Screen Plays

Well, our first week of Fox NFL Sunday is in the books, time to get ready for Week-2. As we go along in this, my "rookie" season as host of the big shindig, I'll let you in on some of the off-screen, behind -the-scenes stuff that goes on from time to time.

Like our Week 1 show.

To say that Terry, Howie, and Jimmy were ecstatic to be back in the Fox studio for the upcoming season, compared to last year's road circus, would be an understatement. For me, after 10-years of being on the road doing games as a play-by-play guy for Fox, coupled with last year's road duties, it's a totally different experience.

What I think it does for the show is make things better because the guys can simply be themselves. They can hear each other, they can come back with the quick quips that only good friends can say to you, and they don't have to worry about being hit in the head by objects thrown from the crowd (like the basketball that beaned Howie in the Giants Stadium parking lot last fall).

A prime example was after Frank Caliendo's piece and his mock-Madden's, mock-fight with the real Bob Costas. Howie's line that "Frank just got his butt kicked by a preschooler" was priceless and fit the piece perfectly. However, I don't think that response would have come about had we been on the road with the guys struggling just to hear over the crowd, forget having time to come up with a funny line.

By the way, we get to watch every play of every game that goes on Sunday. That's what we do between the end of the pregame show and the various halftime segments that we have for each game. Anyway, the funniest line to come out while watching the games occurred during the Denver/Buffalo contest when one of the guys (who shall remain nameless) uttered the line: "Travis Henry is running today like he's got 9-mouths to feed.".

Great line, I thought.



Dump Offs
 
...I don't watch reality television (sorry bosses, never even seen American Idol). But I do know who, this week, is the NFL's Biggest Loser: Bill Belichick. He may win more Super Bowls because he's that good a coach, and his teams are usually that talented, but his mojo is gone. Win or not, his methods will always be brought into question, and that's too bad...

...I am not accusing anyone else of cheating here, let's be clear on that. However, you can't convince me that had the coach who did this been named Mike Nolan, or Mike Holmgren, or Mike Tomlin, that the vitriol from the media and other NFL people would have been the same. There's a disdain for Belichick and the Patriots that no other team comes close to meeting. As one NFL head coach told me, he wanted to see them "get it" because they are so arrogant...

...Final word on Patriot-gate: I have no problem with the punishment, because I honestly don't think it's that big a deal compared to what coaches do every day to try to gain some type of advantage. That said, how does Cowboys QB coach Wade Wilson get a 5-game suspension for breaking the rules for health reasons and Belichick get just a financial fine and the loss of 1-of-2 1st round picks next year for breaking the rules for competitive reasons? You tell me which affects the integrity of the game more...

...Hey, I can't stand her music, but is it wrong to feel sorry for Britney Spears and the mess that she has become?...

...We should all feel a bit for 49ers runningback Frank Gore this Sunday. He plans to play despite the death of his mother, Liz, after her long battle with kidney disease. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one knows how hard it can be just to function in the immediate aftermath. He has to try to do it in the public eye...

...I think that the Chargers are the most talented team in the NFL. Thus far, I know that they are the most talkative...

...The Saints offense looked awful against the Colts, there's no way that happens again this week against Tampa...

...Ditto, the Bears against the Chiefs...

...Do you think when folks in Jacksonville rushed out to get tickets to the Falcons/Jags game when they went on sale this spring they were thinking, "can't wait to see who wins that Joey Harrington-David Garrard showdown!!"

...Chad Johnson's act used to be cute...used to be...


AFTER FURTHER REVIEW

Usually, documentary films aren't high on the list of recommendations. But you will have missed out on one of the best and more fun documentaries to come about if you don't see "In The Shadow of the Moon" while it's in theaters.

It's produced by Ron Howard and is absolutely fantastic. In fact, as soon as the movie ended, my wife leaned over to me and said, "that was really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really good". Yes, it was an 8-count-"really".

It's interviews with the only living people who have actually been to the moon (with the exception of Neil Armstrong who will not do interviews), interspersed with a lot of NASA footage from the actual moon missions.

It's surprisingly funny, and the stories told by the astronauts range from hilarious, to cute, to compelling. Michael Collins, who was back in the command module while Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were becoming the first to land on the moon, lets those of us who have always felt for him know that there was no reason to. He is definitely the star of the film, while Alan Bean adds the perfect comic relief.

Make sure you catch this movie, and catch it in the theater. The big screen makes a huge difference.

The preseason's all wrapped up. The cuts have been made. Now nothing left to do but play some football. FINALLY!

This time of year everyone always wants to know what everyone else thinks of their team. Well, since my "27 camps in 29 days" tour (turned out to be 25 camps due to weather and horrible service by the airline industry) allowed me to see the majority of teams, first hand, I thought that I'd give you my opinion on how the entire league stacks up.

It's just my opinion, and that's it.

So here we go with my ranking of teams from No. 1 (the best) to No. 32 (the worst). As you read this, keep in mind that last year, I predicted a Miami/Carolina Super Bowl. We'll see if I can do any better this time around.

1. San Diego Chargers

Reason to believe: Hands down, the best talent in the NFL.

Reason to worry: New head coach and new coordinators working together for the first time.

2. New England Patriots

Reason to believe: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, enough said.

Reason to worry: Randy Moss, enough said.

3. Chicago Bears

Reason to believe: Weapons on offense may finally equal those on defense.

Reason to worry: Offensive line beginning to age.

4.  Baltimore Ravens

Reason to believe: Willis McGahee looks like he's got something to prove.

Reason to worry:  Steve McNair starting to show his age and physical pounding he's taken.

5. New Orleans Saints

Reason to believe: Drew Brees has been near perfect in camp.

Reason to worry:  Still unsure how they're getting it done at linebacker, but they are...for now.

6. Seattle Seahawks

Reason to believe: Healthy Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, a much improved defense.

Reason to worry: Left guard Rob SIms and center Chris Spencer new starters from day one.

7. Indianapolis Colts

Reason to believe: Two words: Peyton Manning.

Reason to worry: Lost far too many players from Super Bowl team.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

Reason to believe: Roethlisberger out to show it wasn't all Cowher and Whisenhunt.

Reason to worry: Was Big Ben's success all Cowher and Whisenhunt?

9. Philadelphia Eagles

Reason to believe: Donovan McNabb is back.

Reason to worry: Fair or not, Andy Reid's family troubles will continue to be a topic in Philly.

10. Denver Broncos

Reason to believe: Jay Cutler in year two with Mike Shanahan.

Reason to worry: Outside of Elvis Dumervil, defensive line is a huge question mark.

11. Dallas Cowboys

Reason to believe: The way Tony Romo played in his first five starts in '06.

Reason to worry: The way Tony Romo played in his final five starts in '06.

12.  Green Bay Packers

Reason to believe: Defense has the potential to be dominant.

Reason to worry: Offensive scheme built on RB and TE and right now team has neither.

13. Cincinnati Bengals

Reason to believe: Offensive starters are as solid a group as there is in NFL.

Reason to worry: Three 8-8 finishes in four years under Marvin Lewis.

14. Carolina Panthers

Reason to believe: Running game should be better under new coordinator Jeff Davidson.

Reason to worry: Dan Morgan is difference maker on defense, but can he ever stay healthy?

15. Tennessee Titans

Reason to believe: Vince Young makes everybody around him better.

Reason to worry: Haven't replaced Pacman Jones at corner, nor as a returner.

16. San Francisco 49ers

Reason to believe: Rookies Patrick Willis and Joe Staley are the real deals.

Reason to worry: Realistically, one more draft class and free agent year away.

17. St. Louis Rams

Reason to believe: As long as this coaching staff has Steven Jackson, they have a chance.

Reason to worry: Secondary will miss best player, Fakhir Brown, for 4-game suspension.

18. New York Jets

Reason to believe: Eric Mangini worked magic in 2006.

Reason to worry: It's not 2006 anymore.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

Reason to believe: Defense too good not to believe.

Reason to worry: Cutting your starting QB a week before the season starts is not good.

20. Washington Redskins

Reason to believe: Defensive talent is back to 2004-2005 level.

Reason to worry: QB Jason Campbell missed a lot of preseason work with an injured knee.

21. Arizona Cardinals

Reason to believe: Team will be more disciplined under Ken Whisenhunt.

Reason to worry: Essentially the same defensive group that was ranked 30th last year.

22. Detroit Lions

Reason to believe: Passing game should be electric.

Reason to worry: Running game could be shockingly bad.

23. New York Giants

Reason to believe: May be deepest receiver group in team history.

Reason to worry: Anything other than a fast start and the wolves will be out in NYC.

24. Miami Dolphins

Reason to believe: Offensive-minded head coach Cam Cameron just what team needed.

Reason to worry: Could have also used some younger players on defense.

25. Cleveland Browns

Reason to believe: Talent has really been upgraded.

Reason to worry: Weeks 1-5: Pittsburgh, Cincy, at Oakland, Baltimore and at New England.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Reason to believe: Jon Gruden is desperate, and desperate coaches can be dangerous.

Reason to worry: Jeff Garcia hasn't played 16 games since 2002.

27. Buffalo Bills

Reason to believe:  Should be able to run the ball and keep games close.

Reason to worry: Must have offense keep games close, because defense will struggle.

28. Oakland Raiders

Reason to believe: Daunte Culpepper beginning to look like his old self.

Reason to worry: Lamont Jordan's inconsistent and Dominic Rhodes is out first four games.

29. Minnesota Vikings

Reason to believe: Offense should be better by the end of season.

Reason to worry: First-year starter Tarvaris Jackson will struggle. How does he handle it?

30. Atlanta Falcons

Reason to believe: Bobby Petrino seems to have done a good job of keeping team focused.

Reason to worry: It was going to be a long year with Michael Vick's talent. Without him...

31. Houston Texans

Reason to believe: Change at quarterback brings in fresh air.

Reason to worry: Don't you just feel like they'll always be the "Arizona of the AFC"?

32. Kansas City Chiefs

Reason to believe: Wait, wait...I'm still thinking.

Reason to worry: Damon Huard was a backup for 11 years for a reason.

NFC division winners: Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle.

NFC wild cards: Dallas and Green Bay.

AFC division winners: Baltimore, Indianapolis, New England, San Diego.

AFC wild cards: Denver and Pittsburgh.

Super Bowl matchup:  Chicago Bears vs San Diego Chargers.

Since Super Bowl XLII is on FOX in February, I'll be there in person to see if my predictions are right. They probably won't be.  :-)

As I write this post, I've seen 21 different teams during this preseason. That means when you add together each team's offense, defense, and special teams, I've seen a total of 63-different units. I will say that without a doubt, the worst of any of those 63-units was EASILY the Buffalo Bills defense.

They can't tackle, they can't cover, they can't put pressure on the quarterback.

I guess the good news is that the Bills know it.

As one Buffalo coach told me, "we have to do everything we can to keep our defense off the field." Well, knowing you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

Last season, head coach Dick Jauron and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell somehow got this unit to overachieve. Their 10th ranking in scoring defense was a big reason why Buffalo surprised a lot of folks with a 7-9 record. Those two might have to be miracle workers for that to be the case again this year.

The losses of linebackers Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher-Baker will grab the headlines, but really, the crew is more athletic without them. They're also much more inexperienced, and for now, less talented. Maybe not for long, though.

Speaking about second-round pick, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, Jauron told me "he gets it." He's not with the first unit yet, but "he's pushing hard." That would be a major step in the right direction. Current starters Angelo Crowell, John Di Giorgio and Keith Ellison all are hard working guys who give you everything they've got. The issue is, they just don't have a lot.

Things are better up front and behind....slightly.

On the defensive line Jauron thought that his team was "pretty deep, pretty strong at the defensive end position, but now that's all changed." Starters Chris Kelsay and pro bowler Aaron Schobel (who just got a new contract potentially worth $50 million this week) are still in tact, but pass rush specialist Ryan Denny will likely miss the entire season with a broken foot. Anthony Hargrove will miss the first four games of the season due to a league suspension. Thusly, the team signed veteran Al Wallace this week just to have somebody to backup Kelsay and Schobel. Wallace is officially a seven-year veteran, but made his NFL debut 11-years ago, and has bounced in and out of the league since while working as a junior high school assistant principal.

In the secondary, the team hasn't come close to replacing departed cornerback Nate Clements. Jason Webster and Terrence McGee are the starters, but both are just holding on. The hope is that second year man Ashton Youboty can step up and take over one of those spots, but he hasn't yet. Having safeties Ko Simpson, and Donte Whitner together for a second straight season should help. At times last year, Whitner was the defense's best player despite his rookie status, and this year he could take on that title full time. Not just by default, but because he actually has a chance to be that good. But on this defense he's a rarity.

Obviously, this team is going to rely heavily on it's offense, particularly at the start of the season. But, it's not like they appear ready to carry the load.

Quarterback J.P. Losman actually seemed to get better toward the end of the season in '06. What's surprising is that even a number of the coaches don't seem to be sold that he's turned the corner. Every coach I spoke with talked about how he must become more consistent. I was told that the reason he appeared to get better late in the year was that things were made so basic for him that they were able to "hold his hand." The problem is, you can only get away with that for so long.

Watching Losman, particularly when he throws the deep ball, you can see the flashes that give the Bills hope. Losman throws as pretty a long ball as any quarterback in the league. He also may be as tough as there is as well. Going into just his second year as a full time starter there should be a little leeway for him. This is his fourth season in the league. Not to mention, Buffalo spent a third-round pick this year on Stanford's Trent Edwards. Impatience is the norm in the NFL, so the jurors out there are just about ready to make the call on Losman's making it in Buffalo.

The Bills have tried to help him as much as possible with a group of running backs that may, as a unit, be the strength of the team. First-round pick Marshawn Lynch is "100% the real deal."

"He's a good runner, and a really good receiver" according to Jauron. He even does an decent job in pass protection, although that needs to get better (as is most often the case for a rookie who wasn't really asked to do it in college). Behind Lynch the Bills have former Bear Anthony Thomas, and fourth-round pick Dwayne Wright out of Fresno State, whom the coaches like in spot duty.

The Bills feel that they've upgraded the offensive line by adding left guard Derrick Dockery, Jason Whittle (who'll most likely be the starter at right guard), and right tackle Langston Walker. We'll see. The one guy that they don't have any concern about is left tackle Jason Peters who this year could catapult himself into the company of Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden, joining the argument of "who is the best left tackle in the NFL?" Peters isn't there yet, but he's knocking on the door (along with San Diego's Marcus McNeill, by the way).

Lee Evans is a solid No. 1 receiver, the No. 2 role will be a group effort. Somehow out of Peerless Price, Josh Reed, and the speedy but small Roscoe Parrish, the Bills need to find a way to keep defenses honest in their coverages.

I don't mean this sarcastically, but the best unit on this squad is special teams. In fact, Buffalo's special teams are among the best in the league.

That may be the thing that allows Buffalo to tread water until it learns to swim. Jauron told me that this is his kind of team, one that isn't filled with stars, but guys looking to get better and a franchise looking to improve. He did a brilliant job last season in getting them to win seven games. The challenge could be tougher this season, but he seems ready for it. At least he knows what he's in for.