10 Reasons the Cleveland Browns Will Make the Playoffs

In preparation for this article, I sought feedback from the Cleveland Browns fans to get their opinion of why my pick of the Cleveland Browns in the playoff prediction article made sense. Most of the people instead decided to trash the fact that I made a mistake and wrote AFC Central for the division instead of AFC North.

I can see why the Browns fans would have such angst with my lack of knowledge, because the Browns have won numerous AFC North titles. Oh yeah, they never have. Their last division title was 20 years ago, in the AFC Central.

Since the Browns fans were little help, I have had to go this crazy journey alone and justify why I think the Browns will make the playoffs.

The Browns went 4-12 last season, have a new head coach, traded maybe their best offensive player in Kellen Winslow, had another player suspended for the entire season, and had a very suspect defense last year along with an offense that struggled to do anything.

The Browns also appear to be unsure at to who will lead the team at quarterback. Vegas started the Browns at over/under seven victories and they have been bet down, and most experts will have the Browns no higher than third in the division.

I feel crazy even trying to rationalize a winning season, much less a playoff appearance, but I think I can do it by breaking down 10 points that make the Browns a potential breakout team in 2009.

 

10. New Coach – Eric Mangini isn’t currently viewed as a top tiered coach, but he definitely appears to be an upgrade over Romeo Crennel. The Jets let Mangini go, and really their problems were partially Mangini’s fault, but also the Brett Favre circus derailed any hopes of a playoff appearance last year. Romeo Crennel was a statue on the sidelines, and Mangini will definitely change the energy level on the team.

Last year, all three teams with new head coaches made the playoffs, and, of course, this season that won’t happen since so many teams changed coaches. A few probably will though, and of the teams with six or less wins, Detroit and St. Louis have to see benefits since they were both so bad, and Kansas City and Cleveland should see upgrades because their previous coaches were so mediocre.

 

9. Clean Slate – Luckily the 2008 season is in the past, and the Browns have nothing to build off of. Most people are predicting bad things for the Browns this year because they were so bad last year. Consider that they scored 29 points against the Bills, and then 31 points in their final six games. The offense is most likely not going to be as bad this year. They have a new head coach and new GM.

They also don’t have to start the season the way they did last year. They were basically penciled in for 0-3, with home games against Dallas and Pittsburgh and a road game versus Baltimore. They aren’t likely to go 1-7 at home this year. The Browns start the season 0-0, and 2008 means nothing, and the Browns took the correct steps in the changes they made to emphasize that point.

 

8. Getting rid of malcontents – A lot of the criticism of the Browns is about their terrible offense and that they traded away their best offensive player, Kellen Winslow. How can they possibly get better? Simple, the Browns offense was terrible with him. They can’t get worse. However they can get better since he was a major distraction on the team.

There is a lot to say about that strategy, especially in football, for getting rid of a cancer on the team.

The Dolphins perceived Jason Taylor would be one last year, they sent him to Washington, and the vibe of the Dolphins improved. Donte Stallworth got rid of himself, but guaranteeing that he will not be on the team this year helps to remove distractions.

No Kellen Winslow and no Donte Stallworth may take away weapons from Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson, but they weren’t good with them and both guys being absent will help team chemistry.

Yes, I realize the Browns still have Braylon Edwards, and have to hope he will lead a group of young receivers instead of being a distraction. One is better than three.

 

7. The Browns aren’t the Bengals – Seeing the list of the six or less win teams, the two that stood out to me were the Browns and Bengals. Kansas City and Oakland are very tempting as sleepers because the AFC West should once again be a weak division, but both teams face really challenging schedules otherwise.

Kansas City faces the entire NFC East and San Diego in the first seven weeks and Oakland have no easy road games out of division. The Browns and the Bengals therefore stand out from the list in point 10, and Cleveland has definite advantages over Cincinnati.

The Bengals defense was improving last year, and Carson Palmer is set to play this year, and may tease people into believing they will be a sleeper.

Remember, they are the Bengals. They still have their malcontents, Marvin Lewis is still the head coach, and Mike Brown is still the general manager. The Bengals just signed their first round pick, and have to rely on Chris Henry to be a star receiver this year.

Yeah, the Bengals may get to seven or eight wins because of a similar schedule to the Browns, but Marvin Lewis is really a strong coach at turning victory into loss.

The Browns should finish ahead of the Bengals in the AFC Central (Oh my god, the idiot wrote AFC Central again. He knows nothing about football. So what if he’s actually predicting great things for my team, I have to mock this loser for being so dumb.) 

6. Low expectations – Is anyone besides me predicting the Browns to make the playoffs? I’m having a really difficult time finding 10 reasons to say they will make it. The fans just want anything better than the drivel they saw to end last season, and the Browns are on nobody’s radar and the only reason people have any interest in week one is because Brett Favre and Minnesota are playing in Cleveland.

The Browns have a great opportunity during this preseason to develop that sense of us versus the world and underdog mentality that so many athletes tend to feed off of.

 

5. Added depth – The Browns offseason looked odd at times, because they appeared to give up opportunities to gain talent and instead traded down during the draft and traded away Kellen Winslow. What the Browns did is add a lot of protection against injuries, a very important factor for any team during a long season.

They signed two free agents on the offensive line and acquired Hank Fraley and drafted Alex Mack in hopes of building a group to protect Quinn or Anderson. They drafted two receivers and signed two guys who are very solid as possession receivers.

The trade with the Jets provided a lot of bodies on defense, and players who are very familiar with the style of play Eric Mangini encourages. With so many teams relying on bad backup QB’s, at least Quinn or Anderson can step in and look good if given the opportunity. The Browns have some trouble spots, but are deeper than last year in many areas.

Running back is the one position they appear to really lack depth, yet it’s also the one position where random people come out of nowhere, so a James Davis or Jerome Harrison may be a lot better than anyone knows.

4. Quarterback Play – This is just a hunch, but I think Brady Quinn starts for the Browns, and I think he will have a pretty solid season. The offensive line should perform very well, and Jamal Lewis and whatever changeup back will provide some help, but the success of the team will depend on how the QB does. Brady Quinn doesn’t have to be great; he just has to be smart.

This will be the third year for Quinn, and it should be the first year where he truly understands the pace of the NFL. Braylan Edwards can’t possibly have as bad of a season as last year and should provide a big name target to Quinn while the other receivers take the pressure off Edwards to catch tons of balls.

I know that I’m stretching a bit and this is irrelevant if Anderson wins the starting job, but Quinn just seems ready to take a jump.

 

3. The New Quarterback Circus to Start the Season – Last year, the Browns had a QB controversy and had to start with two games at home and it was a mess. This year, the crazy QB situations are on the other side the first two weeks.

The Brett Favre fiasco comes to Cleveland in week one, and if ever there is an opportunity to steal the spotlight, they have it.

A three interception game for the Cleveland defense is the perfect remedy to build confidence for the season. Week Two the Browns go to Denver. The Broncos fans must cringe at their team currently.

The Browns will be playing at the debut of Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton in Denver, and if the Broncos don’t play well in Cincinnati, the Denver fans will turn bad quickly. The Browns will have the perfect opportunity to start the season against opponents with plenty of flaws and QB’s who make plenty of mistakes.

 

2. History – Someone has to be the surprise team. In seven of the last 10 seasons, there have been at least three teams that have had six or fewer wins in the previous season and then made the playoffs the next year. Last year, Miami, Baltimore and Atlanta all fit that category.

One factor against the three teams from last year, those six wins or less teams are then 8-17 in making the playoffs the next year, meaning probably two of the Miami, Baltimore and Atlanta group will not return to the playoffs this year. Only nine teams last year had 6 wins or less in the NFL.

Seattle, Jacksonville and Green Bay are recent playoff teams looking to rebound and look to be the most likely candidates, but there is a stat that provides opportunity for the other teams. In eight of the last 10 years, at least one of the six wins or less teams had not made the playoffs in any of the previous three seasons.

Miami and Atlanta were in this category last year, providing hope to what seem to be the six cellar dwellers in the NFL. Detroit and St. Louis have long roads to respectability. The only teams left are Cincinnati, Oakland, Kansas City and Cleveland. One of these four teams has a good shot to make the playoffs, as hard as that may be to believe.

 

1. The Schedule – I’m realistic, I had to pull a lot of the 10 reasons out of my behind, and throw out a hypothetical. The Browns schedule is the best reason why they have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs. Yes, four games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh will be challenging, but the rest of the schedule is a blessing for a rebuilding team.

Although four of the first six games are on the road, they get their Baltimore and Pittsburgh road games out of the way early, and Denver and Buffalo on the road aren’t that difficult (A 4-12 Browns team won in Buffalo last year).

After that six-game stretch, their most difficult games are all at home. For a team that went 1-7 at home last year that’s not a really good thing, but they will definitely be better at home this year. The Browns’ final four road games are at Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati and Kansas City. Four of their last five games are at home.

The Browns can start the season 2-4 and still have a pretty interesting road to the playoffs. If they can get to 8-6, they get Oakland and Jacksonville the last second weeks.

The Baltimore and Pittsburgh games are both at night, and last year showed that the Browns at night morph into a completely different team. Baltimore is after a bye week. The Browns can definitely get on a roll in the second half of the season because of the schedule.

 

Will Cleveland make the playoffs? I’m not sure, but with so many AFC teams in a state of mediocrity (Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Buffalo and maybe the Jets), six teams will make it from the AFC, and even if the Browns can’t win the North, they should be improved and if they get a break.

Broncos-Bears: Cutler, Chicago Win in QB’s Return to Denver

The Denver Broncos (0-3) remain winless in the Josh McDaniels regime as Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears (2-1) came to town and won a game of “small ball.”

Broncos fans could not wait to torture their former quarterback with booing, T-shirts, signs, and basically everything in between, and the outcome was as expected.

Not only could Cutler not hear the play calls in his helmet, but the NBC cameras shook.  Invesco Field at Mile High rocked with pure hatred, all directed towards one player.

 

Random Game Thoughts

And at first, it seemed to fluster Cutler. 

Prior to a 12-play, 98-yard drive that was capped off by a touchdown pass to Matt Forte, Cutler was largely ineffective.

He finished the game 15-of-21 for 144 yards and a touchdown, and as I mentioned, led an impressive 98-yard drive to conclude the second half.

The Broncos’ starting offense was okay, but nothing to write home about.

Kyle Orton led the Broncos down the field early in the game, and a penalty-marred drive ended with a 31-yard Matt Prater field goal.

Orton finished his day completing 12-of-16 passes for 96 yards before leaving with a finger injury. 

He left the field with what appeared to be a cut on his right index finger, and head coach Josh McDaniels told NBC correspondents that Orton’s finger was not broken.

This writer’s guess is that Orton’s injury is going to require stitches, and he could be held out until the season opener against Cincinnati at the very least.

The injury bug decided to bite a couple more Broncos on Sunday night as well.

Right guard Chris Kuper, the only guard in the NFL to play all 16 games and not allow a single sack, went down with a foot injury, and he put no pressure on it as he left the field.

It did not look very promising.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal appeared to get a stinger on his hand early in the contest, but he returned to action.

Also, prior to the game, the team learned that wide receiver Jabar Gaffney had a broken thumb, and that he is expected to miss several weeks.

Watching Josh McDaniels’ post-game press conference as I type, he appears to be extremely ticked off.

He seems to be favoring the word “sloppy.”

And boy were the Broncos sloppy tonight in certain areas.

The offensive line, for the first time in a very long time, was extremely out of sync.

Uncharacteristically, Ryan Clady had three penalties of his own, while Casey Wiegmann was also flagged for holding.  It also seemed like every time the Broncos fielded a kick or punt, they were called for holding.

The Broncos finished the game with 10 penalties.

Sloppy play by the Broncos’ offensive line resulted in many first-and-long and second-and-long situations, and that really put Orton and company in tough situations.

 

Game Recap

After the game started off tied at three points apiece, punter Brett Kern made a huge mistake in punting to return specialist Devin Hester.

Did he forget to watch film from the Broncos’ 2007 matchup with the Bears?

Hester made Kern and the Broncos pay, taking the punt all the way inside the Denver five yard line (It should be noted that safety David Bruton was held all the way down the field).

After Hester’s great return, Matt Forte was able to punch the ball in from one yard out to increase the Chicago lead to 10-3.

Denver’s offense continued to shoot itself in the foot with penalties, and a defensive stop by the Bears resulted in an excellent punt by rookie Britton Colquitt that was downed at the Chicago two-yard line.

Jay Cutler orchestrated a 12-play, 98-yard drive to essentially end the half, which was capped off by a short touchdown pass to Forte, increasing the Chicago lead to 17-3.

The Broncos were able to move the ball pretty well in the second half with rookie quarterback Tom Brandstater under center, capping off two impressive nine-play drives with rushing touchdowns by Peyton Hillis and Darius Walker.

Denver cut the lead with the Hillis touchdown in half, but Chicago answered back with a rushing touchdown of their own by veteran back Adrian Peterson.

Chicago led 24-10 before Walker’s rushing touchdown, and again Denver was able to cut the lead in half, 24-17.

The Bears were able to drive the ball into scoring range and waste most of the game clock when Robbie Gould hit a field goal to put the game on ice and a final score of 27-17.

 

The Good

• Tom Brandstater really bounced back from his poor performance in Seattle, and aside from an overthrow of Eddie Royal that resulted in an interception and a botched delivery to Darius Walker that resulted in a fumble recovery by the Bears, Brandstater looked much more comfortable.  He finished the game 8-of-12 for 110 yards and one interception, including a 54-yard bomb to fellow rookie Kenny McKinley.
• Eddie Royal continues to excite Bronco fans with his electric play.  He is sure-handed, knows how to gain yardage after the catch, and looks like a seasoned veteran.  He is going to be a star in this league, and a favorite target of quarterback Kyle Orton.
• Peyton Hillis is a beast.  Add another position, kick returner, to his repertoire.  I wore his No. 22 jersey with pride tonight, and he did not disappoint, running for 24 yards on seven carries including a touchdown, and catching two passes for 21 yards.  He also had 64 yards on only two kick returns. 
• Elvis Dumervil made future Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace look like a lost rookie.  Pace escaped what would have been a safety when he clearly held Dumervil in the end zone, and he just overall had a rough night trying to block the fourth year defensive end.  Thanks to NBC, I was alerted that only Mario Williams has more sacks (30.5) than Dumervil (26) from the 2006 draft class.  He struggled a bit in pass coverage, but his pass rushing skills are of the elite level, make no mistake.  Jay Cutler’s jersey was dirty because of this man.
• Brian Dawkins‘ debut was well worth the wait.  He was all over the field making plays…with a club on his hand.  If this game is any indication as to what the Broncos can expect from Dawkins in 2009, they have an absolute steal of the free agent class.
• Kenny McKinley and Brandon Lloyd all but cemented their names in the Broncos’ final roster.  Absolutely excellent games by both players.  McKinley continues to lead the Broncos in receiving, hauling in four passes for 75 yards, and Lloyd had a great catch that looked to me like a touchdown, and it is not the first time he has made a big play this pre-season.
• The defensive front seven continued to put pressure on the quarterback.  Cutler did not have an easy go of it early in this game, and while the defense did not have any sacks, it appeared as though the pass rush was effective.
• Correll Buckhalter and Darius Walker combined for 75 yards rushing on only 19 carries.  Walker, in my opinion, has earned the third running back position over LaMont Jordan this preseason.  Walker runs hard every play, and Buckhalter does the same.  Very inspiring running by these two tonight. 
• Britton Colquitt is making a strong case to beat out Brett Kern for the punter job in Denver.  He had two punts tonight that landed inside the two yard line. 

The Bad

• The offensive line played its worst game in a long time.  Ten penalties is not acceptable, period.  They are sure to get an earful at practice this week from offensive line coach Rick Dennison.
• The Broncos had trouble getting off the field on third downs.  The defense needs to be able to force punts on a more consistent basis, especially if the offense remains unhealthy and/or inconsistent.

 

Bailey comments on Marshall situation

All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey was asked by NBC’s Andrea Kremer if Brandon Marshall would be a Bronco this season, and he responded by saying roughly that there was a “fifty/fifty” chance.

What control Bailey has over the situation, I do not know, but a very interesting comment to say the least.

It would appear from the comments of Bailey and some of the other players on the team throughout the week that Marshall has a lot of trust to gain back in the locker room.

It seems that Marshall’s recent antics have lost a lot of respect from teammates, and in the NFL, that is not easy to do.

 

Quarterback situation

Now that Orton’s status is in limbo, and the fact that Chris Simms is already injured, the Broncos are once again in need of a quarterback. 

Obviously, Tom Brandstater is not ready to lead an NFL offense into the light.  He is young, and the Broncos have hopes that he can be “their guy” maybe someday, but not in 2009.

Ingle Martin does not know the offense yet, so what options does that leave Denver with?

As I speculated on my Facebook fan page, the New England Patriots just waived quarterback Kevin O’Connell, a player Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was very high on when the Patriots drafted him, and if the Broncos have the opportunity to nab him through the waiver wire, they will.

O’Connell has ties to Kansas City’s Scott Pioli, who also was a big part of the drafting of O’Connell, and the Chiefs have an opening for a backup quarterback position with the injury to Matt Cassel.

If Kansas City does not lay claim to the second-year quarterback, you can expect O’Connell to end up with Denver.

There is very little doubt in my mind.

O’Connell’s arrival would likely mean Ingle Martin’s release, and Tom Brandstater would end up on the practice squad.

There was absolutely a ton to talk about in regards to this third pre-season game, and although the Broncos remain winless, it appears as though there is more good than bad going on in Denver for 2009.

If this team can get healthy, they could be a tough out for any team in the NFL this season.

Sean McDermott Is Quickly Learning the Art of “Reid-Speak”

He’s only officially been the Eagles’ defensive coordinator for about five weeks, yet Sean McDermott has already learned what some like to call “Reid-speak.”

During his press conference following Thursday’s preseason game against Jacksonville, McDermott said all he needed to say without actually saying anything.

That’s true talent. And that’s Reid-speak.

Unfortunately, the biggest victim of his first major foray into the world of Reid-speak was perhaps the one player who needs as much positive reinforcement as he can get—Joe Mays.

Unaware of what I mean? Well, here’s what McDermott had to say about the current status of the MIKE linebacker depth chart.

“It is a work in progress. There is competition at that position, which is what we want at every position. That will remain up until and throughout the rest of the season.”

Really? Could have surprised me. I mean, I thought that nine of the 11 positions were on lockdown. Although Trent Cole, Asante Samuel, and Chris Gocong will be glad to know they haven’t nailed down starting spots, I’m sure.

Of course, McDermott also denied he was specifically speaking about Mays, but had this to say about his development:

“We’re looking for consistency out of whoever is in the middle in order to execute the defense. As a young player, Joe has a very bright future and he continues to develop. Consistency would be the biggest thing, every down.”

Translation: He’s not ready yet, and we won’t be patient enough to let him learn because Stewart Bradley is our middle linebacker anyway.

Conversely, when the subject was switched to Omar Gaither, McDermott was rather complimentary. When asked about Gaither as a possible MIKE, McDermott nearly glowed.

“My biggest thing is that I want to see Omar come out and handle the reigns of the defense in terms of the leadership, make the huddle call, get us lined up, quarterback the defense. Then, from a health standpoint, that he has confidence in his leg.”

That sentence reads like the job description for Eagles MIKE linebacker—especially on the leadership front now that Brian Dawkins is gone.

Further, when asked about Gaither’s skills in coverage—a trait Mays is well-known to lack—McDermott heaped on more praise:

“I think he brings a lot to the table in the nickel passing game, sure. He’s a very aware and instinctive player, and as I mentioned before, does a great job of getting us lined up.”

Funny thing is, no one asked him about the nickel. It was a general question, and in trying to avoid saying anything definite, McDermott said all he needed to say.

Translation? Omar Gaither will be starting in the middle by Week Three and Joe Mays will be long forgotten.

But if that doesn’t happen and you come call me on it in October…chances are I won’t have an answer.

Hey, it works both ways.

Countdown to Cut Down: Predicting the New Orleans Saints’ Final Roster

The decisions of a coach and a GM this week can make or break a young player’s career.

This Saturday can be labeled Black Saturday, as many young NFL hopefuls and aging veterans alike anxiously await their football fates. NFL teams are required to trim their rosters from 80 down to 53 by the end of this week.

For the Saints, some players, such as Jason David and Glenn Pakulak, received their walking papers more than a week in advance. Others, like Skyler Green, Courtney Roby, and Anthony Hargrove, must sweat it out for one more preseason game before they learn their fates.

It appears that some of the position battles in New Orleans are so closely contested that Thursday’s preseason game against the Miami Dolphins is do or die.

Here is how I predict the final 53-man roster will appear on Saturday.

 

Offense

QB—Three: Drew Brees, Mark Brunell, and Joey Harrington.

There has been some speculation that the Saints will only keep two quarterbacks. If that is the case, I expect the Saints to keep the younger Harrington over Brunell.

 

HB—Three: Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, and Mike Bell.

I think this is a position where the Saints are going to keep one less player than what is ideal. Even though the Saints are not a running offense, it’s always good to have two power backs in the lineup. If Thomas or Bell gets hurt, the Saints have no depth behind them.

 

FB—One: Heath Evans.

This has been Evans’ job to lose all summer. The Saints did not cut Mike Karney in favor of Evans for no reason. Olaniyi Sobomehin, it was nice butchering your name over and over. See you on the practice squad.

 

WR—Six: Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Rod Harper, and Adrian Arrington.

The first four receivers appear to be locks to make the roster. I have doubts about the last two.

Harper started off camp as maybe the eighth best receiver on the team, and now I have him at fifth because he has impressed with return ability and appears to be a weapon in the offense.

Arrington, on the other hand, is slipping. He has flashed some potential but has been slowed by injuries in consecutive training camps.

 

TE—Three: Jeremy Shockey, Billy Miller, and Darnell Dinkins.

Shockey and Miller are locks to make the roster, while Dinkins has made fewer mistakes than Buck Ortega.

 

OT—Four: Jammal Brown, Jonathan Stinchcomb, Zach Strief, and Jermon Bushrod.

If it wasn’t for Brown’s injury, then the Saints may have gone with just three tackles. Strief has been a reliable backup over the past few years, and Bushrod has started the last two preseason games in Brown’s absence.

 

OG—Three: Carl Nicks, Jamar Nesbit, and Jahri Evans.

The Saints have two young, talented guards in Nicks and Evans.

 

C—Two: Jonathan Goodwin and Nick Leckey.

This is probably the weakest part of the offensive line. Goodwin and Leckey are serviceable but aren’t nearly what Jeff Faine was when he was here.

 

Defense

DE—Five: Charles Grant, Will Smith, Bobby McCray, Paul Spicer, and Anthony Hargrove.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past nine months, you know that Charles Grant and Will Smith will likely be suspended for four games this season. Because of this, New Orleans will have to keep one or two more defensive linemen than they want.

 

DT—Four: Sedrick Ellis, Kendrick Clancy, DeMario Pressley, and Remi Ayodele.

This group needs to get a more consistent push up the middle. My guess is that Sean Payton ends the Rod Coleman experiment (one tackle in three preseason games).

 

OLB—Four: Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita, Troy Evans, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar.

This group will look exactly as it did last year. All players in this group are solid, but none are spectacular.

 

MLB—Two: Jonathan Vilma and Marvin Mitchell.

Based on what I have seen so far, Vilma could turn into the best defensive player in the division.

 

CB—Five: Jabari Greer, Tracy Porter, Randall Gay, Malcolm Jenkins, and Leigh Torrence.

There shouldn’t be any surprises here. Greer and Porter have looked outstanding all summer long. Jenkins is a first round pick.

Though Torrence has struggled at times, the Saints obviously see something in him since they re-signed him as a restricted free agent.

 

FS—Two: Darren Sharper and Usama Young.

In limited action, Sharper has shown a nose for the football. Young is wisely picking his brain.

 

SS—Two: Roman Harper and Pierson Prioleau.

Harper may be the biggest beneficiary of Gregg Williams’ arrival. Prioleau has been with Williams almost his entire career and is a special teams ace.

Specialists

Punter—One: Thomas Morestead.

This race was officially over when the Saints cut Pakulak.

 

Placekicker—Two: John Carney and Garrett Hartley.

This was solely Hartley’s gig until he got hit with the four-game ban. Last year, Carney was an injury replacement in New York for Lawrence Tynes and made the Pro Bowl.

 

LS—One: Jason Kyle.

He has had no competition since he arrived in New Orleans.

 

NFL teams can sign players to their practice squad beginning Sept. 7.

Big Ups or Shut Up: NFL Quotes Preseason Edition

With the 2009 regular season looming among us, the blogosphere is inundated with countless power rankings, predictions, and preseason analysis articles. I, for one, plan to take a slightly different route.

First things first: Do not judge preseason results. Does anybody not remember that the Lions went 4-0 in the preseason last year? Yet the last time they were in the win column of the Monday morning paper was Dec. 24, 2007.

The four teams that reached the league championships last season went a combined 8-8 in the preseason, only at .500 because the Steelers were 3-1. Again, it’s meaningless.

Secondly, while predictions are fun to do and are a great topic for argument, there are so many so called “writers” out there who simply do not know enough about the game to give real predictions. I know, I know—everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

But come on people, if I read one more time about how the Eagles and Bills are going to be Super Bowl contenders because of Michael Vick and Terrell Owens, respectively, I’m going to throw my computer out my window. 

So, now to the actual article. Though I will admit I have not scoured the Internet for articles dating too far back this summer, I was still able to find a couple recent quotes that really caught my attention. One of them is actually as recent as today.

For each article, I will rate it as either “big ups” or “shut up,” depending on whether or not I think the quoted person(s) deserves credit or a punch in the face.

 

Hang Low in Dallas

The new mammoth stadium gracing the cover of sports magazines nationwide is estimated to have cost around $1.15 billion. Who paid for most of it? None other than the boss-hog himself, Jerry Jones. 

However, during a preseason matchup last week between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills, punters A.J. Trapasso and Craig Hentrich presented the Cowboys’ owner with a potential problem—punts were ricocheting off the world’s largest high-definition video screen.

This story hit the headlines because many people around sports nation thought Jones would have to order the video screen to be moved as soon as possible to avoid any further incidents. Jones, however, replied:

“That’s not the point. How high is high if somebody just wants to sit there and kick straight up? If you look at how you punt the football, unless you’re trying to hit the scoreboard, you punt the ball to get down field. You certainly want to get some hangtime, but you punt the ball to get down field, and you sure don’t punt the ball down the middle. You punt it off to the side.

“You don’t need to move it. You gotta be trying to do it. The rule is very clear. You just kick it over.”

 

Amen, Jerry. Look, I understand that punters have a legitimate gripe about this screen hanging so low, but let’s be honest: how many punts go right down the center of the field these days? And how many punts kicked between the 30-yard lines are punted straight up?

That’s basically what you’d have to do in order to hit the darn thing. Jones is right; almost all punts these days are angled, both height-wise and toward the sidelines, thanks to the likes of Dante Hall and Devin Hester.

Seriously, what’s the difference between a kicker having to adjust his kicks because of wind currents (due to variations in stadium construction, as well), and a punter having to change the trajectory of his punts because of a video screen? If you ask me, there isn’t much of a difference. 

Besides, the screen is still five feet above the league’s required equipment height. If you want to be mad at somebody, be mad at the league. No, better yet, be mad at the punters for not adjusting their game.

Ruling: big ups (no pun intended).

 

Another Rookie Holdout

Yes, that’s right, another rookie decided to hold out of camp this season due to a monetary indifference with the organization they were just selected by. Although this really isn’t anything new, it drives me absolutely nuts to hear about this sort of thing all the time. What could possibly drive me even more nuts? Reading about it from a lineman.

With the sixth overall selection in this summer’s NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected offensive lineman Andre Smith from Alabama. I don’t know if Nick Saban got into his head a bit early, but this kid’s ego is already bigger than his gut. 

Smith did not sign with the Bengals until this afternoon, citing contract issues with the club because he wanted more money than the guy picked after him, Darrius Heyward-Bey. There’s just one problem with that, Andre: he’s a wide receiver and you’re an offensive lineman.

Cry about equal rights and all of that other crap if you want, but the reality is the money goes to skill-position players. I mean, you don’t see many uber-rich second basemen or catchers in the MLB, especially not any rookies. What makes you so special?

Okay, all ranting aside, here’s what made me crack up (yes, I’m having to try so hard to keep this clean). In an interview after his first practice today, Smith said:

“It was difficult just sitting there waiting. I’m eager to get back to football,” Smith said after practice. “I don’t feel like I’m that far behind.” 

That’s cute. Did your agent tell you to smile at the camera while reading those note cards he prepared for you? Be real, Andre. If you wanted to get on the field so bad, you wouldn’t have acted like such a jackass in the first place.

There aren’t too many things that make me more angry than when I hear an athlete talk about how much they love the game after or in the midst of a holdout because they want more money.

Sometimes holdouts are acceptable, but never in the case of a rookie who has proved nothing yet. Yes, that means you too, Michael Crabtree. 

Ruling: Shut up.

 

It’s quite simple, actually: Stop whining about the Cowboys’ video board because you’re jealous and stop acting like you’ve earned something when you haven’t even played a single down in the NFL. What would your 10 year-old self think of you? Better yet, what would your momma say if she heard you whining like that at such a young age?

You guys are role models for these young kids, and believe it or not, stupid things like this rub off on them. Act your age and set a better example, fellas.

Rating The NFL’s Primary Home Uniforms: No’s 11-1

Here we are with the cream of the crop. I am unveiling my top 11 primary dark unforms for NFL teams. The teams that follow will be sure to drum up some debate.

There is no doubt that I favor the more classic look for NFL teams and the top 11 is littered with uniforms that have not changed in a very long time.

Is your favorite team number one? Let’s take a look!

Begin Slideshow

Breaking Down the Seahawks’ Preseason: Quarterbacks

Over the next week, leading up to the final preseason game for the Seattle Seahawks against the Oakland Raiders, I’m going to be breaking down the Seahawks’ preseason by position.

I’ll be starting at the top with the quarterbacks and finishing up with kickers and punters.

So let’s get started with the quarterbacks.

 

Current QBs on the roster: Matt Hasselbeck (starter), Seneca Wallace, Mike Teel, and Jeff Rowe.

Matt Hasselbeck: 38-of-53 (71 percent), 414 yards, four TDs, one INT, and a 111 passer rating.

Seneca Wallace: 20-of-30 (66 percent), 141 yards, two TDs, no INTs, and a 99 passer rating.

Jeff Rowe: 3-of-3 (100 percent), 16 yards, no TDs, no INTs and an 88 passer rating.

Deion Branch: 0-for-1

 

Examination

Overall, the quarterbacks have been great, with the only slip-up being Deion Branch not able to connect with T.J. Houshmandzadeh on an end-around.

Matt Hasselbeck has been “electric” this preseason and has not suffered any sort of injury or setback with his back/knee/head, which is great news for the Seahawks.

Hasselbeck has also been throwing it a lot to his newest wide receiver, Houshmandzadeh—and with great success.

Two out of the four touchdowns Hasselbeck has thrown have gone to Houshmandzadeh.

The other two have been to rookie Deon Butler on a 34-yard touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos and to John Carlson on a 38-yard touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The only problem for Matt is that he needs to really open up the passing game. He must throw it around to Nate Burleson, Branch, and Julius Jones/Edgerrin James (out of the backfield) as well as Houshmandzadeh, Butler, and Carlson.

Seneca Wallace has done what he usually does: be a good, solid backup. Wallace has secured his second spot on the depth chart and is not in shape to lose it.

The surprise has been rookie seventh round pick Mike Teel out of Rutgers. Teel has been above where I though he would be right now. I knew he would get a few snaps this preseason, but I wasn’t sure how he would fare.

Teel has done a solid job this season and projects to be the third and final quarterback on the Seahawks roster.

Some people had thought that Teel would be drafted and molded into the future starting quarterback.

He’s definitely in shape to do that. Teel has performed well in the Seahawks’ system and looked comfortable in the Seahawks offense, which is a good thing for a rookie.

Jeff Rowe does not look like he will be on the regular season roster, mainly because of Teel and also since he’s only had three passes this entire preseason.

Branch also does not look to make the team as a quarterback but will for sure make the team as a wide receiver.

 

Next: The next breakdown will take a look at the running backs, including Edgerrin James and what he can do with the Seahawks.

Marquette’s Acker Rejoins Marquette Golden Eagles

Farewell, 54: Patriots Linebacker Tedy Bruschi to Retire

The average NFL career is less than five years.

Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi defied the odds more than once in his 13-year career.

But that career, according to Al Michaels on tonight’s Sunday Night Football broadcast, will come to an end at a press conference tomorrow.

Bruschi was one of just a handful of players on the 2009 Patriots roster who played in all three of New England’s Super Bowl victories, and his many contributions to the team over the years will never be forgotten.

I’m sure every Patriots fan who saw Super Bowl XXXIX will remember Bruschi holding three fingers up in celebration after that victory.

And anyone who saw his interception return in the snow, and the ensuing snow fireworks at Gillette Stadium, will never forget that memory.

They’ll also remember his selfless dedication to the team: more than once, Bruschi said he’d never play for any other team.

But, most of all, Patriots fans should remember his perseverance. A few days after his first and only Pro Bowl appearance, Bruschi suffered a debilitating stroke. Not even a year later, he was back on the field, helping his Patriot teammates beat the Buffalo Bills.

All of that said, though, Bruschi must have realized that the time had come to hang up his cleats and give way to the younger linebackers. These include Jerod Mayo, last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Gary Guyton, an undrafted free agent who nevertheless found his way onto the field in Week One of last year.

When Bruschi had his stroke, Patriots owner Robert Kraft offered to tear up his contract and give him another job with the Patriots.

Patriot fans can only hope that offer still holds, and that Bruschi takes advantage of it.

San Francisco 49ers: Looking For Some QB Stability

It’s been a while since the Niners had a very good quarterback. It’s about time someone steps up and owns the position.

But is Shaun Hill really the guy? Sure he’s gutsy, but does he have the tools? Does he have a good enough arm? Will other teams respect the Niners passing game?

The offense has been shaky so far. Shaun Hill has made a few good reads, but hasn’t had the time in the preseason to show his full abilities. The first team hasn’t impressed too much, and this offense isn’t scaring anybody.

Even with Frank Gore and Glen Coffee, this offense isn’t going to be successful unless Shaun Hill becomes a competent quarterback. He’s done it in meaningless games, and has put up a fine record, but no one really knows how he can handle the pressure of a big moment in a key game.

Now that Hill has claimed the job over Alex Smith, he is the undisputed quarterback and he has no excuse not to be successful.

If he delivers, the Niners will be in the playoff hunt. The defense is solid, and the Niners can definitely compete in the division. The big question is whether Hill can right the ship and lead this team in the right direction.

Plus, having a trusted QB would go a long way in terms of fan support and confidence. Look at teams like the Patriots and Colts. With Brady and Manning under center, fans are confident that the team will win year in and year out.

Once the Niners find that franchise guy, many great years lie ahead. 

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