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NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season SuperbowlPublished: December 30, 2009
Although the NFC no longer has any teams fighting to get into the playoffs , playoff seeding is still left to be decided, while over in the AFC, the final two Wild Card teams are still not decided.
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will square off for the NFC East division title, with Philadelphia also claiming the No. 2 seed and first-round bye with a victory on the road against Dallas.
In the AFC, both the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets need a win and they’re in, while the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos all remain alive, and could still get in with a win and some extra help.
Read on for all the games in Week 17 :
San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams
The 49ers can get to 8-8 and make this into a respectable season after starting 3-1. Considering their defense bottomed out near mid-season and they survived a quarterback switch, they have to be feeling okay about where they are.
The Rams aren’t good enough to get in the way of some much-needed momentum toward next season.
49ers 27, Rams 6
New England Patriots @ Houston Texans
Despite the cries of their fans to play the starters, the Patriots will rest their core players and inevitably fall to a Houston team that has been pulling out games the past three weeks.
New England is the better team, but they don’t need this one, and they’d be foolish to play Tom Brady and Co. much past the third quarter.
Texans 33, Patriots 27
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay may have surprised New Orleans, but they won’t sneak up on Matt Ryan and the Falcons. Atlanta is a better team than given credit for, and despite numerous injuries and a leaky defense, they can finish the season on a high note.
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 20
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Can New Orleans really strike fear into the rest of the NFC if they drop three straight as they head into the playoffs?
Considering they have home-field advantage, it may not matter. Regardless, it’s about time the Saints sit their starters, while the Panthers show no signs of slowing down.
Panthers 31, Saints 19
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have lost two heart-breakers and back-to-back weeks, and even though the Steelers are the ones that are still alive, this won’t be an easy win for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers need some help to return to the playoffs to defend their title, but it has to start with a victory on the road, where they are merely 2-5. Somehow, some way, they get it done.
Steelers 21, Dolphins 16
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns
Jack Del Rio has completely lost his team, while Eric Mangini is ironically finally finding his. The funny thing is, it’s likely too late for both coaches, and neither of these teams will be in the playoffs.
Look for another big day from Jerome Harrison as these two hapless teams explode for a meaningless, albeit entertaining match-up.
Browns 38, Jaguars 35
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings
The Giants didn’t show up last week at home with everything on the line, so why should we think anything different on the road against the Vikings? Minnesota can use a weak Giants defense as it’s playoff launchpad to correct any mistakes.
They still have a ways to go, but ending the season on a high note is probably a necessity to making a serious run in the playoffs.
Vikings 34, Giants 24
Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills
The Colts will still sit their starters before or around half-time, as they’d look simply foolish if they switched their philosophy after blowing a shot at perfection last week.
Even with their starters out, there’s not a very good chance they drop this one to a Bills team led by Brian Brohm.
Colts 27, Bills 7
Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions
Jay Cutler found some magic last week, and should only continue his late-season splurge on weak defenses. The Lions will be no match for an inspired Chicago team that is playing its heart out to keep Lovie Smith in town.
Bears 37, Lions 13
Washington Redskins @ San Diego Chargers
The Redskins are a game away from saying good-bye to Jim Zorn and possibly welcoming the likes of Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, or Mike Shanahan.
It’d be nice for Zorn and Co. to end this dismal season on a high note, but even the Chargers’ scrubs will nix that before half-time.
Chargers 28, Redskins 17
Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks
Chris Johnson will pursue (and surpass) the 2,000-yard plateau against a horrible Seahawks defense, while we will all watch in awe as we try to understand why Seattle is so bad on both sides of the ball.
Titans 30, Seahawks 16
Baltimore Ravens @ Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have been playing the “upset special” card all season, with impressive wins over the Eagles, Bengals, and Steelers, so why stop now? How about, because Ray Rice won’t be denied against one of the worst run defenses in the league?
Ravens 27, Raiders 6
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
The Eagles have looked impressive lately and have several experts thinking “team to beat” in the NFC, but a trip to Dallas for the NFC East title and a shot at the number two seed in the playoffs will be too much to swallow.
They’re a good team, but so are the Cowboys. Dallas finally rids of their “December Curse” by sweeping Philly and stealing the NFC East.
Cowboys 36, Eagles 33
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Denver may have been an inconsistent disaster since starting the season at 6-0, but they’re still too talented and competitive to see their playoff hopes dashed by the Chiefs. Right?
Broncos 21, Chiefs 18
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals
This game doesn’t mean anything more than seed positioning for either team, although a win and a loss by both the Vikings and Eagles would magically get the Cardinals the No. 2 seed and a home game in the divisional round of the playoffs.
They won’t be getting the second seed, but they will finish strong at home by disposing of the Packers as both teams rest for the playoffs.
Cardinals 27, Packers 23
Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets
The Bengals could play spoiler against an average Jets team that has a shot at the playoffs, but considering all New York needs to do is win to get it, I somehow see Mark “Sanchize” working some magic and winning over his city (and state) yet again.
After starting the season 3-0, Sanchez and the Jets will once again be on top of the world after beating the Bengals, if only for one week.
Jets 26, Bengals 24
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
Good news for teams in need of a defensive tackle in this upcoming draft: they are stacked.
Very rarely is an NFL Draft dominated by defensive tackles. In fact, there have never been more than 10 defensive tackles taken in the first two rounds of an NFL draft. Depending on which juniors declare eligible this year, we could see up to 12 off the boards.
When looking at the best classes of all time, I looked at the amount of defensive tackles taken, and also the amount of quality players to come out of them. Some of the best classes include…
1970
Three first-round picks, seven second-round picks. Some notable players were
Mike Read and Jerry Sherk. 1970 had the most quantity, but the quality wasn’t there. They didn’t have the big names that other draft classes had.
1975
Four first-round picks, three second-round picks. Some notable players were Hall-of-Famer Randy White, Gary Johnson, Louie Kelcher, and Doug English.
There were some real quality players and a Hall-of-Famer in this class. Johnson and Kelcher were both three-time All-Pro players, and English made four Pro Bowls.
2001
Six first-round picks, two second-round picks. Some notable players were Richard Seymour, Marcus Stroud, Casey Hampton, Kris Jenkins, and Shaun Rogers.
2001 not only had the most defensive tackles picked in the first round in NFL history, it also was stacked with quality players, most of which are continuing to have NFL success to this day.
2010 could be next on this list, and even top them all. The number of top defensive tackles is there, and the quality of those players has never been seen before in a draft in NFL history before.
I’ll start out with the name that everyone knows, but nobody can pronounce, Ndamukong Suh .
Suh has taken over college football this year. There aren’t many defensive tackles that have ever had the type of impact that Suh has had.
Suh became the first defensive player since Charles Woodson in 1997 to even be invited to the Heisman ceremony, and Woodson also played offense and special teams that year, too.
Suh’s season this year was as dominating as a defensive player has ever had. He is the clear-cut No. 1 player on almost everyone’s big board, and will likely be either the first or second player selected in the upcoming draft.
The next defensive tackle who is eying a top 5 draft selection is Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy . He has had an amazing year, overshadowed by Oklahoma’s disappointing season and Suh’s dominating season.
McCoy has constantly drawn double teams and still put up a productive season. At 6’4 and 300 pounds, he’s sure to be a top 5-10 pick to a team that runs a 4-3 defense.
I’ll continue with the primarily 4-3 defensive tackles with Jared Odrick of Penn State. Odrick had another solid season, being named to the second-team All-American list. He’s likely another first-round pick in April, and a good combine showing could put him in the top 20.
The best of the 3-4 nose tackles is Terrence “Mount” Cody of Alabama. At 6’5, 355, Cody fits his nickname well. For a guy his size, he moves very well.
He was a key factor in Alabama’s defense, and really freed things up for linebacker Rolando McClain. Cody also blocked two fourth-quarter kicks in a 12-10 win against Tennessee to assure Alabama’s spot in the National Championship game.
Cody was the third defensive tackle on the 1st team All-American team this year. Cody will most likely be an early-mid first-round pick for a team running a 3-4 defense.
Another nose tackle moving up the boards is Tennessee’s Dan Williams . Now Williams can also play in a 4-3 defense, but he is getting a lot of attention from teams who run a 3-4 defense, particularly the Miami Dolphins.
Williams is 6’3, 330, and is likely to be the anchor of a defense for a long time in the NFL.
There are two quality underclassmen this season who may or may not come out in the draft. But if they do, they will likely be first-round picks. The first is UCLA’s Brian Price .
Price has been talking as if he was going to enter this year’s draft, and he is shooting up the draft boards fast. Price was voted by Pac-10 coaches as the Pac-10 defensive player of the year.
He led all defensive linemen with 22.5 TFL this season. He’s best suited for a 4-3 defense, has climbed into the late first round, and is continuing to move up.
The second is Marvin Austin of North Carolina. Austin is ranked right around the same area as Brian Price and is also moving up. We don’t know if he is going to declare for the draft, but if he does, he’s likely a first-round pick.
Austin had two of his best games in his last two games, getting three sacks in them. Austin is in a good position because he can play in both a 4-3 and 3-4 very effectively.
The biggest question mark in the group is Syracuse’s Arthur Jones . Jones was set to have another great year in his senior season until he tore his lateral meniscus. He had surgery on it and was forced to miss the remainder of the year.
How Jones comes back from that injury will be very telling to where he will be selected in the upcoming draft. He could be a first-round pick or he could fall into the third or fourth round.
He’ll be a 4-3 defensive tackle in the pros, and a lot of people are saying he is a good fit to the Colts late in the first round.
The most intriguing is Allen Bailey of Miami. Bailey is a freakish athlete for his size. He has even played some linebacker this year.
I am almost positive that he’ll be going back to school for his senior season, but if he doesn’t, expect a team to jump on him earlier than expected because of his workouts.
Now there are the prospects who could be second round picks in the draft. The first is Tyson Alualu of Cal. Alualu is a very strong player, who despite only being 295 pounds, could play in a 3-4 defense in the pros with a little added weight.
It’ll be interesting what he weighs in at the combine, that could be telling of where he’ll be selected. His on-field production is there, earning a first-team All-Pac 10 selection and recording 7.5 sacks this season.
One of my personal favorite prospects at defensive tackle is D’Anthony Smith . Smith may get overlooked by some scouts because he plays for Louisiana Tech University. Smith is very athletic and very talented. He is also very raw, which will drop him in the draft.
He is a senior, but is still only 21 years old. His production wasn’t the greatest, but it wasn’t bad either. His numbers don’t look as good as his Junior season when he broke out onto the scene, but he was fighting double teams all year long this year.
Smith will participate in the Senior Bowl, and I think he’ll move up the boards into the mid-second round with a good showing there.
Lamarr Houston out of Texas is another interesting prospect. Most of his production came against lesser competition (All six of his sacks were either non-conference games or games against Big 12 bottom feeders Baylor and Kansas).
Houston is the anchor of a much improved Texas defense this year, and is a bit of a surprise this year.
What he does in the National Championship game will tell where he goes in the upcoming draft, but a good showing could possibly sneak him into the end of the second round.
2010 may be the last year before a rookie salary cap is implemented into the NFL. So this draft may be one of the bet drafts of all-time with all of the players declaring eligible.
Defensive tackles highlight this impressive draft class both in quality and quantity.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
First of all, congratulations to the six Eagles players selected to play in this years Pro Bowl: kicker David Akers, defensive end Trent Cole, fullback Leonard Weaver,
wide receiver/kick returner Desean Jackson, cornerback Asante Samuel, and offensive tackle Jason Peters.
The six-man contingent represents the most the team has sent to a Pro Bowl since 2004, when 10 Eagles earned trips.
Based on their respective performances this season, each of the aforementioned players is deserving of their selection and we’ll break down their efforts in just a moment, but first, I would like to talk about who didn’t get the nod. Cornerback Sheldon Brown was given the cold shoulder once again, which is a shame because he certainly would have received my vote this year.
With 22 pass deflections, five interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, and a fumble return for score, Sheldon Brown is a player with Pro Bowl credentials but zero Pro Bowl selections.
For those of you wondering about Donovan McNabb, the three NFC quarterbacks selected this year were Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile tight end Brett Celek took a backseat to San Francisco’s Vernon Davis and Dallas’ Jason Witten.
Heck, even perennial Pro-Bowler Tony Gonzalez got the snuff.
As for the six Eagles who did get selected…
David Akers leads the NFL with 139 points and 32 field goals this season, while connecting on a career-high 88.9 percent of his attempts. He tied his own team record by nailing 17 field goals in a row, en route to earning NFC special team’s player of the month honors in November.
He has also made two game-winning kicks in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter this season (Nov. 29 vs. Washington and Dec. 27 vs. Denver). With four career Pro Bowl selections, Akers is now tied for the third in NFL history for Pro Bowl berths among kickers. Only Morten Andersen (seven) and Jan Stenerud (six) have registered more.
Trent Cole earned his second Pro Bowl nomination. He is the first Eagles defensive end drafted in the fifth round or later to garner multiple Pro Bowl honors since Clyde Simmons (ninth round selection in 1986), who earned two Pro Bowl berths in Philadelphia.
Cole has registered a career-high 12.5 sacks this season, which ranks fifth in the NFL and third in the NFC. He leads the Eagles in sacks and hurries (26), and ranks second in total tackles (90). With 47 career sacks, Cole ranks fifth in franchise history and has registered the highest sack total ever for an Eagles draft pick in his first five seasons.
DeSean Jackson, one of the league’s most dynamic players, sparkled as both a wide receiver and punt returner in just his second NFL season. The 23-year old Jackson leads the NFL in yards per catch (18.7), punt return average (16.0), and tied an NFL record by chalking up eight touchdowns of 50+ yards in a season, tying Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch (1951) and Devin Hester (2007).
In fact, Jackson’s average touchdown has covered 52.8 yards, the highest ever in league annals among players with 10-or-more scores. A second round draft pick of the Eagles in 2008, Jackson became the second Eagles wide receiver to earn a Pro Bowl berth in the Andy Reid era, joining Terrell Owens in 2005*. The last Eagle draft pick to make the Pro Bowl as a wide receiver was Fred Barnett in 1993*.
Jackson is also the first player in team history to be voted in as a return specialist. As a matter of fact, according to the NFL, Jackson is believed to be the first player in league history to be selected at both wide receiver and kick returner in the same season.
Jason Peters, regarded as one of the league’s finest offensive tackles earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth and his first as an Eagle. He was acquired in a blockbuster trade by the Eagles from the Buffalo Bills this past offseason. Peters has helped pave the way for the league’s third highest scoring offense (28.6 points per game), and 10th ranked offense in terms of total yards (366.5 yards per game).
Asante Samuel earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection, the longest current streak among NFL cornerbacks. He became the first Eagles cornerback to post consecutive Pro Bowl berths since Troy Vincent earned five straight from 2000-04. Samuel leads the NFL with nine interceptions (tied with safeties Darren Sharper and Jairus Byrd) in 2009 to go along with 42 tackles, nine passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
He has a pair of two-interception performances this year (vs. Washington on Nov. 29 and vs. Tampa Bay on Oct. 11) and six during his career. No player in the NFL has more interceptions than Samuel’s 29 since the start of the 2006 season.
Samuel was signed by the Eagles on the first day of the free agent signing period in 2008 after spending his first five NFL seasons with the New England Patriots.
Leonard Weaver became the first Eagles fullback to garner Pro Bowl honors since Bill Barnes did so three times from 1958-60. He joined the Eagles as a free agent signing this past offseason and has gone on to register career highs and lead all NFL fullbacks in rushing attempts (69) and rushing yards (321).
He also has a career high in rushing touchdowns (two) while adding 15 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Originally signed as a rookie free agent by Seattle in 2005, Weaver is the only Carson-Newman College product ever to earn Pro Bowl honors.
The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida, one week prior to the Super Bowl.
Needless to say, these six players are hoping their trip to Miami will be for one game and one game only, and it’s not the Pro Bowl.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
The Green Bay Packers are fourth in the league in yards and scoring offense. We are second in the league in yards and ninth in scoring defense. It all adds up to 10-5 and a playoff berth.
So when the Pro Bowl rosters were announced, you may have been expecting a lot of players to be on the list. If so, you would be disappointed: Charles Woodson is starting, Nick Collins is the backup free safety, and Aaron Rodgers is the third-string quarterback.
How can this be? Because the Packers’ achievements have not come through star players, but a deep roster with more talent than any team can gameplan for.
Think about it. Who else belongs in the Pro Bowl? Here are the other outstanding Packers players to consider:
There really are not even any other players who should be considered. Oh, there are some bad Pro Bowl appointees.
For instance, how do the Vikings, in the midst of a 1-3 slide in large part because the offensive line has faltered—it ranks 20th in sacks yielded and 22nd in average yards per carry with Adrian Peterson running the ball!—land two starting Pro Bowl linemen?
But you are not going to tell me that anyone from our offensive line should be on the team. Or a good tight end who ranks fifth in the NFC in receiving yards over the top two, one of whom has a shot at setting the record for touchdowns for the position.
Or a cornerback who is only starting for half the season because of an injury. Or a solid strong safety who has not even played in every game.
Perhaps a couple linebackers could have been chosen, and they and a running back or maybe even a receiver might go as an alternate.
The only other team with a winning record with as few Pro Bowl players is the Cincinnati Bengals. They beat the Packers in Lambeau Field in Week 2, have 10 wins, and no players headed to the Pro Bowl, although Cedric Benson should be.
Do not take away from the announcements of the roster that the Packers had only one starter and two reserves.
Instead, focus on how we stopped to think why several other players did not make it, because what this year’s Pro Bowl roster really says is that we win as a team.
I originally wrote this article for Sports Scribes .
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
The answer to the titular query is quite simple: Eagles versus Cowboys is—and at 8:20 pm Sunday still will be—the most important game of the week.
Oh, so you want reasons?
Fine.
I’ve heard the arguments. And I will concede that Jets versus Bengals very well could be a huge game.
It might also not be as big as you think.
First of all, look at what you have in Eagles-Cowboys: A game that at worst will determine the NFC East Champion and at best could also be for the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
The Eagles control their own destiny for the No. 2 seed, and hold the tiebreaker against Minnesota. Should Minnesota lose, a Dallas victory could also earn them the first-round bye, as it would come down to a strength of victory tiebreaker (or lower).
Does it get any bigger than that? I think not.
But as for arguments against it, there are many.
You can say that in most weeks, FOX and CBS can choose games to protect from flexing…but not in Week 17.
You can say that there’s a contractual provision requiring NBC to flex an equal number of FOX and CBS games by the end of their contract, and they’re a few up on the FOX side. But that contract runs out in 2013, giving them four more seasons to “balance.” Plus, they could’ve picked a lot better matchup (one out of the AFC, perhaps), than that Dallas-Washington snoozer.
You can also say that Dallas was on last week and Eagles-Cowboys was already a SNF game in Week Nine. Both true, but I again refer to the previous poor choice of Dallas versus Washington, and also say that the flex option was inserted to give fans the best possible games, not assuage feelings.
To that point, you can also say that the Jets and Bengals haven’t had a SNF game yet, while both Philly and Dallas have had three. True…but the Saints haven’t been on SNF at all, and the Packers, Patriots, and Chargers all have one appearance apiece.
That’s all moot.
What you can’t say, however, is that Jets versus Bengals will even have meaning for both teams come Sunday night.
The Jets, of course, can earn a playoff berth if they win regardless of what happens around them.
However, while the Bengals have clinched the AFC North, they’re fighting for either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed. If they tie the Patriots, the tiebreaker will come down to strength of victory.
If the Patriots defeat Houston, the Bengals will have to win to tie them at 11-5. Then, it will all depend on how the remaining games of the week work out to see how that goes.
As of now, the Patriots have a (four or five)-game edge; counting next week’s games as wins (thus giving the Jets an 8-8 record), the current marks are 73-89 for the teams the Pats have defeated versus (68-98 or 69-97) for teams the Bengals have beaten.
So, if even half of seven non-common teams the Patriots have beaten (those being Buffalo, Miami, Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa, Carolina, or Jacksonville) somehow win, the Pats will have that tiebreaker in the bag, meaning Cincinnati will be playing for nothing.
That means that what you have is a lame-duck team playing one that just beat one last week.
Instead of a game that will be for the division and could be for the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
At least I’ll be able to watch the big game in the New York metro area, as it was flexed to 4:15 so it will be opposite the Giants.
Too bad the entire country won’t get to share in my joy; I’m sure those fans who get to watch Chicago vs. Detroit will have a blast.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
After seeing Brett Favre on the ground numerous times, Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie benched, and a decrease in Adrian Peterson’s production, the Minnesota Vikings announced early Wednesday that they will be holding try-outs to help fill the holes in the offensive line.
The Vikings, who began the season 10-1, are now 11-4 and fighting for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Peterson’s production has dwindled in recent games. Peterson saw two games in which he touched the ball 25 times for 54 yards.
First time Pro Bowler, Bryant McKinnie, was benched during the third quarter of a 26-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, after DE Julius Peppers pitched a tent in the Vikings backfield.
Favre has seen an increase in sacks, hurries, and hits. Due to multiple pocket collapses, Favre has been desperate enough to throw to Naufahu Tahi and Anthony Herrera.
The Vikings announced Wednesday through a spokesperson that they will be holding the lineman try-outs on Friday at Winter Park.
The Vikings recommend that you are at least 6’4”, 300 lbs, or share genes with Jim Kliensasser if you plan on trying out.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
Adrian,
When I drafted you with the number one overall pick in my fantasy football draft over three months ago, I did so knowing I was drafting the best player in football—fantasy or reality.
Though I must admit, I couldn’t have cared less about how well the Vikings did as long as you led me to a championship.
And you didn’t disappoint.
Your pretend teammates Tony Romo, DeSean Jackson, and (newly acquired) Jerome Harrison turned in admirable performances in the most important game of the season.
The same couldn’t be said for your theoretical partner in the backfield, Brandon Jacobs.
After Jacobs laid a goose egg against Carolina, it was up to you, Adrian, to make up a 20 point deficit as the only player left in the championship matchup left to play.
On Monday Night Football.
As if the circumstances weren’t daunting enough, my opponent had kicked off the championship match with a 26-point performance by Chris Johnson the previous Friday.
But you never blinked.
Sure, you lost a fumble. But after racking up 137 total yards and two touchdowns, it didn’t matter.
Your 23 fantasy points were two more than I needed to capture a title.
Yes Adrian, with your teammates struggling, and a championship on the line, you fulfilled your status as the number one overall pick in fantasy football.
As long as I’ve played fantasy football, I’ve never had the chance to draft the likes of a LaDainian Tomlinson in his prime.
That is to say I’ve never had the first overall pick during LT’s tenure as THE fantasy stud.
With LT’s light growing dimmer as yours continues to burn brighter, I was blessed this year with the chance to pick a player that I might never have on my fantasy roster ever again.
Move over LT. That’s you now, Adrian.
With the option of trading down before the draft looming over my head, I denied the request and embraced the challenge that owning the first pick presented.
Knowing that you, Adrian, were going to be that selection made the decision that much easier.
Adrian, you were everything I could have dreamed the consensus number one overall fantasy pick could have been.
Whatever the rest of my team’s shortcomings may have been (most notably the tight end position), you more than made up for it.
And it couldn’t have been more evident than in the final and most important game of my fantasy season.
Thank you, Adrian, for making the first pick in the draft worth it.
Thank you for a fantasy championship that you worked tirelessly to help me procure, even if you had absolutely no idea that you were doing it.
Who am I kidding? You totally had no idea.
But thanks just the same, Adrian. I hope I’m lucky enough to have you on my squad again next year.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
Earlier this season, Jerome Harrison stepped in for an injured Jamal Lewis and tallied 81 total yards on 21 touches against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense, and sparked the notion that he could soon supplant the aging Lewis as the Browns’ new starting running back.
He then followed up that talk with an unlikely superstar day, rushing for 121 yards on 29 carries, while racking up another 31 yards on five receptions.
He got the fantasy world foaming at the mouth, and before we could all figure out Eric Mangini and the new-look Cleveland Browns, we had the rug pulled-out from under us.
Jamal Lewis returned, the Browns kept trying to get rookie James Davis going, and Harrison’s nagging injuries left him out of the mix.
For the next nine weeks, we were all left to wonder if this guy had what it takes to be an NFL running back, if he was worth a fantasy roster spot, and if he’d ever get more than 10 carries in a game again.
Two weeks ago, against the Kansas City Chiefs, those questions were answered.
Harrison ran for an extremely impressive 286 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries, displaying great vision and cutting ability, while also showcasing his above-average speed.
That one game set afire Jerome Harrison debates, and made us all wonder (yet again) if this kid could rumble with the best of them in the NFL.
Did he just need another “go-around” as the featured back, or was this just a testament to how bad the Chiefs run defense has gotten?
The answer: quite possible a little bit of both.
But then came Week 16’s action. Harrison faced an equally woeful Oakland Raiders defense, and proceeded to carry his Browns on his back to the tune of 39 carries, 148 yards, and one score, while leading them to their second straight victory.
So, the question remains: Is this guy for real?
When you consider that he’s topped 120 rushing yards or more in each of the last three games where he’s ran the ball at least 29 times, then the answer is a fairly easy “yes”, although those stats need to be taken with a grain of salt.
First, while his ability to handle a huge load (and handle it well) is impressive, it’s also quite unlikely he can consistently see that many touches per game on a regular basis, which could mean his production would normally dip much lower if he were to average, say, 15 attempts per game.
Secondly, two of the three defenses he torched were teams with five or less wins, and defenses that are not known for being able to stop the run (KC and Oakland).
The third, however, was the nice 121-yard performance he had against a solid Cincinnati Bengals defense earlier in the season.
Verdict: You got the numbers. You know what his role was earlier in the year, who he faced, and how he fared. You even know by now that Jamal Lewis will be retiring, which means Harrison’s main competition for 2010 will be Chris Jennings, who he has clearly passed on the depth chart.
However, what you don’t know is what kind of an impact James Davis will have next season. You also don’t know whether or not Eric Mangini will be back as the head coach, what kind of a role Josh Cribbs will play at running back (or another position) next season, and whether or not Cleveland will draft a running back in April (they will).
With that said, short of some major issues with the law and not being drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears, Jerome Harrison has all the makings of last year’s (and possible this year’s) Cedric Benson.
He’s tearing it up to end the season, just like Benson, and appears to be on a team that is starting to get fairly competitive. With Mike Holmgren now around to run the show, it’s unlikely the talented Harrison is going anywhere.
While he can’t have guaranteed RB1 or RB2 value headed into the 2010 season, he is definitely worth a stash on your roster in Dynasty leagues, and he’s clearly worth monitoring all off-season.
Pay close attention to all the moves Cleveland makes, who and where they draft at running back, and what Harrison’s role could/might be entering next season. He could very well be the next electrifying back that could be available in the middle rounds of you fantasy draft.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Published: December 30, 2009
Topics of this Article
A. NFL Playoff Preview
B. Poking Fun at my NFL Preview
C. The Colts
D. Gratuitous Self-Promotion of my 70th Article
To wit…
This is my 70th article and a lot of stuff is going on so I tried a new kind of opening..
Paragraphs, we don’t need no stinking paragraphs.
The Five Worst Teams in the NFL
1. Detroit
2. Kansas City
3. Cincin-cinncin-cinsin-the Bengals
4. Cleveland (this is my team, but these dawgs will not have their day)
5. St. Louis
This is straight from my NFL Preview. I missed on Cincinnati (I did it:). Now the other teams have shown promise but for the most part have been awful.
Teams With No Shot at the Super Bowl
6. Denver
7. Tampa Bay
8. San Francisco
9. New York Jets
10. Jacksonville
I said that none of these teams could make it past their conference championship games. Now two of those teams still have playoff hopes, so I figure I can start the playoff preview right now.
The Bengals go to the Meadowlands for the final game there against the Jets. If the Jets win, they are in. The Bengals are already in and can earn the third seed with a win, coupled with a Patriots loss to Houston.
The Bengals can knock a team out of the playoffs, and I have been picking against the Jets for the majority of the year. Look for an inspired Bengal team to run over the Jets. The Jets will be a playoff team next year, but they will miss the playoffs this season.
Denver’s 6-0 start turned out to be huge, as they have gone 2-7 since. Denver was an 8-8 team last year, and they are not better than they were last year. Kansas City has been playing better and will end the Broncos’ season with a win.
Division Winners
11. Phila-Philla-Philadelf-Philly-The Eagles
12. Green Bay
13. Carolina
14. Arizona
15. New England
16. Pittsburgh
17. Indyan-Indianap-Indiapol-The Colts
18. San Diego
I will take five out of eight because Philadelphia will win in Dallas to take the NFC East. I missed on the Vikings over the Packers. I went with the Panthers instead of the Saints, and that looks real bad now. I am glad to be wrong about Pittsburgh since I hate them so much.
Of course, Pittsburgh will beat Miami to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.
Wild-Card Teams
19. New York Giants
20. Brett Favre, er, Minnesota
21. Tennessee
22. Oakland
I am 0-4 here. I usually get six out of 12 for my picks and that is where I am at this season. I can’t believe I bought into the Raiders—that was way off. The Titans made a nice comeback after a dreadful 0-6 start; whereas, the Giants had a dreadful end after a 5-0 start.
The Vikings are gunning for the two seed, but their swoon will continue in a loss to the Giants.
Why These Teams Won’t Make the Playoffs
23. Dallas — Wade Phillips (wrong)
24. Chicago — Jay Cutler (right)
25. New Orleans — Defense (wrong)
26. Atlanta — I might be wrong about them (I was right)
27. Seattle — Injuries (right)
28. Miami — They won’t be as good as they were last year (right)
29. Buffalo — T.O. (wrong, it wasn’t T.O.’s fault)
30. Baltimore — I hate them like poison (wrong)
31. Houston — I picked them the last two years, and they let me down (right)
32. Washington — A good team in the toughest division in the NFL (wrong, they weren’t a good team)
Baltimore will beat Oakland to make the playoffs. Houston will lose to the Patriots and be 8-8 like they always are.
I like how in my 70th article anything goes, hope you are liking that as well. How about that Raiders pick? Wow, that was a stinker.
In my own way, I have come to the playoff preview topic I mentioned in my odd opening. Through the muddy picks from before the season, I have assembled these playoff teams and seeds:
AFC
1. Colts
2. Chargers
3. Patriots
4. Bengals
5. Ravens
6. Steelers
NFC
1. Saints
2. Eagles
3. Vikings
4. Cardinals
5. Packers
6. Cowboys
Here were my picks for the playoffs before the season started:
Wild-Card Weekend
Green Bay over Minnesota
New York Giants over Arizona
Pittsburgh over Oakland
San Diego over Tennessee
Divisional Weekend
Philly over New York Giants
Carolina over Green Bay
New England over Pittsburgh
Indy over San Diego
Championship Sunday
Philly over Carolina
New England over Indy
Super Bowl XLIV
Philly over New England
Cheese steaks for everyone as the chowder turns red.
This is how it will really go:
Wild-Card Weekend
Dallas over Minnesota
Green Bay over Arizona
New England over Pittsburgh
Cincinnati over Baltimore
Divisional Weekend
Philly over Green Bay
New Orleans over Dallas
New England over San Diego
Indy over Cincinnati
Championship Sunday
Philly over New Orleans
New England over Indy
Super Bowl XLIV
Philly over New England
Cheese steaks for everyone as the chowder turns red.
The Colts and Patriots have mirrored each other for a decade now. Championship organizations, Hall of Fame quarterbacks, and excellent coaching. The only tried and tested way to beat either team is to keep their HOF QB on the sideline, and, when he is in, you have to hit him over and over again.
The Colts have been here before, and, when they let up in the past, they lost in the playoffs. The risks are great and the starters were pulled with a lead. Still, two games away from a perfect season, it is tough to leave the ball in Curtis Painter’s hands.
Jim Caldwell would be better served to play his starters into the fourth quarter next week in Buffalo. Peyton Manning is protected by his line, led by Jeff Saturday. The weather will be brutal, so the running game with Joseph Addai and Donald Brown can carry the load.
Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are still getting back into shape from injuries and could use the reps. The bye week is time to rest, not during the season. The Colts will need to stay sharp, as the AFC is loaded with tough teams.
The Patriots dominated the regular season matchup and will shock the Colts on their way to the Super Bowl.
The Eagles are playing their best ball and will need a full game to get by the Saints in New Orleans.
The Eagles will finally bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia, just like I said before the season started.
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