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!

 Who do you want?

Football is at the core of my being.  I'm a middle school teacher and assistant Varsity football coach.  I've watched football since before I can remember.  No one loves a group of people that they've never met more than I love my Seattle Seahawks.  I love football.  I love football players.  I love football strategy.  I can't get enough of it.

My fanhood of the NFL used to be exclusively a "Seahawks thing".  I would watch the early game to get to the Seahawks game.  This is still true to a point, but fantasy football has changed that for many of us.  It has raised all of our interests in all teams, players, coaching styles, etc.  All things football are now in our collective conscienceness because of our new passion, Fantasy Football.

I've been playing fantasy for eight years now.  I've learned so much about different players and coaches that my fanhood has been taken to a whole new level.  I'm now a Seahawks fan and an NFL fan.  I used to be just a Seahawks fan.  I now watch the Eagles with passion (McNabb owner), as well as the Rams (Torry Holt owner) and other teams that my players play for.  Don't get me wrong, my fantasy interests never come before my Seahawks interests.  Translated:  I always want Torry Holt to recieve for 150 yards and 3 TDs in a high scoring Rams loss! 

I truly believe that fantasy football has made all fans more aware of other players and teams.  I know that it has helped the awareness of my own Seahawks.  Shaun Alexander was known to the fantasy world well before he became mentioned in the upper echelon of NFL backs.  WIthout fantasy football, would Larry Johnson already be a household name with only 9 or so career starts?  Would Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown be considered such strong "breakout" candidates for the 2006 season?  Would NFL Sunday Ticket sales be what they are?  Would so many week 16 matchups with no playoff implications be so intriguing? 

Simply put, fantasy football is the best thing to happen to the NFL since the forward pass.  Nothing has captured the imagination of the fan more.  Nothing has ever expanded the fans interest to so many teams.  Nothing has ever linked the fan to the player more, especially in a league that tries so hard to market the league over any one player.  The NFL is by far the most popular sport in the U.S.  They're are many reasons for that, but don't make the mistake of leaving Fantasy Football off of that list.