NFL Institutes New Draft Schedule, Procedure Will Begin Next Year

This year, the National Football League decided to shake things up, in changing the draft start time from 11 AM ET to the middle in the afternoon.

Apparently the NFL felt another change needed to be implemented, as a new NFL Draft schedule will begin in next years 2010 draft.

The schedule reportedly has widened the draft to three days long, where it shall begin Thursday night around 7 PM, along through Friday, and conclude Saturday evening.

The new twist surely will bring more energy to Radio City Music Hall in New York City, who, despite the changes, shall still host the NFL Draft.

The 2010 Draft will be the first one to experience the new change, and with names of Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow in the draft next year, it shall be a great way of kicking off the new system.

 

Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com

Tampa Bay Bucs’ Problem with Arron Sears Takes a New Turn

Tampa Bay Buccaneer offensive lineman Arron Sears is in hiding.

And that’s not a good thing with the team scheduled to report for training camp in a week.

Stephen Holder and Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times have released a story centered around one of them actually going to the hometown of Sears, Russellville, AL, to see if they could find Sears and talk to him.

Call it “old school” investigative reporting.

Sears was located but would not face the reporter.

The reporter was at the house of Henrietta Woods, Sears’s mother. She declined to comment on her son’s condition. While the reporter was there, Sears pulled into the driveway in a car but wouldn’t roll down the window.

It just gets stranger and stranger, doesn’t it?

It was a long way to travel to come away with a “no comment,” from Mrs. Woods and the snub by Sears.

Sears snubbed the Bucs in June with his absence from mini-camp.

The Bucs aren’t talking about this one.

But something is terribly wrong here.

If you look at the circumstances, it doesn’t look favorable for Sears reporting to camp or even suiting up for the Buccaneers this year.

Suddenly, the area of strength for the team, the offensive line, could take a blow in the depth department.

The impending Sears absence will draw plenty of attention this time next week and at some point in time, the team will have to face the issue and make a statement.

Stayed tuned on this one.

NFL Preview: Questions for Each Team Heading Into the Season

As we have already seen, there are plenty of NFL preview/prediction articles and slide shows written on this site, including one written by me.

This is not one of them.

I am here to pose one question to each team that may or may not determine the outcome of their season. I obviously know that there is more then one variable in the game of football that determines a teams’ success, but there are certain aspects that a team must succeed in.

I do have biases as to which teams i feel will be successful, but I will try to hide them. Today in this article, (almost) everyone has a shot!

* I am also going to assume Brett Favre will be in Minnesota

 

Arizona Cardinals: Can Kurt Warner have another 2008, or was that his last run?

Atlanta Falcons: Will Matt Ryan have a “sophomore slump” even with all those weapons?

Baltimore Ravens: How much of an affect will the loss of Rex Ryan have on your defensive success?

Buffalo Bills: Where San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas failed, will you guys keep T.O. happy?

Carolina Panthers: Where has Jake Delhomme gone, and will he be back this season?

Chicago Bears: Will the Matt Forte show have an encore?

Cincinnati Bengals: Other than Chad Ochocinco, how are you going to get in the end zone?

Cleveland Browns: Will you guys please pick a quarterback?

Dallas Cowboys: No more excuses, will Tony Romo lead you to a playoff victory?

Denver Broncos: When the season starts, will you guys put the off season behind you?

Detroit Lions: How many wins can you guys get?

Green Bay Packers: How well will you transition from 4-3 to 3-4?

Houston Texans: You guys have higher expectations, can you meet them?

Indianapolis Colts: How far will a new coaching staff set you back?

Jacksonville Jaguars: Is Maurice Jones-Drew ready to carry the load in the running game?

Kansas City Chiefs: Is Matt Cassel a product of his environment or is he really that talented?

Miami Dolphins: Without the element of surprise, can the Wildcat Offense still be successful?

Minnesota Vikings: Does Brett Favre have your team’s best interests in mind?

New England Patriots: How much did Tom Brady lose in his time off?

New Orleans Saints: Can the rest of the team stay healthy and help Drew Brees get you back to the playoffs?

New York Giants: Will the return of Osi Umenyiora help offset an offense that will probably score less?

New York Jets: With a new, defensive minded coach, will your defense step up to the challenge?

Oakland Raiders: Are you making the right decision putting JaMarcus Russell in there over Jeff Garcia?

Philadelphia Eagles: Will Andy Reid correctly utilize all of those offensive weapons?

Pittsburgh Steelers: With a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, what is going to stop you from a repeat?

San Diego Chargers: Is LaDainain Tomlinson ready to get back to his former self?

San Francisco 49ers: Can your front four keep whichever QB you decide off the ground?

Seattle: Even if your healthy, will a new coach be able to get you back to the playoffs?

St. Louis Rams: You aren’t that talented (with the exception of Stephen Jackson), can you just play the season without embarrassing yourselves?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: You have some potential at the RB spot, are they ready to carry you?

Tennessee Titans: If Kerry Collins can’t produce like he did last year, is Vince Young finally ready?

Washington Redskins: After an up and down season, will you be able to find some consistency?

Please let me know how you feel about, not only the questions, but the format as well. If it is well received I may do a few during the season and a playoff edition.

Brett, Brady, or Bradshaw: How To Best Tackle the NFL Quarterback Debate

The most entertaining and mind-tiring debates in sports are those over quarterbacks. Whether it is a good old fashion Top Ten Greatest list, or the ever-so-repeated Brady vs. Manning debate, many people have their two cents for quarterback debates.

I’ve seen just about every argument for every quarterback imaginable in my day. Rings over stats, stats over rings, blah, blah, blah. It’s about time someone set the record straight and put out a list on what NFL quarterbacks should really be measured on. In order, mind you.

So here we go, this is my list, in order of importance, of what we should measure to determine a quarterback’s greatness.

Intangibles….bleh…that word….

Before I start my official list, I feel like I should address the issue of intangibles. You know, leadership, durability, knowledge, all that good stuff. Well, I’m here to say that they are just icing on the cake of the argument. You can’t honestly base a strong argument on intangibles.

If you are going to make an argument for a quarterback, make sure you have strong stats and facts before you whip out the can of intangibles.

It’s like I say, the use of intangibles is similar to the use of glitter, it can make your argument look pretty, but if you use too much, it looks childish.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s move on to the official list of what really matters in determining a quarterback’s greatness.

5. Individual Honors

Individual honors are pretty unimportant compared to some of the other things you could argue. MVP’s and Pro Bowls are nice, but they don’t mean much. I mean, Michael Vick went to four Pro Bowls…does anyone here think that is an accomplishment? No, because we all know the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest.

MVP’s are a little more prestigious, but not too far from their Pro Bowl counterparts. Senior NFL writers across the nation vote for the league’s MVP every year. They always vote for a quarterback, unless someone else had a monstrous season. Because there is a lot of…questions…surrounding the credibility of the MVP voters, the award itself is less prestigious.

Here are some of the names you may hear with strong individual honor arguments; Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, etc.

4. Regular Season success

This is one of the more “ridiculed” points of an argument by other arguers. You all know what I mean, someone says 16-0 for Brady, the another says 18-1.

Regular season success is important, because it’s how players are judged by their own team. You have to have a great regular season to make the playoffs, therefore the regular season means a lot.

I can’t stand it when someone tells me “who cares if he plays well in the regular season, he doesn’t win in the postseason.” Uh, I do, and so does every other respected writer in the nation. I digress…

Don’t focus too much on the regular season success argument, it will only get you so far. If the quarterback you are arguing for is only known for regular season success and virtually no success in the postseason, you are probably better off not replying….

Some names you may hear with strong regular season success arguments…

Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Donovan McNabb, Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Brett Favre, etc.

3. Performance in the clutch

This is one of the grayest areas in quarterback arguments. What really defines “performance in the clutch.” Is it simply winning big games? Or is it making that jaw dropping throw on fourth down with :02 seconds left on the clock? Or is it bringing your team back from a ten point deficit?

It’s all of the above. Anytime the quarterback is handed the opportunity to do something great for his team, that is a clutch moment.

Now, in regards to making an argument, performance in the clutch is huge. A quarterback cannot be considered great if he cannot perform for his team when he is needed most. If the quarterback you are making the argument for has a great history of performing in the clutch, stick close to it, and make sure the person you are debating with understands who’s got that game winning touchdown.

Alas, it cannot hold you up for too long. As it is a very vague argument, an intelligent person can easily refute and/or redirect the debate.

Some names with strong arguments for performance in the clutch…Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady, John Elway, etc.

2. Postseason success

We are at number two on my list, and we are now entering the realm of “irrefutable arguments.” That means that nobody can deny these successes. Doesn’t matter how you weigh their importance, you must respect and recognize these victories.

Post-season success is the ultimate goal in the NFL. While it is a team goal and not just the quarterback’s goal, the quarterback is in the driver’s seat.

Super Bowl championships fall under this category. I don’t really have to go into detail about this one, because it is pretty obvious.

However, I must say be careful of how close you stick to this argument. If you get into the mode of: “Super Bowls are all that count, everything else is just extra worthless crap.” You are in danger of making the argument an unpleasant experience. Nobody likes the guy that won’t listen to another person’s argument on the grounds of “I am right, there is no way I am wrong.”

some names with strong post-season success arguments…
Otto Graham, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady, Troy Aikman, Bart Starr, etc.

1. Touchdowns

Everyone says: “the ultimate goal is winning Super Bowls.”

My question to that is: “how do you go about doing that?”

The most important thing in football is the scoreboard. Therefore, the most important thing for a quarterback to do, is score points. Touchdown passes are the most important thing when measuring a quarterback’s success. If you don’t throw touchdowns, you aren’t going to win games. Duh.

A quarterback is worthless if he isn’t doing his part. The quarterback’s job is to “efficiently run the offense.” Nothing is more efficient than throwing touchdown passes.

I know I’m sounding like Captain Obvious here, but it’s the truth. People make quarterback arguments too complicated with awards, wins, losses, turnovers, and worst of all other stats. The truth is, throwing touchdowns is most important for a quarterback. This is the FIRST thing a quarterback must do, then you can think about Super Bowls…

No reasonable person can sit back and say that the touchdown pass is not of the most severe importance.

Some names with strong touchdown arguments…Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton, John Elway, etc.

Questions? Comments or concerns? You know what to do….

Depth Perceptions: San Francisco 49ers’ Quarterbacks

Depth Perceptions is a weekly look at the depth chart and positional battles all over the NFL.

 

The 2008 season was supposed to be one of promise for the San Francisco 49ers but quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in a midseason coaching change and personnel change to come with it.

 

Former coach Mike Nolan’s 2-5 start led to his dismissal and NFL legend Mike Singletary was charged with turning around a franchise whose quarterback of the present and/or future, Alex Smith, was on injured reserve for the year.

 

In his first game as head coach, Singletary put his stamp on the team by replacing starter J.T. O’Sullivan with journeyman Shaun Hill.

 

The real question entering 2009 is whether or not Hill can be the starter for the long-term. Alex Smith, after all, is the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, a player who showed promise a few years ago.

 

Hill restructured his six-year, $49.5 million contract so it does not impact the team negatively and showed that he wanted to be a part of the 49er family going forward. Hill has earned the respect of his teammates but Singletary has declared the job an open competition when camp opens next week.

 

“I believe…at the right time, one of those guys will be the guy that will take us where we need to go,” Singletary said recently. “I feel very strongly that one of those guys is going to take us where we need to go. I have two quarterbacks I feel very confident about. I don’t have one great guy. I have two good guys, and somebody is going to step up.”

 

Let’s take a look at this important battle and the pros and cons of each player…

 

Shaun Hill

 

Prior to December 2007, very few fans even knew who Shaun Hill was, let alone did they have an idea of how well he would play in NFL action. Having spent time in the now-defunct NFL Europe, as well as four years as a backup with the Vikings, he had yet to even throw a pass until pressed into action due to injury and abhorrent play by his QB peers in San Francisco.

 

Even after posting a 2-0 record as a starter in 2007, the job was J.T. O’Sullivan’s in 2008 before Hill received another chance to take the snaps as the No. 1 man for the Niners.

 

Singletary’s move to Hill appeared to work as it energized a struggling squad and led them to a 5-3 record in the second half of the season.

 

While quarterback was only one of many issues to be solved in San Francisco, the Niners at least found someone on the roster that could potentially lead this team into the following season.

 

Hill’s statistics were also impressive: 62.8 completion percentage, 13 to 8 TD/INT ratio, 2046 yards in just over 8 games, and a 84 QB rating that placed him 12th in the league by season’s end.

 

While not known for overpowering arm strength, Hill has impressed with his overall athleticism and his ability to put the ball on the money for his receivers to catch in tight spaces. His size and experience are assets as he enters the season as the 49ers potential starter in 2009.

 

 

Alex Smith

 

Well, it’s safe to say the bloom is off the rose. No longer is Alex Smith the lone savior of the franchise. His big-time contract has been mostly paid out and ultimately restructured but here he remains in San Francisco, fighting for another chance at the starting job.

 

If nothing else, you have to admire that tenacity, his desire to lead the team that he was asked to lead over four years ago.

 

No one doubts Smith’s ability to read a playbook; he is by all accounts a quick learner. This will clearly help during all of the off-season workouts dealing with new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s system. But he is coming off another major injury, one that sidelined him for all of 2008.

 

One can understand the hesitance of a Niners fan to trust the fate of the franchise to Smith again but if he earns it and outplays Hill, then so be it – Singletary will hand him the job. 

 

Smith’s size, ability to thread the needle, and cerebral approach are all coveted by NFL teams, but his penchant for over analyzing, taking sacks, and throwing interceptions are equally unattractive. It should also not be underestimated that the only 25-year old QB may be fighting for his career and trying to make believers of us all.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Very often in the NFL, we see the media try to drum up interest by fabricating ‘legitimate’ positional battles, particularly at quarterback, when it’s essentially been decided before training camp starts.

 

This…is not one of those cases. This QB battle will be wide open because Singletary knows that it will help both players to raise their level of play and will create a competitive environment in training camp that he hopes will become contagious at every position.

 

Singletary knows changes have been made (hello, Michael Crabtree) that can lift his team to another level especially in a division where the title that has changed hands quite a few times this decade.

 

He was as intense a player as there ever was and you can see he is not in coaching to plod along and improve slowly—he is there to win now.

 

Unlike the Browns, the Niners’ QB battle could have a big impact on their team’s overall success and affect the playoff picture in the NFC. I think it is fair to say that Hill has the slight edge over Smith going into camp but I genuinely think this is as compelling battle going into next week as will see all summer.

 

This article orginally appeared on Fantasy Pros 911.

Athletes Labeled as Sexual Predators, Big Ben, Too

Either way you envision sports athletes, sometimes we tend to ignore that they are vulnerable of being accused as sexual predators. Over the years, professional players in general have abruptly ended up being censured and liable for sexual assault.

Anytime fame and money is involved, sports figures will attract some of the freakiest and sickest women who are just out to force athletes into sexual fantasies, which usually leads to troubling accusations of sexual assault.

As we live in a time when finances are fragile, people will try anything if money is involved. And in this age, professional athletes are primary targets of robbery and murders. But in this decade, athletic superstars have being accused of rape charges, attracting misleading women who flirt with players and pressure them into sexual activities.

Suddenly, a one-night stand turns into a nightmarish crime scene and allegations, increasingly derailing a superstar’s reputation. Then, a player’s tension rises, once a court date is set. The player then appears in front of a district attorney and judge, which ignites a case of oblivious attack. This has been a problem among athletes for a long time, and it’s not uncommon to hear of athletes’ problems with other women.

For women who are looking to have a good time, athletes are sometimes effortless in their manipulation while traveling or staying in suites. A few years back, Kobe Bryant had to appear in a Colorado courtroom on sexual assault charges. He  allegedly raped a 20-year old woman and employee at a Vail resort where he stayed at the time.

By apologizing and admitting that their fling was consensual, the rape charges were dismissed when his accuser was reluctant to engage in a criminal trail.

Bryant was an example for other athletes to utilize smarter judgment and rebuff interest of weird vibes that might come back to sabotage someone’s life. He was a prime example that athletes have to be aware of their surroundings and the women they associate with. That’s why the Bryant case is similar to the latest allegations that have appeared on our websites, televisions and newspapers.

Shamelessly, players are still getting caught in the same unlawful attributes. But it doesn’t mean they are sexual predators, however these athletes aren’t careful of their surroundings. They choose to attach to partners who falsify the night as a nightmarish affliction.

Next thing you know, the disturbed woman is screaming RAPE!

Now, it is Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who is bothered with outrageous allegations. A 31-year old woman of Nevada filed a civil lawsuit alleging that the two-time Super Bowl champ raped her in a hotel penthouse last year when she was working as a VIP casino host at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe.

Now, Big Ben is considered as a Big Bungle, assuming the woman’s allegations are true of his indiscretions.

Big Ben is still one of the premier quarterbacks in the league, described as a fierce competitor.

As bravery reveals the true sides of Roethlisberger, he is the one superstar on Sundays who can bounce back from brutal concussions and take hard hits. It is enough information to describe him as an insane daredevil who applies a winning attitude.

Since emerging into a noticeable and lovable icon in Pittsburgh, there’s not a moment that passes without the sturdy leader building upon his legacy. Besides ascending a legacy, there’s not a minute that goes by without the explosive and mobile leader taking blows from the media, who are annoyed by his reckless troubles such as the recent lawsuit.

Despite an astonishing career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger has suffered from disastrous ramifications. At one point, he was venturous and lacked common sense, when he wasn’t wearing a helmet in a severe motorcycle wreck that damn-near cost him his life. Ever since, Roethlisberger’s health hasn’t being the same.

He became a victim of concussions, sustaining three blows to the head in three years. Still, he has grown into the epicenter in Pittsburgh, engineering them to two Super Bowl championships this decade. And he became the team leader, vowing to veteran running back Jerome Betts that he was seeking to win a title for Bettis to depart on top.

The Steelers won the title that year, as he stayed true to his words, engineering them to greater things in a new era. Just recently, Roethlisberger sustained his second title in five years on one play that changed dynamics instantly, when he hurled an astonishing pass to Super Bowl hero and prolific wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who made the most spectacular catch arguably in NFL history, managing to drag his toes inside to complete the remarkable game-winning touchdown.

Thus, Roethlisberger delivers in the clutch and translated into a late-game hero. Unlawful troubles are taunting him in the background and drawing distractions among the Steelers, who are seeking to move forward. They are preparing for training camp, and focused on the upcoming season.

Although the Steelers are amid hiatus, they are equipped to win it again, with a solid and tenacious defensive unit and a prolific offensive squad. The last thing the Steelers can’t afford, are distractions to cloud up a potential run to the Super Bowl. Which is why, Roethlisberger should remain quiet after addressing the issue sincerely.

As daunting as it sounds, Roethlisberger took a stance, just as he has on the field. He took the accountability on the alleged assault in his first public comments on the dismal lawsuit at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

At the Steelers practice facility, Roethlisberger wore a brown pinstriped suit and read a prepared statement to clear his name, absolving guilt at least until further details are gathered on the “outrageous allegations”.

Sadly, in the upcoming weeks, he doesn’t know what to expect as he will ignore any comments. The lawsuit seeks a staggering $440,000 from Roethlisberger and Harrah’s seeks about $500,000. Right now, he is focusing on football and preparing for next season.

“The allegations against me are reckless and false,” he said softly. “As much as I’d like to answer everyone’s questions I’m going to respect the legal process and I’m confident that the truth will prevail.”

Good thing he is optimistic, which gives us enough sense to believe this was strictly about money. Then again, we don’t know until the truth surfaces. But now, Roethlisberger should allow his attorney and ESPN’s legal analyst, David Cornwell to communicate.

This is a moment when Roethlisberger has to remain silent, insisting that the allegations aren’t accurate. All he needed to be was concise to give us a better understanding of the weird accusations, so it wouldn’t add more distractions to a team that may be on verge of good things. With their experienced veterans and charismatic leader, the Steelers will need his tough-minded leadership and poise.

Earlier in the year when the Steelers won its sixth Super Bowl title, more than any team in the league, it was marked as one of the greatest historical accomplishments in the NFL.

On Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin was somber about the sudden allegations, which are increasingly obstructing the surrounding training camp. These allegations create a media circus, as the Steelers are seeking to make another run at a title.

And if expected to win, Roethlisberger will have to play as efficiently as he did in last season. But with all the turbulence circulating, to invoke stress is more problematic than taking severe abuse to the head. A life in jeopardy is more of a severe threat, if he is found guilty.

On the same day, Roethlisberger met with Shaquille O’Neal and ABC producers for a new reality show, which he is expected to co-host. The reality is he’ll probably be just fine, which can only make him  famous and appreciated. It is a bit surreal, and might just be a setup by women absorbing his fame and riches.

The Steelers didn’t just sign him to an eight-year, $102 million deal. They signed him to a long-term deal because his trust level is reliable.

 

And in Steelers Country, he’ll get cheered.

 

 

 

 

 

Is Michael Vick’s Return Near?

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Is Mike Teel The Next Tom Brady?

Tom Brady: He has been known as one of the most dominant QB’s over the years. But what many fail to realize is that he was a sixth rounder. 

Yes, a sixth rounder. After i saw some film of Mike Teel playing, I realized this guy may very well be the next Tom Brady and here is why:

                                                               Similarity

Type of Of Offense- They both played in a east coast offense in college an looked very similar in many ways.

Arm Strength- Both don’t have great arms, although I have to give the edge to Tom Brady if we were settling who had the better arm. Mike Teel had targets to throw to and had reliable ones too.  

Accuracy- When we Talk accuracy, I would give Mike Teel the edge, but both have great sure-handed targets to throw to, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Tom Brady had a higher completion PCT.

Mobility- Mike Teel is obviously the more mobile QB, but when looking at film it looks like he is much better in the pocket and the reason he was so mobile is the play calling done by the head coach.

Bottom line is that if Mike Teel can get a few chances to start in his second year or so, I see a future stud. I’m not talking 51 TDs, but he should put up good numbers such as 25 TDs.

 

Colin Cowherd Accuses Mike Holmgren of “Mailing It In” in 2008

Colin Cowherd, host of the The Herd on ESPN Radio, accused former Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren of “mailing it in” during the Seahawks abysmal 2008 campaign.

Here is what Cowherd had to say:

“A source told me late, like week thirteen or week fourteen in the NFL season…that Mike Holmgren had essentially mailed it in. [Holmgren had] Very little energy, looking forward to retirement, was putting in nine-to-five hours…

“[Holmgren] was on his way out before Jim Mora took the job over, and it was just sort of an unenergenized last year in Seattle. Not that he mailed it in by your standards or my standards, but by NFL standards, seventeen hours a day, Holmgren wasn’t there emotionally.”

Cowherd continued on his show to attribute part of the Seahawks 4-12 season to Holmgren’s lack of work ethic, which in my opinion, is quite misguided.

I have two main points of contention with Cowherd’s statements. First, I don’t believe that you can attribute the Seahawks 2008 shortcomings solely to Mike Holmgren. Second, even if Holmgren did “mail it in” at the end of last year, the repercussions were not as terrifying as Cowherd would have you believe.

How Much Was Mike Holmgren to Blame for the Seattle Seahawks 4-12 Record in 2008?

Not as much as most NFL fans think.

The bottom line is that the Seattle Seahawks suffered more injuries in their 2008 campaign than most teams endure in multiple years.

Here are some quick stats to show you how badly injuries decimated the Seattle Seahawks offense in 2008

• All five of the Seattle Seahawks starting offensive linemen finished the 2008 season the Injured Reserve
• Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck struggled with back injuries all year, playing in only seven games and throwing twice as many interceptions as touchdowns
• Not one position on the Seahawks offense featured the same starter all 16 weeks. In fact, only three offensive players started 12 or more weeks…
• Entering the Seattle Seahawks’ bye week in week four, the Seahawks were without the following wide receivers: Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Ben Obamanu, Logan Payne, and Seneca Wallace. Six. Yes, six! (most teams only carry six wide receivers on their active roster)
• Due to these injuries at wide receiver, the Seahawks signed/acquired/promoted/hired off the street/forced on to the field at gunpoint the following high-school all star team of receivers: Billy McMullen, Koren Robinson, Keary Colbert (you’re seeing where this is going)

Take away a team’s Pro Bowl Quarterback and they’re hurt, but they can continue.

Strip away a team’s offensive line and they are probably out of contention (most people still somehow undervalue the importance of the offensive line).

Rob a spread-offense of any potential target who played professional football prior to 2008 and you may as well start digging a grave.

Do all three of these in the same season and guess what you get? A 4-12 record.

I watched most of the Seahawks games in 2008, and to tell the truth, they were simply overmatched on the offensive side of the ball to do anything.

When your offense isn’t productive, it doesn’t spend time on the field. When your offense doesn’t spend time on the field, your defense doesn’t get a break. When your defense doesn’t get a break, it becomes overworked and underperforms.

When your offense is habitually unproductive and your defense is regularly overworked, what do you get? A 4-12 record.

While coaching certainly affects winning and losing, it can only do so much with a group of CFL has-beens.

For excellent analysis of the Seattle offense time-management problems last year see the Rob Staton article here.

Even if Mike Holmgren did “Mail It In”… So What?

Note: I am neither acknowledging Cowherd’s statements as true nor endorsing Holmgren’s behavior if Cowherd’s statements were in fact true.

Let’s assume that Cowherd is right. Let’s assume that Holmgren was only working nine-to-five in the final weeks of the 2008 season and that he was looking forward to retirement. Here is question I pose to Colin Cowherd: So what?

So what, Colin Cowherd? So what if, as you say, Mike Holmgren started to “mail it in” around week 13 or 14 last year?

Let’s take a look at the Seattle Seahawks at that time.

Entering week 13, the Seattle Seahawks were 2-9. Matt Hasselbeck returned from a back injury in week 11 only to lead the Seahawks to two straight losses, all while being forced to throw the ball to guys like Courtney Taylor and Koren Robinson.

Morale was low, blood pressures were high, and everyone was their own Jim Mora when the playoffs were mentioned.

Looking up at a 7-4 Arizona Cardinals team, who the Seahawks lost to only in week 10, the Seahawks had accepted the fact that, for the first time in a long time, they would not go to the playoffs.

So let’s say you’re right, Colin Cowherd. Let’s say Mike Holmgren looks at his injury decimated, non-driven, offensively challenged team and decides to slack off at the end of the year.

You know what I say to that? I wish it had happened!

Instead of fading into oblivion at the end of last season, as Colin Cowherd believes Mike Holmgren would have accepted, the Seattle Seahawks went 2-1 in their final three games.

The ‘Hawks beat a miserable Rams team in week 15, crippled the Fighting Brett Favres’ playoff chances in week 16, and (for some reason) in the course of these two victories knocked themselves out of contention in the fight for the No. 2 draft pick (let’s be honest—Detroit had No. 1 locked).

Had it been as you say, Colin, and Mike Holmgren simply mailed it in, I would have gladly accepted two more losses at the end of last year, a 2-14 record, and jumping up another notch in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Instead, the Seahawks played admirably at the end of 2008, somehow winning two games with a mix-and-match offense, and letting Mike Holmgren leave Seattle with as much dignity as anyone could in his situation.

A victory over the New York Jets in Mike Holmgren’s final game at Qwest Field was a fitting end to his time in Seattle.

I like the conspiracy theories, Colin, but the Seahawks struggles in 2008 were far deeper than a lack of effort by the coaching staff.

I don’t care if Mike Holmgren mailed it in, e-mailed it, sent it FedEx, or hand-delivered it, I’m just glad that we had him for the Seahawks most successful run in franchise history.

Thanks Mike.

–sk–

The Giants Have a Decision to Make About Eli Manning’s New Contract

I respect the opinion of those who think Eli Manning deserves every penny that he will be paid with his new contract. While he does have a title and a Super Bowl MVP, ultimately the Giants will be bidding against themselves. Around the NFL, he is viewed as a Quarterback who has been blessed with an excellent team around him and a clutch QB. While most people though only look at the latter, Manning at times in inconsistent and the Giants will win games inspite of him rather than because of him.

There aren’t going to be many teams (if any) that will sign Manning if he hits the open market after the 2009 season.  To pay a Quarterback the kind of money that Eli Manning will try to get, is a lot of money for someone who isn’t asked to perform at an excellent level throughout the entire game. 

For the Giants though, he fits in well within their system and is the type of leader that the organization has been coveting since Phil Simms retired.  Manning is worth the money to the Giants, because he has won them a Super Bowl in addition to three other post-season appearances as well as a Pro Bowl. The Giants would be paying him for his past accomplishments.

The NFL is a business, whether anyone wants to admit it or not and if I were anyone making the decisions, I would open up negotiations at a very low number (maybe seven years, $80 Million) while obviously this is a lot of money, it is nowhere near the $120 Million that he is seeking, to make him the highest paid player in NFL history.

The bottom line is that Eli Manning needs to prove himself this year, that without Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, he can be an effective QB.  If he is able to have a successful season and make some type of playoff run, he will prove that the 2007 championship was not a fluke. If he does all of that, than pay him the money that he deserves. If the Giants are able to capture Super Bowl XLIV than the Giants should hand him a blank check. If not the Giants should try and sign him, but make sure they have enough money to bring in other players to help get them back to the promised land.

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