considered to be the best or among the best in their respective sports, both have championship experience, great coaching, and both are hard working, high character student athletes.

If there is one thing I have learned from Josh McDaniels this offseason, it is that he values leadership and the “team” concept more than he does any single player.

Is Tim Tebow not the poster child to represent that description?

Tebow is a Heisman Trophy recipient, and a two-time BCS National Champion.  He has won nearly every accolade or personal achievement any player at the collegiate level could possibly receive.

To boot, he is the ideal size for an NFL quarterback at 6’3″ 240 pounds.

Tebow is the only player in FBS history to throw and rush for 20 touchdowns in the same season, but he is far from being only a “scrambling” quarterback.

Over the last two seasons, Tebow has thrown 62 touchdown passes to only 10 interceptions.  That is better than a six-to-one ratio, for those keeping track at home.

While this is simply a pipe dream, I cannot get the thought out of my head.

Out with the old, and in with the new has been a theme this offseason for the Broncos, and the new management has fans excited about possibly serving delicious crow to the main-stream media.

I could not think of a better way to serve it than ice cold.

The Atlanta Falcons: A Franchise Built on Losing

What’s going to stop the Atlanta Falcons from a winning season in 2009? Something – that’s a given. Back-to-back winning seasons aren’t anything this franchise wants any part of. The trend of losing goes back to the team’s beginnings in 1966, but a look at Atlanta’s recent history offers the team no hope whatsoever this season.

 

Let’s start with 1999. The “Dirty Birds” were coming off their only Super Bowl appearance via what I like to call “The Fluke at the Metrodome,” a ridiculous win over the 16-1 Vikings they had no business winning, as they would later prove in a lopsided loss to the Broncos in the Super Bowl. But with a 14-2 regular season finish in ’98, the expectations were high for the new season.

 

So what happened? Jamal Anderson, the workhorse running back who set an NFL record for carries in a season, tears his ACL in the second game of the season after a long preseason holdout due to a contract dispute. Bye-bye birdies, enjoy your 5-11 record.

 

Atlanta wouldn’t see another winning season until 2002, when they went 9-6, backed into the playoffs and beat Green Bay in a Wild Card game to give the Packers their first ever playoff loss at Lambeau Field. The Birds appeared to be a team on the rise with young quarterback Michael Vick, so what would 2003 bring?

 

Absolutely nothing. Vick broke his leg in a preseason game and missed 11 regular season games and Atlanta finished 5-11.

 

Then there was 2004. The Falcons finished with an 11-5 record, won the NFC South division title and earned a trip to the NFC Championship game. That’s some serious momentum right there. Bring on 2005.

 

Oh wait, never mind. The Falcons finished 8-8 and the steady decline of Vick begins until it ends with him in a federal penitentiary.

 

That brings us to 2008’s 11-5 record for the revamped Birds. Consider the team’s success a total fluke thanks to a weak schedule and a once-in-a-decade draft pick in Matt Ryan. The team couldn’t even take advantage of the lowly Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, losing to the 9-7 team that ended up in the Super Bowl.

 

What will 2009 hold for Atlanta? Well, for starters, the league’s third toughest schedule. One can only imagine what other horrible things will happen to the Falcons this year to prevent a winning season. But I’ll go ahead and be the one to imagine…

 

Ryan’s grand theft auto ring gets exposed after his cousin is pulled over in a stolen car with meth in it. Coach Mike Smith leaves the team in the middle of the night to accept the head coaching job at the University of Georgia. Finally, Tony Gonzalez retires to pursue “Dancing with the Stars.”

 

And that’s exactly how it’s going to go down. The Falcons aren’t going to have a winning season. In fact, they’ll match Detroit’s 0-16 record.

Why The NFL’s Stance Against Gambling Is Complete BS

In case you’ve missed it, the state of Delaware legalized sports gambling.  The state is hoping to raise revenue through sports gambling by allowing betting on single games in all of the major sports leagues as well as on college sports.

Delaware would basically become a giant sports book.  This is possible because the state previously had legalized sports gambling in 1979 when it ran a football “lottery.”  This so-called lottery was in actuality parlay cards and were only played on NFL games.  Due to various factors, Delaware’s original sports lottery lasted only a few short weeks before it was shut down.

When Congress passed a law outlawing sports gambling nationwide in 1992, it “grandfathered” in four states – Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon – all of which had previously legalized some form of sports wagering.

Now due to the economic slump the state is in, Delaware believes returning to sports wagering will bring in millions of dollars to the suffering state.  And professional sports are not happy about it.

The four major leagues – NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB – along with the NCAA has filed suit against the state attempting to stop the institution of this sports wagering plan.

The suit states that Delaware’s plan “”would irreparably harm professional and amateur sports by fostering suspicion and skepticism that individual plays and final scores of games may have been influenced by factors other than honest athletic competition.”

While that sounds all well and good to the public, the fact is even without legalized sports gambling, professional sports has a history of game fixing dating back to the mid-1800s (yes, the 1800s) which continues to this very day.

Also, a huge majority of current sports wagering is conducted illegally and through underground bookies, most of which are connected to organized crime.  While no one knows for certain how much is being wagered illegally, the best estimates reach into the hundreds of billions of dollars a year. 

Since the mid-1960s, the NFL has always publicly been against any form of wagering on its games, citing a similar stance taken to the one in the current lawsuit against Delaware.

But despite this public stance, the NFL knows full well that gambling on its games is what keeps the league both in the public’s eye and profitable. 

BS, you say?  Read on.

Some gambling experts believe over a billion dollars is illegally wagered on NFL games alone during its regular season.  That number rises during the playoffs.

Those people betting are also watching the games.  In fact, most “fans” need some sort of “action” on the game to “enhance” the enjoyment of it.  Be it a friendly wager, a strip card, some squares, an office pool, a parlay card, or a bet with a bookie, people are gambling.  How many of you do the same?

Furthermore, the NFL clearly plays into this gambling habit its fans have.  Why do you think the NFL’s injury report even exists?  It isn’t used by opposing coaches to determine the other guy’s weaknesses.  It was specifically created in the 1950s for gamblers.

“Inside information” on injuries (much like the info NBA ref Tim Donaghy had access to and used successfully to win over 80% of his wagers) gave an informed bettor a distinct advantage.  And during the 50s and 60s, when numerous NFL players were themselves wagering on games or working hand in hand with gamblers who wagered for them, injuries were an important factor on were their money was laid down.

The NFL’s injury report was created to combat this.  It continues to exist strictly for gamblers to use.

The NFL also maintains close contact with members of several Las Vegas sports books to monitor how their games are being bet and if there are any unusual fluctuations in the line.   Though it rarely happens today due to the high volume of money bet, in the past games would often be taken off the boards because of suspected “oddities” in the wagers coming in.  The thought was, these games were probably fixed.

And while that fact feeds into why the NFL publicly doesn’t want sports gambling legalized, in all likelihood, illegal wagering – the unregulated kind – actually adds to the possibility of game fixing more than legal gambling does.  With no one entity montioring these bettors or their bets, no one would know if things were looking “fishy” prior to kickoff.

Perhaps the most popular form of gambling isn’t considered gambling at all by the NFL.  And that is fantasy football.

From personal experience, I have not been in a fantasy football league where money wasn’t “awarded” to the league’s champion.  That, my friends, is gambling.  Yet due to the fact that the NFL cannot tell what each and every fantasy league out there is up to, they have plausible deniability against aiding in everyone’s gambling…I mean, fantasy league.

The NFL openly encourages fantasy football.  They allow leagues to be run on their own website.  And I cannot believe they do not realize money is on the line in most, if not all, of those leagues.  Yet at the same time, the NFL knows that fantasy football has aided in the league’s popularity and in turn upped ratings and thus its profit.

So while the league takes an anti-gambling stance on every occasion, this is nothing but good PR.  The truth is, the history and success of the NFL is tied directly to both the rise of gambling (especially the advent of the betting line) and television.  In fact, all of sports television’s rise to prominence is linked to gambling.  (For those interested, these links will be further explained in my book.  See my author page for more.)

The NFL realizes an active gambler is an avid watcher.  And that is what the league craves more than anything.  In all probability, if the NFL could figure out a way in which they could run their own sports book, they would take bets on their games without blinking an eye. 

But if the NFL can’t profit off of gambling, then they are willing to take the stance against it, simply to appear to want everything on the up-and-up. 

But the league knows the truth all too well:  gambling, no matter the form it takes, makes the NFL the sporting powerhouse it is. 

Steelers’ Position Battle No. 4: Limas Sweed Vs. Shaun McDonald Vs. Mike Wallace

There is really only one position battle entering Steelers camp that has intriguing depth, important future implications, immediate consequences and undeniable fan attention.

The open competition for all 3 non-starting Wide Receiver spots should be the most intense competition in training camp. It also might have the largest effect on the team.

The last time the Steelers lost a key pass catcher was after Super Bowl XL when Antwaan Randle El left for a big contract in Washington.

His shoes were filled by veteran free agent pickup Cedric Wilson, unexpected up-and-comer Nate Washington, and speedy rookie Santonio Holmes. While Randle El’s presence was still missed the Steelers made smart choices regarding their pass catchers and the result was another Super Bowl.  

Now that Washington has once again exceeded expectations, Pittsburgh is stuck in a familiar spot: five Wide Receiver Spots and only two of them filled.

This time around the three players who need to fill some shoes are veteran free agent pick-up Shaun McDonald, the promising but worry-some Limas Sweed, and the speedy rookie Mike Wallace.

Sounds kind of familiar.

But the question remains, can the 2009 group of pass-catchers follow the example of their 2005 predecessors?

Just like former first round pick Holmes, 2008’s second-round selection Limas Sweed is garnering the most fan interest.

The 6’4” Sweed, a former Texas Longhorn, was highly touted after being selected 53rd overall. While most fans expected Sweed to be the long-awaited replacement for the tall but often incompetent Plaxico Burress, his performance paled in comparison, catching only 6 balls for 63 yards in his rookie season.

Sweed caped off the disappointment by dropping the most important pass of his career, in the AFC championship game against that Baltimore Ravens.

Still, Sweed is incredibly gifted and although disappointing at times he showed some flashes of brilliance in his first year as well. Also, coaches and peers alike say that Sweed has improved greatly from year one to year two.

The organization, along with the fans, hopes and expects Sweed to be the solution as the teams slot receiver. He is the tall target Ben Roethlisberger has been asking for and Pittsburgh would rather not have wasted their money and pick on someone who can’t even play the slot position.

If Sweed disappoints, or even if he doesn’t, seven-year veteran Shaun McDonald could make his performance significantly less important.

McDonald’s career statistics are both confusing and inconsistent.  2006 found him catching only 13 passes for only 136 yards and one touchdown, while the very next year showed him to be a receiver of great skill as he amassed 79 receptions, 943 yards, and six scores.

The possible reasons for these fluctuations are many, ranging from mere chance to organizational problems, and also rather speculative in nature. What is not speculative is his potential to be a valuable and productive slot receiver.

The former Detroit Lion and St. Louis Ram is a veteran who although possibly inconsistent is still proven while retaining an element of upside. If he can perform anywhere close to his 2007 self he will dwarf the need for Sweed and make Pittsburgh fans forget all about Nate Washington.

Sweed and McDonald are both question marks to a degree but the true x-factor in this three-way battle is rookie Mike Wallace.

Wallace, a third-round selection out of Ole Miss, has been added to the team to be a deep threat with average expectations but great potential. As quite easily the least experienced and largest unknown of the group Wallace could sink, swim, or merely float along in his rookie year. 

As the second fasted receiver in the 2009 combine and the leader in yards per catch average in the SEC in 2007 Wallace has a knack for the big play but big plays are not enough to with the slot or fourth WR spot for the Steelers.

Consistency is the key to life in this battle, not just for Wallace but for all three pass catchers. Good hands, crisp routes, and dedication will win the job.

General football knowledge says the veteran McDonald will display those desired qualities but Sweed has the raw ability to dominate and enough untested ability to make him the favorite.

Green Bay Packers: All Quiet on The Tundra Front

The Chicago Bears made headlines this summer by trading for one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the league.

The Detroit Lions made headlines every time they signed a free agent because no one could believe anyone would willingly play for that franchise, no matter how many millions of dollars they’d be paid.

The Minnesota Vikings made headlines this summer by trading for a quarterback, adding a potential game-breaking rookie, and did I see something about Don Majkowski? Oh, it’s a different former Packers quarterback? Ok, sorry, I hadn’t heard.

In fact, the final team in the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers, have barely been involved in a headline that didn’t also involve what’s-his-name.

The point? That’s just fine.

Whether Brett Favre is in purple or jeans, Green Bay has the best offense in the division by a landslide. Sure, the Vikings have Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, but that offensive line is inconsistent and I wouldn’t trust those receivers to catch a cold if they were naked in a Minnesota winter.

The Lions offense is in absolute shambles outside of Calvin Johnson, who just might be the most purely talented player in the division (and I’m including AP in that discussion). Unfortunately for him, there’s no running game, a porous offensive line, and whether it’s Culpepper or Stafford, the quarterback play will be rough.

Jay Cutler changes conferences for Chicago, and that makes the backfield in the Windy City awfully scary, but you can’t throw to Devin Hester on a go-route every play. Greg Olsen is a capable option, but explosive? Hardly.

Green Bay has the best player at the most important position in football regardless of who is under center in Minneapolis. Aaron Rodgers should be even better this year with a healthy stable of receivers, two talented tight ends, and a deep backfield.

As good as the offense was last year in A-Rod’s first season (and it was good; they finished fifth in the league in points and eighth in both yards and passing), Greg Jennings is poised for a Pro Bowl season after getting a fat contract this summer, while Donald Driver continues to dip into the fountain of youth. Add in a healthy James Jones, and an experienced Jordy Nelson, and Green Bay again boasts one of the deepest, most talented receiving groups in football.

That brings us to other reason the Packers made news this offseason—the defense. Much has been written about the 3-4 defense, but ultimately, that change is overrated.

The NFL, like every professional sports league, is talent-driven. If you have the most talent and get a little lucky, you’re going to win, and you’re going to win a lot. The Packers have the best tandem of corners in the division, even at an advanced age. Add play-making nickel back Tramon Williams, and Pro-Bowler Nick Collins, and their secondary is as good as any in the NFC.

True enough, the linebackers are an enigma. The North is stacked with quality linebackers and even though the Packers will now play with four instead of three, it’s unclear what kind of an impact that will have on what has lately been a pathetic pass-rush.

The good news is that the other defenses in the league truly aren’t that much better, particularly against Green Bay. In fact, the Packers outscored the division 184-116 last season on their way to a 4-2 record in the North. 

The Lions aren’t really even worth mentioning because despite some cosmetic changes, the foundation of the Lions is shakier than…well, every other business in Detroit.

Minnesota’s defense played extremely well last season, but they certainly overachieved (not to mention, they could never stop the Packers, giving up 24 or more points in both meetings). Now, they may lose their “Williams wall” for the first four games of the year, which does include a visit from a certain nextdoor neighbor to the East.

Chicago’s defense has the best rep, at least recently, but their play-makers are getting older, and it remains to be seen how often they’ll be defending a short field given their new quarterback’s tendency to throw it to the opponent (only that Favre guy threw more to the wrong-colored jerseys in ’08).

No, Green Bay didn’t make any sexy moves in the offseason by bringing in a big-name player. They have big-name players at every key position, and even with the switch to the 3-4, having a serviceable defense that can get an important stop half the time is worth an extra 2-3 wins.

Add in a clean bill of health, and a little luck, and it looks like the Pack will be poised to grab headlines in 2009.

 

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