Build, verb - To form by combining materials or parts; construct
Answers.com defines the word "build" as seen above. Everyone is trying to build something. Whether it be a happy home, strong relationships, a better self, or creating a new idea or new product at your job, we all try to build things. For many, these tasks are ones that could never be completed. However, in the sports world, the end of every season marks that some group, program, organization, etc. has done what they set out to do. They have built a champion.
Fans always think that they know their teams the best. We feel like we know the leagues our teams play in. We feel like, if just given that chance, we could build a champion. When building a house, the foundation is key. The age-old sports question is now being posed to you. Who would you build a team around? Remember, you aren't selecting the best player in the league. You are choosing the building block for your franchise.
The rule is simply this, the player must be active. Please give a rationale as to why you would make this person the cornerstone of your franchise, so we, the blogosphere, can argue with you. In a loving way of course! This particular blog is about the NFL. Next will be the MLB, followed by NBA, and concluded with a less conventional NASCAR post. Get your thoughts and your hammer ready. Let's build.
Impact Positions
The NFL may be the easiest of the pro sports league to build a winner quickly, because of free agency and the salary cap. However, it may be the hardest to select one player to start building around because football is the ultimate team game. Peyton Manning can't take a football and go "Game 5 Lebron" on the Patriots. He must have blocking, receiving, a running game, and a defense in order to allow him to use his skills and be successful. With this in mind, the positions that the NFL scouts value the most are QB, LT, and DE. When starting a franchise, it's difficult to get a fan base excited about a left tackle or a defensive end. Ask the Texan fans if you don't believe me. Their first ever pick in the expansion draft was LT Tony Boselli, who was injured shortly after that and never played a down for the Texans. As far as D-end goes, two words, Mario Williams. He may be a great player someday, but fans will never forget the two "skill" guys who they passed on. Therefore, I'm taking a QB.
Age
We've learned in the last 10 years that NFL teams can go from rags to riches in an extremely short period of time. It's easy to think that instant NFL success should happen when one watches the number of teams who do improve quickly. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers were playing in their Conference's championship game in year two of their existance. However, most expansion teams, like the Texans and every expansion team before them save the two mentioned earlier, take a much longer road. With that in mind, players like Donovan McNabb (turns 31 this year), Peyton Manning (31), and Tom Brady (turns 30 in August) are too old to be my cornerstones. I want the QB that will get me to and win my franchises first Super Bowl. Carson Palmer turns 28 in December, and he's on the my "fringe" of guys that may be too old. If it takes five years, which historically is around when teams make the playoffs for the first time, he'd then be 33. How much longer would he have, especially with his health risks? I have to pass on Palmer as well.
Intangables
I want a great, young, impact player who is a leader. I want my cornerstone to be fun to watch. I want him to be under center. I want the players, coaches, and fans to KNOW who will get it done in crunch time. I want a winner. I want a model citizen. I don't want the young people in my stadium to ask my season ticket holders what the word "felony" means. I want a face. I want an active member of our community. I want a throwback. I want a tough guy who will never let his team down in the effort department. Most of all, I want a winner.
Ladies and Gentlemen, to start the NFL's newest franchise, more than any other player, I want the 2006 NFL Rookie of the Year. I want Vince Young!
1) Get a QB
2) Get a left tackle
3) Get another left tackle
4) Pray for castoffs from other teams
5) Con the local populace into building a $1billion stadium
I'm a Steeler fan, so I'll take Big Ben. Last year was not to be looked at for all the right reasons. Cower had his head up his butt and wasn't thinking straight. Big Ben had a rough accident followed by an operation. What foolowed that was poor coaching decisions that put him in too early against Oakland. Anyone who looks at last year and thinks that is the player Ben is doesn't know football from handball. Big ben is a proven winner with a killer instict to win. That is a proven fact, injuries aside. Next year he'll return to the greatness of his first two years.
Dude, why take Vince Young when Mario Williams is on the board? Thinking like that will never get you a position as a GM! You need to think outside the "box," and by "box," I mean "path that will lead you to victory."
Great article xea! That's a lot to think about. Vince Young is an excellent choice. Here goes: I'd take Philip Rivers as my expansion QB and give him a battering ram RB that would take some of the pressure off him.
Steeler - Your bias may have something to do with your choice. Don't get me wrong, I like Ben. However, Ben was an average QB his first two years on a great team. The problem in Pittsburgh appears to be that as Ben improves, the team around him gets worse. It's kinda an anti-Elway phenomenon.
Jon - Sounds like a plan to me. I like Rivers as well. However, with a young expansion team, I like a more mobile QB that can use his athleticism to mask our certain lack of overall talent. I like Rivers too though.
Draft a franchise QB with your first overall pick and have him sit behind a veteran for the whole season. Build a good, high quality defense that flies to the ball. You need a top-notch pass rusher that puts pressure on the QB, a lockdown CB, and a mean, nasty MLB that makes plays.
Proud NGS II finalist. My run to the sweet 16 was short but. . . (from the department of redundancy department) sweet.
I love all sports. The Seattle Seahawks are my main passion. I've loved them since I can remember. My teams of choice in other sports are the New York Yankees and Rangers, and the Arkansas Razorbacks. As far as the NBA, I'm just a drifter. However, I do love this game!
