NFL Offseason: Big Money, Big Draft, & Big Ben Follies

[Beefcake]

Heck yeh, just a few more weeks until football, American Style!

Oddsmakers are breathlessly heralding Tommy Boy's return and calling this season New England's to lose. But we'll see. Yes Brady's back, but the team's defense is going to give up lots of points. Boy will need to put up numbers similar to the '07/'08 season. No matter, if he stays healthy the Pats will easily win that division ... the other teams' shiny seasons from last year were fortified by lucky powder puff schedules.

Steelers, Chargers, and Colts - in that order - are the teams seen as giving the Pats a run. Steelers have Big Ben's rape story worries, along with their usual post-Super Bowl win season history. Chargers? Curious, I'm not sure why they're so highly regarded. Their punter's astoundingly good day vs. the Colts is all that kept them from losing in last year's divisional playoff ... and finishing with a losing record.

Colts. Many changes for the team, including the loss of coach Dungy and Marvin Harrison. But their schedule is markedly easier than last season. Flip side: Their division should be ultra tough this year, with Houston and Tennessee both with strong playoff possibilities. They'll beat each other up, and the division winner may end up with a so-so record.

NFC. As usual, I don't have as much to say about the sissier division. Four tough teams in the NFC East - Eagles (the #2 Super Bowl champ pick), Giants and Cowboys all could have huge seasons, and the Redskins have the goods to bust out. I'm eager to see the Bears' new look with big-throwing Crybaby Cutler in their line-up.

Blend of expert opinions:

A. Favorites to win the AFC:
1. New England (by a lot)
2. Pittsburgh
3. San Diego
4. Indianapolis
-------------
5. Tennessee
6. Houston
7. Baltimore
8. Buffalo

B. Favorites to win the NFC:
1. Philadelphia
2. New York Giants
3. Dallas
4. Minnesota
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5. Arizona
6. Atlanta
7. Carolina
8. Washington
9. Chicago

C. Favorites to win the Super Bowl:
1. New England
2. Philadelphia
3. Pittsburgh
4. San Diego
5. New York Giants
6. Indianapolis
7. Dallas

[jeffisjeff]

Eli's $97 million deal is leaving me .

[FSfan107]

I'm ready for some football! My two teams are the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. I hope this is finally the year for the Eagles. Last season was the biggest heartbreak yet losing to the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game, and the year before I had to deal with Green Bay's heartbreaking loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship game. Green Bay could surprise this year too. I think they are better than both Chicago and Minnesota. They have made much needed changes to their defense. As for Eli's new deal, some were expecting a higher number. Rivers, Peyton, Cutler, etc, will get more than Eli when they renew or rework their contracts.

[NinjaTurtles]

I'm a big time Dallas fan and can't wait for the season to begin. The NFC East is a powerhouse division and should bring some awesome rivalry games.

[myhoneyhoney]

Heck yeah I'm ready for football.... Now if only they'll show more of David Carr, that man is H.O.T.!! I know I know, he's not much of a quarterback but dang it... HE'S HOT!!!

[FSfan107]

myhoneyhoney, what about Eli? I think he's a cutie.

[Beefcake]

For real. Eli is one of those guys whose gottn hotter by the year. Dorky cute before ... but now downright hot.

(Don't worry, Peyton, I still love ya most ... but, uh, rather for your QBing, affability, and general awesomeness.)

[HeatherC]

The Bengals are the featured team on the HBO series "Hard Knocks" this year which IIRC, starts airing tonight. I honestly have no idea if this is a good or bad thing for my guys, LOL

[reckless]

The Bengals are the featured team on the HBO series "Hard Knocks" this year which IIRC, starts airing tonight. I honestly have no idea if this is a good or bad thing for my guys, LOL

It's not a very good thing. While the players come off okay, the organization looks pathetic, especially compared with the Cowboys and Chiefs from years past. Two things from last night's first episode made the organization look bush league:

First, Players staying in college dorm rooms have to pay to have a TV. Since players cannot leave the campus for several weeks, most organizations would just provide a TV. That came across as very cheap.

That, however, pales in comparison with the second bush-league move. The staff member responsible for telling players they are cut went to the room of fullback JD Runnels at 5:30 am. He woke Runnels to tell him he was being cut. The kid was half-asleep and, only after being told he was being cut on camera, realized what was going on. Not only that, but the axe man told Runnels he had to pack, return his playbooks, and be on a bus at 7:00 am to take him from Georgetown, Kentucky to the Cincinnati airport. That gave the kid approximately one hour to pack and leave. Oh, and the explanation Runnels got was: "It's a numbers game and we have to go by ability." By comparison, some of the other teams will only cut a guy after sitting him down with several coaches to discuss why he was being cut and what he could have done better.

I also thought there was a very negative tone to a lot of the camp. Marv Lewis and Mike Brown kept talking about the disappointing season last year and were trying to use it to motivate players. But I'm not sure players excel when they are reminded of past failure. I'm not suggesting the players forget about a bad year, but good players use it as internal motivation. They don't discuss it constantly.

I do look forward to next week, since it looks like it will focus on two of my favorite former USC players -- Carson Palmer and Rey Maualuga.

[Lacey]

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4397938

[myhoneyhoney]

myhoneyhoney, what about Eli? I think he's a cutie.

I have not taken a good look of Eli, my eyes are constantly scanning for David Carr!

And since this is about football, hubby's fave team is the Chiefs and he's so depressed that they let go of Gonzales. The Chiefs are probably gonna SUCK this year. I say, "As long as they're record is better than the Raiders...."

[DFJ]

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4397938

Lovely...

[Veronika]

I'm just glad that Vick didn't go to the Packers. We had enough drama last year with the Favre crap.

[my little pony]

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4397938

I will be more than happy to see them come in last.

[Theatregirl1122]

It was so nice to start preseason last night! Go Pats!

[myhoneyhoney]

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick.

I'm surprised he didn't go to the Raiders. I thought all "bad boys" go to the Radiers!

[lerei]

I'm surprised he didn't go to the Raiders. I thought all "bad boys" go to the Radiers!

He probably didn't want to have to dodge head coach Tom Cable's left hook.

I was actually getting excited about this season for the Raiders with Josh McDaniels' craziness in Denver. But they're pretty much screwed now if the staff member presses charges (which is absolutely what he should do).

[numbers123]

I wish that Brett would have stayed retired. Packers are my fav team in professional football.

Brett is an awesome player, but time comes when....

Go Packers!

[Rob]

Stood in the rain and watched the Redskins 3rd and 4th string beat the Steelers 3rd and 4th string. It rocked!

[deltask8er]

I heard about the arrest of Shawn Merriman on ESPN. E! is now reporting the woman is reality TV star Tila Tequila.

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b142...following.html

(not enjoying the 'blame the victim' comments at the bottom of the page )