The reason the excuse doesn't hold up is this is Tom Brady we're talking about! Who gives a crap what the salary cap will be in the future? Cap or no cap, the Patriots are going to sign him to whatever he wants! The whole friggin team is built around his talents, and his asking price is well within reason. I mean, if the friggin Green Bay Packers are making a yearly $9.8 million profit, the larger market Patriots are likely making triple that. So, please, the owners (Jim Irsay included) need to stop parroting this "we need to know how the collective bargaining agreement shakes out" crap. Agreement or no agreement, people like Tom Brady should be signed to extensions.
Brady signing now would be big because it likely would lead to the Colts football jerseys signing Peyton Manning to a bigger extension. Once those two extensions are in place, players like Robert Mathis, Reggie Wayne, and Ryan McNeil have a baseline ceiling for which to request reasonable extensions of their own. "Gee, Peyton makes $20 mil a year now. I should be making $10 mill."
Of course, the owners do not want this to happen right now, and thus the Donald Brown accusations of "collusion" by the players.
All signs point to 2011 being a year where the owners will lock the players out from football without a new collective bargaining agreement. If that happens after they have signed players like Manning, Brady, and others to big extensions, they will be players millions of dollars to players the are preventing from playing football. Of course, regardless of whether there is or isn't football in 2011, the owners will be collecting checks from TV networks.
The new Indianapolis Colts jerseys have agreed to a four-year, $1.95 million contract with rookie fifth-round tight end Brody Eldridge, according to a league source.
Eldridge received a signing bonus of nearly $163,000 and the standard base salaries Dwight Freeney of $320,000, $405,000, $490,000 and $575,000 as well as a fourth-year escalator clause that can significantly boost the maximum value of the contract.
Eldridge is a classic blocking tight end at 6-foot-5, 261 pounds.
James was arguably the NFL's top running back during the 2000s. He teamed with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison to give the Indianapolis Colts one of the league's most potent offenses.
He rushed for 2,960 yards, the second-highest total in UM history.
2010年7月22日星期四
Patriots owner Robert Kraft called contract talks with Brady
Right now, this is about principle with me and keeping your word and how you treat people," Mankins told ESPN.com. "This is what I thought the foundation of the Patriots was built on. Apparently, I was wrong. Growing up, I was taught a man's word is his bond. Obviously, this isn't the case with the Patriots."
So much for adhering to the company line.
Now, the two-time Pro Bowler's less-than-sunny disposition threatens to create a chasm in the offensive line.
This much is clear: As training camp nears, the Patriots aren't completely aligned.
"I want to be traded," Mankins said. "I don't need to be here any more."
He wasn't.
Like the voluntary organized team activities before it, Mankins proceeded to skip that mandatory June mini-camp, which given the fact he was and still is unsigned, wasn't mandatory for the 6-foot-4, 310-pounder at all.
Still, the sight of Mankins missing from the line was an adjustment. The Patriots' top pick in the 2005 NFL Draft hasn't missed a start in five seasons.
With Mankins missing in action, starting right tackle Nick Kaczur and reserve Dan Connolly took most of the reps at left guard at mini-camp, with 2009 second-round draft pick Sebastian Vollmer filling in at tackle on the right side when necessary.
Mankins reportedly declined a contract that would have paid him roughly $7 million per season through 2014. Given that, it's no surprise the restricted free agent also passed on the $3.26 million tender the Patriots had extended him, allowing the team to slash that offer to $1.54 million.
When happy (and healthy), the unit consists of two-time Pro Bowler Matt Light and Kaczur at tackle, Mankins and Stephen Neal at guard, with Dan Koppen the man in the middle, although Vollmer — who started at both tackle positions last season — appears on the verge of pushing someone aside. At 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds, Vollmer could bring more of a physical presence to the line.
While this unit allowed just 18 sacks in 2009 — a franchise-low over a 16-game schedule — and kept quarterback Tom Brady's jersey clean for a four-game stretch late in the season, this group has flaws.
On the whole, this unit would have to be considered more decent than dominant. Mankins and Koppen were the lone linemen to make it from start to finish at their positions last seasons, and now, as mentioned, the former may be missing when training camp starts in less than a week; it officially kicks off with a double session on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium on Thursday.
On that day, Brady didn't sound like a player who would consider a training camp holdout. Unless something has dramatically changed since then, and there are no tangible indications that is the case, Brady will be in his familiar spot next Thursday when the Patriots football jerseys open their 51st training camp: under center, leading the offense.
"I'm under contract, and I signed a six-year contract five years ago," Brady said on Jan. 25, reminding reporters that he is not the only player in this situation.
"There is a lot of uncertainty with the league, and being a player rep Jerod Mayo now, I realize all the different issues that we're facing. It's a really unique time in the league, and as a team player, I don't sit here saying, 'What about me, What about me?' I'm under contract, and I'm going to go out there and play and play my butt off."
Brady's reference to a "unique time in the league" hits at the heart of why a deal has not been reached between him and the Patriots, or between the Indianapolis Colts and star quarterback Peyton Manning, who is also in the last year of his contract.
In a Sirius NFL Radio interview in June, Patriots owner Robert Kraft called contract talks with Brady "complicated," a reference to the league's uncertain labor forecast and the brewing battle between owners and the NFL Players Association. In March, Kraft had expressed confidence that an agreement ultimately would be reached.
"Let's put it like this: Tom Brady is going to be part of this franchise. He wants to be; we want him," Kraft said at the time.
So with that on-the-record information as a backdrop, here is an all-encompassing look at where things stand with Brady and where they may be headed:
• Current state of negotiations: The sides have discussed a contract extension, on and off, during the past year. Talks are not active at this time, meaning that there is little momentum building toward Brady signing an extension before the start of training camp. Talks could resume at any point, assuming both sides remain willing to keep working toward a deal, which has been the case to date.
• Brady's current deal: Brady is in the final year of a six-year, $60 million extension that he signed in 2005. When Brady signed the extension, it made him one of the league's highest-paid players. Because the extension was front-loaded, Brady was scheduled to earn "only" a $3.5 million base salary in the final year, as well as a $3 million roster bonus, well below market value for a player of his caliber. (Manning, in contrast, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $15.8 million this year.) Because Brady had signed an extension in 2002 when he had two years remaining on his contract, and another extension in 2005 when he had two years remaining on his contract, his representatives probably viewed the possibility of Brady reaching the final year of his contract as unlikely. If there are any ill feelings from Brady or his representatives from the lack of an extension -- and that is all speculative because no one has spoken on the record -- it probably stems from that.
• Short-term fix a possibility? Given the dynamics in play, one potential solution to create goodwill as the process evolves is for the Patriots to take a similar approach as the Tennessee Titans did with running back Chris Johnson by sweetening Johnson's deal (by a reported $2 million this season). The Patriots jerseys could do the same for Brady in an uncapped season, but because a contract can't be adjusted more than once per season, it would restrict the ability to strike a longer extension until after the 2010 league year ends.
• Collective bargaining agreement: With no collective bargaining agreement in place for 2011, and Wes Welker no certainty that there will be football next season, it creates a hurdle to consummating a deal. It's not insurmountable -- as recent big-money contract extensions for other players around the NFL have proved -- but it is the same obstacle affecting talks between the Colts and Manning. "We've been going slowly [as] we're trying to formulate some things that will fit no matter what the [new] system is," Colts president Bill Polian told sports radio WEEI on a recent trip to Boston. "We can't get into the nitty-gritty because we don't know what the rules will be. It's not like you're going to get [a new collective bargaining agreement] in October, I don't think. If that happens, it would be great. But at least you can get a feel for the way things are going."
So much for adhering to the company line.
Now, the two-time Pro Bowler's less-than-sunny disposition threatens to create a chasm in the offensive line.
This much is clear: As training camp nears, the Patriots aren't completely aligned.
"I want to be traded," Mankins said. "I don't need to be here any more."
He wasn't.
Like the voluntary organized team activities before it, Mankins proceeded to skip that mandatory June mini-camp, which given the fact he was and still is unsigned, wasn't mandatory for the 6-foot-4, 310-pounder at all.
Still, the sight of Mankins missing from the line was an adjustment. The Patriots' top pick in the 2005 NFL Draft hasn't missed a start in five seasons.
With Mankins missing in action, starting right tackle Nick Kaczur and reserve Dan Connolly took most of the reps at left guard at mini-camp, with 2009 second-round draft pick Sebastian Vollmer filling in at tackle on the right side when necessary.
Mankins reportedly declined a contract that would have paid him roughly $7 million per season through 2014. Given that, it's no surprise the restricted free agent also passed on the $3.26 million tender the Patriots had extended him, allowing the team to slash that offer to $1.54 million.
When happy (and healthy), the unit consists of two-time Pro Bowler Matt Light and Kaczur at tackle, Mankins and Stephen Neal at guard, with Dan Koppen the man in the middle, although Vollmer — who started at both tackle positions last season — appears on the verge of pushing someone aside. At 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds, Vollmer could bring more of a physical presence to the line.
While this unit allowed just 18 sacks in 2009 — a franchise-low over a 16-game schedule — and kept quarterback Tom Brady's jersey clean for a four-game stretch late in the season, this group has flaws.
On the whole, this unit would have to be considered more decent than dominant. Mankins and Koppen were the lone linemen to make it from start to finish at their positions last seasons, and now, as mentioned, the former may be missing when training camp starts in less than a week; it officially kicks off with a double session on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium on Thursday.
On that day, Brady didn't sound like a player who would consider a training camp holdout. Unless something has dramatically changed since then, and there are no tangible indications that is the case, Brady will be in his familiar spot next Thursday when the Patriots football jerseys open their 51st training camp: under center, leading the offense.
"I'm under contract, and I signed a six-year contract five years ago," Brady said on Jan. 25, reminding reporters that he is not the only player in this situation.
"There is a lot of uncertainty with the league, and being a player rep Jerod Mayo now, I realize all the different issues that we're facing. It's a really unique time in the league, and as a team player, I don't sit here saying, 'What about me, What about me?' I'm under contract, and I'm going to go out there and play and play my butt off."
Brady's reference to a "unique time in the league" hits at the heart of why a deal has not been reached between him and the Patriots, or between the Indianapolis Colts and star quarterback Peyton Manning, who is also in the last year of his contract.
In a Sirius NFL Radio interview in June, Patriots owner Robert Kraft called contract talks with Brady "complicated," a reference to the league's uncertain labor forecast and the brewing battle between owners and the NFL Players Association. In March, Kraft had expressed confidence that an agreement ultimately would be reached.
"Let's put it like this: Tom Brady is going to be part of this franchise. He wants to be; we want him," Kraft said at the time.
So with that on-the-record information as a backdrop, here is an all-encompassing look at where things stand with Brady and where they may be headed:
• Current state of negotiations: The sides have discussed a contract extension, on and off, during the past year. Talks are not active at this time, meaning that there is little momentum building toward Brady signing an extension before the start of training camp. Talks could resume at any point, assuming both sides remain willing to keep working toward a deal, which has been the case to date.
• Brady's current deal: Brady is in the final year of a six-year, $60 million extension that he signed in 2005. When Brady signed the extension, it made him one of the league's highest-paid players. Because the extension was front-loaded, Brady was scheduled to earn "only" a $3.5 million base salary in the final year, as well as a $3 million roster bonus, well below market value for a player of his caliber. (Manning, in contrast, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $15.8 million this year.) Because Brady had signed an extension in 2002 when he had two years remaining on his contract, and another extension in 2005 when he had two years remaining on his contract, his representatives probably viewed the possibility of Brady reaching the final year of his contract as unlikely. If there are any ill feelings from Brady or his representatives from the lack of an extension -- and that is all speculative because no one has spoken on the record -- it probably stems from that.
• Short-term fix a possibility? Given the dynamics in play, one potential solution to create goodwill as the process evolves is for the Patriots to take a similar approach as the Tennessee Titans did with running back Chris Johnson by sweetening Johnson's deal (by a reported $2 million this season). The Patriots jerseys could do the same for Brady in an uncapped season, but because a contract can't be adjusted more than once per season, it would restrict the ability to strike a longer extension until after the 2010 league year ends.
• Collective bargaining agreement: With no collective bargaining agreement in place for 2011, and Wes Welker no certainty that there will be football next season, it creates a hurdle to consummating a deal. It's not insurmountable -- as recent big-money contract extensions for other players around the NFL have proved -- but it is the same obstacle affecting talks between the Colts and Manning. "We've been going slowly [as] we're trying to formulate some things that will fit no matter what the [new] system is," Colts president Bill Polian told sports radio WEEI on a recent trip to Boston. "We can't get into the nitty-gritty because we don't know what the rules will be. It's not like you're going to get [a new collective bargaining agreement] in October, I don't think. If that happens, it would be great. But at least you can get a feel for the way things are going."
2010年7月20日星期二
Patriots are keeping just four running backs this year
Has this fact led to sleepless nights for the notoriously leaden Belichick? Doubtful, though the fact that New England used a fifth-round pick on Michigan punter Zoltan Mesko in this past April's draft offers a clue to just how pleased the head man has been with that area of his team. The 6-5, 230-pound Mesko was the first specialist taken in the Draft.
"He's a good player, a guy that's worked hard, been productive in his career [at Michigan] and has obviously earned the respect of the people he's been around," Belichick said of Mesko. "He's a big, good-looking kid."
Though the weather the Patriots face both at home and on the AFC East road isn't going to do the team's punters any statistical favors, Belichick and New England special teams coach Scott O'Brien were finished making excuses for the team's deficient punting game. The Pats were last in the NFL in both gross punting average (39.7) and net average (36.4) in 2009, and subsequently opted not to tender veteran Chris Hanson a contract after three seasons with the club.
Three seasons has been about the limit for New England punters, as Josh Miller (2004-06), Ken Walter (2001-03, as well as a short stint in 2006), and Lee Johnson (1999-2001) have all lasted roughly the same amount of time as did Hanson.
If Mesko sticks for the duration of his recently-signed four-year deal, he will be New England's longest-tenured punter since Rich Camarillo spent the better part of the 80's (1981-87) with the team. Camarillo, incidentally, is the only Patriots punter ever named to the Pro Bowl (1983).
Closing the recent revolving door is clearly a challenge that the former Michigan co-captain embraces.
"If I go out there on the field and perform, the rest will take care of itself," Mesko told reporters in the spring. "There's a lot of punters that have a hard work ethic and a lot of talent so if you combine the two, that's probably the best hybrid to have."
Mesko had one of the most intriguing stories among the '10 draft class, and has already conquered long odds on his journey to the NFL. Born in Romania in 1986, Mesko survived the revolution that predated the fall of communism in 1989, then emigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 12. Eventually, the family landed in Twinsburg, Ohio outside of Cleveland. Soon after, Mesko's powerful left leg was spotted during a kickball game, when he broke a gymnasium light with a booming kick.
After starring at Twinsburg High School, Mesko became a fan favorite at Michigan, eventually becoming the Wolverines' all-time punting leader. The big-bodied Mesko also proved he was more than a punter, executing multiple fakes and proving tougher to bring down than your average punter.
No doubt, it was Mesko's generous build that sealed the deal for Belichick, who had never before drafted a punter.
"I imagine he probably does most things that all the other players on the team do, as opposed to there are some kickers that really aren't at the same athletic level as other players on the team," said Belichick. "I think he would be a lot closer to that than a lot of other guys would be."
Below, as the eighth and final installment of our eight-part "GameChangers" series, we look at five incoming punters or kickers who will enter their first year in a new uniform as central figures in their team's 2010 development:
Jay Feely, K, Cardinals (free agent, from Jets) - Though his controversial political musings seem to make as many headlines as his work on the field, the journeyman Feely has quietly become one of the more reliable kickers in the game. He's been at 83.3 percent or better on field goals for the last five seasons, yet the Jets became the fourth team since 2004 (Falcons, Giants, Dolphins) to deem him expendable after last season. The Cardinals snapped the former Saturday Night Live punchline up for $3.5 million over two years, after the once-reliable Neil Rackers (now with the Texans) had begun to show diminishing returns in big situations. Feely has likewise experienced some trouble in big spots - he missed field goals of 44 and 52 yards indoors against the Colts in last year's AFC Championship - but also had a stretch of 24 consecutive made field goals in 2009 and is a slight upgrade over Rackers.
Matt Dodge, P, Giants (rookie, East Carolina) - Last year's Giants punter, Jeff Feagles, made his NFL debut on Sept. 4, 1988. This year's Giants punter, the 6-1, 224-pound Dodge, made his debut as a human on May 30, 1987. The movement from old guy to young guy isn't the only transition the Giants punting game will make this season, as Dodge has a bigger leg but less directional acumen than did Feagles, who spent seven years with Big Blue before retiring in April. The first time Dodge over-hits a pooch-punt for a touchback, the New Meadowlands Stadium faithful are sure to groan. But the Giants are thus far happy with their decision to select Dodge in the seventh round, as they cut Jy Bond, the only other punter on the roster, on June 21st. If Dodge can approach the 45.8 average he had as a senior at East Carolina - Feagles averaged 41.2 as a Giant - the quality of the decision will be confirmed.
Josh Bidwell, P, Redskins (free agent, from Buccaneers) - The Redskins' struggles to find a reliable punter have been even more pointed than those of the Patriots, as Washington has recently thrown a bunch of guys at the wall (Hunter Smith, Derrick Frost, Ryan Plackemeier, Durant Books, Glenn Pakulak, Andy Groom) who haven't stuck. The former Pro Bowler Bidwell, who averaged 44 yards per kick in five seasons with Tampa Bay, would seem to possess the ability to close that loop. But Skins fans are necessarily skeptical, as the same was said of Smith last season and Bidwell comes off a hip injury that forced him to miss all of 2009. Smith averaged just 41.3 yards per kick last year (his lowest figure since 2002) and was slowed by a groin injury. That gave new Washington GM Bruce Allen an opening to ink Bidwell, with whom he had a history in Tampa Bay, to a two-year, $2.4 million contract.
Zoltan Mesko, P, Patriots (rookie, Michigan) - Upon his selection, Mesko spoke in glowing terms about fellow Michigan alumnus Tom Brady, the man who hopes to keep Mesko firmly planted on the sideline this year. Ironically, the face of the franchise was selected one round later in the 2000 Draft than Mesko was taken this year. In any case, the man known to his Wolverine brethren (curiously) as "The Space Emperor of Space" definitely knows how to align himself with the power by exalting Brady, and has already set about winning over the rest of the locker room. "It takes a lot to earn the respect of your teammates," Mesko said. "And right now, here with the Patriots football jerseys, I'm starting off from block number zero. So I've got to prove myself all over again, get in the weight room, get on the practice field and ultimately make plays on the game field."
en, my main thought on Green-Ellis is he's been trumped by more experienced players on the roster, so in a sense it's less about him and more about the players in front of him. If the Patriots are keeping just four running backs this year, and you have Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and Green-Ellis as the top five, it creates a potential tough call. Do you keep a proven veteran who might be in his last year with the team or a younger, potentially promising player in Green-Ellis?
Sammy Morris seems to play well in spurts. Then, in every year, just as he is doing well, he gets hurt. Is there any explanation of how he can be so snake-bitten? If he had been completely healthy, would he have been the answer to our starting running back problem? -- Harry (Providence, R.I.)
Harry, part of it might be Morris' physical running style. He often initiates contact. But overall, it's tough to say what has contributed to his injuries over the years.
With an increasingly younger defense do you think the Patriots will blitz more this season? It seems in the last couple of games with that "organized chaos" play they were able to keep some teams in check. Will we see more in '10-'11? -- Nick (Hull, Mass.)
Nick, it's hard to believe, but the Patriots actually blitzed more than 40 percent of the time in 2009. That ranked them as the seventh-highest blitzing team in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. I think the key is actually lowering that number and finding a way to generate pressure out of the standard four-man rush. As for "organized chaos," I think the package will be part of the team's playbook in 2010, but it's more like a baseball pitcher using a changeup. You don't want it to be your main pitch, but it can be a nice way to keep the hitter off balance.
Mike, I'm beginning to question the Patriots' use of the 3-4 as our base defense. I do like the Tom Brady versatility that it gives a defensive genius like Bill Belichick but I have a few issues with it now. One, with so many teams switching to the 3-4 it's tougher to get the unique players needed for OLB. Second, it is not the change of pace it used to be when only us and Pittsburgh seemed to be using it. Lastly, I think our roster has more quality at D-line than linebacker, so it would behoove the Pats to have more D-lineman than linebackers out there. Could you envision us switching to a 4-3 base ever, or do you think as long as Belichick is in charge New England will be a 3-4 team? -- Kartal (Denver)
Kartal, I have spent some time on this 3-4/4-3 issue this offseason, learning more about defensive techniques Randy Moss within the team's system. The Patriots aren't a pure 3-4 defense. They have 4-3 principles within their scheme. It can happen quickly: one example would be using an outside linebacker as a defensive end, and then shifting the defensive linemen to different techniques (e.g. instead of having Vince Wilfork playing over the center, he would shade to one side, altering the overall "fit" in the running game). So in the end, I think we'll see concepts from both defenses over the course of the year, and it would be misrepresenting the Patriots' defense by pigeon-holing it as a pure 3-4 scheme.
Hey Mike, I was just thinking about the situation with the Pats' coordinators, and a weird thought popped into my mind. A couple of years ago, I believe, the league began to require teams to have their coordinators give press conferences. If I remember correctly, this was thought to be something that Bill Belichick did not want to do, presumably because he wants to control the message. The question is, since no one technically carries the title of coordinator now, are the Pats exempt from this requirement? If so, is it possible that BB chose not to assign titles with this reasoning in mind and/or are there other benefits he could see by not having named coordinators? -- Darryl (Woodstock, Vt.)
Darryl, as I understand the rule, the Patriots jerseys are still required to make assistant coaches available once a week, so the no-coordinator approach does not circumvent that. I don't think it was a factor in Bill Belichick's decision-making.
"He's a good player, a guy that's worked hard, been productive in his career [at Michigan] and has obviously earned the respect of the people he's been around," Belichick said of Mesko. "He's a big, good-looking kid."
Though the weather the Patriots face both at home and on the AFC East road isn't going to do the team's punters any statistical favors, Belichick and New England special teams coach Scott O'Brien were finished making excuses for the team's deficient punting game. The Pats were last in the NFL in both gross punting average (39.7) and net average (36.4) in 2009, and subsequently opted not to tender veteran Chris Hanson a contract after three seasons with the club.
Three seasons has been about the limit for New England punters, as Josh Miller (2004-06), Ken Walter (2001-03, as well as a short stint in 2006), and Lee Johnson (1999-2001) have all lasted roughly the same amount of time as did Hanson.
If Mesko sticks for the duration of his recently-signed four-year deal, he will be New England's longest-tenured punter since Rich Camarillo spent the better part of the 80's (1981-87) with the team. Camarillo, incidentally, is the only Patriots punter ever named to the Pro Bowl (1983).
Closing the recent revolving door is clearly a challenge that the former Michigan co-captain embraces.
"If I go out there on the field and perform, the rest will take care of itself," Mesko told reporters in the spring. "There's a lot of punters that have a hard work ethic and a lot of talent so if you combine the two, that's probably the best hybrid to have."
Mesko had one of the most intriguing stories among the '10 draft class, and has already conquered long odds on his journey to the NFL. Born in Romania in 1986, Mesko survived the revolution that predated the fall of communism in 1989, then emigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 12. Eventually, the family landed in Twinsburg, Ohio outside of Cleveland. Soon after, Mesko's powerful left leg was spotted during a kickball game, when he broke a gymnasium light with a booming kick.
After starring at Twinsburg High School, Mesko became a fan favorite at Michigan, eventually becoming the Wolverines' all-time punting leader. The big-bodied Mesko also proved he was more than a punter, executing multiple fakes and proving tougher to bring down than your average punter.
No doubt, it was Mesko's generous build that sealed the deal for Belichick, who had never before drafted a punter.
"I imagine he probably does most things that all the other players on the team do, as opposed to there are some kickers that really aren't at the same athletic level as other players on the team," said Belichick. "I think he would be a lot closer to that than a lot of other guys would be."
Below, as the eighth and final installment of our eight-part "GameChangers" series, we look at five incoming punters or kickers who will enter their first year in a new uniform as central figures in their team's 2010 development:
Jay Feely, K, Cardinals (free agent, from Jets) - Though his controversial political musings seem to make as many headlines as his work on the field, the journeyman Feely has quietly become one of the more reliable kickers in the game. He's been at 83.3 percent or better on field goals for the last five seasons, yet the Jets became the fourth team since 2004 (Falcons, Giants, Dolphins) to deem him expendable after last season. The Cardinals snapped the former Saturday Night Live punchline up for $3.5 million over two years, after the once-reliable Neil Rackers (now with the Texans) had begun to show diminishing returns in big situations. Feely has likewise experienced some trouble in big spots - he missed field goals of 44 and 52 yards indoors against the Colts in last year's AFC Championship - but also had a stretch of 24 consecutive made field goals in 2009 and is a slight upgrade over Rackers.
Matt Dodge, P, Giants (rookie, East Carolina) - Last year's Giants punter, Jeff Feagles, made his NFL debut on Sept. 4, 1988. This year's Giants punter, the 6-1, 224-pound Dodge, made his debut as a human on May 30, 1987. The movement from old guy to young guy isn't the only transition the Giants punting game will make this season, as Dodge has a bigger leg but less directional acumen than did Feagles, who spent seven years with Big Blue before retiring in April. The first time Dodge over-hits a pooch-punt for a touchback, the New Meadowlands Stadium faithful are sure to groan. But the Giants are thus far happy with their decision to select Dodge in the seventh round, as they cut Jy Bond, the only other punter on the roster, on June 21st. If Dodge can approach the 45.8 average he had as a senior at East Carolina - Feagles averaged 41.2 as a Giant - the quality of the decision will be confirmed.
Josh Bidwell, P, Redskins (free agent, from Buccaneers) - The Redskins' struggles to find a reliable punter have been even more pointed than those of the Patriots, as Washington has recently thrown a bunch of guys at the wall (Hunter Smith, Derrick Frost, Ryan Plackemeier, Durant Books, Glenn Pakulak, Andy Groom) who haven't stuck. The former Pro Bowler Bidwell, who averaged 44 yards per kick in five seasons with Tampa Bay, would seem to possess the ability to close that loop. But Skins fans are necessarily skeptical, as the same was said of Smith last season and Bidwell comes off a hip injury that forced him to miss all of 2009. Smith averaged just 41.3 yards per kick last year (his lowest figure since 2002) and was slowed by a groin injury. That gave new Washington GM Bruce Allen an opening to ink Bidwell, with whom he had a history in Tampa Bay, to a two-year, $2.4 million contract.
Zoltan Mesko, P, Patriots (rookie, Michigan) - Upon his selection, Mesko spoke in glowing terms about fellow Michigan alumnus Tom Brady, the man who hopes to keep Mesko firmly planted on the sideline this year. Ironically, the face of the franchise was selected one round later in the 2000 Draft than Mesko was taken this year. In any case, the man known to his Wolverine brethren (curiously) as "The Space Emperor of Space" definitely knows how to align himself with the power by exalting Brady, and has already set about winning over the rest of the locker room. "It takes a lot to earn the respect of your teammates," Mesko said. "And right now, here with the Patriots football jerseys, I'm starting off from block number zero. So I've got to prove myself all over again, get in the weight room, get on the practice field and ultimately make plays on the game field."
en, my main thought on Green-Ellis is he's been trumped by more experienced players on the roster, so in a sense it's less about him and more about the players in front of him. If the Patriots are keeping just four running backs this year, and you have Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and Green-Ellis as the top five, it creates a potential tough call. Do you keep a proven veteran who might be in his last year with the team or a younger, potentially promising player in Green-Ellis?
Sammy Morris seems to play well in spurts. Then, in every year, just as he is doing well, he gets hurt. Is there any explanation of how he can be so snake-bitten? If he had been completely healthy, would he have been the answer to our starting running back problem? -- Harry (Providence, R.I.)
Harry, part of it might be Morris' physical running style. He often initiates contact. But overall, it's tough to say what has contributed to his injuries over the years.
With an increasingly younger defense do you think the Patriots will blitz more this season? It seems in the last couple of games with that "organized chaos" play they were able to keep some teams in check. Will we see more in '10-'11? -- Nick (Hull, Mass.)
Nick, it's hard to believe, but the Patriots actually blitzed more than 40 percent of the time in 2009. That ranked them as the seventh-highest blitzing team in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. I think the key is actually lowering that number and finding a way to generate pressure out of the standard four-man rush. As for "organized chaos," I think the package will be part of the team's playbook in 2010, but it's more like a baseball pitcher using a changeup. You don't want it to be your main pitch, but it can be a nice way to keep the hitter off balance.
Mike, I'm beginning to question the Patriots' use of the 3-4 as our base defense. I do like the Tom Brady versatility that it gives a defensive genius like Bill Belichick but I have a few issues with it now. One, with so many teams switching to the 3-4 it's tougher to get the unique players needed for OLB. Second, it is not the change of pace it used to be when only us and Pittsburgh seemed to be using it. Lastly, I think our roster has more quality at D-line than linebacker, so it would behoove the Pats to have more D-lineman than linebackers out there. Could you envision us switching to a 4-3 base ever, or do you think as long as Belichick is in charge New England will be a 3-4 team? -- Kartal (Denver)
Kartal, I have spent some time on this 3-4/4-3 issue this offseason, learning more about defensive techniques Randy Moss within the team's system. The Patriots aren't a pure 3-4 defense. They have 4-3 principles within their scheme. It can happen quickly: one example would be using an outside linebacker as a defensive end, and then shifting the defensive linemen to different techniques (e.g. instead of having Vince Wilfork playing over the center, he would shade to one side, altering the overall "fit" in the running game). So in the end, I think we'll see concepts from both defenses over the course of the year, and it would be misrepresenting the Patriots' defense by pigeon-holing it as a pure 3-4 scheme.
Hey Mike, I was just thinking about the situation with the Pats' coordinators, and a weird thought popped into my mind. A couple of years ago, I believe, the league began to require teams to have their coordinators give press conferences. If I remember correctly, this was thought to be something that Bill Belichick did not want to do, presumably because he wants to control the message. The question is, since no one technically carries the title of coordinator now, are the Pats exempt from this requirement? If so, is it possible that BB chose not to assign titles with this reasoning in mind and/or are there other benefits he could see by not having named coordinators? -- Darryl (Woodstock, Vt.)
Darryl, as I understand the rule, the Patriots jerseys are still required to make assistant coaches available once a week, so the no-coordinator approach does not circumvent that. I don't think it was a factor in Bill Belichick's decision-making.
2010年7月18日星期日
2011 AFC Champions Football Odds New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are located in Foxborough, Massachusetts and play their home games at Gillette Stadium, which has 68,756 seats. The New England Patriots' CEO is Robert Kraft, their President is Jonathan Kraft and they will be coached this year by Bill Belichick. The oddsmakers at BODOG.com have the New England Patriots listed at 6 to 1 odds to win the 2011 AFC Championship.
"I think everyone who's here is here for a reason. If you are on this team it's because you are going to help us win and you are going to make us better on defense and offense. The coaching staff and organization feels like they got the right guys and I do too," Patriots defensive end Tully Banta-Cain said. "I feel pressure every year. Playing for (Bill) Belichick, you're going to feel pressure whether you are paid or not paid. I think this is the right place for that kind of environment, for that kind of mentality. I put pressure on myself every year. I learned a lot last year and I had to prove myself. I'm going to capture that mentality that I had and I'm going to use it every year. There are different last names but it's the same system, it's the same coach. A lot of it has to do with that. We're just here to do our job and the assignments that are given. Hopefully the guys that are here will emerge as the new Bruschis, Harrisons, those kinds of guys. That's what it's all about."
2010 NFL Football Odds Terrell Owens to Patriots - It's pretty funny how Terrell Owens has any right to say what team he would or wouldn't play for considering he doesn't have a job. NFL Football Odds New England Patriots +135 Betting Odds to win the Tom Brady AFC East Division.
It's been Reported that Owens said he "doesn't get along" with Chiefs head coach Todd Haley and thus has ruled out signing with Kansas City this summer. And reportedly Owens does know where he wants to play: New England. 2011 AFC Champions Football Odds New England Patriots jerseys +450.
Terrell Owens did say this to a Boston radio station he would "definitely be open" to playing in New England, and in a way it makes sense because the Pats may be without the injured Wes Welker for the first six weeks of the season.
What would happen if Owens and Randy Moss on the same team? T.O Fred Taylor of course spent last year not doing a whole lot with the Bills, and he reportedly was close to signing with the Bengals but they chose Antonio Bryant instead. 2011 Super Bowl Odds New England Patriots 10-1.
"I think everyone who's here is here for a reason. If you are on this team it's because you are going to help us win and you are going to make us better on defense and offense. The coaching staff and organization feels like they got the right guys and I do too," Patriots defensive end Tully Banta-Cain said. "I feel pressure every year. Playing for (Bill) Belichick, you're going to feel pressure whether you are paid or not paid. I think this is the right place for that kind of environment, for that kind of mentality. I put pressure on myself every year. I learned a lot last year and I had to prove myself. I'm going to capture that mentality that I had and I'm going to use it every year. There are different last names but it's the same system, it's the same coach. A lot of it has to do with that. We're just here to do our job and the assignments that are given. Hopefully the guys that are here will emerge as the new Bruschis, Harrisons, those kinds of guys. That's what it's all about."
2010 NFL Football Odds Terrell Owens to Patriots - It's pretty funny how Terrell Owens has any right to say what team he would or wouldn't play for considering he doesn't have a job. NFL Football Odds New England Patriots +135 Betting Odds to win the Tom Brady AFC East Division.
It's been Reported that Owens said he "doesn't get along" with Chiefs head coach Todd Haley and thus has ruled out signing with Kansas City this summer. And reportedly Owens does know where he wants to play: New England. 2011 AFC Champions Football Odds New England Patriots jerseys +450.
Terrell Owens did say this to a Boston radio station he would "definitely be open" to playing in New England, and in a way it makes sense because the Pats may be without the injured Wes Welker for the first six weeks of the season.
What would happen if Owens and Randy Moss on the same team? T.O Fred Taylor of course spent last year not doing a whole lot with the Bills, and he reportedly was close to signing with the Bengals but they chose Antonio Bryant instead. 2011 Super Bowl Odds New England Patriots 10-1.
2010年7月14日星期三
New England Patriots for the 2010-2011 season
New England Patriots jerseys quarterback Tom Brady is one of those guys. He's one of the few that shouldn't have to ask for a new deal; shouldn't have to talk about possibly not showing up at training camp; shouldn't have to worry about a franchise tag being put on him next year and shouldn't have to sweat out his future with the only NFL franchise he's ever known.
The man who has been at the helm of the most successful team in the country's most popular sport over the past decade or so should probably go into a season with a base contract a little higher than $3.5 million.
Brady will actually earn $6.5 million this season — the final in his front-heavy $60 million deal he signed in 2005 — as there's an added $3 million in roster bonuses.
Don't get me wrong, that's a lot of money. But shouldn't Wes Welker a three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, and league most valuable player make more in his base deal than, say, I don't know, Alex Smith, former backup Matt Cassel or dare I say, over the last few years someone like JaMarcus Russell?
But then again, I can't say that I'm much of a businessman!
Now I know New England has lived by that "team first" philosophy and has asked players to take Jerod Mayo less money in order to keep as many pieces to the wining puzzle in place as possible. Brady certainly did that five years ago, signing for well-under his value to give owner Bob Kraft and coach Bill Belichick some financial flexibility to bring in a supporting cast to make the Patriots even stronger.
"I'm like LeBron. I can go there and take less of a role, take less money and put everything aside and make it work."
Judging by the general lack of interest in T.O. this offseason, I imagine any offer the Patriots extend to the 36 year old veteran wouldn't be much of a pay cut.
Owens' troubles and his disappointing season in Buffalo last year have been well documented.
Yet despite that, T.O. managed 15.1 yards per catch last season, and broke 14 of his 55 receptions for 20+ yards, four of which went for 40+ yards.
One of the main struggles in New England last season was the lack of the big play. This was due in part to the lack of a clear third receiver, which often bottled Randy Moss up when he ran routes into the depths of the opposing secondary.
Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker is coming off of multiple offseason surgeries to repair torn ligaments in his knee as well as a torn rotator cuff, so naturally there are questions to his availability for the first few games of the season. Owens could prove to be a valuable stopper until Welker is 100%.
Once healthy, the Patriots wide receiving core could feature Moss, Welker, Owens, and veteran receiver Torry Holt, who joined the the Patriots this offseason. No matter how old they are, it seems to me that, theoretically, someone should always be open.
The Patriots have a history of converting former troublemakers into everyday citizens. (See Corey Dillon, Randy Moss). If T.O. was to come to New England, there will be no doubt that Owens will be on a very short leash, one that he is acutely aware of.
If you question T.O.'s understanding of his public image and his view of what his role would be in New England, I leave you with this
The man who has been at the helm of the most successful team in the country's most popular sport over the past decade or so should probably go into a season with a base contract a little higher than $3.5 million.
Brady will actually earn $6.5 million this season — the final in his front-heavy $60 million deal he signed in 2005 — as there's an added $3 million in roster bonuses.
Don't get me wrong, that's a lot of money. But shouldn't Wes Welker a three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, and league most valuable player make more in his base deal than, say, I don't know, Alex Smith, former backup Matt Cassel or dare I say, over the last few years someone like JaMarcus Russell?
But then again, I can't say that I'm much of a businessman!
Now I know New England has lived by that "team first" philosophy and has asked players to take Jerod Mayo less money in order to keep as many pieces to the wining puzzle in place as possible. Brady certainly did that five years ago, signing for well-under his value to give owner Bob Kraft and coach Bill Belichick some financial flexibility to bring in a supporting cast to make the Patriots even stronger.
"I'm like LeBron. I can go there and take less of a role, take less money and put everything aside and make it work."
Judging by the general lack of interest in T.O. this offseason, I imagine any offer the Patriots extend to the 36 year old veteran wouldn't be much of a pay cut.
Owens' troubles and his disappointing season in Buffalo last year have been well documented.
Yet despite that, T.O. managed 15.1 yards per catch last season, and broke 14 of his 55 receptions for 20+ yards, four of which went for 40+ yards.
One of the main struggles in New England last season was the lack of the big play. This was due in part to the lack of a clear third receiver, which often bottled Randy Moss up when he ran routes into the depths of the opposing secondary.
Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker is coming off of multiple offseason surgeries to repair torn ligaments in his knee as well as a torn rotator cuff, so naturally there are questions to his availability for the first few games of the season. Owens could prove to be a valuable stopper until Welker is 100%.
Once healthy, the Patriots wide receiving core could feature Moss, Welker, Owens, and veteran receiver Torry Holt, who joined the the Patriots this offseason. No matter how old they are, it seems to me that, theoretically, someone should always be open.
The Patriots have a history of converting former troublemakers into everyday citizens. (See Corey Dillon, Randy Moss). If T.O. was to come to New England, there will be no doubt that Owens will be on a very short leash, one that he is acutely aware of.
If you question T.O.'s understanding of his public image and his view of what his role would be in New England, I leave you with this
2010年7月12日星期一
The Raiders won't offer any fantasy potential in 2010
The Browns stated that Harrison was their starting running back for the upcoming season and it looks like that's not going to change anytime soon. Harrison should be a solid No. 2 back in your fantasy lineup. If you follow our Top 200 here at FFToolbox.com, Harrison is ranked No. 41 -- which would have him drafted in the 3rd or 4th round. The running backs that follow him are: Matt Forte, Ricky Williams and Darren McFadden (I intentionally stopped at McFadden to keep this context within the Top 50 players). All three of those running backs have to fight off other players for carries. Harrison has the most upside when it comes to getting carries with only a rookie running back behind him. There is a possibility, however, that Harrison loses some goal line carries to Hardesty simply because of physical differences -- Harrison is 5'9" 205 to Hardesty's 6'0" 225 -- but I don't think there's too much loss here. Louis Murphy The point is, you want a solid No. 2 running back to get the bulk of the carries and Harrison seems to have that edge. It's a good thing he had no choice but to sign that one year tender.
One thing fantasy owners will want to watch closely in camp is how Oakland utilizes running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush (pictured). It was Bush, not McFadden, running with the first-team offense in OTAs back in May. However, Raiders coach Tom Cable has since changed his stance that he wants a lead back to emerge this offseason, hinting that a tag-team might be Oakland's recipe for success.
Owners would rather have a lead back emerge, though, so they'll have an extra Darrius Heyward RB to target as a flex/RB3 on a run-heavy team. Otherwise, owners will be left with Bush and McFadden splitting carries on a slightly improved, yet still subpar, offense with Jason Campbell under center. That's certainly not a recipe for fantasy success.
If Oakland enters the season with a committee backfield, owners should consider Bush the more valuable commodity because he'll likely get the looks around the goal-line. McFadden will still have decent PPR value and upside in a timeshare, but he's getting the injury-prone label after missing seven games in his first two seasons. Plus, his career 3.9 yards-per-carry average pales in comparison to Bush's 4.6 mark.
Adding Campbell to the starting lineup might help Oakland win a few more games in 2010, but adding any Nnamdi Asomugha Raiders to your starting lineups -- including Bush and McFadden -- won't get fantasy owners in the win column very often.
One thing fantasy owners will want to watch closely in camp is how Oakland utilizes running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush (pictured). It was Bush, not McFadden, running with the first-team offense in OTAs back in May. However, Raiders coach Tom Cable has since changed his stance that he wants a lead back to emerge this offseason, hinting that a tag-team might be Oakland's recipe for success.
Owners would rather have a lead back emerge, though, so they'll have an extra Darrius Heyward RB to target as a flex/RB3 on a run-heavy team. Otherwise, owners will be left with Bush and McFadden splitting carries on a slightly improved, yet still subpar, offense with Jason Campbell under center. That's certainly not a recipe for fantasy success.
If Oakland enters the season with a committee backfield, owners should consider Bush the more valuable commodity because he'll likely get the looks around the goal-line. McFadden will still have decent PPR value and upside in a timeshare, but he's getting the injury-prone label after missing seven games in his first two seasons. Plus, his career 3.9 yards-per-carry average pales in comparison to Bush's 4.6 mark.
Adding Campbell to the starting lineup might help Oakland win a few more games in 2010, but adding any Nnamdi Asomugha Raiders to your starting lineups -- including Bush and McFadden -- won't get fantasy owners in the win column very often.
2010年7月8日星期四
The theory of longtime NFL coach and current Colts
The new Indianapolis Colts jerseys had a long offseason to think about what could have been in 2009. A late mistake by Peyton Manning cost them the Super Bowl and left them with a painful summer to think. Manning returns in 2010 after throwing as many touchdowns as years old he was in 2009, 33.
Also returning is the deepest receiving corps in the NFL, headlined by wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark. The team relied very heavily on the passing game last season as it accounted for 77% of the yards gained. Rookie running back Donald Brown was injured much of the year, so the majority of the rushing duties fell on Joseph Addai. The ground game did not perform well though, having the lowest yards per game in the NFL. The struggles started up front, with an offensive line that underachieved. Outside of Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, the rest of the line had a hard time maintaining their blocks. The reason they gave up the fewest sacks in the league is much more a credit to Manning than the line. To boost the line, Indianapolis signed free agent guards Adam Terry and Andy Alleman.
On defense, the Colts have one of the best pass rushing duos in ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Add to them Jerry Hughes, the first round draft pick from Texas Christian University, and opposing quarterbacks will be in trouble. Linebackers Gary Brackett and Clint Session played very well, recording a combined 202 tackles. The secondary is a question mark for the Colts football jerseys. Cornerbacks Tim Jennings and Marlin Jackson both left as free agents, and safety Bob Sanders has shown he can't stay on the field. Melvin Bullitt and Antoine Bethea have done a good job, but they will need some help against strong passing offenses.
As long as Manning is the quarterback, the Colts jerseys will also be the favorite in the AFC South. If the offensive line can improve and the secondary can hold up, this team will again be chasing a Super Bowl title.
Why, I wondered? Joe Flacco has been durable as a starter, not missing a game in two seasons. Coach John Harbaugh had Troy Smith and John Beck as young backups, even though they have only one NFL regular-season win between them. In fact, Beck, drafted by current Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron when he was the coach of the Dolphins, still has the potential to develop into a starter somewhere in this league.
Bulger would be the perfect fill-in if Flacco suffers an injury. But the Bulger signing also firmed up how little faith the Ravens have in Smith and Beck and how bad the backup quarterback position is in the NFL. Thanks to the development of young quarterback studs such as Flacco, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and others, the starting quarterback position is as deep for quality as it's ever been in the NFL.
On the flipside, the backup landscape is a desert. More good teams have unknown, unproven quarterbacks behind the starter than ever before. An injury to a starting quarterback could take a 13-win team to six or seven wins in an instant.
Sure, the Patriots came off an undefeated regular season in 2007 and won 11 games with Matt Cassel, who hadn't started since high school. What's forgotten is that Patriots team was loaded. Cassel threw to a great set of run-after-the-catch receivers. The defense was solid. The offensive line was in its prime. And don't forget, all four AFC East teams were playing one of the easiest schedule combinations in the past five years; they played the AFC West and NFC West when both divisions were down.
Also returning is the deepest receiving corps in the NFL, headlined by wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark. The team relied very heavily on the passing game last season as it accounted for 77% of the yards gained. Rookie running back Donald Brown was injured much of the year, so the majority of the rushing duties fell on Joseph Addai. The ground game did not perform well though, having the lowest yards per game in the NFL. The struggles started up front, with an offensive line that underachieved. Outside of Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, the rest of the line had a hard time maintaining their blocks. The reason they gave up the fewest sacks in the league is much more a credit to Manning than the line. To boost the line, Indianapolis signed free agent guards Adam Terry and Andy Alleman.
On defense, the Colts have one of the best pass rushing duos in ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Add to them Jerry Hughes, the first round draft pick from Texas Christian University, and opposing quarterbacks will be in trouble. Linebackers Gary Brackett and Clint Session played very well, recording a combined 202 tackles. The secondary is a question mark for the Colts football jerseys. Cornerbacks Tim Jennings and Marlin Jackson both left as free agents, and safety Bob Sanders has shown he can't stay on the field. Melvin Bullitt and Antoine Bethea have done a good job, but they will need some help against strong passing offenses.
As long as Manning is the quarterback, the Colts jerseys will also be the favorite in the AFC South. If the offensive line can improve and the secondary can hold up, this team will again be chasing a Super Bowl title.
Why, I wondered? Joe Flacco has been durable as a starter, not missing a game in two seasons. Coach John Harbaugh had Troy Smith and John Beck as young backups, even though they have only one NFL regular-season win between them. In fact, Beck, drafted by current Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron when he was the coach of the Dolphins, still has the potential to develop into a starter somewhere in this league.
Bulger would be the perfect fill-in if Flacco suffers an injury. But the Bulger signing also firmed up how little faith the Ravens have in Smith and Beck and how bad the backup quarterback position is in the NFL. Thanks to the development of young quarterback studs such as Flacco, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and others, the starting quarterback position is as deep for quality as it's ever been in the NFL.
On the flipside, the backup landscape is a desert. More good teams have unknown, unproven quarterbacks behind the starter than ever before. An injury to a starting quarterback could take a 13-win team to six or seven wins in an instant.
Sure, the Patriots came off an undefeated regular season in 2007 and won 11 games with Matt Cassel, who hadn't started since high school. What's forgotten is that Patriots team was loaded. Cassel threw to a great set of run-after-the-catch receivers. The defense was solid. The offensive line was in its prime. And don't forget, all four AFC East teams were playing one of the easiest schedule combinations in the past five years; they played the AFC West and NFC West when both divisions were down.
2010年7月6日星期二
Johnson joined the 49ers back in 2001
Arguably no team has as good a collection of running backs as Dallas does with injury-prone Marion Barber, burner Felix Jones – who reportedly will get more touches this year and be the starter – and solid Tashard Choice. There had been talk one of those three might be traded this offseason but that never panned out. QB Tony Romo is only 30 and he finally got that playoff monkey off his back with the win over the Eagles on wild-card weekend last year (although he wasn't good against the Vikings the next week). The offensive line should be better with declining 35-year-old left tackle Flozell Adams gone and replaced by Doug Free. Jason Witten remains one of the league's top tight ends. So really the only question mark might be at receiver (and kicker). Is Miles Austin for real after a breakout 2009? Will Roy Williams ever live up to what the Cowboys gave up for him? Perhaps the steal of this last draft was Dallas landing Dez Bryant at No. 24 when he was considered a lock Top 10 pick. If Williams doesn't start performing, Bryant could start sooner than later.
The defense also should be very good, as the Cowboys jerseys have arguably the best duo of outside linebackers in the league in DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. Cornerbacks Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins are very good and the D-Line is solid at worst. This unit finished ninth in total defense last year and should be in that area again.
Can Dallas improve upon last year's 11-5 finish, NFC East title and one playoff win? Let's take a look.
Johnson joined the 49ers back in 2001. He was traded to the Saints in 2007. Currently he is looking to sign as a free agent with another team.
The two were introduced by mutual friends back in May. Johnson is married, but separated from his wife, Keri. She filed for a divorce several months ago.
Simpson is no newbie to dating football players. She was in a highly publicized relationship with Dallas Cowboy's player, Tony Romo. When Simpson attended Dallas Cowboy's games, fans reportedly called her a bad luck charm, blaming her for Romo's lackluster performance. new Dallas Cowboys jerseys
The defense also should be very good, as the Cowboys jerseys have arguably the best duo of outside linebackers in the league in DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. Cornerbacks Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins are very good and the D-Line is solid at worst. This unit finished ninth in total defense last year and should be in that area again.
Can Dallas improve upon last year's 11-5 finish, NFC East title and one playoff win? Let's take a look.
Johnson joined the 49ers back in 2001. He was traded to the Saints in 2007. Currently he is looking to sign as a free agent with another team.
The two were introduced by mutual friends back in May. Johnson is married, but separated from his wife, Keri. She filed for a divorce several months ago.
Simpson is no newbie to dating football players. She was in a highly publicized relationship with Dallas Cowboy's player, Tony Romo. When Simpson attended Dallas Cowboy's games, fans reportedly called her a bad luck charm, blaming her for Romo's lackluster performance. new Dallas Cowboys jerseys
2010年7月5日星期一
New Orleans Saints
Ever wonder what division in football has the best talent? Which division could field the best All-Star team? Well Dirty along with the Fansided network is going to find out.
All six divisions will field a team comprised of the best players at each position. One player at each position – offense and defense – with two running backs and three receivers. This applies to only current players, so Claude Humphrey and Jeff Van Note are not eligible.
Dirty will be working with our fellow NFC South bloggers New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers to create the ultimate roster. If we can't decide on which player/s should make the roster, a "readers" poll will be conducted right here on Blogging Dirty.
Once the NFC South All-Star team is decided upon, a voting contest will be held on the FanSided Network homepage. In a classic winner-take-all playoff bracket, two teams will face off each round until a "Super Bowl" champion is decided just before the start of training camps.
While it's normal to have vehement hatred towards our division rivals, when we reach this stage, we want to represent the NFC South and vote early and often
While it's normal to have vehement hatred towards our division rivals, when we reach this stage, we want to represent the NFC South and vote early and often
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