2010 NFL Draft Player Profile: Sam Bradford

Like most college quarterbacks with the hype of Sam Bradford , it’s not a question of “if” he’ll be drafted in the first round, more a question of “where”.

Sure, the injuries Bradford sustained this season raise some minor questions about his durability and his immediate health, but are likely temporary hindrances in what appears to be a polished and refined NFL -ready game.

After declaring for the NFL Draft, we know for sure where Bradford will be before his name is called in April. Now it’s time to start thinking about where he’ll be after an NFL team calls his name.

Here’s a look at the positives and negatives of Bradford’s game as he prepares a transition to the professional stage, followed by a few teams that should be targeting him.

 

The Good

Statistically (short of the 2009 season), there are few quarterbacks that matchup with what Bradford did from 2007-2008. Over that span, he led an elite Oklahoma offense by throwing 86 touchdowns along with nearly 8,000 passing yards. Throw in his mere eight interceptions in each of those two seasons, and Bradford was a near lock to be the top pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Of course, it’s not just all about stats with Bradford. He shows great range on all his passes, while having the accuracy and arm to make every necessary throw at the next level.

His already adequate height and frame will only get bigger and stronger, which will hopefully help him rid of any durability concerns.

The level of competition he faces was regularly at a borderline elite level, and Bradford routinely showed up in big games.

Outside of his natural feel for the game and his solid athleticism, Bradford also holds exceptional command in the huddle and is one of the more confident and decisive leaders on the field.

He isn’t a project or the type of high-profile passer that will fade into an NFL career on the sidelines. As long as his health isn’t a major question, he’s bound to have a long, successful career in the NFL.

 

The Bad

While Bradford does have everything visible to the naked eye that an NFL quarterback needs, he still hasn’t been able to shake durability issues, and for good reason.

He was perfectly healthy in his first two seasons as a starter, so this really shouldn’t be an issue, but he suffered two injuries during the 2009 season, and considering they have to do with his shoulders, it raises some question marks.

Add in the fact that these aren’t necessarily “minor” injuries and that surgery was involved, and Bradford suddenly becomes a huge risk to a lot of NFL GM’s.

On top of his injury problems, Bradford needs to prove to scouts and GM’s that his stats weren’t padded in a system that caters to quarterbacks. Bradford operated mostly out of a spread offense, which aids a quarterback’s accuracy and doesn’t always demand them to make tough reads or passes.

If Bradford can prove that he’s healthy and that he can man an NFL offense with no great difficulty, he still has a good chance at being a top five pick, and isn’t even out of the running for the top pick in the draft.

 

Possible Suitors

The real question, as stated before, is more about where he’s going, rather than his ability to play or what round he’ll be taken in.

Bradford is a first round talent and should be on the radar for any and all NFL teams that are either desperate for a passer or actively looking for an upgrade.

While the Oakland Raiders may not want to take the plunge on another quarterback in the first round, they are clearly an option, as they have a slew of backup quarterbacks who will be fighting for the starting job in 2010.

With Marc Bulger getting older and battling injuries and Keith Null and Kyle Boller being less than impressive, the St. Louis Rams have to be the favorite to steal Bradford off the board.

Of course, teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and Buffalo Bills should all be very interested in obtaining Bradford, while the Carolina Panthers could also figure into the mix.

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The NFL’s All Decade Defensive Team: 2000-20009

Following is the definitive defensive team of the decade for the years 2000-2009.

The defense was much more difficult to choose than the offense because there are so many deserving players and statistics are not as helpful in evaluating the impact of a player on the game. For example, a shut down cornerback does not get many interceptions because nobody wants to throw the ball his way and a stout defensive tackle doesn’t get credit for the havoc he wreaks allowing other players to get to the quarterback or ball carrier.

As for the offense, in some cases I am choosing several players for a position, for example I have four defensive ends, because all deserve to make the team. But I rank them in the order I would place them from starters to backups.

In other cases I name just one set of starters if those making the cut are deemed to be clearly better than their counterparts.

I only use statistics where needed when players are fairly close and it helps differentiate between contenders for key spots.

Fact checking was done using the following: NFL.com, 2009 NFL Record and Fact Book, Pro-Football-Reference.com, and Wikipedia.com.

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Best & Worst Case Scenarios of Every NFC Playoff Team

The NFL’s second season is about to begin, and the playoff picture could be described as muddled at best.

The No.1 seeds are a combined 1-5 over the last three weeks of the season.

The Patriots and Cardinals suffered injuries to key players in the final weeks.

The Jets and Cowboys, who looked like they were falling apart in early December, are suddenly hot topics.

Which teams can win the Super Bowl? Which ones are destined to be one and done? Let’s take a look at each team and their best and worst case scenarios heading into the postseason.

This is Part One, looking at the NFC.

No. 6 seed: Philadelphia Eagles

Before their meltdown against the Cowboys in the season finale, the Eagles had won six straight games and looked to be one of the league’s better teams. That makes their Dallas debacle even stranger.

There’s no doubt the Eagles are one of those teams that can get hot on offense. Donovan McNabb has a wealth of talent to distribute the ball to, and while their defense isn’t as formidable as it usually is, it’s still a solid unit.

Worst Case Scenario: The third time isn’t the charm as the Cowboys continue to flummox the Eagles. McNabb and company leave Dallas with more questions than answers as the Cowboys repeat last week’s blowout win.

Best Case Scenario: The Eagles repeat last year’s run to the NFC Championship, ruining Dallas’ resurgence and upsetting the falling Saints before finally losing to the Vikings. Team rides the postseason wave and becomes the divisional favorites next season.

 

No. 5 seed: Green Bay Packers

The Packers have lost only once since November 8, and that was on a last second play against the Steelers. In any other year, Aaron Rodgers would be an MVP candidate. His TD to INT ratio is over 4:1, better than any Favre-led Packer team.

On defense, the Packers have allowed no more than 14 points in five of the last six games. Charles Woodson may be having his best year after snatching a career high nine interceptions.

Worst Case Scenario: Rodgers and Kurt Warner stage an epic shootout with Warner getting the last drive and the win. The Packers go home too early.

Best Case Scenario: Both the Packers and Eagles earn upsets in the first round. The Packers travel to Minnesota and win one for Packer Nation. The upstarts fall in the NFC Championship game to New Orleans, but ride the postseason run to contender status in 2010.

 

No.4 seed: Arizona Cardinals

Haven’t we seen this movie before? Just like the 2008 Cardinals, the 2009 version goes into the post season with more questions than answers.

They’ve been blown out by San Francisco and Green Bay. They had an impressive win over Minnesota. Arizona has looked brilliant and bad all in the last month of the season.

Which team will show up in the playoffs? No one knows, probably not even the Cardinals.

Worst Case Scenario: Warner comes out absolutely flat. The defense has no answer for Rodgers and the Packers. Last year’s Cinderella goes out with merely a whimper this year in a disappointing blowout in front of the home crowd.

Best Case Scenario: Cinderella gets to wear her glass slipper. After disposing of the Packers, the Cardinals’ offense outshines New Orleans and Minnesota on the way to a second consecutive Super Bowl. They luckily avoid the Colts, the one team that matches up with the Cardinals very well offensively, and instead face the Chargers. The Cardinals finish the game and Warner retires a Super Bowl champion.

 

No. 3 seed: Dallas Cowboys

Three straight wins to end the season may not be an overly impressive streak, but the Cowboys are still one of the hottest teams at the start of the playoffs. Why? Because of the statement win they had against the Saints three weeks ago.

Sure, the Saints have since faced many issues, but at the time the Saints were the measuring stick to see what type of team the Cowboys had. Since that game, the Cowboys have yet to allow a point after dismantling divisional foes Washington and Philadelphia. 

The Cowboys have always had talent on both sides of the ball, but now they seem to finally be playing like it.

Worst Case Scenario: Tony Romo struggles to get on track as the playoff savvy Eagles stage an upset. Wade Phillips is fired the next day and Cowboy fans are left to wonder if this team will ever live up to expectations.

Best Case Scenario: The Cowboys drill the Eagles and then pressure Brett Favre into throwing away the divisional round game. Jerry Jones gets to host the NFC Championship game, and the Cowboys beat the Cardinals before a record-setting crowd. At the Super Bowl, America’s Team regains its crown, beating the Colts for the title.

 

No. 2 seed: Minnesota Vikings

There’s nothing like playing a reeling Giants team to cure what ails you. Did the victory over New York fix the problems that appeared during the 1-3 run the Vikings had in the previous weeks? Or did it mask the issues that could come back an haunt this team?

On paper, this team has everything you need to win a Super Bowl. Imposing defense. Solid rushing attack. Veteran quarterback. It remains to be seen if Minnesota can put it all together and look like the team that started the season 10-1.

Worst Case Scenario: The defense can’t pressure the quarterback. Adrian Peterson’s fumble problems continue, and Favre throws a costly interception late. And it’s all against the Packers. Favre announces his retirement within weeks of the loss, and all the fans have left of this season is Brad Childress.

Best Case Scenario: The Vikings exact revenge on the Cardinals while the Saints are upended by Green Bay. In an emotional game in front of the home crowd, Favre and the Minnesota offense beat the Packers for the third time this season. Then, the Vikings win twice in Miami, once with a Super Bowl victory, and again when Favre announces he’ll return in 2010 to defend the title.

 

No. 1 seed: New Orleans Saints

After their commanding victory over the Patriots in prime time, you would have found it hard to find anyone that didn’t believe they were the best team in football. But that was way back on November 30.

Since then, the Saints have lost three straight. They’ve shown flashes of life at times in those losses, but it’s hard to ignore that the Saints’ offense isn’t as potent as it was earlier in the season.

Still, they hold the top seed and they’ll be a tough outing for anyone that has to travel to the Super Dome.

Worst Case Scenario: The Saints’ inconsistencies continue in their opening playoff game. The Cardinals are the ones to show off their offensive prowess. A miracle season ends in disaster. With the Panthers looking good at the end of the season, even the divisional title defense has question marks.

Best Case Scenario: The team that drilled the Patriots does the same to the playoff field. Drew Brees proves his name belongs with the greats as he beats Warner, Favre, and Peyton Manning as the Saints give the greatest gift to the city of New Orleans, a Super Bowl championship.

Part Two: The AFC tomorrow.

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Why the Green Bay Packers Won’t Beat the Arizona Cardinals

Before this article grabs Green Bay fans by the wrists and drags them into the depths of painful , realistic punishment, let’s adore the facts.

Green Bay just beat the Arizona Cardinals. They did so handily, 33-7, and after winning seven of their last eight games, there really isn’t much to suggest a first-round exit.

If you truly believe that, you’re either a naive Cheesehead from Wisconsin, or you simply don’t follow the NFL .

After seeing the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants and end any chances of the Cardinals obtaining a first-round bye, Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt “wizened up” (pun intended) and sat all of his offensive starters after less than a quarter of play.

What transgressed was the Green Bay Packers (who left their starters in for nearly the entire game) demolishing the Cardinals.

Add the soul-pounding victory by Green Bay with its other six victories out of its last eight games, and you’ve got a confident group of players and coaches on your hands.

But, really, are they that confident?

They’re going back to the same place they just played in less than a week. Only, this time they get the real deal.

The Cardinals saw what the Packers are capable of. They saw their offense going to work, how their defense works in its 3-4, and what tendencies Mike McCarthy and co. have.

They saw it all firsthand, and with extremely good seats, because after all, they were resting on the sidelines.

We all know that history itself isn’t working with the Packers, as (don’t have exact numbers), it has been increasingly more difficult for teams to either a) beat a team three times in the same season or b) beat a team in Week 17, and then turn around and do the same in the playoffs.

Add the fact that the Packers will be facing a completely different team than they just faced, while also taking their show back on the road, and they have some sizable odds stacked against them.

And we haven’t even gotten to the strategy side of this matchup.

There’s no doubt Green Bay can move and score the ball with the best of them. But Arizona says “Ditto” to that.

And on defense, both units offer vulnerability to the air attack, as evidenced by Green Bay’s embarrassing performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where Ben Roethlisberger passed for more than 500 yards and three touchdowns.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, have been inconsistent on defense, allowing the Tennessee Titans to march 99 yards for a game-winning touchdown in the last November game, and then standing tall at home in a physically dominating effort against the high-powered Minnesota Vikings.

Throw in that this is Aaron Rodgers’ (MVP candidate? ) playoff debut, that Mike McCarthy hasn’t done anything in the playoffs without Brett Favre, and that the Cardinals were in the Super Bowl last year, and you’ve got yourself a scary game if you’re a Packers fan.

Regardless of either team’s inconsistencies or high-powered offenses, it all comes back to Green Bay having to return to Arizona for a second consecutive week and come out with a victory in a do-or-die setting, something that is never easy.

But last week wasn’t the first time these two teams have faced this season. Green Bay also traveled to Arizona for their third preseason game, a contest in which they prevailed, 44-37.

That game, like these other two, was also on the road, and also had very little to do with Arizona’s “real” roster.

After two games with the 10-6 NFC West champions, the Packers will finally get a crack at the real defending NFC champs.

The only problem is, they’ll wish they hadn’t.

This article and more can be found here .

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Wild Card Weekend Predictions: Pats Have Something to Prove

It’s that great time of the year again. The football playoffs! This week, there are some great match-ups in wild card weekend, and there are many teams that have a lot to prove.

Now, let’s go over the matchups.

New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals got spanked by the Jets in the final week of the season, but they had little or nothing to play for. The Bengals rested many of their starters and should look much more fresh this weekend. The Jets roasted the Bengals with the wildcat formation, and if the Bengals can’t put a stop to that they will be in trouble. But, the Jets haven’t had to face Cedric Benson or Chad Ochocinco yet.

Prediction-35-27 Bengals

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

After losing to the Giants in the Superbowl two years back, the Pats have never been the same. With a season ending injury to Tom Brady, the Patriots were kept out of the playoffs. With a healthy Brady, they have been better this year and have managed to make it. The injury to Wes Welker certainly hurts, but this is a more than capable offense. Now, Baltimore is a team that heavily relies on their defense, and with Tom Brady running the show look for the Ravens to have problems.

Prediction-42-21 Patriots

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

After giving the Cardinals a whooping in Week 17, fans are counting on the Packers winning this one by a landslide. Let me tell you something: Don’t bet on it. This Cardinals team has been the “underdog” of the playoffs before, and last year went all the way to the Superbowl. With a healthy Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cards are a very good team. The Packers have an excellent defense and a great running back in Ryan Grant, but do they have what it takes to really beat this team when it counts?

Prediction-28-24 Cardinals

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

To me, this is the best matchup on paper, out of all of the games. The Cowboys and Eagles are division rivals, and don’t seem to like each other too much. The Eagles didn’t put up much of a fight in Week 17 against the Cowboys. In fact, they failed to score a single point. Look for the Eagles to rebound, but will it be enough?

Prediction-21-17 Cowboys

I’m sure you are all looking forward to this weekend as am I. Be sure to read my next playoff predictions for the divisional round.

 

 

 

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Going Into 2010: Cleveland’s Running Game Breakdown

The 2009 season has officially come to a close for the Cleveland Browns. After a weak start and going 1-11, Cleveland finished the regular season at 5-11, an improvement on 2008.

A lot of injuries left a lot of questions going into the next season, but one thing that isn’t a question anymore is the talent of Jerome Harrison. So where does that leave the running game for 2010?

1. Jerome Harrison

Seventy-seven carries over the course of three seasons, had been the extent of his NFL career under Romeo Crennel. The fans were restless and up in arms yelling to get the ball to Harrison more, and had hoped that Crennel’s dismissal would mean more carries. In Eric Mangini’s first season however, it appeared that he again would be overlooked.

Then it happened, James Davis went on injured reserve, then Jamal Lewis went on injured reserve. And what occurred, low and behold, was the emergence of Jerome Harrison, finally.

This season Harrison ended up picking up 194 carries for 862 yards. Garnering a 4.4 yard per carry average. With that average, a mere 33 more touches would have earned him his first ever thousand yard season. Sadly enough, in seven of those games, he received less than 10 carries, and three games he didn’t even play in.

You really have to ask the question, oh my, what could have been huh?

Assuming next year he stays the same caliber, and believe me that he’ll only get better; if he gets even just 20 touches a game with that 4.4 average, he’ll wind up with 1408 yards.

Through all the concerns that he was too small and too fragile to be a featured back in the NFL, Jerome Harrison has answered that call defiantly to close out the 2009-2010 season.

2. James Davis

At Clemson, he came back for his senior season after being rated a second round draft pick, and suffered behind a recently NFL departed offensive line. Of course, splitting carries with CJ Spiller didn’t help his cause, and he went unnoticed in the NFL draft until the sixth round.

That changed when he was drafted to Cleveland however, where he dazzled with his speed and cuts in training camp, and big things were once again anticipated for him.

All the promise, all the hope, all the excitement, blown away with one post-practice drill and a trip to Cleveland’s overloaded injured reserve list.

Prior to that, Davis carried the ball 24 times for 186 yards in the preseason, and was expected to share time with Lewis while developing this season. Unfortunately, that shoulder injury put an end to all of that, leaving simply more questions about the state of the rushing game.

3. Chris Jennings

A nice surprise from the CFL and practice squad, Jennings had an average season as the short yardage back behind Harrison. While he has been sufficient in a fill-in role, I wouldn’t expect him to be on the active roster next year.

Jennings put up 220 yards on 63 carries, and posted a mediocre 3.5 yards. It may be worthwhile keeping him around, but a demotion to the practice squad appears to be in his future. At 24 years old, he still has a lot of room to develop.

4. Free Agency

Free agency this year could bring another running back to Cleveland. Mike Holmgren doesn’t look down on signing higher-profile free agents, like Mangini does, which may be a good or bad thing. So with that bit of knowledge, three running backs jump out on the 2010 UFA list.

-LenDale White, 25, Tennessee: With Chris Johnson further establishing himself as an elite running back in the NFL, White becomes expendable, and will probably test the market as a featured back.

-Mike Bell, 27, New Orleans: Bell has a great comeback season this year replacing the role of Duece McAllister, but with Pierre Thomas to re-sign this offseason also, it’s possible Bell won’t be back next year as a Saint. Testing the waters of free agency could see him land as a starter somewhere else.
 
-Chester Taylor, 30, Minnesota: The only reason Taylor is a backup is that he has the misfortune, or fortune depending how you look at it, of being on a team with Adrian Peterson. Taylor still has a few good years left in his legs and could be great in any team’s backfield rotation.

5. Draft

In the first official mock draft with the finalized top ten draft order, Todd McShay now predicts CB Joe Haden to make his way to the shores of Lake Erie with the number seven overall pick.

Getting Joe Haden’s abilities opposite of Eric Wright would become arguably the most shut-down corner combination in football, especially given their tendencies for interceptions. In Ryan’s 46 defense, man to man cornerback coverage is vital, assuming Holmgren doesn’t turn it to a 4-3.

With Harrison’s emergence, there really is no true reason to take a running back with the first or second round pick this year. There are way too many other priorities this year to gamble on a running back that early, the secondary and offensive line need too much help.

In the later rounds though, it doesn’t seem out of the question.

-Toby Gerhart, Stanford: Expected to go in the second to third round by draft experts, if Gerhart falls to the third round he would be a steal for any team. Gerhart has great power, toughness, and intelligence.

-Montario Hardesty, Tennessee: Also projected to be a third round pick, Hardesty has great speed, power, and his spin move is unrivaled. If Gerhart isn’t available, Hardesty is the best mid-round option.

Either option would seal the running game for Cleveland in 2010.

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Oakland Raiders: Arr Mateys—Is Al Davis Seeking Treasure In Mike Leach?

First Mike Leach gets fired from Texas Tech, and now he’s purportedly being sought after by Al Davis to replace Tom Cable as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

See what happens when you lock players up in a closet, allegedly?

To get an opportunity to coach in the NFL could be the dream of any head coach.  This, however, is the Oakland Raiders we are talking about here.  This dream is more like a nightmare.

First, Lane Kiffin disagreed with Al Davis about drafting JaMarcus Russell, and now it seems that Tom Cable feels that Russell is the primary reason for the Raiders failure to reach the playoffs.

Maybe Cable wants to be put out of his misery.

I can see it now.  Here comes the 1970s overhead projector, the transparencies, and the great oratory in another classic Al Davis press conference.

“Cable, just like I told that liar Kiffin—get over it!”

Then comes the conversation Al Davis has with his new swashbuckler, Mike Leach.

Davis: Matey!  Arrr—life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be?  I’m a pirate after all!

Leach: Aye!  I love pirates.  May I call you Blackbeard, sir?

Davis: Matey! You may call me Mr. Davis.  Do I have a Black Beard?

Leach: Arrrr—eleven men on the dead man’s chest!  Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!

Priceless.

Seriously, would Mike Leach consider taking the job if it were offered?  He is quirky enough to consider it, and he may attempt to put Al Davis in a dark closet and forget about him.

That may be exactly what the NFL needs.

A pirate-lover as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.  A match made in heaven?

“It’s not every day you get to make a pirate movie, you might as well go for it.”

How will this movie end?  Al Davis has threatened not to retire unless he wins two more Super Bowls or dies.

“Dead men don’t bite.”

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Oakland Raiders: Finding Bright Spots in a Black Hole

Shortly before the 2009 NFL regular season, many Oakland Raiders fans, including myself, shared a sense of optimism about the team’s future. The Raiders closed out the 2008-09 regular season on a high note and seemed to be poised for a decent 2009 season.

Well, with the regular season now over and the playoffs in full-swing, Raiders fans are left scratching their heads as they look desperately for answers to a NFL mystery.

Since the Raiders’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Superbowl XXXVII, they’ve managed to win only 29 games and have suffered 83 losses during the course of the past seven seasons.

In 2009, the Raiders managed to win five games, matching last season’s total, but were outscored by opponents, 197-379, in a mostly disappointing season that was surrounded by controversy.

The dysfunctional silver-and-black renegade never quite found a leader over the course of the season—even though most thought JaMarcus Russell would lead the Raiders in the right direction.

But Russell’s raw talent and potential couldn’t outweigh his unpreparedness and lack of discipline. Russell’s ineffectiveness prompted head coach, Tom Cable, who was surrounded by controversy of his own, to bench him.

Russell eventually lost his job to Bruce Gradkowski, who was decent in the games he started. Gradkowski finished the year completing 82 passes of his 150 attempts (54.7%) with 1,007 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INT and a QB Rating of 80.6.

JaMarcus Russell, who was paid handsomely by Al Davis before even trying on a pair of NFL shoulder pads, finished with 120 completions out of 246 attempts (48.8%) with 1,287 yards, 3 TDs, 11 INT and a QB Rating of 50.0.

And as ugly as the Raiders were on offense, they did not go without having some bright spots on the field.

Tight end Zach Miller led the team with 805 yards receiving and finished the year with 3 TDs. Also a nice surprise was Louis Murphy, who finished with 34 receptions, 521 yards receiving and a team leading 4 TDs. Honorable mentions include Chaz Schilens (365 yards, 2 TDs), Johnnie Lee Higgins (263 yards) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (124 yards, 1 TD).

In the backfield for the Raiders were Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden. I was sure that McFadden would have a breakout season, but he just couldn’t get any rhythm going over the course of his second season. Bush finished the year with a team leading 589 rushing yards to go along with three rushing scores. Fargas followed suit with 491 yards and three scores of his own. And finally, McFadden, finished his sophomore season with 357 yards one score and four fumbles.

On the defensive side for the Raiders, they struggled for most of the season and as a result ended up giving up 379 points. But as was the case with the offense, there were a few bright spots that made the defense somewhat watchable.

LB Kirk Morrison led the Raiders with 133 total tackles, and Tyvon Branch followed suit with 124 tackles of his own. Richard Seymour finished with 47 tackles and 4 sacks while Trevor Scott led the team with 7 sacks. Safety Michael Huff recorded 3 INTs and 43 tackles while CB Nnamdi Asomugha rounded out the defense with 34 tackles of his own to go along with 1 INT.

The Oakland Raiders were once “Committed to Excellence” and used to “Just Win Baby”, and though these old adages still cover the walls of the coliseum, their meanings are becoming more and more irrelevant.

And although the past seven seasons have been mostly painful to watch, Raiders fans can still find some “bright” spots in a mostly disappointing organization.

Will the Raiders somehow magically bounce back next season with an 11-5 record? No. But the hope is that they’ll make progress.

Al Davis and the rest of the organization should look at the bright spots and build upon them. Restoring that sense of commitment, dedication, and heart is the most important thing for this organization. Leadership is needed, and without it, these “bright” spots will begin to fade away, much like the once proud Raider Nation.

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Brett Favre and The Vikings’ Vindication: Next Stop Miami

From the moment Brett Favre was released by the New York Jets on Apr. 28, 2009, the Minnesota Vikings and Favre have been inseparable.

Headlines and rumors swirled throughout the summer about Favre ending his retirement—that he was staying retired for good due to arm surgery, that Vikings players Adrian Peterson and Steve Hutchinson were texting him to come back, that Brad Childress was visiting his home in Mississippi—and rumors even regarding Favre’s daily tractor rides.

Some were true, many were misleading, and others were not even newsworthy, but in the end both parties—Favre and the Vikings—have been vindicated for their back-and-forth dance this offseason by locking up the No. 2 seed in the NFC and that coveted first-round bye.

When reports surfaced on Aug. 18 that Vikings head coach Brad Childress was en route to pick-up Favre at the airport and bring him directly to Vikings’ training camp in Mankato, Vikings Nation was in euphoria. The once-hated rival and face of the Green Bay Packers signed a two-year $25 million contract only a few hours after the initial reports surfaced. Brett Favre was back. The NFL and the Minnesota Vikings were grateful, and all Vikings’ fans immediately possessed a Super-Bowl-or-bust mentality.

The Vikings lacked a star quarterback to take them to the top—this three-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXXI champion was the perfect fit.

NFL fans all around the country were talking about Favre and the Vikings. Critics ran rampant with talk of him being “over the hill,” that his arm won’t hold up all season, and that the Vikings damaged the psyche of their backups Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. None of these issues were displayed throughout the whole 2009-2010 regular season.

There was even talk early on that Favre was creating a “schism” in the locker room. A term, I admit, I have never heard until this story was reported in professional sports. Once again, it simply was a misleading story and just another day in the life of Brett Favre. He is a media darling, and they love to find flaws with anything that seems too perfect or blow out of proportion the little things.

Pushing the critics aside, Favre and the Vikings shot out to a 6-0 record, including another classic Favre comeback in Week Three over the San Francisco 49ers, in which Favre threw a 32-yard laser (really traveled about 50 yards) to Greg Lewis in the back of the  end zone with two seconds left to lift the Vikings over the 49ers 27-24, and a Monday night victory 30-23 over the Green Bay Packers.

That epic contest became the most-viewed television program, sports or otherwise, in the history of cable television drawing a 15.3 rating and 21.3 million viewers.

A few weeks later in Week Eight, Favre returned to Lambeau Field to a mixture of cheers and boos…mostly boos. Favre would laugh last on this night as he threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-26 win. This game drew a 17.9 rating and 29.8 million viewers. 

The Brett Favre appeal, love him or hate him, was captivating audiences, pumping endless amounts of money into the NFL, and giving everyone something to talk about. In the two meetings this year, Favre dismantled the Packers throwing for 545 yards, seven touchdowns, no interceptions, taking no sacks, and grabbing two victories.

Packers Nation was sick to their collective stomach despite the fantastic play from Aaron Rodgers, and Vikings Nation was caught saying, “I told you he was our missing link.”

Despite their fantastic start at 10-1, and in prime position to possibly secure the top-seed in the NFC playoffs, the Vikings’ December swoon brought the critics back out to the forefront.

Talk of Favre’s arm not holding up, the Vikings not playing well at the end of the season, Brad Childress calling out his future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback, and losses of three of four in December sent many bandwagon fans packing. However, those that stayed true to their team and truly believed the Vikings were simply a good quarterback away from a Super Bowl knew that it was merely a speed bump on the trip to Miami.

Three of the four losses came on the road and outside to the Cardinals, Panthers, and Bears. The Vikings will not have to play outside until Miami and could host the NFC Championship game if New Orleans falters.

A 12-4 season, a No. 2 seed, a first round play-off bye, and Favre’s numbers this season make vindication sweet for Favre and the Vikings. Favre finished the regular season, starting all 16 games and setting a personal best in least amount of interceptions thrown in a season at seven. He finished with 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns, the second-highest passer rating in the NFL at 107.2, and a completion percentage of 68.4.

He rose the level of play of third-year receiver and current Pro Bowler Sidney Rice to the tune of 83 receptions, 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns. Percy Harvin continued his explosive play that we saw at Florida as a Viking and looked nothing like a rookie in his first year. And Visanthe Shiancoe set a Vikings team-record with 11 touchdowns as a tight end. Raising his level and of those around him, this season could arguably be considered the best season of Favre’s illustrious career.

Through the ups and downs, constant headlines, and media scrutiny, the Vikings and Favre remained inseparable all season. This will hold true through the playoffs—the Vikings will go only as far as Favre takes them. He knows this and so do his teammates. When you anoint someone as the missing link to win a franchise’s first Super Bowl before he plays a snap for your team, ridiculously high expectations are set that many can’t live up to.

So far this year, Favre has exceeded all those expectations, and come playoff time, there is no one else I want behind center calling the cadence, making the adjustments, and taking the Minnesota Vikings to Miami than Brett Favre.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Video Interference: Ravens-Raiders Referees Weaken Integrity of Officiating

With 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Sunday’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco took a third-down snap and dropped back to pass, not knowing that the footsteps he made in the ensuing six seconds would potentially change the NFL’s use of instant replay in future seasons.

Flacco evaded pressure from the Raiders defense and started to scramble toward the line of scrimmage, seemingly intending to advance the ball a few yards across the line of scrimmage with a short run. As he approached the line, Flacco spotted running back Ray Rice alone in the end zone. Flacco then rifled the ball to Rice in an attempt to score a touchdown in the waning moments of the half, but the pass sailed over Rice’s head and fell incomplete.

The problem with Flacco’s decision was that he had already passed the line of scrimmage at the moment he released the ball. According to NFL rules, such a play constitutes an illegal forward pass, a penalty that demands a five-yard penalty on the Ravens and a loss of down; additionally, because the action occurred within the last two minutes of the game, it required a deduction of ten seconds off the game clock.

Everyone watching the game knew Flacco had committed a penalty. In spite of the obvious infraction, no official called a penalty on the play.

There is a general understanding among football fans that instant replay cannot be used as a tool to call penalties that are not originally called during the course of the play. The next five minutes of television shattered this understanding entirely.

Knowing that Flacco almost certainly committed a penalty, the NFL officials in the replay booth took the play into their own hands, calling for an official video review of the play, which they are legally allowed to do with any controversial play within the final two minutes of the half. After reviewing the play, the officials determined that an illegal forward pass did occur and penalized the Ravens for down and distance in relation to the previous play.

Under league rules, the wording of the instant replay policy allows the instant replay process to be used in helping determine whether or not an illegal forward pass occurred; in the spirit of the law, however, this application was probably intended to clarify whether or not an illegal forward pass is made during an attempted lateral, not when the pass was intended for a down-field target.

When a play like that occurs, such as the famed Music City Miracle , then the penalty is appropriate, but in this situation, the results could have been disastrous for the Ravens.

The outcome of the play was an incomplete pass, leaving 12 seconds on the game clock before halftime with the ball on the Oakland 15-yard line. Because of the penalty instituted by the replay booth, the field goal attempt ended up being snapped from the 20-yard line, meaning it was 37 yards long. Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed the attempt wide to the right side, meaning the Ravens had less than a one-touchdown lead (14-10 rather than 17-10) heading into halftime.

Did Cundiff’s miss ultimately affect the end result of the game? No. But the significant role that the officials played in altering the circumstances of the kick could be crucial in future games. The way in which the penalty was called, even if it was the correct call, sets a precedent that is dangerous if not counter-productive to the review process.

Imagine a similar situation in which there are less than two minutes left in the game and the ball is spotted just inside field goal range. Then imagine that the offense throws an incomplete pass, but the booth chooses to review how many people were on the field at the snap of the ball. (This assumes that the excess of people was an accident, as it is unlikely that an NFL team would actually try to run a play with 12 players.)

After review, the officials agree that there were 12 offensive players on the field at the time of the snap. The offense is penalized five yards and is now out of field goal range, despite the fact that the result of the play did not help them at all.

It’s scary to think that officials who aren’t on the field can have such an impact on the game, but that potential is now on the table. Just don’t blame Joe Flacco.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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