TD's Take

Consequences of Vick's Redemption Felt Far Beyond Philadelphia

2010-11-15T21:10:00.000-08:00

"I'm just hoping that Michael can take that penalty and move forward and come back, recapture his career and his direction. And it can send a message to young people again, that I've made mistakes and will pay my penalty."

- Super Bowl champion Tony Dungy, Dec. 10, 2007

(day of Vick's prison sentencing)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve Young called it one of the top five quarterback performances he has ever witnessed. Tom Brady said he was amazed. Television analysts Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski couldn't stop piling on the praise. No matter which superlative you use to describe what we saw at FedEx Field Monday evening, even the naysayers have to admit Michael Vick is back. The controversial QB punctuated an arduous return trip to the epicenter of professional football with a dazzling six touchdown performance in Philadelphia’s 59-28 pummeling of the Washington Redskins.

From the game’s first offensive snap - an 88-yard touchdown strike from Vick to DeSean Jackson – the Eagles’ polarizing passer played like a virtuoso. By the end of a surreal opening quarter, Philadelphia jumped ahead 28-0 and made the five-year deal Donovan McNabb penned with Washington earlier in the day a forgettable sidebar. The night belonged to Vick, who led McNabb’s former squad through an historical onslaught of its division rival in front of a national TV audience.

By the time the contest mercifully ended, Washington's defense earned numerous spots amongst the Eagles’ archives. Philadelphia set franchise records for points scored in the first quarter (28) and in a half (45), while racking up a team-best 593 yards. But we’ve only touched on what took place Monday. The events that led to the performance are what make Vick’s story so unbelievable and his future grippingly compelling.

Before we get to what Vick’s quasi-miraculous renaissance means in Philadelphia, let's take a moment to consider how it resonates in other NFL cities. Crawl inside the minds of the front office folks currently residing in Buffalo. Or Jacksonvile. Or even Dallas. Unless your team’s starting signal caller is named Brady, Brees, Manning or Rivers, you'll have a hard time convincing me that your franchise is honestly better off without Vick behind center.

When league commissioner Rodger Goodell lifted the ban on Vick during the summer of 2009, the fallen-from-grace wunderkind’s services were effectively made available to all 32 NFL franchises. Initially, things moved slowly and the only time teams mentioned Vick was to deny interest in the quarterback. By the conclusion of July, a growing list of teams - including the Jets, Giants, Cowboys, Redskins and EAGLES – publicly announced they would not look into signing the former No. 1 overall draft selection. Then came the stunning change of heart from Andy Reid and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Vick signed a non-guaranteed, two-year deal with Philadelphia in mid-August and the rest of the league was left to wonder whether they made the right call.

Stroll into the office of Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox today and ask him if he’s still comfortable with the decision to turn his nose up at Vick. Last summer, Fox was banking on a turnaround year from the injury-riddled and turnover-prone Jake Delhomme. Coach Fox ultimately benched his veteran QB two months into the 2009 season. Carolina stumbled out of the gate as Delhomme threw just eight touchdowns to go along with 18 interceptions. Fox is currently in the final year of his contract and enduring through a 1-8 season. This upcoming Sunday, he wil send out his third different starting quarterback since September. Delhomme is now buried on the Cleveland Browns' depth chart. Vick is a frontrunner for league MVP.

Carolina, along with the rest of the NFL, may have a second shot at acquiring Vick 2.0 during the upcoming offseason. But the only way this happens is if Philadelphia lets him walk. At this juncture, that scenario seems highly unlikely. However, that doesn’t mean Vick won’t be offered contract opportunities beyond the City of Brotherly Love. An interesting subplot looms ahead: the inevitable reconciliation between Vick and the advertising community.

Federal felony charges cost Vick more than his freedom. He forfeited millions of dollars in endorsements when his morals were brought into question and his football career was put on hold. Nike, Rawlings, Coca-Cola, Powerade and Kraft are among the powerhouse companies that dumped Vick when his dog-fighting scandal erupted on a national stage. But business is business and as the quarterback continues to create headlines of the positive variety, companies are going to want a piece of the action. Nike actually signed Vick to a low-profile contract upon his reinstatement last September and it’s plausible that the sporting goods empire could return Vick to its marketing spotlight sometime soon. Recent ad efforts for Tiger Woods and LeBron James have proven Nike knows how to sell an effective comeback campaign for athletes who’ve lost public support. It’s going to be interesting to see who else jumps at the opportunity to make Vick their advertising front man. You can be sure PETA will be watching intently.

Seven games remain in the second and final season of Vick's contract with the Eagles. Philadelphia is a perfect 4-0 when Vick plays the entire game. Individually, he has played as flawless as a quarterback can, accounting for 15 total touchdowns without throwing an interception and leading the NFL in passer rating (115.1). If this trend continues, we are talking about a comeback story for the ages. Randall Cunningham and Doug Flutie – quarterbacks who resurrected their careers during second go-rounds in the league – captured national attention in the past. The big difference, however, is age. When Cunningham returned from a two-year hiatus to lead the 1998 Minnesota Vikings to a 15-1 regular season he was 35 years old. Flutie – who hadn’t thrown an NFL pass in nine years when he showed up to help the Buffalo Bills make two playoff runs in the late-nineties – was 36. Vick is 30 years old and – ironic as it may seem – has minimal physical wear and tear because of the two seasons he was forced to sit out. This isn’t just a second chance, it’s a second career.

Bad Newz Kennels is drifting further into the rear-view mirror with each touchdown Vick scores in Eagles green. Though the horrors of his past will always follow him, Vick sets himself further apart from his old image with each on-field performance and off-field interview. He appears to be genuinely rehabilitated from his time in prison and thoroughly humbled following his very public financial and professional downfall. Eight years ago – in a reality that must seem like a distant memory to Vick – he provided The New York Times’ Bill Rhoden with the following quote:

"I think about what's happened to me before I go to sleep at night. I sit up and think, why me? Why have I been put in this position? You know it's for a reason."

Vick may now be kept up at night for much different reasons, but the fact remains that he has put himself in a position to return to the NFL as a starting quarterback. This time, however, he may just be the best of the bunch.

For Vick, the Future is Now or Never

2010-09-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, in an entirely different NFL era, Michael Vick was heralded as "The Future" of America's most successful sports league. Today, the prodigious quarterback project - now a thirty-year-old who recently spent twenty-one months in a cage and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy - is stunningly starring as a starter once again. Vick has sprinted his way back to the center of the sports world, shaking off linebackers and personal demons alike along the way. For the one-time boy wonder, the future is now or never.

Only nine years separate us from a long-gone reality in which the Falcons paraded their prized draft pick through the streets of Atlanta. Expectations of Super Bowl championships and record-setting statistics were immediately set into place when Vick arrived as the first overall selection of the 2001 NFL Draft. The 21-year-old came to town fresh off a scintillating career at Virginia Tech, where his dazzling, instinctive style of play captured the nation's attention. Vick carried the Hokies to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman in 1999 and, despite a lopsided loss to Florida State, he became the unquestionable king of college football. In the decade since he joined the professional ranks, only Tim Tebow and Reggie Bush have matched the hype that surrounded Vick throughout his playing days in Blacksburg.

Even the experts didn't know how to define Vick when he made a highly-anticipated leap to the NFL. His incomparable skill set at the quarterback position challenged defensive coordinators around the country. If a play broke down and improvisation was neeeded, Vick could gloriously turn a five-yard loss into a 50-yard highlight-reel scramble. He was the original Mr. Wildcat at quarterback and his electrifying dual threat capabilities left an indelible impression on college football lore. Although Vick passed sparingly at Virginia Tech, the lefty threw with a ton of velocity. Despite some accuracy issues, it was believed that a year or two under the tutelage of an NFL offensive coordinator could cure any inconsistencies in Vick's throwing mechanics.

The San Diego Chargers- a notroriously flawed franchise just three years removed from the infamous Ryan Leaf fiasco - owned the first selection in 2001. It was presumed San Diego would take the hero of Hokieville and count on him to rescue the team from its downward spiral. The Chargers even signed veteran scrambler Doug Flutie as an apparent mentor but, in a stunning twist, San Diego got cold feet and traded the pick to Atlanta for a package of players and draft choices. Perhaps San Diego was afraid to get burned by another "can't miss" quarterback prospect, or maybe it was an economic decision - rumors circulated that Vick desired a record-shattering rookie contract. Whatever the reason, Atlanta became the site of the NFL's new main attraction - the Michael Vick Experience.

The popularity Vick garnered at Virginia Tech followed him into the NFL and it didn't take long for his jersey to become the league's top seller. Atlanta's new quarterback became Nike's poster boy and netted LeBron-like endorsement deals years before James' emergence (Coca-Cola, EA Sports and Powerade were among his investors). Vick earned his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2002 - just his second year in the league. The '02 season remains Vick's finest to date, as he led Atlanta to the postseason and became the first visiting QB to knock off the Packers in a home playoff game. The win at Lambeau Field prematurely vaulted Vick into the perceived upper echelon of NFL passers.

A fractured fibula during the following preseason sidelined Vick and squelched Atlanta's chances of improving on the breakout '02 campaign. Though he continued to run circles around defenders upon his return from injury - gaining over 2,500 yards rushing between 2004 and 2006 - whispers about Vick's lack of pocket presence, passing accuracy and quarterback

savvy began to grow louder. The defensive gameplan against the improvisational genius became simplified: constantly spy and blitz him with linebackers to cut off running lanes and make Vick beat you with his arm. Despite two more Pro Bowl selections and a trip to the 2004 NFC Championship game, Falcons fans began to grow frustrated with Vick's inconsistent performance as a passer. Mounting tension between the franchise's fan base and star culminated in the aftermath of a November, 2006 home loss to New Orleans, when Vick gave the Georgia Dome crowd a middle-finger salute (pictured, right) as he headed off the field. It was the beginning of an ugly end to a once-promising career in Atlanta.

Though Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to gain 1,000 yards on the ground, he completed just 52% of his passes during an '06 season that saw the Falcons muddle their way to 7-9. Despite the struggles, no one could've imagined Vick's sixth year in Atlanta would be his last. Then came the dastardly dog fighting scandal.

On August 24, 2007 - weeks before Vick's seventh season was set to begin and hours after he pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation - the NFL suspended its one-time golden boy indefinitely without pay. From that point on, things moved downhill fast for the fallen superstar. A judge ordered Vick to reimburse the Falcons nearly $20 million dollars of his signing bonus. Shortly after, he was sent to Leavenworth Prison in Kansas to serve his mandatory jail sentence. The quarterback that no defense could cage was placed in a small cell for nearly two years, his prospects of returning to professional football on life support.

During his time in prison, everyone from the president of PETA to former teammates let Vick have it. Aside from being labled a cold-hearted dog killer, revelations from his tenure in Atlanta began to trickle out. Reports stated he was always the last player to arrive for team functions, while being the first to hit the road. Some called him a chemistry-killer who lacked the necessary accountability and wherewithal to lead an NFL franchise. Few star athletes endured such a swift fall from grace as Vick - Tiger Woods and Barry Bonds come to mind - and many wondered whether he would be blackballed by NFL teams upon his eventual release from Leavenworth.

Tony Dungy - a former Super Bowl champion coach and devout Christian - took up the task of mentoring Vick as he moved toward a new chapter in his shattered life. Dungy visited Vick in prison and acted as a liaison between the embattled quarterback and the NFL. After his release, Dungy publicly praised the strides his pupil had made in such a short time. Vick had matured into a humble grown man, ready to own up to his heinous mistakes and move on, Dungy said. A year and a half later, it appears Dungy - as usual - was right on point.

When the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in and signed the controversial QB on August 13, 2009, many in NFL circles were stunned. Just a few years removed from the Terrell Owens debacle, it seemed unlikely head coach Andy Reid would invite the opportunity for another distraction. However, Reid's respect for Dungy and awareness of Vick's God-given abilities ultimately outweighed the potential PETA protesters and media backlash. Philadelphia handed him a one year, $1.6 million contract, with a $5 million team option for 2010. The money - as well as Vick's spot on the roster - was not guaranteed.

From a football perspective, the move was startling. Philadelphia already possessed a franchise quarterback in Donovan McNabb, who led the Eagles to five division titles and four NFC Championship games. Kevin Kolb - the team's first pick in the 2007 draft - lingered in the background as McNabb's heir apparent. Vick's 2009 season was a tad awkward and overly ineffective, as Reid used him sporadically in an attempt to throw off defenses.

Entering the offseason, Vick's future again grew cloudy. Philadelphia supposedly made Vick available on the trade market. Any team in the NFL likely could've acquired him for little more than a third or fourth-round draft pick. No one took the bait. Instead, the Eagles dealt McNabb to Washington and awarded Kolb with a two-year, $12 million contract extension that solidified him as the starter at quarterback moving forward. Vick would be elevated to the team's primary backup, but seemed doubtful to receive increased playing time as Reid worked on improving Kolb.

That was then (two weeks ago), this is now. A vicious hit from Green Bay's Clay Matthews returned Kolb to the sidelines with a concussion in the season opener. Kolb - who looked overwhemed in one half of football - was ruled out of last Sunday's matchup in Detroit. Just a few years ago, he may not have missed any time with a head injury, but the NFL has ramped up its efforts to prevent brain damage and there's no way a team can get away with breaking from that trend. Nearly four years removed from his last start with Atlanta, an unlikely opportunity presented itself for Vick.

After an impressive performance in the second half of the Packers game, Vick filled in as starter on the road versus the Lions. Simply put, his performance was captivating. There was Vick, spinning out of sacks and moving the Eagles up and down Ford Field. His threat to run created space for second-year running back LeSean McCoy, who passed the century mark in yards for the first time in his career. A noticeable rapport with receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin helped Vick complete 62% of his passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Suddenly, Vick's instinctiveness and athleticism were combined with the most important tool an NFL quarterback can possess: preparation.

The quarterback's newfound diligence on the practice field and in the film room has fueled his journey on the comeback express. His committment is a result of social Darwinism. As his prison release neared, Vick faced a choice - he could adapt and develop into an accountable, goal-oriented teammate or remain an egotistical inidvidual and doom his chances of a return to football. So far, so good. Yesterday - less than 24 hours after he confirmed Kolb's return to the starting lineup - Reid had a change of heart, tabbing Vick as his starter at quarterback, while acknowledging the move had nothing to do with Kolb's concussion.

Two weeks into the "Kolb Era", Vick pried the starting job away from a young man who spent three years being groomed for the role. This move goes against just about everything we've seen from Reid during his 11-year tenure in Philly. Typically ho-hum and frustratingly stubborn, Reid contradicted himself by benching Kolb. It wasn't hard to see that he was OK with that, as Big Red beamed at Tuesday's press conference, using colorful phrases like "playing out of his mind" and "brilliant" to describe Vick's six quarters as Philadelphia's quarterback.

Perhaps Reid saw this coming all along, ever since he signed the freshly freed QB. Or maybe, just like Vick, the veteran coach has adapted by putting aside personal pride for the betterment of his squad. Welcome to the Andy Reid Era: Version 2.0. The potential of a young, lightning fast offense is scary...but so is the risk. If these past two weeks prove to be an aberration and Reid was too impulsive in handing the keys over to Vick, the result would spell disaster for both men. Regardless of how this ultimately plays out, Michael Vick is starting on Sundays once more. That should be more than enough motivation for a man who watched Philadelphia's 2009 NFC Championship loss to Arizona from behind bars.

Twenty Team Dash: Examining the NFL's Week Two Totem Pole

2010-09-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

WELCOME BACK

TWENTY TEAM DASH: WEEK 1

Ranking the NFL's top 20 following a memorable opening weekend...

1 New Orleans Saints 1-0

Won 14-9 vs Minnesota

The scene in New Orleans during Thursday night's NFL Kickoff spectacular against Minnesota was a familiar one - the Superdome loaded with krunked-up cajun crazies, Drew Brees' iconic pregame chant and, of course, Harry Connick Jr. randomly popping up on the field. However, in a game that hardly looked like a clash of two league titans, the champs nearly spoiled the party. New Orleans scored quickly on their first drive, but it was a struggle on offense the rest of the way. Style points were at a minimum for a team that thrives off exciting plays. The good for the Saints is the defense was just as solid as it was throughout the Saint's 2010 playoff run. Don't expect Brees and his pals on offense to lay low much longer.

2 Baltimore Ravens 1-0

Won 10-9 @ New York Jets

Joe Flacco was the difference in a Monday night slug fest that felt an awful lot like a playoff preview. Ray Rice was held to just 43 yards on 21 rushing attempts against the relentless Jets' defense, but Baltimore's third-year quarterback stepped up when it mattered most. Flacco distributed the ball amongst his suddenly deep receiving corp - newcomers Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh combined for 137 yards on eight receptions - and guided the Ravens to an astounding 57% efficiency rating (11-of-19) on third down. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis is still an absolute beast at 35 years old. I'm not sure I've ever seen a non-quarterback play at such a high level so late in his professional football career.

3 New England Patriots 1-0

Won 38-24 vs Cincinnati

Something tells me Sunday's dominant performance against the Bengals was the begining of a season we may ultimately dub "The Empire Strikes Back". Tom Brady tossed three touchdowns - two in the direction of Wes Welker - and moved in and out of the pocket with better mobility than he displayed all of last year. Randy Moss snagged five balls before using the postgame press conference to yet again voice his displeasure over the lack of a contract extension. Moss has never been too keen on the concept of keeping things "in house", and it could ultimately cost him another pay day with the Patriots.

4 Minnesota Vikings 0-1

Lost 14-9 @ New Orleans

Throughout the Vikings' undewhelming nine-point output in New Orleans, Brett "Pop Pop" Favre looked... how should I put this... old. The greyhaired gunslinger displayed his usual zip on throws but, much like a senior citizen at the grocery store, Favre had trouble locating his intended targets. However, his touchdown pass to Visanthe Shiancoe was a dart down the seam and it was obvious to anyone watching that Favre's competitive fire hasn't dimmed since his magical '09 run.

5 Houston Texans 1-0

won 34-24 vs Indianapolis

Houston unleashed a beast in Arian Foster, who carved the Colts' defense for 231 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. Matt Schaub - last season's NFL yardage king - completed just nine passes, but that was enough, as Houston knocked off division-dominating Indy for just the second time in 17 attempts. Head coach Gary Kubiak leaned heavily on Foster, who nearly matched his '09 statistical totals (251 yards, three touchdowns) in the contest. The running back went undrafted out of Tennessee last April, but if Sunday's performance was any indication, Foster will have GMs cringing this fall.

6 Dallas Cowboys 0-1

lost 13-7 @ Washington

No team suffered a worse fate on opening weekend than the Cowboys, who saw a potential game-winning Roy Williams' touchdown nullified by a holding penalty. Expectations in Dallas haven't been this high since Troy Aikman was behind center and a 13-7 loss to last year's divison doormat doesn't exactly get the momentum rolling toward Jerry Jones' ultimate dream - home field advantage in the Super Bowl for his 'Boys.

7 Indianapolis Colts 0-1

lost 34-24 @ Houston

Peyton Manning may be the NFL's greatest quarterback ever, but even Andy Reid would admit a 57:10 pass-to-run ratio isn't likely to earn you a W in this league. Second-year receiver Austin Collie caught 11 balls for 163 yards and a touchdown in his first opener as one of Manning's top targets. Indy's "bend but don't break" defense is in tatters following an epic thrashing at the hands of Arian Foster and the Texans' ground game.

8 Green Bay Packers 1-0

Won 27-20 @ Philadelphia

Outside linebacker Clay Matthews looked like the best player on a field filled with young stars in Philadelphia. Matthews led Green Bay with seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. The second-year USC grad also lowered the boom on Kevin Kolb that led to the quarterback's early departure. Running back Ryan Grant is done for the season with an ankle injury, but as long as Aaron Rodgers is upright, Green Bay is a major Super Bowl contender.

9 New York Jets 0-1

lost 10-9 vs Baltimore

Don't you hate it when reality get in the way of a good story? Quarterback Marc Sanchez is still just 23 years old and doesn't yet possess the ability to overcome a superior defensive gameplan like the one Baltimore brings to the table. Rex Ryan shoulf be a tad worried about his defensive secondary opposite Revis Island. It wouldn't be the least bit surprising if Antonio "Big Daddy" Cromartie surrendered his starting job to rookie Kyle Wilson by Halloween. Despite being one of the league's flashiest defensive playmakers, Cromartie's shortcomings in coverage showed through as the potential Achilles' heel of an otherwise overbearing New York defense.

10 Tennessee Titans 1-0

won 38-13 vs Oakland

If Vince Young can play as efficiently as he did during Tennessee's blowout victory (13-of-17, 154 yards and two touchdowns) for at least 75% of the season, the Titans are a force to be reckoned with in the AFC. Chris Johnson began his quest toward 2,500 yards (his personal goal, not my expectation) in the same fashion he closed out his record-setting '09 season. CJ2K gained 142 yards - more than half of which came on 76-yard touchdown sprint that widened Tennessee's lead to 24-3 late in the first half.

11 Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0

won 15-9 vs Falcons (OT)

Ben Roethlisberger's four-game suspension forced all eyes on substitute starting QB Dennis Dixon, but it Rashard Mendenhall who made the difference against Atlanta. The Steelers' running back scampered fifty yards to paydirt and finished off the Falcons with a rare walk-off touchdown in overtime. Mendenhall's game-winning jaunt gave him 120 yards on the ground in aid of Pittsburgh's patchwork passing game. If the Men of Steel can win two of their next three matchups - trips to Tennessee and Tampa Bay, followed by a division showdown versus Baltimore - they will be in great shape heading into a week five bye week highlighted by the return of Big Ben.

12 San Diego Chargers 0-1

lost 21-14 @ Kansas City

Tensions are already mounting in SoCal, where fallout from the loss in Kansas City centers around the invisible man - Vincent Jackson. San Diego's No. 1 wide receiver is still in the middle of a holdout that grows uglier by the day, while the Chargers scored an uncharacteristically low 14 points against a Chiefs defense that has struggled since the Clinton Administration. So the two go hand-in-hand right? Not so fast. Rivers still threw for nearly 300 yards, with upstart Legedu Naanee accounting for 11o of those and a touchdown. Blame the Chargers' early offensive woes on Monday night's monsoon-like conditions - and a vastly improved division rival.

13 Cincinnati Bengals 0-1

lost @ New England 38-24

Either the first thirty minutes of 2010 Bengals football was a total aberration or I vastly overrated this veteran squad. Cincinnati appeared to be sleepwalking throughout a first half that saw New England easily jump out to 24-0 lead. Carson Palmer followed up a disastourous start with an impressive second half. He spread the ball effectively amongst teammates - four Bengals caught at least five passes - while leading three touchdown drives. The Chad Ochocinco-Terrell Eldorado experiment worked out well in week one. The duo racked up 212 yards and a touchdown on 19 receptions.

14 Atlanta Falcons 0-1

lost @ Pittsburgh 15-9 (OT)

There's no shame in this loss for Atlanta. The Falcons faced a tough task in Pittsburgh, taking on an offense out to prove it can score without its bad boy quarterback and a defense still embarrased about breaking down late in '09. Despite giving up Mendenhall's big run in overtime, Atlanta matched Pittsburgh's physicality - which bodes well for a team that plays plenty of big dogs (is it ok to use that phrase in association with Atlanta again? Have we moved on?) between now and November.

15 New York Giants 1-0

won 31-18 vs Carolina

Despite a comfortable win over Carolina, the Giants have plenty of issues to clean up. Yes, Eli Manning threw three touchdowns to Hakeem Nicks, but that doesn't excuse Baby Bro's three interceptions and Nicks' numerous drops against the Panthers. Brandon Jacobs' days a feature back (did they ever truly exist?) are apparently history. Ahmad Bradshaw received twenty carries - eight more than Jacobs.

16 Miami Dolphins 1-0

won 15-10 @ Buffalo

Miami came out on top of the trash heap known as Dolphins vs. Bills. Neither team looked particularly good at anything, but Miami's sizeable advantage on the offensive side of the ball ensured the Brandon Marshall Era would begin with a win. Though Chad Henne didn't play much better than Buffalo's Trent Edwards - who was terrible - the Dolphins' ground game bailed out its young quarterback. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams were up to their old tricks, working in tandem to run for 127 yards and the team's only touchdown.

17 Washington Redskins 1-0

won 13-7 vs Dallas

Washington's victory over NFC East favorite Dallas surprised me more than any other result from opening weekend. Donovan McNabb missed most of his first preseason in D.C. so I expected Dallas' defense to be its usual dominating self. What I didn't anticipate was the fire with which the Redskins' defense displayed. Free agent prize DeAngelo Hall reached the endzone on a 32-yard fumble return as the first half expired. Hall's backbreaking score gave Washington a 10-0 advantage and the defense would make it stand up. Washington could become an NFC dark horse if the defense can play close to this level throughout the season for coordinator Jim Haslett.

18 Philadelphia Eagles 0-1

lost 27-20 vs Green Bay

The definition of success in Philadelphia in 2010 is rather simple - finish with more wins than McNabb's Redskins. Advantage Donovan. The season opener could not have gone more awry in Philly, where an offseason's worth of planning fell apart at the seams. Kevin Kolb - touted as the heir apparent to McNabb since 2007 - ran out of the tunnel as the Eagles' starting quarterback. Roughly an hour and a half later, he found himself on the sidelines once again. Kolb suffered a second-quarter concussion, which opened the door for backup QB Michael Vick. The three-time Pro Bowler ran up and down the field - bringing the Birds back from a 20-3 deficit - in a vintage Vick performance.

What was supposed to be a rare drama-free season in Philadelphia quickly took an unexpected turn. Suddenly, there are packs of fans calling for Vick to start. They'll get their wish Sunday, when a still-scrambled Kolb takes a seat against Detroit. This is by no means a benching. The long-term answer at quarterback is simple - Kolb is the starter when healthy because that's been the gameplan for three seasons. Not many coaches are set in their ways like Andy Reid and there's no way he benches his guy based on one half of football, no matter how wretched.

19 Kansas City Chiefs 1-0

won 21-14 vs San Diego

Almost three years passed since the last day Kansas City owned a winning record. That streak mercifully ended Monday night, when the Chiefs - led by a motivated defense and a new playmaker - knocked off San Diego the first game at New Arrowhead Stadium. Romeo Crennel's debut as defensive coordinator was wildly successful, as the Chiefs swarmed to the ball with noticibly more vigor than years past. Former first-round picks Derrick Johnson and Glenn Dorsey particularly looked recharged. Johnson led KC with 11 tackles, while Dorsey wreaked havoc on San Diego's backfield - including a QB pressure on Rivers' fourth-and-goal attempt in the game's final minute.

Rookie Dexter McCluster's 94-yard punt return proved to be the difference. The second-round selection out of Ole Miss became the first player to return a kick for a touchdown in his NFL debut game since Jacquez Green accomplished the feat with Tampa Bay in 1998.

20 Chicago Bears 1-0

won 19-14 vs Detroit

Game one of the intriguing Mike Martz-Jay Cutler collaboration yielded impressive results. Cutler picked up 372 yards on 35 throws - only one of which was caught by a Lion. Surprisingly, running back Matt Forte appears to be the main beneficiary of Martz' pass-oriented, field-stetching offensive scheme. Fresh off a disappointing 2009 season, in which he regressed from a stellar rookie campaign, Forte came up huge in the opening win. Though Detroit held the third-year back to just 50 yards on the ground, he starred in Chicago's passing game, tallying a team-high seven receptions and 151 yards, while catching both Bears' touchdown.

Time for Texans to Emerge from Expansion Woes

2010-09-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON TEXANS

LAST SEASON: 9-7 - second place in AFC South

AT THE HELM: Gary Kubiak (fifth season, 31-33 with Houston)

NEW WEAPONS: QB Matt Leinart, K Neil Rackers, CB Kareem Jackson (R)

SENT PACKING: CB Dunta Robinson, RB Ryan Moats, K Kris Brown, QB Rex Grossman

THE VIBE

Eight years separate Houston from its inaugural season. The luster of the dark blue and red uniforms is faded and the Texans are no longer the loveable fledgling franchise of seasons past. After meandering its way to mediocrity for nearly a decade, the time has come for the Texans to answer what is fast becoming an annual offseason question in professional football. Is Houston finally ready to grow up?

Head coach Gary Kubiak - freshly signed to an extension through 2012 - must be an awfully patient man. Along with general manager Rick Smith, Kubiak took on the challenge of building a roster almost entirely through the draft. The native Houstonian inherited a Texans team that posted just 18 wins through four seasons of existence, including a 2-14 stinker in 2005. Four years later, Kubiak's squad is fresh off its first winning campaign. But following two consecutive 8-8 seasons leading up to '09, the 9-7 record didn't exactly fire up the fanbase.

The AFC is deep - approximately a dozen teams have a legitimate shot at the postseason this year - and in order to survive the rigors of an arduous path to the playoffs, Houston needs to get nastier. Spearheaded by a defense loaded with young stars, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Linebackers DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing are former Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners, while defensive end Mario Williams was the first overall pick of the star-studded 2006 draft class (collegiate legends Reggie Bush and Vince Young followed him off the board). Upon being selected tenth overall in 2007, 19-year-old Amobi Okoye became the youngest plyaer in league history. Now in his fourth season, Okoye anchors the interior of a developing defensive line. As he grows more stout against the run, Williams will receive a lot more freedom to maneuver on the outside.

Despite losing speedy cover corner Dunta Robinson to Atlanta in free agency, Houston's 2010 first round choice should prevent a drop-off at the position. Kareem Jackson - a standout member of Alabama's national championship squad - may already be further along in his progression than Robinson. Though he has a gambler's mentality when it comes to going for interceptions, players like Pro Bowler Asante Samuel have flourished while leaving on the edge. Jackson's ability to step up and defend the run on the perimeter makes him much more valuable than the overly abudnant finesse cornerbacks who spend Sundays playing pattycake.

Houston's offense seems to be one step ahead of the defense in its maturation. Quarterback Matt Schaub stayed healthy in 2009, playing more than 11 games for the first time in his career. The results were impressive. Schaub led the league in passing yards (4,770) and threw for 29 touchdowns. The seventh-year passer has evolved from a seldom-used backup behind Michael Vick in Atlanta to one of the NFL's elite. It doesn't hurt to have freak of nature Andre Johnson running and leaping after your passes. You won't find a better receiver in the NFL than Johnson, who signed a two-year, $24 million extension this summer. His 216 receptions, 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns since 2008 are off-the-charts statistics that he should keep pace with this season.

Although Houston's ground game is the awkward little brother of a practically unstoppable air assualt, the Texans have some interesting options at running back. Steve Slaton followed up a terrific rookie year (1,282 yards, 9 touchdowns) with a forgettable 2009 (437 yards, 3 touchdowns). The speedster suffered from a pinched nerve for much of the season and it eventually cost him the final five games. Rookie Arian Foster took advantage of Slaton's misfortune, scoring three touchdowns and showing promise in December. Foster enters his second year atop the Texans' depth chart at running back but you can be sure that a healthy Slaton is hell-bent on reclaiming the starting gig he held just a season ago.

THE VERDICT

11-5 - second place in AFC South - lose to Indianapolis in divisional round

Houston - the only existing franchise of the four major American pro sports leagues (MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL) to never reach the postseason - finally plays beyond 16 games and proves to be an emerging conference power. Kubiak's young squad steps up in the same spots it used to wilt - particularly fourth quarter defense. Slaton escapes the head coach's dog house by reeling off a string of strong performances that vault him past Foster as the team's feature back. An improved running game cuts into Schaub's gaudy stats, but the quarterback still manages to hook up with Johnson for at least ten scores.

The Texans earn a regular season split with the hated Colts, who own an all-time record of 15-1 against Houston. But Indy keeps command of the rivalry by delivering a knockout punch against the Texans in the playoffs. Cue the "Who's your daddy?" chants.

Peyton and Indy Enter Second Decade of Setting the NFL Standard

2010-09-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

LAST SEASON: 14-2 - first in AFC South - lost to New Orleans in Super Bowl

AT THE HELM: Jim Caldwell (second season, 14-2 with Indianapolis)

NEW WEAPONS: DE Jerry Hughes (R), LB Pat Angerer (R), CB Deshea Townsend

SENT PACKING: G Ryan Lilja, DE Raheem Brock, SAF Marlin Jackson

THE VIBE

In a league defined by parity, the Indianapolis Colts are the exception to the rule. Indy last failed to win ten regular season games in 2001. The NFL landscape has changed quite a bit since then. The league realigned from six divisions to eight - bouncing the Colts from the AFC East to the newly formed South division - when the Houston Texans arrived on the scene. Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Kurt Warner saw his career crumble in St. Louis, only to put the pieces back together in the desert years later. Paul Tagliabue handed the reigns of commissioner to Roger Goodell. Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, Brett Favre retired. Three times. The NFL is ever-changing, but Peyton Manning and the Colts just keep winning.

Now entering the latter stages of a remarkable career, Manning refuses to take his foot off the pedal on the field or in the film room. His impeccable preparation prior to each matchup is what sets him apart from the hundreds of NFL passers who have come and gone during his dominance.

It helps that Manning is lucky. That's the only way to describe how a quarterback can play 12 seasons in this punishing sport without missing a game. The 34-year-old field general is second only to Favre on the NFL's all-time consecutive games started list (currently 210 games). He has taken the opening snap of every Colts' contest since the franchise made him the first overall selection of the 1998 Draft.

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne - Manning's long-time target - also has an outstanding track record of durability. Wayne sat out of three games as a rookie in '01 but hasn't missed any time since, while exceeding in every role the Colts have asked him to fill. Initially, Wayne was the perfect sidekick to future Hall-of-Famer Marvin Harrison. About four years ago - when time began to take its toll on Harrison's body - Wayne elevated his play and effortlessly slid into the role of Manning's go-to wideout (arguably the most enviable job in the NFL).

Entering his tenth season out of Miami, Wayne - now making his own case for Canton - is the elder statesman tutoring a young group of pass catchers. Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon - both 24 years old - combined for 107 receptions, 1,442 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009. Anthony Gonzalez heads into his fourth season in search of a rebound. Gonzalez - the final pick of the first round in 2007 - was brought in to fill Harrison's shoes opposite of Wayne and appeared on his way to doing so. However, in the 2009 opener - his first game as Harrison's heir - Gonzalez injured his right knee and his season ended before he could even register a reception. Garcon and Collie excelled in his absence, meaning the pressure will be on Gonzo to battle for playing time in a loaded aerial attack that also features All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark (100 receptions in '09).

Colts president Bill Polian - an architect behind the Buffalo Bills quasi-dynasty of the early 1990s - does a masterful job of finding character guys late on draft day. Indy's defense is filled with prime examples of the regime's substance-over-style approach. Middle linebacker Gary Brackett (undrafted, 2003), defensive end Robert Mathis (fifth round, 2003), outside linebacker Clint Session (fourth round, 2007) and free safety Antoine Bethea (sixth round, 2006) bring a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude to Indy's starting D. Despite often being at a physical disadvantage, the Colts defense relies on superiour smarts and tenacity - lasting trademarks of the Tony Dungy regime - to consistently come up big just enough times over the course of four quarters. Peyton can handle the rest.

THE VERDICT

12-4 - first in AFC South - lose to Baltimore in AFC Championship

Indianapolis racks up twelve victories for the eighth consecutive season. Manning is vintage, again displaying arguably the greatest field vision ever seen in football. Pierre Garcon separates himself from the pack of young wideouts, surpassing 1,000 yards receiving in the process. Clark and Wayne - who is growing impatient for a new contract at the age of 31 - are reliable as ever despite relinquishing some statistics to the youngsters. Starting running back Joseph Addai stays one stride ahead of second-year man Donald Brown in the seldom-used backfield.

Indy's defense bends as often as last season, but breaks more frequently than in '09. Apart from defensive end Dwight Freeney and oft-injured safety Bob Sanders, no one has the potential to derail an offensive gameplan. The Colts wrap up home field advantage throughout the playoffs once again, but continue to draw comparisons to the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s (more than a decade of division dominance but just one World Series victory) when Baltimore bowls over Indianapolis with a Super Bowl trip on the line.

Note to reader: take some time to admire the abilities of Manning in '09. He is the benchmark at quarterback in modern football and isn't getting any younger.

Without Warner, NFC West is Wide Open

2010-08-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

NFC WEST BREAKDOWN

DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

(SINCE 2002 REALIGNMENT)

Seahawks: 4 (2004-2007)

Cardinals: 2 (2008-2009)

Rams: 1 (2003)

49ers: 1 (2002)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LAST SEASON: 8-8 - second in NFC West

AT THE HELM: Mike Singletary (third season, 13-12 with San Francisco)

NEW WEAPONS: OT Anthony Davis (R), G Mike Iupati (R), RB Brian Westbrook, SS Taylor Mays (R), WR Ted Ginn Jr., QB David Carr

SENT PACKING: QB Shaun Hill, RB Glen Coffee

THE VIBE

Stop me if you've heard this before: the 49ers are on the verge of digging their way out of franchise purgatory and playing deep into January. Put the 49ers in the "are we there yet?" category. Much like the Houston Texans, San Francisco has been tantalizing its fan base for years in August and September, without turning fantasy into fruition at season's end. Finally though, it appears the 49ers are primed to put the finishing touches on a massive organizational overhaul.

Nearly eight years removed from its last postseason visit, San Francisco must finally receive a breakout year from quarterback Alex Smith. The former Utah star became the face of the 49ers rebuilding project when the team made him the first overall pick of the 2005 Draft. Smith enters the final season of a six-year contract and is looking to solidify himself as San Francisco's quarterback of today and tomorrow. Shoulder injuries and coaching changes - five offensive coordinators in five years - take much of the blame for Smith's shortcomings. His career totals of 37 touchdowns and 43 interceptions don't exactly scream 'franchise quarterback'.

But now Smith is healthy, directing a suddenly stable offensive gameplan for the first time in his career, and playing in San Fran's most talented offense since Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens ran routes together. It's officially do or die time for Smith. If he can improve on 2009 - his best statistical season as a pro - a shiny, new contract extension and long-term job security is likely on the way. However, should Smith falter as the leader of a hard-nosed, playoff-ready roster, his days as an NFL starter are in jeopardy and he becomes David Carr: Version Two (Carr happens to be Smith's backup).

It remains to be seen if using the first overall selection on Smith was a mistake (Aaron Rodgers slid to Green Bay at No. 24) but the 49ers' personnel maneuvers have been money lately. Running back Frank Gore - a 2005 third-round selection - is the only 49er ever to exceed 1,000 yards on the ground in four consecutive seasons. San Francisco's already potent ground game is supersized with the additions of first-round offensive linemen Anthony Davis (The Pride of Piscataway) and Mike Iupati. Versatile running back Brian Westbrook hopes to rebound from a foul farewell in Philadelphia by adding some juice to the depth chart behind Gore.

Tight end Vernon Davis (sixth overall draft choice, 2006) is no longer just an athletic freak with dreadlocks and a sulk. Davis' demeanor has changed during two and a half seasons under head coach Mike Singletary and he is now a team captain. The former Terrapin vaulted himself into the NFL's best tight end discussion in 2009, when he led his position with 13 touchdowns. Davis' blend of speed, stength and newfound tenacity make him one of the league's true matchup nightmares. Second-year wide receiver Michael Crabtree could really light a fuse in the 49ers' offense. Crabtree played like a legitimate No. 1 wideout as a rookie, despite missing the first five games of '09 amid contract squabbling. Though reports of attitude issues are unsettling - word is, teammates feel he didn't bring nearly enough effort into his first NFL training camp this summer - it's hard to imagine Crabtree failing to reach the 1,000 yard receiving mark in year two.

Despite an offense loaded with young talent, San Francisco's best player resides in the center of its defense. Patrick Willis is the best inside linebacker in the NFL... and it's not even close. His sideline-to-sideline quickness and knack for forcing turnovers are reminiscent of Ray Lewis circa 2001. Led by Willis and a reliable core of veterans (safety Michael Lewis, corner back Nate Clements, linebacker Takeo Spikes and defensive end Justin Smith have been through the fire plenty of times in the past) expect San Francisco's defense to finish among the league's top ten.

THE VERDICT

10-6 - first in NFC West - lose to Green Bay in wild card round

The 49ers take advantage of an extremely friendly second half schedule and gel into a viable NFC contender. Though a Super Bowl trip isn't in the works this season, it may be creeping over the horizon. Alex Smith displays the smarts and precision that made him an elite prospect, emerging as a fringe Pro Bowl candidate and earning a new contract in the process. Rookie running back Anthony Dixon outproduces Westbrook, while making a case to displace Gore as starter in 2011. Davis again leads the team in touchdowns, but Crabtree steals headlines with a ton of highlight reel plays and nearly as many boneheaded comments. Patrick Willis becomes a household name and wins his first NFL Defensive MVP award.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

LAST SEASON: 5-11 - third in NFC West

AT THE HELM: Pete Carroll (first season with Seattle)

NEW WEAPONS: RB Leon Washington, OT Russell Okung (R), G Ben Hamilton, FS Earl Thomas (R), WR Mike Williams, DE Chris Clemons, QB Charlie Whitehurst

SENT PACKING: WR Nate Burleson, QB/WR Seneca Wallace, DE Patrick Kerney, OT Walter Jones

THE VIBE

Despite all the hooplah surrounding Pete Carroll's return to the NFL sidelines, there are many reasons to think the Seahawks won't sniff the playoffs in 2010. A pourous defense, unsettled offense and the growing pains of a new regime provide Seattle with a number of obstacles. I can, however, imagine one particular scenario playing out that could lead to the Seahawks stealing the division. If banged-up three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck can pull off a renaissance season - a la Chad Pennington with Miami in 2008 - it would give Carroll's tenure an early batch of momentum.

A revitalized Hasselbeck would provide Seattle with an above-average option at quarterback for the next couple of years, while allowing Carroll some time to find and prepare his QB of the future. You don't need to look too far in the rear-view mirror in order to remember a time when Hasselbeck and Seattle owned the NFC West. The Seahawks claimed four consecutive division crowns between 2004 and 2007. Hasselbeck was at the top of his game during that span, tossing 92 touchdowns and breaking just about every franchise passing record in the process. The past two seasons have been a different story. Hasselbeck missed 11 games between 2008 and 2009, while throwing fewer touchdowns (22) than interceptions (27).

Seattle's offensive skill players are a mixed bag of sorts. Like their quarterback, each have something to prove. Outside of consistent tight end John Carlson - he's reached the endzone 12 times in two seasons as a pro - there is little certainty. Deion Branch has been nothing more than an average receiver since the Seahawks lured him away from New England. The Super Bowl XXXIX MVP is slated to join a seemingly 'back from the dead' Mike Williams in Seattle's starting lineup. TJ Houshmanzadeh caught 79 balls last year in his first season in the northwest, but apparently he doesn't fit into Carroll's plans. Houshmanzadeh, who was signed to a hefty free agent contract last season, was stunningly released this week.

Williams - a star on Carroll's national championship team at USC - is suddenly a main target in Seattle's passing game. Though he hasn't found the end zone since 2006 and owns just 44 career receptions since Detroit made him the tenth overall pick in the 2005 Draft, Carroll apparently wholeheartedly believes in the young man he recruited out of high school nearly a decade ago. This speaks volumes considering Williams has accumulated more lost fumbles (3) than touchdowns (2) in five seasons. Williams' final shot at redemption in professional football is a compelling storyline worth keeping an eye on this season.

Seattle's offensive backfield remains influx, as it has since Shaun Alexander's abrupt decline. The team features two runners - Justin Forsett and Leon Washington - who will compete to eventually take over as feature back. Julius Jones got the first crack at the job, but he ultimately didn't survive roster cuts. Washington is the more explosive of the two, but he can't be counted on to tote the rock twenty times per game.

If Carroll's first season in Seattle goes up in flames, a pedestrian defensive unit is likely to be the main culprit. The Seahwaks might have the most QB-friendly defense in the NFL, and things will only get tougher with the retirement of sack artist Patrick Kerney. An embattled defensive line will rely on a promising group of linebackers to bail them out. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu - another former USC standout - is a proven commodity and brings fire to an uninspired group. Aaron Curry - last year's first round pick (fourth overall) out of Wake Forest - must grow as an edge-rusher and bring a new dynamic to the Seahawks' vanilla defense. Rookie safety Earl Thomas is already the best member of a beleaugered secondary that will be tested often.

THE VERDICT

7-9 - tied for second in NFC West

Carroll brings a refreshing sense of swagger to the City That Starbuck's Built. Seattle never has shaken its reputation as "soft" - a label that stuck with the team even throughout a Super Bowl run in 2005 - and reversing that trend should be priority number one on Carroll's to-do list. The coach will try his damndest to fire up the 'Hawks, but the pieces simply aren't in place. Seattle's defense still can't generate a consistent pass rush and is again susceptible to giving up big plays. Mike Williams comes back from the brink of obscurity and surpasses his career totals in touchdowns and receptions in 2010 alone.

If Hasselbeck is great, the Seahawks challenge the 49ers. My guess is he isn't quite at that level anymore and it becomes apparent by the end of the season that Carroll needs to land a premier QB prospect (potential 2011 No. 1 pick Jake Locker is right in his backyard at the University of Washington).

ARIZONA CARDINALS

LAST SEASON: 10-6 - first in NFC West - lost to New Orleans in divisional round

AT THE HELM: Ken Whisenhunt (fourth season, 27-21 with Arizona)

NEW WEAPONS: QB Derek Anderson, G Alan Faneca, LB Joey Porter, K Jay Feeley, FS Kerry Rhodes

SENT PACKING: QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin, LB Karlos Dansby, FS Antrel Rolle, K Neil Rackers

THE VIBE

No team changed as drastically over the offseason as the Cardinals. Kurt Warner retired after directing Arizona to the first back-to-back division titles in franchise history. Enter Matt Leinart... Exit Matt Leinart... Suddenly, head coach Ken Whisenhunt is relying on Derek Anderson - a guy who couldn't hold onto the starting quarterback job on a dreadful Cleveland team last season - to fill the mighty big shoes left behind by Warner. The Cardinals offseason in a nut shell: a ton of roster movement that won't make the squad any better.

The swift end to the Leinart Era was nearly as awkward as the '04 Heisman winner's infamous beer bong photos. After losing his grip on the starting job for the second time in three seasons, there was no way Leinart could have remained a Cardinal without crushing team chemistry. Sandwiched between quarterbacks Vince Young and Jay Cutler in the first round of the 2006 Draft, Leinart seemed to have the charisma and pedigree to become the face of an NFL franchise. He was practically football royalty while leading the star-powered USC dynasty and landed with a franchise that featured two exceptional talents at receiver (Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin). Arizona brought in Warner to serve as temporary mentor for Leinart. The rest is history.

Fitzgerald remains a fixture in the Cardinals' offense and is arguably the best pass catcher in the world. However, without a reliable presence at quarterback in 2010, Fitz may have to do a whole lot more downfield run blocking than ever before. Whisenhunt wants to focus on transforming the Cardinals into a more physical team and it starts with the running game. Second-year back Beanie Wells and veteran Tim Hightower must step up with Warner gone and help Arizona forge a new offensive identity. Steve Breaston takes over at receiver opposite Fitgerald, following the trade of Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens.

Linebacker Joey Porter arrives from Miami to replace the departed Karlos Dansby, who signed with the Dolphins. While he had a tremdous first season in South Beach (17.5 sacks in 2008), Porter's inconsistent play and big mouth tend to rub teammates and coaches the wrong way. Dansby, on the other hand, was a leader by example with the Cards and eclipsed the 100-tackle mark each of the past two seasons. Throw in the fact that Dansby is five years younger than the 33-year-old Porter and it's hard to view Arizona's linebacker swap as an upgrade.

Offseason acquisition Kerry Rhodes - who spent the last four seasons as the Jets' starting free safety - teams up with Adrian Wilson to form a stellar safety net at back end of the Cardinals' secondary. A veteran-laden defense spearheaded by mammoth tackle Darnell Dockett is suddenly the strong suit of a team recently recognized for its relentless offensive attack. Whisenhunt - who coached Pittsburgh's offense prior to his hiring in the desert - is trying to emulate the Steelers' style. The great deal of roster tinkering is aimed at transitioning the Cards from a shoot-out style squad to a grind-it-out, flash-free team. Following an offseason of so many questionable decisions, I still wonder why Arizona didn't make the one move that would've kept the team atop the NFC West: a trade for Donovan McNabb.

THE VERDICT

7-9 - tied for second in NFC West

Derek Anderson is his usual erattic self (he's yet to complete more than 56% of his passes in a season), which severly cripples Fitzgerald's exceptional ability to pick up yards after the catch. Beanie Wells rumbles and shines through as a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming offense. Porter leads Arizona in sacks and the defense is stingy enough to keep the Cardinals within reach of a third consecutive playoff berth for much of the season. Despite having the easiest schedule (on paper) in the league, Arizona is too inconsistent and provides another example tbat quarterback is king in today's NFL.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

LAST SEASON: 1-15 - fourth in NFC West

AT THE HELM: Steve Spagnuolo (second season, 1-15 with St. Louis)

NEW WEAPONS: QB Sam Bradford (R), LB Na'il Diggs, DT Fred Robbins, OT Rodger Saffold (R)

SENT PACKING: QB Marc Bulger, TE Randy McMichael, DT Adam Carriker, DE Leonard Little

THE VIBE

I'm not sure if Sam Bradford is yet familiar with the ceiling structure of the Edward Jones Dome, but he will become well acquainted with the roof's architectural nuances this Fall. Bradford can plan on spending a lot of time staring upward from the turf while buried beneath 300-pound defensive lineman throughout his rookie campaign. The unfortunate reality of having the honor - and $50 million guaranteed - that comes with being the first player to come off the board on draft day, is the immediate burden of carrying a franchise fresh off rock bottom.

St. Louis' glory days of the early 2000s - when the Greatest Show on Turf ruled the lNFC - are long gone. The modern day Rams own an atrocious 6-42 record since 2007 and are best characterized as the Greatest Joke on Turf. No franchise is climbing a steeper road right now than St. Louis (yes, that includes Detroit). Terrible draft day decisions and a startling lack of quality talent have made the Rams irrelevant for the better part of a half decade.

While the stars of St. Louis' Super Bowl teams entered the twilight of their careers, the Rams attempted to stock up on young talent that would eventually replace the aging mainstays. Chalk that effort up as a failure. St. Louis drafted ten players in the first round between 2000 and 2007. Only one of those highly paid investments remains a Ram today - running back Steven Jackson. The 24th overall pick of the '04 draft earned two Pro Bowl appearances, while racking up over 8,000 total yards during the past five seasons. Jackson is the Barry Sanders of his generation. His highlight reel and statistics have the makings of Hall-of-Fame material, yet the he's not nearly as popular as peers Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson. St. Louis receives no national television exposure, so neither does Jackson. The 27-year-old running back will do whatever he can to help Bradford get the Rams back on prime time.

Spagnuolo's gameplan will lean heavily on Jackson again this season. An efficient running game can be used to protect Bradford while he gradually learns how to play at the professional level. Jackson is the only sure thing in the Rams' offensive huddle. Receivers Laurent Robinson and Danny Amendola - who combined for 56 receptions and 493 yards in '09 - would be on the roster bubble of many NFL squads. They'll start for St. Louis to begin the season. The offensive line could be great down the road, but time and patience is necessary. Rookie Rodger Saffold and 2009 first-round pick Jason Smith serve as bookends at tackle, while top flight center Jason Brown protects the inside of Bradford's pocket.

Any defensive improvement will depend a young unit's ability to take its lumps and learn from past mistakes. Chris Long took down the quarterback five times in 2009. That won't cut it for a defensive end taken second overall in the draft two years ago. Long most evolve into a dominant pass rusher or he is destined to become another debilitating first-round disappointment in St. Louis. James Laurinaitis looks like a long-term solution at middle linebacker. Last season, Laurinaitis tallied 120 tackles and two interceptions as a rookie out of Ohio State. His progression is crucial for a defense with glaring holes across the board.

THE VERDICT

3-13 - fourth place in NFC West

Bradford has guts and he needs them this year. His statistics aren't pretty - neither is his win-loss record - but Bradford makes strides on and off the field. Before he worries about winning games in the NFL, the rookie quarterback must win over his locker room and earn the trust of a lost franchise. He'll show enough fight early in the season to answer any questions about toughness or commitment.

The Rams are more competitive and nearly pull off a few late season upsets, but this may be the least talented roster in the NFL and another miniscule win total is in the cards. Better days are ahead in St. Louis with Bradford behind center, I just hope Jackson still has something left in the tank when the wins finally begin to pile up.

Rivers separates San Diego in subpar AFC West

2010-08-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

LAST SEASON: 13-3 - first in AFC West - lost to Jets in divisional round

AT THE HELM: Norv Turner (fourth season, 32-16 with San Diego)

NEW WEAPONS: RB Ryan Matthews (R), CB Donald Strickland

SENT PACKING: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, CB Antonio Cromartie, DT Jamal Williams

THE VIBE

San Diego smoothly made the transition into the Phillip Rivers Era during the 2009 campaign. The seventh-year signal caller excelled throughout an MVP-caliber season, finishing third in the NFL in passer rating, while guiding the Bolts to 13 regular season wins. Now that franchise legend LaDainian Tomlinson is 3,000 miles removed from SoCal, Rivers can unquestionably call San Diego “his team”. Despite occasional ugly flashes of immaturity, Rivers is among the league’s elite and his fiery attitude resonates in the locker room.

The Chargers are heavy favorites to win a fifth consecutive AFC West championship, but there are questions abound. Offensive tackle Marcus McNiell and wide receiver Vincent Jackson - each crucial pieces in Norv Turner’s offense - have yet to rejoin the team amid contract disputes. All signs point to lengthy holdouts for both Pro Bowl players, meaning San Diego’s depth will be tested early and often.

Jackson is an overrated asset in San Diego. Although he was among league leaders in yards per reception last season, Jackson’s 68 catches ranked just thirtieth among his peers. Tight end Antonio Gates – who recently received the contract extension that Jackson desperately desires – is still the central target in the Chargers' passing game. Combine Gates’ freakish athletic attributes with the abilities of emerging wide receivers Malcom Floyd (6-foot-5) and Legedu Naanee (6-foot-3) and you have the makings of a physical group of pass catchers at Rivers’ disposal.

Though San Diego’s offensive attack now revolves around its air arsenal, the ground game must remain reliable if the team is to return to the postseason. The Chargers traded up in the first round of April’s draft to snag Fresno State running back Ryan Matthews, who will immediately be thrown into the fire as the team’s feature ball carrier. The diminutive Darren Sproles will continue to supply instant offense from his usual role as third-down back and kick returner, but Matthews will receive the bulk of the workload and has an excellent shot at earning Offensive Rookie of the Year recognition.

Defensively, the Chargers lack an identity and disgruntled star linebacker Shawne Merriman - likely one season shy of leaving town - seems to be mentally checked out already. Despite shipping off corner back Antonio Cromartie during the winter, San Diego will hold its own against the pass. Keep an eye on Eric Weddle. The versatile fourth-year safety out of Utah is an absolute gamer in the secondary and continues to improve his tackling each season.

THE VERDICT

10-6 - first in AFC West - lose to Baltimore in divisional round

The Chargers are fun to watch and bring a ton of talent to the table, but when it comes down to “dog fight” games – where brutal weather is a factor and trench battles reign supreme – the Chargers lack the necessary nasty streak. Expect San Diego to repeat recent history – shaky start, strong finish, early playoff knockout.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

LAST SEASON: 4-12 - fourth in AFC West

AT THE HELM: Todd Haley (second season, 4-12 with Kansas City)

NEW WEAPONS: RB Thomas Jones, FS Eric Berry (R), G Ryan Lilja

SENT PACKING: OT Wade Smith, WR Bobby Wade

THE VIBE

Year Two of the Scott Pioli/Todd Haley experiment will give us an indication of where this organization is headed. Heavily invested in an unproven quarterback and several highly-paid defensive youngsters, Kansas City is a bit of an enigma. Since the Chiefs' last postseason appearance in 2006, KC owns a miserable 10-38 record, discarding franchise icons Tony Gonzalez and Larry Johnson during the downslide.

However, the mounting losses did allow the Chiefs to stockpile young playmakers. The most recent three drafts netted Kansas City a ton of defensive talent. Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (fifth overall, 2008), corner back Brandon Flowers (second round, 2008), defensive end Tyson Jackson (third overall, 2009) and safety Eric Berry (fifth overall, 2010) are the cornerstones of a seemingly endless rebuilding project on defense. Think back to when the Chiefs were flourishing under Dick Vermiel and even then it's hard to picture Kansas City as anything close to an intimidating defensive team. Dorsey and Jackson, who were college teammates at LSU, must provide pass rusher Tamba Hali with help by barreling through offensive lines more frequently. Flowers is a blossoming (pun intended) cover corner. The lack of any consistent pressure on the passer from the Chiefs' front seven forced the Virginia Tech grad to improve quickly in order to stick with receivers allotted an extra second or two to separate.

Matt Cassel enters his third season since emerging from Tom Brady's shadow in New England. Pioli arrived in Kansas City from the Patriots front office last offseason and saw to it that Cassel came along with him. The 28-year-old quarterback's numbers dipped in his first season with the Chiefs. A 16-to-16 touchdown-to-interception ratio leaves a lot to be desired following his breakout 2008 season in Foxboro (21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions). But the weapons around Cassel in '09 were certainly a far cry from Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Number one wideout Dwayne Bowe accumulated career lows in catches (47), yards (589) and touchdowns (4). His resurgance, along with continued contributions from Chris Chambers - who tallied 608 yards receiving after joining the Chiefs midseason - is necesarry if Cassel is to live up to the "franchise QB" billing bestowed upon him when he was acquired.

Jamaal Charles is much more than a run-of-the-mill back and could make a leap into the league's top ten ball carriers in 2010. His field vision developed tremendously over the duration of his second season in KC and he uses a quick first step to attack open space when he spots it. Charles - a third-round pick out of Texas in 2008 - burst onto the scene late last year. Despite not receiving more than six carries in a game prior to November, Charles made the most of his opportunity - racking up 1,120 yards and eight touchdowns. A dominant 259-yard effort in the Chiefs' week 17 win at Denver punctuated Charles' rapid improvement.

Pioli paired Charles with new backfield battery mate Thomas Jones this offseason. The 32-year-old Jones is fresh off a stellar three-year run in East Rutherford, where he led the Jets in rushing since 2007. No player was more respected in New York's locker room than Jones, who wore down toward the end of a strong '09 season and lost his job to upstart Shonn Greene. He won't be expeced to carry the Chiefs, but 15 touches per game is a reasonable expectation for a grind-it-out back who scored 29 touchdowns over the past two seasons and surpassed the 1,000 yard mark in each of the previous five years. Don't sleep on Kansas City's new two-pronged rushing attack.

THE VERDICT

7-9 - second in AFC West

The Kansas City team playing this November will resemble a playoff contender. The September version, however, is a work in progress. The Chiefs take on the harsh task of rebuilding the right way - patiently developing homegrown talent while incorporating few veteran pieces. Chambers continues to make San Diego look foolish for letting him go last season and helps Cassel improve on a ho-hum '09 campaign. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis enjoys his return to behind-the-scenes action and proves once again he is a talented gameplanner. Kansas City - much like Oakland - is a year away from finally challenging the Chargers for AFC West supremecy.

DENVER BRONCOS

LAST SEASON: 8-8 – 2nd in AFC West

AT THE HELM: Josh McDaniels (second season, 8-8 with Denver)

NEW WEAPONS: QB Brady Quinn, QB Tim Tebow (R), WR Demaryius Thomas (R), DT Jamal Williams, DE Jarvis Green

SENT PACKING: WR Brandon Marshall, TE Tony Scheffler

THE VIBE

When Broncos owner Pat Bowlen handed his team over to 33-year-old head coach Josh McDaniels last winter, it’s hard to imagine he could’ve anticipated the franchise-altering events that swiftly followed the move. McDaniels arrived in Mile High City hailed as an X's and O’s prodigy of sorts. He called the shots on offense during New England’s overwhelming 2007 onslaught and is widely credited with grooming former Patriots backup QB Matt Cassel (now the starter in Kansas City).

Upon taking over for two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Shanahan, McDaniels inherited one of the NFL’s up-and-coming quarterbacks in Jay Cutler and a young, stud receiver in Brandon Marshall. The duo flourished in limited time together and looked to be on pace with some of league’s great perennial combos (Manning-Wayne, Palmer-Ochocinco, etc.). Following a rocky beginning to his relationship with the new coach, Cutler found himself jettisoned to Chicago without ever taking a snap for McDaniels. Marshall managed to stick around for one season… almost.

The egocentric game-changer tallied 100 receptions for a third straight year, but that didn’t keep McDaniels from benching his star wideout for the last game of the season (with playoff implications at stake!). This spring, Marshall took his tired act to South Beach, leaving Kyle Orton as the premier player on Denver’s revamped offense. The immence promise of Cutler-to-Marshall is past. The sobering reality of Orton-to-Gaffney is present. This is the legacy of the Broncos' young coach - for now.

McDaniels’ ability to delve deep into his expansive playbook hinges on the anticipated emergence of a former SEC superstar – and I’m not speaking about the Golden Boy of Gainesville. Denver used the twelfth pick in the ’09 draft to tab Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno as the first piece of the team’s post-Cutler franchise makeover. Moreno must improve on a solid 2009 rookie season and develop into a star. Otherwise, the Broncos sputter and McDaniels’ reputation as a guru rapidly erodes.

Orton – acquired from Chicago in the Cutler deal – is clearly a solid NFL quarterback . Unfortunately for the Broncos, "solid" QBs don't often start for great teams. Playoff runs require more than satisfactory play from the game’s most pivotal position. Orton enjoyed a career year in 2010, tossing for over 3,800 yards and 21 touchdowns. His surprising play helped Denver sprint out to a 6-0 start last season, before he and the Broncos fell back to Earth while losing eight of ten contests down the stretch.

Elvis Dumervil is the best player on Denver’s roster. Unfortunately, McDaniels will likely be without his star defensive end in 2010. Just one month after signing a five-year contract extension – which included $43 million guaranteed – Dumervil tore his pectoral muscle in training camp's early stages. The injury takes a large bite out of the potential of a talented defense. The Broncos will count on young edge rusher Robert Ayers and former Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green to keep pressure on the opposing passer and off an aging secondary – headlined by Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

THE VERDICT

6-10 – tied for third in AFC West

Denver stumbles out of the gate with a brutal opening portion of games (the Broncos face the Colts, Ravens, Titans, Jets and 49ers before October ends) and the team never quite finds its rhythm. Orton is effective but doesn't have the ability to win games on his own. Moreno is largely inconsistent, while no one comes close to filling Marshall’s role as downfield dominator. And what of Tim Tebow, you ask? The Gator Savior runs for more touchdowns (4) than he throws (2) during a roller coaster rookie year. He also leads the leaugue in one category - jersey sales.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

LAST SEASON: 5-11 - third in AFC West

AT THE HELM: Tom Cable (third season, 9-19 with Oakland)

NEW WEAPONS: QB Jason Campbell, NT John Henderson, OLB Kamerion Wimbley, LB Rolando McClain

SENT PACKING: QB JaMarcus "Captain Skittles" Russell, RB Justin Fargas, DE Greg Ellis

THE VIBE

JaMarcus Russell is gone. Those four words should be all you need to read in order to realize Oakland is on the upswing. Raiders' owner/mad scientist Al Davis finally pulled the plug on the first overall selection of the 2007 draft and swung a draft day trade for former Redskins' starter Jason Campbell. Releasing Russell - a monumental bust and $34 million failed investment - was the necessary step for a franchise that has not simply lost its prestige, but devolved into the Los Angeles Clippers of the NFL. Armed with an improved offense and a promising defense, it appears Oakland may potentially flirt with a .500 record for the first time in nearly a decade.

Is Campbell a Pro Bowl-caliber QB? Well, not if you base his abilities on what we saw of him in D.C. But remember, this is a guy who has endured constant changes at offensive coordinator since his days at Auburn (though Oakland may be the worst place to be when searching for stability in a coaching staff). Campbell's NFL resume mirrors that of his new franchise. While the Auburn alumnus has been unable to hook up with a long-term coach, the Raiders' nightmare merry-go-round of passers since Rich Gannon's retirement is simply embarassing (Oakland QBs have a combined 47 touchdowns and 73 interceptions since 2006).

Perhaps, at long last, Oakland and Campbell have found their match and can forge a lengthy, successful relationship. But they have each been burned before and this new marriage is far from a guaranteed home run. Campbell owns a respectable 82.3 career passer rating and completes over 60% of his pass attempts, but he's yet to play in any game of great consequence and hasn't distinguished himself as anything more than an average NFL starter. It's more likely Campbell becomes the latest member of a frustrating game of musical chairs behind center in Oakland (Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks, Daunte Culpepper, Russell) than the next Jim Plunkett.

THE VERDICT

6-10, tied for third in AFC West

I've noticed a lot of "experts" making Oakland a trendy playoff pick in the AFC lately. Am I missing something? The Silver and Black struggle to create turnovers and ranked thirtieth against the run last season - though the addition of Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain helps tremendously. McClain hits like a train and is a favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Oakland's fortunes are tied tightly to his progression.

Zach Miller - the team's best pass catcher - continues his ascension up the NFL tight end food chain. Michael Bush sprints past Darren McFadden early in Autumn and establishes himself as one of the AFC's top fourth quarter running backs. Jason Campbell fails to play himself into a starter's money contract and forces Oakland to bring in competition at the QB position yet again next offseason.

NEXT UP -> A LOOK AT THE REVAMPED NFC WEST

Mamba Number Five: Kobe Takes Giant Leap Toward MJ as Lakers Slay Celtics in Seven

2010-06-21T17:30:00.001-07:00

We all remember the tagline of Nike’s global marketing campaign that made Air Jordan sneakers an unbelievably hyped commodity for the better part of two decades. “Be Like Mike” reached just about every corner of the world. Billboards from Tokyo to Tallahassee featuring Jordan’s ever-ascending silhouette gave athletes something to reach for. Jordan collected six NBA championships, earning Most Valuable Player honors in each series. He often challenged the limits of gravity and was once described as “God disguised as Michael Jordan” by legend Larry Bird. Perhaps most importantly, MJ saved Earth from likely destruction when he teamed up with Bugs Bunny and Newman from Seinfeld to defeat an evil alien race in a hotly contested pick-up basketball game.

While the rest of us grew up in the nineties doing all we could to be like Mike, a basketball prodigy living in Philadelphia’s Main Line district embarked on a basketball odyssey that would become an unspoken obsession with dethroning Jordan and all others who stood between him and the title of the single greatest player to ever grace a basketball court. That thrilling youngster is now a veteran virtuoso with a championship ring for each finger on his right hand and a foucus on accomplishing a seemingly impossible task - be better than Mike.

Kobe Bryant left Lower Merion High School in 1996 as a phenom – he took singing sensation Brandy to his senior prom. By 1999, he earned his first blockbuster contract with the Los Angeles Lakers – worth $70 million over six years. Upon the arrival of the new millennium, Bryant teamed up with one of the most dominant centers in league history for a dazzling and dominating run that resulted in three consecutive championships and enough off-court drama to rival any Hollywood script. He took his act solo six years ago. Today, Bryant – unofficially nicknamed Black Mamba - is firmly inscribed on the list of his sport’s all-time elites.

Kobe and his Lakers wrapped up the franchise’s 16th world championship victory on Thursday night by upending super rival Boston Celtics 83-79 in game seven of the most intriguing NBA Finals series we’ve seen in far too long. The victory was very much in doubt for L.A. with Boston leading by double-digits late in the third quarter and Bryant in the midst of what appeared would be a historically awful performance. Less than an hour later, Kobe hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy for a fifth time – avenging the Lakers ’08 Finals loss to the Celtics and presenting every sports fan with one nagging question – just how great is this guy?

Los Angeles jettisoned Shaquille O’Neal in the summer of 2004. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, a nine-time NBA champ at the time, was not retained for the 2004-2005 season. The Hall of Fame trio of Shaq, Phil and Kobe – a group that made four finals appearances in the decade’s first five seasons - was suddenly kaput. All that remained were the banners… and Kobe. The very next day after Shaq was shipped to Miami, Bryant inked a new seven-year megadeal to return to the Lakers after flirting with the idea of heading across the Staples Center and suiting up for the Clippers.

Coincidence was not a factor, Kobe was.

An array of questions surrounded the Lakers’ decision to hand the franchise keys over to Bryant. The raised eyebrows were validated when O’Neal capped off his second season in South Beach with a fourth career championship win. In a tell-all book about his final season in L.A., Jackson deemed Bryant “uncoachable” and examined the selfishness of his star pupil. Throw in the fact that the Lakers struggled to find an identity and were rarely consistent during the first few post-Shaq years, and it’s easy to see why the basketball world was ready to turn its back on the abrasive Bryant and usher in the LeBron James era. As it turns out, the reign of Kobe was just getting underway.

Bryant exploded for an 81-point game in January ’06 – 12 points more than MJ’s career-high output of 69 and the highest single game total by anyone not named Wilt. Kobe averaged over 43 points per contest that month – again, a mark only topped by The Stilt – and maintained his reputation as the league’s ultimate weapon despite the Lakers drop-off in the win column.

Prior to the 2006-2007 season, Bryant traded in his No. 8 jersey for No. 24 – one number higher than Jordan’s 23.

Coincidence was not a factor, Kobe was.

When head coach Rudy Tomjanovich abruptly resigned midway through his first season at the helm, Bryant pushed hard for Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K opted to stay put in Durham. In a shocking move, Phil Jackson was back as quickly as he left. Bryant decided that winning was more important than even his ego. Within a few years of Jackson’s return to the Lakers’ bench, the team began to find ways to build around Bryant. When Memphis put Pau Gasol on the trade block in 2007, Los Angeles jumped at the opportunity to add the center it lacked since the trade of Big Aristotle. Kobe earned league MVP honors in 2008, leading the Lakers into a Finals showdown against the Celtics. However, the season ended in embarrassing fashion when Boston throttled Los Angeles by 39 points in the sixth and decisive game of the series. Stuck at three titles, Kobe consistently heard the same question – could he reach the top of the mountain without standing on Shaq’s shoulders?

“I’ve got one more than Shaq.” – Kobe Bryant, June 18, 2010.

Here we are in a new decade, with a new NBA landscape. Yet, a familiar face grins from behind the microphone at the podium of the world champion Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant has now won back-to-back finals for the second time in his career; however the most recent double-dip did not feature the gregarious, larger-than-life O’Neal. This was Bryant’s show and, although it took 16 playoff wins to wipe the scowl off his face, he couldn’t help but finally bask in the glory of his latest tour de force. Bryant beamed when asked about his unquenchable hunger for greatness. He lit up as members of the media began to compare him to the incomparable – MJ. And perhaps most telling, Bryant applauded the efforts of his teammates every chance he got.

This Lakers squad, more than any of the past fourteen years, was created in Bryant’s image. The roster was made up of Kobe and eleven players hand-picked to help Kobe reach this point.

There’s Derek Fischer, an old friend of Bryant's who returned to L.A. following a short stay in Utah. Fischer is the ying to Kobe’s yang in the Lakers’ locker room - which is a nice way of saying that he’ll tell a teammate to keep their head up immediately after Bryant verbally rips them apart. Lamar Odom – the only holdover from the O’Neal trade – adapted nicely to his role as sixth man. Despite the fact that he married the ugly duckling of the Kardashian clan and consumes obscene amounts of candy for an adult, Odom’s performance off the bench is often a catalyst for how L.A. performs. Gasol is unquestionably the most skilled big man in the league. The 7-foot Spaniard won’t lock down the paint like Dwight Howard or bowl people over like Shaq, but Gasol can score in a variety of ways and he is a superior passer. I also get the feeling the soccer-like emotion he brings to the game revs up Kobe more than he would ever care to admit.

The charismatic and controversial Ron Artest signed on as a free agent last summer and tried his hand at the role of Dennis Rodman with a jump shot. Artest was inconsistent for much of the season (he did manage to avoid throwing haymakers at paying customers in attendance) but the Lakers lose game seven without his twenty points and impeccable defense on Paul Pierce – and that’s all that matters. The seeds were planted for his big-time performance two years ago, when Artest – then a member of the Sacramento Kings - actually walked in on a showering Bryant in the Lakers' locker room following the team's humiliating season-ending defeat in Boston and basically applied for a job as his sidekick.

Coincidence was not a factor, Kobe was.

The supporting cast delivered consistently enough, Kobe did the rest. The 2010 version of the Lakers is the closest thing we’ve seen to Jordan’s Bulls in regards to the way the team functioned, which brings us back to the MJ versus Kobe debate.

Coach Jackson is on record as saying they are two different kinds of players with striking similarities. The Zen Master has never been too keen on giving it to us straight. But the winningest man in NBA history is hardly ever wrong, so maybe we should just stick with Phil’s point of view. Kobe isn’t MJ. MJ isn’t Kobe. They are both once-in-a-generation talents. They are both cold-blooded in the clutch. They are both premier defenders. They are both winners. MJ had Scottie Pippen. Kobe had Shaq. Jordan had gambling issues. Bryant had Eagle, Colorado. Each matured under the tutelage of Jackson. Neither is Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain. Simply put, there is no best ever. There is only a discussion. Kobe entered it late Thursday night.

Instead of asking, “MJ or Kobe?”, we will soon get back to the hot-button issue that plagued the NBA playoffs - where is LeBron going to wind up? Regardless of where he is playing, James - in a bizzaro-Kobe move - will change his jersey number to six next season because he believes no one deserves to wear Jordan’s No. 23. As “King” James again looks to grab the torch from the Black Mamba, Bryant will be in hot pursuit of a No. 6 of his own and a second career three-peat. Sound familiar?

Coincidence is not a factor, Kobe is.

2010 NFL Draft Recap: St. Louis, Denver Hitch Futures to Question Mark QBs

2010-04-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis Rams did something rather peculiar on Thursday evening when you think about it. The floundering franchise opted to put all of its eggs in the basket of a 22-year-old quarterback who underwent serious surgery on his throwing shoulder just six months ago. The Rams made former Oklahoma standout Sam Bradford the top selection in the 2010 NFL Draft and will invest upwards of $40 million in the young man they've deemed the team's savior.

Roughly two hours after St. Louis secured Bradford, the Denver Broncos did something seemingly worthy of a one-way ticket to Shutter Island. Head coach Josh McDaniels and his band of merry man shocked the football world by trading up in the draft's first round to select the most polarizing and captivating collegiate player we've ever seen - Timothy Richard Tebow. Some people think Tebow is actually the savior, though the majority of them reside in trailer parks amidst the swamplands of northern Florida.

Nobody knew where the two-time national champion would land leading up to the draft. There were those who stood by Tebow and maintained that with a few tweaks to his unorthodox throwing motion, he would be the same fiery winner at the next level. But there appeared to be at least twice as many others screaming that Tebow would never be a quarterback in the NFL and if he truly aimed to realize his lifelong dream of playing professional football, a position change was obligatory. Upon selecting the Florida legend, McDaniels made his position clear by saying he targeted Tebow as a passer. And so, Tebow's NFL odyssey will begin under center. As a wise man once said, "get your popcorn ready!"

Beyond the two Heisman-winning QBs, there was a ton of compelling action throughout sports' greatest non-sporting event. The NFL's revamped draft brought us three days of roster movement that could ultimately determine the league's Super Bowl champion in 2011 (and the next 10 seasons for that matter). Let's delve into the weekend's wheeling and dealing by taking a look at how the cookie crumbled for all 32 teams. We'll go division-by-division, since a number of moves were made in response to maneuvers by intradivison rivals.

NFC EAST

- Dallas Cowboys -

Just when you thought Cowboys' owner and life of the party Jerry Jones was content to sit back and go through an entire offseason without grabbing headlines, the overlord of the NFL's evil empire made a major splash in round one. My pal Jimmy - the only 'Boys fan with an opinion I respect - told me all week he had a feeling Jones was itching to do something big. To be honest, I did too because that's what Dr. Evil does.

Dallas traded up three spots to grab free-falling super receiver Dez Bryant out of Oklahoma State at No. 24. Much like wideout Michael Crabtree in 2009, Bryant's value was hampered by the dreaded "prima donna" label and it caused him to plummet well beyond where he should have been selected. A pass-catcher with the size, speed and playmaking abilities of Bryant has no right slipping out of the top 10.

Jones said he's always regretted passing on future Hall of Famer Randy Moss in the 1998 draft and he didn't want to repeat the mistake. What exactly are Bryant's "character issues"? Well, unlike Moss, he's never been arrested or accused of doing anything illegal. He was suspended for the majority of the '09 season because he lied to NCAA investigators about his relationship with mentor/shady older buddy Deion Sanders, who happens to be friends with high profile agent Eugene Parker. But don't be so naive to call Bryant a "bad apple". He was punished by the NCAA, an organization that still refuses to acknowledge the existence of Facebook and mid-major football programs.

Do not confuse Bryant with former flameouts like Charles Rodgers and David Boston. Sure, he was know to be tardy on more than one occasion during his time in Stillwater. But something tells me that during Dallas' glory days of the early '90s, there were plenty of late arrivals at team functions. Jones hit a home run with this pick and Dallas is the firm favorite in the toughest division in football.

- NEW YORK GIANTS -

Just two years ago, the G-Men were led to a Super Bowl championship by a dominant defense that featured the league's most feared pass rush. In 2009, New York had one if its worst statistical seasons in franchise history on the defensive side of the ball and it kept the team from making its fourth straight playoff appearance.

Therefore, it wasn't surprising to see the Giants use their first four selections to address defensive weaknesses. South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul - the team's first round choice - made only seven career collegiate starts. New York will count on him to make six starts in the NFC East alone this season, which is why JPP probably has the biggest "bust" potential of any first-rounder. I'm a fan of the Giants second round choice - East Carolina defensive tackle Linval Joseph. He's a classic mammoth nose tackle who should take some of the pressure off Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -

When the Eagles swapped choices with San Francisco and leapfrogged their way to the 13th pick, I thought for sure Andy Reid had Texas safety Earl Thomas in his sights. Instead, Philadelphia grabbed defensive end Brandon Graham out of Michigan. Graham will immediately provide defensive coordinator Sean McDermott with an edge rusher opposite of Pro Bowler Trent Cole. At 6'1", Graham is a tad undersized for an NFL end, but then again so are players like Cole and Dwight Freeney. Don't be surprised if Graham is registering double-digit sack totals by 2011.

Once Dallas added Bryant to its arsenal, you know Reid was hellbent on taking a rangy defensive back in the second round. He found one in USF's Nate Allen, who possesses terrific ball skills and can cut on a dime. No one will ever confuse Allen with Philly legend Brian Dawkins due to his finesse style of play, but he should upgrade the secondary as a starter at free safety. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim - the team's third round selection - is Washington's all-time sack leader, which is nothing to scoff at.

- WASHINGTON REDSKINS -

When your team acquires a 33-year-old quarterback with a history of injuries, the first priority has to be keeping him upright. Mike Shanahan and the 'Skins took a giant leap toward doing that when they made Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams the 4th overall choice in the draft. Washington likes Williams' athleticism and he should be a perfect fit in Shanahan's zone blocking scheme. Fans in D.C. should be ecstatic about coming away with a stud left tackle and Donovan McNabb in return for first and second round selections.

NFC NORTH

- CHICAGO BEARS -

I'm not sure what Chicago's front office was doing during the first two rounds of the draft. Perhaps they were explaining to Jay Cutler that he does not, in fact, pick up passing yardage when an opposing player catches his throw. The Bears didn't select until round three, but may have gotten a steal in Florida safety Major Wright. They'll need him to learn on the fly against the division's premier passers. Chicago has built its roster through trades and free agency. The team will live or die by that tactic this upcoming season.

- DETROIT LIONS -

Sitting at No.2, Detroit was in a great position entering Thursday. The franchise's draft history might as well be a blooper reel, but the Lions were spared this year. They didn't have to deal with the extreme pressure of taking a franchise quarterback and the choice came down to the two best defensive tackle prospects to come along in five years.

Predictably, Detroit went with the freight train known as Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh. NFC North quarterbacks should be wary because, barring injury, Suh should wreak havoc on offensive game plans for years to come. The Lions have surrendered more than 1,000 points over the last two seasons, when the team stumbled its way to a brutal 2-30. Now that they've added Suh to a defensive line featuring newcomers DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and DT Corey Williams, it appears that Detroit is truly on the upswing for the first time in a while.

The shrewd trade that brought the Lions Cal running back Jahvid Best was impressive. Best is a speedster and once his abilities are combined with the turf of Ford Field there could be fireworks.

- GREEN BAY PACKERS -

The Packers live and die with the draft. Only on rare occasions does Green Bay reach beyond its roster to haul in a big name free agent so it has to make the most out of each pick.

Aaron Rodgers may have been the NFL's best quarterback in '09. However, unlike his elite peers Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, he finds himself on his butt far to often. The Packers looked to put an end to the issue when they selected Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, who should help stabilize Rodgers' passing pocket for years to come.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

No team in the NFL is better equipped for winter football than the Vikings. Though Minnesota plays in a dome, it may face a difficult road playoff game in a brutal environment (like Green Bay, if the Favre vs. Packers postseason dream matchup comes to fruition). Now that Stanford running back Toby Gerhart has joined All-World RB Adrian Peterson in the Vikes' backfield, the offensive game plan can easily adjust from full-throttle to grind-it-out without missing a beat. Gerhart is a punishing runner and a menace for defenses on the goal line. I can't wait for his first collision with Suh. The field might just explode.

NFC SOUTH

- ATLANTA FALCONS -

Atlanta would have likely earned a playoff berth last season if Matt Ryan hadn't missed the majority of the team's final stretch with turf toe. With an efficient offense already in place, the Falcons were able to bolster an average defense. Tackling machine Sean Witherspoon of Missouri will fit in nicely in the Falcon's Tampa-2 scheme at the all-important weakside linebacker position.

- CAROLINA PANTHERS -

As a coach entering the final year of his contract, John Fox made some eyebrow-raising selections over the weekend. It started midway through round two, when the Panthers became the team that finally put an end to Note Dame QB Jimmy Clausen's embarrasing plummet down the draft board. It appeared four-year veteran Matt Moore owned the keys to the starting job, but Clausen will be given a shot to claim the role.

Carolina continues its search to find a No. 2 WR behind Steve Smith, who will soon be on the downside of his career, by nabbing LSU receiver Brandon LaFell in the third round. Appalachian State's Armani Edwards - one of the most productive college quarterbacks in recent history - will also be asked to contribute on offense as a wideout and "Wildcat" option.

- NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -

The reigning champs rounded out the first round with a selection that will help them retool for another playoff run. Athletic Florida State cornerback Patrick Robinson joins '09 first round selection Malcolm Jenkins in the defensive backfield. The addition also gives New Orleans flexibility to move Jenkins to free safety in the event that unsigned vet Darren Sharper heads elsewhere.

- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS -

Besides the Detroit Lions, no franchise needs its '10 draft class to be productive more than the Bucs. Tampa Bay was the NFL's worst team at stopping the run last season - a far cry from its trademark defensive prowess. Raheem Morris looked to remedy the problem by selecting a pair of dominant DTs. Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy may have been the draft's most talented player and he's already receiving tips from Warren Sapp. UCLA's Brian Price will play nose tackle and could join McCoy in forming one of the league's best interior duos.

Tampa Bay was also able to snag two receivers for 2nd year QB Josh Freeman. Illinois' Arrelious Benn (2nd round) and quitter of Syracuse Mike Williams (4th round) will get early playing time as members of a subpar group of pass catchers. Williams may have been the draft's second or third best receiver, but when you bail on your team late in the season - like he did with the Orange last year - it doesn't bode well for your draft stock.

NFC WEST

- ARIZONA CARDINALS -

The Cardinals quietly had a very productive draft. Ken Whisenhunt is in the process of transforming Arizona into a team lead by its defense and running game. First-rounder DT Dan Williams of Tennessee was a steal at No. 26. The explosive 330-pound Williams will be the anchor in the center of the Cards' 3-4 defense. Arizona also added an edge rusher in TCU outside linebacker Daryl Washington.

- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS -

Running back Frank Gore has to be ecstatic about what the 49ers did on draft day. San Fran added two elite offensive lineman in Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis and Idaho guard Mike Iupati. Mike Singletary also brought in USC safety Taylor Mays with his second round pick. Mays is a headhunter who can line up in the box and cover the run. If Alex Smith plays like an average quarterback this season, the Niners will vie for the division title.

- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS -

Pete Carroll went to work on creating the Seahawks in his own image during the draft. In the first round, Seattle netted a replacement for tackle Walter Jones (Oklahoma State's Russell Okung) and picked up versatile defensive back Earl Thomas of Texas. Thomas can play safety or cornerback and adds a new dimension to Seattle's secondary. Carroll brought a new weapon into his offense by selecting Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate in the latter stages of round two. The 'Hawks also shipped a late round pick to the Jets for shifty running back Leon Washington, who is rehabbing his way back from a broken leg.

- ST. LOUIS RAMS -

QB Sam Bradford has a luxury that most rookie quarterbacks would kill for - Steven Jackson. The ultra-talented running back will make life a little easier for Bradford. And so will Indiana offensive tackle Rodger Saffold, who the Rams took at the top of the second round. But this offense is still very shaky and it could be a long first year for Mr. Bradford.

Still out there? Awesome. Follow me to the flip side and let's explore what went down in the AFC...

AFC EAST

- BUFFALO BILLS -

I can understand why the Bills passed on Clausen at No. 9, but there was no reason for the team not to draft the Notre Dame quarterback with its second round pick. Trent Edwards is entering his make-or-break season as a professional quarterback so why not bring in someone to push him or eventually take his job? I love what C.J. Spiller brings to the table. He's an explosive back who can take it the distance at any time, but he seems like a luxury pick for a team with a ton of holes.

- MIAMI DOLPHINS -

Penn State's Jared Odrick is a "Bill Parcells guy" so it wasn't shocking to see Miami take him with its first pick. He's an overachiever who should fit in nicely as a five-technique DT in the Dolphins 3-4 front. He's leaves a lot to be desired as a pass rusher but defends the run very well. Utah OLB Koa Misi - the team's second round choice is relentless at getting into the backfield and disrupting passers. Along with newcomer Karlos Dansby, the two draftees bolster a drastically improved Dolphins' defense.

- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -

The Patriots really need some new blood. Bill Bellicheck's squad is in transition and is beginning to lose its mystique. With four selections in the first two rounds, Bellicheck had the opportunity to restock his aging roster. Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty was a great get in round one and he will likely serve as the team's kick returner. New England may have found two gems in the second round. Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski missed all of '09 with a back injury but he is the real deal and gives Tom Brady a reliable target. Florida's Brandon Spikes lacks elite speed and athleticism at inside linebacker but his instincts are through the roof and he was a tremendous leader for the Gators.

- NEW YORK JETS -

It's no surprise that the NFL's new "it" team made some noise last weekend. They sent guard Alan Faneca and running back Leon Washington packing, while making some fine picks in the draft. Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson is a local New Jersey product who plays with an attitude that certainly fits with the Jets' philosophy. I think Antonio Cromartie will be one-and-done in the Meadowlands and if that's the case then Wilson will easily slide into the starting role opposite the NFL's best cover man - Darrelle Revis.

Fourth-round choice Joe McKnight - a former USC standout - assumes Washington's position and will be counted on to provide a spark off the bench with 5-10 touches per game. I'm not sure whether Sexy Rexy drafted Kentucky fullback John Conner to pave running lanes for LaDainian Tomlinson or to save humanity from a robot holocaust. Either way, it's a quality late-round selection.

AFC NORTH

- BALTIMORE RAVENS -

Baltimore is a team on its way up. The Ravens' offense is the best it has ever been in franchise history and its swarming defense still has swagger. The Ravens first two picks reinforced the fact that Baltimore is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Texas OLB Sergio Kindle has some injury concerns that center around his knee, which is why he fell to the Ravens in round two. But if he can stay on the field, he is a perfect compliment to Terrell Suggs. Baltimore landed 360-pound monster Terrence Cody of Alabama 14 picks later. This means that in goal line situations, the Ravens' defensive line will feature nearly 700 pounds of beef inside between Mount Cody and Haloti Ngata. Yikes.

- CINCINNATI BENGALS -

Outside of Chad Ochocinco and the resurgent Cedric Benson, the Bengals didn't provide QB Carson Palmer with much support on offense last season. Cincy's front office made sure things will be different this fall by acquiring two Big 12 playmakers. Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham isn't much of a blocker but he is a rare threat in the vertical passing game and could become one of the AFC's best tight ends in a few years. Texas receiver Jordan Shipley will develop into a sure-handed slot receiver at the next level. Expect him to to be a big producer on third downs.

Florida DE Carolos Dunlap is loaded with talent but possesses the maturity of a preteen. Thus, he's a perfect fit in the Bengals' locker room.

- CLEVELAND BROWNS -

It's as though fate insisted that Mike Holmgren select Texas QB Colt McCoy. The Browns surprisingly passed on him twice in the second round but when the winningest passer in collegiate history was still around at No. 85, Holmgren couldn't ignore him anymore. McCoy won't sniff the field in '10 but I think he will win more NFL games than Clausen when all is said and done. First round selection Joe Haden of Florida excels at route-recognition and is already the best player in Cleveland's secondary.

- PITTSBURGH STEELERS -

The Steelers passed on Clausen once and McCoy three times. This is an obvious indication that the franchise is committed to troubled QB Ben Roethlisberger. Whenever Big Ben does return to the field he will be taking snaps from a new center. Pittsburgh made Florida's Maurkice Pouncey its first pick and he should be a solid starter for years to come. I am amazed the Steelers didn't use one of their ten draft choices on a passer considering Roethlisberger is one slip-up away from a year-long suspension.

AFC SOUTH

- HOUSTON TEXANS -

For the second year in a row, the Texans appear to be on the verge of their first playoff-caliber season. Houston's draft haul won't blow anyone away but I think there are at least two guys that can help them finally reach the promised land. First-rounder Kareem Jackson of Alabama is a smooth cornerback who I think has the best chance of developing into a perennial Pro Bowler among his CB peers in the draft. Auburn running back Ben Tate may have been a reach in round two, but he can catch the ball out of the backfield and should be good for 10-15 quality carries per contest.

- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS -

Indianapolis is one of the few NFL organizations that always seems to draft smart by putting more emphasis on work ethic than style points. This draft was no different, as the defending AFC champs grabbed defenders with nonstop motors in each of the first two rounds. TCU outside linebacker Jerry Hughes dominated opponents during the Horned Frogs undefeated regular season. He provides terrific blitz potential from the outside. Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer has the draft's best name and is a favorite of mine. His legs never stop churning and he rarely misses a tackle. Both LBs should be three-down players for Indy in the near future.

- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS -

Quick, which TV market delivered the highest ratings during the NFL draft? No, it wasn't New York or Dallas. Jacksonville's fan base was on full-fledged Tebow Watch Thursday night. Imagine their heartbreak when the Jaguars reached for boarder-line first-rounder Tyson Alualu at No. 10. There's a lot to like about the former Cal DT. He's strong and often manhandles blockers, however he isn't the star that Jacksonville desperately needs. You can be sure that if Tebow, Clausen or Bryant turn out to be superstars and Alualu develops into nothing more than a nice role player, the Jaguars awkward fall into obscurity will only grow worse.

- TENNESSEE TITANS -

I really like Tennessee's decision to grab Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan in the first round. He's the most "sure thing" of any defensive end in the draft and, while he doesn't possess elite closing speed, he is a complete player who rushes the passer and covers the run equally well. USC WR Damian Williams has a lot of value as a third-round selection. He's polished, has great hands and reminds me of Ike Hilliard, who had a productive decade in the league as a complementary wideout. Williams is a nice addition to a receiving corp that already features promising youngster Kenny Britt.

AFC WEST

- DENVER BRONCOS -

Call me crazy, but I believe five years from now we will wonder how so many teams let Tim Tebow pass by in the first round. Yes, there are those who say Tebow is a fifth-round talent at best but I'm not buying it. Individual success in the NFL is about sustained commitment to improving, even if you have the talent to coast by. No collegiate player ever appeared to be more driven than Tebow was for four seasons in Gainesville. He's been the "golden boy" since high school and his abilities have never been called into question... until now. All this debate has given Tebow a chip on his shoulder that was never there before. He did everything a football-loving kid could ever hope to accomplish on the field in college, yet now he's taking personal attacks from all sides. Josh McDaniels sees something in Tebow that made him go against common thought and grab the QB in round one.

Tebow is already one of the biggest names in the NFL and will be a superstar of Brett Favre proportions if he excels. My guess is he will be starting and winning games in 2011. Explosive Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas - Denver's other first round selection - should be finding his groove by then.

- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -

Safety Eric Berry is a playmaker who can potentially change the dynamics of a defense. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, because of the position he plays, his addition doesn't necessarily mean the team will improve on last season's win total of four. Kansas City has a lot of money tied up to QB Matt Cassel, but if he continues to get knocked around like he did in '09, he's more likely to end up like David Carr than Tom Brady. The Chiefs would have been better off grabbing an offensive tackle like Russell Okung or Anthony Davis to protect their investment. I do like the Chiefs' selection of Ole Miss playmaker Dexter McCluster near the top of round two. Had the speedy back played for a more successful program with a better supporting cast he may have been a Heisman candidate. McCluster will team up with emerging third-year RB Jamaal Charles and receiver Dwayne Bowe in an offense that could become explosive with good pass protection.

- OAKLAND RAIDERS -

Just three years ago, Oakland owned the top overall pick in the draft. Al Davis used it to bring in heralded LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Davis attempted to make up for that colossal blunder by trading for former Redskins starter and first-round pick Jason Cambell, who is likely to enter training camp as the Raiders' first-team QB. Cambell's track record isn't bad and he's proven himself to be at least an adequate NFL starter while playing with a mediocre offensive unit in D.C. The addition of Campbell, combined with first-round choice Rolando McClain means Oakland could approach the .500 mark for the first time in seven years. McClain - a middle linebacker out of Alabama - could have a similar impact to Patrick Willis' in San Francisco when he was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year

- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS -

When the Chargers jettisoned franchise legend Ladainian Tomlinson, it was obvious they would draft a running back in the early stages of the draft. By trading up for Miami's 12th overall pick, San Diego ensured it would come away with one of the class' best ball carriers. Fresno State's Ryan Mathews is everything that LT wasn't recently for the Bolts. He's a powerful downhill runner who welcomes contact and can finish near the goal line. Mathews is my early pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year, especially after head coach Norv Turner said he expects him to tally approximately 240 carries and 40 receptions as in his first season.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Alrighty then. Now you're all caught up on the new landscape of the NFL and my hands have carpal tunnel syndrome from getting you up to speed. We won't see any of these NFL newbees in action for almost four months. Until then, the only thing we can do is speculate about what they will bring to their new teams. No one knows which late-round pick will make a game-changing play in the Super Bowl years from now or which highly-touted first rounder will be selling home insurance in 2015. That's the beauty of the draft.

A year ago, many "experts" had Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead pegged as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft when looking ahead. Late Saturday night, Snead was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent and he will be in a dogfight to make the team's final roster. If a player's fortunes can change so drastically in one collegiate season, imagine what lies ahead for the NFL's new crop of contributers as they embark on their careers. It sure is one heck of a way to make a living.

What's your take on the 2010 NFL Draft?

Leave a comment below to join the discussion or tell Tyler he's wrong.

Must-See TV: Seahawks, Clausen and Roethlisberger will Steal the Show at NFL Draft

2010-04-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

The 2010 NFL draft will commence this evening at the Radio City Hall New York City. Tonight we may all join the city in its nocturnal ways as the first round of the draft moves to prime time. By the time the NFL's 32 newest players are selected, the event will likely have dragged its viewers into Friday - which is when rounds two and three will take place.

Now I don't know how you feel, but I am definitely digging the NFL draft format changes. Tonight, the first round will instantly become the best thing to happen to Thursday's prime time television since It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia burst on the scene in 2005 (apologies to Tina Fey's 30 Rock). It will be more entertaining than Jerry Jones at dollar beer night. This isn't the NBA Draft, when it seems a pick outside the top 10 is no longer worth holding onto. There's a chance that Major League Baseball general managers might not live long enough to see their prize picks reach the Big Show. Each of the first 100 or so players selected in this weekend's NFL Draft will be expected to make instant contributions - whether its developing into a franchise quarterback, covering an opponent's best receiver or simply clogging up a running lane on special teams.

In an economic environment that doesn't favor rebuilding, NFL franchises are going all-in for the opportunity to win a championship in '10. There may not even be a football season in 2011 (gasp!). This is why teams like the Bears and Redskins aren't blowing things up and starting from scratch. Practically every team is in win-now mode. The Arizona Cardinals nearly won the Super Bowl two years ago, Kurt Warner went from grocer to gridiron great and stud QBs Tee Martin, Giovanni Carmazzi and Spergon Wynn were all selected ahead of Tom Brady in the 2000 draft. Anything can happen in the game of professional football... except the Detroit Lions winning a championship. Some things just aren't meant to be.

Numerous teams will set a course for either future greatness or years of futility this evening. Without further adieu, one semi-educated man's view of the 2010 NFL Draft...

1. ST. LOUIS RAMS:

Sam Bradford - quarterback - Oklahoma

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo must be licking his chops at the prospect of grabbing either of the draft's extremely talented defensive tackles - Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy. However, the Rams' front office can not possibly look at its roster without determining Bradford is the necessary choice. A.J. Feeley is the team's most experienced passer and is barely a No. 2 QB at this point in his career. Over the past two years, St. Louis passed on Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez in the top 10. I can't imagine they'll make the same mistake again.

2. DETROIT LIONS:

Ndamukong Suh - defensive tackle - Nebraska

Detroit may very well end up acquiring Washington's Albert Haynesworth before this pick is made. If that's the case, they go with an offensive tackle. The Lions are in a great position. They will likely select the top defensive player in a draft loaded with talent on that side of the ball. But is that Suh or McCoy? Both have the ability to take over games in the trenches and are widely known to be upstanding franchise-type men, which has become an extremely important factor during Roger Goodell's regime as league commissioner. Detroit elects to snatch Suh off the board because he's one of the most well-known collegiate defensive stars in recent memory and will provided the team's tortured fans with a household name to root for. College superstars always pan out in Detroit - just ask Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Roy Williams or Ernie Simms.

3. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:

Gerald McCoy - defensive tackle - Oklahoma

Big 12 conference athletes continue to dominate the top of draft. If the Rams do indeed take Bradford with the first overall pick, Tampa will be ecstatic to be guaranteed either Suh or McCoy, who will provide the Bucs with their best interior defensive presence sine Warren Sapp anchored the once-dominant Tampa 2. McCoy is the best pure "three-technique" lineman (the position that Sapp revolutionized) to arrive from the college ranks since fellow Sooner Tommie Harris in 2004.

4. WASHINGTON REDSKINS:

Trent Williams - offensive tackle - Oklahoma

The 2009 version of the Oklahoma Sooners - with three players selected in the top four - must be the most talented 8-5 team in college football history. Head coach Mike Shanahan continues to add to his vastly improved offense with the addition of Williams. Most "experts" will have Washington grabbing Oklahoma State (again, Big 12) offensive tackle Russell Okung - who was more dominant in college and has the makings of a prototypical left tackle in the NFL. But Williams' athleticism is off the charts for a 315-pound specimen. His versatility gives him the edge over Okung in Shanahan's trademark zone-blocking scheme - which requires quickness.

5. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:

Russell Okung - offensive tackle - Oklahoma State

Kansas City has fallen off the face of the earth since Dick Vermeil's departure following the 2005 season and has won only 10 games over the past three seasons. The Chiefs made progress by bringing in former New England vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli as president/general manager and former Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley as head coach. This offseason, Pioli brought in his old friend Charlie Weis as the team's new play caller. It's funny to think that if Kansas City hadn't committed tons of money to Matt Cassell, Weis would probably be reuniting with Jimmy Clausen in KC.

6. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:

C.J. Spiller - running back - Clemson

Finally a player who didn't spend his college years in the midwest. The Seahawks' greatest need is at offensive tackle but they also hold the 14th overall pick and can afford to wait for a lineman. Spiller, however, won't be available by the time that selection rolls around. Pete Carroll grabs the fleet-footed Spiller and will use him in Seattle's offense much like he implemented Reggie Bush in Trojans attack at USC.

7. CLEVELAND BROWNS:

Eric Berry - safety - Tennessee

This isn't the year for the Browns to draft yet another first-round quarterback. Mangini is trying to sure up the supporting cast before he finds his franchise QB. Berry provides a physical presence for a Browns defense that lacks bite. Mangenius will take a hard look at linebacker and defensive line as well. There are plenty of holes to fill in Cleveland.

8. OAKLAND RAIDERS:

Bryan Bulaga - offensive tackle - Iowa

Bulaga seems far too safe and solid for Oakland. Common sense says this selection will be used in a trade to acquire Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger or to draft Tim Tebow.

9. BUFFALO BILLS:

Derrick Morgan - defensive end - Georgia Tech

Though Clausen does make some sense for Buffalo, I see new head coach Chan Gailey giving it a shot with Trent Edwards for one season before determining what to do at the quarterback position. Morgan's quickness and length make him an ideal fit in the Bills' new 3-4 defensive scheme.

10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS:

Rolando McClain - inside linebacker - Alabama

McClain was front and center in the Crimson Tide's suffocating championship defense. He should provide coach Jack Del Rio with leadership and attitude at middle linebacker.

11. DENVER BRONCOS:

Earl Thomas - defensive back - Texas

Would Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels dare take Clausen here and throw a wrench in the draft? He's been extremely brash throughout his first year on the job and a training camp battle between Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and Clausen would be great TV. But Denver isn't good enough to make a luxury pick so it selects a playmaker that can line up at safety or cornerback.

12. MIAMI DOLPHINS:

Dan Williams - defensive tackle - Tennesee

The purge on defensive talent continues. Williams is best suited for nose tackle and should take up his share of blockers while freeing up middle linebacker Karlos Dansby - Miami's free agency prize.

13. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS:

Anthony Davis - offensive tackle - Rutgers

Davis - the pride of Piscataway, New Jersey - can dominate when he wants. It's all about work ethic for the big man and who better to get his butt in gear than 49ers coach/boot camp drill sergeant Mike Singletary.

14. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:

Dez Bryant - wide receiver - Oklahoma State

Seattle is desperate for defensive help and Florida cornerback Joe Haden would be a more sensible pick. But Carroll gets greedy and transforms Seattle's identity by pairing Bryant with Spiller in his offense for years to come. The former Stillwater star is the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson.

15. NEW YORK GIANTS:

Mike Iupati - guard - Idaho

This pick doesn't exactly have that Big Apple flash, but Tom Caughlin has never been that kind of coach (ahem, Rex Ryan). Iupati solidifies the Giants' O-line and might jump-start New York's suddenly dormant rushing attack.

16. TENNESSEE TITANS:

Jason Pierre-Paul - defensive end - South Florida

Pierre-Paul started in only seven games as a Bull, but he has the makings of an extremely athletic pass rusher. Though he is raw and could quickly prove to be a bust, he may develop into a defender comparable to former Buccaneer Simeon Rice.

17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS:

Joe Haden - cornerback - Florida

They will be dancing in the streets of San Francisco if the 49ers can come away with both Davis and Haden - a very smooth coverage man - in the first round.

18. PITTSBURGH STEELERS:

Jimmy Clausen - quarterback - Notre Dame

A few days ago I would have laughed at this. Now, there are rampant rumors that Pittsburgh is actively shopping Roethlisberger and talks appear to moving quick. If the Steelers do indeed trade their two-time champion quarterback, Clausen would at least help ease the pain and provide the franchise with a fresh start. Remember, Rothlisberger was drafted by Bill Cowher and there is noticeable friction at times between him and Mike Tomlin. This would be one of the most stunning developments in draft history.

19. ATLANTA FALCONS:

Kyle Wilson - cornerback - Boise State

Wilson - another Piscataway product - is an extremely confident young man and he plays like it. While Haden was surrounded by All-Americans at Florida, Wilson stood out in a predominately no-name Broncos defense. Atlanta will count on him as it looks to catch up with New Orleans' high-flying passing offense.

20. HOUSTON TEXANS:

Ryan Mathews - running back - Fresno State

Houston is still searching for a running game to match its highly efficient air attack. Mathews has great burst despite being the biggest back in the draft. This would relegate speedster Steve Slaton to "change of pace" back duties, which is better suited for his skill set.

21. CINCINNATI BENGALS:

Jermaine Gresham - tight end - Oklahoma

It was obvious by the end of last season the Bengals' offense was missing something. The death of Chris Henry and the swift decline of Laveranues Coles left Carson Palmer searching for weapons. The Bengals have long lacked a premier tight end and Gresham - a dynamic receiver and tenacious blocker - fits the bill.

22. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:

Sergio Kindle - outside linebacker - Texas

The time has come for Bill Belichick to infuse his defense with new blood. Kindle falls under the category of pass-rushing 3-4 linebacker - a role that DeMarcus Ware and James Harrison have flourished in. Kindle would join promising inside linebacker Jerod Mayo as the future of the New England defense.

23. GREEN BAY PACKERS:

Brandon Graham - outside linebacker - Michigan

Much like Kindle, Graham has the ability to get after the quarterback from the linebacker position. The Packers defense would be a whole lot nastier with Graham and Clay Matthews - who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2009 - providing pressure from opposite sides.

24. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES:

Maurkice Pouncey - center - Florida

Philadelphia has very young offensive skill players. Why not keep the youth movement going on the offensive line? Sure, you can argue the Eagles need defensive backfield help with this selection but Philly owns two second round picks and can use them to retool. Andy Reid loves his lineman and Pouncey is a rare interior talent.

25. BALTIMORE RAVENS:

Jared Odrick - defensive end - Penn State

Odrick has ideal size to play end in the Ravens' 3-4 scheme. Odrick will never be a double-digit sack guy but he supports the run admirably and will provide Baltimore's linebackers with room to roam.

26. ARIZONA CARDINALS:

Sean Weatherspoon - outside linebacker - Missouri

Karlos Dansby left the desert for South Beach and a highly productive season from the aging Joey Porter is certainly no sure thing. Weatherspoon has a tireless motor and is arguably the draft's best open field tackler.

27. DALLAS COWBOYS:

Taylor Mays - safety - Southern California

Dallas is desperate for help at offensive tackle, but Mays is simply too talented for Jones to pass on. The former SoCal standout runs like a wide receiver and hits like a middle linebacker. Jones may not be able to resist taking the talent-loaded Mays but he reminds me a lot of former Cowboys safety Roy Williams - who frequently busted open a can of whoop-ass on receivers but was burnt downfield nearly as often.

28. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS:

Brian Price - defensive tackle - UCLA

I've got a gut feeling that Norv Turner may throw us all a curveball and grab running back Toby Gerhart out of Standford, but the Chargers need for an interior defensive lineman is dire (they were mauled in the trenches by the Jets in the playoffs).

29. NEW YORK JETS:

Jerry Hughes - outside linebacker - Texas Christian

Hughes was a production machine at TCU and the lynch pin of the Horned Frogs' outstanding defense. He has the swagger and edge-rushing ability that Sexy Rexy drools over. Hughes could quickly make Jets fans forget about mega-bust Vernon Gholston.

30. MINNESOTA VIKINGS:

Devin McCourty - cornerback - Rutgers

Brad Childress will take a long look at quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow before deciding to address the achilles' heel of his defense - pass protection. McCourty is a hard worker and can contribute instantly at nickle back, while providing the Vikings with another kick return threat.

31. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:

Roger Saffold - offense tackle - Indiana

Peyton Manning is growing into an elder statesman and it can't hurt to invest in the remainder of his career by bolstering the offensive line. Saffold won't dominate a superior defensive end for sixty minutes but he leaves Indiana as a very polished tackle.

32. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:

Tyson Alualu - defensive end - California

The Saints' offense is fine, the defense could use some work. Alualu adds clout to an average defensive line.

CHECK BACK THIS WEEKEND WHEN WE EXAMINE ROUND ONE AFTERMATH AND PREPARE FOR ROUND TWO

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE??

COMMENT BELOW AND JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION...

Donovan Lands in D.C. and Shakes Up the NFC East

2010-04-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

So let me get this straight - Donny Mac is a Redskin, Butler played in the National Championship (and came inches away from winning the thing!), the most dominating pitcher of his era picked up an opening day victory in a Phillies uniform and Tiger Woods actually answered questions he didn't know were coming... What kind of bizzaro sports world have we wandered into?

If you're a sports fan, the past 72 hours have been very kind to you. A dizzying series of events on and off the playing field have shook things up. Golf, basketball (men and women's), baseball and football each took turns playing hot potato with the national spotlight. Even our old friend HGH - the equivalent of "weapons of mass destruction" in the sports realm - made an appearance during Tiger Woods' press conference on Monday.

To make matters better, we are finally beginning to reap the benefits of global warming! (Welcome to New Brunswick: the new Myrtle Beach!). Though there are plenty of tremendous topics to examine from this flurry of happenings, our focus shifts to the exodus of a superstar from the City of Brotherly Love.

Mercifully, the awkward game of "will he stay or will he go?" has come to an end in Philadelphia. The Eagles shocked many by dealing Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins - a hated rival. The franchise's all-time leader in career wins, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns will swap green for burgundy next season and has the opportunity to begin what he calls "a new chapter in the book of Donovan."

Philly receives Washington's second-round pick - 37th overall - in the upcoming NFL Draft, along with a conditional fourth-round selection in 2011. That fourth-round choice can become a third-rounder if one of two conditions are met: 1) McNabb is selected to the Pro Bowl or 2) the Redskins win at least 9 games with McNabb playing at least 70 percent of the snaps.

The price seems fair. Ignoring his injury history, McNabb is easily worth a first-round draft pick. But that baggage is undeniable, and you can't demand full value for a guy with wear and tear. Reports surfaced that Washington initially would have preferred to send $100 million man Albert Haynesworth to the Eagles in return for McNabb. The mammoth defensive tackle is just one season removed from his 2008 MVP-caliber campaign but supposedly there is already a rift between the star and new head coach Mike Shanahan - who is shifting the defense to a 3-4 scheme. The Eagles opted to decline the offer and demanded draft picks instead due to Haynesworth's hefty contract and a commitment by the organization to carry on with its youth movement.

Last week, a very wise man compared the career paths of McNabb and Hall of Fame QB John Elway (see article below). It didn't take long for Shanahan to do the same. During Monday's press conference, the former Broncos head coach recalled his time with Elway and said he saw many parallels in McNabb. Shanahan inherited a 35-year-old Elway upon his arrival in Denver. At that time, many Broncos fans had grown weary of their star quarterback's ability to bring the team so close to greatness only to come up short each time. Four years later, Elway was riding off into the sunset as a Super Bowl MVP and two-time world champion.

The foundation of Shanahan's offensive strategy is an overpowering zone blocking scheme that keeps defenses off balance with misdirection, cutback runs and a mobile quarterback. He provided Elway with his first quality rushing attack in 1995 and the rest is history. This offseason, the Redskins added veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to a backfield that already featured the aged Clinton Portis. The trio would have formed a dream team in 2006. Today, each of the backs are at a career crossroads. But if there's one thing we know about Shanahan, it's that his running backs always produce. His game plan made 1,000 yard backs out of Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Ruben Droughns, Tatum Bell and Portis. You have to imagine at least one of the Redskins' running backs will emerge from the group and have a resurgent year (my money is on LJ).

The Redskins now have a playoff-caliber defense, an above average backfield and a Pro Bowl quarterback under center. However, Washington's offense does have two glaring weaknesses - offensive line and wide receiver. The team's pass protection would be helped tremendously if the 'Skins grab Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung with the fourth overall pick in the draft on April 22. Okung is a prototypical left tackle who could keep the 33-year-old McNabb upright and pain-free. Rumors have Washington toying with the idea of pursuing receiver Brandon Marshall, who Shanahan coached in Denver. Marshall would provide McNabb with his best weapon since Terrell Owens, but the Redskins likely do not have the ammo to pull of yet another bold trade.

A more likely scenario would be for Washington to nab a receiver later in the draft. Sure-handed Texas wideout Jordan Shipley would be a nice addition to a receiving corp that includes veteran Santana Moss and second-year men Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. Remember, the Redskins also have talented tight end Chris Cooley for McNabb to target. McNabb has been successful with far less in years passed and if Shanahan can shore up his offensive line, there's no reason why McNabb shouldn't establish himself as Washington's best QB since Joe Theismann.

From the Eagles' perspective, a fresh start has arrived. Andy Reid's squad now has just three players - safety Quintin Mikell, center Jamaal Jackson and kicker David Akers - remaining from the group that went to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. Back then, the team's core was made up of McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan. Flash forward five years and the starring roles are occupied by DeSean Jackson, Trent Cole, Asante Samuel, Jason Peters and suddenly Kevin Kolb.

Kolb's career trajectory is reminiscent of Houston's Matt Schaub, who played very well in limited duty as Michael Vick's understudy in Atlanta before being shipped to the Texans. Reid is no idiot - though some Philly fans would love to debate the issue. If he has enough faith in Kolb to unload the only franchise quarterback he's ever coached, then you probably should as well. The Eagles' offense will likely remain unchanged with Kolb running the show - which means a whole lot of passing. Expect him to rack up a ton of yards through the air in '10. The important thing is that Kolb protect the football - something his predecessor excelled at for much of his career in Philadelphia.

How is No. 5 feeling in the wake of this stunning blockbuster deal? Well, apparently he's taking it pretty well - and he should be. Of all the teams mentioned in connection with McNabb - Buffalo, Oakland, Seattle, Cleveland - the Redskins are by far the best landing spot. Washington owner Daniel Snyder is known as a player's guy - sometimes to a fault. He treats his stars extremely well and has already begun working with McNabb on a new multiyear extension. Shanahan and his son Kyle, the Redskins' new offensive coordinator who did wonders in Houston, are known for their ability to put quarterbacks in a position to succeed.

Ultimately though, the best feature of playing for Washington from McNabb's standpoint is that he gets to catch up with his old pals twice a year. He says playing against the Eagles will be no different than taking on any other NFL team, but is anyone buying that? This won't be Brett Farve vs. Green Bay, but it's the closest thing we've seen to Farve Mania in recent memory.

Things have become very interesting in the already dramatic NFC East. The Cowboys should improve simply because of continuity - a rarity in Dallas. The Giants will surely be motivated following an embarrassing end to 2009. Washington was a lock to remain in the division cellar until the Easter Day trade. Now it would be a disappointment if the Redskins don't win nine games. And then there's Philadelphia - which ran the roost in the division for the better part of a decade. The Eagles shouldn't fall off much by swapping McNabb for Kolb and are now armed with five draft picks in the first three rounds. Those selections will be used to fill holes at defensive back, linebacker, safety and guard.

The NFC as a whole has quickly become ultra-competitive. Only Detroit, Tampa Bay and St. Louis appear resigned to use 2010 as another step in the rebuilding process. The hunt for the conference's two Wild Card spots should be epic - with McNabb and Reid likely at the forefront once again. I believe two playoff teams will reach the postseason from the NFC East. Dallas appears to be in the driver's seat for now - meaning the Giants, Eagles and Redskins could be left to duke it out for the final playoff spot.

Can't you just picture it now? A bitterly cold Monday night in late-December at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Reid and Kolb scheming on the home sidelines, while Shanahan and McNabb work together across the field. Nearly 70,000 green-clad fans passionately cheering against a man who is arguably the greatest Eagles player of all-time. Sixty minutes of emotional football for a shot to join the Super Bowl chase. Four quarters to determine who got the better of one of the most jaw-dropping trades in league history.

Whatever happens after Sunday's swap between division foes will define the remainder of Reid's tenure in Philly and the beginning of Shanahan's in Washington. Make no mistake - both gambled with a lot on the line.

I have a strong feeling that in three years, one of these highly-respected coach will look like an absolute fool for making this deal. I'm just not sure whether it will be Shanahan or Reid.

McNabb's 14-second scramble vs Cowboys in 2004:

No. 5 to "Fred Ex" on fourth and 26 vs Packers in '04 playoffs:

McNabb's 62-yard go-ahead TD pass to DeSean

Jackson in '09 NFC Championship:

What's your take?

McNabb has Likely Reached Point of No Return in Philly

2010-03-30T09:57:00.001-07:00

Fittingly, it has come to this. Always did seem as though Donovan McNabb was destined to be jettisoned out of Philadelphia under a cloud of controversy - which he had no part in creating.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid announced on Jan. 11, his franchise quarterback would return for a twelfth season in Philly, seemingly squelching speculation about No. 5's future. Ten weeks later, McNabb's status for 2010 and beyond is anything but certain. Tune into ESPN and you won't have to wait long for the latest installment of Where in the World is Donovan Going. Sources throughout the Eagles' front office have consistently confirmed that the team is, in fact, entertaining trade offers for McNabb and seriously considering sending him packing.

Perhaps most telling is that Reid has stayed predominately mum on the escalating issue. Big Red has only gone as far to say that several other NFL organizations have inquired about each of his three passers - McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. Reid also stated that he could see the Eagles bringing back the entire trio for training camp - though that seems far-fetched. All three are entering the final year on their respective contracts but each are currently at very different stages in their professional football careers.

We all know Vick's story. The former Virginia Tech and Atlanta Falcons standout is still on the comeback trail after his kennel crimes and still has the ability to start for a handful of teams in the league. Kolb, who would likely take the reigns at starting QB if McNabb is dealt, is a 25-year-old with two career starts under his belt. When Philadelphia grabbed him at the top of the second round in the 2007 Draft, eyebrows were certainly raised. Despite being limited to ten games in 2006, McNabb compiled a sterling touchdown to interception ratio of 18 to six. However, production likely wasn't the determinant factor when Reid selected the former University of Houston star with the 36th overall pick. McNabb missed a total of 13 games between the 2005 and 2006 seasons and, despite being just 30 years old, there were questions about whether or not he could still make it through the grind of a full NFL season. So the Eagles went with the motto "better to be safe than sorry".

McNabb answered critics by throwing for a total of 64 touchdowns and just 28 interceptions in the three seasons since Kolb was drafted. However, over that span there have been several events that ultimately helped lead to his current state of limbo. There was the 2008 tie with Cincinnati, after which McNabb surprisingly admitted he was not aware that an NFL game could end in a stalemate. The following week at Baltimore - with the Eagles offense sputtering - Reid did the unthinkable. McNabb was told to take a seat for the first time in his career. Kolb was inserted at quarterback for the second half and proceeded to throw a game-deciding interception, which was promptly returned 108 yards by Ed Reed for a Ravens touchdown. The fallout from the McNabb benching shook the football world until Reid announced that he was still going with the veteran as his starter the following week - a nationally televised primetime Thanksgiving game in Philadelphia. McNabb responded by completing 27-of-39 passes for 260 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 48-20 win over the Cardinals.

The Eagles traveled to Glendale, Ariz., to face the Cardinals again two months later - with a Super Bowl berth on the line. McNabb was at his finest leading Philadelphia during a memorable run to end the '08 campaign. Despite his up-and-down season, he helped the Eagles reach the playoffs for the seventh time in his nine seasons as a starter. He also set a career-high with 3,916 yards passing and led the Eagles to a franchise-record 416 points. Philly was considered by many to be the hottest team in the NFL when the playoffs rolled around. They confirmed those sentiments by knocking off both the Minnesota Vikings and the rival New York Giants on the road.

But when McNabb emerged from the tunnel for the second half of the game in Glendale with his team trailing the Cardinals 24-6, it looked as though he would surely pick up the fourth NFC Championship loss of his career. The Eagles had thirty minutes of football left to reverse their fortunes and earn a second Super Bowl appearance in four years. Rumors were swirling that Philadelphia would undergo major changes in the offseason to follow. The futures of fanchise stalwarts John Runyan, Tra Thomas and Brian Dawkins were in doubt - even Reid and McNabb appeared to lack complete job security for the first time.

Carrying the weight of the franchise's past failures on his shoulders, McNabb played arguably his best half of football as a professional quarterback. By the conclusion of the game, he would throw for 375 yards, with all three of his touchdowns coming in the second half. The last score - a 62-yard bomb to rookie DeSean Jackson - put the Eagles in front 25-24 with under eleven minutes remaining in the contest. The play would have become an iconic image of McNabb's greatest playoff moment to date but...

Kurt Warner and the Cardinals' offense answered by putting together a 14-play, 72-yard drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock and resulted in 8 points. Down 32-25, Philadelphia got the ball back with under three minutes to play. The Eagles reached Cardinals' territory but could not find the end zone. Arizona advanced to the Super Bowl, while McNabb and Co. were left on the doorstep for the fourth time in seven years.

The Eagles defense coughed up a back-breaking, game-winning drive to Arizona when it needed a stop the most. Yet, for some reason the game will always be chalked up as yet another big one that McNabb let slip away. The inescapable negative energy surrounding Donovan in Philadelphia has always been present - even during his five pro bowl years. He has secured just about every franchise passing record, been an upstanding citizen off the field and is one of the premier winners of his era. Yet, here is McNabb now - his services being linked to a new team each day. If there's any truth to the possibility of him going to the Oakland Raiders - who are not likely to extend his contract - then it's unfortunate. McNabb deserves better and, if his future is not in Philly, he has earned the right to land with a respectable franchise that does things the right way.

Make no mistake about it - at 33 years old, McNabb is still one of the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks right now. His stats are favorable to those of Hall-of-Famer John Elway when examining the first eleven years of their respective careers:

McNabb: 32,873 yards / 216 touchdowns / 100 interceptions /

8 years with 80+ rating / 4 years with completion percentage over 60% /

6 pro bowls / 3,249 rushing yards

Elway: 34,516 yards / 183 touchdowns / 167 interceptions /

2 years with 80+ rating / 1 year with completion percentage over 60% /

5 pro bowls / 2,435 rushing yards

And Elway didn't own a Super Bowl ring until his 37th birthday.

So now it appears that McNabb will be playing elsewhere in 2010, ending a run with the organization that made him the second overall selection out of Syracuse in the 1999 Draft. He's the only franchise quarterback that Reid has ever had - they both arrived in Philly the same season. I was always under the impression that Reid would be gone first or that he and McNabb would both be shown the door together (this appeared on the horizon prior to the team's brilliant '08 stretch run). But now it looks as though the head coach is ready to say goodbye to his star pupil and begin shaping his next one in Kevin Kolb.

McNabb has always been a polarizing figure. He's been pegged as a terrific company man by some and a lap dog by others. Many love the way he's always smiling on the field - countless others despise it. Members of the media and the team's fan base often tried to pigeonhole him as an eratic-passing scrambler early in his career. That is until he developed into one of the league's best passers without having to leave the pocket - then they screamed he didn't run enough. His weapons have come and gone through the years, varying in their effectiveness. James Thrash was his No. 1 target for three seasons. Reid used his 2001 first-round pick to grab UCLA's Freddie Mitchell because he thought Fred Ex would be the perfect wide receiver for McNabb to grow old with. All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens arrived in Philly with fireworks, before swiftly exiting in the same fashion. Brian Westbrook was a loyal friend for many years, though injuries often limited his abilities. Duce Staley, LJ Smith, Todd Pinkston, Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis all made cameos over the years.

Funny thing is, McNabb has never had the kind of supporting cast that would await him in Philly in 2010. The young trio of DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant lead the deepest receiving corp the Eagles have had since McNabb's arrival. Brent Celek performed like a Pro Bowler last season and is the best tight end to play in Reid's offense. Throw in a three-headed monster in the backfield - featuring LeSean McCoy, Mike Bell and Leonard Weaver - and you've got the makings of an extremely explosive offense.

On one hand, it makes sense for Philly to carry on with the youth movement, hand the keys to Kolb and give him a shot at leading the next generation of Eagles players. But I get the impression that the organization's decision-makers are talking themselves into trading their franchise player for the wrong reasons. Maybe it's an obligation of the front office to "stick to the plan" it established in '07 when the team added Kolb and McNabb's health was suspect. Or perhaps Reid has finally grown weary of answering all the questions about No. 5's future and is ready to move on. Whatever the case is, I have a very hard time convincing myself that the Eagles are better equipped for a run at a championship by dumping McNabb - and that's all that matters. Kolb is a great unknown. McNabb is as close to a sure thing that the NFL offers.

If this is the end of an era in The City of Brotherly Love, I'll look back on McNabb's years in Philly as one of the most successful franchise runs in recent league history. Over the past 20 years, only the Packers, 49ers, Colts and Patriots have enjoyed as consistent a decade as the Eagles. Unfortunately, five NFC Championship games equated to just one Super Bowl appearance - in which the Eagles narrowly lost to one of the NFL's all-time greatest teams.

People from outside Philadelphia have always wondered aloud how a city could at times be so brutal to its greatest sports star. Upon his arrival, McNabb immediately entered a hornet's nest due to Philly's football title drought - the Eagles have not won a championship since 1960. The team's excruciating flirtation with greatness during McNabb's tenure has only made fans more cynical. They've spent so much of the past eleven years expecting the worst that it has often cost them the ability to appreciate McNabb, the second greatest field general to direct the West Coast offense since Joe Montana - behind only Brett Favre and ahead of Steve Young.

Philadelphia still could have a change of heart, decide to reel the QB back in from the trading block and let him return to the only NFL home he's known. At this point though, why would he want to?

Every Super Bowl Ending Begins on Draft Day

2010-03-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. March Madness is in full force, women have resumed wearing skirts and the boys of summer are on the verge of making meaningful swings once more. Yet the National Football League, as usual, manages to grab at least a share of the spotlight.

The NFL draft has become a phenomenon over the years. When it began in 1936, the selection of eligible college football players by professional franchises received limited fanfare. There were no articles written about how many bench presses a prospect could do. There were no egomaniacs, adorned in cheesy suits and overdone hairdos, shouting out reasons why or why not a collegiate quarterback's style of play would translate to the next level. At its origin, the professional football draft got about as much publicity as the WNBA Draft receives today.

Times have changed, my friend. We're now less than a month away from the most anticipated offseason tradition in sports - Ben Roethlisberger's annual late night bar exploits are a close second. But bite your tongue before you call the NFL draft overhyped or overrated. Sure, the pomp and circumstance of the event can be a bit much for even the most zealous fan. But it's undeniable that the most crucial pieces of the championship puzzle are found on draft day.

Take a look at the premier franchises of the past decade - New England, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh - as an example of what efficient and intelligent drafting can do for you. It's made Eagles head coach and roster-builder Andy Reid a ton of money. Big Red has used the annual crop of college talent to consistently replenish his squad since he was hired in 1999. It's the reason his Eagles have avoided the dreaded "rebuilding" phase that has beset so many former perennial playoff teams (San Francisco, Miami, Tampa Bay, Oakland, etc.). Philadelphia added foundation players like Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, Sheldon Brown, Trent Cole and Shawn Andrews - the man formerly known as an All-Pro guard - on draft day. Of the 22 players to suit up for the Colts in the Super Bowl this year, 16 of them were snatched out of college by Indy. Free agency can provide the final missing factors to a championship team, but the draft is where franchise fortunes are founded.

On the flip side, bad drafting can doom a team and its coaching staff. Ill-advised selections can quickly send a team on a downward spiral and ultimately cost an entire front office its jobs. Devastating draft busts are like dark clouds over an organization, and they tend to linger far too long. You don't have to look very far back in the rear-view mirror to be reminded of how horribly wrong things can become when a franchise "savior" fails to deliver.

The Raiders, an organizaton that once glimmered with prestige, have become an annual punch line (no pun intended, coach Tom Cable). Long forgotten are Oakland's glory days, when the team collected three Super Bowl championships between 1977 and 1983. Heck, it's hard to recall the team even being respectable since it's embarrassing 48-21 Super Bowl loss to the Buccaneers in 2003. How have things turned so ugly so fast? Well for starters, the same man who put the roster together in '77 is still at the helm over thirty years later. The legendary Al Davis is one of two NFL owners who ultimately has the final say on draft day - Dallas' Jerry Jones is the other - but this is no longer the sharp-witted mastermind that assembled teams with John Madden during the disco era. His eye for fashion remains the same, but his eye for talent and character has unquestionably eroded.

Here's a quick look at Oakland's recent first round flops:

2009: Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide receiver, Maryland - seventh overall selection

As usual, Davis fell in love with speed (Heyward-Bey ran a 4.3 40) and reached for a guy most teams had dropping out of the top 20 picks. During his rookie campaign, the receiver failed to shed the "questionable hands" tag that scared off many teams leading up to the draft. Heyward-Bey caught just nine passes in 11 games, while getting paid handsomely for it. Davis opted to pass on Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who appeared to have the makings of a star after ending his lengthy holdout in San Francisco.

2008: Darren McFadden, running back, Arkansas - fourth overall selection

While McFadden will be just 23 years old on opening day next season, he hasn't come close to warranting his high selection. Run-DMC was electric in college and was at the forefront of the "Wild Cat" craze, but has tallied just 856 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons as a Raider. Injuries have cost him seven total games thus far and he will have to compete with Michael Bush for Oakland's starting running back gig in training camp. McFadden could still turn out to be a solid investment, but the fact that both Chris Johnson and Ray Rice were taken much later in the '08 draft makes his slow start tough to handle for Raider nation.

2007: JaMarcus Russell, quarterback, Louisiana State - first overall selection

This one is just brutal. In Russell, Davis thought he was getting a big, strong leader with a championship pedigree and football's most powerful throwing arm. Instead, he gave $29 million guaranteed to a Jared Lorenzon wannabe. Russell looks more like a backup offensive tackle than a franchise quarterback these days and when September rolls around he is likely to find himself at No. 2 on the depth chart behind... drum roll please... Bruce Gradkowski. In 31 appearances, the Pillsbury Throwboy has completed just 52 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. When it comes to draft busts, Russell is an all-timer. Players the Raiders could have taken instead of Russell include Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis. Ouch. That is a sweet fur coat though.

2006: Michael Huff, safety, Texas

- seventh overall selection

Does this feel like the movie Groundhog Day or what? Just a cycle of letdowns repeating itself. Much like a Greek tragedy - you know how it ends but you can't turn your eyes away. Huff was primarily a starter during his first two seasons but has since been benched and relegated to rotational duty. Not exactly what you're looking for from a top-10 selection. Oakland nabbed Huff early because they believed he would give the defense a boost as a relentless playmaker. Huff's four career interceptions show otherwise. It's not like Pro-Bowlers Jay Cutler, Haloti Ngata or DeAngelo Williams (all passed over for Huff) could've helped the Raiders win more games or anything.

If the names Napoleon Harris, Tyler Brayton and Derrick Gibson aren't familiar to you, that's because they shouldn't be. They're just a few more of Oakland's first round selections from the past decade that fell by the wayside. There is a reason why teams are consistently awful - poor decisions on draft day. Between 2002 and 2005, the Detroit Lions chose first-rounders Joey Harrington, Charles Rodgers, Mike Williams, Kevin Jones and Roy Williams as the pillars of the franchise. By 2008 the only thing left was rubble and the Lions became the first team in NFL history to finish a season 0-16. Coincidence? Not a chance. Clearly, the NFL draft is a make-or-break event. Grab a quarterback in the top 10 and you could end up with a franchise-changer like Peyton Manning or Troy Aikman. But you always risk stepping on a landmine and taking the next Akili Smith or Ryan Leaf.

As for the upcoming draft, things are beginning to take shape with multiple teams providing a glimpse of their draft plans through moves in free agency. The NFL combine has come and gone - 40 times checked twice for good measure - and prospects will continue to flaunt their stuff at personal workouts as April 22 nears. This isn't baseball, in which even the best draft prospects take years before they contribute in the big leagues. The NFL is a win-now business and every pick carries weight. For a head coach or general manager, it can mean the difference between a multimillion dollar extension and a pink slip. For a franchise, the draft can either help a team turn the corner or make the bottom fall out for years to come.

Still think you have the cojones to be a decision-maker in the National Football League?

STAY TUNED to TD's TAKE FOR THE LATEST NFL DRAFT NEWS...

Da Bears Dominate Headlines with Bold Moves

2010-03-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

Bears head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo are fully aware that their jobs are on the line this year. Prior to last season, Sports Illustrated predicted Chicago would play in the Super Bowl. However, those expectations quickly evaporated into a pipe dream as the team never looked better than average. Quarterback Jay Cutler - the prize of the '08 offseason - led the NFL with 26 interceptions, while throwing the ball to a converted defensive back and a group of inexperienced wide receivers. The Bears finished third in the NFC North with a very disappointing 7-9 record and many questioned whether Smith and Angelo would be handed their walking papers.

Chicago's owners opted to give the duo one last shot at turning the Bears into contenders. They also provided Angelo with a large budget to allow the general manager to pursue immediate impact players. The Bears quickly pounced on Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers on Friday, the first day of free agency. The feared sack artist made Chicago the first visit on his free-agent tour and the Bears gave him 42 million guaranteed reasons to make it his last. Before the ink could dry on Peppers' new six-year/$91.5 million contract, the Bears signed versatile tight end Brandon Manumaleuna and stole veteran running back Chester Taylor from the rival Vikings.

As international spy Austin Powers would say, "Whoopdeedoo. What does it all mean, Basil?" Well for one, it gives the Bears their most formidable pass rusher in recent memory. Peppers has been one of the best at knocking down the quarterback for a decade, but you've got to wonder how many productive years the 30-year-old has left.

I could see this playing out much like Jevon Kearse's tenure in Philadelphia. "The Freak" was 27-years-old when he signed a lucrative contract with the Eagles in 2004 and he didn't disappoint - at first. Kearse totaled 15 sacks during his first two years in Philly - solid, but not great numbers for a guy who averaged close to 10 sacks per season during his five years in Tennessee. Over the span of his final two campaigns with the Eagles - 2006 and 2007 - Kearse picked up just seven QB takedowns and was beset by injuries. The 1999 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year only displayed his potential greatness in flashes during his four-year stay in Philadelphia and was released by the team following the '07 season.

Nothing against Peppers - the man has 25 sacks in the past two years - but defensive ends can lose their edge very quickly. Once a speed rusher gets a step slower, particularly on their initial explosion, offensive tackles can begin to catch up.

The addition of Manumaleuna makes sense because of his ties to new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz. The tight end was a member of the Rams when Martz was guiding the team's offense during the "Greatest Show on Turf" era. Martz's scheme almost exclusively features three receivers and restricts the tight end to pass protection duties on most plays. This sets up an interesting situation with incumbent starting tight end Greg Olsen, who was Chicago's first-round draft choice in 2007 and is coming off the best season of his career. Rumors have circulated that the Bears could be dangling Olsen as trade bait, but it's hard for me to believe Martz isn't clever enough to develop a game plan that incorporates one of the team's top playmakers.

Chicago is banking on Taylor to bolster its backfield and help take some of the load off third-year running back Matt Forte's shoulders. Forte is fresh off a sophomore slump and the Bears are desperate for offensive help, so acquiring the 30-year-old running back is a slick maneuver. He's been a quality No. 2 back for most of his career and should be a solid mentor to Forte. When Taylor left Baltimore to join the Vikings in 2006, he became a featured running back for the first time in his professional career. He was very productive as the go-to guy - rushing for over 1,200 yards, while carrying the ball an average of 20 times per contest in '06.

Just months after his breakout season, the Vikings nabbed Adrian Peterson when he slid to them on draft day. Taylor's starting gig in Minny was quickly yanked away but he adjusted and became a terrific supplemental back to Peterson. Taylor proved to be both an effective blocker and reliable pass catcher - two attributes you look for in a third-down back. I expect he'll assume similar duties in the Windy City, while keeping his eye on the starting job should Forte falter.

The Bears spent over $100 million for their three newest players on the first day of free agency and have officially gone 'all-in'. Unfortunately, Angelo has yet to address the team's two most glaring needs - offensive line and wide receiver. The franchise has invested a lot in Cutler. Now it needs to provide him with the pieces to be successful or he could ultimately join the lineage of failed Bears quarterbacks.

Cutler owns arguably the best throwing arm in football - his decision making may be in question, but his talent never is. Now in Martz's pass-heavy offense, Cutler could develop into one of the game's premier passers with the right weapons. The ridiculously speedy Devin Hester remains a rather raw talent at receiver. Hester was a cornerback and kick kick returner for the Bears until last season, when he had 57 receptions for 757 yards and three touchdowns. Martz believes Hester is best suited to fill the role of slot receiver, where Az-Zahir Hakim flourished as the No. 3 target behind Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce in St. Louis. If Chicago hopes to have a legitimate championship-caliber offense in 2010, the team needs to find at least two receivers that are better than Hester.

The Bears are without a first- or second-round pick in April's draft (casualties of trades for Cutler and the late Gaines Adams) so they'll have to find productive wideouts on the free agent market or hope that someone on the current roster emerges. Devin Aromashodu, a four-year veteran out of Auburn, looked promising toward the end of the 2009 campaign. He developed into one of Cutler's favorite targets, hauling in 22 of his 24 total receptions and scoring all four of his touchdowns after November. Chicago's coaching staff is high on Aromashadu and he will likely enter training camp as a starter.

Left tackle Orlando Pace was just a shell of his former All-Pro self last season and was cut by the Bears this winter. It's imperative that Angelo upgrades the tackle position to keep Cutler's jersey clean and locates a receiver who provides the quarterback with a reliable weapon. Veteran receivers Terrell Owens and Derrick Mason could do the trick, but former Buccaneer Antonio Bryant is a more suitable fit.

Unless Chicago addresses these two pivotal positions, its spending spree will likely be all for naught. The Bears' air attack will remain grounded and the team will stay squarely behind division foes Minnesota and Green Bay. For a franchise that has dominated the headlines early in free agency, there is still much to be done.

Examining the New Era of NFL Roster Building

2010-03-08T21:51:00.000-08:00

Professional football's version of musical chairs is officially under way. NFL free agency began on Friday and also opened the door for the potential of a bevy of trades. Due to the large number of restricted free agents - a result of collective bargaining squabbles between the players union and the league - the offseason environment has never been as conducive for wheeling and dealing as it is right now.

Numerous restricted free agents and their respective teams are in a bit of an awkward situation. Until this year, many of these players anticipated becoming unrestricted free agents - which gives an athlete the ability to sign with any team he'd like without interference from his most current employer. However, with a labor agreement no where in sight, these players' futures are still controlled by their current franchises.

Here's a quick overview of restricted free agency for those who don't delve into the business side of the NFL:

* Until now, a player who had five years of experience under their belt was eligible for unrestricted free agency, but that has now been pushed back to six seasons. Therefore, four-year veterans who were selected by their current team in the 2005 draft - i.e. Shawne Merriman, Braylon Edwars and Cadillac Williams - are still property of that franchise.

* Teams have the option to extend one of four particular one-year tenders to a restricted free agent. The club then has the ability to either block the player from signing elsewhere by matching the offer, trade the player, or work on a long-term contract with the player.

* Depending on the one-year salary offered to a player, there is correlating compensation that the team would receive if its restricted free agent joined another franchise. The scale is broken down like this:

1) Signing a player holding a $2.562 million tender from their current club requires first-and third-round draft pick compensation, which is rewarded to the player's former team.

Example: Dallas wide receiver Miles Austin

2) Signing a player holding a $2.017 million tender requires a first-round pick as compensation.

Example: Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall

3) Signing a player holding a $1.417 million tender requires a second-round pick as compensation.

Example: New York Jets running back Leon Washington

4) Signing a player holding a $927,000 tender requires the player's original draft status. (A former fifth-round pick would cost his team its current fifth-round pick)

Example: Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano, a former second-round choice

Remember, teams can still work out deal and negotiate a player's trade value as they see fit. Expect to see a lot of this in the coming weeks. Not every restricted free agent will be welcomed back to their 2009 team with open arms because they may no longer fit in the long-term plans of their franchise, which may have been counting on them hitting the market after their fifth season.

Okay, enough about the technicalities of free agency - this is more business and math than I'd care to include in a sports column and frankly, it's giving me a headache.

Let's move on to the important stuff and take a look at which players have changed teams so far and how recent roster moves will affect the NFL landscape...

Girls Gone Wild

2010-03-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

First off, sorry if the title is a tad misleading - unfortunately we will not be journeying to Cancun.

Baylor's freshman phenom, Brittney Griner, was apparently having a bad day yesterday. During her team's 69-60 win over Texas Tech, Griner threw a haymaker that would make Hilary Swank proud. She landed a punch to the face of Tech's Jordan Barncastle, breaking her nose and surprising everyone watching.

Griner was immediately ejected and has since been suspended for two games. The penalty seems a bit light to me. A suspension of five games or more would have been more appropriate.

Think back to last football season, when Oregon running back LaGarrette Blount punched an opponent following a loss. Blount was put on trial by fans and media across the country and suspended for the entire season (later reduced). Had Griner received a punishment similar to Blount's, it would have effectively put an end the the star's freshman season and annihilate any national championship ambitions for No. 14 Baylor.

Griner is a 6-feet-8-inch prodigy. She was one of the most heralded recruits ever coming out of high school last year and is averaging 19 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.1 blocks per contest. She already owns the Big 12 single-season blocks record.

Griner was an Internet sensation before she even set foot on Baylor's campus - highlights of her dunking during high school gained publicity. This season, she became just the second woman ever to dunk during a college basketball game (the first was Candace Parker). As long as she stays healthy, Griner should be the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft someday and become one of the legends of women's basketball.

But if Griner aims to become a marketing machine for Nike or Reebok - i.e. Lisa Leslie, Parker- she would be wise to never do anything like this again.