Brady Quinn Versus Derek Anderson: One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall

Written by Daniel Wolf

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

To start, I could not resist using a Transformers quote in the headline of this article since the movie is killing it at the box offices around the world and quickly approaching a worldwide gross of $1 billion.

Over the past several months, I have been reading article after article after article about the quarterback competition, and I kept telling myself, “I really don’t want to get involved by writing an article of my own, since there have been so many articles thus far.”

Now I cannot resist.

I compare it to the cartoons where a character is shown a giant button but told not to push it no matter what.

After staring at that button for so long now, I have to push it because it’s driving me crazy.

So here it goes…I’m pushing the button.

It really doesn’t matter who you like and dislike in the quarterback competition, because it is not your decision in the end.

Browns coach Eric Mangini will be making a final decision to end the never-ending quarterback competitions here in Cleveland.

Hopefully…it will be the right decision in the long run and there is nothing you, as a fan, can do about it.

Whether it is Quinn or Anderson, whoever does come out on top, needs to perform under the pressure of playing for the Browns.

The Cleveland fans are relentless and have always loved the backup quarterback, especially whenever the starter does not perform at a high level, which will be a lot of pressure on whoever wins this.

With the Browns looking to focus on running the ball a lot more in 2009, Anderson’s gunslinger style of play will probably not cut it, but it still remains to be seen if Quinn is really the answer at quarterback since it is not known if he can consistently and accurately throw down the field.

If Quinn or Anderson do not produce in 2009, then look for the Browns to consider taking a quarterback in the 2010 NFL Draft, with top quarterback prospects Colt McCoy of Texas and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma.

Or maybe Brett Ratliff is the answer if Quinn or Anderson don’t pan out. Not too much is known about Ratliff, except that he smoked the Browns in a preseason game last year.

In conclusion, instead of continuing the endless search for its franchise quarterback, how about either Quinn or Anderson just stepping up and taking over this franchise that needs a permanent face at quarterback.

Remember in Transformers, Optimus Prime is the one left standing, but he takes a serious beating to get there.

Who will be the Browns version of Optimus Prime and be left standing at the end?

Quinn versus Anderson…let the battle begin!

Which NFL GM’s Wife Will Let Him Sign Michael Vick?

Michael Vick’s eventual home in the NFL has very little to do with football.

It has nothing to do with what offensive schemes can accommodate him, what coaches covet his talents, or what teams have needs at quarterback.

It has everything to do with image.

There are plenty of NFL head coaches that could use Vick’s talents, but it’s the General Manager’s decision. And in a situation as precarious as this, any GM has to consider everyone involved.

How would signing Vick affect the other players on the team? The coaches? The fans? Anyone who holds a stake, financially or emotionally, in the franchise?

And finally, will his wife let him come home at night, after signing someone who went to jail for a crime against puppies?

It’s unlikely that Michael Vick will be a starting quarterback anywhere in the NFL, perhaps ever again. While he did lead Atlanta to the playoffs, he was never an accurate passer, and the Hawks always struggled with maximizing the effect of Vick’s abilities.

Instead, with the rise of the Wildcat offense the NFL finally has a place for Michael Vick. The Wildcat’s novelty will wear off soon, but the advantages of a single-wing offense don’t go away—if the ball is snapped directly to the ball-carrier, then there’s one extra blocker since the quarterback isn’t on the field.

Look for Vick to get some touches with the feel of an old-school option—run if the running’s good, or air it out deep if the defense cheats the coverage to protect the run.

But wherever he goes, controversy (at least for a time) will likely follow. Each NFL team is a business, literally a franchise—and controversy this incendiary can damage a brand in a way that takes a long time to rebuild.

That’s a good reason why the Oakland Raiders, an oft-recurring name in the Vick sweepstakes, could be such a good fit. Besides Al Davis’s well-known lust for speed on his roster, the Raiders’ image is already unpopular with protective moms across the country.

It’s hard to imagine that adding Vick to their already-thuggish appearance could harm their brand in any appreciable way.

The New England Patriots are another potential Vick suitor that has been bandied about, and the opposite is true for them. It’s thought that if Bill Belichick reined in Randy Moss—who has been conspicuously well-behaved for years—then he can mentor Michael Vick to the point that he humbles a bit and re-enters the real world, where the rest of us live.

For any other franchise, the risks could just be too great. Could they see a drop in ticket sales? Protests outside the stadium before big games?

Or would selling a whole crop of #7 jerseys make up for losses anywhere else?

It seems just as likely that no truly sour consequences will come to the franchise. Athletes get in legal trouble with striking regularity, and generally without repercussions for the team.

It’s hard to remember now that Kobe Bryant had a legal spat in Colorado. Allen Iverson had served time in jail. Nobody seemed to mind the Dallas Cowboys picking up Tank Johnson after his legal troubles, and the Cleveland Browns don’t seem worried about kickback from Donte’ Stallworth’s brush with the law—in which he killed a man.

But for most NFL teams, the risk is just too big to take. Rejection by their fan community can take years to repair, and most GM’s don’t want to gamble with the image of their team by signing Michael Vick.

Even if their wife would let them.

 

Read more by Roger Pimentel at HowToWatchSports.com.

Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp: The Time Is Now

The Cincinnati Bengals are at Georgetown College and ready for their first practice today at 3:00 PM.  The Bengals are looking to rebound from a 4-11-1 disastrous 2008 season.  Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco are both looking to regain their status as one of the league’s best quarterback-receiver tandems.

In June, Ochocinco told NFL Network, “There is no 85 without 9 and there is no 9 without 85.”

Ochocinco has been quite the social-media butterfly this summer, becoming a regular user of Twitter.  From his “Yo Momma” jokes to the fake face tattoos, OGOchoCinco never ceases to entertain.  Even though NFL officials said no tweeting during games, Ochocinco said, “I’m going to take this tweet to the next level and take it extreme.”

Ochocinco appears determined to make fans forget about last year’s horrible season.  Much of that will depend on whether or not Palmer can stay healthy.  After missing most of last season with an elbow injury, Palmer says his elbow is strong and ready to go.

While not saying this is a make-or-break year, Palmer did say, “The time is now.  We’ve got a lot of talent.  We’ve got a lot of good people, good individuals.”

Hopefully, one of those good individuals includes Chris Henry.  Bengal fans, coaches and players are counting on him staying out of trouble.  If he can do that, look for him to have a big season.  Talent has never been a question with Henry.

The Bengals have 78 players in camp.  Free agent rookie guard Colin Dow was cut after failing his physical.  First-round draft pick Andre Smith remains unsigned.

A Plea to Jerry Reese: Please Sign Michael Vick

Michael Vick is still unemployed. A number of teams have openly said Vick is not on their radar. Only three teams—Washington, Tampa, and Arizona—showed up to a workout Vick was hosting.

Jerry Reese, please go sign Vick.

The case for Vick to the Giants is one that has not been made. But the case for New England has. What’s so different about New York and New England? Nothing.

Like the Patriots, the Giants have an established, respected coach who instills discipline. Tom Coughlin signed an extension after the Giant won Super Bowl XLII. Win or lose, it is unlikely Coughlin leaves New York. With Coughlin as coach, Vick will get plenty of discipline.

Additionally, the Giants have an established quarterback who will not lose his starting job to Vick. Manning is a good teammate and he will not have to worry about his new teammate and former quarterback.

In fact, maybe having Vick will be good for Manning—the spotlight will no longer be on the quarterback, and that’s how Manning likes it.

Besides quarterback, the Giants have an established running back, offensive line, two defensive ends, defensive tackle, middle linebacker and corner. Vick would come into a locker room filled with leaders and a handful of stars.

Vick would see the spotlight when he first arrived, but with players like Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Antonio Pierce, he will not have the spotlight all day, every day.

Michael Vick to the Vikings Would Create an Intriguing Situation for Minnesota

Nobody really has any idea at this point where Michael Vick is going to end up this season.

Some people have said the Pittsburgh Steelers or even the New England Patriots are the top contenders for him.

Others don’t even think he’ll play in the NFL and that he’ll go tear up the UFL for six to seven weeks as sort of a tryout.

There are also a number of questions surrounding his return, most notably his ability to play after almost two years away from the sport. His off-field issues are also something teams pursuing Vick need to be concerned about, not just dogfighting, but also his marijuana problem.

But put all of that aside for a moment and think about something for a second.

Vick would make a rather interesting combination with the Minnesota Vikings—especially now, since they didn’t get Brett Favre to re-unretire (I guess that word makes sense when talking about Favre).

Just think about the Vikings offense with Vick: Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, and Michael Vick—three very electrifying players, all on the same offense.

Tarvaris Jackson isn’t going to make Minnesota into a playoff contender any time soon, and neither is Sage Rosenfels. Favre could’ve, but we will never know.

Just imagine how powerful of an offense Minnesota could have with Vick as its quarterback.

Harvin has already played in an offense that used the option and utilized him in both the rushing and passing game, which obviously would translate well to a team with a wildcat formation, which Minnesota could have since they drafted Harvin.

Peterson has already established himself as the most dominant rusher in the NFL today after only two seasons in the league. He averages over 100 yards a game for his career. He’s just a beast—enough said.

Now take Vick, possibly the best scrambling quarterback in NFL history, a former 1,000-yard rusher, and another player that would fit great in a wildcat formation. Put him into the same offense as both Harvin and Peterson, and you have yourself one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.

With all three of those guys on the field at the same time, and a wildcat or wildcat-like formation put into the offense, the Vikings could become a serious contender.

Defenses would have to game plan around all three of those guys, and you wouldn’t know who was going to get the ball or what they were going to do with it. It would cause so much confusion for the opposition and would strike fear into some of the best defenses around the league.

I know what Vick did was unforgivable, but he has served his time and should be allowed to get back to his career.

The Vikes don’t have a good QB, and they need one to go along with that solid defense and running game if they want to contend. Vick seems like he could be a good fit there.

I’m not saying he necessarily should become a Viking, but simply that it would make a very intriguing situation in Minnesota and could possibly, if it all went well, turn them into a serious contender in the NFC.

NFL Gambling: Week One Preview

Let’s be honest with each other for a moment. We love the NFL because of the atmosphere at the games, the rivalries, the action on the field, and yes, the action we have on the game.

I am talking about sports betting.

You can do it legally in Vegas, and potentially Delaware. You can also cheat Uncle Sam if you go through your local “guy” or you can even resort to the safe haven of the Internet.

It does not matter how you get the bet in as long as you get paid for winning.

Most degenerates will bet year round. There is action found around every corner. You can bet on prop bets in baseball to Academy Awards. It’s sickening the things you can do, but it’s there.

And if the books are going to dangle these enticing offers in front of our faces you better believe we are going to take it.

So I think it is appropriate to dangle the bait in front of you now more than a month away from the first game. I will highlight the games I like and then list the remaining games. The lines are based on an Internet site I use frequently.

Once the NFL season is upon us I will give out official picks. It can be risky to take a game right now because an injury could hurt you big time.

So to satisfy the gambling itch we all have, let’s check out the spreads:

Steelers -4.5 vs. Titans: The Titans in a word: stink. Last year they overachieved and now this is their time to get exposed. Do not. I repeat, do not bet on this game if you think the Titans are winning this game for Steve McNair. You worked hard for your money, so don’t blow it with that kind of logic.

Take the better team, with the better players, playing at home with revenge in mind.

It was only last year when the Titans stomped on the Terrible Towels and mocked the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Revenge will be sweet on opening night for the ‘Burgh.

Steelers 27 – Titans 10

Falcons -4 vs. Dolphins: This is the other overachieving team. The Dolphins ran a cute little offense last year and gave it a cute nickname, “The Wildcat.”

You have to run that gimmicky stuff when Chad Pennington is your quarterback.

The Falcons may not have a great season this year, but they will look like world beaters after they are done with the Dolphins

Falcons 31 – Dolphins 17

Carolina -1.5 vs. Eagles: The books want you to remember Jake Delhomme’s last game. They really do. They want to reel you in and take your money.

Forget Delhomme for a moment and look at the downside to the Eagles here.

The Eagles have a new offensive line that might not be clicking on all cylinders. This is not the time to work out the kinks. They will be facing one of the best front sevens in football.

You also don’t know how Brian Westbrook will play after his surgery. And can Donovan McNabb rely on Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson immediately?

And how will the defense play without Jim Johnson? What are you going to get out of this unit?

Don’t forget that the Panthers have incredible playmakers in Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams. The Panthers can put a ton of pressure on the Eagles defense with this combo.

Also, the Eagles are only 4-6 in opening games under Andy Reid and 5-5 on their first road game of the season. It’s probably not as good as you think for an Eagles team that has played well for nearly a decade now.

And this is coming from a die-hard Eagles fan who thinks they will go to the Super Bowl this year.

Panthers 24 – Eagles 20

Cowboys -3 vs. Buccaneers: Great Eagles fan huh? I pick against the Birds and then follow it up with Boys.

Well, it’s about winning so I have to.

This is more of a pick against the Bucs. They don’t have a true starting quarterback. Their running starting running back has never been a starter before. And the head coach has never been at the helm for an NFL game.

I think you have to roll with Tony Romo in the beginning of the year when you know he will put up good numbers. After that, jump ship.

Cowboys 26 – Buccaneers 13

I have no take on the remaining games, but I know everyone will want to see how the rest of the slate looks. So here it is with the home teams listed first:

Ravens -8.5 vs. Chiefs

Bengals -3 vs. Broncos

Browns +2.5 vs. Vikings

Texans -4.5 vs. Jets

Colts -6.5 vs. Jaguars

Saints -12 vs. Lions

Cardinals -6.5 vs. 49ers

Giants -5.5 vs. Redskins

Seahawks -7 vs. Rams

Packers -3 vs. Bears

Patriots -9.5 vs. Bills

Raiders +7 vs. Chargers

Brett Favre Tells the Minnesota Vikings No Thanks, but Is He Really Retired

Alex’s 32 Teams in 32 Days: Team 29—Oakland Raiders

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2008 Record:  5-11

 

2008 Season Review

After 2008 the Oakland Raiders became the first team in NFL history with six straight seasons with 10 or more losses.  That is nothing to be proud of.

Owner Al Davis is clearly frustrated with his team’s lack of recent success.

Maybe that’s the reason he made the change to his sixth different head coach in the last eight years in the middle of ’08 as he fired Lane Kiffin and hired Tom Cable.  Cable has be retained for the 2009 season…for now.

Despite the change of head coaches the Raiders weren’t able to make a run at the AFC West title.

JaMarcus Russell struggled through most of the season.  He showed off his cannon arm, but rarely showcased his skills to win close games and lead his team.

But clearly Russell was not the only anchor holding down the ship.

The defense was far from great.  In fact the run defense was atrocious.  The Raiders defense played more like Swiss cheese than a professional football defense.  Opposing offenses ran through them at an alarming rate.

The pass defense, however, was pretty good.  Actually, they were the No. 10 ranked defense against the pass.

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha had another brilliant season holding down opposing receivers.  Teams rarely threw to receivers Asomugha was covering.

Opposite Asomugha was another elite cornerback named DeAngelo Hall.  At least for the first eight games that is.  Al Davis shocked the league by releasing Hall mid-way through the season.  This coming after Hall signed a big contract with the Raiders in the offseason.

Besides the pass defense, the only bright spot for Oakland in ’08 was the run game.  For the second straight year the Raiders ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards.  They averaged 124 yards-per-game on the ground.

The offense ranked 29th in points scored, and 29th in yards gained.

Defensively they ranked 24th in points given up and 27th in yards allowed.

 

Key Additions 

FB Lorenzo Neal, QB Jeff Garcia, S Keith Davis, C Samson Satele, DE Greg Ellis, OT Khalif Barnes, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (draft)

 

Key Losses 

C Jake Grove, S Gibril Wilson, LB Marquis Cooper, WR Ronald Curry, FB Justin Griffith

 

2009 Preview

The 2009 Raiders look like they may extend that consecutive 10 loss record.

From the draft, to free agency, the Raiders left many experts scratching their heads the way they tried to improve.

With the seventh overall pick in the draft, they selected Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.  Most people had Heyward-Bey going in the late first round and had several other receivers ahead of him.

DHB was a classic Al Davis selection. Davis loves guys with great speed, and

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Heyward-Bey does not lack in that category. In fact, Heyward-Bey ran a 4.3 40 time, the fastest of all wideouts at the combine.

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Another speed-based pick came in the second round where the Raiders took safety Michael Mitchell.  Mitchell recorded a 4.43 40 time.  Many draft experts said they saw Mitchell lasting until the 6th or 7th round prior to the draft.

The Raiders brought in fullback Lorenzo Neal who will likely help the run game get even better.  Neal is best known for blocking for LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego in some of his best seasons.

The signing of veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia has stirred up a possible quarterback controversy in Oakland.  Garcia has expressed several times that he feels he should be the starter over Russell.  Garcia feels the coaches should go with the most talented quarterback.

“Now, if JaMarcus is that guy, then he definitely deserves to be on the field and should be on the field,” Garcia said during a radio show in May. 

“But, if for some reason with what I bring as a player, from a competitive nature, and just the intensity and emotion that I bring to the field, and the knowledge of the game that I have—if that gives us a better chance to win football games, then that decision is going to have to be left up to the coach and hopefully he can make the right decision for the team”

Despite the talk from Garcia, Russell is expected to start at quarterback.

Along with Heyward-Bey, tight end Zach Miller serves as an adequate weapon for Russell in the pass attack. 

Miller, heading into his third NFL season, is one of the most underrated players at his position.

In two seasons Miller has 100 receptions for 1,222 yards and four touchdowns.

Another weapon for Russell is the ground attack.  Led by second-year back Darren McFadden, third-year man Michael Bush, and veteran Justin Fargas, the Raiders backfield should once again be one of the best in football in ’09.

Defensively, the secondary will once again be the Raiders strong suit.  With the cornerback tandem of Nnamdi Asomugha and the speedy Chris Johnson, the unit should be able to rank in the top 10 in pass defense yet again.

However, the run defense will still have its problems.

Defensive lineman Terdell Sands and Tommy Kelly have fallen well short of expectations for their career.  Gerard Warren is another lineman who has struggled to reach his potential.  This leaves the middle of the D-line still very weak.

Defensive end Derrick Burgess has been rumored to be on the trading block. The loss of him would hurt the defensive line even more.

Trevor Scott and Greg Ellis will both battle for a starting defensive end job, but are each unlikely to cause major havoc.

 

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Bottom Line: The Raiders will struggle both offensively and defensively in ’09.  They may show flashes of potential, but in the end I don’t foresee anymore than six or seven wins.

 

Previous Rankings

32. Detroit Lions

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Cleveland Browns

Be sure to check in tomorrow for the unveiling of team 28. 

Pick Your Poison: Jay Cutler vs. Kyle Orton

Top 5 Fantasy Rookie Running Backs for 2009

Some of the best breakout performers in football fantasy leagues are rookies, who we’re not quite sure what we are going to get from.  Let’s take a look at who my Top 5 rookie running backs will be for this season.

 

1. Knoshown Moreno – Denver Broncos

He was ranked No. 19 on my Top 25 running backs list (click here to view), so naturally he’s going to take the top spot on this list. He was the first back off the board, taken No. 12 overall, and enters the season with little competition in the backfield. 

Does anyone really think Correll Buckhalter or LaMont Jordan offer much of a threat to his carries at this point?

Despite Mike Shanahan no longer leading the way, the Broncos have long been a team capable of creating running backs seemingly from nothing.  Moreno should be the next in a long line of success stories as he develops into a must use option in all formats.

 

2. Chris Wells – Arizona Cardinals

The other rookie who found his way into my Top 25 (No. 22), he posted back-to-back 1,000+ yards, averaging 5.9 and 5.8 yards per carry.  That may be college, but it is still worth noting.

With Edgerrin James jettisoned during the offseason, his prime competition will be Tim Hightower (399 yards and 10 TD last season). I would be surprised if they didn’t at least split carries, but Wells has significantly more upside and should ultimately see the bulk of the carries. 

He may lose some TD potential by sharing time with Hightower (which is the major difference between himself and Moreno), but that’s something that can be said about many at this point in the NFL.

 

3. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts

Even with Joseph Addai, the Colts saw an opportunity to add talent to the backfield and quickly took it.  It’s tough to imagine drafting a running back in the first round not to give him significant carries, so you have to imagine the Brown is going to get a chance to shine.

While Addai struggled last season, playing in only 12 games and picking up 544 yards, he began his career with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. It’s hard to imagine him not getting an opportunity to play as well, which certainly will decrease Brown’s potential value. 

That’s what keeps him a step behind the other two backs selected in the first round, he’s definitely in a situation to share carries.

 

4. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles

Make no mistake, McCoy is going to be the back to provide a rest for Brian Westbrook, who we all know always tends to be battling an injury. If Westbrook were to go down, opening up more playing time for McCoy, he could prove to have significant value for fantasy owners in all formats. 

At this point, however, he’s not likely to be more of a bye week fill-in, as he doesn’t have the potential to put up huge numbers on a week-to-week basis.

 

5. Andre Brown – New York Giants

Last season the Giants employed a three running back set, with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. With Ward now calling Tampa Bay home, the Giants needed a new back to join their three-headed monster. In the fourth round out N.C. State, they may have found that man.

At 6′0″, 224 lbs., his stature is very similar to that of Ward and the Giants may lean on him to mimic his performance if they determine that Bradshaw is better suited as a third down back. 

If that were to happen, Brown could see significant carries and really be a weapon in deeper fantasy formats.  Wait and see, but he’s a player worth keeping an eye on.

 

Honorable Mention: Shonn Greene, New York Jets

What do you think of these rookies?  Who will have the biggest performance?  Who’s likely to fall flat?

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football 

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