This is Part 2 of my 4 part NFL preview series. This edition finishes up the NFC and starts off with last year’s Super Bowl Champion Saints. Look for Parts 3 and 4 on the AFC which will come next week. To see Part 1 click here.
South:
New Orleans Saints – Coming off their historic first Super Bowl victory, the Saints come into the 2010 season with the difficult task of repeating as champions. They will also be facing an improved division with Atlanta and Carolina likely to be threats to their title as NFC South champions. That being said, the Saints should be up for the challenge under the leadership of Drew Brees and Sean Payton. The Saints offense was unstoppable at times as they led the league in points scored. While most of that credit is given to Brees, the Saints were also 6th in the league in rushing yards per game and are hoping that Reggie Bush can consistently show some of the flashes he showed last postseason. On the defensive side, the Saints are susceptible but they cashed in on turnovers as safety Darren Sharper tied for the league lead in interceptions with 9. Defensive lineman Will Smith was 5th in the league in sacks with 13 and the Saints were among the league leaders in takeaways. They will need to be more consistent on the defensive side if they hope to repeat and will have to capitalize on turnovers once again. While I don’t expect them to start 13-0 again this season, they will certainly be a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. They will get a stiff test right away as they have a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game when Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings come to the Louisiana Superdome to open up the 2010 season.
Carolina Panthers – With Jake Delhomme now in Cleveland, Matt Moore will likely be the starter for the Panthers this season, who went 4-1 down the stretch with Moore as the starter last year. While Moore was consistent and steady, the real power behind the Panthers offense lies with the two-headed monster at running back comprised of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Williams and Stewart became the first teammates in NFL history to rush for over 1100 yards a piece. Steve Smith is still an elite receiver and Dwayne Jarret and draft pick Brandon LaFell will have the opportunity to establish themselves as reliable options alongside Smith. The defense, which was strong against the pass but struggled against the run last year, will be without pass rushing specialist Julius Peppers after he was signed by the Bears. The defense was fairly solid as they were 9th in the league in points allowed and middle linebacker Jon Beason leads the way as he had 142 tackles last season. If Moore doesn’t work out at quarterback, 2nd round pick and former Notre Dame star Jimmy Clausen is waiting in the wings and is the future of the team. The Panthers likely won’t be too much of a threat to the Saints, but if they perform to their capabilities they can make a run at the playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons – Quarterback Matt Ryan’s sophomore season didn’t go as well as he and the Falcons had hoped, but Atlanta will be in the thick of the division race this season. Ryan’s 2nd season was a disappointing one despite the fact that the team finished above .500 at 9-7, but failed to make the playoffs after getting there the season before. The defense was vulnerable against the pass, which Atlanta hopes to have taken care of by adding former Texan Dunta Robinson to the secondary. After a breakout season in 2008, Michael Turner suffered from injuries last season and failed to even reach half of the carries he had in 2008 when he had a league high 376. He also only had roughly half of the 1699 yards he totaled in his first year as a full time starter. With a more mature and seasoned Ryan to throw to Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White, combined with a healthy Michael Turner and improved defense, Atlanta could challenge the Saints for a division title and make a run at a playoff berth.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Last year’s first round pick, quarterback Josh Freeman, will now be ready to take the starting job from the beginning of the season as he took over the role in Week 9 last year. While the Bucs finished 3-13 last season, there is good news for them in 2010. Since the realignment of the divisions in 2002, the last place team of the NFC South has gone on to make the playoffs the following season, and even won the division in 6 of those 7 situations, the lone exception being the Falcons in 2008 who made the playoffs as a Wild Card after finishing last in 2007. The division is also the only one since 2002 to have all four teams make a Super Bowl appearance, with the Bucs and Saints winning it. The Bucs should be improved, although I wouldn’t expect them to continue this inexplicable trend that has occurred in the division since it was formed. The Bucs finished dead last against the run last year, but 1st round pick Gerald McCoy should certainly help improve that statistic. Running back Derrick Ward was recently released after a disappointing first season in Tampa Bay, leaving Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham to do the bulk of the carrying. Draft picks Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, along with the emergence of 2nd year receiver Sammie Stroughter and a healthy Kellen Winslow Jr. at tight end, should provide Freeman with some weapons to make improvements over last season, but the Bucs are at least a couple of years away from making a playoff run.
West:
San Francisco 49ers – The 49ers haven’t made the playoffs since 2002, but now that Kurt Warner has retired in Arizona, this is the best chance for San Francisco. Led by coach Mike Singletary, the 49ers have a hard nose defense led by linebacker Patrick Willis. Since his rookie year in 2007, no player has had more tackles then the All-Pro Willis. The defense was underrated as only 3 teams allowed fewer points then the 49ers last season and they had the 5th most takeaways in the NFC. They are also hoping that former 1st overall pick Alex Smith with finally be ready to lead the team on offense. Although he has struggled with injuries through both his professional and college careers, running back Frank Gore is among the league’s elite backs and is poised for an All-Pro season if he remains healthy, especially given the division he plays in. Last year’s first round pick, receiver Michael Crabtree, is also coming off participating in his first full training camp and will be ready to go by game one after holding out until mid-season in 2009. The offensive line is also greatly improved as their best tackle Joe Staley missed significant time last season. They also added two first round draft picks to the offensive line in Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati to help protect Smith and provide holes for Gore to run through. I think in a year when the division is down, the 49ers will emerge as the division champions and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 8 years and they may surprise a few people when they get there.
Seattle Seahawks – Seattle finished last season at 5-11 and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck seems to be passed his prime, although he has faced injury problems for parts of the last two seasons. The Seahawks first round draft picks, offensive tackle Russell Okung and safety Earl Thomas should help both sides of the ball. Wide receiver Golden Tate out of Notre Dame was also drafted in the second round to provide more weapons to Hasselbeck. There has been discussion that backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst could perhaps take the starting role at some point in the season if Hasselbeck and the Seahawks struggle. Although they have talent at certain positions, the offensive and defensive lines aren’t strong enough to propel the Seahawks to a playoff berth in all likelihood. In a division where I can’t see more than one team making the playoffs, Seattle just doesn’t have the talent and ability that the 49ers have.
Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals had a good run in the playoffs last season, but with the retirement of Kurt Warner, they will find it much more difficult in 2010. Incumbent Matt Leinart was supposed to be in line for the job that Warner had once taken from the former 1st round pick, but former Browns quarterback Derek Anderson is threatening him for the starting job and now there is talk that Leinart may be traded. Warner, although the biggest loss, certainly isn’t the only player Arizona will be missing from last season. Pro Bowl safety Antrel Rolle is now with the Giants and middle linebacker Karlos Dansby, who led the team in tackles, is now in Miami. On the offensive side, wide receiver Anquan Boldin is now in Baltimore which means more coverage can now head toward Larry Fitzgerald’s way, although Steve Breaston, the man who will take Boldin’s place, is a quality receiver in his own right. The Cardinals have added pieces to replace what they have lost in Joey Potter and Kerry Rhodes on the defensive side as well as All-Pro offensive tackle Alan Faneca. Without Warner, however, I don’t see Arizona performing close to the level they have the past two seasons and a playoff berth is likely out of reach.
St. Louis Rams – The Rams finished 1-15 last season, which was the worst record in the league. The good thing about being the worst team is that you get the first overall pick in the draft where the Rams landed quarterback Sam Bradford. While Bradford is the future, the Rams will still be rebuilding even in what is probably the NFL’s worst division. Only the Lions allowed more points than the Rams and nobody scored less points than St. Louis in 2009. While they have made improvements, the Rams suffered a blow when their best receiver Donnie Avery went down with a torn ACL this preseason. The lone bright spot of perhaps the entire team last year was running back Steven Jackson, who had another stellar season finishing only behind the Titans Chris Johnson in rushing yards, although it was second by some distance. He accomplished all of this despite the absence of a great line or passing threat. With Bradford and second round pick, offensive tackle Rodger Saffold, perhaps Jackson will be able to be even better. While improving on a one win season sounds trivial, the Rams will be moving in the right direction and their season will revolve around the development of Bradford at quarterback and looking into the future.
September 2, 2010 · Filed under NFL
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This is Part 1 of a 4 part NFL preview that goes through each team’s chances of success this season. Part 2 will take a look at the rest of the NFC while Parts 3 and 4 will take a look at the AFC.
NFC
East:
New York Giants – After winning the Super Bowl in 2008, a lot was expected from the Giants last year, but they finished 8-8 after starting the season 5-0. The main issue was their defense, which was so good in their Super Bowl triumph, but allowed 40 plus points 5 times including 3 of their last 4 games. They did have a number of injuries on defense, most noticeably in the secondary which was abysmal in the 2nd half of the season. They have added veteran linebacker Keith Bullock and safety Antrel Rolle to help the defense improve while defensive captain Antonio Pierce retired in the offseason. They also picked defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in the draft and are hoping that Kenny Phillips, who was strong when he played in the beginning of last season before getting hurt, will be fully healthy in 2010. Running back Brandon Jacobs also had a disappointing season and Ahmad Bradshaw may prove to be the number one back as the season goes on if Jacobs doesn’t improve. One positive for the Giants last year was the play of Eli Manning and his young receiving core. Manning had his best year statistically last season and Steve Smith was the first Giants Pro Bowl receiver in 41 years. The Giants will go as far as their defense can take them this season and they happen to be in what is the NFL’s toughest division. Despite their disappointing year, they won both games against Dallas and will need to continue their strong divisional play if they want to return to the playoffs in 2010.
Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys come into the season after they had their first postseason win since 1996 last year when they defeated division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles, their third win that season against the Eagles. They appear strong again and are the slight favorites to win what is the division. Tony Romo got that elusive playoff win last season and now has a strong receiving core with the emergence of Miles Austin last season and the pick of Dez Bryant in the draft this past summer. Felix Jones is also on his way to becoming a star and provides a strong running threat along with the hard running Marion Barber. Now that they have gotten over the hump, Dallas will be looking to make a deep playoff run. The defense, led by sack machine DeMarcus Ware, was strong against the run, but not as good against the pass. Despite losing twice to the Giants, they did go 4-0 in their other division games and beat the Eagles for a third time in the playoffs. As great as their performance against Philly was, their game against the Vikings in the Divisional Round was disappointing to say the least. While the running attack seemed to be strong in the beginning of the game, the Cowboys got away from it when they fell behind after committing turnovers. The offensive line will need to be strong to protect Romo and help the running game if Dallas wants to move further along in the playoffs and perhaps contend for the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia Eagles – With Donovan McNabb now gone, the Kevin Kolb era is now underway in Philadelphia. I always thought McNabb was never fully appreciated for all he accomplished for the Eagles, including taking them to 4 straight Conference Championship games and a Super Bowl. I thik this season the Eagles will find out how much of an impact McNabb had on the team. Kolb, however, does have the making a great quarterback in his own right, although I’m not completely sold he can lead the Eagles to the playoffs this season. He performed well in the few games he appeared in last season when McNabb was injured, but although he put up big numbers in terms of passing yards he threw 3 interceptions against the Saints and had a great game against the lowly Chiefs. Kolb certainly has weapons at his disposal, even with the departure of Brain Westbrook. DeSean Jackson was a Pro Bowler at both receiver and as a punt returner and Brent Celek emerged as one of the league’s elite tight ends. Running back LeSean McCoy had a solid rookie season in 2009 and is now the unquestioned number one back for the Eagles. Philadelphia certainly has the potential to be a playoff team, but they will need to figure out the Cowboys and have Kolb come into his own rather quickly if they are to overcome their divisional foes.
Washington Redskins – With a new starting quarterback and head coach, the Redskins may finally be moving in the right direction, although it is unfortunate that the biggest story regarding Washington lately has been Albert Haynesworth and his issues with new coach Mike Shanahan. McNabb could be the integral piece the Redskins have been missing lately, as their defense has been above average in recent years despite having to step up with the offense being lackluster. The Redskins have also amped up their running game with additions of Larry Johnson, Willie Parker, and Ryan Torain. Clinton Portis will need to be healthy again to carry the load this season, but he had some of his most successful seasons under Shanahan when they were both in Denver. If Washington is to compete in this tough division, they will need a big year from McNabb and Portis and the offensive line will have to hold up to support both.
North:
Minnesota Vikings – Of course the big story here is the return of Brett Favre, but Minnesota has other issues, particularly at receiver at the moment. Last year’s leading receiver Sidney Rice will be out for at least half the season and Percy Harvin’s migraine issues could linger for all season, although it was a good sign that he returned to practice yesterday. The Vikings have added Javon Walker, former teammate of Favre’s at Green Bay, and traded for former Dolphin’s receiver Greg Camarillo. Expect tight end Visanthe Shiancoe to also have an increased role in the offense this season. There is always Adrian Peterson to rely on at running back to go along with a strong offensive line. The defense is also strong as Jared Allen and company help provide what is arguably the best front 4 in the league. They weren’t as strong against the pass, but were the 2nd best team at stopping the running game. They fell short of a Super Bowl by a single interception, which led to the Saints defeating them in overtime of the Conference Championship Game and an eventual historic Super Bowl title. While Favre remarkably had his best year statistically last season, I don’t expect him to put up those same kind of numbers again. This will put more of an emphasis on Peterson and the rushing attack to carry the load and propel the Vikings to a run at the Super Bowl.
Green Bay Packers – The Packers made the playoffs last season, but lost to the Arizona Cardinals in an epic 51-45 overtime thriller, which ironically ended on a defensive touchdown by Arizona. Despite the loss and disappointing defensive effort, the Packers announced themselves as a team on the rise and quarterback Aaron Rodgers stepped out of Brett Favre’s shadow and established himself as one of the league’s best in his own right. While Rodgers’ season was overwhelmingly successful, he was found on his backside more often than the Packers would have liked to see. A fully healthy Mark Tauscher on the offensive line and 1st round pick Bryan Bulaga should help give Rodgers more time in the pocket to perhaps have an even greater performance than last season. A stronger offensive line should also help Ryan Grant at running back to have his third consecutive 1000 yard season. While their defense finished 2nd overall statistically, they were certainly exposed on national television by now retired Kurt Warner and company in last season’s playoff game. If the defense can play like they did last regular season as opposed to that playoff game, they can potentially overtake the Vikings as division champions.
Chicago Bears – In 2009, Jay Cutler’s first year in the Windy City was certainly disappointing as the Bears finished third in the division. They will find it tough again to fend off both the Vikings and Packers if they want to reach the playoffs, although I do expect Cutler to be greatly improved over last year. While running back Matt Forte was incredible as a rookie in 2008, he was anything but that last season as the Bears finished 29th in the league in rushing. They added former Vikings running back Chester Taylor to help Forte in the running attack. The defense of the Bears also isn’t the fearsome unit that it was back when the Bears made the Super Bowl in 2007. The most important factor is that Brian Urlacher must be healthy all season. Chicago also added pass rushing specialist Julius Peppers to help improve the defense. While they went 7-9 last season, it’s a bit deceiving since they beat the Lions twice, as well as the Browns, Seahawks, and Rams, who had a combined 13 wins last season. While I expect Cutler and the Bears to be improved, I don’t think they are quite on the level as Green Bay or Minnesota yet.
Detroit Lions – While the Lions are still in the rebuilding process, at least they now have some pieces in place and seem to be moving in the right direction, although it is hard to be worse than 0-16 which was their record in 2008. Last year’s first overall pick Matthew Stafford had a pretty good rookie season at quarterback given his lack of an offensive line and running game. Stafford has a few more weapons to go along with Calvin Johnson this year as the Lions added Nate Burleson at receiver and late first round pick Jahvid Best to help the running attack. On the defensive side, the Lions drafted highly sought after defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with the 2nd overall pick in last year’s draft. They also added defensive tackle Corey Williams and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch to help a defense which finished dead last in the NFL against the pass and 25th against the run last season. Safety Louis Delmas, last year’s 2nd round pick, has also shown signs of being a potential star in the near future. While Detroit is certainly moving in the right direction, it will be another uphill battle this season, especially in a pretty tough division.
August 26, 2010 · Filed under NFL
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As Fantasy Football season approaches, with drafts looming, I dusted off my column from last November about the Pros and Cons of Fantasy as it effects the NFL as a whole. I thought it might be relevant as the new season awaits. Enjoy.
I’m sitting in my living room with my friends on a Sunday afternoon in November, and we’re watching my favorite football team, the New York Giants. I’m wearing my Giants number 27 jersey*, and the game is close. The Giants have driven all the way to the 1 yard line of the Atlanta Falcons, and a touchdown here would be vital in what is a huge game for them, since a victory will revitalize their playoff hopes after a long losing streak. On first down, Eli Manning hands the ball off to Brandon Jacobs, who rumbles his way into the endzone to give the Giants a 21-14 lead. My friends clap and celebrate. I yell “GODDAMNIT!!!” to the TV screen and kick the bottom of my seat (and that’s the G-Rated version of the story). Folks, welcome to the world of fantasy football.
*The jersey isn’t of Brandon Jacobs; it’s actually of Giants mega-bust Ron Dayne. Just roll with it.
Fantasy football is the obsessive game that many NFL fans play throughout the regular season. For any football fan living under a rock for the last decade, let’s give a very, very brief outline of what it is, because I’m not a fan of telling you, the reader, something that you already know. Each team consists of about 8 to 11 players each week, which are drafted before the season, consisting of a quarterback, 2 to 3 running backs and wide receivers, a tight end, a team defense and a kicker. Obviously, teams have players from many different teams. Points are awarded for a certain amount of statistics that each player on the team amasses: for example, if Chris Johnson rushes for 120 yards, has 70 yards receiving, and scores 2 touchdowns, he would have a 31 point day, which is an outstanding day in fantasy. Most leagues operate in a head-to-head format, where you face an opponent, and whichever team scores more points that week wins. The season is usually twelve to fourteen weeks long, and then there is usually either a two or three week playoff in December, the last few weeks of the regular season. Got that? Good, let’s move on. I consider myself to be a rather good fantasy football player (or owner or coach, if you will; I’m not really playing anything per se, I’m just inserting guys into the right positions to succeed), and this week, week 15 of the NFL season, is the finals in one of my leagues and the semifinals in the other two. Since the fantasy season is reaching its apex, the time has come to ask one of the questions that many NFL fans who aren’t big fantasy guys wonder, and one that fantasy players must think about every once in awhile: is fantasy football good for the NFL? Let’s address it in a debate of pros and cons.
PROS
The exposure to all 32 teams in the NFL based on fantasy football is immense. Because of how widely spread across the league people’s teams can be, fans need to be fully invested in all eight divisions, because it’s never known where the next great fantasy player will emerge. As a Giants fan, I usually would never have any interest in the AFC West. But, I have Antonio Gates on two of my teams, had Matt Cassel for awhile, and have played the Broncos Defense for a good amount of time. Plus, the rise of Jamaal Charles as a top fantasy running back in Kansas City has made him a star the last few weeks. I don’t have him in any of my leagues, but would I even know who he is without the use of fantasy football? My increased knowledge of the players in the NFL due to fantasy is incalculable. I’m going to do this off of the top of my head right now. This is obviously a written column so you can’t know if I’m telling the truth, but take my word that I’m not looking this up or cheating in any way. You trust me, right? I’m doing this completely from prior knowledge.
The third wide receiver on the Miami Dolphins is Davone Bess.
The backup running back for the Cleveland Browns is Chris Jennings.
The backup quarterback for the Houston Texans is Rex Grossman.
The starting tight end for the Seattle Seahawks is John Carlson.
The backup running backs for the Atlanta Falcons are Chris Snelling and Jerious Norwood.
The third quarterback for the Oakland Raiders is Charlie Frye.
The second wide receiver for the Detroit Lions is Bryant Johnson.
The fourth running back for the Washington Redskins is Quinton Ganther.
How would I possibly learn these things if they weren’t for fantasy football? Why would I ever want to know this information? These are the things that I learn. The increased exposure to these guys is amazing. Do you think that in the 60s or 70s anyone from New York had ever heard of the third wide receiver for the Dolphins or the Browns’ backup runningback? I don’t think so. The fact that all of these players are more notable is a strong step forward for the NFL, and I can’t imagine that they’d complain about that.
In addition to the exposure to players, how about the importance of meaningless games that are huge for fantasy players? Last week, CBS showed the Dallas vs. San Diego game on national TV, two of the better teams in the NFL playing for fairly high stakes in their respective conferences. Was I watching this game? Yes, but I had my eyes on the Gamecast of the Tennessee/St. Louis game, one team on the outside fringes of contention and one that is completely incompetent, more than on the TV. I needed Chris Johnson and Rob Bironas to perform well to earn a playoff victory, and I needed to avoid a big day by the Titans defense. All three played very well, and it resulted in a high-scoring shootout of a fantasy matchup. After this game, I had to watch the aforementioned Quinton Ganther to see if he would put up enough points to cost me a playoff victory, in a truly irrelevant game between Washington and Oakland. He had a great game, but didn’t do quite enough. This is a great thing for the NFL. Without fantasy, I wouldn’t have even remotely cared about either of these games, but the implications made them vital to my Sunday. For family reasons, I couldn’t go out to a bar where each game would have been shown on DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket. I really, really missed it. The rise in fantasy football has increased the demand for Sunday Ticket, and the monopoly that DirecTV has on it has made their services more and more desirable. It may have even kept them in business, with the rise of digital cable threatening to undo them. The NFL is able to charge DirecTV a boatload of money for excusive rights to the package, and I’m sure those prices will only go up. For these two reasons, fantasy football is a huge moneymaker and greatly helps the NFL’s popularity.
CONS
The essential problem with fantasy football is that, while it increases the popularity of the sport short-term, in the long run it decreases loyalty and takes away the personality of the league. This last week, I had no fantasy implications within the Giants/Eagles game that was on NBC on Sunday night. I can’t begin to explain how refreshing it was to be able to sit and root for the Giants without worrying about how their success would impact my teams. The NFL’s foundation was built on loyal fans that would come to stadiums to support their teams 8 times a season, no matter what. In what other league are there waiting lists for season tickets that are decades long? Part of it has to do with the fact that going to 8 games a season is far more realistic for a middle-class person than going to 81 baseball games or 41 basketball and hockey games. But, the other part of it is an intense dedication to the local teams, a bond that unites a region unlike any other rooting experience. The process of going to a football game is so much more glorified than that of going to any other sport, because of the tailgate and the experience of camaraderie that doesn’t exist elsewhere. When the brand loyalties fade due to conflicting emotions because of fantasy football, what do you have left? Plus, let’s face this inevitable fact: fantasy football is a young man’s game. I have a feeling that many people above the age of fifty wouldn’t have the time nor patience to scour a waiver wire to find Davone Bess, or stare at a computer screen for hours and follow a dozen different games per week. I’m sure the demographics for who plays fantasy football right now skews towards people in their teens and mid-twenties, and that may be a biased number since fantasy football wasn’t prevalent in the way that it is now when these older people were younger. But the fact remains that, due to work and family, an older generation likely won’t have the time or patience to follow fantasy football. They’d want to follow their favorite team for three hours a week on Sundays. If their loyalties have been so badly disoriented from years of following other teams, who says that this will be as appealing? I know for a fact that I gave up playing fantasy hockey a few years ago because I wanted to only watch the Rangers, and purely root for them. It has made my fan affiliation stronger than ever. I definitely don’t feel as strongly about the Giants, and fantasy is a large reason.
The other main issue that I see is the androgyny of the players in the league when all that matters is accumulating numbers. I listed before that I can rattle off the top of my head various obscure players at nearly meaningless positions for teams that I don’t particularly care about. But does that mean that I know anything about them? Do I know what type of runner Chris Jennings is? Could I tell you if Bryant Johnson is a possession receiver, a longball threat or a guy that runs over the middle fearlessly? Absolutely not. All I know is their names, what they do, and how they can impact my fantasy season. This doesn’t even only apply to the lesser-known players. Let’s take two of the greatest runningbacks to have played in my lifetime: Barry Sanders and LaDanian Tomlinson. I grew up watching Sanders, and have been witness to Tomlinson’s entire career. With Sanders, I remember his ridiculously long runs, and how he would make cuts with his ankles that would make people miss. I remember his dashes into the endzone and his style when scoring, although he would never truly show up the opponent. Pretty good recollection for a guy I would only see a few times a year, right? But when I think about Tomlinson, I can’t say that I recall anything about his running style, the length of his runs or his overall demeanor, besides jumping into the endzone and wearing very dark-tinted helmets. I remember his stats. I remember that he carried a lackluster fantasy team of mine all the way into the finals one year, where I had no right to be, given the rest of my team. I remember that he would put up 30 points a week for me with regularity, but I don’t remember how he did it. Somehow, I don’t think telling my grandchildren about the week LaDanian Tomlinson carried my fantasy team will hold very much weight with them, in the same way that our grandfathers told us about the time they saw Ted Williams play the outfield or watched Jim Brown run. The personality of each player gets taken away when all that matters is their numbers, and that’s a shame.
CONCLUSION
So, we’ve realized that fantasy football is great for the NFL on a week to week basis, but it may not be that great down the line. For each week, it’s great because it keeps the fan base involved with the whole league. For example, two weeks ago I went to the opera on a Monday night. I needed Aaron Rodgers to outperform Ray Rice substantially in order to advance in the playoffs of my league. Throughout the second and third acts of the opera, a rather good production of The Tales of Hoffman, I actually felt nervous about how Rodgers was producing. When each act ended, I raced into the lobby to check my cell phone, and was joyful in that he succeeded in advancing my team in the playoffs. The fact that the NFL was on my brain to the point that I was nervous during an opera can’t possibly be a bad thing for the league.
This Sunday is the finals of one of my fantasy leagues, and the semifinals in my other two. The Sunday night game is between the Minnesota Vikings, a team that will definitely have the 2 seed in the NFC and is basically playing out the string until the playoffs, and the Carolina Panthers, a completely irrelevant team. Normally, I wouldn’t have bothered watching this game. I have Adrian Peterson, Minnesota’s star runningback, on all three of my teams. Wild horses wouldn’t be able to drag me from watching this game. My singular focus will be on Peterson, and I will hope that he can deliver me a championship. An interesting wrinkle will be that in one of my games, my opponent will likely start Brett Favre, Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe, aka the rest of the Vikings offense. He likes to call it ‘the Vikings sweep’. I’ll be rooting for and against the Vikings at the same time, since I’ll want Peterson to succeed and everyone else to fail. It will make for a nerve-wracking, obsessive Sunday night, and fantasy football is responsible.
The one thing that swings fantasy into the Pro side for me is its schedule. Fantasy football will wrap up by the time New Years hits, as most leagues end by week 17, to account for the top teams resting their best players in the last week of the season. Except for some new formats that have fantasy leagues in the playoffs, there is no fantasy football throughout the NFL Playoffs. This lets the game itself shine. In the Giants’ incredible run to the championship two years ago, I remember each and every moment of it as it should be remembered: for the great football moments, and not the great fantasy moments. Lawrence Tynes was redeemed for missing two relatively easy field goals by making his last one; I remember the joy that we all experienced when the Giants won the game, not being upset that his misses would have lost me points if I had him on my team. I remember David Tyree’s circus catch in the Super Bowl for its pure athleticism and luck, not for the approximately 3.7 points the catch would have given me. I remember Plaxico Burress’ game winning catch for the impact it had on all of us, not for a 7.8 point grab. Fantasy football is the perfect mix because of this. It makes games that we wouldn’t care about matter. It makes me bit my nails due to the production of Quinton Ganther. I rejoice in the meaningless catches by Donnie Avery towards the end of blowout losses for the St. Louis Rams. But, it also lets us have the best of both. We can have the celebrations of statistical victories in nearly useless regular season games. But it saves the best for the real thing: the true celebration of a favorite team’s success in the playoffs, when it matters most. And that’s all that we can really ask for.
July 27, 2010 · Filed under NFL
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This is Part 2 of the New York rankings column. For Part 1, click here.
After the longest break in a two-part piece since between the Old Testament and New Testament, I’m back to finish up the New York power rankings. For those who forgot how this works (And I’m sure there are many), here’s how it works.
The rankings for all nine New York teams will be based on…
Recent Success: Self-explanatory enough.
Ownership/Management: Does the team have the front office in place to either get them out of their funk or continue generating success?
Youth: What kind of future can the team look towards with the players they already have?
Immediate Future: Can the team win now?
Number 9 was the Islanders, 8 was the Knicks, 7 was the Mets, 6 was the Nets, and 5 was the Rangers. Let’s get to the final four.
4. New York Giants (22 Points)
We take a sizable leap here from the Rangers to the Giants, a team that has won a title in the last three years and finished first in their conference in another. But a disappointing 2009 season has left a bitter taste in fans’ mouths as they open their new stadium in September.
Recent Success: 2nd (8 Points) The Super Bowl run in 2008 was as improbable as any in New York sports history, and will go down as an all-time classic moment in football history. They’ve consistently contended for the last 5 years, and not many teams can make the same claim.
Ownership/Management: 4th (6 Points) The Mara and Tisch families are considered to be among the best owners in sports, and Jerry Reese constructed a Super Bowl champion only three years ago. The team is aging a bit, but the management has a proven track record of being able to adapt and keeping the team competitive.
Youth: 8th (2 Points) This is really the Achilles heel to the entire franchise. Outside of their receiving core that was developed nicely in this past season, most of the team is aging fast. Brandon Jacobs looks to be on the downside of his career, Ahmad Bradshaw is inconsistent and the offensive line isn’t getting younger. Defensively, Osi Umenyiora has become a malcontent, Kenny Phillips is recovering from injury and the secondary is shaky. There’s still a lot of talent, and Eli Manning has only improved and is in the prime of his career. But there are places where the team could become vulnerable quickly.
Can They Win Now?: 4th (6 Points) The defensive line remains a major strength, and the passing game has improved dramatically. But the NFC East has only gotten better, so it’s going to be a struggle. Last year’s collapse down the stretch was disastrous. Without any truly major moves over the offseason, they’ll need to rely on the talent on the roster to get back to their old form.
3. New Jersey Devils (26 Points)
The most consistently excellent hockey team in the greater northeastern area comes in at number 3. The inimitable Martin Brodeur has backstopped the Devils to playoff appearances every year since 1996, and there’s no reason to think that it’ll change in the upcoming year. But repeated first and second round playoff failures have left the team looking more like they were built to win in the regular season than in the playoffs, when the competition turns up a few notches.
Recent Success: 3rd (7 Points) They won three Stanley Cups between 1995 and 2003, more than any other team in that span, tied with the Detroit Red Wings. But they haven’t made it past the 2nd round since the NHL lockout of 2004-05. They’ve won their division the last two years, which at the very least means that a banner can be hung.
Ownership/Management: 1st (9 Points) We finally get to our first 1st place entry in these categories, as we look at the Devils’ management. Lou Lamoriello and his underlings constantly pull great deals out of the woodwork, and it’s rare that they’ve signed a player and truly regretted it. As a Rangers fan, it makes me nauseous. Just recently, they shored up their defense by signing big, hulking Anton Volchenkov to a 6 year contract, and steady Henrik Tallinder to a four-year deal. Both players signed reasonable contracts, and if they play to their strengths, Lamoriello will have done an excellent job again in fixing their biggest flaw since Brian Rafalski left three years ago. The ongoing Ilya Kovalchuk negotiations are a bit crazy. The Devils have reportedly offered him a 7 year, 60 million dollar contract, and then another deal for 17 years worth 100 million that would be frontloaded to him. Kovalchuk hasn’t outwardly rejected either deal, but he hasn’t signed, either. Kovalchuk is among the most prolific scorers in the league, but I’m not so sure that signing him to that kind of deal makes sense for the Devils, a careful team that tries not to turn over the puck (something that Kovalchuk has a habit of doing) and one that still needs to sign its franchise player, Zach Parise, in a year.
Youth: 7th (3 Points) Outside of the relatively young Zach Parise and Travis Zajac, there isn’t lots to be had here. They gave away top prospect Niclas Bergfors in the Kovalchuk trade, and the farm system isn’t one that gets anyone particularly excited. The team is still centered around the aging nucleus of Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner and others, and outside of Parise and Zajac, those guys are on a relative decline. I don’t see a major uprising of prospects coming into Newark any time soon, outside of perhaps Vladimir Zharkov and Mattias Tedenby.
Can They Win Now? 3rd (7 Points) There’s no reason to think that this team won’t be in the playoffs come next April. But the questions begin from there. Is Martin Brodeur still durable enough to be consistently excellent throughout a playoff run? Is there enough of a blueline presence to control the pace of a 7 game series? The last three playoff runs that this team has had has left more questions than answers, and there’s no way to resolve them except by getting there again, and seeing what they’ve accomplished in the meantime.
2. New York Jets (30 Points)
After their unlikely run to the AFC Championship Game last January, the Jets have become the toast of New York and the NFL. New York’s love affair with Rex Ryan is ongoing, and they’ve added pieces to make for a run at the title in 2010. Things look real good for the Jets right now.
Recent Success: 4th (5 Points) The run to the title game last year lifted the hopes of the fans, but the beaten down Jets fans have been here before. They haven’t gotten to the Super Bowl in 40 years, so skepticism rules the fan base. But they’ve had consistently good teams for the past few years, and have been playing meaningful December football in three of the last five, which says something.
Ownership/Management: 3rd (7 Points) Woody Johnson has kept an open checkbook for management, and Mike Tannenbaum hasn’t always been the most open person about his moves, but he’s been unafraid to make a splash. He had the guts to go and get Brett Favre, even though it didn’t work out. He took the risk of trading up in the 2009 NFL Draft to go get a franchise quarterback in Mark Sanchez and by signing Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard. He went for it this last offseason by signing veterans LaDanian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor, while trading for Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes, both star players with troubled pasts. He hired Rex Ryan, a guy tailor-made for the New York style of doing things. He’s been brazen with the media, and he knows how to run a defense. The Jets defense is in better shape now than it’s been in my lifetime, and he gets a lot of the credit.
Youth: 1st (9 Points) The amount of youth amassed by this team is truly spectacular. The Jets’ starting quarterback, running back, tight end and offensive line are all under the age of 26, with the exception of Damian Woody. They got stellar rookie years out of Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene, and D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold have developed nicely together to form a strong offensive line. They’ve put together a strong running back foundation, with Joe McKnight being counted on to fill in the holes left by Greene and Tomlinson. Defensively, Vernon Gholston has been the only true misfire that they’ve had. Everyone else that they’ve drafted has produced, including Darrelle Revis, widely considered to be the best cornerback in football. At 24 years old, there’s no reason to think that he won’t be a force for years to come.
Can They Win Now? 2nd (8 Points) They’ll go into this season, and Hard Knocks on HBO, as one of the favorites in the AFC. Most people will predict them to win the AFC East, but the Patriots will still be there. If they start to assume that teams will roll over for them, they’ll suffer. But the talent on this team should be good enough to make major waves in the AFC this season. Jets fans should be more excited now than they have been in years.
Finally…
1. New York Yankees (34 Points)
The juggernaut in the Bronx is running smoothly, as they defend their World Series crown in style. The entire team is producing, and they’re the odds-on favorites to repeat as champions, for sure.
Recent Success: 1st (9 Points) They’re the defending champions, and they’ve only missed the playoffs once in the last 15 years. They have the best record in baseball at the All Star Break, and the core nucleus of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada are still chugging along. All-world players like Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and CC Sabathia have added to the foundation and put the team over the top, and an underrated outfield trio of Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner has gone a long way in keeping the team strong. With five titles in fourteen years, Yankee fans like myself don’t have much to complain about.
Ownership/Management: 2nd (8 Points) George Steinbrenner and his family have been hated by fans all over the country for years. They’ve spent the most money in baseball by far for their team, and some of the contracts they’ve signed have been stupid. Steinbrenner gave far too much money to Hideki Irabu, signed Sterling Hitchcock to a ridiculous contract, signed Jaret Wright for no particular reason, overpaid for Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield and Kevin Brown, and threw 55 million dollars at Kei Igawa out of mostly jealousy of the Red Sox signing Daisuke Matsuzaka. But, because of the lack of a salary cap, he can throw those contracts under the bus and just sign new people to make up for it. Him and GM Brian Cashman have kept the core group of players together, signed A-Rod, signed Teixeira and Sabathia, and made other shrewd moves that aren’t talked about nearly enough. How come Cashman never seems to get credit for knowing when to keep his prospects? He had every opportunity to trade Robinson Cano in the earlier part of the decade, but never gave in and has watched Cano develop into arguably the best second baseman in the game. He has never traded a prospect that developed into a superstar; in fact, the only two players that I can think of that have gone on to have very successful MLB careers were Mike Lowell and Eric Milton. Cashman’s a much better talent evaluator than you might think. How about the fact that Brett Gardner, someone that almost nobody gave a chance to, has become a strong starting outfielder in the biggest spotlight in the world? The common perception over the years has been that nobody can develop into a star as a Yankee, since they trade away all their players and sign guys each year to plug into holes. But Cano and Gardner have proven otherwise. What about the fact that All-Star Nick Swisher was gotten for Wilson Betemit? Cashman’s success has been hidden by the fact that the Yankees spend money, but his intelligence is what led to winning. And that’s a shame.
Youth: 2nd (8 Points) The Yankees have let their youth bleed through their roster in the last few years, and it’s reinvigorated the entire franchise. A star has been born in Phil Hughes, who’s an All Star with 11 wins at the break. He’s 24 years old along with Joba Chamberlain, who’s been consistently…inconsistent. But, as a reliever he still throws 97 miles per hour, and while he may not be the phenom that he was a few years ago, he’s still a major talent that’s still growing. David Robertson, another strong reliever, is only 25, and Cano is only 27. He has the potential to be of hall of fame caliber, and he’s been spectacular this season. Brett Gardner is also only 26, so he’ll be a staple of Yankee teams to come. Francisco Cervelli has asserted himself as a strong backup catcher with the chance to become an every day player somewhere, if not necessarily in New York. He’s only 24, with room to grow. The farm system is ripe with talent, with Jesus Montero leading the way, as a strong hitting catcher and first baseman. The Yankees are fond of another catcher in Austin Romine, and there seems to be chips in place to make a deal or to let players make the team in due time.
Can They Win Now? 1st (9 Points) There’s no reason why they shouldn’t win now. They’re the best team in the sport, and the best team in New York. It’s a Yankees world, and we just live in it. Remember that in Miami, LeBron.
July 16, 2010 · Filed under MLB, NFL, NHL
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Stanley Cup Finals set – This year’s Stanley Cup Final was set when the Philadelphia Flyers finished off the Montreal Canadians in 5 games on Monday. The Chicago Blackhawks completed their sweep of the top seeded Sharks on Sunday. Game 1 will be on Saturday in Chicago. The Blackhawks, the 2 seed from the West, are the better team on paper and will be heavy favorites to raise the cup, but Philadelphia, the 7 seed, was the underdog in their first two series and came back from being down 3 games to none to beat the Bruins 4 games to 3 in the second round. While Chicago are the favorites, this is the NHL playoffs and anything can happen.
The Flyers are making their first appearance in the Finals since 1997. After coming back from 3 games down and 3 goals down in Game 7 against the Bruins, the Flyers carried that momentum into their series against the 8th seeded Canadians in an unlikely Conference Finals meeting. In Game 5, Philadelphia allowed a goal in the first minute of the game, but came back to win the game and the series. Goalie Michael Leighton, who is playing due to injuries to Philadelphia’s top 2 goaltenders, had a franchise record 3 shutouts in the Flyer’s 4 wins in the series.
Chicago was one of the top teams in the NHL all year long. This is their first appearance in the Finals since 1992. They easily defeated the Western Conference’s top seeded San Jose Sharks in 4 games and seem to be hitting their stride at the perfect time. Captain Jonathan Toews set a franchise record by registering a point in 13 straight postseason games and seems to be the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP). Toews, 22, was also a member of Gold Medal winning Team Canada in this year’s Olympics and is the second youngest full-captain to lead his team to a Stanley Cup Final, only Sidney Crosby was younger. Rookie goaltender Antti Niemi has been fantastic and key players like Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Kris Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien have all had great postseasons. Chicago comes in as a solid favorite, but Philadelphia’s defense has shown its toughness. Still, I expect the Blackhawks to take the series in 5 games.
NBA playoffs – While the NHL is down to the final two, the NBA still has some drama left in the Conference Finals. In the West, the Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead against the Phoenix Suns in Los Angeles. Phoenix came back home down 2 games and were written off by most people. They have now won 2 straight games and have tied the series up at 2 games a piece. During Game 3, the Suns moved to a zone defense which seems to be giving the Lakers trouble. Phoenix has been able to play at their own pace and has had superb play from its bench while at home. They also have greatly improved their defensive effort after allowing 128 and 124 points in games 1 and 2 respectively to the Lakers in Los Angeles. I suspect the Lakers will still win, but the Suns are making it a series and could be primed for an upset.
After the Celtics jumped out to a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, The Magic have come back to win the next two games. Orlando has finally got some improved play from players such as Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard. Howard in particular has stepped his game up and seems to be proving the point that he has the potential to be a superstar in the league. With his size and strength, there’s no reason why Howard shouldn’t be getting at least 20 points and double digit rebounds every single game. He needs to improve his offensive game in order to become a true superstar and with 32 and 21 point efforts in the last two games, he certainly is showing signs of improvement. The Magic will need Howard, Lewis, and Vince Carter to step up even more in Game 6, where all of the pressure will be on Boston to close out the series at home. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, but Boston has seen this story before. The Boston Bruins were up 3-0 in their series against the Flyers this year, but Philadelphia came back to take the series 4-3, becoming only the 3rd NHL team to ever do so. The only other sport that has seen a comeback when being down 3 games to none was in baseball when the Boston Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees 4-3, which is still the only occurrence in MLB history. Game 6 will certainly be interesting, but the Celtics do not want to go back to Orlando where it would be a tall order for Boston to win a Game 7.
2014 Super Bowl to be held at new Meadowlands stadium – For the first time ever, there will be a Super Bowl in the New York area. The Giants/Jets new stadium will be the site of Super Bowl XLVIII. Most complaints about a Super Bowl in the New York area have been about the weather. For the record, the lowest recorded temperature during a Super Bowl was 39 degrees. Super Bowl XLVIII could certainly break this record and it also could be the first time snow is on the field during the game, but these things aren’t that important in my mind. The weather will not make the crowd not show up and if anything will only increase the amount of people that watch. Let’s not get carried away with the weather, the coldest temperature it would be is something close to 30 degrees, not negative 30.
Conference Championship games have been played in all kinds of weather, the way football was meant to be played as it is an all-weather game. A perfect example is the Giants v. Packers NFC Championship game in Green Bay a couple of years ago where the wind chill was about negative 20 degrees. Nobody says that the Giants only won because it was snowing or freezing, and the game was certainly one to remember. New York has hosted every big event except for the Super Bowl and could certainly use the boost for the local economy. I think that it is appropriate that the nation’s most popular sporting event will finally take place in the nation’s greatest city.
Cavaliers fire coach Mike Brown – This firing was certainly not a surprise, as the Cavs failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs after being upset by the Boston Celtics. In his 5 seasons as coach, Brown has the best winning percentage in Cavs history and was the Coach of the Year two years ago, however, it is difficult to say how much of that is actually due to Brown’s input or is it a result of the play of LeBron James. Brown seemed to be out-coached by Doc Rivers this year and Stan Van Gundy last season in the playoffs. He went into the playoffs with the best regular season record the last two seasons while Cleveland has had consecutive 60 win seasons. The one win he needed, however, was the NBA Championship.
There has been a lot of discussion of how this effects the decision of free agent to be LeBron James. I don’t think this will change or influence his choice at all and I think Brown’s firing was an inevitability after the Cavs lost to Boston in the second round. I think James has played his last game in Cleveland, although you never know what he might do at this point. I’m not going to speculate where the star might go, but we will all find out by July 8th at the latest when all teams can announce a signing of the 2-time reigning MVP. Brown will get another job in the near future where he will get a chance to remove himself from the shadow of James, which clouded the truth of whether he could truly coach or not.
USA sets final 23-man roster for World Cup – The USA National soccer team set its final roster for the 2010 World Cup yesterday. The announcement came off the Americans 4-2 loss to the Czech Republic in an international friendly on Tuesday, granted the US didn’t have all of their starters in the game and were experimenting with different players and schemes. The Czechs were a member of the US’s group in 2006, but failed to qualify for the finals this time out as they finished 3rd in their qualifying group behind Slovakia and Slovenia, the latter of which will join the US in Group C in South Africa. There were few surprises on the list, but it was nice to see the final members of the team who will representing our country in South Africa.
Some of the more surprising players to make the team were among the forwards. Coach Bob Bradley decided to take only 4 forwards, which I think is a good thing as these will be the four men the US will rely on and each player should receive a decent amount of playing time. Joining Jozy Altidore up front will be Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez, and Edson Buddle. Findley and Buddle play in the MLS, where Buddle is this year’s leading scorer, while Gomez cuurently plays for Pachuca in the Mexican League after stints in the MLS. Gomez, 28, became the first American to lead a foreign league in scoring when he tied for the league lead in Mexico with 10 goals. Buddle, 29, got only his second appearance for his country this Tuesday with the first coming back in 2003 when he played only 11 minutes. Some surprises also meant that seven players didn’t make the cut from the preliminary roster, the most notable of which was forward Brian Ching. Ching recently returned from injury on May 13th and was a member of the 2006 squad, although he didn’t see any action. Others not making the cut were Sacha Kljestan, Chad Marshall, Heath Pearce, Alejandro Bedoya, Robbie Rogers, and Eddie Johnson. The final roster will play two friendlies before they open up the World Cup against England on June 12th. They play Turkey in Philadelphia on Saturday before heading to Johannesburg where they will play Australia on June 5th. Hopefully these two friendlies will be more telling of the side we will see in South Africa and the US can gain some confidence from these final two games.
May 27, 2010 · Filed under NBA, NFL, NHL, Soccer
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