Hit The Gridiron - Pro

Quick Shots from Around the League

2007-12-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

After a three-and-a-half month hiatus, I'm hungry for some damn football, and after watching my one-win Jets enter the race for Darren McFadden, I think it's time for me to think about other matters.

1. Adrian Peterson's dominance of the league yesterday, today, and every day for the next umpteen years.
Just how good is Adrian Peterson? Well, in only eleven games this season, he's the #2 rusher (1200 yards) in the NFL by a difference of 17 yards... did I mention that he's played in 2 less games and has 108 less carries than the #1 rusher, Willie Parker (1217 yards)? Oh, and don't forget he also has 10 touchdowns, which is 8 more than the Parker. In league totals, he's the #3 TD leader with 10, behind only LaDainian Tomlison with 12 TD in 13 games, and Joseph Addai with 11 TD in 12 games.
Now, that's only his statistics. If we delve a bit deeper into the subject, we will see, simply by glimpsing at game tape, that he is the most talented RB in the NFL. It needs no further words. Delving even deeper into the subject, we look at the talent surrounding Peterson on the Vikings. Not only does he have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL that has an average age of 28.2, with the oldest member being C Matt Birk at 31 (yes, 28.2! which means it will be together for a very long time), but he also has a young and physically gifted QB playing right in front of him, not to mention young potential-filled WRs that can stretch the field.
When you're the most talented runner in the NFL, you play behind the best offensive line in the NFL, and your entire supporting cast, including that OL, is young, then you've got a helluva bright future. Peterson has been, by far, the best RB in the league this season and he will only continue to dominate in the future.

2. Attention: NFL Teams... COLLEGE IS FOR PLAYERS, NOT COACHES!
If college coaches were meant to coach in the NFL, there would be an Annual Coaches Selection Meeting, as well as the already-established Annual Players Selection Meeting. Simply put, college coaches are not meant to coach at the professional level and NFL teams need to realize this fast, before it becomes an epidemic. There is currently only one head coach in the NFL that has gone directly from coaching in college to head coach in the NFL, and that's Lane Kiffin, whom is 4-9 with the Oakland Raiders in a bad AFC West. Guys like Kiffin, Nick Saban, and Bobby Petrino are proving that college and the NFL are too different, not only for players, but for coaches as well. Are there a bunch of NFL-grown coaches who suck as well? Of course, but the only thing they're proving is that some guys are just incompetent. The college-grown ones, on the other hand, are a whole category in that group of incompetence.

3. Reggie who? Casserly's all giggidy.
Mario Williams is sure looking like a stud now, isn't he? After a slow start to his rookie season followed by a nice second-half, Williams has played quite well this season. With 9.5 sacks added to his resume, all while attracting extra attention and lining up next to another great pass-rusher in Amobi Okoye (5.5 sacks), also all while lining up in front of a terrible secondary that doesn't exactly give him a lot of time to get to the QB, Williams is proving to be the superior player of the two from the top in 2006: him and Reggie Bush, who has, in simple terms, sucked.

Power Rankings & Predictions

2007-08-28T11:30:00.000-04:00

Power Rankings
Updated August 28th, 2007

32. Kansas City Chiefs
It sounds odd to say this now-a-days, but the Chiefs are a team with a crappy head coach, a crappy offensive line, and a crappy QB situation. Despite what Herman Edwards has said, the Trent Green situation was indeed a distraction, but is now taken care of. Now that it's been decided that Brodie Croyle will lead the Chiefs, will he be able to handle the pressure and play at a high level? I think not. Will Edwards run RB Larry Johnson into the record books yet again, advancing him past 500 carries in one season? It doesn't look like it anymore, since a Johnson holdout seems imminent. The defense hasn't really improved much at all this offseason, and overall, the team has regressed. We may very well see this team holding the #1 overall pick next April.

31. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons' problems start at QB, where, even though Michael Vick has never been that great, there is a ridiculous hole. Will the team have to rely on Joey Harrington to lead the way this season? If so, you can expect the team to regress, all in thanks to Vick's dirty habits of animal cruelty. Get your head out of your ass, Michael. And keep your ass out of training camp so you don't hurt your team any more than you already have. I don't really like what this team is doing on offense. The receiving core (save for TE Alge Crumpler) is terrible and the offensive line is still trying to fit into Bobby Petrino's power-running philosophy. As for the defense, the Falcons did indeed make a fantastic addition of DE Jamaal Anderson in the draft, who will dramatically help the team in terms of run defense, and should develop into a fine pass-rusher. In the end, I'm not a fan of Bobby Petrino as a NFL head coach and I think this will be another failed college-turned-pro experiment.

30. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins' prayers have been answered with the acquisition of Trent Green. John Beck figures to be the team's future, but I personally feel he's extremely overrated and won't do anything this season. Miami is also thin at RB, where Ronnie Brown hasn't exactly stood out and Lorenzo Booker is merely a third-down back at best. The coaching staff would like to think they have a solid receving core, but Ted Ginn and Chris Chambers (though he used to) won't strike fear into the NFL, and Marty Booker was their best option last season. The offensive line is also extremely weak. The defense is still very good, but very old. Joey Porter was a great signing, but outside of that, the defense is no different than it was last year.

29. Cleveland Browns
The Browns look good on paper, but they did last year as well. Despite the addition of OT Joe Thomas, the Browns' offensive line still has a lot of work to do, especially on the interior. QB Brady Quinn was a fantastic addition, but he likely won't have much of an impact in his rookie season. Even though they added RB Jamal Lewis, the Browns really didn't add any playmakers to the team. The Secondary looks good on paper, but it will have to stay healthy. The front-seven will be a problem, as the defensive line is suspect at best and the LB core is just average.

28. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders' defense isn't all it's hyped up to be, and although they had time to mature this offseason, the offense didn't get any better and still needs a lot of work. There's an extremely lame QB competition and a depleted WR core. JaMarcus Russell will probably start by mid-season due to Al Davis' lack of patience, and the group that once seemed promising is now lead by an aging Jerry Porter and... Mike Williams. The offensive line is still in shambles, with no clear-cut starting LT. The two groups that actually have a chance to succeed are the RB and TE cores, where RBs LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Michael Bush and TEs Zach Miller and Courtney Anderson look very good on paper.

27. Minnesota Vikings
If it weren't for the Vikings' QB situation, they'd be much higher, but neither Tarvaris Jackson nor Brooks Bollinger can be a legitimate starter in this league and the RB duo of Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson simply cannot carry this offense alone. The Vikings are once again going into the season without a real pass-rushing threat, though LB Chad Greenway is coming back from injury and should have a good season.

26. New York Giants
How could a 2006 playoff team be so bad? Lots of reasons. Tom Caughlin stinks as a head coach, Eli Manning has yet to prove anything as a quarterback, there is no clear-cut answer at both running back and left tackle, Mathais Kiwanuka is moving to OLB, and there's no real presence at neither the Nose nor Under-tackle position.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I'm definitely a fan of the Jeff Garcia addition at QB, and I'm not afraid to acknowledge the talent that this team really has, but from what we've seen in recent years, John Gruden just can't seem to coach-up this team. I feel that the Bucs have the potential to have a breakout year this season, but with questions surrounding both the offensive line and the overall age of the defense, it will be difficult for this team to advance. DE Gaines Adams should be a nice addition, but LB Cato June will only hurt this team.

24. Detroit Lions
The Lions are another team that just looks spectacular on paper but has yet to translate it to the field. WR Calvin Johnson could absolutely have an immediate impact on the offense as well as OG Edwin Mulitalo and RB Tatum Bell, and the team added some nice players to help the defense, like DEs Dewayne White and Ikaika Alama-Francis. The future also looks bright with QB Drew Stanton waiting in the wings, and if the team has yet to improve by midseason, we could realistically see him filling in for Jon Kitna.

23. Washington Redskins
The Redskins are coming into this season as a team that could really surprise people and compete for the playoffs, or once again disappoint and pick in the top-10 next April. S LaRon Landry will have an immediate impact playing next to S Sean Taylor, and, despite its age, the LB core has improved. There are indeed two areas that will need help this season, though, as the defensive line is terrible and the offensive line lost a big player in Derrick Dockery. QB Jason Campbell looks very promising. He finished off last season pretty well and looks to ride that momentum into this season. With all the weapons he has, he better produce, or the Redskins will be looking to draft a QB in next year's QB-friendly draft.

22. Houston Texans
The Texans made a mistake taking such a gamble on QB Matt Schaub, so until he can prove to be a quality starter, the Texans are still bottom-dwellers. The defense looks improved. DE Mario Williams should have a breakout year and DT Amobi Okoye will certainly help. RB Ahman Green was added, as well as OT Jordan Black, so the offense is certainly improved a little, but not by much.

21. Buffalo Bills
The Bills made a bunch of questionable moves this offseason. Despite signing OG Derrick Dockery, the run game has a long ways to go before becoming a threat. RB Marshawn Lynch looks to have a big rookie year. QB J.P. Losman improved consiberably as the year progressed last season and should only get better. The defense took a huge hit in the offseason as well, as both LB Takeo Spikes and CB Nate Clements, though inevitabley, both departed, while the only real addition was LB Paul Posluszny. In the end, this team would be higher if not for the coaching staff.

20. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are going to be a very exciting team to watch this year. They still have their great receiving threats in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and QB Matt Leinart is entering his second year as the starter. The Cardinals drafted OT Levi Brown in an attempt to solidify their offensive line, so we'll have to see how quickly he can adapt. The offense could be spectacular. But what will the Cardinals do on defense? The defense is awful, but new head coach Ken Whisenhunt will be implementing a lot of 3-4 and that could really hurt some offenses, even though the team isn't quite ready for the switch, personell-wise. If the defense can unexpecte dly improve this season, the Cardinals should make a strong playoff run.

19. San Francisco 49ers
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of this whole 49er love-fest going on around the NFL. Since when did this team become good? QB Alex Smith never really showed signs of greatness. Maybe solidness, but not greatness. And it was obviously helped by the presence of Norv Turner, who has since departed. The offensive line is good, but not great. The receiving core is pretty terrible. RB Frank Gore is one of the best running backs in the NFL, but the last time I checked, the defense was dead-last in points allowed, the defensive line was ancient, and the secondary was just not very good. The LB core has talent, but until the defensive line improves, it won't be able to perform. The only reason this team is this high is their potential. The 49ers have a lot of talent, but until Mike Nolan can prove his mastery and Alex Smith proves he's worthy of the starting job, this team will be as average as one can get.

18. Tennessee Titans
The Titans will be riding on QB Vince Young's back once again this season, but now that the NFL is ready for him, it'll be tough for the Madden cover boy to have the same success as he had last season. RB Chris Brown is back to help a struggling RB core, but the receiving core is still weak and the defense had a lot of trouble last season in terms of points allowed. If this team wants to make the playoffs, Vince Young needs to improve as a pocket passer and the defense will have to do a better job.

17. Carolina Panthers
After a disappointing season, the Panthers look to come back in a big way. Can QB Jake Delhomme settle himself in as the starting quarterback, or will the young David Carr steal the job from udner his feet? I happen to think the latter is a very likely situation late in the year if the Panthers are struggling, and in the end, Carr will be a better option for the starting position. The additions of LB Jon Beason and C Ryan Kalil should significantly improve this team immediately.

16. Green Bay Packers
Simply put: The Packers will go as far as QB Brett Favre takes them. Rookie RB Brandon Jackson will have a lot of pressure on him to carry the load this season, becasue he'll likely be the starter for the bulk of the season. WRs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings look to have another impressive year as a duo, but once again, that is if Favre can get them the ball. The defense looks like it could be great, with LBs Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk playing behind DE Aaron Kampman and DT Justin Harrell.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have bringing about a youth movement on defense and that can only help. One extremely underrated draft move that the Jaguars made was bringing in DE/OLB Brian Smith out of Missouri. Smith looks to be a situational pass-rusher that could single-handedly win a lot of 3rd downs for the Jaguars defense, thus getting the ball back to the offense. Watch out for this guy. The defense as a whole is still fantastic, lead by DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. How will the offense bode? WR Matt Jones looks to have a breakout 3rd year, like most young receivers do. Will QB Byron Leftwich survive the whole season completely healthy? Will he even make the team?

14. Seattle Seahawks
The 'Hawks seem to have taken a big hit after losing OG Steve Hutchinson, but will they bounce back? Injuries really derailed this team last season, and that rarely happens twice in-a-row. RB Shaun Alexander should have a solid season and that will allow QB Matt Hasselbeck to bounce back and have another great season. The draft class should have a big impact. CB Josh Wilson and DT Brandon Mebane both have the chance to be impact players this season.

13. New York Jets
After a very successful year under Eric Mangini last season, the Jets look to build on their momentum for 2007. Leading the Jets' offseason moves was RB Thomas Jones, acquired from the Bears. Jones looks to be the feature back in New York, though he'll be splitting some touches with Leon Washington. Kenyon Coleman hopes to fill in a huge whole at DE, where Kimo von Oelhoffen was terrible last season. CB Darrelle Revis was added to bolster a bad secondary and David Harris adds fantastic depth and a likely starter at ILB. OG Pete Kendall might be on the chopping block after letting his distate with his contract be known, so they'll need a replacement.

12. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys do have one thing to look forward to: Wade Phillips' defense. Now that Bill Parcells is out of the picture, the Cowboys' defense will be a much more agressive, more physical defense. Attack mode will be on all game. You can definitely expect huge numbers from DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, two huge pass-rushers coming off the edge from that scary 3-4 defense. However, I'm still not digging the offense. I like the RB and WR situations, and the offensive line is okay, but can offensive coordinator Jason Garrett pull it off? Will QB Tony Romo rebound from a tough five-game stretch at the end of last season and play well? I think not.

11. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' season depends on the health of QB Donovan McNabb. If he can stay healthy throughout the year, they should be one of the better teams in the NFC. If not, they have noone behind him who can carry the team like he can. Kevin Kolb isn't an option for this season and AJ Feeley is just another guy.

10. New Orleans Saints
The Saints jumped onto the scene last year with one of the league's most potent offenses. The offense only improved this offseason after adding WR Robert Meachem and TE Eric Johnson. The Defense is also vastly improved after adding CB Jason David and LB Brian Simmons. And with a whole offseason for Reggie Bush to adjust (he was a real late bloomer last year), this team will be as good as ever.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers
If there's one team I'm gonna follow more than any other this year, it's the Steelers. I'm a huge fan of head coach Mike Tomlin and I believe he'll be the next man in the short, but prosperous line of Steelers head coaches. The Steelers really had an excellent draft, with LB Lawrence Timmons ready to have an impact rookie season. QB Ben Roethlisberger looks to have a comeback and RB Willie Parker should be as good as ever. There's really not much to say about this extremely well-rounded team, and I expect them back in the playoff hunt.

8. Cincinnati Bengals
Can the Bengals rebound from a disappointing season? QB Carson Palmer is finally 100% for a full offseason and the secondary should be improved with the addition of CB Leon Hall, as the pair of Johnathan Joseph and he should be one of the better duos in the league. Unfortunately for the Bengals, their LB core has pretty much been wiped off the face of the Earth, as Brian Simmons left in free agency and they'll be depending on a young Ahmad Brooks to start at MLB. They also lost one of the better OGs in the NFL this offseason when Eric Steinbach left for Cleveland. In the end, the Bengals are still a very talented team, especially on offense, but many of the fundamental pieces are missing (OG, DT, OLB) and it doesn't seem like they've built for the 2008 season.

7. Chicago Bears
The Bears will take a huge hit this season if Lance Briggs doesn't play. That, plus the fact the defensive line might be suffering a couple of losses (Tank Johnson, Alex Brown), could lead to a rough year for the defense. Regardless, they're still one of the best teams in the NFC and have the best special teams in the league, and if Rex Grossman can turn it around, they could still be an elite team.

6. Indianapolis Colts
The defending champions lost some key parts of their team this offseason. In free agency, the Colts lost CBs Nick Harper and Jason David, WR Brandon Stokely, RB Dominic Rhodes, and LB Cato June. To injuries, the Colts lost DT Anthony McFarland. To retirement, they lost OT Tarik Glenn. All of these players, with the exception of Stokely, were starters last season. Obviously they feel they can live without Rhodes and Stokely, as RB Joseph Addai seems more than competent and they drafted WR Anthony Gonzalez in the first round of the draft, but the defense still looks extremely week, even worse than last year.

5. Baltimore Ravens
The success of this team will be in the hands of newly-acquired RB Willis McGahee. Whether or not he was worth what the Ravens gave for him is still up in the air, but if he works out well, the Ravens could be the best team in the league. They already have the best defense in the NFL, so there are no questions to be answered there.

4. St. Louis Rams
The Rams had a great offseason and that should only add to the talent they already have on this team. DL Adam Carriker will provide great versatility and depth along the whole defensive line, and RB Brian Leonard will provide a great Yin to RB Steven Jackson's Yang and could be a quality insurance policy. They also added WR Drew Bennett, DE James Hall, and TE Randy McMichael, and with the already-explosive offense lead by Jackson, QB Marc Bulger, and WR Torry Holt, the Rams have one of the most talented teams in the NFL.

3. San Diego Chargers
On paper this is still probably the best team in the NFL, but I really hate the coaching move made in the offseason and I really think it will hurt the franchise. Otherwise, the team only improved in the offseason, so Norv Turner won't doom them quite yet. I'll give them another year, but two or three seasons from now, they'll be out of the playoffs.

2. New England Patriots
Second only to the Broncos, the Patriots had a fantastic offseason. They completely revamped the receiving core, adding Randy Moss, Dante Stallworth, and Wes Welker. RB Laurence Maroneuy's health is a concern. On defense they added LB Adailus Thomas and S Brandon Meriweather, adding strength to two positions that were really hurting last season. In the end they still have the Brady-Belichick combination, and that makes them one of the elite teams regardless.

1. Denver Broncos
It's really tough to find an argument against the Broncos. CB Champ Bailey already shuts down an entire portion of the field, but with the addition of Dre' Bly, the Broncos' secondary will be virtually impenetrable. Although they lost Al Wilson, D.J. Williams will likely be moving to MLB. The Broncos added two pass-rushers in the draft in DEs Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, and if they can perform well, the defense will be among the best in the league. On offense the Broncos made a big upgrade with RB Travis Henry and added two fantastic players in TE Daniel Graham and WR Brandon Stokely. With so many weapons for QB Jay Cutler, it's hard to see him struggling.

Playoff Predictions
*Note - The teams below are listed by seedings.

AFC Playoffs
1. New England Patriots
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Denver Broncos
5. San Diego Chargers
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Just Miss: Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars

NFC Playoffs
1. St. Louis Rams
2. Chicago Bears
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Seattle Seahawks
Just Miss: Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl XLII
Denver Broncos vs St. Louis Rams
Denver Broncos Win

Fantastic Fives

2007-05-19T18:34:00.000-04:00

Running Backs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Not much to say about LT besides the fact that he's the best RB in the league in a feature back system. Tomlinson should, once again, be a 2,000+ all-purpose yard back, leading the league in touchdowns.
2. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
Jackson burst into the scene last season with the explosive Rams offense. He's an all-around back that's gonna run and catch all over the field. If it weren't for the Rams' addition of Brian Leonard, Jackson might be #1.
3. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
The feauture back in a run-happy offense, Gore looks to have another standout year. With Norv Turner out of the equation, Alex Smith will need all the ground help he can get, and Gore is the one that will provide.
4. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson racks up a lot of carries, but not enough yards to go with them. Will Herman Edwards pull a Curtis Martin on him and literally run him onto the IR? We'll see. Johnson's a safe choice, but won't be in a couple of years.
5. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' offense revolves around Westbrook. Even though they don't run the ball much, he's usually their best receiver and runs extremely well when called upon. The arrival of Tony Hunt could challenge this, but it shouldn't.
Wildcard: Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
Jackson is a very risky pick. He's got the talent and potential to be a top-5 fantasy player, but we don't know enough about him.

Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Manning is still the QB king of fantasy football, and noone can challenge it. Anthony Gonzalez will only help him more this season.
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brees had an MVP season last year, and although he didn't actually win the award, it's clear that he was indeed the most valuable player. Either way, there's too much talent around him to be anything less than spectacular.
3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers had a nice year, and with a full offseaosn to take it all in and mature, he should only be better this season. There's even more talent around him this year than there was last year, so he should be golden.
4. Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams
Year in and year out, Bulger is one of the best signal-callers in the league, and with so much talent around him, it shouldn't be any different.
5. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer did well last season and should only improve this year with a full, healthy offseason.
Wildcard: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
Injuries have plagued his career. When healthy, he's the best fantasy QB in the league. But can he stay healthy?

Wide Receivers
1. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts
Harrison is the best receiver in the NFL and is, once again, the best fantasy option out there.
2. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
The man beat a horse in a race. How could you not pick him?
3. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams
His knee may be ailing, but his production is always high.
4. Roy Williams, Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson should only help his production.
5. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills
He's an explosive playmaker for the Bills and JP Losman is only improving.
Wildcard: Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
Will his attitude get in the way? Let's hope not (if he's on our team).

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
Year-in and year-out, he's always the best.
2. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns
Looks to have another standout season.
3. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots
May finally be the full-time starter now that Daniel Graham is gone.
4. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
Always productive, but will that drop on a run-happy offense?
5. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens
With Willis McGahee now in the picture, he may be getting a lot less looks.
Wildcard: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Always a threat to take it long, but will Alex Smith regress and harm the rest of the team?

Defenses
1. Baltimore Ravens
Nobody tops them, especially in points allowed.
2. New England Patriots
Second best defense in terms of points allowed last season.
3. Chicago Bears
Third best defense in terms of points allowed last season. See a trend here?
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Fourth best defense in terms of points allowed last season.
5. Miami Dolphins
Fifth best defense in terms of points allowed last season.
Wildcard: New York Jets
Sixth best defense in terms of points allowed last season.

NFL Draft - Grading the Picks

2007-04-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

These draftees are now NFL'ers.

With their new rookie classes ready to get to training camp, let's take a look at how each team did in last weekend's draft.

Oakland Raiders - A
The Raiders made an okay pick with Russell in round one. QB is by far a huge need for them, and now it's filled, but when all is said and done, Russell was simply not the best player in the draft. In round two the Raiders took the best TE in the draft (though many will disagree), Zach Miller, a threat in both the ground and passing game, as he is a great blocker and a solid receiver. In round three the Raiders stole Quentin Moses, a DE with top-5 potential that fell due to a case of senioritis. Another great pick was RB Michael Bush, who could turn out to be the steal of the draft if he's healthy. Johnnie Lee Higgins, picked one slot ahead of Bush, is a solid WR with huge Randy Moss-like potential. DE Jay Richardson is another potential steal. Although the team did end up drafting completely average players in OT Mario Henderson, CB John Bowie, and S Eric Frampton, they came out of the weekend with a very solid draft in a very weak class.

Detroit Lions - A
"Another WR?" you ask? "So what!?" I say. WR Calvin Johnson is the far-and-away best player in the draft and possibly the greatest prospect of all time. Both Roy Williams and Mike Furrey will be great compliments to him, and with second round pick QB Drew Stanton throwing them the ball in a year or two, this will continue to be one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Ikaika Alama-Francis is a very good player, but was only decent value at the end of round two. He'll likely play the UT position for the Lions' Tampa-2 defense. One pick that almost moved this draft down to a B+ was S Gerald Alexander in the second round, which was just a terrible pick, as he likely would've been available well into the 4th or 5th round. CB A.J. Davis and OG Manuel Ramirez in round four were both solid value for positions of need for the Lions. OLB Johnny Baldwin is a player that fits the scheme and has potential, and CB Ramzee Robinson, Mr. Irrelevant, was solid value.

Cleveland Browns - A+
With possibly the best draft in the league, which is rare to say for Cleveland, the Browns made way with an absolute heist, in drafting two top-5 players in a span of twenty picks! OT Joe Thomas looks to be the cornerstone LT they so desperately need, and QB Brady Quinn, arguably the top steal of the draft (and my #1 ranked QB), was just ridiculous value at pick 22 and well-worth what the Browns gave up for him. In the second round, the Browns bounced back with an outstanding pick in CB Eric Wright, whose character issues are likely moot due to his fantastic behavior in Las Vegas, oh, and his absolute lock-down potential. The Browns reached for a couple of players later on, with CB Brandon McDonald likely fighting for a roster spot, but the versatile DE/DT 'tweener Melila Purcell will likely turn out to be a solid pick. Chase Pittman shows solid potential at OLB in the 3-4 defense, but Syndric Steptoe, a possible special teams threat, was just a bad pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - A
Wow, it looks like I'm being pretty generous so far - but these teams deserve it. You can't blame the Bucs for not ending up with Calvin Johnson, but what they did do was add a bunch of players that fit perfectly in the scheme and finally provide some youthful energy to an aging defense. DE Gaines Adams is the speedy, pass-rushing specialist they need and was decent value at the fourth pick, since many pegged him to go at the second pick. OT Aaron Sears was a fantastic pick and could really surprise people and start immediately. Don't let his triangle numbers fool you, because Sabby Piscitelli, an all-potential prospect, simply isn't a very good player, though was decent value in the late second. LB Quincy Black, a perfect fit for the scheme, was a solid pick early in the third and shows huge potential as a workout warrior. Tanard Jackson, a versatile CB/S 'tweener was an excellent pick in the fourth round. DE Greg Peterson, LB Adam Hayward, and CB Marcus Hamilton were all decent picks at best, but the Bucs made some great selections in OT Chris Denman and RB Kenneth Darby.

Arizona Cardinals - B+
Lots of people will question the Cardinals, but I happen to like what they did with their first pick. With the fifth overall pick, the Cardinals selected OT Levi Brown, who many thought to be a borderline top-10 pick. I actually like Brown more than Thomas, as I believe he has a higher ceiling, but the absolute truth is that they reached for Brown, no matter how much they liked him. I'm sure they tried to trade down, but they literally should've taken any deal they could get to move down just one or two picks. In the end, Brown is a great player that will help right away. In round two the Cardinals traded up and made, which I believe is, one of the best moves in the draft. They selected DT Alan Branch, who is easily a top-15 player in this year's crop, but fell due to some work ethic concerns. With the likely transition to the 3-4 defense, Branch is a great fit at the current 4-3 NT and the eventual 3-4 DE, though he may very well be able to play NT in the 3-4 if he can keep up his weight. In the third round the Cardinals made a bonehead pick in LB Buster Davis, a guy who might fit what they are currently trying to do, but overall is a terrible fit for the 3-4 and won't be with the team in the future. This was a need pick and shouldn't have been made, but was for the short-term. Steve Breaston will have trouble finding a roster spot, but if he can prove to be one of the top returnmen in the draft, he'll stay. TE Ben Patrick was a steal in the seventh and will provide quality depth.

Washington Redskins - B
Surprising, eh? Well, I actually like what the Redskins did. They now have possibly the best safety duo in the NFL with rookie LaRon Landry and Sean Taylor. Dallas Sartz, picked in round five, is a fantastic pick that will likely add quality depth at both OLB and SS for the 'Skins. H.B. Blades could be a steal for Washington in the sixth round, though Jordan Palmer is an extremely questionable pick, as he's not exactly the prototypical backup QB. TE Tyler Ecker raises some eyebrows, and was just a very bad pick at that point. Overall the Redskins added a future All-Pro at the S position and drafted two more players that will provide quality depth at multiple positions. I didn't like the fact that they completely disregarded the trenches, and that may come back and bite them in the ass.

Minnesota Vikings - A+
What a fantastic draft. Their first six picks could all realistically challenge the vets for starting spots in the 2007 season. RB Adrian Peterson was fantastic value and easily the BPA (best player available) and will have a ball running to the left for the next few years. Sidney Rice, a WR that's a huge threat in the red zone with his outstanding leaping ability, was a great pick in terms of both value and need, something we seldom see. CB Marcus McCauley is another player that suffered from senioritis, but realistically, he has top-10 potential and could turn out to be a huge steal. Brian Robison is a physical freak at DE and could really help the Vikings' struggling pass rush. Aundrae Allison, another steal, is a WR with huge deep-threat potential. Finally, Rufus Alexander was once a highly-regarded player and it's really unsure why he fell so far. Tyler Thigpen was a decent pick, as the team is looking for depth at QB, but there were better ones available. Chandler Williams will have trouble making the final roster, but was a decent pick for depth at a huge need. In the end the Vikings made their young QB Tarvaris Jackson a very happy man and could realistically have the best rookie class in the NFL.

Atlanta Falcons - A
To be honest I thought this team would make an attempt to trade up for Adrian Peterson, but in the end, they came out of the first round with, who I believe is, the best DE in the draft. Excellent at stopping the run and a pretty good pass-rusher, Jamaal Anderson was a very good pick at eight and was great value. The Falcons' second round was even more impressive, drafting the road-grader RT/OG 'tweener Justin Blalock to help the power running game and CB Chris Houston, who many believed that, after dominating the combine, would be a first round selection. The rest of the draft picks, besides a few that I'll get into in a second, were all very questionable picks. WR Laurent Robinson doesn't offer much as a first day pick, LB Stephen Nicholas, though versatile, just doesn't have much upside, TE Martrez Milner, though decent value, just wasn't the BPA and isn't a need, and DT Trey Lewis is a late bloomer that lacks upside. In the sixth round, the Falcons took David Irons, a CB that really helped himself in the offseason, Doug Datish, a versatile OL that can play C or OG, but doesn't really fit the power-running scheme, and S Darren Stone, a sleeper with huge upside that could be a steal. Jason Snelling is an interesting player and well-worth the pick in the seventh round as a RB/FB 'tweener that fits the power-running scheme, a low-risk/high-reward pick.

Miami Dolphins - F
I don't care who the hell was higher on their board, you simply don't pass on a possible franchise QB in Brady Quinn at the ninth pick for Ted Ginn Jr., who not only wasn't the BPA, but wasn't even the best WR available. Yeah, Coach Cameron, you want speed. I hope you enjoy your multi-million dollar investment risking his life on all those punt and kick returns. The rest of the draft was filled with bad, bad picks. QB John Beck is overrated and C Samson Satele was a huge reach and a total need pick after Ryan Kalil was taken a pick before him. RB Lorenzo Booker and DT Paul Soliai were good, solid picks with good, solid value, but the Dolphins' draft had nothing else to show for it.

Houston Texans - A
I really like what the Texans did with this draft. With their first pick they continued to add a dominating presence. Amobi Okoye has the potential to be one of the best UTs in the NFL and will compliment Mario Williams extremely well, that is, if he's as mature as we all think. Jacoby Jones was a pretty good pick in the third round, as the Texans needed more depth at WR and Jones is a player with all the potential in the world. Fred Bennett in the fourth round was an absolute heist and could turn into a great CB for the Texans. Brandon Harrison is an interesting sleeper at safety and could surprise. I like the OL picks of OT Brandon Frye and OG Kasey Studdard late in the draft. They were pretty good value picks and could excel in the Zone Blocking Scheme. Zach Diles in the seventh should add quality depth at LB. Overall, the Texans had a better draft than people will give them credit for. They added a ton of great talent to the defense and were still able to give QB Matt Schaub yet another target.

San Francisco 49ers - A+
New England fans are hoping that the 49ers bomb the season so they can get the #1 pick in 2008, but with yet another strong draft for the 49ers, that doesn't look too likely. LB Patrick Willis was the BPA at the 11th pick and also filled a huge need for the 'Niners. Then they traded-up back into round one for OT Joe Staley, a player who could end up being a cornerstone LT that they need. Jason Hill was a huge steal in the third round and could legitimately give the 49ers a #1 receiver, something they've been looking for for quite a while. Ray McDonald in the third round is a solid pick. A productive DT/DE 'tweener, McDonald projects to DE for the 49ers' 3-4 defense, though he could slide in to UT in the 4-3 formation. Jay Moore is a solid pick in round four and will make the move to OLB for the 'Niners. Dashon Goldson is a sleeper at S and was a decent pick in the fourth, though they could have done better. Joe Cohen was the potential to be a prominent NT in the 3-4 and was worth the risk in the fourth round. Tarrell Brown has some huge character concerns, but if he can stay out of trouble, he could end up being the steal of the draft. Thomas Clayton in the seventh is a decent pick that might be able to make the team and provide insurance for Frank Gore.

Buffalo Bills - B+
After a dismal offseason, the Bills somewhat rebounded in the draft by picking up a bunch of quality players. RB Marshawn Lynch was taken with the twelfth pick, and although that could be a bit early for him, nobody will complain if he can put up 1,000 yards this season. In the second round the Bills absolutely stole LB Paul Posluszny, who should turn out to be a fantastic player in the Bills' defense. In the third the Bills got highly-touted QB Trent Edwards, who many felt was an early second round pick. Edwards provides solid insurance for J.P. Losman and could eventually push him for the starting spot. Dwayne Wright is a questionable pick in the fourth round, but could end up being a solid player in the Bills' running back-by-committee. John Wendling was an absolute steal in the sixth round and will provide excellent depth at safety. Derek Schouman is a questionable pick, but the player has lots of versatility and could be a valuable roster spot in the H-Back role. DE C.J. Ah You is a decent player but is great value late in the 7th round.

St. Louis Rams - A
The Rams are a team that really benefitted from having an early pick in a weak class, and I think I'm starting to notice a trend: Teams with early picks in this draft just drafted very, very well. Back to the Rams: In the first they swooped up the versatile Adam Carriker, who will likely be moving anywhere from LDE to right RDE to UT for the Rams. Carriker is spectacular against the run and should develop into a nice pass rusher. Brian Leonard, the versatile RB/FB/H-Back, in the second round probably surprised many people but was an amazing pick nonetheless. The 1-2 punch of Steven Jackson and Brian Leonard should be a deadly force to reckon with in the defense-weak NFC West. CB Jonathan Wade was a solid pick in the third round. A track star on the gridiron, Wade really surprised people and played extremely well at the Senior Bowl. The rest of the Rams' picks were solid but unspectacular. Dustin Frye should provide good depth and a possible future starter at the center position as does Ken Shackleford at OT. Clifton Ryan and Keith Jackson should provide great depth in the middle of the DL to help the Rams stop the run and Derek Stanley is the flyer everybody looks for at the end of the draft.

New York Jets - A
The Jets surprised everybody by trading up twice in the first two rounds, but it was well worth it for the players they got. In the first round they traded a handful of picks for the best CB in the draft, Darrelle Revis. Revis has potential to be the lockdown corner the Jets are looking for and also adds a threat as a punt returner. In the second they traded up again for David Harris, who many thought would go, at the latest, in the late first round, but fell to the mid-second. Harris looks to step-in right away and start at ILB in the Jets' 3-4 defense. New York didn't have another pick until the sixth round but made it work by taking the fast-rising OT Jake Bender, who looks to be somewhat of a project but a solid prospect at either LT or RT. To finish it off the Jets selected the quick, shifty WR Chansi Stuckey, who looks to bring competition to the PR game and has a chance to play in the slot. The Jets only had four picks, but got two instant starters and two very nice players later on.

Pittsburgh Steelers - B+
This grade would be higher if they didn't make a certain move that I'll get into in a second. The Mike Tomlin era started with Lawrence Timmons, a great LB with seemingly limitless upside that looks to be a fixture in the Tampa-2 for years. In the second round the Steelers took LaMarr Woodley, an extremely productive DE that would make a lot of sense if the Steelers were staying with the 3-4 (OLB), but doesn't really seem like the prototypical edge rusher you want in the Tampa-2. Maybe he's a short-term pick? Oh, but that's not the questionable pick. Next up is Matt Spaeth, who could've gone much higher if not for injuries. He and Heath Miller could make some very scary 2-TE sets. Here's what bugs me: the Steelers then rolled the dice on Dan Sepulveda. Who is he? Yep, that's right. A Punter. Yeah, he's left-footed. Yeah, he was easily the best punter in the nation. But no, no, no, you simply don't waste draft picks on punters. This team needed more quality picks. Later in the fourth the Steelers went back to the Tampa-2 draft philosophy and selected Ryan McBean, a player who looks like could be a force at UT. Next up is Cameron Stephenson, a project at OG but could turn out to be a very productive player. William Gay was a bit of a reach at CB, but this late in the draft, it doesn't make much of a difference. The Steelers finished off with WR Dallas Baker, a steal late in the seventh round.

Green Bay Packers - A
An A? Yeah, don't be too shocked. Justin Harrell was the consensus #1 DT in the nation until injuries plagued his season, so if he really is 100% healthy, he might even be a steal at pick sixteen even though he was lower on many 'expert' boards. In the second round the Packers struck gold, trading down and still getting the RB they were likely targeting, Brandon Jackson. Jackson is a tough, physical runner that will surprise for the Packers and have a very successful season. WR James Jones was a huge reach in the third, but they made up for it later in the same round with S Aaron Rouse. Rouse comes from a program that produces tons of great DBs and was a steal late in the third. His versatility will be valuable for the Packers. In the beginning of day two the Packers took one of the best athletes in the draft, versatile OL Allen Barbre, who will provide fantastic depth and a possible starter at guard, even with the solid play of their two rookies from last season. Their next two picks, WR David Clowney and LB Korey Hall won't have much of an impact this season, but LB Desmond Bishop could end up being one of the top steals of the draft. Even though I'm not a fan of drafting kickers, PK Mason Crosby was excellent value in the sixth round. To finish it off, the Packers took RB Deshawn Wynn, a powerful runner, and TE Clark Harris, a big, reliable target that excels in the short passing game. Overall, the Packers really built for the short term on defense and for the long term on offense, but had a great draft nonetheless and look to have one of the better NFC teams in the near future.

Denver Broncos - C
This grade would be much higher if the Broncos didn't sacrifice so much character for talent, but from a pure talent standpoint, they could've easily had an A. But with the Goodell era in full-force you really have to question a couple of these picks. In the first round the Broncos traded up for Jarvis Moss, an explosive pass-rusher that will start right away at the DE position. But wait, there's more. Adding even more sacks to their foreseeable total, the Broncos selected Tim Crowder. Crowder was once considered to be a potential top-20 pick, but fell hard after having a disappointing season. He moved back up into the second thanks to some fantastic offseason workouts, and was a great pick at this point. Moss and Crowder should make a deadly pass-rushing tandem for the Broncos, though beware of Moss' injury concerns, as he has many. In the third round the Broncos nabbed Ryan Harris, a quick OT that fits the Zone Blocking Scheme perfectly, but may have been a reach here. The draft really falls apart with their fourth and final pick: DT Marcus Thomas. Back at Florida, Thomas was suspended for three games in 2006 thanks to a failed drug test, only to be later kicked off the team altogether after yet another positive test and a failure to live up to the terms set forth as a condition of his reinstatement. Although he is a great talent that will further improve their defensive line (along with their first two picks), he's a troublemaker and will have to be kept a close eye on.

Cincinnati Bengals - B
The Bengals really hit it off in the first three rounds. Leon Hall was a fantastic pick that should give the team one of the best CB duos in the NFL, with Hall paired with Johnathan Joseph. In the second round they took a player that will give them a very scary RB duo with Kenny Irons taking some pressure off of Rudi Johnson. In the third round they took a big-time sleeper in S Marvin White. After that their draft really broke down with a handful of bad picks. Jeff Rowe is a decent player that should serve as a nice backup to QB Carson Palmer, but there were better players on the board. The same can be said for DT Matt Toeaina. Their last two picks were okay, but nothing special. OG Dan Santucci provides limited upside while S Nedu Ndukwe, who was decent value in the seventh round, just isn't that good of a player. In the end I absolutely love what the Bengals did in the first two rounds, especially the Leon Hall pick.

Tennessee Titans - C+
The Titans' draft wasn't as bad as everyone is making it out to be. Michael Griffin is an extremely versatile DB that should help the defense immediately. The real bone to pick here is in the second round where the Titans selected RB Chris Henry. This move was clearly made out of desperation as the team couldn't land a deal for Michael Turner. This was really a terrible pick and is competing with Ted Ginn for the "worst pick in the draft" award. Paul Williams was a pretty nice pick in the third round. He's got great potential and fills a big need for the team. C Leroy Harris was a pretty bad pick in the fourth round. Many thought of him as a sleeper, but in the end he just isn't good enough to justify that high of a pick. Chris Davis is another WR with nice potential, but was taken at least a round too early. DT Antonio Johnson was easily the best pick for the Titans. Johnson has great potential as a space-eating run stuffer that will likely be the future replacement for Albert Haynesworth. WR Joel Filani simply wasn't a very good pick in the sixth as he doesn't project will in the NFL, though Jacob Ford, a fast-rising DE, made up for it later in the same round. Ford is a deadly pass rush specialist that could work his way into a solid rotation. Ryan Smith doesn't exactly fill the need at CB and was a clearly a need pick. The Titans did well in the seventh round, stealing OT Mike Otto. The Titans really needed depth in the secondary and backfield, and although they certainly got bodies, they didn't exactly get quality players.

New York Giants - C+
The Giants' draft is being pretty overrated by a lot of people. They picked a couple of solid players, but really only made one impressive pick. In the first round New York selected Aaron Ross, an extremely raw CB that will have a hard time transitioning in the NFL. He's got nice speed and agility, but it will only be apparent in his punt returns, which I still don't feel will have much of an impact for the G-Men. In the second round the Giants took another overrated player in Steve Smith, an incredibly average WR that will, at best, become an incredibly average #2 receiver. Their next two picks were a bit better. Jay Alford is a solid DT prospect that fills a big need for the Giants and Zak DeOssie, a fast-rising, small school prospect, looks to provide some depth LB. The problem with these two picks, however, is that they were both taken about a round too early and will likely have a very tough time cracking the starting lineup. TE Kevin Boss is another small school sleeper that a lot of people have recently fallen in love with but really doesn't offer much in the blocking aspect of the TE position and doesn't really fit what they need. The Giants didn't address the OL until the sixth round, when they made their best pick. Adam Koets, a great athlete at the OT position, looks to compete early for the starting LT job with virtually no one there to challenge him. Koets is a great technician and moves extremely well, but to become a better player at the next level, he'll have to develop more strength and more of a mean streak. The Giants then made two decent second round selections, with S Michael Johnson falling into their laps, who could end up being a steal, and RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who had a disappointing offseason, but doesn't really seem like the RB they'll need to compliment Brandon Jacobs if he even makes the team.

Jacksonville Jaguars - B
What the Jaguars did best in this draft was wheel 'n' deal around the draft board while getting some of the players they coveted. In the first round they traded down and still got the player everyone knew they loved - Reggie Nelson. Nelson is a high-flying, hard-hitting center fielder at safety and will surely add a strong presence in the secondary. Continuing the strategy of building from the inside-out, the Jaguars took Justin Durant in round two, who can likely play any LB position for them, but currently projects to the inside. Next up was Mike Walker, a fan-favorite WR that really rose up draft boards after proving his health. I think he was a bit of a reach in the third round, but should be a solid pick nonetheless. One thing I really didn't like about the Jaguars' draft was their next move, selecting P Adam Podlesh. Podlesh does come from that ridiculous Maryland strength and conditioning program, which gives him an extremely powerful leg and enough speed to cover his own punts, but it's not like he'll be asked to do that anyway. Despite this poor move the Jaguars bounced right back with a bit of a surprise pick, but one we all expected anyway. This pick was Brian Smith, the versatile DE/LB prospect that looks to be a pass-rushing specialist. What Smith brings to the Jaguars is a deadly edge-rusher that had first round potential if not for his broken hip bone. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars use him. The Jags' next few picks were solid, getting OG Uche Nwaneri, S Josh Gattis, a huge steal at that point in the draft, and DT Derek Landri. Landri is an interesting prospect but will have a lot of trouble finding playing time with those great Jacksonville DTs. The Jags finished off with three insignificant picks that likely won't get passed training camp with WR John Broussard, OT Andrew Carnahan, and LB Chad Nkang, who has a pretty high ceiling.

Kansas City Chiefs - D
At first glance this draft seems like a great one, but for a team that has such a huge problem along the offensive line, they really did a terrible job to fix it. In the first round the Chiefs passed on Joe Staley for WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is a great prospect that excels in his downfield blocking, so he should be a great fit for KC's scheme. In the next two rounds the Chiefs decided to bolster the defensive line, adding versatile DT/DE 'tweener Turk McBride and DT DeMarcus Tyler, who is a stout run-stuffer in the middle of the line. Later in the fifth round the Chiefs added Kolby Smith, the backup/replacement for Michael Bush back at Louisville who shows tons of potential. Next up was a terrible pick, failing to address the offensive line yet again and going for PK Justin Medlock. I've already gone over my stance on drafting kickers and punters, so let's not get into that. FINALLY in the sixth round the Chiefs picked an offensive lineman. Herbet Taylor, a project at best at the OT position, might've been a breath of fresh air for Chiefs fans at first, but this player just isn't very good and will have a tough time translating his game to the NFL level with crucial problems at both size and strength. He'll be a backup at best. To finish off the draft, the Chiefs disregard the offensive line again and take TE Michael Allan. This wasn't a terrible pick, since he was probably a huge steal at that point, but the failure to address the offensive line throughout this draft will prove to be detrimental this season.

New England Patriots - C
I really didn't like what the Patriots did in the draft, but if you factor in the fact that they got an extra first round pick for next year's ridiculously loaded draft from a team that will likely pick in the top-15, along with the acquisition of Randy Moss, their draft at least deserves a C. To be honest, the Patriots only made two good picks on Saturday. In the first round they took Brandon Meriweather, the explosive safety that loves to hit hard and get the ball. In the fourth round, the Patriots stole Kareem Brown, a DT that will make the switch to DE in the Patriots' 3-4. Brown adds great depth to an already fantastic defensive line and will help the Pats stop the run. New England's next seven picks were just terrible, with the exception of seventh round LB Oscar Lua. Lua has a thick figure and is very stout at the point of attack. The guy just knows how to shed blocks and make plays at the line of scrimmage, something the Patriots had problems doing last season. He should add great depth and a possible future starter on the inside in the Patriots' 3-4.

Carolina Panthers - A+
Ouch. The NFC South is crapping its pants right now after the Panthers absolutely killed on draft weekend. After trading back in the first round, the Panthers were able to get the player they targeted - Jon Beason. Beason is an extremely athletic LB that should start immediately and is my early pick for defensive rookie of the year. He'll likely move inside for Carolina. In the second round the Panthers stole the free-falling Dwayne Jarrett, a big, sure-handed WR that will be a great possession target for any QB under center. Later in the second the Panthers, once again, made off with a heist after stealing the best center in the draft, Ryan Kalil. He could be the day one starter. The Panthers made off like bandits when they made yet another huge move, drafting DE Charles Johnson all the way in the third round. A need or not, Johnson was clearly the BPA. Johnson should have an immediate impact on the defensive line, either in a rotation across from Julius Peppers or as a backup. Clearly an attempt to relieve DeAngelo Williams from his return duties, as they plan to use him on the ground more often, the Panthers drafted return specialist Ryne Williams. They then added depth to the TE position by taking Dante Rosario, a weapon in the passing game and on special teams coverage. To finish off the draft the Panthers made two more steals, getting LB Tim Shaw, who will likely play outside, and sleeper CB C.J. Wilson.

Dallas Cowboys - A
Yeah, they took a kicker, but the rest of the draft was pretty spectacular. In the first round the Cowboys first traded out, gathering a first round pick in 2008 that will likely be in the top-10, but then traded back in, keeping their picks in 2008, and selected Anthony Spencer, a pass rushing specialist that should be a terror across from DeMarcus Ware. We could be looking at the best OLB duo in the NFL. In the third and fourth rounds, the Cowboys opted to solidify their offensive line by adding depth and possible starters in OT James Marten and OT Doug Free. The two will likely compete for the starting LT spot with Leonard Davis. Also in the fourth round the Cowboys took the versatile Isaiah Stanback, a Brad Smith-like player who played QB in college but will move to a hybrid WR/RB role in the NFL. He'll take a few years to develop, but will be a special weapon even in his rookie year. In the sixth round, the Cowboys took... ugh... a kicker, but a good kicker, Nick Folk. They then reached for FB Deon Anderson, who excels in run blocking but will likely be a special teams specialist. Their next pick was Courtney Brown, a fast-rising player who is a freak of an athlete, but will take a while to develop. I really loved that pick and think it will turn out to be a great one. To finish it off, they took another CB prospect in Alan Ball. Ball is a pretty decent athlete, but if he's able to add some more weight, he'll likely be moved to strong safety. Overall this was a pretty darn good draft, though I would've liked to see them add a developmental QB in the sixth or seventh round.

New Orleans Saints - B
Eh. That's all that really can be said about this draft. Some good picks, a couple of bad picks. In the first round the Saints selected Robert Meachem, the speedy WR that will be a great deep threat for the Saints and should compliment their already great receiving group. Meachem has excellent size and knows how to use it in the open field, but he'll have to develop more of a mean streak when beating the jam at the line. In the third round the Saints took Usama Young, a fantastic athlete at the CB position that should provide good depth. I think they reached for Young, but his pure athleticism was too hard to pass on. Later in the third round the Saints took Andy Alleman, a great athlete along the offensive line that should develop into a solid guard. The Saints' first fourth round pick was fantastic, taking RB Antonio Pittman, a strong, physical runner (despite his size) who will compliment Reggie Bush extremely well. I know you're thinking, "wait, what about Deuce McAllister?" well the draft is about taking the BPA, and Pittman was clearly just that. If Deuce ever goes down with an injury or is forced out of New Orleans, you'll appreciate this pick just as much as I do. The Saints' next two picks were very questionable. Jerome Bushrod is an OT with great athleticism but poor strength. I don't see him as anything more than a versatile backup at both OT and OG. It's hard to teach a waist-bender how to be a knee-bender. Their next pick was David Jones, another CB prospect, that, to be honest, I just don't know much about. Seems like a project player at best. LB Marvin Mitchell was a fantastic pick in the seventh round. He should be able to step-in right away and be a nice two-down thumper in the middle.

Baltimore Ravens - B+
Ouch, ouch, ouch. After being jumped by the 'Niners for Joe Staley, the Ravens had to settle for OG Ben Grubbs in the first round. Grubbs is a great athlete that projects to be a pulling guard in the NFL. He's got decent strength, but lacks a mean streak, something he'll have to work on. In the third round the Ravens made a couple of quality picks. Yamon Figurs looks to be a return specialist for the Ravens while the versatile Marshall Yanda will be competing for virtually every single position along the offensive line. The next four picks were solid. In the fourth round, the Ravens took LB Antwaan Barnes, who could be a decent replacement for Adalius Thomas, but will likely be placed in a rotational role. The team made a great pick later in the fourth round, taking Le'Ron McClain, a thumper at FB that will help create huge running lanes for Willis McGahee. Heisman winner QB Troy Smith was taken in the fifth round, but to be honest, I don't expect him to be with the team for long. The CFL and AFL will be dishing out all sorts of cash for him, though. It's tough to project where the Ravens see their next pick playing. Prescott Burgess is a LB that simply isn't a great fit in the 3-4 defense the Ravens run, and I think he was mainly brought in to get sent to the practice squad, where he can be great on the scout team. He may project to ILB for the Ravens, but I wouldn't bank on it.

San Diego Chargers - A
In the first round the Chargers absolutely reached for WR Craig Davis, but in the end, he'll be a great deep threat for them and will end up justifying the pick. In the second round the Chargers traded up to secure one of the most underrated player in the draft, Eric Weddle. Weddle, a S/CB 'tweener, is the only player in the history of history to shut down Calvin Johnson when Georgia Tech played Utah. That, alone, has to give him some serious consideration. In all seriousness, Weddle is a fantastic athlete and ball hawk that should start right away at safety for the Chargers. In the third round the Chargers stole Anthony Waters, who, if not for injury, would have definitely been a first round pick, and may very well be the best pure 3-4 ILB in the draft. The Chargers' next pick was TE Scott Chandler, a big, tall target who loves to go over the middle and make the big catch. He should be a fantastic compliment to Antonio Gates. In the fifth round, the Chargers took another WR with an extremely high ceiling. Legedu Naanee projects as a solid possession receiver and could have a very productive career if coached well. In the seventh round, the Chargers stole another LB, Brandon Siler. We have yet to find out why Siler fell so far, but he was outstanding value in the seventh round and should easily find a spot on the active roster.

Chicago Bears - C
With their first four picks, the Bears made four straight reaches. Greg Olsen, despite his blazing 40-yard dash, is nothing special. He's decent. He's average. He's just not a great player and that will be proven throughout his career. Everything the prototypical TE does, he does not. He can't block; he can't go over the middle. If you can't tell, I don't like Greg Olsen. The Bears then drafted for need again, selecting DE Dan Bazuin. Bazuin is a great player, but was a reach in the second round. He's not a perfect fit for Chicago's Tampa-2 defense, but he's good enough. Since the Bears are shopping Alex Brown, this pick isn't much of a surprise. Garrett Wolfe was another huge reach and just a terrible pick in general. He's not the kind of RB that can compliment Cedric Benson, and they obviously didn't bring him in to be a return specialist, since they already have the best in the NFC, and likely the best in the NFL - Devin Hester. LB Michael Okwo was their next pick, obviously another desperation pick with the whole Lance Briggs situation. Okwo was very productive at Standford, but just doesn't project well in the NFL and has extremely limited upside. The Bears finally made a good pick in the fourth round, bringing in Josh Beekman. Beekman fell out of second round consideration after having a pretty poor offseason, but Beekman's play on the field makes it very tough to pass on him. Beekman probably projects to LG for the Bears, where his great run-blocking will be used, though he'll have to get better in pass protection. The Bears made another good pick in the fifth round with sleeper S Kevin Payne. Payne will probably project to OLB for the Bears, especially if he can put on a few pounds. He's terrible in coverage but is a great in-the-box safety and is good against the run. Corey Graham, picked later in the fifth, is a great cover corner who excels in zone coverage. He's a bit of a project, but thanks to his great triangle numbers, he can easily be turned into a great player in the NFL with good coaching. This pick could turn out to be a huge steal. The Bears' next two picks were average at best and will have trouble making the team. CB Trumaine McBride will have trouble making it in the NFL due to his lack of tools, and OT Aaron Brant, despite his size, is a nobody and will, at best, become an average backup.

Indianapolis Colts - C+
In the first round the Colts reached for a need, taking the incredibly overrated WR Anthony Gonzalez. Granted, he probably wouldn't fall very far, but he just isn't good enough to justify a first round pick with so many better players on the board. He'll never be a great #2 receiver and will be stuck in the slot. He'll never be a future replacement for Marvin Harrison, and that's what they need. In the second round, the Colts traded up for Tony Ugoh, the athletic OT that looks the part and projects as a future LT. Ugoh is raw with his technique, but a good player nonetheless, and with some good coaching, he could turn into a beast. In the third round, the Colts got a couple of nice players that fell due to bad offseasons, but fit perfectly in the scheme. CB Daymeion Hughes, a terrific zone coverage corner, and DT Quinn Pitcock, a solid all-around player who can rush the passer, stop the run, and make plays in the backfield. Their next three picks, S Brannon Condren, LB Clint Session, and WR Roy Hall were all reaches, but CB Michael Coe was a steal in the fifth round and really brought the Colts' draft grade up. An outstanding athlete, Coe projects extremely well in the Tampa-2 zone coverage scheme. To finish it off, the Colts added depth to their pass rushing repertoire, selecting Keyunta Dawson, a situation pass rusher.

Philadelphia Eagles - B+
It took me a while to warm-up to this pick, and in the end, it does make a lot of sense. After the Eagles traded out of the first round, they made a pick that caused a lot of turmoil. QB Kevin Kolb looks to be the Jeff Garcia to Donovan McNabb, and then some. Kolb is insurance. If McNabb goes down, the Eagles understand they need a good, solib QB to keep the team in the hunt. They obviously feel Kolb is that type of QB. Now, the pick also brings into question McNabb's future in Philadelphia, as he only has two more real years on his contract. After that, the remaining two years are options years for the Eagles. Kolb could be the next QB in Philly. Okay, onto the rest of the draft. I absolutely loved what the Eagles did with their next four picks. Victor Abiamiri has loads of potential to be a colossal pass-rushing DE in the NFL. Stewart Bradley is a player that has everything you look for in a LB: strong, tackles well, sheds blocks, rushes the passer, versatile, and has top-of-the-line intangibles. Bradley really had a fantastic offseason and was one of my favorite players in the draft. Next up was RB Tony Hunt. Hunt will be a phenomenal compliment to Brian Westbrook for the Eagles. A big, powerful, nasty, hard-hitting RB, Hunt has everything you look for in the power aspect of the running game. The Eagles were then able to land DB C.J. Gaddis, an amazing athlete with great versatility to play either safety or cornerback. The Eagles' next couple of picks were average, taking TE Brent Celek and CB Rashad Barksdale. Don't expect anything out of these players. The Eagles were able to land a huge player, both literally and figuratively, with their final pick. RB Nate Ilaoa, an extremely powerful runner, will hopefully be a superb third down/goal line/fullback type player for the Eagles. While Hunt and Westbrook will likely share about a 65/25 split, expect Ilaoa to get a solid 10.

Seattle Seahawks - A
The 'Hawks' first three picks could all very well win starting jobs this season, if not a lot of playing time in rotational roles. CB Josh Wilson, their first pick (second round), is a physical freak with excellent tools, but will have some strength issues. He's also an excellent returner. Brandon Mebane was an absolute steal in the third round and is a versatile DT, with the ability to play either NT or UT. He's a fantastic pass rusher and takes on blockers well. Baraka Atkins, taken in the fourth round, is another 'tweener that could potentially play inside at UT or outside at DE. I expect Mebane and Atkins to be a great combo. Later in the fourth round the Seahawks took a huge project at OG, Mansfield Wrotto. Converted from DT to OG, Wrotto is extremely raw and will have to be coached-up, but he has all the physical tools to succeed. Will Herring was simply brought in to provide depth at LB and possibly SS. WRs Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent look to add depth to a body-filled, but talent-lacking receiving core, and seventh round pick OG Steve Vallos could be quality competition in training camp, especially for Wrotto.

2007 Offseason: Best Moves

2007-04-15T17:52:00.000-04:00

Hit the Gridiron is back from hiatus and is ready to start the season once again. With the DRAFT less than two weeks away, let's look at some of the league's best and worst offseason moves to date.

The Cream of the Crop

1. Atlanta Falcons trading QB Matt Schaub and the #10 pick to Houston for the #8 pick, the #39 pick, and their 2008 second round pick.
What an absolute steal for the Falcons! Yes, I've said in the past that Matt Schaub was an extremely valuable asset to the team, but they had to get rid of him eventually and they finally did. When you count-up the value for the picks all together, you may think, "hmm, they could've got a better deal last year with teams like the Vikings and Jets requesting Schaub's services," but you have to look at the bigger picture. It's clear the Falcons are going to attempt a trade-up for Calvin Johnson on draft day, but if that doesn't work out, they still have three other options that could easily pan out. Jumping the Dolphins and Texans, the Falcons are now 2nd in line to draft LSU S LaRon Landry, so long as he falls past the Vikings at pick #7. If that doesn't work out, they could hope for OSU RB Adrian Peterson to fall to #8, which is certainly possible if he falls past Cleveland at pick #3. Finally, Louisville DT Amobi Okoye could be there at pick #8 if he falls past the Bucs at #4 and the Redskins at #6. There will likely be some great value at pick #8, and it's clear that the teams picking from 8-10 (Atlanta, Miami, and Houston) are all eyeing the same players.

2. New York Jets acquiring RB Thomas Jones and the #63 pick from Chicago in exchange for the #37 pick.
Look back last season and you realize how terrible the Jets were at running the ball. Yes, their offensive line was still grooming and not quite the run-blocking savvy as you'd prefer, but they also had no RB that could carry the load. The Jets' leading rusher, Leon Washington, is a scat back, the kind of kid you dump the ball off to and watch him scamper 64 yards downfield against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football to get the Jets in scoring position to eventually win the game on a last-minute Mike Nugent field goal. He's not the kind of runner you want running between the tackles 20-25 times every game. Kevan Barlow is complete crap and isn't on the team anymore, and Cedric Houston, though very talented, has trouble staying healthy. This trade was brilliant for the Jets since they keep two second round picks yet still pickup a Top-10 RB in the NFL and a guy who can carry the load. Watch out, NFL. These Jets now have a running game.

3. Commissioner Roger Goodell laying the wood on Titans CB Pacman Jones, suspending him for a full season without pay.
It's about time! Convicted or not, Mr. Pacman, you're simply too much of a distraction for the league and your thug-like image is hurting the overall reputation of the strongest sports league in the world, the National Football League. Yes, you're a great player. Yes, you have a funny name. Yes, you bring fans to the stands. But no, Mr. Pacman, you are not completely necessary. You're a cancer, not a cure. Hopefully when you finally get convicted and thrown behind bars you'll learn your lesson and come back to the league clean, but don't expect to stay on the Titans' payroll. Anyway, kudos to a tough-man Roger who finally made this happen. It's good to have some muscle in the league offices. However, to really impress me, you'll have to come up with a signature way to announce draft picks, ala Paul Tagliabue's "uhhh."

4. CB Nate Clements cashing-in with San Francisco.
It's not that you're a bad player, Nate, it's just that you're not that great. We all know you're never gonna earn those 80 fat ones, because your contract simply wasn't structured that way. But good job going to a team with high expectations, so when they end up going nowhere, you'll be able to laugh while defending some of the NFC West's top-receivers, half-assed, and still racking-in all that dough.

5. Arizona Cardinals booting Denny Green and hiring Ken Whisenhunt as their new Head Coach.
Congrats Arizona! You've finally got a coach that could get you into the playoffs! Not only that, but you absolutely stole him off the market. This man should've got a job last offseason, but fortunately for you, he didn't. Coach Whisenhunt is gonna make this team good. They've got the offensive firepower to dominate the league, and now they'll have a defense that could actually strike some feat into the opposition. I don't mean they've improved their defense all that much this offseason, but improvement is inevitable with Whisenhunt's exposure to the 3-4 and one the league's top-defensive units back at Pittsburgh. Whisenhunt will try to incorporate both the 3-4 and the 4-3 into the Cardinals' defense, eventually making the full switch after a couple of drafts. It may not happen this year, but I'm expecting this team to take over the NFC West within the next few seasons.

Honorable Mention: Carolina Panthers signing QB David Carr to "backup" Jake Delhomme.
Talk about an insurance plan... or is there more to it? Let's face it, Jake Delhomme isn't the future for the Panthers and he probably won't be counted on to lead this team to the promised land for much too long. The Panthers signed David Carr to not only be Jake's backup for this season, but to replace him as close as next-next season. For anyone that thinks Carr is a bum and will never succeed, you're wrong. You're flat-out wrong. Carr was not the problem in Houston and he won't be the problem in Carolina. I'm fully expecting David Carr to take the keys to the Panthers and be their starting QB either by the end of the 2007 or the start of the 2008 season.

The Not-So-Creamy

1. San Diego Chargers revealing their "new faces" in the form of Norv Turner and a not-so-sharp uniform update.
I'll try to keep this short and clean. What exactly has Norv Turner proven as a Head Coach, and what the hell is up with these bogus uniforms? Talk about two ugly situations.2. New York Giants coughing up another season with Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
Is it that difficult to realize that Tom Coughin is a terrible coach? It shouldn't be. But who knows, maybe they're just setting themselves up for the return of good ol' Bill Cowher, who I hope sends them a big, fat NO, teaching them a lesson.

3. Houston Texans making some bonehead QB decisions, replacing David Carr with Matt Schaub, along with a ridiculous contract.
Once again, David Carr was not the problem in Houston. Matt Schaub won't be much better there, either, since, well, you know, they have no offensive line. We'll see how long that smile on Schaub's face lasts when he's laying on the ground, face-up.

4. Raiders Owner Al Davis failing to... well, there's no nice way of putting it.
Let me ask what everyone is thinking: Would it be better for the Raiders if Al Davis died? I'm not suggesting murder, nor am I suggesting I hope he dies, but everyone knows he would never sell the team and the only way the Raiders can climb out of the deep hole they are currently in is to get a young, tough, strong new owner who can do such a thing.

5. Buffalo Bills taking it too far with their goggles of the future.
Yeah, you're building for the future. So is every team. That doesn't mean you throw all your veterans and best players off ship. Bad, bad decisions made by the Bills this offseason. Hey, maybe they're just going for the #1 pick in 2008.

Honorable Mention: NFL not expanding the NFL Network throughout the country.
What the heck is going on here? The NFL is the greatest league in the world, both in quality and stature. Why haven't they expanded the NFL Network across the United States? Hurry up, NFL, I want some good TV for once.

Coaching Moves (BREAKING NEWS: TUNA RETIRES...AGAIN)

2007-01-22T14:50:00.000-05:00

*THIS ARTICLE WILL BE UPDATED AS COACHING MOVES ARE MADE*

Hired

University of Southern California OC Lane Kiffin has been hired as the Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders. Kiffin, the son of Monte Kiffin, is the second coach in as many years for the franchise.

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Minnesota Vikings DC Mike Tomlin has been chosen to succeed Bill Cowher as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin was the man behind the #1 ranked rush defense in the NFL last season, despite having the worst ranked pass defense. Questions will arise as Tomlin takes over. Will he switch to the Tampa 2 defense or keep the 3-4? We'll see shortly as he sets up his own coaching staff.

Cam Cameron, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins on Friday signed Cam Cameron to a four-year deal. Cameron, former Chargers OC and Indiana University Head Coach, will be starting his first NFL Head Coaching job. Cameron's hire looks to be a solid one after Miami gave a big contract to one of the best DC's in the NFL in Dom Capers. Teames with Capers, Cameron should have a very explosive team with great scehemes on both offense and defense. While I don't think this is a great hire and will likely not exceed the four-year contract, it's an experiment worth taking with the reward factor in making this hire.

Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt signed a 4-year contract on Sunday with the team option for a 5th year. Whisenhunt looks to bring in his own staff for the team and will use his offensive mind to help groom QB Matt Leinart.

Bobby Petrino, Atlanta Falcons
The former Louisville Cardinals Head Coach just agreed on a 5-year, $24 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Other teams going after Petrino included the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals. Speculation continues to grow about what Petrino and his future staff will do with QB Michael Vick. Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Petrino that Vick isn't going anywhere, but things could possibly change.

Fired
Dennis Green, Arizona Cardinals
Green's stay in Arizona only lasted 3 years. Upon his signing, he inherited a team that looked like they were on the verge of finally making the playoffs due to their extremely explosive offensive unit. But in the end, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James, and even Matt Leinart weren't enough to help Green lift the team from the bottom of the barrel. Green will have a very tough time finding a new job, so his best bet might be to experiment with "small schools" in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: The Cardinals, filled with offensive firepower, will probably continue to look for a defensive-minded coach. Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator of the Raiders is a possibility as well as Tom Caughlin, current Giants head coach, as I expect him to be fired if the Giants get knocked out of the playoffs early.

Jim Mora, Atlanta Falcons
What lead to Mora's firing is pretty obvious. Two disappointing seasons in a row and his idiotic statements about wanting to coach in college football obviously lead to this decision. I doubt More is too unhappy, though, as he will likely now attack his dreams and coach in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: I think the #1 thing they will look for in their search for a new coach will be a coach that can gameplan to Michael Vick's strengths. Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator of the Steelers is a possibility due to his history of coming up with exotic offensive gameplans and his playoff experience. This could be spoiled if Bill Cowher does indeed retire and the Steelers decide to stay in-house and promote Whisenhunt. Another possibility is Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator of the Jets. Schottenheimer proved this year that he, too, can be a successful offensive coach after leading a talentless Jets offense to success. He used to be the QB coach of the Chargers and has a lot of experience working with QBs.

Moving On...

Bill Parcells has officially retired... again. Parcells finishes off his four-year stint with the Cowboys after a disappointing playoff debacle against the Seahawks.
Possible Replacements: It's unsure who will be the next Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. It's unlikely that they go in-house and make a simple promotion, as they'll likely go for a real name. One person that once again comes to mind is Rob Ryan, the DC of the Oakland Raiders. We'll see in the coming weeks who they choose, but they better choose quickly because the Senior Bowl and Combine are right around the corner.

Nick Saban, Miami Dolphins
Saban did indeed leave the Dolphins for the Crimson Tide, signing an 8 year $32 million deal. It was obvious that Saban was not nearly as comfortable with the Dolphins as he was in college football.

Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cowher stepped down as the Steelers' coach so a lot of questions are now up in the air. Who will be his replacement? In-House coordinators Ken Whisenhunt (offensive) and Russ Grimm (defensive) seem to be the most likely choices, most probably the former.

Art Shell, Oakland Raiders
Shell stepped down as the Raiders' head coach, but it was probably more like a behind-closed-doors firing. Who his replacement will be is a mystery to mankind.

Conference Championship Picks

2007-01-21T15:10:00.000-05:00

Sorry for not writing a preview for each game, I've been busy studying for the Hell that is school.

The Picks:

Bears over Saints
I really enjoyed watching this game. It was a fun and exciting game throughout the whole 60 minutes. Although the Bears ultimately dominated the Saints, it was still enjoyable. I'm now 1-0 for Sunday and 6-3 in the postseason.

Patriots over Colts
Wow! What a game! Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, and the Indianapolis Colts have finally gotten over the hump and are headed to Super Bowl XXLI to face the Chicago Bears.

Mini Super Bowl Preview:
Right now it looks like the game will favor the Colts due to the weather, as it will likely be nice, warm, and sunny. However, if there's rain in the forcast, I'd put my money on the Bears winning a sloppy defensive struggle. The game is still open for analysis, however, so I won't make any immediate predictions.

Green = Correct
Red = Incorrect

Coaching Moves (BREAKING NEWS: TOMLIN FOR PITTSBURGH)

2007-01-14T16:31:00.000-05:00

*THIS ARTICLE WILL BE UPDATED AS COACHING MOVES ARE MADE*

Hired

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Minnesota Vikings DC Mike Tomlin has been chosen to succeed Bill Cowher as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin was the man behind the #1 ranked rush defense in the NFL last season, despite having the worst ranked pass defense. Questions will arise as Tomlin takes over. Will he switch to the Tampa 2 defense or keep the 3-4? We'll see shortly as he sets up his own coaching staff.

Cam Cameron, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins on Friday signed Cam Cameron to a four-year deal. Cameron, former Chargers OC and Indiana University Head Coach, will be starting his first NFL Head Coaching job. Cameron's hire looks to be a solid one after Miami gave a big contract to one of the best DC's in the NFL in Dom Capers. Teames with Capers, Cameron should have a very explosive team with great scehemes on both offense and defense. While I don't think this is a great hire and will likely not exceed the four-year contract, it's an experiment worth taking with the reward factor in making this hire.

Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt signed a 4-year contract on Sunday with the team option for a 5th year. Whisenhunt looks to bring in his own staff for the team and will use his offensive mind to help groom QB Matt Leinart.

Bobby Petrino, Atlanta Falcons
The former Louisville Cardinals Head Coach just agreed on a 5-year, $24 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Other teams going after Petrino included the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals. Speculation continues to grow about what Petrino and his future staff will do with QB Michael Vick. Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Petrino that Vick isn't going anywhere, but things could possibly change.

Fired
Dennis Green, Arizona Cardinals
Green's stay in Arizona only lasted 3 years. Upon his signing, he inherited a team that looked like they were on the verge of finally making the playoffs due to their extremely explosive offensive unit. But in the end, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James, and even Matt Leinart weren't enough to help Green lift the team from the bottom of the barrel. Green will have a very tough time finding a new job, so his best bet might be to experiment with "small schools" in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: The Cardinals, filled with offensive firepower, will probably continue to look for a defensive-minded coach. Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator of the Raiders is a possibility as well as Tom Caughlin, current Giants head coach, as I expect him to be fired if the Giants get knocked out of the playoffs early.

Jim Mora, Atlanta Falcons
What lead to Mora's firing is pretty obvious. Two disappointing seasons in a row and his idiotic statements about wanting to coach in college football obviously lead to this decision. I doubt More is too unhappy, though, as he will likely now attack his dreams and coach in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: I think the #1 thing they will look for in their search for a new coach will be a coach that can gameplan to Michael Vick's strengths. Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator of the Steelers is a possibility due to his history of coming up with exotic offensive gameplans and his playoff experience. This could be spoiled if Bill Cowher does indeed retire and the Steelers decide to stay in-house and promote Whisenhunt. Another possibility is Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator of the Jets. Schottenheimer proved this year that he, too, can be a successful offensive coach after leading a talentless Jets offense to success. He used to be the QB coach of the Chargers and has a lot of experience working with QBs.

Moving On...
Nick Saban, Miami Dolphins
Saban did indeed leave the Dolphins for the Crimson Tide, signing an 8 year $32 million deal. It was obvious that Saban was not nearly as comfortable with the Dolphins as he was in college football.

Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cowher stepped down as the Steelers' coach so a lot of questions are now up in the air. Who will be his replacement? In-House coordinators Ken Whisenhunt (offensive) and Russ Grimm (defensive) seem to be the most likely choices, most probably the former.

Art Shell, Oakland Raiders
Shell stepped down as the Raiders' head coach, but it was probably more like a behind-closed-doors firing. Who his replacement will be is a mystery to mankind.

Divisional Playoffs: Saints vs Eagles

2007-01-08T17:28:00.000-05:00

A rematch of an exciting game from week 6 takes place in New Orleans once again as the #2 seed New Orleans Saints take on the #3 seed Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints are the same team since week 6, but the Eagles are lead by a new quarterback. Will this change in face make a difference, and reverse the result of the week 6 matchup? Or will the Saints go two-in-a-row?

New Orleans Saints

Offense
The Saints had the #1 ranked offense in the NFL this season, much thanks to QB Drew Brees and HC Sean Payton. RB Reggie Bush has improved dramatically since the first half of the year and looks to have a huge game this weekend. Look for the Saints to keep the same gameplan they've had all year: explosiveness. They'll throw the ball down-field to WRs Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, they'll throw the swing pass to Bush, and they'll pound the rock with RB Deuce McAllister.

Defense
While not being anything spectacular, the defense has been solid. DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith are both very good DEs and they should both have solid games. LB Scott Fujita and S Josh Bullocks have both had good season so far, but it will be tough to have much production against the Eagles' extremely efficient passing game and explosive running game.

Special Teams
PK John Carney has had a great season. Bush has had a good season returning punts, but the Saints' kick return game hasn't been up to par.

Philadelphia Eagles

Offense
The new-look Eagles, lead by QB Jeff Garcia, are a much different team than they were earlier in the year. They've got balance through the air and on the ground. RB Brian Westbrook had a huge game last weekend and he should do the same this weekend against the spotty Saints defense.

Defense
The Eagles' defense is improved drastically lately and will look to put a lot of pressure on the QB to disrupt the potent Saints passing game. Look for a lot of six-seven man blitzes early and often involving the whole front-7. S Brian Dawkins will be key in stopping the Saints' passing game.

Special Teams
PK David Akers kicked the game-winning field goal last week, but hopefully he won't have to do it again.

During The Game

Key Matchup
Eagles S Brian Dawkins vs Saints RB Reggie Bush. Dawkins will need to be very physical with Bush to keep him from having an easy time. Bush will often be used as a decoy, taking Dawkins out of the game, making it easier for Drew Brees or Deuce McAllister to be more productive. The Eagles like to blitz a lot, but they'll have to keep Dawkins from doing so.

What To Watch For
The versatility of Saints RB Reggie Bush. He's extremely dangerous when it comes to lining up at WR, receiving the swing pass, and running the reverse. Look for him to touch the ball about 20 times, mostly on those plays.

Prediction
This game will be a very high-scoring game between two very potent offenses and two very balanced offenses. While the Saints' offense is more explosive, the Eagles' defense is a lot more productive. I always prefer a stronger defense and/or more experienced coaching in the playoffs, so that points to one team: The Eagles. I'm taking the Eagles to win, 31-28.

Divisional Playoffs: Ravens vs Colts

2007-01-08T17:27:00.000-05:00

The Baltimore Ravens, coming off a first round playoff bye, play host to the Indianapolis Colts, who are coming off an impressive win against the Chiefs, this weekend in a game that will answer all the critics' questions regarding the Ravens' true dominance and the Colts' true "chokeness."

Baltimore Ravens

Offense
The Ravens' offense is almost as average as they come. Although they lead the NFL in Time of Possession, probably thanks to QB Steve McNair, the offense just hasn't been as productive as they would've hoped. While the passing game has been efficient, it's the running game that's been inconsistent. Although the Colts really stepped it up against the Chiefs last week, they are still vulnerable if called against properly. Look for the Ravens to pound the rock early and often to try to establish a running game with RB Jamal Lewis and continue what they did all year long - eat the clock. If it's 1st and 10, they'll go for 5. At 2nd and 5, they'll go for 6. Repeat.

Defense
The Ravens defense is nothing short of amazing. The defensive line, anchored by rookie DE Haloti Ngata and NT Kelly Gregg are doing nothing but giving the Ravens' LBs, like breakout star Adalius Thomas, room to make big plays. What the Ravens do best is put pressure on the QB, and that will be a huge advantage for them in this game. If they can do it effectively throughout the game, they should be able to win easily.

Special Teams
PK Matt Stover has been superb this season, connecting for 93.3% of his field goal attempts, hitting 28 out of 30. Rookie P Sam Koch has been solid this season and shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Indianapolis Colts

Offense
A week after dominating the Chiefs, the Colts' offense has to face the superior defense on the road. QB Peyton Manning didn't exactly play lights-out last week and will have to improve if he wants to give his team a chance to win. Manning will undoubtedly be under a lot of pressure from the heavy blitzing of the Ravens. Look for the Colts to try to get a good running game going, but if that doesn't work, they'll have to rely on the conservative passing game to keep Manning on his feet and off his back.

Defense
While the defense played great last week I wouldn't expect it to happen again, and with the way the Ravens' offense has been playing all year, don't be surprised to see this Colts defensive unit get exhausted too quickly. The Colts will have to try to keep the Ravens offense off the field, stopping them as quickly as possible to give Manning and the offense more time to work with.

Special Teams
The Colts' special teams wasn't depended on too much last week, but it definitely will be in this game. KR Terrence Wilkins will have to give the Colts outstanding field position every time he touches the ball.

During The Game

Key Matchup
Ravens Defense vs Colts QB Peyton Manning. Manning will have to really step-up his game if the Colts want a chance at winning this game. He got bailed out last week by a strong surge from the Colts' defense, but if they can't do that again and Peyton struggles like last week, they will be screwed.

What To Watch For
The Ravens blitzing Peyton Manning. The Ravens will try to bring pressure on Manning all game, and if they can and rattle him up, they will win. Plain and simple.

Prediction
If there's one thing that we should expect in this game it's an ugly, low-scoring match between two teams with opposite strengths. They key will be which strength prevails: the high-powered offense or the impenetrable defense. How the coaches prepare each unit will likely determine the result. If the Colts can call the perfect plays to counter-act the Ravens' blitzing schemes, they should be able to put up some points. If not, it'll be all over from the beginning. In the end it comes down to elite defense vs elite offense, and in the playoffs, I'll always go with the elite defense. The Ravens will win this game, 16-13.

Coaching Moves (BREAKING NEWS: PETRINO TO FALCONS)

2007-01-07T21:56:00.000-05:00

*THIS ARTICLE WILL BE UPDATED AS COACHING MOVES ARE MADE*

Hired
Bobby Petrino, Atlanta Falcons
The former Louisville Cardinals Head Coach just agreed on a 5-year, $24 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Other teams going after Petrino included the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals. Speculation continues to grow about what Petrino and his future staff will do with QB Michael Vick. Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Petrino that Vick isn't going anywhere, but things could possibly change.

Fired
Dennis Green, Arizona Cardinals
Green's stay in Arizona only lasted 3 years. Upon his signing, he inherited a team that looked like they were on the verge of finally making the playoffs due to their extremely explosive offensive unit. But in the end, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James, and even Matt Leinart weren't enough to help Green lift the team from the bottom of the barrel. Green will have a very tough time finding a new job, so his best bet might be to experiment with "small schools" in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: The Cardinals, filled with offensive firepower, will probably continue to look for a defensive-minded coach. Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator of the Raiders is a possibility as well as Tom Caughlin, current Giants head coach, as I expect him to be fired if the Giants get knocked out of the playoffs early.

Jim Mora, Atlanta Falcons
What lead to Mora's firing is pretty obvious. Two disappointing seasons in a row and his idiotic statements about wanting to coach in college football obviously lead to this decision. I doubt More is too unhappy, though, as he will likely now attack his dreams and coach in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: I think the #1 thing they will look for in their search for a new coach will be a coach that can gameplan to Michael Vick's strengths. Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator of the Steelers is a possibility due to his history of coming up with exotic offensive gameplans and his playoff experience. This could be spoiled if Bill Cowher does indeed retire and the Steelers decide to stay in-house and promote Whisenhunt. Another possibility is Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator of the Jets. Schottenheimer proved this year that he, too, can be a successful offensive coach after leading a talentless Jets offense to success. He used to be the QB coach of the Chargers and has a lot of experience working with QBs.

Moving On...
Nick Saban, Miami Dolphins
Saban did indeed leave the Dolphins for the Crimson Tide, signing an 8 year $32 million deal. It was obvious that Saban was not nearly as comfortable with the Dolphins as he was in college football.

Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cowher stepped down as the Steelers' coach so a lot of questions are now up in the air. Who will be his replacement? In-House coordinators Ken Whisenhunt (offensive) and Russ Grimm (defensive) seem to be the most likely choices, most probably the former.

Art Shell, Oakland Raiders
Shell stepped down as the Raiders' head coach, but it was probably more like a behind-closed-doors firing. Who his replacement will be is a mystery to mankind.

Bye Bye, Barber

2007-01-07T19:57:00.000-05:00

In the game that will mark the last time Tiki Barber suits-up for the Giants, Big Blue lost a nail-biter to the Philadelphia Eagles in a game where he rushed for a respectable 137 yards on 26 carries.

After an explosive start by the Giants, which featured an early Eli Manning-to-Plaxico Burress TD connection, the Eagles took over the game by out-scoring the Giants 17-3 in the 2nd quarter.

The 3rd quarter finished with an Eagles FG, but the Giants weren't done yet.

After an early Jay Feely FG in the beginning of the 4th quarter, Eli Manning got his game back on after a long drought by connecting with Plaxico Burress for their 2nd TD of the game. After riding the clock all they way to 3 seconds, the Eagles finished the game off with a game-winning FG from David Akers.

Eagles win, 23-20.

The Eagles will be traveling to New Orleans next Saturday for their Divisional Playoff matchup.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

2007-01-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

If you weren't able to see the game, don't look at the scoreboard and assume the Patriots just beat-down the Jets.

These two teams played a great game and it shouldn't go unnoticed. The score was eventually piled up by a couple of bonehead turnovers, but both teams fought until the end with a strong mutual respect.

The first quarter displayed a defensive struggle after the Patriots scored on an easy opening drive, but after that, it was a strong defensive showing from both teams.

The second quarter was a nail-biter with Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery catching a pass underneath and taking it 77 yards for a TD. The Patriots then followed it up with a FG and a methodical drive down field that lead to a goal line TD pass to TE Daniel Graham.

After a FG-filled third quarter, the game was extremely close until the Jets appeared very flat on offense and defense, allowing the Patriots to pad the score and making it a two-possession game with a time-consuming TD drive. On the Jets' next possession, Chad Pennington threw a pass right into the hands of Asante Samuel, who returned it for the coup de grâce.

What really stood out about the end of the game was the play of the Jets' offense. After playing so flat, Pennington came out and looked very flat. His very weak arm took the better of him as he made a terrible throw that was easily taken to the house be Samuel.

The game was finished off by a very nice, classy mid-field meeting by Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini. Belichick was so eager to give Mangini a respectful hug that he knocked a camera man that was standing in his way to the side.

Patriots win, 37-16.

Despite the lopsided score, this game was very close until the end of the 4th quarter. The Patriots look very strong and will be tough for the Chargers to handle next week.

I have a feeling that a lot of Jets fans will call for Chad Pennington's head. Word is that the Jets, like this past season, will have another 100% open competition for the starting QB position. Don't be surprised if you see Kellen Clemens, a young gunslinger, at the helm for the Jets next season.

Closed Holes & Botched Holds

2007-01-06T23:19:00.000-05:00

What happened on Saturday's Wild Card games were disasters. The Kansas City Chiefs were easily handled by the Indianapolis Colts while the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Seattle Seahawks on a play we seldom see.

The Chiefs' running game, which everyone, including myself, thought would be able to dominate the Colts went absolutely nowhere as Larry Johnson looked lost and as if he were in a phone booth when trying to find holes. Johnson had some nasty habits of running into his own blockers throughout the game.

Payton Manning struggled throughout the game as well, throwing three interceptions to only one touchdown. This is something we see often in the post season, but the Colts' defense stepped-up enough to save him and come out with a win.

Colts win, 23-8.

The Seahawks vs Cowboys came all but came down to a chip shot field goal. A field goal that isn't much different than an extra point. But what happened was beyond what anyone expected - after a perfect snap and a perfect catch, Tony Romo, the holder, fumbled the ball as he brought it to the ground. After picking it up with his eyes at the endzone, he was stopped short to leave the Cowboys behind 21-20.

Backed up into his own endzone, Shaun Alexander broke-off a 20 yard run to seemingly clinch the victory. After a Seahawks punt and an incomplete Cowboys "Hail Mary," the game was over.

Seahawks win, 21-20.

So far I am 1-1 on my post season predictions. Let's see how I do tomorrow when the Patriots take on the Jets for the early game and the Eagles take on the Giants for the late game.

(scroll down or click their respective links on the sidebar to read my previews and predictions for each game)

Wild Card Weekend: Eagles vs Giants

2007-01-06T13:57:00.000-05:00

On the last Wild Card matchup of the 2007 NFL Playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants in the second of two divisional matchups on Sunday. The Eagles, one of the hottest teams in the league, winners of their last 5 games, are going up against the Giants, who have gone 2-6 since starting off the season at 6-2. Will the greater momentum prove to be superior? Or can the Giants pull an upset on the road and spoil their division rivals Super Bowl hopes?

Philadelphia Eagles

Offense
The offense is lead by one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league - Jeff Garcia. Garcia shouldn't have too much trouble in the pocket due to the health, or lack thereof, of the Giants' front-four. The Eagles, who are known to pass a lot more than run, have become a much more balanced team as of late and should look to run it right up at the Giants' weak interior defensive line with RBs Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter. Look for the Eagles to throw it deep a few times to the likes of WRs Donte' Stallworth and Reggie Brown, attacking the weak Giants secondary. So long as Philly plays a conventional offense, they should be able to put a lot of points on the board.

Defense
While the Eagles defense has been playing well lately, their run defense will have a lot of trouble handling the strong Giants running game. The Eagles will have to bring eight or nine men in the box to stop the Giants on the ground, forcing them to pass. If they can stop the running game, expect to see a lot of blitzing to disrupt the Giants' inconsistent passing game. The key for the Eagles will be to stop the run. If they can do this, it should be a cakewalk. Look for S Sean Considine to be heavily involved with stopping the run in the box with the assistance of DTs Mike Patterson and Darwin Walker.

Special Teams
The Eagles' return game has struggled this season, but it will have to improve and give the offense good field position. The Giants can usually supply a deadly pass rush, so the Eagles will have to avoid getting pinned deep.

New York Giants

Offense
The Giants offense has struggled a lot lately, but when RB Tiki Barber can take control of the game, the Giants usually come out on top. Look for the Giants to run the ball early and often, trying to establish the running game and get on rhythm. It will be key for Barber to have a big day due to the shakiness of QB Eli Manning. Don't expect Eli to throw the ball that often, even on second-and-long or third-and-long type situations. He'll be asked to throw it deep every once in a while to WR Plaxico Burress, but with his limited pass attempts, look for him to get the ball to Barber and TE Jeremy Shockey in the flats.

Defense
The Giants defense has been a mess all season, suffering some key injuries and just lacking much talent in the secondary. It will be key for DEs Mathia Kiwanuka and Osi Umenyiora to get a lot of pressure in the backfield. If they can disrupt the pass and force the Eagles to be one-dimensional, the Giants shouldn't have too much trouble with LB Antonio Pierce and S's Will Demps and Gibril Wilson in run support. The Giants CB department is pretty weak, so if they can prevent the deep pass, they shouldn't have to worry too much.

Special Teams
The Giants' return game has been nothing special, but their punting and kicking game is pretty strong. While P Jeff Fealges isn't that great, he's been known to pin the offense deep in their own territory. PK Jay Feely has been good this year.

During The Game

Key Matchup
Eagles DE Trent Cole vs Giants OT Kareem McKenzie. McKenzie will have to contain Cole to help keep the Giants two-dimensional. Eli Manning struggles when under pressure, so it will be key to give him a lot of time in the pocket. The Giants will rely on the run game, but they can't depend on it to carry them throughout. They'll have to be able to set-up the pass as well, and that's where this matchup comes into play. The only way the Giants will be able to survive as a one-dimensional team is if they dominate in the trenches, so that makes this matchup even more important.

What To Watch For
Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin's play calling. If Coughlin is "playing not to lose" rather than "playing to win," the Giants will be in serious trouble. Coughlin has been criticized for his coaching all year, so this is a statement game. There is a lot of speculation, including from myself, that only a Super Bowl victory will keep Coughlin his job after this season, so if he loses control of the game by the 4th quarter with the team playing flat, you can expect to hear the announcement of his release within minutes after the game.

Prediction
This game will come down to which team can prove to be more multi-dimensional. When you look at both teams, you realize that the Eagles have easily been able to provide a balance between the passing game and running game with the combined efforts of Jeff Garcia and Brian Westbrook. The Giants, however, have only been able to show flashes of a passing game, while Tiki Barber has been the sole provider of production. I'm taking the Eagles to win big, 35-24.

Wild Card Weekend: Patriots vs Jets

2007-01-05T22:22:00.000-05:00

The New England Patriots play host to the New York Jets in the early game this Sunday in Foxborough. This will be game #3 for the pair, and it looks to be a very exciting game just like the previous two, which were split 1-1. The Patriots, who are surprisingly a mere 5-3 at home, are looking to end the surprising playoff run of the Jets, who are an impressive 6-2 on the road. Will these records bring a surprise upset? Or will the bullies of the post season put an end to a magical season?

New England Patriots

Offense
The Patriots' offense is lead by the great QB Tom Brady. Brady, who is nearly flawless in the playoffs, hopes to have a huge game assisted by the dual-threat running attack of RBs Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney. Look for the Patriots to run the ball down the Jets' throat, right into their weak spot - the middle. The Patriots WR core isn't anything to brag about, so don't expect any particular receiver to have a big game. So long as the Patriots run the ball the vast majority of the game they'll be fine.

Defense
The defense has been struggling with injuries lately, especially dealing with the absence of S Rodney Harrison, who will not be playing. The Patriots are hoping that NT Vince Wilfork will suit-up for the game, because if he's in, they'll surely be able to stop the weak running game of the Jets. Look for the Patriots to keep at least eight men in the box throughout the game to stop the short passing game of the Jets, and if they can do that successfully, they should easily be able to run away with the win.

Special Teams
The kick return game has been fantastic with Maroney making the returns. Rookie PK Stephen Gostkowski has been solid, but nothing to be excited for. The punting game has certainly struggled, but it's not too big of a worry.

New York Jets

Offense
The offense is lead by NFL Comeback Player of the Year QB Chad Pennington. Pennington's playoff record doesn't really stand out, but it's not bad either. Pennington is limited by his weak arm, but is known for putting good touch on his deep passes which create a lot of touchdowns. The Jets will likely have to throw the ball throughout the game, so expect to see the same old short, intermediate passing game at first including screens to the likes of RB Leon Washington and WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, followed by a couple of deep shots to either one of them. TE Chris Baker could also get heavily involved in the short passing game. Also don't be surprised if Slash player Brad Smith takes a few snaps at QB and runs for a short first down. Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is known for his creativity and gadget plays, so expect to see a few if the Jets are looking to take the lead.

Defense
The Jets' run defense has been awful all season. Among the worst in the league in total rushing yards allowed, the Jets are barely surviving in that area by not giving up many big plays or making dumb mistakes. NT Dewayne Robertson will have to do a better job of eating-up blockers, allowing ILBs Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton to stop the run. S Kerry Rhodes has had an excellent season rushing the passer, and that's exactly what he will have to do for the Jets to put pressure on the QB. If the Jets want a shot at winning, they must get the passer dirty. Also watch out for DE/LB Bryan Thomas on the edge.

Special Teams
The Jets' special teams has been one of the best in the NFL all season with Pro Bowl KR Justin Miller. PK Mike Nugent has been on fire and P Ben Graham is still very solid. Nugent has to improve on his kickoff distance to pin back the Patriots.

During The Game

Key Matchup
Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick vs Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini. This chess match will be known as Belichick vs Mangini III and nothing else. The two coaches are 1-1 against each other, both men beating each other on the road. Both teams are almost dead-even in terms of talent, so the game will really come down to which team is better prepared and executes better. Look for a tough, griddy stalemate all the way towards the end of the game.

What To Watch For
The passing game. On offense, you have Pennington, who, unexpectedly, is so successful with his style. On defense, you have the Patriots, who are expected to easily stop said passing game, although so many other teams had failed to do so. What makes it so successful? Nobody knows. Either way, the Patriots will have to find a way to stop it, because if they can, they should easily win. If they don't however, the Jets will methodically move down the field.

Prediction
This is probably the toughest decision among all the playoff games this weekend. These two teams have already played each other twice, and each has come out with one victory. Who will take the 2-1 advantage? Who will slip out of the Wild Card round and into the Divisional round? This game, like I said, will be a low-scoring chess match between two mirror-image teams. In the end it will come down to coaching, and usually in this case, experience prevails. The Patriots will win this game in the last minute, something to the tune of 13-10.

Wild Card Weekend: Seahawks vs Cowboys

2007-01-05T09:48:00.000-05:00

After the Chiefs vs Colts game America will be watching the Seattle Seahawks take on the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks have the lowest Strength of Victory among playoff teams, the third lowest SoV in the NFL, and the second lowest Strength of Schedule in both the NFL and among playoff teams, only behind the 13-3 Chicago Bears. The Dallas Cowboys are just ending a regular season meltdown which caused them to lose first place in the NFC East, and it doesn't look like they are getting any better. Both teams have played worse than expectations and both teams are seemingly "backing" into the playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks

Offense
The Sehawks offense has been inconsistent and injury-riddled this season, so it's a possibility that we haven't seen everything they can bring to the table. RB Shaun Alexander suffered the Madden Curse while QB Matt Hasselbeck might have got a taste as well. But which one of them will have to carry the team on Saturday? WR Darrell Jackson might not play, and with a couple of more questionable injuries on the offensive line, don't be surprised to see Shaun Alexander get about 40 touches in the game including carries and receptions. What the Seahawks will have to do is figure out a way to attack the bubbles that the Cowboys' 3-4 defense exposes, so if they can open some holes against the front-3, you'll be seeing a lot of 5-6 yard runs.

Defense
The Seahawks' defense has been nothing but average this season, even against the bad teams. You can call that underachieving with such a talented front-7. DE Bryce Fisher and LBs Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson will need to have big games, especially from the edge rush brought by both Fisher and Peterson. The secondary has been pretty weak and isn't as healthy as they would like. The inexperience at QB for the Cowboys will certainly help the Seahawks as it will be safer to send a big blitz every now and then to try and confuse.

Special Teams
Like the defense, the Seahawks' special teams has been completely average in all facets. This group will have to show up on Saturday to help Seattle win the field position battle.

Dallas Cowboys

Offense
From an offense that has looked great when QB Tony Romo made his debut to an offense that has looked flat since teams have been able to study him, the Cowboys have been just as inconsistent as any team in the league. Due to Romo's inexperience and shaky past few weeks, expect the Cowboys to run a very conventional offense. A simple "run to set-up the pass" strategy will be in place. The Cowboys will have to pound the ball with RBs Julius Jones and Marion Barber so Romo can have more room to work with when he's asked the throw the ball. After a few runs, look for the Cowboys to attack the weak Seattle secondary through the air.

Defense
The defense, like the offense, has gone from good to bad in a matter of weeks and is really looking terrible. The life of the defense comes from LB DeMarcus Ware. His pass rush ability has been the only thing keeping them alive. But you can bet that the Seattle coaching staff knows this and will be able to neutralize him, putting at least a TE or RB in to help the OT stop him. If the 'Hawks can handle the pass rush of Ware, the Cowboys are in a lot of trouble.

Special Teams
While P Mat Briar has been phenomenal this season, it's still up in the air as to whether or not PK Martin Gramatica can be trusted to handle the clutch kicking duties in the playoffs.

During The Game

Key Matchup
Seahawks C Chris Spencer vs Cowboys NT Jason Ferguson and Seahawks LT Walter Jones vs Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware. Both of these matchups are extremely important for both teams. It will be key for the inexperienced Spencer to stop the veteran Ferguson one-on-one, because if you can contain the NT one-on-one, you automatically control the line of scrimmage. If Spencer needs help with Ferguson, it will likely leave Jones one-on-one with Ware, which can only be bad for the Seahawks. Jones matches up well with Ware, but he won't be able to take care of him alone every single down.

What To Watch For
Cowboys QB Tony Romo's inexperience. This is Romo's first season as a starter and it will be the first time he's played in the playoffs. This could really hurt the team, especially when the whole team is struggling. His offensive line has just been sub-par and with all that talent on the Seahawks' front-7 looking to not only confuse Romo, but to rough him up as well, things will be very tough for Dallas.

Prediction
This is a tough game. Both teams have been struggling, but both teams have great coaches that can help through that struggle. So far this season the Seahawks have been just as good home as the Cowboys have been away, both being 5-3 in their respective situations. Home field advantage can go a long way in the playoffs, and although the Seahawks don't have it throughout the playoffs, they have it for this game. Seattle's "12th man" will be the difference maker in this game, and the Seahawks will win it, 27-17.

Wild Card Weekend: Colts vs Chiefs

2007-01-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

The first playoff matchup of the season kicks off at 4:30 at the RCA Dome on Saturday. The Chiefs, who are coming off a big win against the Jaguars, and the Colts, who have struggled lately to pull off a winning streak. Can the Colts' defense finally step-up and stop the dominant Chiefs running game?

Indianapolis Colts

Offense
The Colts' explosive offense is lead by the great Peyton Manning. Manning is known for two things: shredding-up bad defenses and choking in the playoffs. Well now he has the chance to do both. Expect the Colts to rely on the passing game to take control of the scoreboard. The Chiefs' biggest weakness is probably the interior defensive line, so expect a lot of pressure to come from the edges, thus leaving the flats open for the likes of TEs Dallas Clark and Ben Utecht, along with RBs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. Don't expect Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne to have huge days, because the Colts won't be throwing deep too often. They know they need to keep the Chiefs offense on the sidelines, so look for a methodical, conservative approach.

Defense
The Colts' defense has been absolutely terrible this season and it all starts with the lack of beef in the middle. While their Cover 2 disallows the DTs to be run-stuffers, they still have trouble clogging holes and forcing the RB to bounce outside. With the absence of S Bob Sanders, the Colts defense has struggled to get a decent tackle on the ball carrier, so if the Chiefs can get to the second level, expect a TD. Hopefully Sanders is healthy for the game. The key for the Colts defense will be to force the pass and get pressure on the QB with DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

Special Teams
PK Adam Vinatieri is kicking for 89.3% this season, the third highest mark of his career. Although nothing has really stood out about him this season, his magic usually takes place in the playoffs. Can he finally get the Colts over the hump?

Kansas City Chiefs

Offense
Surprise, surprise! RB Larry Johnson has broken the record for most carries in a season at 416. Or should we give the record to Herman Edwards who ultimately forced it upon him? Either way, Johnson has been on fire lately and should easily tear-up the terrible rush defense of the Colts. Don't expect Trent Green or Eddie Kennison to do much, as Johnson will likely get anywhere from 35-45 carries.

Defense
The Chiefs' defense is a middle-of-the-pack unit that is lead by an underrated pass-rushing tandem in DEs Jared Allen and Tamba Hali. The secondary is filled with big names that are underachieving. And while the defense hasn't been nearly as bad the Colts have, any defense can look silly against them. It will be key for the Chiefs to get as much pressure on the QB as they can from the front-four, because they could use as many guys in coverage as possible.

Special Teams
KR/PR Dante Hall won't be relied on too much in this game, as it shouldn't hurt the Chiefs too much to be in bad field position. If anything, it could help them control the clock and keep the Colts offense off the field.

During The Game

Key Matchup
Chiefs RB Larry Johnson vs Colts Defense. Don't be surprised if Johnson finishes the game with 6+ yards per carry. With his quick, yet bruising running style, he should easily be able to break all the arm tackles the Colts try to bring him down with. Whether it's running up the middle or bouncing outside and turning the corner, Johnson shouldn't have many problems getting to the second level. But if the Colts defense finally shows up, it could spell trouble for Kansas City.

What To Watch For
Chiefs Head Coach Herman Edwards' play calling. Although you can say that it was necessary, you have to at least consider that Johnson's 26 carries per game was a little excessive. But if theres one game he should be sending Johnson to do that in, it's this one. Edwards is often criticized by his disability to manage the clock, but it should naturally fix itself with the right playcalling: run, run, run.

Prediction
I feel more confident about this game than the other AFC Wild Card matchup. The Colts' biggest weakness is stopping the run and the Chiefs' biggest strength is running the ball. When you combine those two things, the answer should be clear. Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning can never seem to get it done in the playoffs, but Herman Edwards hasn't been that great of a post-season coach himself. This game will come down to which team can control the Time of Possession. I'm taking the Chiefs to win, 31-20.

Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

2007-01-01T16:52:00.000-05:00

With the NFL in post-season mode the real road to the Super Bowl has begun. There are a few surprise teams in the playoffs this season in both the AFC and NFC, so let's look at the playoff teams and see how they rank.

1. Baltimore Ravens
Once the playoffs begin it's a whole new season. What happened in the regular season is irrelevant. The Ravens have the best defense in the league and the experience needed to make a strong playoff push.

2. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers were the best team in the regular season, but the defense has been a bit inconsistent in terms of points allowed as of late. The Chargers may still very well be the best team in the league, but Marty Schottenheimer's history of "Marty-Ball" is a scary thing for the Chargers and their fans. Can he finally get over the hump?

3. New England Patriots
They still lack elite talent but they make up for it with elite coaching and an elite quarterback. The Patriots are one of the best post-season teams in NFL history under head coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. Can they recapture the Super Bowl and re-establish the dynasty?

4. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have been one of, if not the, hottest team in the NFL since the unfortunate injury to Donovan McNabb. Jeff Garcia has lead this team to not only the playoffs, but to a division title.

5. Chicago Bears
The Bears' defense is good enough to make it to the Super Bowl, but if Rex Grossman starts to have another breakdown, the Bears could be one-and-done. This team will have to have an extremely conservative offensive gameplan if they want to reach the promised land.

6. New Orleans Saints
The Saints' explosive offense has cooled down in the past couple of weeks, but should be right back on fire come playoff time. If the defense can hold up the Saints could make a very strong push, but if it slips, the Saints will struggle.

7. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have so much offensive talent, but are infested with a terrible defense. On top of that, they always seem to choke in the playoffs. Can Manning and Dungy finally get over the hump?

8. New York Jets
The Jets have been very strong, going 6-2 since there bye week and giving up the least amount of points in the NFL over that span. Can Eric Mangini and the Jets carry out that momentum into the playoffs?

9. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have struggled and are truly backing into the playoffs. Romo has struggled, Parcells has struggled, and Owens has, well, been Owens. We can only hope the Cowboys don't implode.

10. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have been an up-and-down team lately and are also backing into the playoffs, something no team wants to go through. It will be tough for them to get through Round 1, but if they can, they should be OK due to the weakness of the NFC and their playoff experience.

11. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs got lucky to get into the dance, but I wouldn't count them out too soon. They may not be the best team, but I think the matchup very well with the Colts and can beat them.

12. New York Giants
The Giants are a team that puzzles a lot of people. They started out 6-2 and finished up 2-6. They have so much talent but it all goes to waste by a seemingly terrible coaching staff. I don't expect much from this team.

You're Fired!

2007-01-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

*THIS ARTICLE WILL BE UPDATED AS COACHING MOVES ARE MADE*

Moving On...
Nick Saban, Miami Dolphins... Alabama Crimson Tide?
It is being reported that Alabama will make a "big offer" to Miami Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban today. Whether he accepts the offer is still up in the air, but we can still speculate. I think that Saban will ultimately leave the Dolphins to go back to coaching in college where he is obviously more comfortable and more successful.
Saban did indeed leave the Dolphins for the Crimson Tide, signing an 8 year $32 million deal. It was obvious that Saban was not nearly as comfortable with the Dolphins as he was in college football.
Possible Replacements: You'll likely hear the usual names being thrown around like Ron Rivera, Rob Ryan, and Ken Whisenhunt, but I think there's a huge sleeper pick that could eventually get the job. Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz has been a target over the past few years. Expect his name to pop up.

Fired
Dennis Green, Arizona Cardinals
Green's stay in Arizona only lasted 3 years. Upon his signing, he inherited a team that looked like they were on the verge of finally making the playoffs due to their extremely explosive offensive unit. But in the end, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James, and even Matt Leinart weren't enough to help Green lift the team from the bottom of the barrel. Green will have a very tough time finding a new job, so his best bet might be to experiment with "small schools" in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: The Cardinals, filled with offensive firepower, will probably continue to look for a defensive-minded coach. Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator of the Raiders is a possibility as well as Tom Caughlin, current Giants head coach, as I expect him to be fired if the Giants get knocked out of the playoffs early.

Jim Mora, Atlanta Falcons
What lead to Mora's firing is pretty obvious. Two disappointing seasons in a row and his idiotic statements about wanting to coach in college football obviously lead to this decision. I doubt More is too unhappy, though, as he will likely now attack his dreams and coach in the college ranks.
Possible Replacements: I think the #1 thing they will look for in their search for a new coach will be a coach that can gameplan to Michael Vick's strengths. Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator of the Steelers is a possibility due to his history of coming up with exotic offensive gameplans and his playoff experience. This could be spoiled if Bill Cowher does indeed retire and the Steelers decide to stay in-house and promote Whisenhunt. Another possibility is Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator of the Jets. Schottenheimer proved this year that he, too, can be a successful offensive coach after leading a talentless Jets offense to success. He used to be the QB coach of the Chargers and has a lot of experience working with QBs.

Hired

2006 Awards

2007-01-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

The season has come to an end and the playoffs are around the corner. So let's reflect on what happened in one of the most memorable seasons in recent history.

*REMEMBER: THESE ARE MY OPINIONS - NOT PREDICTIONS*

Most Valuable Player - LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
It seemed like Tomlinson was breaking record after record every single week this season. He was easily the league's best player and is easily the best player in the NFL. Don't discredit his offensive line, however, because they were absolutely fantastic all season long.
Runner-up: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Offensive Player - LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Read above.
Runner-up: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Defensive Player - Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos
Bailey dominated in the Broncos secondary all year long. Even through the midst of a Denver late-season meltdown, Bailey was at his A-game and lead his defense through the tough times. Although he missed out on the playoffs, Bailey racked up ten interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Runner-up: Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego Chargers; Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins

Offensive Rookie - Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans (#3 overall pick)
Vince Young did what is only seldom seen. He took over at QB for a struggling team and lead them to the edge of the playoff picture, only to get knocked out at the last minute by a strong Patriots team. Vince Young looks like a stud and should be one of the top quarterbacks in the league for years to come.
Runner-up: Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints (7th round pick)

Defensive Rookie - DeMeco Ryans, LB, Houston Texans (2nd round pick)
Not only was Ryans great value in the draft, and not only did he rack up tons and tons of stats, but he came into Houston and took control of the defense from day one. He's proven to be a leader on the field calling plays and reading offenses. Ryans has a very bright future with the Texans.
Runner-up: Devin Hester, CB/KR/PR, Chicago Bears (5th round pick)

Disappointing Rookie - Bobby Carpenter, LB, Dallas Cowboys (#18 overall pick)
Carpenter only appeared in 12 games and finished the season with 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks. That's not what you'd expect from an OLB in a Bill Parcells defense, and especially not what you'd expect from a Bill Parcells first round draft pick.
Runner-up: Mario Williams, DE, Houston Texans (#1 overall pick)

Sophomore Star - Kerry Rhodes, S, New York Jets
Kerry Rhodes grew up to be a leader on a talentless Jets defense that ranked among the worst in rushing defense in the league while in a transitional period, moving from the 4-3 to the 3-4. Rhodes also lead all safeties in the NFL in sacks.
Runner-up: Frank Gore, RB, San Fransisco 49ers

Sophomore Slump - Carnell Williams, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Williams had a great rookie season running for 1178 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. This season, he had 798 yards, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry. That's a slump if I've ever seen one.
Runner-up: Odell Thurman, LB, Cincinnati Bengals

Comeback Player - Chad Pennington, QB, New York Jets
Pennington not only came back from 2 straight freak injuries, but he was a large component of a surprising Jets team that finished 10-6 and made it to the playoffs. People will always doubt his tools and ability, but nobody can question his determination.
Runner-up: Javon Walker, WR, Denver Broncos

Out of Nowhere - Frank Gore, RB, San Fransisco 49ers
Frank Gore, in his second year in the league, absolutely dominated in every facet of the game this year. Among the league leaders in rushing yards, Gore helped carry the 49ers to surprising season in which they almost made the playoffs.
Runner-up: Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Coach of the Year - Eric Mangini, New York Jets
Eric Mangini, the Penguin, Mangenius, Coach of the Year. All four are different names that you can call the young head coach of the New York Jets. Mangini took the NFL by storm by leading his Jets to a very surprising 10-6 record and the 5th seed in the playoffs, playing in the very tough AFC East, let alone the AFC.
Runner-up: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

Power Rankings (Week 16)

2006-12-26T16:06:00.000-05:00

This will be the final edition of Power Rankings. A new segment will be made for the Playoffs.

1. San Diego Chargers (13-2)
The Chargers are the class of the NFL. A dominating running game, a solid passing game, and an all-around great defense makes them the envy of the league. The 'Bolts are marching into the playoffs with their heads held high, but will "Marty-Ball" hold them back?

2. Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
The Ravens probably have the best all-around defense in the league in terms of health and productivity, and when the offense is clicking, they might be the best team in the league. It's a shame that their offense isn't as consistent as they would like, but that's been the Raven way for years.

3. New England Patriots (11-4)
Although they might not be the best on paper, Tom Brady is playing well and the team has clinched the division. The Patriots are one of the best playoff teams in NFL history, so to see them in the playoffs is a nightmare. This team is always very strong this time of year, and should be as competitive as anybody come playoff time.

4. Chicago Bears (13-2)
It looks like the media is biting way too hard on Brian Griese's playing time last week. Why? Well, they'll pounce on any slight indication that Grossman is "done." The truth is, however, the Bears have clinched, well, everything. Why not give your starters a rest? Don't worry, there's no controversy in the organization.

5. New Orleans Saints (10-5)
They looked pretty spotty at times against the Giants, but they overcame their own troubles and really put a pounding on the New York Underachievers. The Saints are in the playoffs, something nobody expected, and they have one of the most dangerous offenses in the league, something nobody wants to face.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)
Wow, I was proven wrong. Jeff Garcia is leading his team to a possible division title after knocking off the Cowboys in a very impressive win last week. The Eagles look very strong right now and should be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
They haven't quite clinched anything yet, but now that Jay Cutler is finally playing up to expectations, the Broncos should be able to capture that 5th seed this upcoming Sunday.

8. New York Jets (9-6)
Who would've thought the Jets would be fighting for a playoff spot in week 17? Well, if they beat the Raiders on Sunday, they'll be in.

9. Tennessee Titans (8-7)
After making one of the greatest turn-arounds in NFL history, in large part of the combined efforts of QB Vince Young and HC Jeff Fisher, the Titans are right back in the playoff mix.

10. Indianapolis Colts (11-4)
I wish I could put the Colts even lower, but it just doesn't seem right. Then again, if you've watched them lately, it wouldn't seem right to call them a good team. This is literally one of the worst defenses I've ever seen.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
The Bengals have been on-and-off lately, and if it weren't for that botched PAT snap, maybe they'd be higher. Either way, the Bengals are now fighting for a playoff spot and do not control their own destiny.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
The Jags are in the same class as the Bengals. Another on-and-off team that doesn't control their destiny any more. 9-7 just doesn't get you into the playoffs in the AFC, so they can kiss their Super Bowl hopes goodbye.

13. Dallas Cowboys (9-6)
The Cowboys just look lost on the field. Maybe they're getting too cocky, maybe they're folding under tough competition. We'll see come playoff time. But if this trend of losing to good teams continues, they could very well be eliminated in round one.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (8-7)
They beat the lowly Raiders, but still don't control their own destiny. Control of your own destiny is a luxury in the NFL, and when you can't do it, you lose hopes. Sorry, Chiefs. I warned you about Herman Edwards.

15. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
After a terrible loss to San Fransisco, followed by a tough one to San Diego, the Seahawks are now backing into the playoffs with their heads pointing towards the ground. I don't think this team is much of a threat this time of year, and should be eliminated early.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8)
The Rams are a team that nobody wants to face. They have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, and in the playoffs, that can be enough to sneak a victory. Don't buy into them too early, though. Their defense is still terrible.

17. Carolina Panthers (7-8)
Can thye Panthers make a final playoff push? They'll need a lot of help. But with Chris Weinke at QB, I just can't see them being much of a threat at all. Their record tells you what kind of team they are: Average. Especially if they finish off at .500.

18. Buffalo Bills (7-8)
The Bills looked great the past few weeks, but after the plague that is Vince Young knocked them out, the Bills' slim playoff hopes are now dead. The future looks bright, tough.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
The Steelers are now dead, but I don't think they're as awful as they played at times this season. They had a terrible offseason that affected the team greatly, but with a good dip into free agency and the draft, they should be right back in the mix next season.

20. Green Bay Packers (7-8)
The Packers are actually right in the mix for the playoffs and are currently the #7 seed. It's gonna be tough facing the Bears, but if they can somehow pull out with a win, they'll be in the playoffs with the assistance of the Washington Redskins.

21. Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
The Falcons are just a very inconsistent team. Will they stay together for next season? Will Mini-Mora be back? Schaub? Even Vick? It's tough to say now, but with the way things are currently looking, we can see a big shake-up next year.

22. New York Giants (7-8)
There's not much to say about the Giants. Such wasted talent.

23. San Fransisco 49ers (6-9)
The 49ers have played well at times and awful at times. The future does look bright for this organization, but they're officially out this year.

24. Miami Dolphins (6-9)
After a tough loss to the Jets on Monday Night Football, the Dolphins are a disaster. Will Saban be back? Is Cleo Lemon the new starter? How will they fix the aging defense? It's going to be a long offseason.

25. Houston Texans (5-10)
They were finally able to defeat Peyton Manning, but not the way they had hoped. Either way, the Texans are still a bottom-of-the-barrel team desperately looking for ways to get better. A few more good drafts and they should be in contention, but with the rise of the Titans in the AFC South, it's going to be tough to crack into #2.

26. Washington Redskins (5-10)
The Redskins are out, but hopefully they can spoil their rival's chances at the playoffs by beating them this Sunday.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)
Why hasn't Tim Rattay played all year? They've looked pretty good with him. Hopefully they can play better next season, but with an aging defense and a suspect offensive line, things don't look too bright.

28. Arizona Cardinals (5-10)
With Matt Leinart now out for the season (oh, the humanity!) it doesn't look like the Cardinals will be able to win their final remaining game. He's looked impressive at times, so maybe if the Cardinals can get some sort of defense and offensive line, they can finally play up to their potential.

29. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
I was hoping that Tarvaris Jackson what spark some life into the Vikings, but I was wrong. This team is just bad. Don't let their great run defense fool you, the rest of the team is awful.

30. Cleveland Browns (4-11)
The Browns are a team just destined for injuries. It now seems like LeCharles Bentley won't be back next season, still recovering from surgery and a staph infection. Oh well. Hopefully they'll get the number one pick in '08.

31. Detroit Lions (2-13)
Will the Lions draft for the future? Will Matt Millen finally get the can? Lions fans can only hope.

32. Oakland Raiders (2-13)
A terrible team with more questions than answers.

Power Rankings (week 14)

2006-12-11T17:09:00.000-05:00

1. San Diego Chargers (11-2)
The Chargers are easily the most balanced team in the NFL, and with MVP candidate LaDainain Tomlinson leading the way, the Chargers are rolling into the playoffs with ease after clinching the division.

2. Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
The offense is coming back to life and the defense is as strong as ever. Going into Arrow Head and winning is difficult, but they did it with ease on Sunday. When you're playing for a first round bye in the playoffs by week 14, it really says something.

3. Chicago Bears (11-2)
With Rex Grossman back in shape, the Bears are once again one of the strongest teams in the NFL, and probably the best in the NFC. When you're playing for a first round bye in the playoffs by week 14, it really says something.

4. New Orleans Saints (9-4)
The Saints' defense looked pretty good against the Cowboys and the offense, ranked #1 in the NFL, is outstanding. Drew Brees is a legit MVP contender while Marques Colston and Reggie Bush are right in there for Rookie of the Year.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
The Jags absolutely dominated the Colts on Sunday. While it was expected the Jaguars would run all over them, nobody predicted 375 rushing yards. The Jags defense also played well, holding Manning to one of his worst games of the seasons. The Jaguars are consistently inconsistent, but let's see if they can carry this momentum into the playoffs.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (8-5)
The Bengals' defense has looked great lately and that offense can't get any worse. Despite problems with the law, the Bengals are right in the playoff mix and seem to be rolling on all cylinders.

7. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)
The Cowboys took a beating on Sunday, but it was partially due to some heavy distractions (cough... cough.. TO... cough). Take no credit away from the Saints for playing a great game, but the Cowboys just stunk it up and are now, once again, still fighting for the division.

8. New England Patriots (9-3)
That was a bad, bad loss for the Patriots. They simply got out-played in all facets of the game. Growing speculation says the Dolphins "cheated," but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

9. Indianapolis Colts (10-3)
Surprised to see them this low? Don't be. One more loss and you'll see them here everywhere. Some words of advice for the Colts: LEARN TO TACKLE.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (7-6)
The Eagles have played well despite the absence of Donovan McNabb. Jeff Garcia looks comfortable and he's being as productive as ever. The Eagles are right back in the playoff hunt and still fighting for the division.

11. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
The Seahawks suffered a tough loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals. This team just isn't as good as their record indicates while their strength of schedule is among the easiest in the NFL. They're going to have a tough time come playoffs.

12. Tennessee Titans (6-7)
Talk about a turn-around. After four straight wins, including three come-from-behind spectacles from Vince Young, the Titans are still in the playoff hunt and look like one of the better teams in the league right now.

13. Denver Broncos (7-6)
Jay Cutler has improved his on-field play and it should only get better from here on out. The Broncos will likely miss out on the playoffs this season, but should finish off with their heads high and go into next season right back where they started.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)
After a tough loss at home the Chiefs seem to be slipping down in the playoff race. Don't be surprised if this team finishes off the season on a down note - I'm expecting about 8-8. Larry Johnson is getting a lot of carries and it could tire him out too much to finish off the season.

15. New York Giants (7-6)
After a good win against a disappointing Carolina team, the Giants are right back in the playoff race and now carry the 5th seed. Consistency has been their #1 concern, however, so it'll be tough for them to finish off the season.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7)
The Steelers are doing what they should be doing - beating up on the bad teams. But they still don't have enough to make a late playoff push like they did last year. The future is still bright for this team, though. Just a year after winning the Super Bowl, they don't exactly have glaring holes. A good 2007 draft should get them right back in the mix, even in that tough AFC North division.

17. Atlanta Falcons (7-6)
The Falcons will need Michael Vick to perform well for the rest of the season if they want a shot at the playoffs. Can he do it? We'll see. It doesn't look good for them, though, with the new life in the Eagles.

18. Buffalo Bills (6-7)
The explosive Bills beat-down the Jets on Sunday. They've been pretty on-and-off this season, but when they're hot, they're on fire. I expect the Bills to finish off the season on a good note, but watch out. They'll be a contender next season.

19. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
The Dolphins defense was outstanding against the Patriots, but I'm not sold, especially with this new speculation about them "cheating." They may very well have the defensive player of the year, but this team has been up-and-down.

20. New York Jets (7-6)
The Jets embarrassed themselves at home on Sunday. Can they rebound and still compete for the playoffs? One more loss and they're out. With a QB who struggles against good defenses plus the fact that their next 3 games are against top-10 defenses, it doesn't look good for the Jets. Maybe next year.

21. Carolina Panthers (6-7)
The Panthers have easily been the most disappointing team in the NFL this season. They've fallen 20 spots since my original rankings. Either way, this team is better then their record indicates. Like many other teams, it's a matter of consistency. And the only thing that this team is consistent with is being consistently inconsistent.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
The Vikings are just another up-and-down team beating up on the really bad ones. I hope Tarvaris Jackson is as good as they think he is, because if he can perform well, and the Vikings can get a little more talent around him, this team will be great again. We'll have to wait for next season, though.

23. Washington Redskins (4-9)
The Redskins kept it close on Sunday, but they just can't get over the hump. Jason Campbell looks okay from what I've seen, and with a couple of more years of experience under his belt, he'll be okay in Washington, especially with all the talent they bring in - every. single. year.

24. Green Bay Packers (5-8)
As the season comes to an end there is no doubt that the Packers will suffer the question marks surrounding Brett Favre. Although they're coming off of a big win, it seems that the season is lost.

25. San Francisco 49ers (5-8)
The 'Niners teased us all by looking good for a while, but then go and stink it up again. With Vernon Davis back at full strength, maybe they can make a real run for a wildcard spot next season.

26. St. Louis Rams (5-8)
The Rams put up a good fight, but they didn't do enough to win the game. It's happened a lot this year, and that's why the Rams are still just another team. They've got a lot of talent but can't find a way to win games. The defense must improve, especially against the run.

27. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
The Cardinals are on a hot streak and are looking to finish off the season on a very high note. Maybe with a little defensive help through the draft and free agency, especially considering they have one of the highest amounts of cap room in the league, they can compete next season - even if they get a new head coach.

28. Houston Texans (4-9)
The Texans are sure regretting passing on Reggie Bush and Vince Young, probably more so the latter. Hopefully Mario Williams can prove himself in the remaining weeks and get a little more productive. Until then, the Texans are just another team.

29. Cleveland Browns (4-9)
Who would've thought that a second-year backup QB coming off a great win against the Chiefs would blow it against the Steelers. Oh well. Will Romeo be back next season?

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-10)
Bruce Gradkowski just hasn't been able to lift the team enough to get some wins. Right now they have one of the least productive offenses in the NFL in terms of scoring. Let's see what they do with the QB position in the offseason - bring back Simms, draft a stud, or roll with Bruce.

31. Detroit Lions (2-11)
With Kevin Jones now done for the season, the Lions' hope of - oh wait, they had nothing to play for. If Matt Millen is still the GM of this team just 24 hours after the season ends, you know something is corrupt in Detroit.

32. Oakland Raiders (2-11)
Awful... just... awful.

Power Rankings (week 13)

2006-12-05T17:02:00.000-05:00

My apologies for not updating the power rankings after week 12.

1. San Diego Chargers (10-2)
They've played some close games lately, but the best always win them. This is still the most complete team in the NFL.

2. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)
The Cowboys are the new NFC Super Bowl favorites and are back at where I predicted them to be at the beginning of the year.

3. New England Patriots (9-3)
They might not be playing the best football, but the playoffs are around the corner and the Patriots are just too dangerous this time of year.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
The defense has been superb as of late and the offense is still very explosive.

5. Indianapolis Colts (10-2)
I haven't trusted this team since the beginning. Although the "Any Given Sunday" rule was made for football, good teams have to be able to beat up on the weaker ones. Don't take ANY credit away from the Titans for winning that game, they deserved it and played to win, but the Colts are clearly a more talented team and should have won.

6. Chicago Bears (10-2)
The defense is carrying the team into the playoffs, but it'll be up to Rex Grossman to take them to the big dance.

7. Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
They're a better team than this, but they did lose to the Bengals, and that warrants a drop in the rankings. The Ravens are very talented and well-coached team, but they have to be able to put more offensive points on the board.

8. New Orleans Saints (8-4)
Reggie Bush has finally shown up, and don't expect the spotlight to dim down. If/when the Saints make the playoffs with Bush still playing the way he did against the 'Niners, he might steal Rookie of the Year honors from his teammate Marques Colston.

9. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)
They beat up a rookie QB, but didn't do much on offense on Sunday. This lack of production may truly tell us how good, or bad, this team is come playoff time.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)
The Jaguars are so up-and-down, but when they play well, they win. Hands-down.

11. New York Jets (7-5)
The Jets have been one of the hottest teams as of late, and with a creampuff schedule to feed on, they could preserve their current #6 seed.

12. Denver Broncos (7-5)
With a rookie QB at the helm, it's going to be tough for the Broncos to do anything the rest of the season.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (7-5)
LEARN TO TACKLE!

14. Philadelphia Eagles (6-6)
The Eagles look strong with or without Donovan McNabb. Jeff Garcia is proving to be a great backup and now the Eagles are right back in the playoff hunt.

15. Tennessee Titans (5-7)
Wow. That's all that can be said. This team was a bottom-feeder just a few weeks ago and has bounced back to beat 3 good teams in a row, most notably two magical wins against the Giants and Colts.

16. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
Congrats, you won. Now do it again. I dare you.

17. Carolina Panthers (6-6)
So much talent, so much disappointment. Who is to blame? Jake Delhomme? John Fox? I guess we'll see in the offseason. Changes will be made.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)
Another up-and-down team that beats up on the bad teams and gets beaten up by the good ones.

19. New York Giants (6-6)
Four losses in a row equates to extremely low amounts of momentum. I'll be surprised to see this team at 8-8.

20. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
The Dolphins' momentum is down so they are now playing for their lives. Could this bring the best of them, or will it bring more shame?

21. Buffalo Bills (5-7)
The Bills have some flashes of excellence but just can't get the "W."

22. San Fransisco 49ers (5-7)
This team is still a huge surprise for me mainly because I thought they would be 1-11 at this point. They've looked good at times.

23. St. Louis Rams (5-7)
They started off so strong, but now they're just another team. Losing to Arizona must have hurt, huh?

24. Cleveland Browns (4-8)
They stunned the Chiefs in an overtime thriller. But can Derek Anderson lead the team to success? If he wins next week at Pittsburgh, we may be looking at the new QB in Cleveland.

25. Washington Redskins (4-8)
It looks like Jason Campbell is breathing a little life into Washington, but they're still a bad team.

26. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)
Yet another team in the NFC North with QB problems. That's 4. The Vikings are done and have to start looking into the future.

27. Houston Texans (4-8)
They beat the Raiders but the offense has been really off the past few weeks. They're still getting better, but they're not there yet.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-9)
Bruce Gradkowski has struggled a lot lately and they haven't exactly been keeping it close.

29. Green Bay Packers (4-8)
The Packers got killed - at home. That's something that doesn't happen often.

30. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
The Cardinals played a good game against the Rams, but unless they can win a couple in a row, they're still a bottom-feeder.

31. Detroit Lions (2-10)
They were competitive against the Patriots, but that doesn't earn you respect. Wins do.

32. Oakland Raiders (2-10)
They get their starting QB back and they still can't win a game?

Power Rankings (week 11)

2006-11-21T17:43:00.000-05:00

The Colts got knocked down while Dolphin alumni popped the champagne. A crazy week in the NFL leads to a few surprises in the power rankings.

1. San Diego Chargers (8-2)
The Cargers jump to #1 after a huge divisional win over the rival Denver Broncos. Philip Rivers looks great, LaDainian Tomlinson is dominating like always, and once Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo come back, the defense will be much improved.

2. Chicago Bears (9-1)
Whether they won 10-0, 35-34, or 70-0, a win is a win and it's all Chicago has done this season (besides that debacle against Miami, of course).

3. Indianapolis Colts (9-1)
The Colts are getting exposed, and although they lost to a Cowboys team that is definitely on the rise, the poor play of the defense is finally catching up with the team.

4. Baltimore Ravens (8-2)
Has Baltimore found its running game? Jamal Lewis is looking good and the defense is as strong as ever. The Ravens will be in this thing 'til the end.

5. Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
After beating the Colts the Cowboys jump up the rankings. You could say that they should be higher, but I won't make them a top-3 team until I see this kind of football being played for an extended amount of games. Either way, the Cowboys look fantastic and are finally showing me why I ranked them as #2 before the season started.

6. Denver Broncos (7-3)
They took a tough loss against the Chargers, probably due to the horrible play of Jake Plummer. Is Jay Cutler getting his arm read? Watch out, Snake.

7. New England Patriots (7-3)
After a stretch of bad, bad losses, the Patriots come back and whoop the Packers in Lambeau. Back in the Super Bowl hunt? I think so.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
The Jaguars absolutely dominated the Giants at home. But with Byron Leftwich likely to go on IR and David Garrard playing good-but-not-great, can the Jags be a legit playoff threat?

9. Carolina Panthers (6-4)
Talk about up-and-down. The Panthers seem to be one of those teams that always teases you with great play and then stinks it up, or teases you with awful play and starts to shine. With that said, Steve Smith might be the MVP of the league in terms of value to his team, because let's face it, they stink without him.

10. Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
Alexander still looks rusty, but Hasselbeck is coming back for the team's upcoming Monday night game against the Packers. Can the pro bowl QB bring the 'Hawks the spark they need to take control of the division?

11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)
That Palmer-Johnson connection is back and the Bengals look like they could make a run for the wildcard. It'll still take a lot of luck to get into that top-6, though.

12. New Orleans Saints (6-4)
Why did the Saints draft Reggie Bush? We know he's a great player, but isn't it odd that they've lost the only two games he's really played well in? Come on, Reggie, go back to the neg-yards!

13. New York Giants (6-4)
Lots of trouble brewing here. With Eli Manning playing among the worst QBs in the league and the abundance of injuries throughout the whole team, the Giants might fall out of the division lead, let alone a playoff appearance.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
Trent Green is back but didn't play a game worth noting. But as long as Larry Johnson keeps on putting up 150+ the Chiefs should be fine - for now. It'll still take some luck to get back in that #6 seed.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-6)
They've played well lately, and with that magical run that happened last season, it's tough for me to put them too low. The Steelers have looked pretty solid lately, and although they are out of the playoff mix due to their division, they could still finish off as one of the better teams.

16. New York Jets (5-5)
Another up-and-down team that looks good one week, awful the next. Is Chad Pennington hurt? Or is he just choking like usual? Either way, expect to see rookie QB Kellen Clemens getting some snaps towards the end of the season. Although they're still in the playoff hunt, they won't go anywhere unless Pennington picks it up.

17. Miami Dolphins (4-6)
Miami is coming back strong. And simply due to the poor division they play in, they are still very much in the playoff run. Can they finish off the season 5-1? If so, their playoff chances aren't too far fetched.

18. San Fransisco 49ers (5-5)
Talk about a turnaround. The 49ers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL after a huge win against Seattle. Only one game behind the Seahawks, can the 49ers possibly push for a playoff spot? I don't see why not.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)
After losing Donovan McNabb, it's hard to put this team any higher than this. Sorry, Eagles fans, but your season is lost.

20. St. Louis Rams (4-6)
What happened to that strong start from earlier in the season? The Rams have just stunk lately and it doesn't look like it will get better.

21. Atlanta Falcons (5-5)
Another inconsistent year for Michael Vick, another up-and-down season for the Falcons. When he's hot, they will shoot up the rankings. But when he's low, they'll drop right down.

22. Buffalo Bills (4-6)
A win over Houston doesn't impress me that much. Finish off the season 8-8 and you'll gain my respect. The Bills look okay, but nothing to brag about.

23. Green Bay Packers (4-6)
I still think this Packers team can finish off the season strong, but they looked awful against the Patriots. Maybe it was losing Brett Favre? Who knows? Hopefully he's healthy enough to win some games, because we all know he's always healthy enough to at least play.

24. Cleveland Browns (3-7)
They looked good for a couple of weeks but lost a nail-biter to the Steelers. A loss is a loss, and now the Browns are among the leaders in that category. I guess I was wrong about this team when I said they were on the rise.

25. Minnesota Vikings (4-6)
Another team with a strong start, another team with a weakening finish. Brad Johnson looks terrible. Jackson for '07?

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)
There's a lot of fight in this team, but they lost another player after putting Simeon Rice on IR. Rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski has looked good, but he's not doing enough to win games.

27. Tennessee Titans (3-7)
Vince Young hasn't exactly looked spectacular, but he's still a rookie and still a project. The running game has been great, though, and has carried the team to three wins, including their most recent upset of the Eagles.

28. Houston Texans (3-7)
Two of Houston's wins have come against Jacksonville, but they're still not an awful team like they once were. Mario Williams is still getting better and Gary Kubiak's offense seems to be coming around. They should be okay next season.

29. Washington Redskins (3-7)
Washington's lack of draft acknowledgment has proven deadly. A word of advice, Mr. Snyder: Stock up on draft picks and cut down on free agents.

30. Oakland Raiders (2-8)
The Raiders at times look like the worst team in the league, but their win against the Cardinals really helps them out. 30A

31. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)
Congrats, Denny Green. You've found a team that's worse than yours! Now let's try to make it two-in-a-row. 30B

32. Detroit Lions (2-8)
You can't lose to the Cardinals. You just can't. Unless you're the worst team in the league, of course. They might as well be 30C, though.