Buffalo Bills 2009 Training Camp: Five Players to Watch

The wait is over. Football is back.

Rejoice Bills’ fans, training camp starts today and Buffalo’s road to ending a decade-long playoff drought has begun.

So cover up those pools, put those golf clubs away, and dust off those jerseys because football is just around the corner. Finally, training camp is here.

Now that things are starting up for real, it’s time to get serious. No more putting an “x’” on the calendar to count down the days until the pads start popping.

With the guys out in the fun and sun of Rochester, N.Y., I decided to put together a list of five players I will be watching closely over the next couple of weeks.

There is not a set criteria for this list, they are just five players I find intriguing and guys I feel are worth keeping an eye on. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

Leodis McKelvin

I have been a McKelvin fan since his college days at Troy, and I thought the Bills made a smart move when they drafted the athletic corner/return man.

Cornerback is a little bit different than some other positions like running back, where rookies come right in and look like future Hall of Famers.

Corner is a position that is a little more complex and it requires a bit more thinking, so a player can’t rely solely on his God-given physical skills to succeed in his first year.

What I found encouraging from watching McKelvin last season was in my opinion he progressed as the year went on. To me, that sets up for McKelvin to have a very strong year as Buffalo’s starting corner in 2009.

Last year as a rookie coming out of Troy, my guess is McKelvin did too much thinking during training camp. He was digesting a huge NFL playbook and trying to avoid making a lot of mistakes that would draw the coaches’ ire.

Now with a year in the Bills’ defensive system under his belt, I expect McKelvin to be much more comfortable out on the field and let his physical ability take over.

Buffalo is looking for guys on the defensive side of the ball to make more plays I would like to see McKelvin start showing that kind of big-play ability right from training camp.

The Bills have a deep, talented group of corners but McKelvin has the upside to become the best of the bunch. I will be watching the second-year corner closely over the next month, because I honestly believe the sky is the limit for McKelvin.

Andy Levitre

Back when I ran the draft coverage for Patriots.com, I used to tell people it wasn’t fair for me to give them my opinion on 99 percent of offensive linemen that came out in the draft.

It has always been my contention that as a novice, offensive linemen are the hardest position for people like me to judge by just watching games.

Watch four quarters of a game. A majority of the time can you honestly tell me how well a center or guard played? If you can, perhaps you have a future in scouting.

I think with quarterbacks, running backs, etc. we see enough to form an educated opinion but when it comes to most offensive linemen, I believe one needs to see the coaches’ tape to really break down the position.

Some people disagree with me, but that’s my opinion.

But every now and then, a lineman comes along in the college game that is so dominant that he stands out all by himself. Andy Levitre was one of those players.

I saw eight Oregon State games live last season. By the third game I said to myself, “Who in the heck is this No. 66?”

It was Levitre. He was such a road grader in the running game, opening up holes for Beavers’ mighty mite running back Jacquizz Rogers, I couldn’t help but take notice.

It got to the point that by the end of the season, I was actually watching Levitre destroy the man in front of him instead of watching Rogers, the Pac 10’s Offensive Player of the Year, shake and bake his way to another big run.

I thought Oregon State had one of the best offensive lines in the country last season and Levitre was the leader of that group. He is a monster in the run game, which is why the Bills are moving him to guard.

Once Levitre got his hands on a defender in college and started driving forward, it was pretty much game, set, match. You rarely see a left tackle run block the way Levitre did last season for the Beavers. Again, that’s why the Bills are moving him inside to guard.

The other thing I really like about Levitre is he plays with a real mean streak. I lost count of how many times the whistle had blown and he was still going at it with an opposing defender, usually tossing him to the ground.

Like I said, I’m far from an offensive line guru, but I do believe Levitre has what it takes to beat out Kirk Chambers for the starting left guard job. I’m excited to watch him and chart his progress during training camp.

Chris Ellis

Who’s it going to be, guys? Aaron Schobel can’t do it alone. Buffalo needs someone else to step up and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Improving the pass rush is vital to the Bills’ success this season. Buffalo finished 28th in the NFL last year with just 24 sacks.

The Bills drafted Aaron Maybin with the 11th pick to help solve the problem. In a perfect world, Maybin will be a star from Day 1 and record 12 sacks as a rookie.

In a more realistic world, the former Penn State star will help contribute on passing downs and a rookie campaign with five or six sacks will be considered a success for a guy who weighed 235 pounds just six months ago.

So someone else needs to step up. The Bills know what they have in Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney. I don’t know about anyone else but neither of those guys gets the old blood pumping with me.

That leaves Ellis as a possible wild card.

The former third-round pick didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie before being placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain but reports are he’s been training like a madman all offseason.

That doesn’t guarantee success, but it shows he’s hungry and it could mean more playing time in the defensive end rotation for Ellis.

At Virginia Tech, Ellis had a lightning-quick first step off the ball, and that’s a quality you’re either born with or you’re not, so he already has that going for him.

The other thing that has me intrigued by Ellis heading into training camp is the one knock on him in college was always his work ethic, never his ability. So hearing that he’s busting his hump is a good sign because the talent is there.

If someone can step up and help take the pressure off of Schobel, it will be a big boost to Buffalo’s defense.

And if the Bills have a healthy Schobel to go along with two young, up-and-coming pass rushers like Ellis and Maybin, their defense will be better than anyone ever imagined this season.

Hey, you never know.

Nic Harris

I touched on Harris quite a bit in my last column, so I won’t go into detail again here. In short, I believe now that Harris is playing his proper position, he has a chance to be a star for the Bills at outside linebacker.

Physically, Harris has all the tools to excel at strong side linebacker in the Bills’ system.

He is quick and fast when not being forced to cover a lot of ground. Harris is a big-time hitter who always seems to be around the ball making plays.

From reports coming out of Buffalo, he’s also very intelligent and picking up the new position much quicker than anyone anticipated. I really think Harris is going to be a fixture in the Bills’ defense for years to come.

I don’t want to put any unreasonable expectations on a guy switching positions. I expect Harris to be a backup and special teams ace as a rookie.

If he proves me wrong and wins the strong side linebacker job, more power to him.
Either way, I look forward to charting his progress in camp and watching him closely this preseason.

I will always be objective as a columnist but I don’t mind saying that I will be rooting for this kid to succeed when I shut the laptop down and put my fan hat back on.

Brad Butler

Other than Trent Edwards, Butler may be the most important player on the Bills’ offense this season.

The Bills will have two new starting tackles in 2009, sort of. Langston Walker is moving over from the right side to replace the departed Jason Peters at left tackle.

Walker may not be as talented as Peters overall but the Bills know what they are getting in the eight-year veteran.

He’s a solid NFL tackle that the coaches trust to protect Edwards’ blind side week in and week out. And most Buffalo fans will probably rest somewhat easy with Walker playing left tackle.

Butler is a bit more of a risk. He’s making the switch from guard to right tackle. He did start 31 consecutive games at right tackle in college, so it’s not like this is a completely new position to him.

However, because left tackle is one of the most important positions in the NFL, people tend to toss out right tackle as if teams can just put in anyone there and get away with it.

Yet if Butler struggles, so will Edwards and the Bills’ no-huddle offense, regardless of how well Walker is playing on the left side.

Butler is a freakish athlete and the Bills’ coaching staff is confident that he will make a successful transition to tackle.

As a matter of fact, they are so confident in Butler’s abilities that he was one of the reasons they were willing to part ways with the disgruntled Peters.

Personally, I always thought Butler was a vastly underrated player and it won’t surprise if he ends up in the Pro Bowl someday. I think his game is perfectly suited to play right tackle in the NFL.

The outcome of preseason games doesn’t matter and neither does the performance of some of the upper echelon players.

However, if Buffalo’s first-string offensive line is getting beat like a rented mule all summer long, it will be cause for concern heading into the opener with the Patriots.

By the way, I didn’t feel a need to put Terrell Owens on this list. If Owens isn’t one of the players you are keeping an eye on in training camp, you either don’t care about football, don’t care about the Bills, or you are probably lying through your teeth.

Now, that’s enough of my inane babble. Football is back and the Bills’ quest for a playoff berth is officially underway. All is right with the world.

Position Battles Indicate Much-Needed Change On New Orleans Saints Defense

NFL Training Camp is the first taste of competition that most football fans get before the new season starts.

Especially this year in New Orleans Saints training camp, where Coach Sean Payton will be trying to turn his team around from two very disappointing seasons that had average results from a team that most Saints fans believed to be an above-average team.

Some may attribute the unsatisfactory 8-8 and 7-9 records from the past two seasons to injuries, but it was obvious that the Saints shortcomings were the result of their defense, which finished last season ranked 23rd in the NFL in overall defense and 26th in scoring defense.

During the offseason, the front office did everything they could to turn things around by hiring a new defensive coordinator, signing several defensive players in free agency and using three of the four picks in this year’s draft to add depth to that side of the ball.

With this much change on to the defense, competition will be a major theme at this year’s training camp for the Saints.

With the exception of a few players, just about everyone on the Saints defense has a chance to either gain or lose a starting job, depending on how they perform in training camp.

Here are a few of the competitions that Saints fans should keep an eye out for once training camp starts on July 31:

 

Position: Both starting cornerback spots

Projected Starter(s):  Randall Gay and Jabari Greer

Other Competitors: Malcolm Jenkins and Tracy Porter

This group has been the blame for the majority of the bad play that has been forwarded by the defense. From injuries sustained by Tracy Porter and Mike McKenzie to below-par play by Usama Young and Jason David, this unit could not catch a break—or an interception—last season.

In order to fix this problem, GM Mickey Loomis signed Jabari Greer to a four-year, $23 million contract this offseason and drafted Malcolm Jenkins with the team’s first round draft pick.

Greer is expected to come in and utilize his five years of experience in Buffalo to snatch a starting job and Gay ended last season as the team’s starter, so he should enter the next season in the same role.

While Jenkins is not expected to come in and take anybody’s starting position, most Saints fans expect him to come in and have an immediate impact on the defense. So if he were to come in and relieve either one of the veterans of their starting duties, I doubt anyone will be surprised.

Porter, who accumulated 25 tackles and an interception before sustaining a season-ending wrist injury in the fifth game of the season, is also expected to put up a fight for one of the starting spots, as well. 

He came in as a rookie last season and earned a starting job after an outstanding training camp and preseason.  Saints fans shouldn’t be surprised if he does the same thing this season.

 

Position: Second Starter at Defensive Tackle

Projected Starter(s):  Kendrick Clancy

Other Competitors: Remi Ayodele, DeMario Pressley and Rod Coleman

With the Saints parting ways with both Brian Young and Hollis Thomas this offseason, the team now had to figure out who they will use alongside Ellis at defensive tackle.

Clancy was solid in this spot last season while filling in for the oft-injured veterans Young and Hollis. He finished the season with 34 tackles, 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Both Ayodele and Pressley are young players are young players with very little experience, so they will be expected to come in and play backup roles to Ellis and Clancy.

Coleman, on the other hand, has the chance to be a wild card in this competition. While the 10-year veteran hasn’t played a full season of football since 2006, if he can somehow return to being the player he once was a few years ago, he can easily snatch a starting job on the Saints defensive line.

The former Falcon and Raider accumulated 58.5 sacks over his career, including three seasons of double-digit sack numbers. He doesn’t have to return to be a dominating force in the middle like he once was, but if he can provide the Saints with a solid option at this position, Williams will undoubtedly make sure he gets in the game.

 

Position: Free Safety

Projected Starter(s):  Darren Sharper

Other Competitors: Malcolm Jenkins, Pierson Prioleau and Usama Young

If there was one position that could have been argued to be as unproductive as the Saints’ cornerbacks, it was there free safeties.

The combination of Kevin Kaesviharn and Josh Bullocks were ineffective too often for the Saints defense last season, so as a result, the team allowed both of them leave in free agency.

When Gregg Williams came to New Orleans he knew in order to execute his defense successfully he would need a ball-hawking free safety to be the quarterback of his secondary in the same manner that Blaine Bishop and Sean Taylor once played on some of his best defensive units. 

So once Darren Sharper became available as a free-agent Williams knew he needed the 13-year veteran to take over the role as the leader of his secondary. Sharper has come to New Orleans and, seemingly, the Saints problems at free safety are now a thing of the past.

Part of the reason that the Saints loved Jenkins so much going into the draft was the fact that he was so versatile. Jenkins was one of the best cornerbacks in the nation while he was at Ohio State and some scouts argued he would have been even better if he had played safety.

So if Jenkins comes in and proves those scouts to be correct and becomes an effective free safety, it won’t be surprising to see him push Sharper for that starting spot.

Young, partly due to his ineffectiveness at cornerback, is being transitioned this offseason to the free safety spot in order to take advantage of his playmaking abilities.

While some reports are saying that Young is looking to have picked up his position switch quite seamlessly, it is highly unlikely he will be fighting for a starting spot anytime soon.

 

Some might say that this offseason is no different from other and that the Saints always have some sort of position battle in training camp, but that isn’t exactly correct.

In the past, battles were a result of not having a player capable of claiming the spot with his play, but this year they are because the Saints have too many people willing to fill these roles.

I’m sure this is a problem they don’t mind having at all.

“America’s Table,” A Dallas Cowboys Roundtable Discussion: Pre-Training Camp

After a couple months of silence, America’s Table is back with another edition of our award winning Dallas Cowboys’ Roundtable.

(We have not in fact won any awards, but that has a nice ring to it.)

With Spring Training just around the corner, football is in the air, and there is plenty to discuss. So without further ado, let’s talk some Cowboys!

 

There has been a lot of talk from both Cowboys haters and Cowboys fans regarding Tony Romo’s future with the Cowboys. Many think that his time may be up with the Cowboys as early as the end of next season if things don’t improve. Your thoughts? Is Tony Romo on the hot seat?

James Williamson: I think that a lot of people like to kick people when they are down and since the Dallas Cowboys are hated, mainly because of some bandwagon idiot that a person has met, then people are going to do whatever they can to feel good about themselves and lower Dallas fans.

Most of these people probably can’t even name their own offensive linemen or have an intelligent conversation about football because they are wrapped up in their own egos.

Now, on to the idea that Tony is on the hot seat. I doubt it because first off, this guy has been a winner for the Cowboys. Yes, he’s shaky in December, but have you seen who he plays in December? Road games in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh? That’s not like going out and playing the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh game was extremely close while the entire Cowboys team didn’t show up at Philly.

His first year as a starter, the Cowboys went 13-3 and had few to no injuries, whereas next season, Romo was injured for three games in which the Cowboys went 1-2 in. So, if one can assume that Romo went 3-0 or 2-1 against those teams, then the Cowboys would have been in playoffs.

They don’t realize that the loss of left guard, Kyle Kosier, was so significant. When Kosier was in the lineup against teams like Green Bay, the second time against the Redskins, and San Francisco, the Cowboys won all three games.

Against Green Bay, they had 217 yards rushing, against DC, it was 117 yards rushing, and San Francisco, it was only 74 yards rushing because it was a field day for Terrell Owens who had 213 yards receiving, but who do you think was blocking well for Tony Romo?

Kosier is just one guy though. The Cowboys lost Felix Jones, Roy Williams, Pat Watkins, Marion Barber, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Terence Newman, Mat McBriar, and more to injuries one time or another.

These “haters” are these imbeciles that don’t realize that football is a team sport and if the slightest thing goes wrong, they blame the quarterback because they don’t the names of the surrounding cast.

Another point is people!!! He’s only been the starter two years!!! Rome wasn’t built in a day you know. If Tony Romo was anywhere but Dallas, people would be giving him a break, but no, it is the Dallas Cowboys, so he is watched the way Brad and Angelina are watched.

I give Jerry Jones more credit than that. He’s not that impatient, he wants progress and the Cowboys, whether you believe me or not, have made progress.

So, no. Unless Romo goes Ryan Leaf or breaks his back, then he will remain the starter there.

 

Andrew Nuschler: It’s hilarious that less than a year ago, I felt it necessary to write articles piercing the myth that Tony Romo was one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League, and now his seat seems to be growing warm—whether in truth or simply by popular perception.  I don’t see what it is about this guy that has everyone lurching from one extreme to the next.

I see no reason why it’d be any hotter than is normal for a QB in Dallas, which is to say, always warmer than most.

If Romo can’t string together a good season with all the obvious talent, if he can’t put a bigger notch on his belt by winning a game he really HAS to have, then I’d say Jerry Jones would start seriously exploring other options.

As it is now, I expect the ‘Pokes to dramatically benefit from the absence of the TO Sideshow as well as some of the other nonsense. Should be as close to business as usual as it gets in Big D and I think that allows Tony Romo to make significant progress—which should end the hot seat talk and open up a whole new wave of Romo, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger talk.

Can’t wait….

 

Robert Allred: In short, no.

Tony Romo is the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, which means that more than any other quarterback, opinions on him can always be found in the extremes. When he was playing great ball, everyone was quick to bust out the anointing oil, but when he struggled last season, people were screaming for his head to roll.

That’s just how it is in Dallas, particularly when you are the quarterback—and perhaps even more so when you are the “celebrity quarterback”.

If Romo does struggle next season, and the Cowboys fail to win a playoff game, I fully expect more irate fans to come out of the woodwork screaming for his trade or release, and the mainstream media will likely jump on Romo like sharks.

But will he be on the “hot seat”? No.

Like it or love it, Romo is going to be around for a while.  The Cowboys cannot release him because of the financial ramifications, and if they were to go the trade route, they wouldn’t get adequate value for him. Instead, we’d have another Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton type of deal, and I don’t imagine the Cowboys faithful would be too pleased with that.

That was a very unique situation, and I do not see something like that playing out in the NFL for some time to come.

Having said all that, I expect Romo to have a bounce back season in 2009. I do not think he will put up the kind of gaudy numbers he put up in 2007—so fantasy owners may be a little disappointed—but I do think that he will be more efficient than he has ever been in his career.

I expect the turnovers to go down, his leadership to go up, and the wins? We’ll see. 

 

The Cowboys have a luxury that not many teams have. They have three solid young running backs. How can the Cowboys most effectively use these three next season?

James: The Cowboys will have their own strategy to use the backs, but I have my own.

I want Choice to start and weaken the defense. He is a great mid-range back. Decent speed and decent power out of the Georgia Tech. I knew this kid was going to be on the team the moment I laid eyes on him. He was hungry, he resented his 4th round draft status and he is easily the right draft “choice” for Dallas.

I was even more sure when he blocked a punt against Denver in a preseason game. That boy wants to play and he should play.

Barber, should definitely be a receiving back and a beat-up back. He can take on the defenses that are wearing down. He is arguably in the top 5 backs in the NFL once you get him past the line of scrimmage. Get him a couple of block and get him past the linemen, and then he just takes on linebackers with his physical style.

Another reason why Kosier’s injury was so critical last year is because the running back are supposed to go behind the guards.

Another option is to put Barber in at fullback from time to time. He’s such a strong guy and a good blocker from what I’ve seen so he might be able to spell (replace) Deon Anderson.

 

Andrew: I think exactly how most teams use their backs when you’ve got one rugged smasher like Marion Barber and one lightning fast, quick guy like Felix Jones—heavy doses of the hard-hitter while using the burner to exploit physical and mental fatigue.

With Jones showing a troubling proclivity for injury, I’d use Tashard Choice to lessen the load on Jones.  Of course, Choice seemed like a capable performer so he could be used to ease the erosion of Barber over the full slate of games.

And then there’s that Wildcat thing.

Admittedly, however, X’s and O’s are not my specialty.

 

Robert: If I have said it once, I have said it a million times. This team is not going to be a pass happy team and win next season, unless every single receiver on the roster plays better than we have ever seen them play.

Possible? Yes. Likely? No.

So long as the Cowboys commit to running the ball next season and utilizing all three backs, I really do not care how they spread the load. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have an opinion on how they can most effectively do so, however.

All three backs have different strengths. Marion Barber is your workhorse and your power back, Felix Jones is the homerun threat who can take it to the house on any given play, and Tashard Choice is probably the most balanced every down back.

With that in mind, I would use Tashard Choice as the starter. He proved in the last quarter of the season that he can be a legitimate starter in this league, and that he can beat the opposition both on the ground and through the air. He isn’t very flashy in anything he does, but he makes very few negative plays.

Marion Barber, if his ego will allow it (and I believe it would), is of the most use to the Cowboys late in the game. I want him on the field when it matters the most—crunch time. As such, and for lack of a better term, Marion Barber should be the Cowboys’ “closer.”

The best stretch of his career thus far was when he was playing behind Julius Jones. He would come in fresh late in the game and absolutely destroy the opposing defenses.

Felix Jones is the kind of guy that can turn the simplest toss play into a highlight reel worthy touchdown dash. He will be used in the Wildcat formation, on special teams as a returner, and throughout the game when the Cowboys are looking for a lift.

 

Lets talk about a little off-the-field incident including our beloved (unless your Andrew) Cowboys—and no, this has nothing to do with Jessica Simpson. Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock recently ripped into Cowboys’ TE Martellus Bennett (and society as a whole) for his “Black Olympics” YouTube video. Did Whitlock blow things out of proportion, or does he have a point?

James: I’m a fan of Jason Whitlock’s, even though I wrote an article saying how he jumped the gun when writing about Adam Jones. He is still one of the finest writers around the world.

I think Jason Whitlock hit the nail on the head. If you read the article, he’s not offended by Martellus Bennett as he is by how society will rip into a Caucasian like Don Imus and immediately label him a racist and our “Reverend,” I use the term very loosely, Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson can drive him into a premature retirement while Martellus Bennett is viewed as a comedian.

Jason Whitlock simply pointed out that if we, as a society, make rules then they must be applied to everyone or they are, ironically, racist rules.

 

Andrew: No.

Martellus Bennett is a fool, plain and simple.  It sounds like he spends way too much time trying to become famous OFF the field than he does trying to become better on it.  Maybe that’s an unfair portrayal by Whitlock, but I’m going with the writer on this one.

I think that’s all he was saying about Bennett.

With regard to the other statement about racial relations in America, etc., etc.—yeah, I think he probably blew it out of proportion.  There’s at least a 50/50 chance that most civil rights groups, media outlets, and other tempest-in-a-teapotters never knew the video existed until the Kansas City Star ran Whitlock’s column.

Even now, there’s a decent chance nobody who would care has seen the damn thing.

Furthermore, I think it’s kind of odd to be upset about a “grab for controversy” being ignored.  Such grabs are exceedingly tedious and I think most reasonable people would agree they need to stop.  Operating as if they don’t exist is the best way to achieve that goal, so why be displeased?

 

Robert: Both. I think that Whitlock does have a point, but in this instance I think that he blew things a little out of proportion.

I will wholeheartedly agree that Bennett’s first controversial video (where he rapped about “Jerry Jones’ money” and consistently used the N-word while wearing the Cowboys’ helmet) went too far and his fine was justified. That would have been a perfect prompt for Jason Whitlock’s article.

But this latest video was just harmless fun, and the only thing wrong with it was that it wasn’t funny. He played on the stereotype that black people like fried chicken, watermelon, and Kool-Aid. None of these three stereotypes are negative though. They are all harmless.

I think the biggest problem with this article—and our society as a whole—is that it is just trying way too hard to get offended. It seems like no matter what you do these days, somebody is going to get their feelings hurt or become offended. It has gotten a little ridiculous, in my opinion. 

 

What young Dallas Cowboys up-and-comer will have a breakout year this season? What Dallas Cowboys veteran will have a fall-off season?

James: I’m hoping every “up-and-comer” has a breakout season, but the two I’m most excited for are Anthony Spencer and Mike Jenkins.

Jenkins will now be starting at cornerback opposite Terence Newman and I want to see him get some interceptions and deflected passes.

Anthony Spencer is the left outside linebacker taking over for Greg Ellis, and I’m eager to see his performance against offensive lines. If he becomes a pure beast on the field, then the offensive lines won’t know how to guard him and the best outside linebacker in the league known as DeMarcus Ware.

If I had to choose a rookie, I want to see David Buehler, the placekicker from USC. He has the potential to save the Cowboys on special teams with his powerful leg.

 

Andrew: The youngster who should make the biggest impact is kind of a softball—it’s gotta be Felix Jones and I can’t imagine anyone said any differently.

The former Arkansas Razorback had already shown flashes of that brilliant impact before going down to a season-ending torn ligament suffered while rehabbing a torn hamstring.  Yikes, typing that last sentence made me second-guess myself—that’s a lot of tearing in one year.

Oh well, I’m sticking with him because of his breakaway speed, elusive quicks, and because he was a back-up to Darren McFadden in college.  That means, between his aborted rookie year and his college days, he’s gotta have a ton in the tank.

Plus, the Cowboys have an attractive personnel package for the vogue Wildcat.

As for the old-time who might slip, as much as it pains me to say it, I came up with a bagel on this one.  And, remember, I do NOT like the Dallas Cowboys.

But check the roster—they only have five guys over the age of 30 and two of those are offensive linemen coming off Pro Bowls.  You and I know that a Pro Bowl doesn’t mean all that much, but you’ve still gotta have a good year to get there.  And the big uglies don’t tend to fall off a cliff all of a sudden.

Keith Brooking was brought in to play linebacker at the age of 33 so I guess I’d have to go with him.  Unfortunately, that dude’s an animal so I don’t expect him to slide into the abyss in his first year with a new team.

Terrance Newman and Patrick Crayton are both 30, but they strike me as guys who keep in pretty good shape so 30 shouldn’t be a problem.

Maybe Flozell Adams, but all those penalties can’t really be held against the Hotel since he’s partially deaf in one ear.

 

Robert: I am looking for Anthony Spencer to have a breakout season, as he moves into the full-time starting role opposite DeMarcus Ware.

He showed flashes of potential brilliance last year, despite his surprisingly lackluster stats, and he seemed to improve all week. If he can start the season healthy, I think he can put together a potentially Pro-Bowl caliber season.

I would love to argue that none of the Cowboys veterans will have a drop-off year, but even in a great team year, at least one individual is going to slump.

Maybe its the homer in me, but I couldn’t think of who it would be on this team. The only name that kept coming to mind was Flozell Adams, but I would still take an off year from him over a “great” year from an average lineman.

 

Short and Sweet: Who will win the NFC East?

James: I believe it will come down to, barring injury, Dallas and Philadelphia. Those teams have Pro-Bowl caliber players at nearly every position.

New York hasn’t got a real receiving threat that I have seen and the loss of defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, will be severe in my opinion.

DC has got too much trouble at the quarterback position, so their hopes are riding on defense and the running game. Clinton Portis is the game-changer, but his offensive line is getting up there in age and I doubt they’ll be able to stay away from injuries forever.

 

Andrew: Ugh.  I have no idea.

It’s tough to go against the Philadelphia Eagles because I get an inexplicably good feeling from Donovan McNabb and his new set of receivers.  Their defense always seems gnarly and the whooping they put on Dallas in that decisive game had to be traumatic—that’s gotta be a tough one to shake off.

The New York Giants seem to do better when nobody sees them coming, which should be the case this year after losing Plaxico Burress to chronic stupidity.  There were other factors to be sure, but it can’t be overlooked that the Football Giants struggled against both Philly and Dallas without their brain-dead receiver (especially Philly).

And the Washington Redskins are still fielding a team to my knowledge.

Still, I think the Dallas Cowboys have made all the right moves in the offseasons.  They’ve cut the fat and the dumb by getting rid of Pacman Jones and Terrell Owens.  Tony Romo’s got the talent to take his organization to the next level and now he’s got the locker room to do it.

With another year of experience on the talented defense and no pieces looking too rickety at this premature moment, the ‘Pokes certainly have every reason to believe themselves one of the favorites for the division.

I’ll go with the Dallas Cowboys in hopes of jinxing them…

 

Robert: I hate to say it, but if I am going to put money on a team in the NFC East, it is probably on the dirty birds. I would love to pick the Cowboys, and I truly think they can and will compete, but going by what we know today on each team, they are the team to beat.

They were the best team when the season came to an end last year, and they made the most improvements (on paper) in the offseason.

Four Storylines for the 2009 Patriots Season

Despite the season-ending injury to Tom Brady in the first game of the season, the Pats had a surprisingly successful 2008 campaign. Very few teams could survive the loss of their franchise, never mind post an 11-5 record.

The team enters the 2009 NFL season with heightened expectations: they are, after all, a year removed from a 16-0 season. With that in mind, let’s examine the four story lines that will determine if this year will be a successful one.

 

1. Tom Brady’s knee

Perhaps no joint in recent memory has been as heavily scrutinized as Brady’s injured left knee, with good reason: it will likely either make or break the season.

When it was revealed that the surgically-repaired knee had become infected, many media personalities debated if Brady would ever be able to play again. Instead, Brady has since defied expectations, and it now appears he’ll be able to start the season.

How the Patriots handle his return will show their degree of confidence in Brady’s recovery. If they return to the pass-happy, shotgun set they’ve used for the past two years, then they likely have complete faith in the knee.

If not, the team can fall back on a talented stable of running backs, but such a switch in tactics will make scoring difficult, and winning, consequently, less likely.

 

2. Secondary concern

The team’s defense was not impressive overall last year, and the secondary was a big part of it. Football Outsiders ranked last year’s team 26th in its defensive efficiency ratings against the pass.

Both of last year’s starting cornerbacks (Deltha O’Neal, Ellis Hobbs) are gone, and the team has replenished the position via free agency (Shawn Springs, Leigh Bodden) and the draft (Patrick Chung, Darius Butler).

With second-year men Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley, this defensive backfield will sport an entirely different look from last year’s iteration.

Whether the makeover will lead to an improvement has yet to be seen.

 

3. What O-Line will we see?

I’ve believed the team’s offensive line has needed an infusion of new talent for some time now.

The quality of the line play seemed to deteriorate toward the end of the 2007 season, culminating in a Super Bowl in which the Giants defensive line ran roughshod over the O-line.

We did see an increase in sacks last season, but much of that was due to Matt Cassel’s inexperience at quarterback as opposed to the line itself.

The line is aging, though. Guard Logan Mankins is the only starter at this time who is under 30. Draftee Sebastian Vollmer is an interesting pickup, but he’s seen more as a project than an immediate contributor.

When you add all the above to Brady’s knee concerns, it’s clear the offensive line will be a recurring theme throughout the year.

 

4. Will Laurence Maroney prove his worth?

Maroney, a former first-round pick, has been somewhat of a disappointment over his career. He’s shown flashes of explosiveness, but hasn’t stayed healthy enough to become a consistent contributor.

Now he faces serious competition: the team signed Fred Taylor over the off-season, and may be looking to split carries between Taylor and Sammy Morris. Should this happen, there would be precious few opportunities for Maroney to prove himself.

Maroney has potential, but must run with more decisiveness, or it’s likely the Patriots will look to go another direction.

NFL Kills Draft Fun in the Name of Revenue

I’m starting to see a pattern with Roger Goodell’s leadership as commissioner of the NFL, and the cliched phrase that comes to mind is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Or maybe a better choice would be “mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money!”

Early on in his tenure I liked what I saw from Goodell, and that was even as he was fining and taking draft picks from my beloved New England Patriots for the video taping incident of 2007. I thought Goodell handled that situation as it should’ve been handled, and did not cave to the overhyped media frenzy that followed.

Goodell has been strict on player conduct, and that has become the thing he has hung his hat on. However, in almost all other areas we’re starting to see change just for the sake of change. As in “cha-ching” change.

There are rumblings of a proposed 18-game season, while axing a couple preseason games. Sure, we can all agree that four preseason games are too many but teams can barely make it through 16 games with all their players healthy. 18 games would only mean more injuries, more fatigue, and ultimately, worsened quality of play.

But that doesn’t matter, because 18 regular season games would mean significantly more cash flow, and that’s what we’re seeing the new NFL is all about.

The last weekend in April has been one of my favorite times of the offseason, as it is for all NFL fans. From the moment our team’s season ends we begin to research the new crop of rookies about to enter the NFL. We find players who would be perfect for our team, the missing pieces to get us over the edge.

After three months of research, speculation and mock drafts, it all culminates on that last Saturday in April with the NFL Entry Draft. NFL fans spend two days around the TV, with friends and often reluctant family members. There are pools, predictions and for one weekend in the middle of spring, football reigns supreme.

At least it did. But those days are gone.

On Thursday the NFL announced the draft would be moving to a three-day event. The first round will air at 7:30pm EST on Thursday, April 22nd. The second and third rounds will air at 6:30pm EST on Friday, and the final four rounds will air on Saturday.

The move was painted as a chance to move the NFL draft to primetime (where advertisers would pay far more), while also “making it more accesible” to fans.

The reaction from NFL fans has been overwhelmingly negative. In a Boston.com poll over two-thirds of those polled were against the change. And that’s on the East Coast, at least they’ll be able to watch it!

How does putting something on TV at 4:30pm on a Thursday for West Coasters make it more accesibile than on a Saturday? I guess we can cross out anyone in the Pacific Time Zone from watching the majority of the first three rounds.

Not to mention Thursday night is the most competitive night of television. Survivor, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, 30 Rock and CSI are just some the shows that occupy Thursday evenings. The draft is sure to lose viewers to some of those shows as well, especially for those football fans whose wives are big Katherine Heigl fans.

Even the many fans who make the yearly trip to New York City to see the draft in person are going to have alter their plans. It’s a safe bet that the new incarnation of the draft will no longer have the same overzealous crazies occupying the upper deck of Radio City Music Hall. Even they must have jobs, right?

The loss of that atmosphere will be one of the most disappointing things about the draft format.

The only people I can see happy with this change are the casual fans who live on the East Coast, who will be out of work in plenty of time, and happy to no longer “waste” a Saturday in front of the TV. As opposed to the diehard fans who considered a full weekend of draft-watching anything but a waste.

Sadly the game is no longer being marketed towards those fans.

If a change had to be made, why not have the first round on Friday night at 8pm EST? West Coast fans could still see it, draft parties would still have something to watch on Saturday, and you’d still get the primetime audience on a night where television is far less competitive than Thursdays (which is arguably the most competitive night of the entire week).

It’s starting to become clear that the NFL under Roger Goodell is going to be about cashing in, and making change simply to put Goodell’s stamp on the league.

Personally I hope this new draft format is a failure. The reasons are many. I won’t be able to watch much, if any, of the first two rounds, and it ruined what was one of my favorite weekends of the year.

But maybe most of all I just wish the NFL wasn’t the latest victim to become only about money at the expense of the people who love it most.

The casual NFL fan has never cared much about the draft and just because it’s on primetime now won’t make them care. Casual fans watch the draft for one thing: who their team picks. They are not staying up until 11pm on a Thursday night to find out who the Titans take at 27th overall.

The NFL is now trying to cater to the casual fans but the problem is that it’s not the casual fans who made the NFL the booming juggernaut that it currently is.

That was done by the diehards; those who buy the draft magazines, who hang on every Mel Kiper Mock Draft, who buy a new collection of team schwag every season, who used to watch every second of the draft from Saturday until Sunday night.

They write the blogs and the tweets and often have more passion for the teams they follow than the jobs that pay their bills.

By turning its back on these fans the NFL is making a mistake, and biting the hand that fed them in the first place.

We can only hope that the changes will have negative results, and a more fan-friendly schedule will be reinstalled.

If not, the NFL will not only fail to gain new fans, it will lose the ones it already has.

Mike Dussault is a Patriots Community Leader and ready for the season to just start already.

Six Reasons Why Rey Maualuga Should Not Be a Bengal

Since Rey Maualuga was graduated from the same high school as me, I have to admit I feel so sorry for him now that he is in Cincinnati.

However, he is a good young man and will hopefully excel beyond belief.

Yet I cannot resist citing the top six reasons why he should not be with the criminal and woefully awful Bengals, although they may rebound this year.

Since they have lost two Super Bowls to the best franchise to ever take to an NFL field, the San Francisco 49ers, I don’t think they will ever regroup.

Maybe they can move to Los Angeles.

After all, their criminal behavior would be more acceptable in that gangland.

Here are the top six reasons why Maualuga should not be a Bengal:

1. He graduated from, yes, my high school.
2. Anyone from The Redwood Empire deserves better.
3. He reminds me of my late brother.
4. The Bengals are gas-happy with criminals.
5. The Bengals have lost two Super Bowls to the super-glorious 49ers.
6. Cris Collinsworth once played for Cincinnati.

AFC West Foes Will Always Be Beneath the Oakland Raiders

Yes you read the title of the article correctly. This is a call out shot to all our foes who arrogantly speak as if their franchise is above the Raiders.

These blogs and NFL forums are filled with constant bashing of Al Davis and the Raiders. Mainly it comes from jealous ingrate SD,KC or Denver fans. The nerve of losers to actually open their lips to utter any negative spew on anything having to do with the Raiders.

Let’s start off with the mountain mules from Denver shall we? The Raiders own Denver period. The Broncos use to get ran by Oakland all day and all night. What does that have to do with today? A lot. Still to this day you are way behind in the head to head count. We owe your Mr. ED-look-alike Hall of Fame QB.

The record in Denver is a winning one. Can you say the same for yourselves in Oakland? Spare me the we have owned you since 1995 talk. Shannhan is gone, thanks to us, and the Raiders have really been better than Denver even in the disaster that is the 2006 season.

Have fun this year when the Raiders sweep Denver. Don’t be shocked if we clinch our playoff berth in your house. Did I forget to mention you guys cheated from 1996 to 1998? Cheaters!

Kansas City and Oakland have the best rivalry in the AFC. These teams hate each other and the games are always tightly contested. But what the hell can a chief fan say? Your franchise hasn’t won a damn thing since Woodstock.

Okay, you own the head to head series, but explain the number playoff wins you have had since the merger. How come the AFC title trophy is named after Lamar Hunt and your team has never won it? My team has many times so back up and chill. Enjoy the broom fest in 2009. Cassell is going to wish Brady didn’t get hurt last year when we get a hold of his overrated behind.

Charger fans make me sick. I’m going to honest. What the hell has the city of San Diego ever won? Why is Merriroids and Phillip “hick” Rivers so damn cocky without a ring to validate them? LaDainian Tomlinson is a hall of famer for sure and a for sure bet to never see a Super Bowl.

The Chargers have been beating the Raiders since the end of 2003 with nothing to show for it. It will take 10 more years of sweeping the Raiders to catch up in the head to head battle. Your stadium gets overtaken every year by opposing fans. I feel bad for the LA faction who has to put up with Charger coverage.

The aura of the Chargers is a joke. That is why a Raider like myself walks into Junior Seau’s with a silver and black gear sported with the woman on my silver and black line. Go win a title and then you may be allowed to talk. Cheat like Denver did. Oh yeah you did cheat in the early ’60s since you were the first ‘roided team in NFL history.

Bow down and prepare to be swept by Oakland. Tom Cable has indicated who will run the west from now on. Our rightful place as kings of the NFL will be established very soon and it makes you sick. Well get all the meds you can because there will be no cure starting with San Diego September 14.

Why Roger Goodell Should Be Terminated from Employment

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As I have determined throughout the past three years of Roger Goodell’s time as commissioner, Roger Goodell does not give a damn about NFL fans (ex, tinkering with NFL Draft, wanting to move Super Bowl to London), or NFL players and Civil Rights (ex, Pacman Jones, Brady Rule), or the integrity of the game (ex, Spygate).

Frankly, I think Goodell should be terminated as commissioner, immediately.

Otherwise, I do believe that we NFL fans should BOYCOTT the NFL until Goodell is terminated from employment.  Otherwise, Goodell and the NFL owners will continue to eviscerate the game you love into an exhibition for greedy sociopaths.

If you have even one decent bone in your body, you will see that this is a moral imperative for all NFL fans, writers, and players that cannot be ignored or rationalized with ideas that, if you get what you want then it does not matter.

What is that you say, Goodell cut his salary?  Ha, that will be nothing when you consider that the NFL will be able to assault the bank accounts of NFL fans and NFL players and continue to wield total dominance over the media—if the NFL defeats American Needle before the US Supreme Court.

 

Positively Roger Goodell: The NFL Draft, the NFL Network, a Super Bowl in London, and Undesirables (Fans and Players)

Positively 4th Street

“I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is
To see you”

Goodell continues to tinker with the NFL Draft.  Now, Goodell wants to air the first round on Thursday nights, the second round of Friday, and the remaining rounds on Saturday.

Goodell: “Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television.”

Here is the kicker.  What that statement fails to say is that the move is not meant to spread the NFL, but consolidate it…more than likely for the NFL Network.  The truth is in the vagueness.  Just like Spygate.

The intent: move the Draft to primetime on Thursday.  No mention, however, as to whether the Draft would be more accessible.

Thus, any person with two brain cells should conclude that the NFL Draft would now be aired on the NFL Network, as are Thursday Night games, in order to compel fans into buying a channel they did not previously want.

And to watch orchestrated BS with and the de-facto (and increasingly de-juris) racism that reminds me of Plessy v Ferguson in which races are separated by position yet we’re supposed to believe that it is equal.  We know that now, thanks to Spygate and the Brady Rule, and the fact that the henchmen in the media will continually elevate the predominantly white position of quarterback.

Sure, there are some black quarterbacks.  Just as, before Brown v Board of Education, Topeka that some black people had succeeded. 

The fact is, however, that like the laws that stemmed from Plessy v Ferguson—the rules of the NFL under Goodell have been designed to be a detriment to non-white players.

Meanwhile, toothless rules like The Rooney Rule have been just smoke-and-mirrors to dupe idiots into believing that the NFL does not prefer dominance by white people.

Just ask Daunte Culpepper.

Not only that, but Goodell wants to move, “America’s Holiday” of the Super Bowl from the United States to London, England.  If Europe had been interested in the NFL, they had their chance to show it with the now defunct NFL Europe.

Yet, Goodell wants to give the Super Bowl to those who would not appreciate it the way we do in the US.  In other words, Goodell wants to limit the access to the NFL by undesirable fans (such as tailgaters).

In case you have not thought of it, the name Goodell reminds me of Jim Crow.

 

NFL Players

The Roger Goodell policy on suspensions for behavior:

“Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL will be subject to discipline, even if not criminal in nature.”

“League discipline is appealed to the NFL Commissioner or his appointee, and it is not likely that the league is going to disagree with itself when appeals are heard.  It is clear from our ongoing team meetings that players see league discipline as becoming more and more excessive, and that the best way to address the problem is to insist that the next CBA require neutral arbitration for league discipline as well.”

Not only has league discipline been excessive, but also an inordinate detriment to black players such as Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson, and soft on white players such as Jared Allen and Tom Brady.

Michael David Smith wrote that one of the most unreported stories in the NFL is how much resentment the players have towards the commissioner, in regard to how he has handled disciplinary issues.

Moreover, based on Goodell’s policy, I wonder if and when Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended for allegations of rape, and why Matt Leinart was not suspended for dangerously administering alcohol to minors.

And people wonder why idiots would invade the privacy of Erin Andrews and then spread the inappropriate videos on the Internet with moronic comments like “I’d hit that.”

 

Spygate

Spygate Has Shown that the NFL Violated Civil Rights

The Greatest Game Never Played: Oakland Raiders @ New England Patriots

Spygate proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Roger Goodell in fact does not care about the integrity of the NFL.

Like Tom Brady, I always persist.  As Brady was quoted by Judy Battista of the New York Times in 2002, “I just kept challenging him until I beat him.  It is like the tortoise and the hare.  I was the tortoise.”

So am I.  Now Pat fans are the hare.

Thus, I will continue to report until the public at large understands how Spygate conflicted with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and thus impugned NFL’s anti-trust exemption on media rights.  Moreover, the significance of Spygate can be proved by virtue of, “The Tuck Rule Game.” 

You can read the article about the “Tuck Rule Game” at the included hyperlink, but the gist of that story is, to say that the Patriots did not cheat the Raiders in that game: does not make sense. 

However, it does make sense that Goodell would cover up an issue of anti-trust, when there is a connection to a man who has repeatedly pursued the NFL on anti-trust issues: Al Davis and the Raiders.

In other words, Goodell’s motive to cover up an issue of anti-trust inadvertently violated the Civil Rights of those he pursued in an irresponsible witch-hunt.

Some would like Spygate to be a “dead issue.”  The Civil Rights of others is not a dead issue, and Spygate is a critical piece to a puzzle in which Goodell violated the Civil Rights of others.

Obviously, Patriot fans are going to defend the Patriots, as I will defend the Raiders.  However, the difference is—that caught in the middle of Spygate has been the Civil Rights of others, which is what makes Spygate a significant issue.  Thus, this is not about a sports rivalry but the decisions of Goodell.

 

American Needle vs. NFL

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/11976030

“This case could end sports as we know it,” a union official said.  “It could change everything.  We’d be back in the Bronze Age.”

“The leagues would also retain more control over how their games are broadcast. If the NFL is successful in Needle, it might be only a matter of time before networks are told to pack their cameras and bolt and the NFL is charging customers to watch games on free television.”

As you can tell, the NFL has been consolidating its power to the detriment of the consumer and civil rights of fans and players.  The case before the US Supreme Court, will only allow professional sports to create “separate but equal” situations for whatever reason (fill in the blank) that the club so chooses.

If you cannot see that, I do not care what you think.  Plain and simple.

FYI, do not send me your nuisance hate mail—you will never convince me otherwise.

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Five Reasons to Be Excited About Cleveland Browns Training Camp

Just in case you missed the news, rookies reported to training camp on Friday.

The Browns were the first team in the league to get things underway in 2009, so that means we officially can start getting excited about the upcoming season.

As I write this, Alex Mack is not under contract, though rumors persist he’ll be signed by the time the sun rises on July 25.

While all the second round picks still float in the ether, fear not. Once a few of the second round picks sign in the next few days, the rest of the group will know what the payscale is and fall into line.

Plus, don’t think Mangini didn’t deliberately schedule the rookies to report so early as a bargaining chip to make sure they’re all actually under contract and in camp by Aug. 1.

With the contract unpleasantness handles, let’s officially get excited and celebrate the top five reasons we’re happy training camp has started.

Raiders ‘Black Hole Felons’ Terribly Misunderstood

There is a website expert at making the Raiders look like the bottom-dwelling cellar rats that the football gods have destined them to be.

The Official Raiders Hater Universe has been around for a while, and I featured it before.

However, it has been updated to reflect the Raiderettes two losses to San Diego, including that 34-7 blowout last year.

Remember that, Raiderette fans?

Let me refresh your memory about other Raiderette highlights, such as in 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson scoring 186 points.

He actually outscored the entire Raiderette team that scored a pathetically wimpy 168 total points.

Having a website dedicated to calling Raiderette fans “obnoxious morons” must really grate on the proud Silver & Black, eh?

Although the Web site has some dated comments, this one is ageless:

“When will someone take the crayons away from Al Davis?

“If you’re an Oakland idiot fan pretender, this era in Davis’ stewardship just has to be killing you.

“The rest of us, however, are thoroughly enjoying the comedy troupe that is the Raiders.”

That’s the truth.

Why do San Diego’s fans have such animosity for such a nice group of church-going folk known as “The Black Hole Felons”?

What would make a Charger fan write:

“Face it Jokeland fans, you’re rooting for the joke of the NFL. Raider Nation? I think not!!!  Laughing stock maybe!?!?”

Oh, that’s right, Oakland has done nothing but lose for most of the years since its last Super Bowl victory.

Even Raiderette fans come under attack on this website.

“For too long a time, ‘Raider Nation’ has been the U.S. version of English soccer hooliganism.

“Passion in supporting a team is one thing; ‘Raider Nation’ is far closer to thuggery.”

Uh, oh, mainstream media bias has been discovered yet again:

“And don’t be conned by the media’s suggestion that these fans are unswerving in their support for and dedication to the Raiders.

“The Super Bowl was supposed to be a ‘Raider Home Game.’ If you taped the game, go back and play the tape but instead of watching the plays, listen for ‘Raider Nation’ once they were down by 14 points.

“Instead of exhorting the team, that pack of poseurs and front-runners shut their noiseholes just like every other set of fans. Like the Raiders’ team, this group is living on reputation.”

Ouch.

That hurt.

So do these praiseworthy insults, well-earned in the case of the Raiderettes:

 

1. “The ‘Raidahs’ play like turkeys with their heads chopped off.”
2. “The Raiders are destined to dwell in the cellar like other rats.”

 

 

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