Atlanta Falcons

Is 2008 NFL Rookie of the Year quarterback Matt Ryan due for a sophomore letdown season after a magical first year?

Will running back Michael Turner be able to come close to duplicating his 2008 performance (376 carry, 1699 rushing yards, and a franchise-record 17 touchdowns)?

How will perennial Pro Bowl pass catching tight end Tony Gonzalez adjust to more blocking duties with the Falcons after coming over in a trade from the Chiefs?

How much better will receiver Roddy White get after a career year during the 2008 season (88 receptions, 1382 yards, and 7 TDs)?

Will the Falcons be able to produce another double-digit win season even though they are facing a very tough schedule (play NFC East and AFC East)?

 
Carolina Panthers

After a disappointing finish to a 12-4 season, is Panthers head coach John Fox on owner Wally Richardson’s hot seat?

Is quarterback Jake Delhomme totally recovered from elbow surgery and should have the Panthers pursued an insurance quarterback in the offseason?

Is it possible that the Panthers running game will be as effective (RB’s Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams combined for 3,251 rushing yards) as in 2008?

How happy is franchised defensive end Julius Peepers and will he have another high sack year (14.5 sacks in 2008)?

Can the 2009 Panthers produce their first back-to-back winning seasons in their team’s history (not done in 14 years of existence)?

New Orleans Saints

After an 8-8 and second consecutive non-playoff season, is head coach Sean Payton feeling the heat to win in New Orleans?

How healthy is RB Reggie Bush’s knee and have the Saints figured out ways to use him other than the miscast role of a featured rusher?

With the addition of three defensive draft picks and several other defensive free agent pick-ups will the Saints cut down on the almost 25 points per game that they allowed in 2008?

Will the Saints achieve more balance on offense with emerging running back Pierre Thomas or will quarterback Drew Brees continue to “wing-it” all over the field (threw for over 5,000 yards in 2008)?

Will Saints receiver Marques Colston bounce back from a sub-par season (47 rec, 760 yards, and 5 TDs) or will another receiver (Lance Moore, Bobby Meachem, Devrey Henderson) need to step-up?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Is young head coach Raheem Morris ready to take over as an NFL head coach after not much experience?

Who is going to be the quarterback (Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, or Josh Freeman) and will they be able to get the ball to comeback receiver Antonio Bryant?

Will the Bucs be able to replace the leadership of veterans LB Derrick Brooks, QB Jeff Garcia, WR Joey Galloway, and RB Warrick Dunn?

What defensive system will the Bucs be playing and will new defensive coordinator Jim Bates be able to replace Monte Kiffin?

Did the Bucs make the right move by trading for volatile former Browns tight end Kellen Winslow and giving him a huge extension this offseason?

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Tennessee Titans DTs – Jason Jones, Troy Brown, LaJuan Ramsey, Kevin Vickerson, Jovan Haye, and rookie Sen‘Derrick Marks (second round – Michigan State)

LV’s Take: The Washington Redskins handed All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth a seven-year, $100 million dollar contract, which was great for him but now there’s a huge hole on the Titans’ defensive line.

Sure, the Titans still have playmakers in DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, CB Courtland Finnegan, S Michael Griffin, and LB Keith Bullock, but the defensive line gets it all started for Jeff Fisher’s defense. New defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil will need to sort through the remaining defensive line candidates quickly to see who can stop the run and rush the passer—skills that Haynesworth possessed.

Look for Jones and Brown to be the starters—both are veterans who have experience in the Titans system. Eventually, the Titans would like rookie Marks to step up right away, however it is going to take time and as of July 27, the Michigan State rookie is still unsigned.

 

Houston Texans D-line – DE Antonio Smith (free agent – Cardinals), DT Travis Johnson (former first-round pick – 2005), DT Amobi Okoye (former first round pick – 2007), DE Mario Williams (Pro Bowler, first overall pick in 2006), DE Stanley McClover, DT Shaun Cody (former first-round pick – Lions), DT Frank Okam, and rookie DE Connor Barwin (second-round pick – Cincinnati)

LV’s Take:  After years of using high picks on the defensive line in the NFL Draft, it is time for some of these prospects to live up to their draft grade. Of course Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams will be the center piece of the unit—12 sacks and 53 tackles with his best effort (three sacks, one FF) in the Texans’ first ever Monday Night Football game on December 1, 2008. 

But Williams and tackling machine linebacker DeMeco Ryans cannot do it alone, so it will be up to the rest of the defense to help improve upon the 394 points that they allowed in 2008.

It will start with the defensive line as former first rounders Johnson, Okoye, and Cody will have to live up to their draft status. Look for better defensive line play under defensive coordinator Frank Bush with free agent pick-up Smith, Williams, Okoye, and Johnson—last chance—starting. Rookie Barwin, McClover and Cody should help out rushing the passer.

 

Buffalo Bills DEs – Ryan Denney, Chad Kelsay, Aaron Schobel, Marcus Smith, Copeland Bryan, Chris Ellis and rookie Aaron Maybin (first round – Penn State)

LV’s Take: After two consecutive 7-9 seasons, the Bills and their head coach Dick Jauron are on the clock. Bills owner Ralph Wilson has some high expectations for his 2009 squad and the team needs a strong defensive effort from defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s group. The Bills allowed 342 points in 2008 and if they expect to make a playoff run they will need to be a better job at stopping opponents.

When talking Bills defense everything begins and ends with pressuring the quarterback. Over the past two seasons, the Bills have had difficulty providing pressure—just 47 sacks in 2007 and 2008 combined. The Bills DE’s are getting older—three are or will be 30 in the near future—and there are lingering questions whether former star Schobel is still the same after a foot injury in 2008. 

To help a defense that only produced 23 sacks last season (Denney and LB Kawika Mitchell led the team with only four sacks), the Bills drafted Maybin in the first round.  The high-energy defensive end is smallish by NFL standards at 6’4″, 250 pounds, but he is said to be putting on weight—led the Big Ten with 12 sacks plus he had 20 tackles for a loss in ’08. 

Look for Schobel and Denney to start initially, but eventually Maybin will need to help out. Unfortunately, like most of 2009 NFL Draft’s first rounders, he remains unsigned as of July 27th.

Baltimore Ravens LBs – Ray Lewis, Prescott Burgess, Terrell Suggs, Tavares Gooden, Antwan Barnes, Jarret Johnson, Jameel McClain, Brendon Ayanbedjo; rookies Paul Kruger (second round – Utah) and Jason Phillips (fifth round – TCU)

LV’s Take:  After an offseason where the N.Y. Jets pilfered the Ravens roster including snagging their former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, former linebackers coach Mike Petitne Jr., linebacker Bart Scott, and others, the Ravens will be looking to keep one of the NFL’s best defenses intact (only allowed 245 points in 2008). 

The Ravens made it to the 2008 AFC Championship Game creating a defensive scheme that thrived on the turnover—forcing a NFL-high 34 turnovers. Veterans Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs are cemented as two of the starters for new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s unit. The key will be finding the other two players (one outside and one inside) that will help the two veterans. 

Jameel McClain and Gooden appear to be the two youngsters vying for Scott’s vacated inside linebacker spot and they will have big shoes to fill in terms of reading offenses and plugging holes. Jarret Johnson seems to be coming into his own at the other outside spot, but he will be pushed by emerging Antwan Barnes and rookie Paul Kruger. 

Look for the Ravens’ 3-4 linebackers to be Johnson, Lewis, McClain, and Suggs on opening day against the Kansas City Chiefs with Barnes and the rest of the group excelling on head coach John Harbaugh’s special teams units.

 

Arizona Cardinals CBs – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bryant McFadden, veteran Ralph Brown, rookie Greg Toler (foruth round – St. Pauls, Va.), Michael Adams, and Wilrey Fontenot

LV’s: Take:  You figure that a team that makes it to the Super Bowl does not need much going into the next season…wrong, because the Cardinals defense needs some tweaking.

The Cardinals replaced former defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast after his unit surrendered a whopping 426 points—allowing 26.6 points per game. Many of the plays that contributed to that high point total were via long plays of 20 yards or more. 

The Cardinals already have Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson, but not even he could cover for some of the defensive lapses of this unit. Underachieving corner Antrel Rolle is moving to free safety where he should not be exposed as much thus leaving his cornerback spot open.

The Cardinals hope that free agent pick-up Bryan McFadden is their guy and the current staff knows him well from their days in Pittsburgh and scouting against him for Super Bowl XLIV. McFadden should team with emerging second-year corner Rodgers-Cromartie to form a nice combination for new defensive coordinator Bill Davis. 

With the addition of rookie Toler and veteran Brown still contributing, look for the Cardinals defense to continue to make big plays—scored 6 TDs and recovered 20 fumbles in 2008.

 

Dallas Cowboys CBs – Terrance Newman, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Alan Ball and rookies Mike Mickens (seventh-round pick – Cincinnati) and DeAngelo Smith (second-round – Cincinnati)

LV’s Take:  It is a make or break season for everyone in Dallas as the Cowboys move into their billion-dollar stadium. The Cowboys limped home in 2008 going 2-3 down the stretch including losing badly in Philly with the playoffs on the line. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones already relieved former defensive coordinator Brian Stewart of his duties and other changes may soon follow. 

Despite getting 20 sacks from Pro Bowl LB DeMarcus Ware, one of the Cowboys defensive unit’s Achilles Heels in 2008 was their inconsistency in stopping teams down the field. Much of the blame was rightly placed on departed safety Roy Williams, who was a liability, but the Cowboys cornerbacks must also share in the blame. 

The Cowboys DBs were consistently beat on double-move routes and the team knew it as they brought in three players for the secondary in the draft. With 2008 Pro Bowl player Terrance Newman—four INTs (tying career high), three FF, and 23 pass deflections—healthy again after battling a foot injury that limited him to 11 starts, the ‘Boys have to find him a partner.

There is a group of four players vying to team with Newman and any list of candidates to start at the right cornerback position has to start with 2008 first-round pick Mike Jenkins. After a year of learning while playing for often missing corner Pacman Jones, Jenkins seems ready to use his size (5’11″, 197 pounds) and coverage skills.

But Jenkins will not be handed the job as secondary coach Dave Campo is also high on second-year player Orlando Scandrick too. You can also throw into the mix third-year player Ball plus rookies Smith and Mickens. 

Look for Scandrick to pull a surprise by winning the starting spot opposite Newman over the more-heralded Jenkins. 

Other Battles to Watch

Chicago Bears SLB – Nick Roach, Hunter Hillenmayer, Jamar Williams and rookie Marcus Freeman

New York Jets CB’s – Darrell Revis, Dwight Lowery, Lito Sheppard, Donald Strickland, Drew Coleman, and Ahmad Carroll

New Orleans Saints CB’s – Jason David, Tracy Porter, Randall Gay, Leigh Torrence, Jabari Greer, and rookie Malcom Jenkins (first round – Ohio State)

Miami Dolphins CBs – Jason Allen, Will Allen, Nathan Jones, Eric Green (F\A – Cardinals), Joey Thomas; rookies Vontae Davis (first round – Illinois) and Sean Smith (second round – Utah)

Jacksonville Jaguars SS – Gerald Alexander, Sean Considine, Chad Nkang, and Calvin Lowry

Philadelphia Eagles Safeties – Quintin Demps, Quintin Mikell, Sean Jones, Rashad Baker, and rookie Victor “Macho” Harris (fifth round – Virginia Tech)

New England Patriots Safeties – Brandon Merriweather, Antwain Spann, Tank Williams, James Sanders, Brandon McGowan, Ray Ventrone, and rookie Patrick Chung (second round – Oregon)

Philadelphia Eagles Kick Returner – CB Ellis Hobbs, WR Jeremy Maclin, and S Quintin Demps

Dallas Cowboys Kicker – Nick Folk (veteran with team since 2007) and rookie David Buehler (fifth round – USC) 

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

As the Philadelphia Eagles began head coach Andy Reid’s 11th season chasing an elusive Super Bowl Championship there was some unfortunate news to take care of first. 

As feared throughout the Eagles offseason, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will probably not be part of the 2009 Eagles season. Johnson has been stoically fighting melanoma cancer and had taken a leave of absence following the team’s first mini-camp in May. 

Johnson, 68, has always been Reid’s companion through his 10 years in Philadelphia that have mostly been filled with more ups than downs. The cornerstone of Reid’s coaching staff is a respected veteran defensive stalwart coach with 42 years in the business. 

Johnson has been a steady warrior in coaching circles since 1967 when he was head coach at Missouri Southern. You know the “King of Blitz” would be at training camp at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa if he could, however he and his family will be concentrating on a bigger opponent. 

In Johnson’s place, the team named Sean McDermott the new defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. The removal of the “interim” tag from his title was a bittersweet moment for the 35-year-old assistant coach, who basically grew up in the Eagles organization.

A Philadelphia-area native, McDermott had grown up watching the Birds and worked his way up in the organization over 11 years with the team—scouting coordinator to Reid’s assistant to assistant defensive backs coach to defensive backs coach to linebackers coach back to defensive backs coach, and finally defensive coordinator.

In being named to his new position, you could sense the excitement in the developing young coach. 

But clearly a lot of his thoughts were with the man that taught him everything about defense. McDermott said at his announcement press conference, “It’s important to understand that some of my biggest concerns now are for Jim and [his wife] Vickie and their entire family.”

In announcing McDermott, Reid stopped to reflect on Johnson’s battle.

“Both Sean and I are very sensitive to the situation with Jim and the battle he’s continuing with melanoma, I’ve been in contact with both Jim and Vickie and they fully support this situation, knowing that right now this is absolutely the best thing for the team, to have somebody in a leadership position who is here.”

When asked what he has learned from Johnson over the years, McDermott smiled and said, “What haven’t I learned from Jim?”

The former Philadelphia All-Catholic hard-hitting safety from LaSalle High School and William & Mary added, “He’s been a significant influence in my life, both on and off the field.

“He’s been a mentor to me on the field, of course. But I don’t think it would be fair to Jim to limit to one statement, one press conference, the effect he has had on my life.”

From his mentor, McDermott will inherit an Eagles defensive unit that ranked No. 1 in the NFC in 2008—allowing 274.3 yards per game in the regular season. 

When asked what he learned from Johnson that made the biggest impression on him, McDermott smiled again saying, “Blitz…and then blitz some more.”

It will now be in McDermott’s hands to maintain Johnson’s high level of excellence especially at giving quarterbacks fits—48 sacks in 2008. I am sure he will lean on veterans like CB Sheldon Brown and defensive end Juqua Parker to convey Johnson’s way of defense to the younger players. 

Under McDermott’s tutelage, the Eagles secondary has always been one of the NFC’s best and has sent members Brian Dawkins, Lito Sheppard, Michael Lewis, and Asante Samuel to the Pro Bowl.

In announcing his new defensive coordinator Reid said, “I know the players, coaches and the entire organization have the utmost confidence in Sean. Maybe most of all, Jim Johnson has the utmost confidence in Sean and the job he’ll do.”

In NFL circles, McDermott even before stepping in for Johnson, was quickly becoming known as one of the NFL’s up and coming coaches along with Bucs head coach Raheem Morris and Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. 

Though Eagles fans may wait to assess Reid’s opinion of his new young coach, McDermott has a good reputation with players. During the later part of the 2008 season, former Eagles Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins credited him with his rejuvenated play. 

McDermott said that his job would mainly be to continue what Johnson has done in his time with the team. 

But he added, “There’s one thing I know—this system, it works.  From there, we’ll add wrinkles. I think you’ll see that over time. I learned from Jim, but at the same time you have to walk in your own shoes.”

This is a tough time of the year for NFL fans as most team’s staffs are either on vacation or quietly preparing for training camp.  But don’t worry the summer doldrums will soon lift and NFL training camps will open (Cleveland Browns first to open camp on July 24). 

In the mean time, a favorite summer right of passage is our annual look at NFL head coaches who are on the hottest seats around the league.  As shown by 11 new head coaches for the upcoming 2009 NFL Season, it is never too early to start speculating who will be looking for work come this January’s Black Monday.

 

Top Head Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2009

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals have been horrible since winning the AFC North title back in 2005—Lewis’s only winning season.  A locker room filled with malcontents and problem players plus the unneeded distraction of HBO Hard Knocks cameras surely will not increase Lewis’s job security. 

Even though we know coaches are not banging down the door to coach in Cincy and owner Mike Brown has always been in Lewis’ corner, it is now or never for the head coach who was once the NFL’s hottest defensive coordinator. 

The Bengals are coming off a putrid 4-11-1 in 2008 where Lewis’ defense allowing 364 points and his offense allowing 50+ sacks.  A season ending three-game winning streak probably saved Lewis last year, but he may not be as lucky if his team is awful again in 2009.  Lewis’ record currently stands at 46-49-1 in the regular season and 0-1 in his lone playoff game.

 

Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys – Expectations are off the charts for the 2009 Dallas Cowboys.  Owner Jerry Jones has spent a fortune to open his new billion dollar Cowboys Stadium and the camera-seeking man in charge wants a winner on the field. 

Amidst whispers that Phillips could not control the Cowboys in 2008, the team badly underachieved including being embarrassed with the playoffs on the in Philly—lost to the Eagles 44-6  and allegedly there were a couple of players fighting on the flight back to Dallas. 

After a 12-year playoff winning drought, it is now or never for the Phillips led Cowboys or changes are definitely coming.  Jones removed locker-room problem players Tank Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Adam Pacman Jones, so there are no more excuses and the bull’s eye is firmly on the backs of Phillips and quarterback Tony Romo. 

The duo on the hot seat better get off to a quick start in 2009 (at TB, NYG, Carolina, at Denver, and at KC) or Jones could quickly make a move by Dallas’s Week Six bye.  Everyone around the NFL likes old Wade, but he might be a better coordinator than head coach.  Cowboys Record under Phillips:  27-10 in regular season and 0-1 in playoffs.

 

Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings – Entering his fourth season as a head coach in the NFL, much like a high draft pick it is time for Childress to deliver or be cut in 2009.  Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is looking for a new stadium deal and he needs his team to produce to sway local politicians and fans.

Childress came to the Vikings from the Andy Reid coaching tree, but he has failed to live-up to his mentor’s winning ways producing a middle-of-the-road 24-24 record in the regular season. 

It is not like Childress does not have any weapons on his team with All-World running back Adrian Peterson and the NFL’s best run defense led by the Williams Wall.  But some would say it has been Childress’ loyalty to developing quarterback Tarvaris Jackson that has been his downfall.

Jackson can make plays, but like any young passer he makes some poor decisions at times. 

Even though Vikings GM Rick Spielman made the move to bring in quarterback Sage Rosenfels from the Texans this offseason to compete with Jackson, Childress on the suggestion of offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel will apparently somewhere around training camp hitch his future to former Packers great Brett Favre. 

For Childress’s sake he better hope Favre plays more like he did in ’07 while leading the Packers to the NFC Championship Game than in ’08 as he looked every bit his age (almost 40) in quarterbacking the Jets to a 1-4 non-playoff finish and throwing an NFL-high 22 INTs. 

Childress may also need to watch-out for young up-and-coming defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who is waiting in the coaches’ booth.

 

John Fox, Carolina Panthers – You might be saying, “How can a coach who’s team finished with a record of 12-4 last year be on a Host Seat?”  The answer is simple, expectations are very high for Fox and he must produce some wins in the playoffs to stay. 

Sure, the Panthers won the NFC South in 2008, but they were embarrassed at home in the playoffs by the Cardinals losing 33-13.

A lot of people that I have talked to in NFL circles have said Fox’s locker-room message may have worn off on the Panthers after seven seasons.  It will be on Fox to produce Carolina’s first back-to-back winning seasons ever—in their 14-year history the Panthers have never produced two winning seasons in a row.

Though his career record is a respectable 63-49 with a 5-3 playoff mark and he led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003, Fox’s team better have a good season or owner Wally Richardson maybe looking to make a change.  Did I also mention that Steelers former Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher relocated his home to the Carolinas.

 

Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins – And you thought Wade Phillips had it bad in Dallas.  Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder wants to win and like any petulant child, he wants it now.  Snyder was not thrilled last year with Zorn after an 8-8 debut season where the ‘Skins limped home after a 7-4 start. 

This offseason the pressure on the former Seahawks assistant coach definitely increased even more after Snyder spent a ton of money in signing free agents DT Albert Haynesworth, CB DeAngelo Hall, OG Derrick Dockery and DE Renaldo Wynn plus drafting Texas pass rusher Brian Orakpo. 

With the phone numbers of former Super Bowl winning head coaches Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, Mike Holmgren, and Bill Cowher on Snyder’s speed dial, expect Zorn to answer the bell or get out of the way. 

If Zorn is to succeed in 2009, he will need to repair his relationship with running back Clinton Portis (mockingly called Zorn a “genius”) and soothe the ego of efficient quarterback Jason Campbell (Redskins almost brought in Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez). 

 

Dick Jauron, Buffalo Bills – At age 90, Buffalo Bills owner and 2009 hall of famer Ralph Wilson wants a winner now.  Over the last three NFL seasons, Wilson has been very patient with Jauron.

But three consecutive 7-9 season and no playoff appearances have turned up the heat in Buffalo like a plate of hot wings.  You can tell that Wilson has gone-all-in for the 2009 season by signing NFL bad boy receiver Terrell Owens and giving defensive tackle Marcus Stroud a healthy extension.

The Bills even had a pretty good draft bringing in Penn State DE Aaron Maybin and Louisville C/G Eric Wood, but Jauron needs to get his team all on the right page since the AFC East is loaded from top to bottom. 

For the sake of quarterback Trent Edwards and Jauron, hopefully good T.O will be shuffling his way to Buffalo or it will be over Niagara Falls in a barrel for the beleaguered head coach.

 

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars – Even though Del Rio has had only two losing seasons during his six-year tenure with the Jags, owner Wayne Weaver maybe losing patience. 

Weaver cleaned house after the team posted a 5-10 record in 2008 season, removing player personnel head James Harris and several players that he brought in (WR Reggie Williams, LB Mike Peterson, WR Jerry Porter, DB Drayton Florence and others) thus leaving Del Rio to pick-up the pieces. 

With all eyes on the head coach, it is now or never for a team looking for a new stadium deal in the near future.  The Jags had a nice run in 2007 winning a playoff game in Pittsburgh, but it is what-have-you done-for-me-lately time for quarterback David Garrard and Del Rio. 

Hopefully the Jags will have good health in 2009 as last year they lost six O-linemen to injury for the season.  Del Rio will also need to show that he doesn’t panic or meltdown in big games as some people around the NFL have accused him of doing. 

In a very tough division, the Jags will need to show that they are either re-tooling while looking to win the division or rebuilding for the future. Del Rio’s record stands at 50-46 in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs.

 

Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts – You hate to pile-on a first year head coach before he even hits the field, but new Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is already on the hot seat. 

The 54-year old veteran coach formerly was the head man at Wake Forest from 1993 to 2000 – record of 26-63 over eight seasons—and he has served under legendary coaches Joe Paterno (Penn State) and Tony Dungy. 

But Caldwell now will be calling the shots for a team that has won an NFL record 12 games or more for six consecutive seasons. To put even more pressure on Dungy’s handpicked successor, he may or may not have the services of Colts coaching veterans Tom Moore and Howard Mudd to assist him.

In a very tough AFC South division, look for Caldwell to run the ball with his new two-headed backfield of Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown plus lean on quarterback Peyton Manning and safety Bob Sanders to lead their respective units.

 

Other Head Coaches Feeling the Heat

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans – An 8-8 record will not cut it this year as expectations are high for this former expansion team.

Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers — Time for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the man who had faith in him to produce more than a 6-10 season.

Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos — A rookie head coach trying to replace a two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan and you have to wonder is he another of Belichick’s fraud disciples.

Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers — A lot of talent on his roster and remember the Chargers once fired a coach that went 14-2.

Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders — He works for Al Davis…enough said.

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears — Has his quarterback so expectations are high and his Super Bowl appearance in 2006 is long gone.

Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs — young, inexperienced, and was not his team’s first choice plus he could not control Anquan Boldin in Arizona or T.O in San Francisco. 

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

 

It maybe just plan conjecture, but Bengals loquacious receiver Chad Ochocinco being “Ocho Cinco” is stubbornly maintaining his stance toward the NFL’s edict against in-game use of the online communication site Twitter.

Recently in a Dayton Daily News interview Ochocinco said, “There’s a lot of things they don’t want me to do.”

He continued, “I do it anyway. They know that. I don’t know why they even fussing about it. When I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it, regardless of what they say.”

The NFL through spokesman Greg Aiello recently said regarding Ochocinco’s plans, “We already have a rule that prohibits the use of cell phones or other handheld devices in the bench area during games”.  I firmly don’t believe that the Cincinnati Bengals, owner Mike Brown, or head coach Marvin Lewis will allow any Twitter action during games on the sidelines or lockerroom. 

But you know this saga is not going away anytime soon as Ochocinco just loves to get into disputes with the league office, whether it is his post-scoring endzone shenanigans or wanting to change his jersey nameplate after the league already produced and sold jerseys with his old name.

You would think that Ochocinco would be more worried about much more than Tweeting during games when there are much more pressing items are swirling around the Bengals.  The myriad of issues includes: the team is coming off a 4-11-1 season, no playoff appearances since 2005, quarterback Carson Palmer recovering from elbow woes, the Super Bowl Champion Steelers dominating the AFC North division, head coach Marvin Lewis being on one of the hottest seats in the NFL, over five players with past or present off the field run-ins with the law and so much more. 

At age 31 and on the downside of his career, the man formerly known as “Chad Johnson” doesn’t seem to have much time left with the Bengals so he needs to forget endzone celebrations, crying over his contract, in-game Tweeting, putting-in his gold teeth mouthpiece, yapping at NFL Network’s Solomon Wilcots, or any of his other distracting behavior.  Much like Terrell Owens, Ochocinco is quickly becoming more of a headache than his play on the field warrants, coming off his worst season (only 53 receptions, 540 yards, and four touchdowns) since his rookie season in 2001, and around the NFL that is not a good mix for employment.

Hopefully No. 85 quiets down about Twitter and getting under the NFL league office’s skin as right now he is nowhere near the “Future H.O.F” jacket he sported a couple of years ago after scoring touchdown.  But you know once the HBO: Hard Knocks cameras start rolling in training camp that Ochocinco will be looking to put on a show.

In case you wanted it… I have included a hyperlink to Ochocinco’s Twitter feed.

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Posted in Chad Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals, Ocho Cinco, Ochocinco to Twitter, Twitter Tagged: Chad Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals, Football, NFL, Ocho Cinco, Ochocinco to Twitter, Sports, Twitter

Despite his defense finishing ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards (288.8 per game) for the 2008 season, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder wanted more from his defense in 2009. 

First, Snyder reached into to wallet to lock-up free agents DT Albert Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall, then the ‘Skins drafted Texas pass rusher Brian Orakpo in the first round (13th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

On Thursday another piece was added to defensive coordinator Greg Blache’s unit, as the Redskins selected Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the third round of the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft—correspondingly the team now loses their pick in that round in the 2010 NFL Draft. 

Jarmon was ruled ineligible for the 2009 NCAA season after testing positive for a banned substance in February and opted for entry into the Supplemental Draft after losing an appeal in May.

In three years at Kentucky, the former second team All-SEC pick in 2007 recorded 121 tackles and 17.5 sacks.  Jarmon (6’3″, 318) has the right size and effort to be a solid two-way end in the Redskins 3-4 system.  He plays with good leverage, is a hard worker, and played well against the best the SEC had to offer including Bengals first-round pick Alabama OT Andre Smith. 

Jarmon will need to guard against injury (shoulder problems) plus work on his agility and pass rushing moves at the next level. 

Washington had their eye on Jarmon as they were spotted at his workout about a week ago. Look for the young defender to immediately work with Haynesworth and veteran DE Andre Carter.

None of the other seven players eligible for the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft were selected—Joe McMahon (Central Michigan), Blake Boyd (Western Kentucky), Torris Magee (Southern Mississippi), Dixon McKinner (Texas Tech), Demetrice Morley (Tennessee), Deon Murphy (Kansas State), and Corey Surrency (Florida State). The unselected players are now free agents and can sign with any team.

Posted in 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft, Jeremy Jarmon, Redskins select Jarmon, Washington Redskins Tagged: 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft, Football, Jeremy Jarmon, NFL, Redskins select Jarmon, Sports, Washington Redskins

In the wake of America’s first black president in office, plus the many progresses made by African American since the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950’s, you would think that in the year 2009, approaching the 90th season of NFL play that I would have much more on and off the field positive stories to write about than something called the “Black Olympics”.  But after viewing Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett’s egregious video, I thought it was only proper that I join Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock and many others in setting the record straight for another NFL player that “Just Doesn’t Seem to Get It!”

Let me state that I love some good humor just as much as the next individual.  My tastes span from Richard Pryor to Chris Rock, but I can’t imagine how in his right mind that Bennett thought the “Black Olympics” was a good idea or even funny.  In an era where, sadly to say, some African Americans are still struggling for equality, the Bennett brothers, Martellus and Michael—a Seattle rookie—thought it would fun to emphasize offensive racial stereotypes of African Americans and then broadcast them to the world via YouTube.  The video shows the pair chowing on fried chicken and watermelon, plus drinking Kool-Aid, all in a timed fashion.

Bennett recently said on Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s Dallas radio show that he thought the spoof was not racially insensitive and Irvin being Irvin agreed with him.  “I don’t really think it’s offensive,” the second-year tight end told Irvin. “It depends on your sense of humor and how you look at things. We were just having fun and it was very funny for me and my brothers, when I look at it I just can’t stop laughing. If someone takes offense, I apologize. That wasn’t my intention. It was just us having fun.”

But the Bennetts were dead wrong!   I was already surprised that Martellus Bennett was involved again in these type of shenanigans after he had been fined $22,000 earlier this year by the Cowboys for insulting blacks and gays in another YouTube video.  But you would think someone in the Pro Football Hall of Fame like Irvin would understand and convey to the young tight end that being role models and representatives of “America’s Team”—like it or not—requires much more.  Bennett needs to understand that the news around the NFL already has enough negative player stories—Michael Vick’s dogfighting case, Donte Stallworth’s drunk driving manslaughter situation, the many misdeeds of Pacman Jones, and many more; that kids, particularly those in urban communities without male role models, do not need more fodder to tear down their self esteem, especially from their so-called NFL “heroes”.

The Cowboys had “no comment” on the video, but I am hoping NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with the Bennett brothers and possibly hand down some kind of disciplinary action for their behavior.  Some people may think that this line of thought is too heavy handed and everyone should just “lighten-up”.  Plus, what right does the NFL have to interlope into a player’s private work during the offseason?  But in today’s world where the NFL wants to be a global marketing entity, this type of behavior cannot be tolerated.  Already, the NFL’s head man has used the open-ended NFL Player Conduct Policy associated with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to administer discipline in all kinds of situations.  And all Goodell has to do to find a similar example from the sports pages to support this type of action is go back to October 2000.  Do you remember the firestorm around the NBA when former Sixers guard Allen Iverson released a hip-hop rap single off his debut CD filled with NBA fan-unfriendly lyrics?  League officials met immediately with Iverson, causing the want-to-be rapper to shelve his 40 bars CD for the betterment of the league and to give a half-hearted apology, like only Allen Iverson can do.

The NFL, Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones, and any other person/entity affiliated with the league do not need the “Black Olympics” video and the problems that it brings.   I can only imagine what prominent former NFL players and trailblazers like Mel Blount, Doug Williams, James “Shack” Harris, and others think of Bennett’s tasteless video.  Sadly Bennett, like every other rookie in the 2008 NFL Draft class, visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer in a program that Irvin encouraged Goodell to implement to teach youngsters coming into the league about respect for the legacy of the National Football League. 

I guess Bennett kept his eyes and ears shut during his tour, as he neither understands nor appreciates the history of the NFL, especially the plight of men like Charles Follis (first black player in professional football), Fritz Pollard, and the four men that helped to re-open the NFL to blacks in 1946 (Woody Strode, Kenny Washington, Bill Willis and Marion Motley).

If Bennett needs something constructive to do until training camp, I have an idea…read a book.  My suggestion is Outside The Lions: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League  by Charles K. Ross.  Just maybe, Bennett, in all of wisdom at age 22, will learn something about the “journey” of the black football player in the NFL and the legacy that he needs to help preserve. 

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Posted in Black Olympics, Dallas Cowboys, Martellus Bennett, NFL Player Discipline, Roger Goodell Tagged: Black Olympics, Dallas Cowboys, Football, Martellus Bennett, NFL, NFL Player Discipline, Roger Goodell, Sports

Everyone knows about the Tony Romo “swoon” every year around December.  The Cowboys triggerman is usually very efficient through Dallas’ annual Thanksgiving game, but come December, a different Romo usually emerges. 

Over the last two years, Romo’s record is 21-8 before December and 2-6 after the start of the holiday month, plus, he is 0-2 in playoff game starts.

Of course, Cowboys’ fans have offered a lot of reasons why Romo has faded down the stretch, namely inexperience. Owner Jerry Jones even had his own theories why his Cowboys, including his star quarterback, can’t get it done late in the season. Their last playoff victory was in 1996. 

The charismatic owner went so far as to rid his team of supposed 2008 distractions, cutting malcontent receiver Terrell Owens in March 2009 and also severing ties with safety Roy Williams, veteran DE/OLB Greg Ellis, off-the-field maniac CB Adam “Pacman” Jones, and talkative troublesome DT Tank Johnson, plus released former Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart.

However, one person that you cannot blame for the quarterback and team’s “problems” any longer is entertainment starlet and former Romo girlfriend Jessica Simpson. As entertainment magazine People reported that earlier this week, apparently right before a planned “Ken and Barbie” birthday celebration for the femme fatale, that Romo had indeed severed ties with Simpson.  

The pair had been dating since 2007 and unfortunately for the Cowboys, coincidently, it was right around the time of the team’s very disappointing divisional playoff round 21-17 loss to eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. 

Romo and Simpson made headlines by vacationing in Cabo, Mexico the week before the crucial game. After the Cowboys’ disappointing loss to a Giants team that they had defeated twice in the regular season, Romo was blasted everywhere. Even Cowboys legend Troy Aikman was very critical of Romo by saying, “You don’t go to Cabo the week before a playoff game, you just don’t do it!”

Earlier this offseason, Jones emphasized the need for Romo’s leadership and focus to increase in order to bring the Cowboys back to playoff glory by saying, “I think his leadership role will naturally foment…him exerting leadership is a big ingredient to us winning”.  Was Jones really saying, “Lose the blond and get serious”, apparently so as Romo is now a single quarterback again. 

Everyone knows that Antonio “Tony” Ramiro Romo does have some talent as shown by his two Pro Bowl appearances and numerous Cowboys’ single season passing records, including 36 touchdown passes in 2007, in only 39 career starts. However, the NFL is all about winning late in the season when things are at their toughest, so I will not be sold on Romo’s leadership until he can will his team to victory in situations like last year’s Week 17 “Win and Your In” game in Philly—passing numbers of 21-39, 183 yards, 0 TDs and one INT with one fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a bad 44-6 loss. 

For Eagles and Redskins fans looking to continue Romo’s kryptonite “blonde” ways, maybe they can find a way of getting Britney Spears’ cell number to the star-crossed quarterback.

Posted in Dallas Cowboys, Jessica Simpson, NFL-Hollywood News, Romo Breaks-up with Simpson, Tony Romo Tagged: Dallas Cowboys, Football, Jessica Simpson, NFL, NFL-Hollywood News, Romo Breaks-up with Simpson, Sports, Tony Romo

The date of July 15 may just appear to be another slow stop on the long road to NFL training camps at the end of July.  But that date marks a significant event on the NFL’s “business” calendar, as it is the last day for “Franchised” players to sign a long-term deal with their teams.

If a franchised player is unable to workout a long-term deal by the end of July 15 then the player can only agree to play under the terms of their one-year franchise deal for the upcoming NFL season (ex. Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers’ one-year franchise deal is for approximately $16.7 million).

Already as of July 14, the Kansas City Chiefs locked-up franchised quarterback Matt Cassel by signing him to a multi-year contract extension. According to league sources, the six-year deal is worth $63 million, with $28 million guaranteed. 

The new deal is the second big jump in salary for Cassel, who played for basically for the first time since high school in 2008 when filled-in for injured teammate Tom Brady, in the last year. 

The former USC back-up quarterback already was scheduled to make $14.561 million for one year after he was designated as the New England Patriots’ franchise player in February. 

But New England was soon off the hook to pay the former back-up as Cassel was traded to the Chiefs along with linebacker Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft choice during the 2009 NFL Draft. 

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said of the signing of his new franchise passer, “We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come, his proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization.”

You can definitely say that the whole being franchised experience has worked-out for Cassel, which seems to be a rarity in today’s NFL.

Though players will accept one-year deals where they are paid on the level of the Top Five players at their position, most often the loss of guaranteed money—the holy grail in the non-guaranteed contract world of the NFL—usually causes animosity between players, agents, and teams (see the case of the Eagles and former DT Corey Simon). 

Recently players and agents have become more creative in putting in contract incentives on their franchise one-year deals that stipulate if a player reaches the agreed to incentive that the team cannot use the franchise tag in the following year and the player is free to negotiate with any team—former Patriots CB Asante Samuel moved to the Eagles under such an arrangement.

Let’s take a look at how the 14 players franchised during the Free Agency Period in February 2009 have fared so far.

LB Karlos Dansby, UFA Arizona Cardinals—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $9.678 million

LB Leroy Hill, Seattle Seahawks—was cut then re-signed by his former team with terms six years, $38 million

P Michael Koenen, Atlanta Falcons—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $2.483 million

TE Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $4.46 million

OT Max Starks, Pittsburgh Steelers—signed a long-term deal with terms four years, $25 million

S Oshiomogho “O.J” Atogwe, St Louis Rams—Has not signed his one-year franchise deal, possible holdout

WR Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $9.884 million

QB Matt Cassel, NE Patriots—traded to KC then signed a long-term deal with terms six years, $63 million

K Shayne Graham, Cincinnati Bengals—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $2.483 million

RB Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants—signed a long-term deal with terms four years, $25 million

DL Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $16.7 million

CB Dunta Robinson, Houston Texans—Has not signed his one-year franchise deal, possible holdout

RB Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers—signed one-year franchise deal with terms for $6.621 million

OLB/DE Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens—Has not signed his one-year franchise deal, possible holdout

Hopefully the three franchised players (Rams S O.J Atogwe, Texans CB Dunta Robinson and Baltimore LB/DE Terrell Suggs), who have yet to sign any contract, will not holdout into training camp.

Holdouts are not good for anyone from the team to fans to the player himself and they sometimes can derail a career—see QB Akilli Smith, QB Ryan Leaf, and RB Larry Johnson. 

Of the three Suggs seems to have the best shot of getting a long-term deal as he and the Ravens have been negotiating this entire offseason and were rumored to be “close” a couple of weeks ago. 

It maybe cost prohibitive for the Ravens and Panthers to sign Suggs and fellow pass rusher Julius Peppers respectively as the cap figures associated with franchising defensive ends are astronomical—over $14.5 million in 2009 with a possible increase to over $20 million in 2010.

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

After a 12-year NFL career, Baltimore Ravens’ receiver Derrick Mason announced his retirement on the Web site JOCKlife.com, saying he’d “seen it all and done it all.” Maybe it was the news of his good friend Steve McNair passing away or Mason’s ailing shoulder —he had shoulder surgery this offseason and was expected to miss a portion of training camp—that forced him to step away from the game.

But the former fourth round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in 1997, who was entering the final year of his contract and was scheduled to make $3 million, has called it quits.

Mason was said to be seeking a long-term deal from the Ravens this offseason along with rumors of a possible holdout.  I guess once the contract talks never materialized, Mason decided to call it a day saying on JOCKlife.com, “I have had a tremendous career and I played for two great teams.”

The former Michigan State star added, “Right now, I am content with the decision I am making. All good things come to an end and I am ready to see what else life has to offer.”

His retirement will be another big blow to the Ravens, who already have lost several players and staff this year to the Rex Ryan (former Ravens assistant coach) led New York Jets.

The Ravens will now have to rely on receivers Demetrius Williams, Mark Clayton, and free agent signee Kelley Washington to replace Mason’s 80-catch, 1,037-yard, and five touchdown performance in 2008.

A tough, smaller receiver, Mason went from being a punt returner earlier in his career to being a dependable, over-the-middle target despite his size (5’10″, 190).  Mason’s quarterbacks, especially McNair who he played with both in Tennessee and Baltimore, always seemed to find the diminutive receiver on crucial plays, particularly on third downs, to move the chains. 

The 35-year-old receiver had his best year in 2003 for the Titans where he caught a career high 95 passes for 1,303 yards and eight touchdowns, making the second of his two Pro Bowl appearances (‘00 and ‘03).

Mason leaves the NFL with these career numbers: 790 receptions (23rd all-time) for 10,061 yards and 79 TDs over 12 years (eight with the Titans and four with the Ravens).  Don’t be surprised if you hear the Ravens associated with free agent receivers Marvin Harrison, Plaxico Burress, Matt Jones, or Reggie Williams in the near future.

Posted in Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Mason, Mason Retires, Plaxico Burress, Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans Tagged: Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Mason, Football, Mason Retires, NFL, Plaxico Burress, Sports, Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans