Once again, in this age of steroids, trade demands, arrests, Show Me The Money, and character issues gone wild in sports, I bring to you a positive story about an athlete. It still boggles my mind that a player can get a DWI or owe a casino money, and that story is headlines all across America. Not that it isn't newsworthy, but where are the positive stories today? I guess you just have to dig a little deeper to find them.


We have grown accustomed to bad press stories like
the one where Griffin Whitman, 10 years old, got this
foul autograph from Yankees player Shelley Duncan.
Class act huh?

While scouring the web seeking information on NFC East teams, the story of Former New York Giants defensive end George Martin caught my eye. After a bit of investigating I've found he's is walking... across America to raise money for health care for the rescue workers who responded to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001. Yes WALKING. Martin began his project in September, planning to walk from George Washington Bridge in New York to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.


8 months ago: Former New York Giants star George Martin
waves during halftime ceremonies at the Giants versus the
Green Bay Packers football game at Giants Stadium in East
Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. Earlier Sunday,
Martin began a cross-country walk to raise money for sick
World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers.


For those fans outside of the NFC East who may be unaware, George Martin was a star defensive end and co-captain of the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants (1986). In Super Bowl XXI, he famously tackled Broncos quarterback John Elway for a safety in the end zone. During his 14 NFL seasons (1975-1988), Mr. Martin scored seven touchdowns (three on interception returns), which set a record for defensive linemen, surpassed this season by Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Jason Taylor. He is also a former president of the NFL Players Association.

Mr. Martin seeks to raise several million dollars to provide healthcare for 9/11 responders and increase awareness about the illnesses now affecting those who are suffering from lung disease, post traumatic stress disorder and other serious medical conditions stemming from their efforts at Ground Zero after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Mr. Martin recently was named one of ABC News’ “Persons of the Year 2007” and also received a humanitarian award from the Heisman Trophy Trust in New York. He is currently walking across Arizona and will continue through , Arizona, and California, where the Journey will end in San Francisco at the Golden Gate Bridge in Spring 2008.

Averaging 20-25 miles per day on foot (a rate of about four miles per hour), Mr. Martin has already passed through portions of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. His trek began at the George Washington Bridge in New York City and will end at the Golden Gate Bridge in Spring 2008.

It's been 8 months and counting since his journey began. It looks like he just might make it. He's in Arizona now! Mr. Martin’s 3,200+ mile fundraising path across the United States can be tracked online daily via a GPS system here.

So while you're reading those stories of players demanding more, remember the man that is intent on actually giving back to a city that has supported him in the past.

George Martin is a true hero who is helping to bring much needed attention and assistance to the heroes of 9/11. I applaud him for undertaking this historic journey and thank him for devoting so much of himself to a critically important cause.

Why does he do it? His own words: “It is my honor to walk across this great nation to generate awareness about and funding for the healthcare needs of those who have fallen ill as a result of their selfless sacrifices in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. We need to do all we can as a nation to help the rescue and recovery workers of Ground Zero recover from and manage their illnesses. I encourage all Americans to support the efforts of those in Washington, DC, who seek to ensure proper medical care for those who have fallen ill as a result of 9/11, and I thank all those who are contributing to “a Journey for 9/11.”

This is another feel good story that is lacking in sports coverage. George Martin is a true hero who is actually giving back and helping to bring much needed attention and assistance to the heroes of 9/11. I applaud him for undertaking this historic journey and thank him for devoting so much of himself to a critically important cause.

When it comes to Hall Of Fame inductions, some things are a given. Montana was enshrined as a 49er, Walter Payton as a Bear, and Favre will be enshrined along with his # 4 Packers jersey.

Next comes the on-the-fence group, where players have to select which teams uniform to be enshrined with. Nick Buoniconti is a classic example. Buoniconti played in five AFL All-Star games as a Patriot and was a fan favorite. He also played in a few Pro Bowls as a Miami Dolphin, and a few Super Bowls.

At his HOF induction he stated "I also want to thank my Patriot teammates who were so great. We were a team that went on the field and we played. And the AFL was a just great time in our lives. No one had any money. Matter of fact, one time we took off from Boston, stopped off in Buffalo, and picked up the Buffalo Bills on the same plane because we were trying to save money." Then he added "But, the Patriots didn't like me enough. They decided they were going to ship me off to Miami. Now, who the hell wants to play in Miami? It's 100 degrees, 100 percent humidity and you're not supposed to play football - you're supposed to go to the beach. But, I got lucky."

Buoniconti felt unwanted by the Patriots after they traded him, but never publicly criticized the Boston organization for it. He eventually opted to enter Canton's Hall Of Fame as a Miami Dolphin, after an illustrious career.














Then there's Deion Sanders. The choice will be his alone as to whether he's inducted as a member of the Falcon, 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins or Ravens. With a personality that was made for "prime time", Sanders was arguably the very best cornerback to ever play in the league, and a fan favorite on every team where he donned a jersey. Fans in each of these cities can only hope that Sanders embraces their franchise and shows his appreciation as a representative of their team.

Which brings us to the far end of the spectrum.

I read a small, paragraph long article on a player that is pondering life after the NFL, when that day finally comes. That player is none other than Terrell Owens. Owens was snubbed by the Pro Bowl voters in 2006 for... well, for being T.O.

..... ;;;;;;; ;;;;;;; Once upon a time - loved in San
.... ... ........ . ...Francisco and hated in Dallas.

He has become a team player over the last 2 seasons with Dallas, and the voters rewarded his model citizen efforts by actually voting the gifted receiver into the 2007 Pro Bowl Class. Hating on T.O. had/has always come easy to so many NFL fans.
























... ... At least the honeymoon was sweet


A kinder, team friendly Terrell Owens has presented himself in a favorable light entering his contract year? What gives? The man that played his personal contract issues out in public air throughout his career, says that's all behind him.

"For sure, I definitely want to end my career with the Dallas Cowboys, and go into the Hall of Fame as a Dallas Cowboy," said Owens. He went on to say "I'm going to let God fight that battle for me. There was a situation where the contract didn't work out in Philly. With this, I'm going to let it play out and not try to be a distraction."






















.. .. ... ... ... ... T.O... Trying to not be a distraction



These remarks were all made promoting his upcoming Wednesday, March 14 appearance on the MyNetworkTV sitcom Under One Roof. He's been contemplating acting in his life-after-football.























Maybe he'll be the first player in NFL history
not associated with any team's jersey, as he
was caught here between his stints in
Philly and Dallas


I'm not debating whether or not he's got the HOF stats and numbers, that's not the direction I'm going. Rather - I can only see one angle here. Could he be the first HOF inductee to have a mass protest staged in front of the Hall Of Fame over choosing ANY city?

I'd like some opinions of Owen's place in NFL history as it pertains to the Hall Of Fame. I'm sure the mud, dirt and rotten tomatoes will come flying. And that's just my point. If we go with the assumption that he puts up the numbers he has in the past, for a couple of more years, he's likely to get that induction. What team/city will embrace him?




Personally... My fondest memory of T.O. was the hit George Teague put on him for attempting to dance on the Star at Texas Stadium.

As team building guru Bill Parcells always stated: In the player acquisition business, you need necessity to meet head on with opportunity. In the NFC East, the Giants set the bar high for draft standards, having had 7 of their draft picks from last Aprils draft contribute in their Super Bowl victory. They were called out on a few choices, the non-sexy ones. But in the end, needs were filled when necessity met opportunity in that April 2007 draft - head on...

For the fourth time since he bought the team, Jerry Jones and his Cowboys entered the draft with a pair of No. 1 picks. The Cowboy War Room was abuzz as Dallas made six draft picks and six trades.

With the 22nd overall pick, the Cowboys took Arkansas RB Felix Jones, the most explosive running back available to them in the draft - point blank. A breakaway threat speedster that compliments MB3's brute force. This is a lethal combination running game as Jones will supply the lightening alongside MB3's thunder, purportedly together in the backfield! I pondered slipping in a you tube video or 3, but we saw videos of Felix Jones breaking loose for the long touchdown time after time after time when he was selected.

Dallas then leap-frogged ahead of Houston, who was eying a cornerback, to land one of the best corners in the draft, South Florida CB Mike Jenkins, with the 25th overall pick.

Dallas spent this year's 2nd round draft pick on a local college player, Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett. The Green Bay scouting director called Bennett the one first round tight end talent in the draft. A beast of a blocker, but in reality he'll be insurance and depth, playing behind Jason Witten. Dallas had traded TE Anthony Fasano a few days earlier to Miami (along with starting linebacker Akin Aoydele) in a salary cap clearing move.

After making four consecutive trades, Dallas was looking at the situation from a few days earlier where they had traded their 4th round pick to Tennessee for troubled suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Jerry Jones basically robbed the Titans, assuring EVERYTHING in the trade favors Dallas. The 4th round pick is returned next year should Adam Jones either not be reinstated, or slip up again and be exiled once more from the NFL.

The deal does not include any signing bonus or other forms of guaranteed money, and the deal is laden with incentive-based stipulations for payment. Among the terms of the agreement: Jones will not be paid as a top NFL cornerback until he has completed three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. As a result of the trade, Jones will forfeit $1.25 million in performance bonuses as well as $6 million in guaranteed salary payments the Titans would have been obligated to pay had Jones resumed NFL activities.

A trade resulted in Dallas re-entering the 4th round and selecting Georgia Tech RB Tashard Choice. With a roster boasting 13 (well paid) Pro Bowl players, the Cowboys are preparing for the possibility of not being able to retain the services of Marion Barber III (although negotiations are in process) following the 2008 season. Tashard Choice is a 1,000+ yard rushing big bruising back cut from the same mold as Barber. Some believe this was simply taking the best player on the board.

When the 5th round selection process began, only one player remains from the Observer's Top 100 -- Boise State CB Orlando Scandrick. Scandrick (5-foot-11, 196 pounds) had helped separate himself with strong performances leading up to the draft. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine - the fourth-fastest time of any prospect - and showed good agility and leaping ability. I'd expect, from what I'm hearing out of Valley Ranch, that Roy Williams will see action in about 100 fewer plays now. In multiple receiver sets, Williams will be off the field. He's a play-maker against the run, but he's been a liability in passing downs. Those days are over.

With their 6th (and final) pick of the 2008 draft, Dallas selected Middle Tennessee State DE Erik Walden. A relentless pass rusher, Walden only started 21 games during his career with the Blue Raiders. Still, he shattered the school career record with 22.5 sacks and also set the sack-lost yardage record with minus-136 yards. His 40 tackles behind the line of scrimmage rank second in MTSU history. Most importantly, he has the frame to be a rush linebacker in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme.

Toss in that Felix Jones is a skilled kick returner and Pacman is an established premier punt returner, and a 13-3 Cowboys team have an opportunity to improve. The weak links last season were Julius Jones, and the defensive secondary. Quality personnel have been infused to those positions.

A receiver would have been nice, but a feeding frenzy on the top receivers left little value for the high pick with Dallas on the clock in the 2nd round. Necessity didn't meet opportunity. Everyone can be an armchair GM for these two days, even if they didn't spend millions hiring people to help make all these player evaluations and hand out advice. I'm happy being very satisfied with the way Dallas' picks were spent. The Cowboys DID get a hell of a lot better. But then, so did the Giants, Eagles and Redskins, who as of now anyway, appear to also have had very solid drafts.

DRAFT GRADE: B+

Given all of the negative headlines that we are rapidly being subjected to by some modern day athletes (on an almost daily basis), please take a moment to absorb an enlightening story that calls upon that inner child in all of us. The old school concept of playing the game for the love of the game.

This is the story of an NFL player that will someday (whether it be sooner or beit later is yet to be determined) leave behind an incredible legacy as great as the game he loves. Dan Campbell - Former tight end for Texas A&M University, Former tight end for the New York Giants, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys and current tight end for the Detroit Lions - is a nine year veteran of the NFL. Although Dan The Man is hardly a household name, he's been a perennial blocker for several years and one of the iron men of the trenches.

2002 was his best year with the Giants. Campbell's blocking was instrumental in the career-years of both Kerry Collins and Tiki Barber (1,387 rushing yards, a career-high and the second best total in Giants history). Despite the addition of Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey, Campbell started all 16 games and caught 20 passes for 155 yards (a 7.8 yard average) and a touchdown.

After four years with the Giants, Dan joined Dallas as an unrestricted free agent. In his first of three season with the Cowboys, he appeared in 15 games with eight starts. Hauled in 20 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown. Was selected to the USA Today All-Joe team for his unselfish blocking and clutch receptions. In 2005 he was elected offensive team captain by his teammates. Selected to receive the Cowboys 2005 Ed Block Courage Award after recovering from an appendectomy (July 27) the day the team reported to training camp.

Campbell, known as one of the NFL’s premier blocking tight ends, proved his ability to stretch the field in the Lions’ offense in 2006. He is considered to be one of the most technically sound blocking tight ends in the entire league, and is continuing to grow as a pass catcher. He signed a five-year deal with Detroit March 14, 2006

So now I've painted a picture, a resume of a man who has sustained numerous injuries yet through strenuous and dedicated rehab, has remained a part of the league. Campbell is the epitome of the alpha male iron man.

Campbell has developed a bad right elbow. Most any other player would have retired from the painful injury. Not Dan. He had surgery and returned - as usual - earlier than normal. Re-injured the elbow, had a 2nd elbow surgery, and returned again, as always - early.

Understand, I've always admired Dan Campbell as one of the unsung heroes of the NFL. The man is unselfishly building a legacy as a blocker along the lines of a Daryl "Moose" Johnston or a Mack Strong.

Campbell amazed coaches, players and fans by returning to the NFL following that 2nd surgery. Have no doubt that I was in awe to hear of his return again to the Lion's training camp in 2007. The man simply refused to quit.

Then it happened AGAIN. I remember that day - September 23, 2007 when ESPN released the following report: "The Detroit Lions have placed starting tight end Dan Campbell, who sustained an elbow injury in last Sunday's overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings, on injured reserve, ending his 2007 season."

All heroes have a weakness, Superman had kryptonite. Achilles had his heel. Campbell came to terms with his elbow being his own Achilles' heel. What I have learned now, is that before Detroit had time to put Campbell on injured reserve, back on September 23rd of '07, Campbell had already had a radical THIRD surgery, two days earlier on September 21st. An elbow specialist reattached the triceps tendon -- what was left of it, anyway.

With very little tendon left in his right elbow, following the three surgeries, Campbell's playing days were obviously over. This is where Dan's story takes a bazaar turn. Dan, facing the fact that his playing days were obviously at end, opted for something radical on that Friday in September. Dan had the surgeon reinforce his elbow with, get this, an Achilles tendon, from an actual dead body - a cadaver.

Now I don't believe you could find another person willing to go through such goulish experimental extremes to remain in the NFL - except Dan Campbell.

"I said, 'Get it fixed. I don't care what it takes,' " Campbell said. "I did have some questions about, 'Well, how does that work?' You hear about transplants, different organs or stuff like that.

Campbell caught only one pass for one yard last year before going on injured reserve. After this latest surgery, he wasn't allowed to lift weights until February 2008. He lost about 25 pounds. He has gained back about 15, putting him at about 255, where he might stay.

"I still feel strong enough and explosive enough, but I actually feel a little faster," Campbell said. "So I kind of like it. I don't know yet. I haven't decided."

Campbell hopes to be ready for training camp; failing that, he said, he definitely would be ready for the season opener Sept. 7 at Atlanta. He laughs at jokes like this: Hey, now the Lions can fudge the injury report : Campbell, questionable (Achilles).

"I'm having a good time with it," Campbell said. "The joke's going to be on everybody else when I come back playing. I'm excited."

In the age of steroids, trade demands, arrests and Show Me The Money, Dan Campbell is a quiet unsung feel good story in the making. Truly a breath of fresh air in this era of character issues gone wild.

So when you're looking over the 2008 NFL schedule, circling those must see games, be sure to circle Sunday September 7, 2008. It's the Week One match-up featuring Detroit @ Atlanta, but more importantly it's the return of Dan Campbell, and his new Achilles' elbow.

As everyone should be aware by now, the NFL 2008 season schedule is up and posted on NFL.com. Here's a look at the strength of schedule analysis based on opponents 2007 win/loss records. The Pittsburgh Steelers - who face the challenge of overcoming the toughest schedule in the NFL - will face each team in the AFC South and the NFC East, arguably the two toughest divisions in the league that total 8 teams without a losing record in 2007. Only 4 of the Steelers 16 games are against sub-.500 teams, that being the division games against the Ravens and the Bengals.

The 18 and Uh-Oh Patriots receive the NFL version of a cake walk, playing only 5 games against teams that finished 2007 with a .500 or better record. Looking at the Patriots schedule it's very possible to finish the season 14-2 with home field advantage throughout the playoffs, again.



STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, BASED ON OPPONENTS 2007 RECORDS

Team . ... ... ... Opp. 2007 Win%
Steelers ... ... ... ... .598

Colts ... ... ... . . . ....594

Jaguars ... ... . .. ....559

Vikings ... . .. ... ... ..551

Ravens ... ... . .. ... .551

Titans ... . .. . .. ... . .551

Bengals . .. ... . . .. .547

Texans . .. ... . .. ... .547

Browns .. . . .. ... ....547

Lions .. . .. . ... .. . ...543

Bears . .. . .. . .. . .. .531

Packers . .. .. . . .. ..531

Redskins . . . .. . ...523

Cowboys . . . . . . ...523

Eagles . . . . .. .. . ...520

Giants . . . .. . .. . ....520

Rams . . . . .. .. . . ...488

49ers . . . . . . ... ... .484

Seahawks ;;;;.. ..;..477
; ;;
Buccaneers .... .. .469

Falcons .. .. .. ... .. .469

Cardinals ..... ... .. .465

Dolphins .... .. . ... .465

Panthers ... .. .. ... .465

Jets ... ... .. .. ... .... .457

Chiefs ... .... .. . ... .453

Bills ... ... ..... ... ... .449

Saints ..... ... ... ... .449

Broncos ..... ... ... .445

Raiders ..... .. . ... .438

Chargers ..... .. .. .422

Patriots ... .. ... ... .387


MidniteCowboy's Pre-Draft Predictions:

AFC DIVISION CHAMPIONS:

AFC East - New England Patriots 14-2

AFC North - Cleveland Browns 10-6

AFC South - Indianapolis Colts 11-5

AFC West - San Diego Chargers 13-3


NFC DIVISION CHAMPIONS:

NFC East - Dallas Cowboys 11-5

NFC North - Minnesota Vikings 11-5

NFC South - New Orleans Saints 9-7

NFC West - Seattle Seahawks 12-4

Easy MoneyE - Easy Money... ... .
In the age where Spygate opportunities and security technologies are bumping heads, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin discussed the topic of gameplan secrets in the Internet age during Tuesday’s media breakfast at the NFL owners’ meeting in Florida.

Tomlin created a buzz of inquiries from reporters when he stated that he's found a Steelers 2004 Playbook for sale on eBay! Trying to smokescreen the story, Tomlin quickly tried to change the subject stating that the Cleveland Browns are the favorites in the AFC North for the upcoming season.

The reporters didn't bite or change direction of the questioning. They were wondering just how is it that something as valuable as an NFL team's playbook was taken without notice. That 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers team followed up on a dismal 6-10 season of '03 by going 15-1 in regular season and making it all the way to the AFC Championship Game where they faced... The New England Patriots. The Patriots won convincingly 41-27.

... ...

I did track down the 2004 Steelers Playbook listing on eBay. Upon investigation, it has actually been converted to a PDF file (Adobe Acrobat). A download file that's sent electronically to the winning bidder. The book/file is not copy written and is now Public Domain. Public Domain does not mean no one owns it - it means everyone owns it. Public domain comprises copyright-free works: anyone can use them in any way and for any purpose. Download it, upload it, burn it to CD, alter it, even sell it.

Anyone who is an avid eBay user can tell you that over 5,000 hits to a $10 dollar item is quite remarkable. For the last few days, the saga of the missing playbook - be it lost or stolen - has drawn the interest of newspaper editors across the country.

The story didn't end here. At least not for me. After a bit of investigating I have found numerous football playbooks from High School to NCAA, and all the way up to the NFL level. All absolutely free and available as files on the Internet. The only cost is the time invested to search and find. Scroll down in the above auction and just look at all the public domain file playbooks this guy is selling! Look at his feedback and you see he's making a killing. There are people making a living at selling what is totally free, if you know where to look. Ridiculously Easy Money!

So save your $10 bucks Steelers fans. Go to this site and download your free copy of the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Playbook. Perhaps you'll choose to make a buck or two on eBay with it. Once again I am sharing the website location of a public domain file. I do not claim this file to be my own property.

The internet fodder linking the troubled Adam Jones & the Dallas Cowboys refuses to die. In fact the story is growing legs and gaining credibility. Here in Dallas, the two local sports yakety-yack stations - 1310 The Ticket as well as 103.3 ESPN - are mentioning the ongoing talks involving Pacman, his agent, the Cowboys and the Titans.

... .

Ten days ago the rumor was squashed when Jerry Jones Jones stated publicly that There were no ongoing talks and reiterated that talks with another team's player who's under contract was a clear violation of league rules. Tennessee at that time had not granted permission.

... ... ... ... ... .. .
... ... ... ... ... ... .A suspended Adam Jones keepin' it real and mentoring N.Y. Knicks Zach
... ... ... ... ... .Randolph and Eddy Curry on the art of image management at the professional.
... ... ... ... ... .level. Obviously this tutoring has transpired to make the Knicks a more respected ... ... ... ... ... ... organization on and off the floor as well. Just have to wonder - Where's Isiah Thomas?

Fast forward to yesterday - Rototimes.com reports That not only have the Titans granted permission, but that all of the afore mentioned parties were actually involved. As the story goes, the Cowboys and Pacman have agreed to a contract figure. This now only leaves the issue of Tennessee and Dallas settling on a compensatory draft pick, rumored to be a 4th or 5th round pick.

... ... ... ... ... ..
... ... ... But wait... Isn't there still the sticky issue of whether or not Jones will ever be reinstated?

It was printed in The Tennessean back on March 8, that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he has no plans to review Jones’ suspension again until closer to the opening of training camps. You would have to assume Jerry Jones, given his status, MUST be getting some kind of nod or wink from Goodell to even proceed. Else why would Dallas make necessary adjustments to the roster and allocate Salary Cap numbers for a player that is currently banished from the league?

Throw in the fact that Manny Arora, Adam Jones' agent, is persistently pleading to Goodell to reach a decision sooner regarding the troubled cornerback. Pacman's stock is trading just a hair above Enron's now, and by mid-July it will be worth far less.



... ... ..Forgive me if my keyboard shorts out. It's all these tears I cry for poor ol' PacMan...
An actual copy of the Pacman Jones Ad that he purchased April 20th, 2007 in The Tennessean.
Pardon me if I believe his actions speak much louder and clearer than his printed words.

I've yet to address the issue of Adam Jones' countless assaults on society. He's not a cancer to a team as much as he's been a cancer and clearly dangerous threat to society in general. I don't want him and his entourage anywhere near Dallas County and near my family.

... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Advertisement for one of Adam Jones' many "Make it rain"
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... episodes - most of which take place in strip joints - which
... ... ... ... ... ... ... have led to numerous brawls, shootings and serious injurues

Love or hate the Cowboys, you can't help but be aware of the strides that the organization has made in the last 10 years concerning criminal character issues. Personally the risk is tremendous and the statement it makes is that increasing the Cowboy's chances of winning a Championship outweighs the risks. I would personally be very disappointed if this rumor grew to fruition.

 




REFERENCE:

http://www.rototimes.com/nfl/player/5769

NFC EAST

Cowboys* 6-1

Giants**** 5-2

Redskins* 4-2

Eagles ***2-4

Going into week eight, the NFC East dominates statistically with the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants as the top three NFC teams in yards per game. The Redskins rank 12th on the list. In average points per game, the Cowboys are tops with 32.4 and the Giants are second with 26.7. At 20.3 points per game, the Redskins rank seventh.

Washington, Dallas and the New York Giants are the NFC’s top three defensive teams, with Philadelphia ranked fifth. The Arizona Cardinals, an NFC East alumnus, are ranked fourth.

The battle for supremacy in the NFC East will be a tug-of war power struggle with Cowboys playing 2 games on their remaining schedule against the Redskins and 1 game @ the Giants. The Redskins and Giants will face each other again in week 15 at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

---

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Dallas Cowboys(6-1)

Coming off of the bye, the Cowboys will immediately face their NFC East rivals, first going to Philadelphia and then New York, before coming back home to face the Redskins. That three-week stretch will determine a lot, not only in the NFC East race, but also in the NFC playoff race, as the Cowboys, Giants and Packers are above everyone else in the battle for first-round byes and in the running for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Frankly, for the Cowboys it's all about December. After week 13 last year, the Cowboys were riding a 4 game win streak that included ending the Colts attempt at immortality. Dallas busted their dream of the perfect season and did it convincingly. The following week (Thanksgiving) Romo had his best game so far throwing for 306 yards and a near-perfect 148.9 passer rating, and he tied a team record with five touchdown passes in one game. The next week Dallas cut Mike Vanderjagt and brought in Gramatica who answered with 3 field goals including a 46 yarder with 1 second remaining against the Giants. Dallas had a 2 game lead in the division, the top rated quarterback in the league and the # 1 defense.

Then came December... the ultimate fiasco. Some put the blame squarely Parcells' shoulders. Some say this very young defense caved under pressure of having to play at the next level. There is so much more on the line in December. The Cowboys ultimately backed into the playoffs losing 3 of the last 4 in embarrassing fashion.

All the pieces are in place and millions have been spent on upgrades to the offensive line and secondary. Jason Garrett brings the offensive mindset and play calling that he learned under Norve Turner back in the glory days. Wade "Mr. Fix-it" Phillips has been brought in to take this defense to the next level. The Cowboys expect this defense to become historically good very soon. Rookie kicker Nick Folk has become a folk hero in Dallas following back-to-back 53 yard field goals to beat Buffalo in a Monday Night Football game.

The dream fell apart last year as this team went from historical to hysterical in a few short weeks at the end of the season. It should come down to the Cowboys, Giants and the Redskins battling for the division crown. I'm not convinced that any of the 3 has a better chance than the others. There are far too many "ifs" to be written into the equation. We won't know how good this team really is until we're looking back on December. Most Power Rankings and NFL Vegas odds-makers have Dallas as the team to beat in the NFC. The 2007 Cowboys are convincingly better than the team that was fielded last season, and are in total control of their own destiny.

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New York Giants(5-2)

With the retirement of Tiki Barber after last season, coupled with the collapse of the Giants morale in December of last year - causing internal finger pointing and second guessing each other publicly - the New York football Giants were predicted to be at best a struggling team in 2007. Fans were appalled at the contract extension of Tom Caughlin and the performance of quarterback Eli Manning. The brutal New York media had a field day torching Caughlin, Manning, Shockey, and Strahan. The team held true to the naysayers' expectations to open the season by giving up 80 points total in the first 2 games to the Cowboys and Packers. The 0-2 Giants were down 17-3 to the Redskins at half-time in Game 3 when suddenly, and unexplainably, they found religion and turned their season around.

The Giants are now 5-2 as they prepare to play winless Miami Sunday at London’s Wembley Stadium. They have won five games in a row and are now the hottest team in the NFL not named the Colts or Patriots. The Giants now have arguably the best pass rush in the league, leading the NFL with 27 sacks. The offense, with an emerging Eli Manning, is fourth in the league in scoring at 26.7 points per game. Tom Coughlin is 12-2 in October games in his four years with the Giants.

Wait a minute. The Giants are a hot team after 7 games? Isn't this familiar? In 2004 the Giants roster was decimated by injuries and they lost eight straight after the 5-2 start. In 2005, they were 6-2 at midseason and finished 11-5 and in first place in the NFC East before a rash of injuries hit. Last season, the Giants were 6-2 halfway through the season, and promptly went on a four-game losing skid en-route to a 2-6 second half of the season run to finish the season 8-8 and make the playoffs as a wild card, once again done in by severe injuries. This can obviously serve as a warning for this year's Giants.

Still, the Giants have scored 35, 31 and 33 points in their past three games. The last time they scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games was Nov. 24-Dec. 8 in 1985. Eli Manning, the Rodney Dangerfield of NFL quarterbacks, has taken that step into the leadership spotlight and led this offense to a productive and consistent start. Brandon "Biggest Running Back in Captivity" Jacobs and Derrick Ward are turning out to be one of the top 1-2 punches in the NFL. Plaxico Burress, with an NFC-leading 8 touchdown receptions and 9 receptions for over 20 yards, has elevated his game to being one of the Top 5 wideouts in the game. He’s also third in the NFC with 550 receiving yards. The Giants, along with the Cowboys, are clearly in total control of their own destiny. The Giants will host Dallas in a week 10 matchup @ 4:15 ET in a nationally televised game (Must see T.V.) for supremacy of the NFC East.

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WashingtonRedskins(4-2)

A year ago, offensive coordinators couldn't wait to face a unit that fell to 31st in the league after absorbing injuries to key players such as defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin and cornerback Shawn Springs. Now, they have to wonder how to attack a defense that is giving up just 14.7 points a game, fewest in the NFC and 3rd best in the NFL. Safety Sean Taylor, who had seven interceptions in his first three seasons, now leads the NFL with 5 picks after only 6 games. He has not been marked for a missed tackle, and he hasn't allowed a touchdown pass this season. The defense is tied for 1st, with the Colts, in yards per attempted pass (5.6). The defense has also given up fewer 20+ yard rushes than any team in the NFL. According to Football Outsiders, the Washington Redskins are the strongest defense in the league per their DVOA metric at -24.3%. For a defense to be this good with 4 linemen 25 or younger is remarkable. Ten year veteran line-backer London Fletcher is a beast, and it is refreshing for Washington fans to see a Redskin acquired in free agency and be able to say with confidence that he so far has been worth every penny. The Skins have needed these type of marquee performances to carry an offense that has yet to play to their level of expectation.

The biggest surprise from the Redskins this season is the lack of production from an offense that has been four years in the making:

* 2004: Clinton Portis agreed to an eight-year, $50.5 million contract with the Washington Redskins, while Champ Bailey completed a deal with the Denver Broncos that cleared the way for a blockbuster Portis-for-Bailey trade.

* 2005: Washington sent its first- and fourth-round picks in 2006 and its third-round pick in 2005 to Denver to acquire Auburn Quarterback Jason Campbell in the 1st round with the 25th overall pick.

* 2005: The Redskins sent wide receiver Laveranues Coles to his former team, the New York Jets, in a trade for Jets wideout Santana Moss. The trade was costly for the Redskins, who absorbed a salary cap hit of roughly $6 million.

* 2005: Redskins re-signed 3 time Pro-Bowl and former 3rd overall NFL pick in 2000 draft Chris Samuels, starting left tackle, to a 7-year contract worth about $47 million and a signing bonus of about $16 million.

* 2006: Redskins signed Pitsburgh Steelers' free agent receiver Antwaan Randle El to a seven-year contract worth $31 million that includes $11.5 million in bonuses.

* 2006: The Redskins acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for two draft picks. Lloyd was coming off a season in San Francisco in which he logged a career-high 48 catches for 733 yards, a 15.3 yards-per-catch average, and five touchdowns. He had led the 49ers offense in receptions and receiving yards.

* 2006: Running back Ladell Betts Signed a five-year, $11 million extension through 2011.

* 2007: Right tackle Jon Jansen received $5 million to re-sign and will get a $5 million option bonus next year. It's a typical Washington deal: it saves some money in the short-term.

* 2007: Tight end Cooley signed a six-year, $30 million extension - with $14 million guaranteed - on September 1st. He originally agreed to a four-year deal with the Redskins in 2004.

The offensive line was the bright point last season, with no players missing a start until game 14 (when the Redskins were well out of playoff contention) while blocking for 2216 rush yards and a gaudy 4.5 ypc average. Now with injuries to Casey Rabach, Randy Thomas and Jon Jansen, the team's ability to move the ball is collapsing. The Washington Redskins have not had a successful 3rd down run call resulting in a first down since Week 2. In 3rd down situations with 4 or fewer yards needed for a first down, the Redskins have only converted 12 of 30 attempts on the season. That’s 40% efficiency, and historically the league average tends to be around 70-73%.

Al Saunders does a good job keeping defenses off balance with creativity throughout a majority o####ame. The hurdle that he just can't clear - with a decimated offensive line - is the 3rd and short conversion. Jon Jansen is out for the season after suffering a broke right ankle in week 1 against Miami. Randy Thomas (torn triceps) expects to have the brace on his arm taken off next week and hopes to return for the Dec. 16th game.The lone bright spot for Washington's line is that Rabach (groin) practiced on Wednesday and may be available for the upcoming game against the Patriots Sunday.

Jason Campbell is a solid field general and gets the most he can from his injury plagued line. Until this line gains experience and strength, I expect the defense to carry this team until playmakers emerge on the offense. The Redskins will be playing in the post-season, but if this "new and improved" offense doesn't start playing to their ability, they are likely to enter the playoffs as a wild card team rather than division winners after the return of Rabach and Thomas to the starting line-up.

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PhiladelphiaEagles(2-4)

Philadelphia might have seen its season go down the drain thanks to allowing a 97 yard touchdown drive to the Bears within the final two minutes of the game Sunday. The Eagles once again sit at two games below .500 and are alone in the cellar of the division.

The Eagles are the anomaly of the division, in that the results thus far differ greatly from preseason expectations. A heartbreaking 19-16 home loss to Chicago last Sunday dropped Reid and company to 2-4 and kept them firmly in last place in the NFC. With the health of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook not being a concern in 2007, the 2-4 Eagles are surprisingly spiraling to not only the cellar of the division, but are dangerously close the basement of the NFC Conference standings as well.

While the defense has done their part, allowing just seven TD’s in 6 games, the most glaring problem is a stagnant offense in the red zone. The Eagles move the ball almost at will between the 20's, but toss out the game against Detroit (the only game that the team performed to expectations), and the Eagles have racked up only two touchdowns in 15 trips inside the 20. No wonder their season is slipping away with each failure to score a touchdown in the red zone.

"There's always the chance that you're trying a little too hard," optimistic coach Andy Reid said on Monday. "At the same time, you've got to bank on the way we've done things in the past down there. We've been very good in the red zone. Sometimes these things go in cycles."

The Eagles have an alarming 1-4 losing record against teams in the watered down NFC. They also have a losing record (0-2) in division play, as well as road games (1-2) and are 1-2 this season at home in Lincoln Financial Field. "We're not the only team that's been in this situation and turned things around and had a successful season," Reid said. "When things seem a little bit down, you find out who loves to play the game and who's willing to step up and rise to the occasion. I think I've got those kind of guys on this football team and we will get better." Yet if history has taught us anything about the reigning division champs, it's that we just can't count them out this early.

Although the Eagles season is on full life-support, it may be too early to count them out. They have an outside chance at a playoff spot, but they have got to start winning immediately. In 2006 the Eagles won four of their first five games, but they underwent a mid-season downturn that left them 5-6 and without McNabb. Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia stepped in and running back Brian Westbrook stepped up as the season turned around for Philadelphia. The team came back from the dead in late-November to win their last five regular season games, surprisingly winning the NFC East division title after an unprecedented three-game December road sweep of all of its division rivals.

With 10 players on the roster at 30 years old or older, the Eagles must decide immediately which of two totally different directions to take - to regroup or rebuild. The most notable example is Donovan McNabb who turns 31 next month. He obviously is not the threat that he was two or three years ago and possesses a quarterback rating of 88.4 at this point of the season.

The Eagles (2-4) were the only team in the NFC East to lose on Sunday. Since 1978 only 25 of 330 playoff teams started a season 1-3 or worse. Of those 25 that reached the playoffs only 12 of them were 2-4 or worse after six games, so the odds keep dwindling for the Eagles. No team in the Super Bowl era has ever started 2-4 or worse and reached the NFL's title game. For the Eagles to have a chance at making the playoffs, they must go at least 7-3 from this point to finish with a 9-7 record, which won't actually guarantee them a wild card playoff spot. A tall order to fill considering that in 6 of their next 10 games they are looking at facing the Cowboys twice, as well as remaining games against the Redskins, Giants, Seahawks and the Patriots. In all likelihood, the Eagles mini-dynasty has come to an end.

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We wanted to be one of the elite teams and obviously we're not...

Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys Head Coach, following the Cowboys 48-27 loss to the New England Patriots Sunday.

 

 

"The last time we were here, they booed us, It was good to hear them cheering us."

LaDainiain Tomlinson in San Diego after his eighth career 100-yard game against the Raiders. LT rushed for 198 yards and 4 scores in the Chargers 28-14 win over Oakland.

 

 

 

 

 

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"Wherever he's watching today, which quarterback will Drew Bledsoe be pulling for?"

Randy Galloway, my favorite sports media personality and writer for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Three championships later, you'd think Bledsoe is still more upset about Tom Brady replacing him in New England. But he wasn't exactly giddy over losing his job and his football career last season to Tony Romo.

From Couch Potato To Hot Potato: Early last week 43 year old ageless wonder Vinny Testaverde's phone rang as he was sitting on the couch. He turned down a job offer from Arizona, then accepted one from Carolina moments later. Testaverde signed with Carolina on Wednesday. In some interesting news reported first by NFLNetwork and then posted on ESPN Sunday morning, the Arizona Cardinals will likely sign fellow couch potato Tim Hasselback as a back up to newly acquired couch potato Tim Rattay. Hasselback is the brother of Seahawks QB Matt Hasselback and the son of one time NE Patriots tight end Don Hasselback.

There’s no reason to take the Bears seriously. Not for the next month at least, probably not for the rest of the year, maybe not until the draft."... a quote from The Rosenblog, contributing sports writer for the Chicago Tribune after the Bears loss to the Vikings. The Minnesota attack was led by Adrian Peterson's 224 yards, an 11.2 yards per carry average and three touchdowns, all 35 yards or longer.

"I'm not really worried about him, when the ball is thrown, I just want to make plays and do what I'm supposed to do." ...Kellen Winslow, the class act former University of Miami star after being the victim of casino thug Joey Porter trash talk all week leading up to the Miami/ Cleveland game Sunday.

Last week, Porter had lambasted Winslow in an interview, dismissing him as less than a true tight end because he is more of a passing threat than a run-blocker. "It really hasn't been a war," Porter said Wednesday. "It's been one-sided. I've never lost to him. You've got to win some to make it a war. ... Until you beat me, it's one-side." Porter took heat last season for using a homosexual slur when talking to the media about Winslow in a post-game interview on Dec. 7.

Winslow answered Porter's pre-game trash talk with five catches for 90 yards in Sunday's 41-31 victory. With 32 seconds remaining, Winslow hauled in a pass and - rather than attempt a juke to break free - chugged straight into Porter for a 15-yard gain. Two plays later, Winslow got behind Porter down the seam for a 33-yard catch to put the ball on the Dolphins' 3 with eight seconds left. After an incomplete pass, the Browns kicked a field goal for a 27-10 lead.

"I could care less. We won the game. I'm glad it's over, just like the other records. We're 5-1, so it feels a lot better than having no picks and being 1-5."

Brett Favre, who became the NFL's career interception king with an errant pass picked off by Redskins safety Sean Taylor in the third quarter of the Packers' 17-14 victory Sunday.

"Very solid team effort. There was some adversity we had to fight through early in the ballgame. Guys did a nice job of playing with discipline and poise, two things I stressed during the week." ...

Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio referring to the team's recovery of giving up 2 turnovers early in the game, yet managing to lead at halftime as a result of an on side kick which led to a field goal. The Jags went on to beat Houston 37-17.

"I feel sorry for Wayne Huizenga, our owner. I feel for our former players and I feel for our fans....These times are tough, but this is the business and we have to get this thing solved." ...Coach Cam Cameron of the Miami Dolphins regarding the late great franchise falling to 0-6 and dead last in the NFL.

Three Stars and the Purple Jesus The Ragnarok blog, a fan blog of the Minnesota Vikings, gives out three "star" awards to the top 3 players of the game for Minnesota every week. This week he pushed the envelope a bit further and added the Purple Jesus award to Adrian Peterson for his Sunday performance of scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 224 yards on 20 carries, breaking Chuck Foreman's team record of 200 yards set 31 years ago.

Now the Dallas Cowboys know they're good enough to hang with the big boys in the AFC - just not yet ready to beat them. Especially not when Tom Brady plays like this... Jamie Aron of the Washington Times... Brady threw a career-high five touchdown passes, with Donte Stallworth taking the final one 69 yards to break open a tight game early in the fourth quarter, as the New England Patriots won 48-27 on Sunday in a rare battle of teams with 5-0 records.

He showed his speed and quickness. He showed he's a fine back. He got around us. He cut back. It's too hard to come back, as a rule, when you dig a hole like that for yourself.''... Mike Holmgren following Reggie Bush's 97 yards rushing and 44 receiving on 25 touches as the Saints defeat Seattle 28-17 for their first win of the 2007 season.

"I went around and told the guys, 'If you want to win, stop them now. If we want to win, let's stop them right now and we'll win the ball game. To see the way that we responded – everybody out there on the defensive side of the ball – we've got to enjoy this one."... Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Takeo Spikes following the Eagles 16-9 victory over the New York Jets. With the Jets down by seven and facing a second-and-1 at the Eagles' 4-yard line in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, the defense simply refused to give the Jets that solitary yard.

 

 

A picture paints a thousand words:

Matt Bryant's 43-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining Sunday gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 13-10 victory over the Titans. Tennessee had a five-game road winning streak halted after the 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year limped off the field in the third quarter.





Last but certainly not least:

Meet Tracy Phillips, actress, dancer, Bum's granddaughter, and Dallas Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips' daughter. Her IMDB page shows that she's starred in well-known films such as "Ides of March," "42K," the yet-to-be-released "Dark Streets" and she was an uncredited dancer in "Clerks II." She's danced in a number of music videos, for people like No Doubt, the Goo Goo Dolls, Ricky Martin and Will Smith.

Houston @ Atlanta:
Dub this the Matt Schaub Bowl. Houston (23rd in offensive yards per game) brings clearly the better team to the game, but the receivers are