July 2009 News

Andre “The Giant” Brown and The New York Backfield

Published: July 23, 2009

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The Giants got good grades (unintentional alliteration) from the critics when they drafted Andre Brown in the fourth round.  Many had ranked Brown as a potential second round pick, and CBS sports even ranked him as the fifth best running back in the draft.  So when the talented back from North Carolina fell to the Giants at pick 129, I’m sure Jerry Reese was ecstatic.

In 2008, Brown set a personal record with 175 carries, 767 yards, and 7 touchdowns although he posted the lowest yards/carry of his career (4.4).  In four years of college, Brown totaled 498 carries, 2539 yards, and 22 touchdowns on the ground, with a 5.1 yards/carry.  He also added 70 receptions for 631 yards and 2 touchdowns.

One concern is his health, as he fractured his left foot in 2007 and had surgery again in 2008.  He appears to be fully recovered.

Brown has many strengths: he is a smart player, a strong runner, a good receiver, and blocker.  He may not have track-star speed, and he isn’t the shiftiest of runners, but he does enough things right to be a quality running-back.  Some have compared him to Derrick Ward, the player he will be competing to replace.

Brown will face some heavy competition for the role of Brandon Jacobs’ change-of-pace back.  Ahmad Bradshaw, who was the No. 3 back last season, is the most logical choice to move into Ward’s vacated role of “Wind” to Jacobs’ “Earth.”  And then there’s Danny Ware, who has impressed in pre-season, but has always been buried in the Giants’ depth chart.

This should be a battle that is fought through training camp into the pre-season, as all three backs will be given an opportunity to prove that they deserve more time on the field. 

If I had to guess (which I don’t, but I will) I’d say Bradshaw finally gets to show that his performance during the 2007 Super Bowl run was not a fluke.  His speed, elusiveness, and ability to be a tough inside runner is a perfect compliment to Brandon Jacobs’ style of power running.

It should be a closer battle for the No. 3 spot.  Ware has patiently waited his turn, and I’d like to see the Giants finally give him a chance to come into his own.  However, they spent a fourth round pick on Andre Brown and they need to see what they have in him and give him some seasoning.  Of any of the three backups, I believe he is most likely to become a feature back.

Again, If I had to guess, I’d say that Bradshaw will be the clear No. 2 guy, but will not receive as many carries (182) as Ward did last season.  That will allow both Ware and Brown to see the field on offense, with Brown receiving more carries.  They may also contribute on special teams.

No matter how the running back situation shakes out, there is one thing I am sure of: the Giants have an impressive stable of young and talented backs.  What makes it even more impressive is the fact that none of them were drafted before the fourth round.  Jacobs and Brown were fourth rounders, Bradshaw a seventh rounder, and Ware an undrafted free agent. 

That is a true testament to the drafting of Jerry Reese and Ernie Accorsi in recent years.


NFC South: Division Rankings

Published: July 23, 2009

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We look at the last division in the series. Today is the NFC South. A conference with talent, there are many options to consider.
However, I am not done yet. After this, I will begin to move to the playoffs with the teams I have chosen to win. So keep reading and look out for my next edition on the playoffs.


Terrell Owens: Cereal Killer!

Published: July 23, 2009

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From league fights to breaking records and staring in his own show on VH1, Terrell Owens doesn’t stop reigning the sports media.

 

Now T.O. has a new product to market: The extremely limited edition of T.O. Honey Nut Toasted Oats Cereal.

 

Starring on his own box cover, “T.O.’s” will only be sold at Tops supermarkets in western New York (Buffalo-Niagara region and the Greater Rochester area.) The cereal will hit the shelves at the end of July.

 

“Terrell’s signing with the Buffalo Bills has been a widely popular move locally, and we expected fans in western New York, central New York and northwest Pennsylvania will be eager to have a box of T.O.’s on their breakfast table,” said CEO of Tops supermarket, Frank Curci.

 

Some may call this the battle of the O’s against Owens’ cereal and the heart protecting Cheerios. A blogger on Yahoo sports, mark w, argued that despite the taste of the cereal would probably be good, “T.O. rips off Honey Nut Cheerios. Just like he assumes he is the greatest wide receiver ever, he cannot even have an original cereal made.”

 

Owens left Texas’ Star City on March 7, 2009 to head into Buffalo with a one-year, $6.5 million deal to start for the Bills as his fourth NFL team in 15-years.

 

In accepting the move, fans are convinced this is Buffalo’s year to make it big, since the early 90’s in their four consecutive year Super Bowl appearances and no wins, but, will he be able to play in –5 degrees and eight additional inches of lake effect snow on Sundays?

 

Owens kept jersey No. 81, while James Hardy, sophomore wide receiver for the Bills and original wearer of No. 81, switched to No. 84.

 

What next for T.O.? The Bachelor on ABC…maybe?

 

If you’re not from WNY, buy your T.O. cereal at www.plbsports.com and wake up with T.O.!


Eli Manning: Worth Every Penny

Published: July 23, 2009

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It is only a matter of time before quarterback of the New York Giants, Eli Manning, most likely becomes the highest paid player in NFL history with his new contract extension looming.

The question many Giants fans are asking is: Does he deserve it?

And to put it simply, yes, he absolutely does.

Eli Manning has always received harsh criticism from the media in the Big Apple and fans throughout the country for his sometimes less-than-stellar performances. That’s the price you pay when you ask to be traded to the media capital of the world!

That said, Manning’s calm demeanor and “aw shucks” expressions represent the kind of personality needed to lead the New York Giants. Statistically, Eli doesn’t compare favorably to the other star quarterbacks from his draft class, Ben Roethlisberger and Phillip Rivers. 

There are a few reasons why this is the case. For one, Manning plays in the toughest division in the NFL, the NFC East. The other three teams that comprise the division, the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins, always seem to be in the conversation of being playoff contenders each year.

This year especially, every team in the division looks like it will have an elite defense, or at least on paper.

Secondly, Eli Manning doesn’t need to put up gaudy numbers for his team to win games because of their dominance on defense and run-oriented offense.

When you have a three-headed monster in running backs Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware tearing up yardage on the ground, there is much less pressure on the quarterback to have to put up huge numbers to win a game.

Last season, Manning had the best statistical season of his career. 

He threw for 21 TD’s, had a completion percentage of 60.3 percent, threw only 10 interceptions and had an average quarterback rating of 86.4.

Not too shabby at all.

But even despite all of his accomplishments such as taking his team to the playoffs each year that he has been a full-time starter, putting together the greatest two-minute drill ever seen in the waning moments of Super Bowl XLII to conquer the Patriots, earning a Super Bowl MVP, and being a Pro-Bowler, Eli still garners more criticism than praise. 

That might also be because of who his older brother is, Peyton Manning, longtime quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. 

To compare them is unfair: They play for different teams, in different divisions and run different offenses. 

Don’t get me wrong, Peyton Manning will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he finally decides to hang up the cleats, but he and his brother are unique in the ways they quarterback their teams. 

Giants fans know what Eli is capable of and have witnessed it themselves firsthand. 

Is he the best quarterback in the league? 

No way, but it doesn’t matter. He is the face of the franchise now and will be for several years to come. And I have a hunch, he’d love more than anything to add a championship ring to his other hand. 

Manning lost some weapons this offseason in receivers Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress, but that should only motivate him to prove to the naysayers that he can win even without a star at wideout. 

Don’t look at statistics, look at what he has done for us on the field Giants fans. 

When all is said and done, we’ll be having the last laugh.


Jacksonville Jaguars’ Troy Williamson Is The Forgotten Man

Published: July 23, 2009

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The only time you ever hear about certain players on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster is when they are signed, cut, or get in trouble. They are the forgotten few on a team already lacking household names. Some of these players will be embroiled in high-profile position battles during training camp.

Still, they barely show up on the radar screen when discussing these battles.

Some players are so invisible they almost need to get their picture on the side of a milk carton to gain any sort of recognition.

One such player is wide receiver and former first-round selection, Troy Williamson.

When the Jaguars traded for Williamson last year, the investment was minimal. In return for the former top ten draft pick, the Jaguars gave up a sixth round selection in the 2008 draft. 

The hope was that a change of scenery would do Williamson a lot of good.

Unfortunately, the speedy receiver, panned as a guy with blazing speed and hands of stone wound up struggling to get on the field for most of the season as a result of a leg injury. He finished the season with only five receptions and 30-yards of receiving to his credit.

The predominant expectation for Williamson entering 2009 was that he would not be on the roster for very long.

Jerry Porter, Reggie Williams, Dennis Northcutt, and Matt Jones were all sent packing following a disappointing 2008.

Somehow Williamson survived.

Perhaps the team was practicing some level of patience.

Coming out of South Carolina in 2005, Williamson was one of the more highly touted receivers in the draft. He struggled for three years trying to overcome an issue with dropped passes before the Minnesota Vikings had grown weary of his unfulfilled potential.

He was not a receiver known for dropping passes in college. In fact, as a junior he led the Southeastern Conference in receiving touchdowns (7) and receiving yards per game (83.5). He tied an SEC record with a 99-yard touchdown reception, and was named first team All-SEC in his final year at South Carolina.

When Williamson arrived in Minnesota, the expectations he had to live under were more than he could deal with. He landed on the Vikings roster as Randy Moss was being dealt to Oakland. The team gave Williamson a tremendous vote of confidence by inserting him as Moss’ replacement immediately.

Anyone with even the most casual knowledge about the history of the NFL is aware of how difficult it is for receivers to become productive members of a roster entering the league. Most rookie wide outs have a tendency to struggle, and these challenges are only exacerbated by the escalated hopes that come with being a first-round selection.

Williamson did not deliver, and the fans turned on him very quickly.

The blazing speed was never a question. Williamson could fly. But, no matter how open Williamson might have gotten because of his speed, the prospect of throwing the ball in his direction was usually accompanied by a collective cringe as people waited to see if he actually held on to the football.

On far too many occasions a wide open Williamson would finish a play trotting back to the huddle after muffing a catch.

When the Jaguars and Vikings reached an agreement on trading a late round pick for Williamson, Jacksonville felt it had gotten the better end of the deal. With his speed, Williamson would immediately offer the team a deep threat and a return specialist. That combination would be an absolute steal if he panned out.

Unfortunately, just when he was given the opportunity to turn his career around with a fresh start in Jacksonville, the injury happened.

The injury took away the one asset Williamson brought to the table that landed him on the Jaguars to begin with: his speed.

Without the speed, he was just another guy with suspect hands.

His slow recovery only made things worse.

As the team struggled through a disappointing season where the receiving corps was a leading contributor to the 5-11 record, Williamson was nowhere to be found.

When the roster purge began, Williamson had to be avoiding phone calls from the 904 area code. He must have felt his time in Jacksonville was coming to an end. But, the call never came.

Entering mini-camp and organized team activities, he was still on the roster.

He was now faced with many new faces. With only Mike Walker still wearing teal, Williamson has been forced to jump into an open competition with three rookie draft picks and two free agents for one of five or six roster spots.

The odds of Williamson making the team seem unlikely, unless of course he rediscovers his speed and, more importantly his hands.

It is situations like this where good players rise to the occasion, and disappointing players fade into the background.

Williamson is finally in a position where the pressure to live up to expectations is gone, and he can focus his energy on trying to make the roster.

No matter what happens with the Jaguars, his speed is going to be a real lure for some team. Speed always gets a lot of attention in the NFL. The hope is that he becomes the most productive sixth-round draft pick in franchise history, but at this point with the level of young competition he has to face, the more likely scenario is that he gets some quality video to take with him as he departs Jacksonville in search of a new team.

The time has come for Williamson to leverage his veteran experience, and his physical talents to win a roster spot. Nobody is expecting him to make noise or compete for a roster spot, so a nice run in training camp and the preseason could make him the comeback player for the Jaguars.

It all rests on those hands.


Why I’m Rooting For Pittsburgh Steeler’s Big Ben

Published: July 23, 2009

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I’ll come out and say it: I’m rooting for Ben Roethlisberger to emerge unscathed from the allegations of rape.

Sports figures running into trouble with the law has become commonplace, but this one feels personal.  I was born in Ben’s hometown of Findlay, OH.  I have never met the man and I’m not a Steelers fan, but we have something in common and that causes me to root for Ben on a deeper level.

My small connection aside, I can’t help but question some of the details emerging in this developing story.

Similar accusations tend to involve some sort of romantic rendezvous ending with some bad judgement.  Apparently, the woman was sent to the room to fix a television.

I also find it troubling that the woman has not filed criminal charges.  I can’t pretend to know the psychological trauma caused by a true rape victim, but I believe that pressing criminal charges would be the first thing to come to mind.

Perhaps it would be too strong to label Ms. McNulty a gold digger.  The information set forth to date may suggest that it is not. It does not appear that Roethlisberger can be suckered into settling out of court for a sum of money.  Ben vowed to fight the allegations at a press conference today.

We have seen convincing denials before.  Rafael Palmeiro and President Clinton come to mind.  I’m hoping this one is different.


A Dark Knight: Brett Favre Lacks Class If He Returns Again

Published: July 23, 2009

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Human beings like to believe that all men and women are endowed with the ability to ask for forgiveness when they have wronged others, or grant forgiveness to others who have wronged them.

Nevertheless, we are a flawed species, not perfect. The reality is man possesses ugly, fatal flaws that lust for money, fame, power, and other passions which lead to his downfall time and again. History is witness, and Greek tragedy testimony to such harmartia. 

In 2009 A.D., sports fans have been spectators to such figures that qualify for tragic heroic treatment that even Sophocles could use.

Such a figure is Brett Favre. 

For the past 16 months, Favre once again has tormented himself with the question of his retirement from the gridiron.

Still fresh in collective memory is his tearful goodbye to Green Bay in March of 2008. Then, there was his controversial return to the field of battle last summer, but the Indian summer of his heroic achievements soon turned to nightmare before Christmas with the New York Jets.  

Now, it’s another summer of rumors that ‘ole No. 4 is not ready to hang up the cleats and pads for a pair of hush puppies, a cigar, and a fishing rod. 

Favre wants another comeback, this time with the Green Bay Packers’ most hated rival: The Minnesota Vikings.

Favre in purple, not green. 

The question remains: What is his real goal? To win a second Super Bowl? Probably. Most athletes want to go out the way John Elway departed in 1997 and 1998 with back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

But most assuredly, it’s not the norm. Michael Jordan tried and failed. Roger Clemens tried too. Dan Marino wanted to try, but couldn’t do it because of his battle-scared knees. 

Or, is his motivation something darker, more disturbing? Could it be revenge? 

Favre made it no secret last summer that he was angry at the Packers for not welcoming him back like a returning hero when he changed his mind in July, and it became obvious that the Packers had no choice but to move with Aaron Rogers as the team’s starting quarterback. 

Favre threatened he wanted to be traded to only the Vikings, or Chicago Bearssuch a move would have occasioned the lives of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy to become miserable.

Nonetheless, the Packers finally rid themselves of Favre on Aug. 7, trading him to the Jets. 

Favre wasn’t done taking his anger to the Pack, as rumors surfaced in late September that Favre had called former Lions general manager Matt Millen to highlight some secret plays that the Packers usually gameplan for whenever they played the lowly Lions. That phone call didn’t help the Lions much, who still went 0-16 for the season. 

Then Favre’s new team, the Jets, took center stage for the nation to see. Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 record through Thanksgiving, then orchestrated one of the greatest regular-season collapses in NFL history. 

Rumblings from fellow teammates like Kerry Rhodes and Thomas Jones began to surface that Favre was always “distant” from his Jets teammates, rarely hanging out with them, rarely talking to them, and never showing any leadership when the team needed him the most. 

On top of this, Favre played his final five games injured, refusing to take himself out of the game so that “his team” might have a better chance to win. As a result, the Jets finished 2008 at 9-7, and Eric Mangini lost his job as head coach. 

Did Favre take any responsibility for what had occurred? Any remorse? No and no. 

Instead, Favre had his sights set on returning to the field with the Vikings. Once the Jets let him go in April, Favre was a free man. 

Now, he is toying with the Vikings.

He claims he is “unsure” how his newly-repaired right shoulder will react to the violence of throwing a football consistently, and he continues to tantalize the Vikings by telling them that he will come to a final decision before the end of the month on his playing status. 

Meanwhile, the Vikings, who some think have the talent to compete for a World Championship, are trying to find ways to prepare for a season amid the distractions of the latest blockbuster summer sequel Favre Mania Redux. 

Does Favre care about the Vikings? Does he feel any responsibility for permitting the 90-plus players at camp twist in the wind awaiting with bated breath on his decision? Probably not.

Favre just cares about Favre.

If Favre wanted to do the decent thing, he would come out today and announce his retirement. He would ask for forgiveness from the Green Bay Packers for causing them so much heartache last summer. He would apologize to the New York Jets for not giving them 110 percent all season long, and apologize to the Vikings for confusing them at the most critical time of the year for an NFL franchise.

Then, he should tuck tail and ride into the sunset the way heroes are supposed to do, not to return to the public view until his induction Canton six years from the day he finally retires.

Only then can the fans forgive Favre his harmartia. 


Denver’s Patchwork Defensive Line Could Kill The Season

Published: July 23, 2009

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Two years ago, Mike Shannahan hired Jim Bates to apply his two-gap 4-3 defense. The Broncos drafted linemen Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, and Marcus Thomas and signed free agents Sam Adams and Simeon Rice.

Unfortunately the changes didn’t live up to the hype, as Denver finished 30th in rushing defense and 19th in overall defense.

Last year, Shannahan fired Bates in favor of Bob Slowik and a more conventional 4-3 defense. The Broncos then acquired defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson in a trade with the Jets and placed linemen Kenny Peterson and Nic Clemons on the main roster. Once again the unit fell apart and Denver finished 27th in rushing defense and 29th in overall defense.

See a pattern yet?

If there is one major factor that led to Shanny’s exit from LoDo, it was that he was a very poor talent evaluator of defensive linemen, especially with players from the draft.

His inability to put together a quality front four took all the potential his past two Broncos’ teams had and squashed it before the season could even begin.

One of the general concepts in football is if your team can stop the run, your chances of success go way up. As much of a boring cliche as that may be, there is truth to it; out of the teams that ranked in the top 10 in defending the run last year, 7 of them made the playoffs. So what does all of this mean for the Broncos this year?

Trouble. Truckloads of it.

The new d-line put together by Josh McDaniels is terrifying, in a bad way. None of the players on the roster have much if any starting experience in a 3-4 scheme (the system that will be used this year by defensive coordinator Mike Nolan) and many of them have been career backups.

Last month during team mini-camps, Ronnie Fields, Ryan McBean, and Kenny Peterson were taking snaps with the first team defense. A root canal without painkillers may hurt less than for those three to be the starters come September.

Marcus Thomas, the 2007 4th round pick with “1st round potential” is also still on the roster and has yet to make an impact that is non-marijuana related. Moss and Crowder have been banished to linebacker in the hope that they might actually show up and play some football.

The rookie d-lineman, led by Chris Baker, Rulon Davis, Carlton Powell, and Everette Pedescleaux (say that three times fast), have fans hoping for a gem. The problem with gems is that you have to pull them out of a pile of rocks and look closely before you can decide if you have one or not.

There is no doubt that many of the guys I mentioned have the potential to be good players, but the Broncos can’t keep placing all their hopes on potential. They need solid contributions from players who will be good, not from ones who could be.

To be fair, it was slim pickings this offseason for d-linemen whose abilities fit the 3-4 system. The asking price for high commodities such as Albert Haynesworth and B.J. Raji was far too high and undeserving.

Guys like Igor Olshansky, Grady Jackson, and Chris Canty were available though, and would’ve brought more proven resumes to Denver’s defensive reboot than the ones McDaniels recruited.

I may sound like a pessimist, but I have viewed this subject from each perspective. Sayre’s excellent training camp preview shined a much more positive light on how these players could turn out, and in a perfect world that’s exactly what would happen.

Unfortunately, these days Dove Valley is anything but a perfect world. The dark clouds that formed at the end of the Mike Shannahan era are not to be parted easily. If anything, the Broncos will win less games before they win more, struggle mightily before they succeed. Before that shift to sunnier skies can proceed, the defense must improve.

Someday we may all have a good laugh over how much I underestimated these players, but I don’t believe that will be this season. It won’t be next season or any season after until the talent at Denver’s defensive line finally gets the upgrade it so sorely needs.

However, I would love to be proven wrong.


Pro Football 101: How To Pick Against The Point Spread

Published: July 23, 2009

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There are really two reasons why the NFL is by far the most popular sport in America today: fantasy football and gambling. 

Without it, who’d really watch the 3-10 Browns play the 4-9 Bengals outside of their loyal fanbases in December?

Very few.

But gambling keeps interest levels high.

So what is the best way to pick games using the point spread?

Pro Football 101 uses four factors when deciding which game to pick: teams, a team’s record at home versus on the road, date/weather, and record against the spread.

While the last one isn’t nearly as important as the first three, there are teams who get very hot against the spread, and it’s worth noting as you can bankroll their streak.

 

The Teams Involved

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Some teams are just better than others, and tend to perform more consistently on a weekly basis. They should always be in the conversation when deciding teams to bet on.

Team’s Record at Home/Road

Most teams in today’s NFL cannot win on the road. For example, the .500 Texans from a year ago were just 2-6 away from home.

If you have a decent team with a horrible road record, don’t be afraid to bet against them, even if who you bet on is .500 or below overall.  The odds are in your favor that the road team will continue to play poorly while your team, playing at home, will step up and cover the spread.

Date/Weather

When and where is the game taking place? Is it early in the season, or after a team has clinched a playoff spot?

When the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals went to New England late last year, as a seven-point underdog and playing in the cold, they were pulverized 47-7. And by the third quarter, Kurt Warner was out of the game.

It didn’t matter though, because they had already wrapped up the NFC West. So keep an eye on the circumstances surrounding the games, i.e. date, weather, key injuries, etc.

Record Against the Spread

Some teams, whether they’re the favorites or underdogs, have an uncanny ability to cover the spread…while others, who possess solid overall records, aren’t as fortunate.

In 2008, the 2-14 Chiefs were 8-8 against the spread, while the 12-4 Panthers were 8-7-1.

Although they had completely different outcomes to their respective seasons, both returned about the same amount of money to your online gaming account.

So keep an eye on these trends.

Conclusion

As with anything in life, luck definitely plays its part, but if you keep these four things in mind when picking your teams each week, it should greatly increase your chances for success.


2008 Injury Bug: Which Returning Players Will Make Biggest Impact in ’09?

Published: July 23, 2009

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Many teams were hit by the injury bug during the 2008 season. Key components to an offense or defense were lost due to these injuries, most leading to a season of non-success. There are five worthy stars who were hit with injuries early on, and now, they are looking to make a comeback in 2009.

 

5. Shawne Merriman

San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was decimated with injuries in the ACL area, which required season-ending surgery only a few weeks into the season.

Despite not being much of a factor last season, Merriman wants to make an impact on a Chargers defense that faced great trouble in 2008.

Though many people believe that Merriman is no longer a dominating player, from San Diego’s perspective, his rehab did go well, and he should be ready for opening weekend.

While Merriman is considered a linebacker, he is one of the best pass rushers in the game, recording 12.5 sacks in the 2007 season.

Merriman’s return improves San Diego’s pass rush and their run defense.

 

4. Matt Hasselbeck

The Seattle Seahawks faced a disappointing season that was littered with injured players, one of them being quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

In the seven games he played, Hasselbeck passed for 1,216 yards along with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The key to Seattle’s success under new coach Jim Mora is the health of Hasselbeck. His return will be beneficial, especially since he can rely on a new No. 1 target, T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Many experts have tabbed the Seahawks as this year’s surprise team. If Hasselbeck plays up to his capability, playoffs will reign in the rainy city this time around.

 

3. Osi Umenyiora

The New York Giants were hit with the injury bug during the preseason when they lost Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season.

Umenyiora’s 13 sacks in 2007 led to the Giants’ magical Super Bowl run.

With Umenyiora back, the team receives a dominant pass rusher alongside Justin Tuck, which the Giants lacked due to the retirement of Michael Strahan.

Look for Osi’s return to be crucial for the Giants and their quest back to the Super Bowl.

 

2. Carson Palmer

The Cincinnati Bengals faced a horror show under backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who, for the first time in his career, was under center as a starter for 10-plus games.

The horror show was created by the injury to Carson Palmer, who was shut down quickly in 2008.

Palmer has shown strides as a quarterback; however, injuries have kept him from taking the next step in his career. With the loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Bengals are lucky to have Chad Ocho Cinco around.

Some scouts think Cincinnati is a sleeper in the AFC this season. 

As Carson Palmer becomes a legitimate candidate for Comeback Player of the Year, he shall rise to the top of the quarterback rankings as he has in the past.

 

1. Tom Brady

Everyone had to see this coming. Like him or hate him, the Patriots will rely on Tom Brady to take them to another playoff appearance, even though he is coming off an injury that led to multiple surgeries.

New England has come out and said Brady is doing well and will be ready for the season. Though it’s hard to believe anything Bill Belichick says, the front office wouldn’t have dealt Matt Cassel if they felt Brady would not be ready for the season.

Besides, all their weapons from the record-breaking 2007 season have returned. A running game could be in the works as well with the signing of Fred Taylor.

The hype around Brady’s return is there for a reason, so I expect Brady will excel during the 2009 season.

 

Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a columnist for nfldraftbible.com along with being a Ravens writer for FanHuddle.com, which opens this fall.


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