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Fantasy Football: Parzych’s Week One MVP Awards

Published: September 19, 2009

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The first week of fantasy football has concluded after an exciting Week One. With the first week of the 2009 NFL regular season complete, it’s time to announce the MVP awards for Week One.

Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Last season, New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees finished with 5,069 yards passing, just 15 short of Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino’s record for most passing yards in a single-season. The expectations were high for him entering the 2009 season, especially in Week One.

As predicted, Brees had a field day against the visiting Detroit Lions. However, nobody predicted his numbers would be as impressive as they were.

Brees took advantage of the Lions’ weak passing defense, finishing 26-of-34 for 358 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Saints to a 45-27 victory on opening weekend, helping him receive MVP honors for the quarterback position for this week’s awards.

He may not put up these type of high numbers each week, but Brees is already showing owners why he was one of the first quarterbacks selected in most fantasy football leagues. Don’t be surprised if Brees’ name comes up on this list a few more times this season.

Running Back: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

There was hope in the Dawg Pound when the Cleveland Browns led the visiting Minnesota Vikings at halftime 13-10. Unfortunately for the Browns, any dreams of an upset were shattered when Vikings RB Adrian Peterson took over the game in the second half.

In the second half of last Sunday’s game, Peterson finished with a one-yard and a 64-yard touchdown to help the Vikings beat the Browns 34-20. Peterson finished the game with 180 yards and three touchdowns on just 25 carries.

Not only did Peterson display a monstrous performance in the first game of the season, but he made life easier for Vikings QB Brett Favre, who was making his regular-season debut with his new team.

Thanks to a strong performance by Peterson on the ground, Favre wasn’t needed as much at quarterback and finished just 14-of-21 for 110 yards and one touchdown.

Wide Receiver: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

There were a handful of players that could have won the award this week, but no player was relied on more than Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne.

The Colts may have had one of the most interesting offseasons out of any team in the NFL. They had a new head coach in Jim Caldwell and were without WR Marvin Harrison, who was released in the offseason after spending 13 seasons with the team. The transition may not have been easy, but the Colts knew it was something they would have to adjust to.

With Harrison gone, Colts QB Peyton Manning knew he would have to rely on Wayne more on offense. What Manning didn’t realize was how much he would have to rely on Wayne now that WR Anthony Gonzalez is out 2-8 weeks after tearing ligaments in his knee against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With an injured Gonzalez, Wayne stepped up his performance against the Jaguars, hauling in 10 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown. On the positive side, the Colts did sign former Philadelphia Eagles WR Hank Baskett to give Manning another option to throw to on offense, which could take the pressure off Wayne until Gonzalez returns.

Tight End: Ben Watson, New England Patriots

This was probably one of the hardest categories to select an MVP for this week, considering the impressive production from numerous tight ends around the league.

Seattle Seahawks TE John Carlson hauled in six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams. New Orleans Saints TE Jeremy Shockey looked like his old self against the Detroit Lions by hauling in four receptions for 31 yards and two touchdowns.

However, none of these player’s performance would have as much of an impact as New England TE Ben Watson’s against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

With the Patriots down 24-13 late in the fourth quarter, Watson caught two touchdown passes from QB Tom Brady in the final four minutes to help defeat the Bills 25-24. Overall, Watson caught six receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

Watson’s fourth quarter heroics helped the Patriots win one of the most exciting Monday night games fans may see all season. What’s even more impressive is he has already totaled his touchdown amount from last season.

Defense: Philadelphia Eagles

The defense of the Philadelphia Eagles faced numerous questions this offseason after losing their top three leaders in SS Brian Dawkins (signed with Denver Broncos), Jim Johnson (lost battle with cancer), and Shawn Bradley (torn ACL).

After finishing the final week of the 2009 preseason on the Least Valuable Player’s list, the Philadelphia Eagles showed the NFL that despite an offseason in which they allowed 30 points per game to opposing offenses, they still have what it takes to be one of the top defenses in the league.

In his first career regular season game as the Eagles defensive coordinator, Sean McDermott showed everything he learned from Jim Johnson and dominated the offense of the Carolina Panthers.

The Eagles defense played so well against the Panthers, head coach John Fox replaced QB Jake Delhomme after a disastrous performance in which he finished 7-of-11 for 77 yards and four interceptions.

Overall, the defense finished with five interceptions, two recovered fumbles (one for a touchdown), and five sacks. With the offense struggling at the beginning of the game, the strong performance by the Eagles defense was a major reason the team was able to defeat the Panthers 38-10.

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This article can also be found at FantasyPros911.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

How Stokley’s Touchdown Could Affect Cincinnati Bengals’ Playoff Hopes

Published: September 17, 2009

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After a late score by running back Cedric Benson, the Cincinnati Bengals were less than a minute away from a 7-6 victory over the Denver Broncos last weekend, sitting atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens with a 1-0 record.

Instead, wide receiver Brandon Stokley caught a deflected pass for the game-winning 87-yard touchdown as time expired to seal a 12-7 win for Josh McDaniels in his coaching debut with the Broncos.

It may have only been the first week of the regular season, but it will be tough to top Stokley’s catch when considering the best play of the 2009 season. It may have only been one game, but as we learned last season, one loss can determine whether or not a team earns the rights to go to the playoffs (just ask the Jets, Bucs, Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots and Bears).

Each of the six teams listed above could have made the playoffs last season had a few games gone differently. The Jets could have made the playoffs had they beat the Dolphins in Week 17. The Broncos could have won the AFC West had they not lost their final three games of the season.

These are just two examples of how one single game can affect whether or not a team makes the playoffs or not. Hopefully, the last-second loss against the Broncos doesn’t come back to ruin the Bengals’ playoff hopes at the end of the season.

Unfortunately, the Bengals play in the same AFC North division as the Steelers, who are reigning Super Bowl Champions, and the Ravens, whose ferocious defense helped lead them to the AFC Championship game.

The Bengals know how important each game of the regular season can be when it comes to making the playoffs. The team is already at a disadvantage for playing in a tough AFC North and can’t afford to lose any more games they should win. Last weekend’s game was the perfect example.

A victory over the Broncos last weekend would have been the perfect start for a Bengals team that is considered a possible “sleeper” team this season. With the return of quarterback Carson Palmer and a handful of weapons to throw to, the Bengals have the potential to have one of the top-10 offenses in the NFL.

Lucky for the Bengals, their strength of schedule ranks them 22nd in the NFL, with only six of their 16 games against playoff teams. Still, an advantage in the strength of schedule is only as helpful as the team wants to make it.

If the Bengals have any intention of reaching the playoffs this upcoming season, they will need to avoid last-minute collapses like last weekend against the Broncos.

Otherwise, it may be another long NFL season for the players and fans in Cincinnati.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Carolina Panthers Need To Realize Jake Delhomme Is Overrated

Published: September 15, 2009

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What’s bugging me this week? How about Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme.

The Carolina Panthers entered Week One of the 2009 regular season with high expectations, coming off of a season in which they clinched a NFC South title and an 8-0 regular season record at home.

Unfortunately, the Panthers lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the Divisional round of the playoffs 33-13. In arguably one of the worst games of his NFL career, Delhomme finished 17-of-34 for 205 yards and one touchdown. On top of that, he threw five interceptions and lost a fumble during a wet game in Carolina.

Despite his horrendous performance against the Cardinals in the playoffs, Delhomme was given a five-year extension in the offseason through 2014 that would pay him $42.5 million ($20 million guaranteed). With the start of a new football season past weekend, no player wanted to get off to a better start than Delhomme, to prove that last January’s performance was only a fluke.

Unfortunately, Delhomme was just as abominable as he was in January.

In his first game of the 2009 regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Delhomme put on a performance that was too painful to even watch. He finished 7-of-17 for 73 yards, four interceptions, and one fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

His performance was so bad, he had to be replaced by backup QB Josh McCown in the second half.

The Panthers need to realize that Delhomme had two great seasons from 2003-04 in which he threw for over 7,000 yards and 53 touchdowns. Other than that, he has not lived up to the money the team thinks he is worth.

From the organization’s point of view, Delhomme may be one of the most overrated players in the NFL. He may have started all 16 games last season en route to the team’s No. 2 seeding in the playoffs. However, the main reason why the Panthers were able to finish 12-4 last season was because of a strong running game from RB’s DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart (combined 2,351 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns).

Fans and analysts around the NFL continue to question whether Delhomme should continue to start since he has recorded 11 turnovers in the last two games.

Unfortunately, the Panthers still believe that Delhomme is their No. 1 guy and is worth every penny they are paying him. He will start again this week as the team heads to Atlanta to take on QB Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons.

It should be interesting to see if Delhomme can now bounce back from not one, but two horrendous games in a row where he constantly turned the ball over.

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This article was originally published on FantasyPros911.com

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Should The Eagles Have Kept an Extra TE Instead of Seven Wide Receivers?

Published: September 8, 2009

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After tight end Tony Curtis’ performance for the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Jets last week, a game in which he hauled in four receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown, there was excitement brewing up in the City of Brotherly Love.

Even though it was only one game, Curtis seemed like he may be able to make a major contribution to the Eagles offense this upcoming season considering their situation at tight end.

Unfortunately for Curtis, the Eagles believed they were better off with Alex Smith at tight end.

The Eagles released Curtis to make room for Smith at the tight end position. Smith was cut by the New England Patriots over the weekend in order to trim down their 53-man roster. He spent his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but was acquired by the Patriots in the offseason.

The main question swirling around Philadelphia now is whether or not this was the right move for the Eagles. Smith is an excellent tight end who has major potential, but should they have let Curtis go so easily?

If anything, the Eagles should have considered keeping three tight ends on their 53-man roster, especially since they decided to hold on to seven wide receivers.

Everyone was expecting a move to be made by the Eagles when it came to the wide receiver position. WRs DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant and Jeremy Maclin had job security as they never had to worry about whether or not they would make one of the roster spots.

WRs Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett and Brandon Gibson all knew their preseason performance could determine whether or not they would have a spot on the Eagles’ roster in 2009.

Instead, all seven wide receivers were fortunate enough to be part of the 53-man roster after last Saturday’s deadline for teams to trim down their rosters. Seven wide receivers on one roster seems too much, especially with the recent situation the Eagles find themselves in.

If anything, Brown seemed to be the leading candidate to be released by the Eagles to cut down on the number of wide receivers on the roster. After an impressive rookie season in which he hauled in 46 receptions for 816 yards and eight touchdowns, Brown has failed to live up to the potential the Eagles and their fans saw in him.

Over the last two seasons, he seems to be sliding more and more down the team’s depth chart. Last season, he only caught 18 receptions for 252 yards and one touchdown in the 10 games he played in.

With all of the young talent emerging at the wide receiver position for the Eagles, Brown will most likely find himself on the sideline for most games.

If this is the case for the Eagles, would his roster spot have been a better fit for a different player?

Looks like the Eagles and their fans will only have to wait a few days before they find out whether or not this was the right move.

Dan Parzych Is The Eagles Fan Voice For NFLTouchdown.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Parzych’s 2009 NFL LVP (Least Valuable Player) Awards: Preseason Week 4

Published: September 8, 2009

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This article was originally published at FantasyPros911.com

We are less than a week away from the start of the 2009 NFL regular season, which means the 2009 NFL preseason has officially come to an end (it’s about time). After taking a look at the

Most Valuable Players from Week Four of the preseason, who was the Least Valuable Player at each key position?

Quarterback: Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen started 11 games last season. However, he may only end up playing this season if QBs Matt Cassel or Brodie Croyle ends up on the injury list.

It’s hard for a quarterback to compete in the NFL when he throws the same number of completions and interceptions in a game. Unfortunately for Thigpen, he accomplished this feat in week four of the NFL Preseason when the Chiefs played against the St. Louis Rams.

Thigpen was pulled early in the third quarter against the Rams after a disastrous performance in which he finished 2-of-7 for 49 yards and two interceptions. The Chiefs went on to lose the game 17-9.

After Saturday’s deadline, the Chiefs ended up keeping four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster (Cassel, Croyle, Thigpen and Matt Gutierrez). Thigpen’s performance may not have been one for the memory books, but he will enter the the regular season as the No. 3 quarterback on the team’s roster.

Running Back: Antonio Pittman, St. Louis Rams

After spending last season as a backup, St. Louis Rams RB Antonio Pittman will be looking for work from a different team after he was cut earlier this week.

In his first two seasons in the NFL, the former Ohio State Buckeye played in 23 games, rushing for 435 yards on 117 attempts. Unfortunately, he never made the type of impact the Rams were hoping for at running back.

In his first three games of the preseason, Pittman rushed for 64 yards on 16 carries (4.0 yards per carry). In his final preseason game with the Rams, he only ran the ball three times for a total of three yards against a weak Kansas City Chiefs defense.

Now the Rams will rely on RBs Kenneth Darby and Samkon Gado to backup Stephen Jackson.

Wide Receiver: The Atlanta Falcons

Normally, the Most Valuable Player and Least Valuable Player awards are based off of individual performances (except for defenses). However, the committee decided to make a special exception for the performance of the wide receivers for the Atlanta Falcons against the Baltimore Ravens.

It’s hard to give a group of offensive players a hard time when playing against a defense with the talent level of the Baltimore Ravens. However, the performance by the Falcons’ wide receivers in the team’s final preseason game was nothing short of embarrassing.

Between QB’s Matt Ryan (who only threw one pass for 13 yards), D.J. Shockley and John Parker Wilson, the Falcons threw for a total of 108 yards against the Ravens. The leading receiver was WR Troy Bergeron (three receptions for 23 yards).

Obviously, this was a preseason game that has little significance on how the Falcons will perform during the regular season, since the game was played by mostly backups. However, the award has to go to somebody each week. Congratulations to the Falcons wide receivers for winning the award.

Defense: Philadelphia Eagles

After the departure of FS Brian Dawkins to the Denver Broncos and the passing away of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles knew their defense would face major challenges in 2009. If the preseason is any indication for how things will go for the defense this season, it could be a long season for the Eagles.

In their first three preseason games, the Eagles defense gave up a total of 82 points. This seemed rare from a defense that finished fourth in the league last season by only allowing 18.1 points per game.

Last Thursday’s game against the New York Jets was nothing the Eagles defense hasn’t already dealt with this offseason. Once again, the defense struggled to stop the Jets offense, as the Eagles went on to lose 38-27.

In four preseason games, the Eagles defense allowed an average of 30 points per game. This puts even more pressure on new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who replaced Johnson during the offseason.

This article was first published at FantasyPros911.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Eagles Release Feeley: Will Fans Be Satisfied With Kolb as a No. 2 QB?

Published: September 6, 2009

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This article was originally published on NFLTouchdown.com

One day after trimming the roster down to 53 players, the Philadelphia Eagles have released veteran quarterback A.J. Feeley. The move was made to allow Michael Vick to become the team’s No. 3 quarterback, with Kevin Kolb as the backup to Donovan McNabb.

Four quarterbacks on one 53-man roster was just too much, which is why fans knew that a move would take place before last Saturday’s deadline. Ever since the Eagles signed Vick a few weeks ago, rumors had been swirling regarding trade talks involving Kolb or Feeley.

Feeley’s name was even mentioned within the days leading up to Saturday’s deadline for the 53-man roster in a possible trade with the New England Patriots.

After trade talks fell through, Feeley was still on the Eagles’ roster as Vick was on the “exempt” list since he is not eligible to play until Week Three against the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, Feeley’s second stint with the Eagles has come to an end, leaving the team with the expected three quarterbacks on their roster.

The fans knew a move was coming, but that doesn’t mean they are satisfied with the decision made by Joe Banner and the rest of the Eagles organization.

It’s been a difficult process for the fans of Philadelphia to accept Kolb as part of their franchise. Ever since he was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, the fans have made it clear that they don’t want Kolb to be the quarterback of the future when McNabb’s time comes to an end.

After a disastrous performance in the second half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens last season (10-of-23 for 75 yards and two interceptions), some fans felt the future of the Eagles was in jeopardy if Kolb was going to be their quarterback.

When Vick signed with the Eagles, some fans were hoping Kolb would be used as trade-bait since Feeley has had previous success with the team. In 2002, Feeley started the final five games for the Eagles, helping them reach the playoffs with a 4-1 record until McNabb returned from an ankle injury.

The fans may have preferred Feeley as the backup to McNabb, but now they are forced to adjust to Kolb as the No. 2 man in Philadelphia.

At the end of the day, business is business when it comes to roster adjustments in the NFL. Fans knew a move was coming at the quarterback position, but they didn’t expect it to play out this way when Feeley was still on the roster Saturday night after the deadline.

The city of Philadelphia can only wish Feeley the best of luck, as he has been a fan favorite during his two stints with the Eagles.

As far as Kolb is concerned, it should be interesting to see what happens if he’s ever needed at quarterback in 2009.

Dan Parzych Is The Eagles Fan Voice For NFLTouchdown.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Eagles-Jets: Live Updates and Notes From The First Half

Published: September 3, 2009

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This article can also be found on NFLTouchdown.com

Tonight, the Philadelphia Eagles travel to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Jets in both teams’ final game of the 2009 preseason. The game should be filled with plenty of talk surrounding Michael Vick, as Commissioner Roger Goodell will allow him to be eligible to play beginning Week Three of the regular season.

If you’re watching the game in the Philadelphia area, I’m sure you will be able to feel the awkwardness as former Jets head coach Herm Edwards broadcasts the game for 6-ABC on the Eagles Television Network.

As expected, the pregame talk is all about Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who is allowed to play Week Three of the regular season.

First Quarter

14:54: And we’re off. Maclin returns the ball to the 21-yard line. Here comes Kevin Kolb to play quarterback for the Eagles—let’s hope his first play is better than last week’s intentional grounding for a safety.

14:32: A nice opening play as Kolb finds Maclin quickly for a six-yard gain. No safety!

13:49: Vick enters the game on 3rd-and-1 in the wildcat formation as he runs and picks up the first down. It sounded like earlier this week that Vick would play series at a time instead of random plays like we saw last week. Looks like Andy Reid has different plans.

12:50: Kolb goes deep to Maclin and the Eagles get lucky with a pass interference call on the Jets. A 43-yard foul, thanks to former Eagle cornerback Lito Shepphard.

12:11: Kolb goes deep again, this time to Brandon Gibson. Once again the Jets are called for pass interference as Darrelle Revis’ feet got tangled up with Gibson’s. It looked accidental, but the Eagles still manage to get the call their way.

11:57: Wow, the Jets get called for ANOTHER penalty. This time, Bart Scott gets called for unnecessary roughness as a fight almost breaks out between a few Eagles and Jets players. You have to love passion for football!

11:13: Running back LeSean McCoy finds his way up the middle for a one-yard touchdown. Remember last week when the Eagles go this close to the end zone against Jacksonville and they couldn’t score? Looks like things are different this time as David Akers kicks the extra point. Eagles take advantage of having the ball first and go up 7-0.

11:08: Andre Ellison returns the kickoff to the Jets 16-yard line. It should be interesting to see how the Jets offense performs in the first half considering the Eagles have given up most of their points in the first half this preseason.

11:00: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez throws a quick pass to running back Leon Washington. I’m not sure how many of you watched NFL Live last night, but they did a nice segment on Washington and how he is putting up bigger numbers than Saints running back Reggie Bush, who was drafted the same year as Washington. Oh yeah, did I mention Washington is probably one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever seen? The interview alone proves it.

9:30: Jets running back Thomas Jones just ran for 14 yards on his first carry of the game. Not the type of defense Eagles fans want to see this early in the game.

8:27: Sanchez just found Dustin Keller down the middle of the field for 27 yards. I know it’s too early to tell, but Sanchez already appears to have an impressive throw for a rookie quarterback.

7:09: Looks like I jinxed the Eagles with that Sanchez compliment as he finds Jerricho Cotchery for a 21-yard touchdown pass and the Jets tie up the game at 7-7. Sanchez finishes the drive 5-of-5 for 61 yards and a touchdown. If he continues to perform this well in the regular season, I smell a strong case for Rookie of the Year.

7:02: Maclin returns the kickoff to the 27-yard line with a 21-yard gain for the Eagles. Let’s see what Kolb can do this time around as he makes his case for a roster spot.

6:57: Talk about frustration. Kolb throws a perfect pass to Eugene Bright down the side of the field and it just deflects off of his helmet.

6:08: Kolb feels the pressure from two Jets on the blitz and he’s forced to throw it away. A quick three-and-out for the Eagles as Sam Rocca comes in to punt.

5:58: Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens enters the game as Sanchez appears to be done for the night. Typical routine for first-stringers.

5:02: Clemens is able to escape the loss as he rushes for seven yards. Unfortunately, it’s still a quick three-and-out for the Jets as they are forced to punt on fourth down.

3:33: Kolb finds Tony Curtis for an eight-yard pass as the Eagles move the chains for the first down. Vick enters the game at quarterback and you can hear the mixed reaction about his presence throughout the stadium.

1:22: Wow! Signs of the old Vick appear to be on the field as the Jets apply the pressure and Vick scrambles out to the Jets’ 34-yard line and picks up the first down. As he runs out-of-bounds, he receives numerous pats on the back from fellow teammates.

0:35: After Jets linebacker Vernon Gholston sacks Kolb for a seven-yard loss, defensive tackle Howard Green comes out the very next play and sacks Kolb for a 10-yard loss. The quarter comes to an end with the Eagles looking at a 4th-and-27 to start the second quarter.

Second Quarter

14:43: Clemons throws a short pass to Wright, but it’s bobbled and intercepted by Jack Ikegwuonu, who returns it to the Jets’ two-yard line. Let’s see if the Birds can take advantage of this Jets turnover.

14:35: For the first time in over two years Vick has scored a touchdown as he runs the ball up the middle for a two-yard score, giving the Eagles a 14-7 lead. That may be the confidence-booster he needs if he wants to return to the level of play he was once known for. You have to love all of the players on the Eagles sideline who are excited for Vick after that touchdown run.

14:26: What a great return for the Jets as Allen gets to the team’s 41-yard line, setting up great field position for Clemons.

13:34: After Vick’s touchdown run, it took the Jets two plays to bounce back as running back Danny Woodhead devoured 55 yards of the field to get the touchdown. I don’t know who this Woodhead guy is or where Chadron State is even located…but wow, is he fast! We have a tie game once again at 14-14.

13:27: Maclin returns the kickoff to the 20-yard line for the Eagles. He doesn’t seem as comfortable returning kicks as he does with punts. It should be interesting to see what Reid decides to do.

11:33: Wide receiver Tony Curtis picks up another first down for the Eagles as he hauls in a 12-yard pass from Kolb. He could end up playing a key role for the Eagles at tight end this upcoming season.

11:04: Gibson hauls in an 18-yard reception from Kolb for another Eagles’ first down. I know I’m not the only one who is interested to see what happens with him in the next few days. He’s established himself as a fan-favorite this offseason at wide receiver, but there may not be enough spots for him on the 53- man roster when you look at other receivers ahead of him, like Jackson, Curtis, Maclin, Baskett, and Avant.

8:54: After two short runs by Eldra Buckley and an incomplete pass by Kolb, Akers ends up kicking a 48-yard field goal for the Eagles, giving them the lead again at 17-14.

8:40: Erik Ainge comes in at quarterback for the Jets to replace Clemons. His first play is a nice 35-yard pass to wide receiver David Clowney. Let’s see if the former Volunteer quarterback can try to regain the lead for the Jets.

5:26: Ainge fumbles and the Eagles recover on their own 28-yard line. This recovery ends up being huge for the Birds as the Jets were in field-goal range.

4:32: Gibson comes up with another big play for the Eagles as he picks up 16 on the catch-and-run from Kolb. If the Eagles are forced to go their separate ways with Gibson, there is no doubt in my mind he will be picked up by another NFL franchise.

2:55: Vick goes deep in the end zone for Maclin. The ball is intercepted by the Jets as Maclin is also called for offensive pass interference. The Jets will take over at their won 20-yard line.

2:30: They just showed the winner of a contest the Eagles held on their website where a fan could send in a video in hopes of winning the chance to be a sideline reporter during tonight’s game. I thought about entering, but then my gut told me that there was probably a 99.5 percent chance that I would lose to some beautiful woman who could do the job 1,000 times better. Looks like my gut instinct was right.

1:51: As the half winds down, defensive end Jason Babin sacks Ainge for a 12-yard loss. This guy is a beast who I never want to see the bad side of.

1:41: Maclin gets a nice 11-yard return for the Eagles on the punt as he gets some help with a few solid blocks from his teammates.

1:17: Danny Amendola is making a case for a roster spot as he takes a quick pass from Kolb and turns it into a 31-yard gain. The great thing about this guy is he can play multiple positions–which could be an advantage come Saturday.

1:07: Kolb finds Amendola wide open in the end zone but he bobbles the ball and can’t hold on for the touchdown. That drop may haunt him for the rest of the night.

1:03: Kolb finds Curtis up the middle in the end zone for the touchdown. It’s amazing how much of an impact he’s had for the Eagle tonight considering they just signed him a few weeks ago.

0:52: Allison dances his way to the 40-yard line for the Jets as they look to at least get into field goal range before the first half comes to an end.

0:42: Woodhead carries the ball for eight yards on a draw play for the Jets as they look to get into Eagles’ territory.

0:13: Ainge finds wide receiver Marcus Henry on 3rd-and-12 as he picks up an 18-yard gain and gets to the Eagles’ 33-yard line. After a quick four-yard run by Woodhead, it looks like the Jets are going to try and kick for three.

0:00: As the half comes to an end, Jay Feeley kicks the 47-yard field goal to cut the Eagles’ lead down to seven. After an exciting first half filled with turnovers and touchdowns, the Eagles lead the Jets 24-17 at halftime. For the first time this preseason, the Eagles lead going into the break.

Dan Parzych Is The Eagles Fan Voice For NFLTouchdown.com

Cincinnati Bengals: The Andre Smith Saga Gets Off on the Wrong Foot

Published: September 3, 2009

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This article can also be found at WhoDeyBengals.com

Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Andre Smith has been quite the popular topic this offseason in his first season in the NFL.

After being selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Bengals and their fans seemed excited to add a player like Smith to a line that finished third in the NFL last season when it came to giving up sacks (51).

Unfortunately, the Bengals seem to have a recent history of things not going there way in Cincinnati. That trend continued this offseason when it came to the team trying to sign their first-round draft pick Smith.

Even though training camp started at the end of July, it took until the end of August for Smith to end his holdout and come to terms with the Bengals. Smith had been holding out from training camp in hope of receiving a larger contract from the Bengals. Last weekend, he agreed on a four-year deal worth $26 million, which guarantees him $21 million.

While his teammates spent the majority of August in Georgetown, Kentucky preparing for the 2009 season by participating in head coach Marvin Lewis’ intense training camp, Smith did his best to stay in shape by working out on his own with a trainer.

Smith may have found a way to stay in shape by working out on his own, but there’s a difference between a player staying in shape physically and staying in shape from a football perspective.

The purpose of training camp is to prepare players for the upcoming season to gain a feel of the type of shape they need to be while on the field. Smith put himself at a disadvantage by holding out of training camp, which could have an affect on his rookie season.

After ending his holdout, Smith finally showed up to practice this week with the rest of his new Bengals teammates in hopes of showing that he was worth every penny of his contract. Unfortunately, Smith’s return lasted a mere few days before he suffered a fracture in his foot—during a non-contact drill.

Smith’s injury is expected to keep him out for opening day against the Denver Broncos. Whether or not he will miss more time past that can only be told over time.

Could Smith’s injury have been prevented if he participated in training camp throughout the month of August? It’s a possibility.

However, the recent injury to Smith brings nothing but frustration to the Bengals’ organization and their fans. The fact that he is missing more time now because of this injury brings up the question on whether or not the Bengals should have spent their first-round pick on another offensive tackle, such as Eugene Monroe (Jaguars) or Michael Oher (Ravens).

When Smith does finally return to the Bengals, he may not be able to provide the type of impact from him they were hoping for during his rookie season considering all of the time he will have missed between his holdout and foot injury.

Unfortunately, Smith has appeared to get off on the wrong foot with the Bengals and the fans of Cincinnati.

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Michael Vick’s Role with Eagles’ Offense Needs Adjustments

Published: August 28, 2009

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Any other year, a preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars would not have a significant impact for the fans.

However, last night’s matchup may have been one of the most hyped-up preseason games fans have seen in years since Michael Vick was making his debut with the Eagles after spending 18 months in prison for his involvement with running a dogfighting operation.

Vick’s first game back since Dec. 31, 2006 was the complete opposite of what most people expected—which may have been a great thing.

There were protesters outside of the stadium before the game, but not nearly the amount everyone expected. There were plenty of fans wearing No. 7 jerseys—even though some said “Garcia” on the back—to show their support for Vick and welcome him to the City of Brotherly Love.

Instead of a stadium divided about how they felt about Vick between cheers and boos, he received a standing ovation from fans as he made his first appearance on the field during the second play of offense for the Eagles.

Even though he was only on the field for six plays, Vick was still the man of the hour at Lincoln Financial Field. Each play, fans would anxiously wait in their seats to see if No. 7 was making his way from the sidelines to the center of the field in hope of seeing an exciting play that so many of us are used to seeing from Vick.

He may have only completed four passes for 19 yards, but it was all the Eagles needed from Vick considering he hasn’t played in the NFL for two years.

Overall, Vick had a successful return with the Eagles and did everything he was asked to do to help the Eagles win the game.

Even though the night seemed to be focused on Vick’s return, there was still a football game to be played between the Eagles and Jaguars. Even though the Eagles ended up winning 33-32, the team still has a lot to work on—both on offense and defense—if they look to be contenders in the 2009 season.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb finished 21-for-36, throwing for 244 yards and one touchdown as he played most of the first three quarters. However, he managed two key turnovers that could have resulted in points for the Eagles (he threw one backwards pass while on the Jaguars’ one-yard line that resulted into a fumble that was returned for a touchdown).

At one point, a group of Philadelphia fans began the “We Want Vick” chant after watching McNabb struggle at certain points during the game. Despite his struggles, it’s hard to blame McNabb for his performance when the entire offense looked inconsistent most of the game.

If the Eagles want to effectively use both Vick and McNabb in the upcoming 2009 season, head coach Andy Reid needs to figure out a system that will work well for everyone, especially McNabb.

In the game against the Jaguars, Reid used Vick for random plays instead of allowing him to play an entire series on his own.

There were numerous cases where McNabb would appear to get into a rhythm on offense, only to be sidelined so Vick could step in. When McNabb would return to the field for the next play, his rhythm seemed to be off again and the Eagles offense would look horrendous.

Using McNabb and Vick on offense has a lot of potential for the 2009 season, and it could confuse opposing defenses on what to expect from the Eagles each week.

However, Reid needs to figure out an effective system that will work well and keep everyone in rhythm if the Eagles want to take advantage of using Vick for the upcoming season.

Otherwise, the Eagles offense will be in for a long 2009 season, especially if they play the way they did in the first half of last night’s game.

Dan Parzych is the Eagles Fan Voice on NFLTouchdown.com

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Burress’ Jail Sentence Is Unfair When Compared To Stallworth and Vick

Published: August 27, 2009

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What’s bugging me this week? How about the latest jail sentence for former New York Giants WR Plaxico Burress?

In February 2008, Burress was on top of the world as he caught the game-winning touchdown from QB Eli Manning to help the Giants defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Now, he may never be able to step foot in the NFL again.

Last week, Burress accepted a settlement to spend two years in prison after pleading guilty for criminal possession of a weapon last season. Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh last November when he was walking up the stairs in a nightclub located in Manhattan, NY.

Burress claims he brought the gun to the Manhattan nightclub because he felt “unsafe” and wanted to protect himself.

For the record, I can understand why it’s hard for some people to feel sorry for Burress when he made the decision to hang out at a place where he felt unsafe. However, his punishment for his actions on that night back in November is ridiculous when you compare them to the punishments received by Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick and Cleveland Browns WR Donte Stallworth.

The way I see it, Burress’ sentence was harsh because it was seen as firing a gun in a public place since the shooting took place at a nightclub. However, is it really fair for him to be sentenced for two years when Vick and Stallworth’s actions appear to be far worse?

Vick spent 18 months in prison because of his involvement with a dogfighting operation at one of his Virginia homes. He was responsible for killing dogs in such ways that will make a body cringe just from thinking about it.

Stallworth spent 24 days of a 30-day sentence in jail after pleading guilty to a DUI manslaughter that took the life of 59-year-old Mario Reyes last March. He was driving under the influence early one morning after drinking at a club in Miami and struck Reyes as he was crossing the street, who was leaving from his job as a crane operator.

Vick and Stallworth have both taken full responsibility for their actions. They have both served their time in prison and have to live with their bad judgments for the rest of their lives. However, both of their sentences were less harsh than Burress, despite the fact what they did was much worse.

We’re talking about two guys that were responsible for taking away the lives of a humans and animals for their actions. All Burress did was accidentally shoot himself in the leg, which only harmed him, and he is the one receiving the longer jail sentence.

I understand the fact that a law is a law. Burress illegally possessed a weapon in a nightclub and should be punished for what he did.

However, his punishment should not be longer than Vick’s or Stallworth’s. He harmed no one but himself and has to live with that for the rest of his life.

The man regrets what he did and has learned from his mistake. He knows bringing a weapon to nightclub was a bad judgment call on his part. Not to mention that he shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Vick took the lives of harmless animals. Stallworth took the life of an innocent man. Yet, Burress is still the one who has to spend a longer period in jail for shooting himself in the leg on accident.

If you ask me, the fact that Burress’ sentence is longer than the other guys just doesn’t seem fair at all.

He should be faced with some jail time, but at least make the sentence shorter than the other NFL players who committed crimes far worse than what Burress did.

This article was originally published on FantasyPros911.com

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