It's about time that the focus of the NFL isn't on destroying the Patriots dynasty. That was the story all offseason last year, and has been since the Patriots won it all in 2004. The Patriots lost all these players, yet still they managed to go 12-4 and win two playoff games. It's amazing how they do it. Now, they have over 25 million in cap space to rebuild the team, along with about 10 picks in April's draft (two in the first round). The only significant loss, really, was Vinatieri, and his replacement made over 75% of his kicks, is about 10 yrs younger, and his kickoffs, unlike Vinatieri's, reach the end zone.
Meanwhile, the Colts, fresh off their Super Bowl championship, won't be celebrating for more than a couple of months. Why? Because their team is about to be a shell of what they were in 2006. You think that the run defense in 2006 was horrid? Just wait till the NFL sees what is left of the Colts to try and stop the run in 2007.
According to John Clayton's cap #'s on ESPN.com, virtually every NFL team is in great cap shape right now. The three division rivals of the Colts have a combined $75.25 MILLION of combined cap space. The Colts? A paltry $200,000, less than any team in the NFL.
The Colts have 18 free agents (that's right- 18!!!!!!). This is who they stand to lose over the next few months, and their stats from '06:
QB- Jim Sorgi (no stats)
RB- Dominic Rhodes (641 rush yds and 5 rush TD; 36 catches for 251 yds)
WR- Aaron Moorehead (8 catches, 82 yds, TD)
WR- Terrence Wilkins (1465 return yds, one return TD)
TE- Ben Utecht (37 catches, 377 yds)
Starting Guards Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott, two of the five main blockers for Peyton
DE- Bo Schobel (19 tackles and 1/2 sack)
DE- Josh Thomas (21 tackles, 1 sack)
DE- Dwight Freeney (29 tackles, 5.5 sacks)
DT- Dan Klecko (4 tackles)
LB- Rocky Boiman (20 tackles, 1 INT)
LB- Gilbert Gardner (53 tackles)
LB- Cato June (142 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT)
LB- Freddy Keiaho (19 tackles)
LB- Rob Morris (55 tackles)
CB- Jason David (55 tackles, 2 INT)
CB- Nick Harper (75 tackles, 3 INT)
Total Defensive #'s of Free Agents To Be: 492 tackles, 8 sacks, 9 INT
There are 9 teams in the AFC alone that have more than 15 million of cap space. They are-
Tennessee 37.0
Buffalo 33.0
New England 26.9
Cleveland 26.2
Jacksonville 21.6
San Diego 21.4
New York Jets 20.8
Cinci 18.7
Houston 16.65
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to achieve. The rest of the AFC will be gunning for you, Indy- let's just hope you're ready.
I figured that, going into the offseason, the team that I've loved for 20 years, the New England Patriots, would not sit idly by and watch their marquee free agents head out of town.
First, there was wide receiver David Givens, who at 25 has his best years ahead of him. The Patriots barely made an effort to resign him, instead watching him sign a five-year deal with Tennessee.
Then linebacker Willie McGinest, one of the cornerstones of the three-time defending champs' defense, was signed by the Cleveland Browns.
Two dynamic players, both signing with teams that, like the Patriots, play in the AFC. As if this wasn't bad enough, the final straw came today;
ADAM VINATIERI AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO SIGN WITH THE COLTS!
You got it, Vinatieri pulled a "Johnny Damon", signing not only with a new team, but with one of his former team's most heated rivals. I guess it's true what they say...everyone has his price.
Where the heck is the loyalty anymore? Why won't the Patriots spend the 15 million plus of cap space they have instead of just letting it sit there, collecting dust?
It's very hard to field a team when you don't have a quality kicker, or a dependable second wideout, or depth at linebacker, but that is exactly what the Patriots face now. There are very few quality receivers that are left in free agency that the Patriots could sign to fill Givens' void (not to mention possibly replacing Troy Brown as well). Maybe Keyshawn Johnson, but he lacks the youth that Givens has.
I know I'm not the only Patriots fan that is nervous as heck, wondering what in the world has happened to his beloved team.
Gone are the days when players would take less money to stay loyal to their team, at least when it comes to the Patriots.
I've been a fan of McGinest for 12 years and Vinatieri for 10.
Mr.Kraft, I hope you have a plan, because what you've put the Patriot fans through this offseason is just flat-out cold.
I'm four for four so far. Here's my predictions for Round Two. Leave yours on the bottom if you want to:
Saturday, January 14th
Washington at Seattle: The defense for the Redskins came up huge against Tampa, which made up for the terrible offensive performance. I think asking for that kind of performance against Seattle might be too much to ask, even though Seattle hasn't won a playoff game since 1984. If Washington wants to pull the upset, they'll have to shut down Shaun Alexander. Easier said than done. I would love to see the 'Skins pull this one off, but it's asking a lot. Prediction: Seattle 24, Washington 17
New England at Denver: The Patriots have won an incredible 10 straight playoff games, an NFL record. A win in this one isn't a lock, but if the Patriots play the way they have the second half of the season and against Jacksonville, they'll triumph in this one. Denver has the homefield advantage, but weather.com predicts a high of 58 for Saturday. Not exactly frigid, is it? The emotions in this one will be a mile high. Prediction: New England 28, Denver 20
Sunday, January 15th
Pittsburgh at Indy: This would be the biggest upset since Jacksonville upset the Denver Broncos in the playoffs. If I was picking with my heart, I'd take the Steelers. Instead, I'm picking with my head. Indy plays its first meaningful game in over a month. Will they be rusty? Prediction: Indy 34, Pitt 21
Carolina at Chicago: Carolina absolutely obliterated the New York "football" Giants, dealing them a goose-egg on the scoreboard. Carolina has come to play in the playoffs, and they'll be a force for at least a little while longer. Prediction: Carolina 20, Chicago 12
The Patriots have won six of their past seven games and have won four in a row...
In the past four games, the Patriots have allowed a total of 125 rushing yards...
In the past four, they've allowed a total of 31 points, while scoring 110...
Tonight, against the Jets, they ran 31 straight plays at one point, had 26 first downs to the Jets' 10, had 83 plays to the Jets' 40, had the ball for 42:53 out of 60 minutes, and rushed more times in a game than anyone in the NFL has this season...50 carries for 151 yards.
Say what you want about the Colts, but I still believe in my Patriots.
Every year, a few members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team in the NFL’s modern era to go undefeated, toast champagne when the last unbeaten team tastes defeat. The Dolphins must not have expected the San Diego Chargers to top the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts on Sunday; they were forced to toast with Diet Cokes.
The Colts had scored in 31 straight quarters, had not trailed since Week Six, and had won every one of their games by at least seven points. It would take a monumental effort to knock them off their 19-0 quest. On Sunday, the 8-5 Chargers played the game of their lives, and it took place on Indy’s home turf.
The Chargers came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. When Keenan McCardell hauled in a 29-yard toss from Drew Brees put the Chargers ahead less than six minutes in, it marked the first time in two full months (since facing a 17-0 deficit in the first quarter October 17th against the St. Louis Rams) that the Colts had trailed. In the 60-minute game vs. the Chargers, the Colts held the lead for only eight minutes and 59 seconds, and went scoreless in three of four quarters.
The Chargers moved the ball well throughout the first quarter on a defense without starting defensive lineman Corey Simon and Robert Mathis. The Chargers scored on a 36-yard Nate Kaeding field goal with 1:56 left in the first quarter. The Colts were down 10-0, and the woes mounted.
A gutsy call to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the one backfired for the Colts when Manning rolled out of the pocket and was stuffed for a six-yard loss. The Chargers added a field goal before intermission to lead 13-0 as the two squads headed to the locker rooms for halftime. The deficit for the Colts marked only the second time all season that the Colts had gone without points in the first half. The Chargers were obviously no pushover; they came to play.
On the first possession of the second half, the Colts went three-and-out and were forced to punt. The Chargers responded with yet another field goal, to widen their lead to 16-0. The Chargers would need all the points on their side that they could get, because it was only a matter of time before the Colts offense caught fire. It did in the third quarter.
Thanks to turnovers deep on their side of the field by the Chargers (Brees interception returned to the 26; Brees fumble recovered at the four) changed what was a 16-0 lead with 9:30 left in the third into a 17-16 Colts lead less than nine minutes later.
A methodical, seven-play, 61-yard drive for the Chargers led to Kaeding’s fourth field goal of the game. This one was from 49 yards out, and gave his team a two-point advantage with just 6:41 remaining.
The came a very uncharacteristic drive from the Colts. After moving all the way to the Chargers’ 20, an intentional-grounding penalty by Manning and a sack by the Chargers on third down pushed the ball all the way back to the 38. Instead of trying a risky 55-yard field goal attempt to win the game, the Colts took the safe route and punted, hoping their defense would get them another chance. Things didn’t go exactly as planned.
Facing second down and 13 yards to go with just over two minutes to play, seldom-used backup runner Michael Turner broke through the line and broke the hearts of the Indy fans with an 83-yard touchdown run down the sideline. Chargers 26, Colts 17. 2:09 to play. Game over.
The Colts got deep into Charger territory once more, but a pass by Manning was tipped into the end zone, where it was picked off by cornerback Quentin Jammer to seal the fate of the Colts.
For the Chargers, Brees completed 22 of 33 for 255 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions; Turner rushed only eight times, but tallied 113 yards; LaDanian Tomlinson had 24 carries for 76 yards and four catches for nine yards; McCardell had three catches for 88 and a touchdown; Eric Parker caught three for 88 yards.
For the Colts, Manning completed 26 of 45 for 336 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions; the Colts ran for a paltry 24 yards on 15 carries, with Edgerrin James getting 13 carries for 25 yards and a touchdown; Marvin Harrison hauled in eight passes for 135 yards; Reggie Wayne caught ten passes for 91 yards.
The Chargers will need to win their final two games and hope that either 1) the Steelers lose once; 2) the Jaguars lose once and the Steelers win twice; or 3) the Broncos lose twice, if they want to make the playoffs. Even if they finish 11-5, they may be left out in the cold.
Next week, the Chargers travel to Kansas City to play the 8-6 Chiefs, winners of 17 straight December/January home games. The Colts travel to Seattle to play the 12-2 Seahawks, who now own the NFL’s longest current win streak (ten games).
