Bizzare Updates Involving the Recent Tragedy of Steve McNair

The mystery woman has been identified as Sahel Kazemi, a 20-year-old, woman living in Nashville.

Two days prior to the incident, Kazemi had been stopped for DUI, and was arrested for failing to take a breathalyzer. The black Escalade she was driving was registered in both her and McNair’s names.

The police also confirmed that Mechelle McNair, Steve’s wife, is not a suspect.

“Mrs. McNair is obviously very distraught,” Aaron said during a briefing televised live on CNN.  “Police chaplains have visited Mechelle McNair.  At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved.  We have not ruled anything out.  We may be leaning a certain way, but we have not ruled anything out.”

Police also said that they had not made a connection between McNair’s death and the act that a short time beforehand a 20-year-old, who is the same age as Kazemi, walked up to McNair at a restaurant, accused him of slipping her a roofie and said that her boyfriend would kill him.

Also, Mechelle McNair had told a local news station that she had not heard from her husband in a few days.

While it is being assumed that Kazemi is his girlfriend, let’s not be so hasty to jump to conclusions. There is no proof of a relationship at this point.

Also, the Tenneseean is now saying it is an apparent murder-suicide.

The case was originally ruled a murder-suicide at the start, but was quickly changed to a double homicide before now being changed back.

The Media Must Handle the McNair Tragedy with a Soft Touch

When celebrities or well-known sports figures pass on, the media is quick to hop on the story and get as many details as possible.

First, they attempt to gain information from the police and do some investigative digging to try and find out the scoop on what happened. Then, they turn to friends and family, looking for something they can put in quotations on the front page.

Watching the recent media circus around Michael Jackson’s unfortunate death left me appalled and ashamed of every person holding a microphone or pen and pad.

His body was recorded being transported from the hospital to the helicopter; every gruesome detail of the autopsy was presented in the same way the great Harry Kalas used to analyze a Phillies game, and anyone who ever knew the man had a microphone shoved in his/her face just looking for a quote to gain some reads.

When someone of high profile is lost, too many members of the media look at it as a way to get some more viewers, more subscribers, and more readers. Rather than realizing that a human life has been lost, they see it as simply another news story.

Don’t get me wrong—it’s the job of the media to get the information and to report the facts, but it’s the way in which the reporting is done and the way the facts are attained that will be the judgment of the individual.

As in the case of Steve McNair and the woman with whom he shared his final moments, a senseless act of violence took them away from this world and ended the one thing of which we all take advantage.

What we often forget is that these people, high profile or not, were in fact people.

Steve McNair was a family man. He had a wife, children, and relatives. He had friends who loved and cared for him. He wasn’t simply a walking trading card, or the real-life version of a man in a video game.

In short, the media professionals reporting this story should not be judged so much on what details they report or how quickly they get them, but rather how they got them.

A soft touch must be used in an instance such as this awful tragedy. There are countless people suffering right now because of the loss of this man.

Don’t shove a microphone into the face of his wife, his children, his friends, or any other extended family member simply to gain popularity with your article, radio show, or on-screen report.

I once heard the saying, “Journalists are here to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.”

Right now, these people are afflicted. Comfort them, rather than furthering their pain. Have some restraint in the time and manner in which the story is approached.

Remember, this was not simply the death of Steve McNair: potential Hall of Fame quarterback. It was also the death of Steve McNair: father, husband, and friend.

BREAKING NEWS: Steve McNair Found Dead Along With Female Victim

NewsChannel5.com in Nashville is reporting that former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair has been found dead, a victim of a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

The incident was originally reported as a murder-suicide, but now has been changed to ruled as a double homicide.

“We do not know the circumstances related to the death,” Don Aaron, information director for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, said. “We received a call of persons injured inside one of the condominiums.  When police officers arrived in response to that call, we found two individuals that had been shot to death inside the residence: one female, one male.  We now know that the male deceased is Steve McNair.”

A female victim was also found by McNair’s side.

More information to follow as it is reported.

McNair was a former first round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1995. After playing for the Houston and later Tennessee franchises he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens where he played for two years.

Steve McNair was a class-act, and is a huge loss not only for the NFL community, but for the world simply as a human being.

“We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair’s passing today,” Tennessee Titans owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. said in a statement. “He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing.”

McNair was only 36 years old.

UPDATE: The woman has been “tentatively identified” and when the information is known, her next of kin will be notified, then the press.

No one is yet in custody for the killings.

The Top Five: Best 4-3 Outside Linebackers in the NFL

Being an outside linebacker in the 4-3 no longer has the same kind of glamour that it once had, and it never really had all that much.

As an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, you must be intelligent. Only guys with the best football intelligence can succeed here. This is due to the fact that outside linebackers are asked to do a lot for a defense.

They are usually the last guy keeping the play from turning into a huge gain. If a running back goes to the outside and beats the outside linebacker, it’s at least a 15 yard gain because the corners have their backs turned and the safeties play that deep.

Same thing in the passing game. If a running back catches the ball in the flats, then beats the linebacker, even the biggest of running backs can turn that into an easy first down.

These are the guys who don’t allow that to happen.

 

5. Thomas Davis (Carolina Panthers)

47 games started, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT, 8 forced fumbles, 268 tackles

Davis came into the league as a safety/linebacker hybrid. He played safety in college, but was built more like a linebacker at 6’1″ and 235 pounds. The Panthers drafted him No. 14 overall, and stuck him in at linebacker.

After starting in only one game during his rookie season, he took over the starting spot in 2006 and has not relinquished it. In his three seasons as a starter, he’s averaging about 80 tackles and around three sacks per season.

He’s shown to be one of the more athletic linebackers in the league, and perhaps the best blitzer of all the 4-3 outside linebackers.

It’s rare to find a guy who can come up to the line and play linebacker on most of the snaps, but could also go back 10 yards and play safety without missing a beat. His history as a safety also makes him one of the better linebackers in pass coverage.

 

4. Derrick Brooks (Free Agent, Previously with Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

221 games started, 13.5 sacks, 25 INTs, 24 forced fumbles, 7 TDs, 1,301 tackles, 11-time Pro Bowler and 5-time All-Pro

Even only a couple years ago, Brooks would have probably been an easy No. 1 candidate for this list. However, with no team and his best years behind him, he’s no longer a viable option for “best in the league.”

While he may not be the best in the league any longer, he certainly is still one of the best. I, for one, can not believe that he still has not found a team. This is a guy who has more Pro-Bowl selections than some guys have in total years played.

He’s a five-time All-Pro and was the league’s defensive MVP in 2002, the year that the Bucs went to and won the Super Bowl.

While it’s clear that he has slowed down, there is no reason why this guy won’t be able to find a team for 2009. He’s no longer a three-down player, but he is a great leader and teacher, which should be enough to see him latch on and show everyone that he’s not done yet.

 

3. Julian Peterson (Detroit Lions)

119 games started, 46 sacks, 8 INTs, 16 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 495 tackles, 5-time Pro-Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

If Thomas Davis is the best blitzing 4-3 outside linebacker in the league, it’s because he took that title away from Julian Peterson.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more athletic guy at the position, and a guy who rarely gets talked about.

Even playing on some sub-par teams in San Francisco and Seattle, he’s managed a handful of Pro-Bowl appearances and has even been named an All-Pro once in 2003.

He won’t make a ton of tackles, but he will change the pace of a game when his team needs it. He’s a good leader on the field and understands his job.

The Lions got themselves a fine player, and may have stolen something away from the Seahawks.

 

2. Keith Bulluck (Tennessee Titans)

114 games started, 18 sacks, 16 INTs, 15 forced fumbles, 5 TDs, 689 tackles, 1-time Pro-Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

The fact that Keith Bulluck has only been invited to one Pro-Bowl is nothing short of a crime.

The problem is that the people voting for the Pro-Bowl only see the flashy stats, like sacks. Sacks, interceptions and touchdowns are what earn Pro-Bowl trips. Things like leadership, reliability, and intelligence cannot be measured, and therefore are not rewarded with things like Pro-Bowls.

Bulluck has started 112 consecutive games, a streak that goes back to the ’02 season.

He is the heart and soul of that Titans defense and without him it would look drastically different. He doesn’t get nearly the respect he deserves, except from people who really understand and follow football.

Ask a casual fan about Keith Bulluck, and there won’t be much of a response.

 

1. Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears)

91 games started, 6 sacks, 9 INTs, 8 forced fumbles, 4 TDs, 537 tackles, 4-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

Briggs was a guy who broke out almost right away. He was a third-round pick without real high expectations, but he came out in only his second season and started all 16 games while racking up over 100 tackles.

Since then, Briggs earned All-Pro honors in 2005, along with a Pro-Bowl selection, and has been to the Pro-Bowl every year since then.

He’s a guy who has a lot of range and a nose for the ball, made evident by his nine career interceptions. While that may not sound like a whole lot, it’s a high number for an outside linebacker.

Some question whether or not he can play without Brian Urlacher next to him, but given his nice long extension he signed not too long ago, we probably won’t know for at least a few years.

Until then, he’ll remain the best outside linebacker in the league.

 

Also Check Out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

The Top Five: Best 3-4 Defensive Ends in the NFL

The 3-4 defensive end is an odd breed.

They’re basically just more athletic 4-3 defensive tackles. They must be big, strong, and able to hold at the point of attack. However in the same play, they’re expected to be quick and athletic enough to make sure no one gets out around them.

With a couple teams switching to the 3-4 every couple years or so, it’s a position that’s in much higher demand and should see a real boom over the next 5-10 years, that is until the 3-4 fades out in obscurity again.

Let’s not forget that the 3-4 is just a fad coming back around.

Anyway, it’s certainly relevant enough in today’s NFL to recognize the men who do it best.

Honorable Mention: Glenn Dorsey (Kansas City Chiefs)

16 games started, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 32 tackles

No, Glenn Dorsey has not yet taken a single snap from the defensive end position. Yes, all of those stats are from playing defensive tackle in the 4-3. No, I don’t think I’m crazy.

Call it a hunch, but I believe Glenn Dorsey will be one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the game. He translates so well and it seems to be the position he’s built to play.

At 6’2 and 316 pounds, Dorsey will need to lose five or 10 pounds, and he’s a little short, but he’s so athletic for a man his size. Not to mention the sheer brute strength that he brings to his game.

Watch out for Glenn Dorsey, he’s going to turn some heads.

5. Darnell Dockett (Arizona Cardinals)

79 games started, 19 sacks, 3 INT, 6 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 173 tackles, 1-time Pro Bowler

At 6’4 and 295 pounds, Dockett is the perfect size to take over the defensive end spot in the newly implimented 3-4 defense that will be run in the desert this year.

Like Dorsey, Dockett has not played the position yet, but all signs point to him finding great success in it.

Dockett found success as a defensive tackle in the 4-3, even tying Reggie White’s Super Bowl record with three sacks in a losing effort to the Pittsburgh Steelers this past year.

While playing 3-4 defensive end is not exactly the same, it is close enough for me to prophecize without hesitation that Dockett will do just fine.

4. Luis Castillo (San Diego Chargers)

48 games started, 14.5 sacks, 2 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 116 tackles

Castillo is big, he’s physical, he’s athletic, and he knows how to get into the backfield and disrupt a play.

Unfortunately, he’s never healthy long enough to show what he can really do.

Over the past three years, he’s missed a total of 13 games, nearly an entire season’s worth. Even last year he played in 15 games, but he was banged up throughout the year and the entire defense had a bad season.

If Castillo can find a way to stay healthy, he could be the best in the game. He’s still young (26), so there’s still time to turn it around and show the league, and everyone else, that he is the best.

However until then, all we have to go on is flashes of talent in between visits to the sideline and to the trainer.

3. Ty Warren (New England Patriots)

80 games started, 19.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 221 tackles, 1 safety

Because of Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour (expect to see his name again), Warren goes fairly unnoticed. But let’s be honest, most 3-4 defensive ends do.

Most think that he’s just another Bill Belichick guy who outside of New England probably wouldn’t perform as well, and therefore gets overlooked.

However at 6’5 and 300 pounds, Warren is very athletic and, like most Belichick players, extremely football-smart.

Since his rookie year he’s always had at least one sack, and has reached 7.5 in ’06. Also since his rookie year, he’s only missed four games.

He’s big, strong, athletic, smart, and maybe most importantly of all he’s reliable.

2. Aaron Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers)

137 games started, 42 sacks, 1 INT, 7 forced fumbles, 316 tackles, 1-time Pro Bowler

Whenever I see lists similar to this, Aaron Smith is somehow lost in the shuffle.

What some people outside of Pittsburgh don’t realize is that this guy has been a catalyst to the Steelers defensive success for the past 10 years.

He’s very good at shutting down the edge, and even getting some pressure on the quarterback when he has to. Since taking over the starting job in 2000, he has not had less than two sacks in a season, and even reached eight sacks twice (once in ’01 and again in ’04).

Also since 2001, he’s only missed five games total. All of his games missed came in 2007 when he suffered an injury.

He’s not a flashy guy by any means, but he gets the job done and even in his older age continues to get it done.

1. Richard Seymour (New England Patriots)

105 games started, 39 sacks, 2 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 227 tackles, 5-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro

This was a pretty obvious and easy choice, considering that Seymour will most likely find his way to the Hall of Fame someday.

Seymour is the prototype for defensive ends in the 3-4, and at 6’6, 310 pounds, why wouldn’t he be?

From ’02-’06, Seymour made the Pro Bowl every year, while making the All-Pro team from ’03-’05. That kind of streak of excellence has not been seen from a 3-4 defensive end, or most any other player for that matter.

Don’t start thinking that Seymour is in the downward part of his career either. Last season, in 15 games, he recorded eight sacks. Also, he’ll only be turning 30 this year.

Seymour will be the guy that all aspiring 3-4 defensive ends will watch. He will be the example for generations to come.

The Top Five: Best 4-3 Defensive Ends in the NFL

Defensive ends are quickly becoming the highest-paid players in the NFL. They’re already at or near the top among defenders: Up until Haynesworth’s recent monster deal, Dwight Freeney was the highest-paid defensive player in the league at nearly $12 million per year.

The position has seen a transition over the years. No longer are the ends big and fast like a Reggie White or a Bruce Smith. Today, those guys would probably be playing defensive end in the 3-4.

Guys like Julius Peppers, Osi Umenyiora, and Freeney have become the prototypes.

Why is this? Perhaps because there’s a direct correlation between sacks and dollars. Sacks, interceptions, and touchdowns are what lead to extra zeros in the new contract.

Teams will overlook an end’s poor performance in the running game if he has the speed and agility to the quarterback on third down.

That’s the job description of these guys, and they do it best.

 

5c. Trent Cole (Philadelphia Eagles)

53 games started, 34.5 sacks, one INT, one TD, eight forced fumbles, 189 tackles, one-time Pro Bowler

Trent Cole is still a young guy, so the stats may not look as great as they will for most of these guys, but he has certainly shown that he is just as dominating as any defensive end in the league.

He seems to suffer from the lack of respect that the Eagles’ left ends receive as far as blockers, but he still manages to get those tough sacks and tackles when they matter most.

He also plays the run better than most defensive ends. He’s good at holding the point of attack when he must and making that stop or forcing the running back to the inside for the big guys in the middle to do their work.

He has plenty of unrealized potential still, and once the Eagles find an end that offenses will respect, Cole will be a perennial Pro Bowler.

 

5b. Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts)

89 games started, 70.5 sacks, 34 forced fumbles, one TD, 203 tackles, one safety, four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro

Dwight Freeney could very well be the best pure pass-rusher in the NFL.

His patented spin move has made him a sensation in Indianapolis and all around the NFL. He’s still a guy who must always be accounted for, or he will make you pay when it counts most.

So for all the stats and the praise, why so low?

Putting aside the fact that he is weak against the run, Freeney seems to have lost a step over the past few seasons. Following season of 16 and 11 sacks, he followed that up with seasons of 5.5 and 3.5 sacks. This past year, he did reach double-digits again with 10.5, but he doesn’t seem to be the same player.

The problem with speed rushers is that once the speed is gone, so is their game. Freeney, like other speed guys, have relied on one move throughout their entire career.

Jevon Kearse is a good example. Now that the speed is gone, he has not even thought of when a list like this comes up. A one-trick pony will become exposed at some point in the NFL, and Freeney may be reaching that point.

 

5a. Osi Umenyiora (New York Giants)

51 games started, 41.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, two TD, 167 tackles, two-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro

Umenyiora’s speed and agility is a reminder of Dwight Freeney, but unlike Freeney, Umenyiora is willing to play the run.

His injury last year may have a substantial effect on his game because he relies so heavily on his speed, but he may be able to push through it because he is such a craftsman.

Umenyiora will benefit from having a great defensive line around him and some pretty decent linebackers behind him, so he should be just fine.

The fact is that the Giants are a completely different defense with him in the game. Mathias Kiwanuka filled in admirably last season, but Umenyiora will put a scare into offenses that no one else on that team can bring.

He said he could have been able to come back last year. His spot in the league will be determined by whether or not he can come back this year and perform the way he has.

 

4. John Abraham (Atlanta Falcons)

103 games started, 84 sacks, 31 forced fumbles, one TD, 302 tackles, three-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro

Last season, Abraham got the biggest Pro-Bowl snub of either conference. His 16.5 sacks should have been plenty to get him into the Pro Bowl, but somehow he was overlooked and left sitting at home.

At the age of 30, Abraham had the best season of his career with the rejuvenated Falcons, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

He’s great rushing the passer, but he can also secure the outside against the run. He’s a smart player and obviously understands the game of football. He uses his intelligence to make up for perhaps a small loss in physical ability due to age.

Again, if there is a loss, it’s minute.

Look for Abraham to make the Pro Bowl this coming year.

 

3. Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers)

106 games started, 70.5 sacks, four INT, 25 forced fumbles, two TDs, 279 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro

Peppers is one of the most, if not the most, gifted athlete to ever play in the NFL.

When it comes to pure football ability, he’s really not that great. His technique and the way he plays the game is not quite textbook, but he’s so much more athletic than anyone he faces that it doesn’t matter.

He’s said recently that he would like to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, but with all the success he has had and will have in the 4-3, why in the world would he want to change?

If Peppers is smart, he’ll sign a contract long enough that it ensures he’ll retire a Panther and give up on playing a new position eight years into his career.

 

2. Mario Williams (Houston Texans)

48 games started, 30.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, one TD, 122 tackles, one-time Pro Bowler

The debate of “Mario Williams or Reggie Bush” seems to have been settled.

Charley Casserly was all but ran out of Houston after failing to draft the flavor of the month in Reggie Bush, but over the past three years, it would appear that he’s been proven right and Texans fans are quietly praising his name.

Let’s also not forget that in the round after Williams, Casserly drafted DeMeco Ryans, who has also turned out to be one of the better linebackers in the game.

Williams is a rare combination of size and speed at 6’6″ and 290 pounds. His first step off the ball is one of the quickest in the league; then he has the power to manhandle guys 40 pounds heavier than him.

Only three years in the league, he is near the top; give him time and he may show that he’s not only top five in the league now but perhaps ever.

He has that kind of talent.

 

1. Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings)

71 games started, 57.5 sacks, one INT, 17 forced fumbles, 240 tackles, two safeties, two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro

While I believe that Williams will eventually overtake Allen for this spot, there is no debating that, over the past two years, Jared Allen has been by far the best in the league.

In his past two seasons (his last with the Chiefs and his first with the Vikings), Allen has 30 sacks, six forced fumbles, two safeties, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team over those two years.

If he can control his off-the-field drinking problems, he may be able to fend off Williams and keep his top spot for a little while longer because, as it stands now, he is the hands-down choice for best defensive end in the league.

 

Also check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

The Top Five: Best 3-4 Nose Tackles in the NFL

While philosophies may differ, the most usual job description of the 3-4 nose tackle is to simply be a space eater.

The nose tackle will usually be the biggest guy on the field, and more often than not, he’s not doing anything real flashy. Yes, they will have the occasional sack or big tackle in the backfield, but for the most part, they are there to eat up the double team and keep the linebackers clean so they can make those big plays.

Finding that combination of athleticism to make that sack and go along with that mammoth size is extremely rare. Most of the time you’ll have one or the other, but finding both is no easy feat.

Fortunately for the employers of these guys, they’ve found it.

 

5. Kris Jenkins (New York Jets)

Career stats: 95 games started, 24 sacks, two forced fumbles, 209 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler, and two-time All-Pro

Jenkins has only been a nose tackle for one year, but during that year he was phenomenal.

He started all 16 games for the Jets last year after being traded from the Panthers, where he played as a 4-3 defensive tackle. In his first season with the Jets, he earned Pro Bowl honors for his astounding play.

The only question for Jenkins is whether or not he can repeat his success.

He found success as a 4-3 defensive tackle playing only one gap, but in the zero technique he may not be able to have such sustained success.

 

4. Casey Hampton (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Career stats: 106 games started, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 150 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler

Hampton isn’t a sack machine, but he doesn’t need to be.

He does his job better than most, which is shown by the Steelers’ fantastic run defense over the past several years.

He’s big, he’s strong, and he has a mean streak when he has to. Offensive linemen have a nightmare day with this guy, because he may have the strongest upper body in the entire league. Not just of linemen, but the entire league.

The only knock on Hampton is his conditioning. There are points in games where he will get washed because he’s winded, which comes from his poor offseason conditioning. There have been a couple of instances where he has been fined and reprimanded by the team for coming into training camp in poor shape.

 

3. Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots)

Career stats: 67 games started, 7.5 sacks, 188 tackles, one-time Pro Bowler

While the stats don’t exactly scream “Look at me, I’m great,” his play on the field does.

The linebackers in Bill Belichick’s system get all of the credit for being so good and so smart and everything else. The reality of the situation is that those guys would be nowhere were it not for the big guy up front keeping them clean.

Over the past two seasons, Wilfork has not missed a game and has played at a Pro Bowl level. However, because he plays in Belichick’s system, he often gets overlooked come Pro Bowl selection time.

Wilfork is a huge mass who is incredibly tough to move. On the goal line and in short yardage situations, there isn’t an offense in the league who would dare try to take the ball up the middle.

With Wilfork there, it’s futile.

 

2. Shaun Rogers (Cleveland Browns)

Career stats: 112 games started, 33.5 sacks, one interception, six forced fumbles, two touchdowns, 317 tackles, three-time Pro Bowler

Like Jenkins, Rogers has only been a nose tackle for one season with his new team after spending seven years as a 4-3 defensive tackle in Detroit.

While playing with such poor teams as Detroit and this past year with Cleveland, he has still been able to rack up over 30 sacks with little talent around him. This speaks to how purely dominating he is on the line and how athletic he can be.

Rogers, however, like Hampton, is unable to stay on the field for very long before needing to come off to catch his breath. His conditioning has always been called into question and is what led to his trade out of Detroit.

Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that when he is on the field, he consistently dominates and is a keystone of that defense.

 

1. Jamal Williams (San Diego Chargers)

Career stats: 121 games started, 13 sacks, one interception, one touchdown, four forced fumbles, 311 tackles, three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro

To put it quite simply, Jamal Williams is a beast.

He is bigger and stronger than any center in the league, and it shows.

Last season on a Monday night game, he threw a center backwards to make a stop on the goal line. That’s the kind of play he makes week in and week out—he’s absolutely unstoppable.

Now as he gets older, his production will obviously drop off. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league.

He’s not flashy, and a lot of people aren’t going to know his name because he plays out West, but the man can simply dominate and change the entire flow of a game with just one play.

Without Williams, the Chargers would not be able to run their 3-4. He’s so important that if they do not find a replacement for him upon his retirement, the entire scheme will have to change.

Perhaps it’s the “East Coast bias” or simply the fact that overall the Chargers’ defense was not very good last year, but Williams is a guy who gets lost in the shuffle.

I can guarantee that not a single offensive coordinator in the league forgets him for a second during the week leading up to the time they’ll have to face him.

 

Also check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

The Top Five: Best 4-3 Defensive Tackles in the NFL

In any defense, the tackles may be the most important part.

They are the first line, and they’re the tone-setters. Their play can determine the difficulty or ease of the linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties behind them.

If the line is playing well and keep the linebackers clean, odds are that team will be fairly successful. If they’re not, their respective team is looking at a very long day.

They’re the biggest guys on the field and their only intention is to make sure that the other big guys across from them don’t move them. They growl, they snot, and they snarl just to defend that six inches of ground.

The trenches. It’s the reason why we love football and what makes it such a man’s man of a sport. Giving up or keeping that six inches can be the difference between a win and a loss.

These are the guys who do it best.

5. Mike Patterson – Philadelphia Eagles

54 games started, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 154 tackles

Patterson has been solid since his first days in the NFL, but over the last two seasons he has really began to separate himself as one of the better tackles in all of football.

He’s grown into a brick wall. He’s not tall, and not all that big at only 5’11 and barely breaking 300 pounds, but he understands that leverage is all that counts when you’re a lineman, and he uses it better than most.

His shorter stature seems to help with this, as it’s much easier for a guy at 5’11 to get lower than a guy at around 6’4.

Look for Patterson in the Pro Bowl this year, and several times in seasons following. If this list is put together again in a few years, he may find himself much higher.

4. Marcus Stroud – Buffalo Bills

100 games started, 24.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 245 tackles, *3-time Pro Bowler

Stroud is an absolutely dominating force.

He’s highly underrated because of the small markets he’s played in (Jacksonville and Buffalo), but make no mistake there is not a single offensive coordinator in the league who doesn’t gamplan for a way around Marcus Stroud.

Even without the deserved media coverage, Stroud has still found his way to three Pro Bowls. One more than his former teammate, John Henderson.

Stroud is always going to command a double-team, and will make his teammates better because of it.

3. Tommie Harris – Chicago Bears

69 games started, 24.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 143 tackles, *three-time Pro Bowler

Tommie Harris may be the quickest man playing defensive tackle.

Unlike Patterson, Harris is much more of a pass-rush specialist. While he certainly doesn’t seem to lack against the run, his forte is getting pressure on the quarterback and creating havoc in the backfield.

Barring injuries, Harris may be considered the best tackle in all of football, regardless of the scheme. Unfortunately for Harris and the Bears, he has been injured throughout his career and unable to reach his full potential.

Even while he may not ever get to that point, he is still a force to be reckoned with and should be recognized as one of the most complete tackles playing the game today.

2. Albert Haynesworth – Washington Redskins

74 games started, 24 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 200 tackles, *two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Albert Haynesworth. He seems to only be motivated by the money and the glory of playing professional football. I may be wrong, but the fact that he has only produced in contract years does nothing to temper the criticism.

As far as on-the-field goes, no one has been better than Haynesworth the past two years. He has been a disrupting force anywhere along the line. While he’s mainly a tackle, he has moved out to defensive end on occasion with great success.

He is a beast of a human being and is able to beat nearly any offensive lineman that the league can throw at him. Again, the only problem is that he has only produced in contract years.

If we throw out the past two seasons (both contract years), Haynesworth has a mere 9.5 sacks. He also has never finished out an entire season. This, in my mind, does not entitle him to the $100 million contract he received. He has his money, now will he be motivated to perform?

1. Kevin Williams – Minnesota Vikings

94 games started, 42.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 5 forced fumbles, 4 TDs, 223 tackles, *four-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro

Kevin Williams is without question the very best defensive tackle in the entire NFL.

He is incredibly reliable (having missed only two games in his career), and can rush the passer as well as stuff the run.

He’s an absolute wrecking ball on the line. Moving him is a nightmare for any offensive line. He consistently must be double-teamed if he is going to be taken out of a game, and even then he usually dominates.

His rare mix of being able to get to the quarterback and hold his own on the line is something the NFL hasn’t seen since back when Reggie White graced the football field with his presence.

The four career interceptions, two of which he’s returned for touchdowns, shows the rare athleticism he possesses for a man his size. He also has scooped up two fumbles for touchdowns.

Williams is a talent that only comes along once a generation. He’s a man who’s extremely under appreciated because of the position he plays, but should get serious Hall of Fame looks if his career holds up the way it is.

 

Also Check Out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

Could Brandon Marshall Be an Eagle? Philly Brass Needs to Make a Call to Denver

Even though the Broncos remain adamant that Brandon Marshall will either be playing in the Mile High City or nowhere next year, it’s fair to question them on the matter.

If you’ll recall, they said the same thing about a certain quarterback now residing in Chicago.

So while they say he won’t, there is a chance that Marshall may get his wish. Evidently it’s even more than a contract dispute at this point, since Marshall believes he was not handled properly when he had an injury and now feels like he can’t trust the organization.

This sounds similar to Kellen Winslow’s situation in Cleveland. Winslow, in case you hadn’t heard, now calls the Browns his “former” team.

While I’m sure that the Broncos have received a few calls about “Baby T.O.,” one team who has not called is the Philadelphia Eagles.

But why not?

Yes, they just spent a first-round pick on a wide receiver, and he may turn out to be very good. But on the other hand, he might not. The point is that you just never know, and banking on potential will get you fired in the NFL.

Personally, I believe that the Eagles are just fine at wide receiver. I believed that even before they drafted Jeremy Maclin.

However, whenever an opportunity rises to make your team better, you must, at the very least, look into it.

And let’s be honest—there is no doubt that Brandon Marshall would make the Eagles a better team.

What would it take to get the Broncos to part ways with Marshall? I’m not exactly sure. If it was me, I would offer a second-round pick and perhaps some late-round picks as well to maybe get the ball rolling.

The Broncos would probably counter offer with a first and third-round selection, but might drop the picks down if the Eagles were to toss in a veteran player like Kevin Curtis and perhaps a guy with some potential in Jason Avant.

This is in no way a call to trade either of those players, but the reality is that they are not of the same talent as Marshall.

While Marshall does bring some baggage along as far as off the field is concerned, the Eagles are usually pretty good about keeping something like that under control.

And who knows? Perhaps a change of scenery would straighten Marshall out right away.

Of course, you could say this about nearly any team in the NFL. Even the receiver-heavy Cardinals would be wise to at least make a call and see where things stood.

Perhaps the Broncos and Cardinals would be satisfied to swap players. How would an Anquan Boldin for Brandon Marshall trade look to both parties? Probably rather intriguing, and maybe a good move.

Marshall and Boldin are both unhappy where they are, they are both about the same talent level (you could argue for either one, which further proves that they’re about the same), and they are both scheduled to make about the same amount of money this year.

Also, the Cardinals don’t want to see Boldin in the NFC, and the Broncos don’t want to see Marshall in the AFC. This way, they wouldn’t have to.

The money, however, would be a moot point because both players would likely receive new contracts with their new teams anyway.

That sounds like a win-win to me for the players and their respective teams.

But I digress.

The Eagles need to at least call Denver and see what it would take. The odds of anything materializing are slim, but as I said before, anything that can be done to make your team better should at least be explored.

Joe Banner and Co. need to get on the phones and do some mile-high exploring.

 

Also check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

Philadelphia Eagles Still Interested in Bringing Jon Runyan Back?

The Eagles are still kicking around the idea of bringing Jon Runyan back to the team for his 10th season as an Eagle. Runyan started for the Birds last year but was banged up throughout the season. Runyan is anything but unreliable with the second-longest active starting streak in the NFL.

The move would make sense, especially if the Eagles aren’t completely sold on Shawn Andrews being in the right frame of mind.

If Andrews has a breakdown, or gets injured again, having Runyan there to step in would be the best thing for the Eagles. Runyan has started for the Eagles, he knows the guys, he obviously knows the system, and he’s still a great player.

This move makes far too much sense. If Andrews were to go down—either of them for that matter—the Eagles would be on the phone with Runyan anyway.

If Stacy isn’t ready to play and Shawn has to play right guard, Runyan could step in at right tackle until Stacy is ready to go.

The point is that the Eagles benefit from having Runyan there. Even just having him on the sidelines is beneficial for the team.

The only questions are: A) Will he accept coming back as a backup? And B) Are the Eagles willing to throw him enough money to make him feel like it’s worth his time?

I don’t think Runyan wants to end his football career, so I believe he would come back anyway because he knows that he’s just one snap away from playing. He’s taken a pay cut from the Eagles before so that he could stay in the Philly area. He lives in South Jersey with his family and would rather not uproot them for a one-year deal with a different team.

Keep an eye on Runyan’s movements, and don’t be surprised if he’s an Eagle again before training camp.

 

Also check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

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