I was reading Brian Urlacher's blog today about how the Bears have struggled this season, and about how his production has slowed this year as well. He went on to discuss the overall team attitude and his nagging injuries as well as his desire for the Bears to get back to the top of the heap, stating that all the pieces were in place. It was a very humble blog, well thought out and insightful, but for some reason it just made me think about the parity that exists in the college game today and how this year has unfolded to date. Everyone expected the Bears to be on top, everyone expected them to dominate. But in college, you don't know what to expect. Upsets every week, a roller coaster ride of season with the top ten poll acting like a revolving door to teams that just seem to survive until next weekend.
Now I know I will catch alot of flack for this one, but hear me out. Here are the top five reasons why college football is better than the pros:
5. NO SUCH THING AS A LOCK - In the era of AFC dominance in the NFL, this season of college football has reminded us of one thing: nothing is absolute. Kentucky beating LSU in triple OT? Stanford beating USC in Pasadena? the number 2 team in the country falling 3 straight weeks in a row? You can't script stuff like this. And it's not just this year, what about Boise State last year? What about Vince Young leading the Longhorns over the seemingly invincible Trojans 2 years ago in Los Angeles? And the list goes on and on. With the prospect that anything can happen (and often does), college football keeps us guessing every step of the way.
4. ON CAMPUS ENERGY DURING GAME WEEK - Franchise's don't have a built in fanbase that lives with the players for the entire week leading up to the game, but college programs do. All week long, kids on campus are planning for the Saturday matchup. At your bigger, marquee programs, it's all anyone can talk about (and that includes the profs). The hype, the anticipation, the plans for tailgating, the "pregaming" (if you went to college you know what I"m talking about) - all of it contributes to absolute madness on Saturday. In the pros, fans show up on Sunday, tailgate, watch the game and have a good time and then go home. And they'll do it again the next home game, but it also doesn't compare to how the students prep during a game week.
3. COLLEGE STADIUMS - the Rose Bowl in Pasedena; the Big House in Ann Arbor; Lane Stadium in Blacksburg; Happy Valley, PA; Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe; and the list goes on and on and on. Those stadiums......every college FB stadium isn't just packed on Saturdays, THEY'RE ALIVE. The stadium becomes a living, breathing, screaming force that you just can't compare to any other venue. Typically, most universities reside in small towns where the entire population is devoted to that team, their success and their failures. Alumni returning to the stands and sidelines, the undergrads, the townies, everyone in that stadium is so much a part of that hometown team......it just can't be beat! I'm not taking away from Qualcomm Stadium or the RCA Dome or any other NFL sites, they're great too, they just don't compare. Don't believe me? Think back to your days in college when your school's big rival came to town, you'll know what I'm talking about.
2. NO AGENTS, NO CONTRACTS, JUST SPORTS - no one can honestly sit there and tell me that the huge contracts, the bonuses, the labor disputes, the holdouts, and all the other drama from some of the games prima donna players makes the sport better for the fans. In college, you have a bunch of kids who are playing their hearts out to fullfill a dream, an ultimate goal. They aren't corrupted by the business of being a professional (just forget about Reggie Bush for a moment), they are filled with pride for their school, their teammates and the opportunity to be the best. Notice I highlighted the word opportunity, because in its purest form, that's what college football is: a chance at greatness through sheer will and heart.
1.COLLEGE FOOTBALL RIVALRIES - I know that we've got some pretty healthy rivalries in the pros; Cowboys v. Redskins, Packers v. Bears, Chiefs v. Broncos - but they are not on the same level. The absolute intensity of a rivalry game in the NCAA is palpable, it's something you can feel in the air. Only in college ball can you lose 8 or 9 games, yet if you beat your rival it could be considered a winning season (ala Army v. Navy). And in the NFL, rivalries come and go along with the free agents that make up the teams. They die down to insignificance during the franchise's slumps. But the Ohio State/Michigan game, the AZ State/ Univ of Arizona game, the Florida/FSU game - the rivalry never dies!
Example: When Jim Tressel was first hired as Ohio State's head coach a few years back, during his remarks at his first press conference he stated the number of days until the next season's showdown with Michigan. He knew just like everyone else knows how much rivalries are a part College Football and this country.
You may agree with me, you may disagree with me, I don't care. But college football is better than pro football for the same reason we love the 1980 US Hockey team so much. It's kids brought together from different backgrounds who are willing to sacrifice everything for that unknown, that chance at greatness!
Ever since Byron Leftwich was cut last week by the Jags, every ESPN commentator, radio analyst, every beat writer for SI and anyone else who has a chance to snag a little bit of air time has been naming possible landing spots for the recently departed QB, but none have them have mentioned the most obvious destination......CHICAGO!
I'm sorry Bears fans, I don't buy Rex Grossman as the franchise QB. I know that Leftwich has struggled with injuries, and so has Grossman. But I think the two of them could make a very interesting pair of talents for head coach Lovie Smith. Leftwich still has the athleticism and the arm to be a big time starter in the NFL. Sure he has struggled with consistency, but not nearly on the level that Grossman has. Right now, Brian Griese does not have enough to take the starting job from Grossman, and that says alot about Griese if he hasn't shown enough to wrestle the nod away from a guy who was responsible for 70% of the team's turnovers last year. Leftwich could be signed and kept in reserve as he learned the playbook and developed some timing with the receivers during the first 8 weeks of the season. This would not be all that different from when the Patriots replaced Drew Bledsoe with backup Tom Brady midseason seven years ago. While Brady didn't have the experience that Leftwich has back then, I think that whole situation in New England worked out pretty well.
People have mentioned Baltimore, Kansas City or Atlanta as possible places for him to find a home, but I think Chicago makes the most sense. I mean, we're talking about joining the defending NFC Champions with one of the top two defenses in the league (you can go week to week between Chicago and Baltimore). Even with the loss of Thomas Jones to free agency, the Bears have a solid running game behind Cedric Benson who is ready to fill that void and be a number one back in the NFL. Rex has had some good games this preseason (San Francisco) and he has had some putrid ones (Indianapolis). It's not a question of if he implodes.....it's a question of when he implodes. Leftwich is the better QB.
This team is just a stone's throw away from a Super Bowl victory........their problem is that Rex is the one throwing it! Hey Bears, you have a chance right now, take it and sign this guy before he ends up in Baltimore.
Everything in sports is cyclical, and for years the NFC East has been in a duel with the NFC South for producing the best division in the conference. But that is all going to change in the next few seasons. The NFC West will become the best division in the conference, and here’s why:
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals – Looking to change their tag as the doormat of the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals have been loading up on talent and have it all locked in for the next five years. Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James, Adrian Wilson…the list goes on. But more importantly, the Cards used their off-season to address just about every critical area by adding Terrence Holt and Rod Hood in the Secondary, drafting LB Buster Davis (an All-American from FSU), trading up for Alan Branch in round 2, stealing TE Ben Patrick on day 2 of the draft, and most importantly, drafting Levi Brown while also picking up free agents Al Johnson & Mike Gandy to bolster a very weak O-Line. And for all of you Edge haters out there remember this: he was still 12th in the league in rushing yards with 1189 and 6 TDs behind that fish net of an O-Line, imagine what he’ll do with the improvements to that unit. With Whisenhunt and Grimm running the show in the desert, expect big things in the future……..I’m serious.
San Francisco 49ers– Rollin’ with Nolin? Absolutely. Having distanced themselves from their former glory days for long enough, the San Francisco 49ers are a team on the rise, collecting great players in the draft and off-season like they were free coupons at the grocery store. This off-season they addressed critical needs on defense at CB & LB with the drafting of Patrick Willis and signing Nate Clements from Buffalo. Picking up Joe Staley at the end of round 1 also bolsters the O-Line, while adding offensive weapons Darrell Jackson and rookie Jason Hill. Frank Gore established himself as one of the league’s premier backs last year, and with Alex Smith coming into his own, along with a healthy Vernon Davis look for the 49ers to be a mainstay in the playoffs for years to come.
St. Louis Rams – This club has endured some tough times over the past few seasons, missing the playoffs the last two years. But with the caliber of players they have I don’t think anyone can argue that they are just a hair away from the post season. Stephen Jackson will be one of the top backs in the league for the next 8 years. Marc Bulger consistently puts up pro bowl numbers year after year and has shown no signs of slowing down. Same can be said for Torry Holt who remains one of the games most dominant receivers. Special teams remains an area of concern, but picking up Dante Hall should bolster the return game nicely while the drafting of Adam Carriker immediately addresses a critical need on the defensive front. This team has a lot of veteran leadership mixed in with young talent, and that’s definitely a dangerous combination for opponents to face.
Seattle Seahawks – It’s a proven fact that anything Mike Holmgren touches turns to gold. He brought the Packers back to NFL prominence and made Brett Favre a star, and he has done the same thing for Matt Hasselbeck and company in Seattle, leading them to the Super Bowl in 2005-06. So what have they done to improve on that? Sure they lost Darrell Jackson, but Deion Branch is the number one receiver and with Nate Burelson as well as free agent signee TE Marcus Pollard, the passing game should not suffer at all. Oh yeah, and why don’t we factor in a healthy Shaun Alexander, 2005 NFL MVP. He played in 10 contests in 2006 and still managed to rush for 896 yards and 7 TDs. Defense? How about the signing of DE Patrick Kerney, pairing him with emerging star Darrell Tapp. A couple of other guys people may have heard of are pretty good too: Lofa Tatupu, Michael Bouleware, Julian Peterson; yeah they’re doing all right there. Seattle is still the team to beat in this division.
No one can deny or ignore the talent and rosters that are being put together by the teams in the NFC West. Everywhere you turn, someone, somewhere is talking about these teams, about their potential, about their chances. And everywhere else you turn, people are starting to notice that while all the other divisions in the NFC have their sure-fire locks for the playoffs (Dallas – East, New Orleans – South, Chicago – North), other teams in those divisions are not found in as many post season discussions. NY Giants cannot replace Tiki Barber and will fall out of the playoff race. The Eagles still have Donovan and Westbrook so they always have a chance, but with no deep threat and McNabb being so injury prone, they won’t hold on too long. Carolina is a good pick every year, but without a dominant ground game they are really hit and miss. Chicago, New Orleans and Dallas are the only locks in my opinion for the postseason in the years to come. And I look for the NFC West to shine and start putting multiple teams into the playoff picture.
Still others will call me crazy or stupid, but look at these divisions and see how they stack up for the long haul. But I believe the West will dominate the playoff picture in the NFC in the years to come. What do you think?
Recently I did an interview with Andrew Kamenetzky, a writer for ESPN The Magazine, about what it meant to me being an Arizona Cardinals Fan. Some questions he asked were:
1. Why the Arizona Cardinals?
2. How long had I been a fan of the Big Red?
3. How was I able to continue to love my team in the face of such overwhelming disappointment?
4. Have I ever thought about just giving up on them?
You know………the standard 3rd degree you get from anybody when you tell them that you are a Cards fan. It’s not that Andrew was being rude or mean, quite the opposite, he was absolutely fascinated to learn about the mindset of the devoted fans of the most hard-luck franchise in the NFL. He wanted to know my perspective on how I saw this team, what made them my team, and what I saw for them in the future. Now I was happy to offer up my two cents to him about what being a member of the Red Bird nation meant to me, but I had a realization during the middle of our conversation: EVERYONE WHO WATCHES THE NFL IS AN ARIZONA CARDINALS FAN!!!
Now stay with me on this one, because I truly mean that. I believe that due to the franchise’s trek down the path of futility since it’s arrival in the desert back in 1987, the Cards have slowly but surely become the lovable losers that everyone cheers for at the end of the movie. Think about it, nobody hates the Cards. Nobody has ever really had a reason to. As we already know from prior discussions on this site, the Cards have no real rivalry with any other franchise out there, and they have won so few games in the past twenty years, that they have never been a team of concern for opposing organizations. And with the few exceptions of effectively knocking San Francisco out of the playoff picture last year and eliminating the Minnesota Vikings from the playoffs on the final play of the year in 2003, the Cardinals have consistently been ineffectual against much of the NFL.
Okay, we know all of that. But why do sportswriters, bloggers, so-called experts, analysts and every other opinion stater in the football world always pick the Cards as their “sleeper team” when they know it will lead to their complete and utter destruction at the end of the regular season? Why? Because they want the Cardinals to break through, they want them to win, they are rooting for them to win not because they just want to be right in their predictions, but because the rest of the country is as tired of seeing this franchise suffer as its own fans are. The Cardinals have slowly and methodically become the underdog that everyone can get behind.
Just think about it for a second. During the Fox halftime show or CBS halftime report, when the commentators are giving a wrap-up of other games around the league, Terry Bradshaw or Greg Gumbel always seem to have a little more excitement and surprise when they are reporting a score that has Arizona on top of its opponent. Now the surprise in their voices seems normal, but the excitement is worth noting. The intonation tells you that they are glad that this team is winning and that they hope the Cards will pull it out. Ask anyone and they will tell you, they don’t hate the Cardinals, nobody does; And unless you’re team is in the NFC West or they happened to be playing your team on Sunday, you kind of feel good when they win. You’ll say, “hey good for them” or “I’m glad they were able to pull one out.”
Actual Example: Everyone in the country (except for Chicago) wanted the Arizona to win during that Monday night meltdown last October. It was a heartbreaking loss, which has become commonplace to the Cards faithful. But what it really did was elevate our plight in such a noticable way, that it inadvertantly made instant Zona fans out of NFL viewers. Now the rest of the country knows how we have suffered and they don’t want it to happen anymore. The sports world is ready and willing to see a winner in Arizona.
AND SO ARE WE!!!!!!
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Let me start out by saying that I am neither a Yankees fan or a Mariners fan, I'm a D-Backs fan for life. Ok, now we can begin.
We've all been hearing alot about these two basically everytime you turn your TV or radio on. If you follow sports, then you have been following the meltdown in the Bronx and the NY Yankees recent scramble to try to ink their greatest offensive weapon since Reggie Jackson to a new mega-million $$$ deal.
And on those same shows, you've probably been hearing about Ichiro's new deal out in Seattle, which has been reported to be well above $50 million. The move to resign Ichiro to a long term deal came after his flawless performance in the 2007 All-Star game in which he went 3-3, with one hit being the first inside the park home run in the history of the All-Star game.
There is no denying that these two players are the cream of the crop. It doesn't matter if you hate the Yankees or if you love 'em, or if you love the Mariners or don't care about 'em, since Junior left, Ichiro and A-Rod are the batting kings of baseball (despite Barry's record breaking run). So this begs the question: If you were the GM of any MLB organization and had the chance to sign only one of these guys, who would you sign, ICHIRO or A-ROD?
Before you answer to quickly, just take a look at a few stats before making up your mind.
Ichiro Suzuki - 33 years old, CF/RF - Seattle Mariners
Ichiro is in the middle of his seventh season since arriving from Japan in 2001. Since 2001, here are the highlights of his amazing run with Seattle.
7 straight all-star appearences in 7 years as a professional, 2007 All-Star MVP
2001 Rookie of the Year & AL MVP, helping lead Seattle to ALCS
6 straight Golden Glove awards, # 7 is likely coming at the end of this season
AL leader in hits 4 out of 7 years in the league, AL leader in singles all 7 years
Career Batting average of .332
Top 10 in Hits, Runs Scored, Steals, 2Bs, 3Bs for 7 straight seasons
Has not missed more than 5 games in any given season
Alex Rodriguez - 31 years old, 3B/SS - NY Yankees
A-Rod will turn 32 on July 27th, this is his 14th year in the league as he has been playing in the majors since he was 18 years old. Here are some of his stats.
11 Time All Star while with the Mariners, Rangers & Yankees
2 time AL MVP (2003 & 2005), 2 Golden Glove awards (2002 & 2003 at SS)
1996 & 2002 Major League Player of the Year
10 straight seasons of 30+ HRs, league leader in 2001-03, 2005 & currently in 07
Career Batting average of .306
Top 10 in Runs scored, HRs, RBIs, Slugging % and on-base % at least 10 seasons
Highest paid player in the game - at least $21,000,000/season since 2001
So there's a quick comparison, the two best offensive players in the game. A-Rod can't match Ichiro's speed, Ichiro can't match A-Rod's power. Neither of them have won a World Series Championship. So I'll ask again:
If you were the GM of any MLB organization and had the chance to sign only one of these guys, who would you sign, ICHIRO or A-ROD?
Am I a Suns fan, you bet you're #### I am! Do I think they're are right there with the Spurs and the Mavs in the west, absolutely. Do I think that the Suns should make this trade giving away Amare and bringing in KG, absolutely not.......and I'll tell you why.
I am not going to sit here and boo hoo about the suspensions or any other excuses. The bottom line is that we played a tough series against the eventual NBA champs and won two of those games in traditional Suns fashion, outscore your opponent and to hell with defense. Of the four games we lost to the Spurs, the largest margin of victory by San Antonio was 8 points. Two losses came by only 3 points, to include the game in Phoenix where Amare and Boris had to sit out. Steve Nash still has plenty of gas left in the tank, Amare is a first team All NBA scorer, Marion is going to continue to play at an all star level for years to come, and Raja Bell's outside shooting is almost as good as his defense. So in my opinion this team is right there on the cusp of a title..........but there is work to be done.
The work that needs to happen in this offseason is an emphasis on defensive fundamentals. They need to find ways to neutralize Tim Duncan in the paint, whether it's rotating on a double team, switching up defenders, or playing a more physical game to keep him out of the paint, that is what this team needs to work on. They are great in transition moving the ball up the court, but too often have we seen Tony Parker or Manu Ginobli or Kobe Bryant just knifing right through the middle of the lane. Taking a charge cannot be the Suns best defensive play.
A trade is not even a temporary fix to their post season woes. Here's the problem with bringing KG in to Phoenix and shipping out Amare:
You give away a player that knows your system inside and out and has been working in it for 4 years. Amare Stoudemire is a scorer, and he knows how to move in the open court when Nash is pushing the tempo. You bring KG in then you run the risk of having a guy who can't keep that pace and might not excel in your system.
Amare Stoudemire is only 24 years old, and his game will improve. During his injury rehab time he improved his perimeter shooting and his free throw percentage. This kid will continue to improve his game, but that means he has a little more maturing to do to cut down on personal & technical fouls, and above all else that means learning how to play smart, physical defense. But he can do it.
KG is 31 years old, and still averages over 20 ppg and 2 more rpg than Amare, but he is not the explosive player he once was. With the price tag he comes with, it doesn't make sense to bet the farm on a guy who may have already played his best basketball on the off chance that he might be the one to get you to the finals...maybe.
The problem with Phoenix not reaching the finals the past three years is not the players, it is the coaching staff. D'Antoni is great at what he does. He created a great system utilizing the best assets of his roster, their speed and athleticism. It works in the regular season, allowing the Suns to notch three consecutive 60 win seasons. But it doesn't translate to playoff basketball. Finding a way to consistently stop your opponent through a solid defensive strategy is how you win in the playoffs, and that's why the Suns have been home in June the past three seasons.
If one leg is shorter than the other three legs of a table, you don't change it out with a replacement leg that is basically the same size and weight. Why? Because the table is still not at the correct level it needs to be, it sags on one side, and that is the most obvious analogy I could think of to describe the Phoenix Suns.
Three of the four pieces fit: 1-veteran leadership & great young athletic talent; 2-a dynamic offense that can run a team out of the building and score from any spot on the floor; 3-a great community and fan base that loves and supports this organization. But that 4th piece is missing, and that is defense, plain and simple.
If the Suns want to be in the Finals next year, then work Kurt Thomas into the starting lineup, get him used to running the floor in transition and build up his conditioning. Move Amare to the 4 spot, Marion to the 3 spot and along with Bell and Nash let that be you're starting 5. Work with Amare to improve his interior defense and limit his foul trouble. Start working on what you have and stop looking elsewhere for a solution that isn't there.
This team can win it all, but those things have to change. Amare Stoudemire should not be traded, he should be coached.
That title will probably always be up for debate, no matter who you are talking to. But no one can deny the dominance that Matt Leinart exhibited during his three year tenure as the starting quarterback at USC, and for some reason unknown to me, people seem to quickly forget just how good this guy really was in college. Perhaps it’s because he now plays for the Arizona Cardinals, perhaps it’s because he inexplicably fell to the number 10 position in the draft, who knows. But for all those Cards fans out there who are desperately seeking relief from years mired in mediocrity, your salvation is at hand……actually it’s left-handed. I would argue that Leinart was the best QB in the history of College Football, hands down. No one, not Peyton Manning, not Carson Palmer, not Joe Montana, not Roger Staubach……no one can duplicate what he did.
In case you might have forgotten, here’s a reminder of how ridiculously good Leinart was in college:
37-2 as a three year starter 3 Consecutive PAC-10 Titles (2003-05) 3 Consecutive National Title Game Appearances (2003-05) 2 Consecutive Nat’l Title Wins (2003-04) Heisman Trophy Winner 2004 3rd in Heisman Trophy voting in 2005
Now let’s break some of those down, shall we. 1245 pass attempts vs 23 interceptions; that is roughly one interception every 54 passes. He never had a single season in college where he threw double digit interceptions. He is the NCAA all-time pass completion % leader with 64.8%. He connected on 2 out of every 3 passes. Every single season he passed for over 3000 yards and 30+ TDs, all while running an offense that featured all american RBs Reggie Bush and LenDale White. His passer rating never dipped below 150 any of his three seasons, and he rode a consecutive win streak of 34 games. Most telling, he won 3 straight conference titles and 2 straight National titles. These are College Hall of Fame numbers, which is exactly where he’ll be placed a few years from now, that will happen.
However, anyone who does not agree with my opinion will likely point to his last collegiate game, the National Championship vs Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns. But ..........I challenge anyone who watched that game to prove to me how Leinart did anything other than play his game that night. He was 29/40 (72.5 %) for 365 yards, 1 TD & 1 INT, with a passer rating of 152.4. He led a drive of over 70 yards in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter, capped off with his lone TD pass to put the Trojans up by four with less than 4 minutes to go. The reason that USC did not win wasn’t Leinart, it was the Trojans’ defense and their inability to find an answer for Vince Young. Leinart just ran out of time.
The fact of the matter is this, nothing in college football is for certain. Preseason rankings are usually a joke by week 6, upsets in college football occur as frequently Lindsay Lohan’s trips to rehab. The only consistent thing in NCAA FB is that it’s gonna be exciting to find out who can scrap out a win in the end to claw their way to the top. But for nearly three years, there was no question who was the best team in the country…….the Trojans were as close to perfect as you’re gonna get in college football, and Leinart led the way.
Pat Tillman was many things: a college graduate with a degree in Marketing, a college football star (1997 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year), professional football player with the Arizona Cardinals (drafted 227th in 1998), a husband, a brother, a son, an American, and a soldier.
A soldier is a person who has made a choice. They will never call themselves a hero, ever. What they will tell you is that they have a duty, a mission, a task, a purpose……and they have made the choice to see it through. What is this mission? Simple - defend freedom and liberty wherever and whenever it is threatened. They do so without the thought of reward or personal fame, they do it because it is their job. Pat Tillman was a soldier in every sense of the word, and this Memorial Day weekend we pause to remember, to appreciate, and to thank him.
A rising star in the NFL, Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman (Dr.Z) named Tillman to his 2000 NFL All-Pro team after Tillman finished with 155 tackles(120 solo), 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 9 pass deflections and 1 interception for 30 yards. Not many may be aware of this fact, but at one point in his NFL career, Tillman turned down a five-year, $9 million contract offer from the St. Louis Rams out of loyalty to the Cardinals. Loyalty, that is something unheard of in sports today and is a true testament to Pat Tillman’s character. He finished his career with totals of 331 tackles(242 solo), 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 37 yards, 3 forced fumbles, 16 pass deflections, and 2 fumble recoveries in 60 career games. In addition he also had 1 rush attempt for 4 yards and returned 3 kickoffs for 33 yards.
Following the devestating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Tillman enlisted in the US Army in May of 2002, turning down a 3 year-3.6 million dollar contract offer from the Cardinals. He chose to go through the toughest training the Army has to offer, opting to become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the Army’s elite infantry unit. As I am an active duty Army officer and have been in the service for 9 years, I can tell you that this was no easy task. Only a select few can be professional athletes, and only a select few can be Army Rangers; Pat Tillman is the ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAY THAT HE WAS BOTH!
Lost due to a friendly fire incident on April 22, 2004 while on a patrol in Afghanistan, many people have seemed to focus on the events surrounding his death. But I say, to honor him, we remember the way he lived!! I will always remember going to Sun Devil stadium on Saturdays while I was in High School, watching this 5'11", 200 lbs guy play with more heart than anyone I had ever seen. I will always remember the emotion he played with, his competitive spirit. I will always remember watching him play on Sundays, wearing Cardinals Red, playing a game he loved, with the team he loved, for the community he loved.
This Memorial Day Weekend, take the time to remember Pat Tillman. Take the time to remember his sacrifice and the sacrifice of millions of Americans who stand up and say “SEND ME.” Today I say, “Thank You, Pat Tillman, you embody everything that makes this nation great, and I salute you.”
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Every year in August since 2000, video gamers all across the country line up to purchase the newest version of the EA sports' juggernaut game - Madden NFL Football. Everywhere except one place that is.......the city that is home to the player on the cover. Fans in Green Bay, Nashville, Minnesota, St. Louis, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philidelphia and Seattle have all experienced it first hand........THE DREADED MADDEN CURSE!
Since the popular franchise game began featuring players on the cover in 2000, a pattern of destruction has followed each and every one. Random events, season ending injuries, poor production, you name it, the Madden Curse has become part of American Football Lore.
For those of you unfamiliar with the depth of this modern day Urban Legend, let me briefly summarize the events of the past seven years:
Barry Sanders & Dorsey Levens (2000)
Barry was originally set to share the cover of the game with the customary picture of John Madden on Madden NFL 2000, but after 10 years he abruptly retired ending his storied career. Dorsey Levens of the Green Bay Packers was then put in his place. After rushing for 1034 yards in 1999, he gained only 224 yards from scrimmage in an injury plagued season, Levens was cut by the Packers after the 2001 season. He floated around with the Eagles and Giants, but ultimately retired in 2004 never again cracking the 1000 yard mark.
Eddie George (2001)
Eddie is a different story. The year he was on the box, he actually had career highs in yardage and TDs. But some argue that the curse struck him in the 2001 AFC championship game, in which George bobbled a pass which was then plucked away from him by LB Ray Lewis and returned for a touchdown, sending the Ravens to an eventual Super Bowl victory. In the following year, he average only 3 yds per carry and rushed for career lows in yards and TDs due to a naggin toe injury. For the rest of his career, he never averaged more than 3.4 yds per carry.
Daunte Culpepper (2002)
After a stellar campaign in 2000 in which he threw for nearly 4000 yds, 33 TDs while rushing for 470 yds and 7 more TDs, Culpepper struggled with turnovers in 2001, throwing 13 INTs for 14 TDs before suffering a season ending knee injury in the 11th game of the season. In the next 4 seasons, he had three subpar performances with a small resurgence during the 2004 season, but another potentially career ending injury in 2005 prompted his departure from Minnesota to Miami, where he has been less than impressive, undergoing a second surgery making his return questionable.
Marshall Faulk (2003)
In 2001, Faulk had over 2000 yds from scrimmage and 21 TDs. He followed that up with an appearance on the cover of Madden and 1600 yds & 10 TDs. Seems pretty good right? But he suffered an ankle injury causing him to miss 5 games. Consequently, Marshall never broke through the 1000 yard mark the rest of his career and is now a mainstay on the NFL network.
Michael Vick (2004)
Five days after the Madden 2004 game featuring him on the cover was released, Vick suffered a fractured right fibula in a preaseason game against the Ravens. The team finished 5-11 and Vick played in only five games. Vick did rebound for the 2004-05 season, leading the Falcons to the NFC Championship game, but has had two consecutive subpar seasons, missing the playoffs both years as well as having to deal with off the field issues.
Ray Lewis (2005)
After a career high 6 interceptions the season prior, Lewis missed the final game of the 04 season without a single interception. The Ravens also failed to make the playoffs after winning their division the year before. In the 2005 season, Lewis also had his season cut short due to an injury he suffered in week 6, BUT looks to have rebounded well this past year. We'll see what happens.
Donovan McNabb (2006)
After 4 straight appearances in the NFC championship game and leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004, Donovan graced the cover of Madden NFL 06 and promplty declared, "I don't believe in curses." What has followed has been two injury shortened seasons and questions about his durability. He suffered a sports hernia in 2005 requiring surgery and subsequently the Eagles missed the playoffs. In 2006, McNabb tore his ACL in week 11, but it is important to note he was tied with Peyton Manning for the league lead with 18 TDs at that point and was second in passing yards with 2569.
Shaun Alexander (2007)
In 2005-06, Alexander was the league MVP with 1880 yards rushing and a then-record 28 total TDs. Alexander had missed only one start in 64 games, but sustained a broken foot in 2006-07 causing him to miss six straight starts. He failed to rush for 1000 yards for the first time since 2000. Prior to last year, he had never posted less than 1500 yards from scrimmage or fewer than 16 TDs per season.
Vince Young (2008)
?
So there it is, the Madden Curse in all its glory. Some argue that there is no curse, that these events are merely the fact that these players are placed on the game's cover after such remarkable seasons that they are actually set up to fail because there is no way they could duplicate these performances. Others look at the pattern and tend to believe. It's no secret that LaDanian Tomlinson was the first choice for the cover of Madden 2008 but quickly turned it down.
Does Vince Young, 2006-07 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, stand a chance? On some other posts that I've written and read here, people already have an idea about what's going to happen, but I'm curious to know how many people buy into the curse and how many people think like McNabb and "don't believe."
Recently I posted a few comments on lisa4usc’s blog entitled, “KEYSHAWN JOHNSON RETIRES TODAY.” I wrote a few comments acknowledging his accomplishments, and stated that he should always be regarded as a very good receiver in the history of the NFL, but probably not Hall of Fame worthy, however if he did get in I would not be upset about it. That’s when I saw a few comments from fox blogger Scorpious, who posted comments mentioning Anquan Boldin. Naturally, being an AZ Cards fan I gave it a look and was pretty fired up (to say the least) about some of his comments. Here is what Scorpious wrote about Boldin:
“Key, overrated? Nah. He was better than Boldin, who most people thought was going to be another Key………….
“Nothing is wrong with Boldin. He just hasn't put up numbers anywhere near what people had hoped for. 20 TD's over 4 seasons? C'mon, Moss had 17 in one season. Key averaged 7 a season in his first four. He had more yards, a better average per catch, and fewer fumbles than Boldin. But Boldin is a good receiver, don't get me wrong... he isn't that far behind Johnson's numbers…..”
“Boldin has never put up better numbers than Key, why would you take him over someone he's just plain not better than (or hasn't been up to now anyway)?”
I responded with this:
“Scorpious....let me say a few things about how Boldin has "not produced" according to you:
1. Boldin has broken nearly every rookie receiving record that exists: 217 yards in his first game as a pro (a record) and went on to 101 receptions (a rookie record also) 2. Boldin has played in the league for four years, he has been to the pro bowl twice. The other two years he didn't go he was injured for part of the season. In 2004 he was the only rookie in the Pro Bowl. 3. Boldin was the fastest player in NFL history to 300 receptions. 4. In 2004 when he missed 2 games due to a knee injury, Boldin still had 1402 yards receiving with 7 TDs 5. In 2006 he had one fumble, but it was not lost 6. He's 26 years old.
If you want to write a guy off after 4 years in the league, 2 pro bowls, multiple records and an intensity that is unmatched by any other receiver in the game go ahead.”
Then Scorpious responded with this:
“AZ... I never said he wasn't a great player. But Key DID put up better numbers than Boldin over his first four seasons. You can't change history. And Key sustained that level of play for his whole career……….Does Key make the Hall? I doubt it highly. Key was great, but he's no Largent…….. Does Boldin make the Hall? If he continues at this same level, probably not. And as far as fumbles go, in Key's entire career he had 9 fumbles, and lose 8 of them. (None of those were in his first four seasons, either.)”
Now I hate to get into p!ssing contests with anyone, I believe everyone is entitled to their opinions, that’s why I love writing and reading blogs here everyday! But I had to say something here, so let me say why I disagree with Scorpious (the understatement of the year) and tell you all about how Boldin’s first four years stack up, not just against Key but against some other great receivers/Hall of Famers. So let’s talk about some of Scorpious’ comments:
“Nothing is wrong with Boldin. He just hasn't put up numbers anywhere near what people had hoped for”…. Boldin has never put up better numbers than Key, why would you take him over someone he's just plain not better than (or hasn't been up to now anyway)…….. Key had more yards, a better average per catch…….. Boldin isn't that far behind Johnson's numbers…..”
Well, here are Keyshawn’s numbers for the first 4 years of his career:
Yards = 4108..…..Receptions = 305…..Yds per catch (avg) = 13.5…..31 TDs…..2 Pro Bowls…..Played in62 out of possible 64 games……NO NFL RECORDS
AND here are Boldin’s for his first 4 years in the league (next year will be his 5th):Yards = 4605……..Receptions = 342….Yds per catch (avg) = 13.5……20 TDs…..2 Pro Bowls…..Played in 56 out of possible 64 games…….Holds 3 NFL Records
1. Most Receiving Yds by a rookie (217 yards in his first NFL game)
2. Most Receptions in a single season by a rookie (101 catches)
3. Fastest Player in NFL history to reach 300 receptions (took him 47 games)
So let’s go back to what Scorpious is saying, Boldin doesn’t match up? Well he had 500 more yards, 37 more catches, same average per catch, same # of pro bowls, holds 3 NFL records and played in 6 less games. Personally, if I was a coach, I would love a guy who puts up these numbers. Boldin has had 3 seasons of over 1200 yards receiving (1377, 1402 & 1203), Keyshawn has only cracked 1200 yards receiving once in his entire 11 year career – in 2001, his sixth year in the league. What do you think Boldin would do with if he played four full seasons and had those 8 games to add in to his stats?
If that’s not enough to answer those comments, here’s a fun fact for you: the only receiver in NFL history to have more yards in his first four seasons is Jerry Rice with 4881 yards, that’s only a difference of 276 yards. Again, Jerry missed 4 games in his first 4 seasons. Boldin’s first 4 seasons were better than Cris Carter (3506/22 TDs), Michael Irvin (2968/20 TDs) and Lynn Swann (2294 yards/23 TDs) to name a few. Anquan missed 8 games, hmmmm, again I wonder what would have happened if he was healthy?
As far as TDs go, yes Keyshawn had 11 more touchdowns than Anquan. But in 2004 a guy named Larry Fitzgerald showed up, anybody heard of him? Since Anquan got injured in his sophomore season, Fitz has become the team’s #1 receiver, with Boldin being the #2. He’s putting up these numbers as a number 2 receiver!! He has to share the ball with a great athlete like Fitz, who did Randy Moss or Keyshawn ever have to share the field with during their first four years (If you say Wayne Chrebet and try to compare him to Fitzgerald I’m gonna laugh)? Keyshawn has been the number one receiver for 7 of his ten years in the league with the teams he played on.
I will give you the fumbles, Boldin has had 7 fumbles and lost 5 to date and Key had none in his first four years. But is that really gonna give Key the edge in this comparison? I looked around at some other great receivers: Steve Smith – 18 fumbles in his first 4 seasons; Jerry Rice – 7 fumbles in his first 4; Torry Holt – 9 fumbles in his first 4; Marvin Harrison – 5 fumbles; Sterling Sharpe – 5 fumbles; and the list could go on and on. Would you say any of these guys aren’t better than Key? The main reason Boldin has this many fumbles is because of the way he plays, he doesn’t shy away from contact. He works out of the slot, makes the same catches across the middle and just wants to run through people. All you need to do is to see his highlights against Carolina or San Francisco, both times he broke through at least 5 tackles en route to touchdowns of over 50 plus yards. I don’t recall Keyshawn breaking through too many tackles, but I could be wrong.
“Key DID put up better numbers than Boldin over his first four seasons. You can't change history. And Key sustained that level of play for his whole career……….Does Key make the Hall? I doubt it highly. Key was great, but he's no Largent…….. Does Boldin make the Hall? If he continues at this same level, probably not…”
Well we already know Keyshawn didn’t put up better numbers than Boldin over his first four seasons, I don’t need to change anything, look it up. Boldin has played consistently like an all star the past four years, so let’s answer the question of “if he continues at this pace, will he make the hall?” Let’s average all of Boldin’s numbers over the last 4 seasons and see what that is – 1151 yds, 5 TDs, 85.5 receptions per year. Now let’s say he plays at the same level for 8 more years, his totals would be: 13, 417 yds, 60 TDs, and 1026 receptions and a 13.076 yd per catch average. These would place him in the current top five receivers, make him second in yards and receptions while playing 7 years less than Jerry Rice who played 19 years. So he doesn’t make the Hall?
Why don’t we also factor in that Anquan has played with 6 different quarterbacks in 4 years. Jerry played with Joe, then with Steve during his glory years, hall of famers; Irvin played with Aikman his entire career, another hall of famer. Boldin has played with guys like Jeff Blake, John Navarre, and Shaun King. But Keyshawn has only had nine fumbles, right, that counts.
The bottom line here is that Anquan Boldin is a top tier receiver, anyone who doesn’t see that is probably blinded by the fact that he plays for the Arizona Cardinals. I can’t believe that the same amount of hype surrounded Anquan Boldin as it did Keyshawn Johnson when he was brought into the league, I just can’t. Boldin ran a 4.8 40-yard time at the combine and was the 54th overall pick in 2003. Johnson was the #1 overall pick in 1996 and was touted as being the best receiver to come out of college football since Jerry.
Boldin has more than exceeded anyone’s expectations and he will continue to do so. Am I biased...YES, am I wrong....NO.
This was written for a target audience of one: Scorpious. But if anyone else wants to weigh in that's fine by me if you manage to read all of this.
Everything goes in cycles, up & down, back & forth, always changing. For years the NFC East has been in a duel with the NFC South for producing the best division in the conference, but that is all going to change in the next few seasons. The NFC West will become the best division in the conference, and here’s why:
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals – Looking to change their tag as the doormat of the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals have been loading up on talent and have it all locked in for the next five years. Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James, Adrian Wilson…the list goes on. But more importantly, the Cards used their off-season to address just about every critical area by adding Terrence Holt and Rod Hood in the Secondary, drafting LB Buster Davis (an All-American from FSU), trading up for Alan Branch in round 2, stealing TE Ben Patrick on day 2 of the draft, and most importantly, drafting Levi Brown while also picking up free agents Al Johnson & Mike Gandy to bolster a very weak O-Line. And for all of you Edge haters out there remember this: he was still 12th in the league in rushing yards with 1189 and 6 TDs behind that fish net of an O-Line, imagine what he’ll do with the improvements to that unit. With Whisenhunt and Grimm running the show in the desert, expect big things in the future……..I’m serious.
San Francisco 49ers– Rollin’ with Nolin? Absolutely. Having distanced themselves from their former glory days for long enough, the San Francisco 49ers are a team on the rise, collecting great players in the draft and off-season like they were free coupons at the grocery store. This off-season they addressed critical needs on defense at CB & LB with the drafting of Patrick Willis and signing Nate Clements from Buffalo. Picking up Joe Staley at the end of round 1 also bolsters the O-Line, while adding offensive weapons Darrell Jackson and rookie Jason Hill. Frank Gore established himself as one of the league’s premier backs last year, and with Alex Smith coming into his own, along with a healthy Vernon Davis look for the 49ers to be a mainstay in the playoffs for years to come.
St. Louis Rams – This club has endured some tough times over the past few seasons, missing the playoffs the last two years. But with the caliber of players they have I don’t think anyone can argue that they are just a hair away from the post season. Stephen Jackson will be one of the top backs in the league for the next 8 years. Marc Bulger consistently puts up pro bowl numbers year after year and has shown no signs of slowing down. Same can be said for Torry Holt who remains one of the games most dominant receivers. Special teams remains an area of concern, but picking up Dante Hall should bolster the return game nicely while the drafting of Adam Carriker immediately addresses a critical need on the defensive front. This team has a lot of veteran leadership mixed in with young talent, and that’s definitely a dangerous combination for opponents to face.
Seattle Seahawks – It’s a proven fact that anything Mike Holmgren touches turns to gold. He brought the Packers back to NFL prominence and made Brett Favre a star, and he has done the same thing for Matt Hasselbeck and company in Seattle, leading them to the Super Bowl in 2005-06. So what have they done to improve on that? Sure they lost Darrell Jackson, but Deion Branch is the number one receiver and with Nate Burelson as well as free agent signee TE Marcus Pollard, the passing game should not suffer at all. Oh yeah, and why don’t we factor in a healthy Shaun Alexander, 2005 NFL MVP. He played in 10 contests in 2006 and still managed to rush for 896 yards and 7 TDs. Defense? How about the signing of DE Patrick Kerney, pairing him with emerging star Darrell Tapp. A couple of other guys people may have heard of are pretty good too: Lofa Tatupu, Michael Bouleware, Julian Peterson; yeah they’re doing all right there. Seattle is still the team to beat in this division.
No one can deny or ignore the talent and rosters that are being put together by the teams in the NFC West. Everywhere you turn, someone, somewhere is talking about these teams, about their potential, about their chances. And everywhere else you turn, people are starting to notice that while all the other divisions in the NFC have their sure-fire locks for the playoffs (Dallas – East, New Orleans – South, Chicago – North), other teams in those divisions are not found in as many post season discussions. NY Giants cannot replace Tiki Barber and will fall out of the playoff race. The Eagles still have Donovan and Westbrook so they always have a chance, but with no deep threat and McNabb being so injury prone, they won’t hold on too long. Carolina is a good pick every year, but without a dominant ground game they are really hit and miss. Chicago, New Orleans and Dallas are the only locks in my opinion for the postseason in the years to come. And I look for the NFC West to shine and start putting multiple teams into the playoff picture.
Still others will call me crazy or stupid, but look at these divisions and see how they stack up for the long haul. But I believe the West will dominate the playoff picture in the NFC in the years to come. What do you think?
To see this article and more about the NFC West and the Arizona Cards visit the Cardinals blog page - http://raisingzona.com
Every young gunslinger out of college wants a shot at being the starting quarterback for their team right from the get-go. The 2006 draft saw three “franchise quarterbacks” taken in the first eleven picks: Vince Young (Tennessee), Matt Leinart (Arizona), and Jay Cutler (Denver). All three of these QBs, as well as several other first-time starters saw significant playing time throughout the year. Some were successful while others had a pretty bumpy ride when they were introduced to the likes of Michael Strahan, Ray Lewis, and Patrick Kearney. However, by the end of 2006 many of these “quarterbacks of the future” were firmly entrenched in the starting job, with Young bringing home the award for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
But now, after getting a few games under the belt, the cobwebs are supposed to be gone. Now they are expected to win, and there is no more room for excuses or “rookie mistakes.” So who is going to shine in 2007? Who is going to suffer from a “Sophomore Slump?” Here is a look at the young QBs with whom teams are pinning their playoff hopes on in 2007.
STUDS IN 2007:
Matt Leinart – Arizona Cardinals, 4-7 as a starter
After suffering enough losses at the hands of Kurt Warner (literally losing games against St. Louis and Atlanta single-handedly), Denny Green opted for young Matt Leinart who quickly established himself as the starter. With 11 starts for the Cards, Leinart and the offense really began to hit full stride as the season closed out, finishing with 11 TDs, 12 INTs, 2547 yards and a passer rating of 74. The most intriguing aspect of Leinart’s game that he brings to the table is his confidence. He doesn’t act like a rookie, he doesn’t talk like a rookie, he doesn’t look like a rookie, and none of his teammates have a problem following him on the field. He set a rookie single game record in the loss to Minnesota going 31-51 with 405 yards passing. He had four multiple touchdown performances and looks to only get better throwing to weapons like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin behind a newly improved offensive line. Similar to what Ken Whisenhunt did with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, look for Leinart to be very efficient, but to not have gaudy numbers.
Prediction: 9-7 as a starter, leading Arizona to its first NFC West title.
Phillip Rivers – San Diego Chargers, 14-2 as a starter
A huge year for Rivers, stepping out from Drew Brees’ shadow and having a pro bowl season: 22 TDs, 9 INTs, 3388 yards and a QB rating of 92. How did he do it? By having the best running back in the game, the #1 or #2 TE in the game (depending on who you talk to, Gates vs. Gonzalez debate), and most importantly, two years of watching, practicing with and learning from veteran Brees. How does he follow it up? With a steady diet of the same; pound the ball with all world back LaDainian Tomlinson, use the run to set up the pass, and kill opponents with screens, dump offs to the TE and all the high percentage passes he made last year. With Norv Turner as the Head Coach you could be worried, but as an offensive coordinator he should really elevate Rivers’ game.
Prediction: 11-5 as a starter, winning the AFC West title again.
Jay Cutler – Denver Broncos, 2-3 as a starter
While missing the playoffs in a tough loss to the 49ers at season’s end last year, Jay Cutler showed why Mike Shanahan has so much confidence that he could be the next great Broncos QB. Cutler threw 2 touchdowns in 4 out of the 5 games on his way to 9 TDs for the year, with 5 INTs and 1001 yards. Showing a very strong arm along with the athleticism to move in the pocket, Cutler finished the year with a passer rating of 88.5. The Broncos have made a lot of great moves in the offseason, bringing in (RB) Travis Henry, (TE) Daniel Graham and WR Brandon Stokleyto give Cutler some new weapons behind a great offensive line. Even in their two back system, look for Cutler to lead Denver to the post season in 2007 and to challenge San Diego for the division title.
Prediction: 10-6 as a starter, resulting in a Wild Card berth in the AFC playoffs.
Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys, 6-4 as a starter
In 10 starts for the Cowboys last year, Romo reinvigorated the franchise and caught fire, throwing 19 TDs, 13 INTs, and amassing 2903 yards through the air with a rating of 95.1 in place of statue……err……starter Drew Bledsoe. Although in his third season with the team, Romo had never thrown a pass in the prior two regular seasons, making his poise on the field all the more impressive. Leading the Cowboys to a birth in the Wild Card, he is now synonymous with the field goal snafu that led to Dallas’ untimely exit from the playoffs in Seattle. But look for Romo to rebound big in 2007. And with Terrell Owens apparently making nice with the Cowboys front office this offseason, along with the return of Terry Glenn and TE Jason Whitten, look for Romo to prove he is not a one-hit wonder.
Prediction: 12-4 as a starter, with Dallas having the top record in the NFC.
DUDS IN 2007
Vince Young – Tennessee Titans, 8-5 as a starter
People will jeer me for this, but I want to make one thing perfectly clear: it’s not going to be Vince Young’s fault that he has a bad year in 2007. Young was spectacular at times in 2006, winning 6 games in a row from weeks 11-16. His constant double threat through the air and on the ground kept defenses on their heels and allowed him to make big plays down the stretch. But his stats are suspect: 12 TDs, 13 INTs, 2199 yards passing and 552 yards rushing with 7 rushing TDs. I say they are suspect because while Young definitely does not appear to be one dimensional (Michael Vick anyone?), he was able to make things happen due to a great running back in Travis Henry. Henry was the Titans best weapon last year, rushing for over 1200 yards in 14 games, often grinding the ball out to set up the big plays for Young and company. But the Titans front office let Travis Henry go with no compensation and have yet to find him a true #1 receiver/deep threat. I don’t believe LenDale White is ready to be a starting back in the NFL, leaving an untested rookie in Chris Henry as a second backfield option. Without the supporting cast that he needed the Titans to pick up in the offseason, I don’t see Vince in the postseason this year. Again, not Vince’s fault, he is a great competitor and athlete, but he can’t do it alone, and in 2007 he’s going to have to.
Prediction: 7-9, third place in the AFC South.
Jason Campbell – Washington Redskins, 2-5 as a starter
Many people in the Skins organization are enamored with this guy…....but I think it’s probably more from a lack of options rather than anything else. Campbell came on for the last seven games of the year and went 2-5 as a starter with 10 TDs, 6 INTs, 1297 yards and a QB rating of 76.5. These appear to be pretty good on paper, but you had to watch these games to understand these stats. He only eclipsed the 200 yard mark 3 times during the year, and just barely (204, 217, 220) despite the fact that he averaged nearly 30 attempts per game. At no time during any of the games he played in did you ever get the feeling that he had taken control. Most of his touchdowns and his two wins were the result of the Redskins getting into a rhythm with their ground attack, allowing for the short yardage plays. His success will hinge on a healthy Clinton Portis. Santana Moss is still one of the best in the game, and TE Chris Cooley has become the team’s #2 receiver, but the team has done little else to help the WR corps. Antwaan Randle-El underachieved last year, and I would expect more of the same. If Portis stays healthy, Campbell will have a productive but unspectacular year. If he’s injured again, Campbell will triple his INTs in '07 trying to make something out of nothing.
Prediction: 6-10, last place in the NFC East
Tavaris Jackson – Minnesota Vikings, 0-3 as a starter
Apparently Brad Childress sees something the rest of the NFL and the fans didn’t see last year from Jackson: the ability to win. Jackson started the last three games of the year in place of aging quarterback Brad Johnson and was less than stellar, ending the season with 2 TDs, 4 INTs, 475 yards and a QB rating of 62.5. Johnson has now departed to Dallas leaving Jackson as the #1 QB on the roster. RB Chester Taylor, combined with the drafting of Adrian Peterson should create a great 1-2 punch behind Steve Hutchinson and the Vikings O-line. But sooner or later, the QB is going to be called on to take over and win the game, and I don’t think Tavaris Jackson is that guy, at least not yet. Without any veterans (I don’t count Brooks Bollinger) brought in to help him develop and with no solid second option at QB, Jackson is going to be tossed into the fire and it’s going to be rough.
Prediction: 8-8, second in the NFC North (only because the ground game will get them there)
So out of all of these young QBs, where do they rank from 1 - 7?
Here are the names again (not rank ordered): Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo, Vince Young, Tavaris Jackson and Jason Campbell.
How would you rank them?
Click on this link to go to my ranking of these quarterbacks as well as other articles, http//:raisingzona.com - the Cardinals Blog Page.
