1) Darren McFadden will lead the AFC in rushing.
I saw enough of McFadden to know that he’s something special. The Raiders are going to get a good offensive head coach, whomever he is.
Al Davis loves good offensive coaches. That coach is going to arrive in Oakland to find the new best running back in the AFC.
2) Tom Brady will not be ready to start the season.
There have been rumors swirling about Tom Brady and his knee since he went under the knife. Most of those rumors center around that theory that his recovery is going slower than expected.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Tom Brady will return in 2009, but it will be closer to week 6 than week 1.
Speaking of Patriots’ quarterbacks…
3) The Patriots will franchise Matt Cassel, then trade him to the Vikings.
The Patriots aren’t going to let Matt Cassel go for nothing. But they’re also not going to carry $25 million worth of quarterbacks next season.
Regardless of Brady’s health, unless we’re talking career threatening, Matt Cassel will be traded by the New England Patriots.
Many teams will be interested, but the Vikings are desperate. The Patriots won’t get two first round picks for their franchise player, but they might get one.
4) Ed Reed will once again be the best defensive player in the NFL.
I don’t care who wins the awards. I don’t care what anyone says. Don’t talk to me about Bob Sanders or anyone else. I’m not listening.
Ed Reed is the best defensive player in the NFL. He might be the best all around player in the NFL. His not winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is a travesty.
He’ll take it out on the rest of the NFL next season.
5) Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid will both be back with the Eagles.
There’s nothing like winning to fix what ails you. If you had asked me a month ago, I would have told you that both McNabb and Reid were likely gone.
A great December and a playoff win later, and I’m 100% sure that both will be back. Reid gets a lot of credit for benching McNabb earlier in the season.
I’m not sure that’s what did it, but something woke McNabb up. He’s been tremendous.
I still don’t trust him in a close playoff game, but it’s not like the NFL is drowning in great quarterbacks.
6) The Detroit Lions will win a game!
It’ll be bad. It’ll be really bad. But it won’t be as bad as it was this season.
They may make it to week 8. Maybe even week 12. But at some point next season, the Detroit Lions will win a game.
Of course, the over-under on total wins is 2…
7) Brett Favre will retire…for good. Seriously.
It got so bad in New York this season that even Favre started to realize that his act was getting tired. Almost as tired as his arm.
46 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Bryn Swartz 6 months ago
Wow I really like this! POTD.
I like the whole Ed Reed is the best player in the NFL thing. I'm going to pretend you got that from my article yesterday.
McNabb and Reid back--100%.
Yesterday, I made my Super Bowl prediction: Eagles vs Ravens. I refuse to tell you who will win, but I think that you will go into next season with that prophecy one Super Bowl win away from being fulfilled.
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Patrick Snow 6 months ago
The Eagles stand no chance of getting to the Super Bowl. Their offense barely mustered 16 points on the Vikings.
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Bob Cunningham 6 months ago
On the Vikings... one of the top defenses in the league...
hmmm.
and 16 points is plenty considering we held them to 14.
right?
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Jarrod Seybolt 6 months ago
I agree with everything but number 1 Sean. Bush > McFadden
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Ed Lee 6 months ago
i dun know jarrod. im a chargers fan, and id be quite scared if mcfadden started for the raiders.
i saw plenty of him when he was in college, and he tore defenses apart. he's a total monster.
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West Coast Bias 6 months ago
Some of these are a little obvious, but some are interesting.
How about this- the Pats trade Cassell to the Ny Jets after Favre retires, and then Brady and Cassell square off twice a year. Won't happen, but I don't see Cassell going to the Vikings.
And as talented as McFadden is, it's hard to lead the league in rushing when your team is always playing from behind.
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Ian Harrison 6 months ago
Nice pick on the Cassel/franchise/trade
However, I have to say, even if the Ravens win one superbowl, that there is less than one percent that they repeat.
They're no dynasty.
Flacco is over rated btw.
Superbowl pick: CHARGERS
The real shocker next year is that L.T. is going to get traded.
[I'm a steelers fan]
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Ed Lee 6 months ago
thnx on that chargers being sb champs :]
but LT traded is honestly stupid. it's never going to happen. he's gonna retire a charger
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Ian Harrison 6 months ago
Wait and see.
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Sean Wilson 6 months ago
That's two subs in a row that show their stuff in LT's sted...is LT just a product of good solid offense around him? I dunno...I think Ian might be right. I'm not sure it'll be next year. But does anyone remember Drew Brees?
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MonteKiffin 6 months ago
Woah.....Sean, interesting points.
1) McFading won't be rushing king. He needs at least a very good O-line, since he's no Barry Sanders. And that O-line isn't in Oakland.
2) Tom Brady....won't be back. OK. and 3) the PAts will tag Cassell
4) YES. Ed Reed is a monster. the best defensive players I've ever seen in the last 5 years. Even more impressive than Strahan. Don't tell me that Lewis is the king in Baltimore. The man that truly scares anyone is Reed. He disappears.
5) McNabb and Reid together? If they lose against Carolina (supposing they'll advance to the championship round), and McNabb throws 2 or 3 picks, McNabb is DONE in Philly. they're treating him like Plummer in Denver. "The guy is good, but I expect him to throw some picks sooner or later".
Reid will stay. McNabb? I don't know.
6) Detroit Lions will win a game.......too easy to predict.
7) Favre.......also too easy. As you said: "by choice or by force".
8) Cowboys......too easy.
9) Adrian Peterson MVP? Maybe. It very well could be. Surely it won't happen again to Manning.
10) the Ravens will win the SB? Sean....seriously? IT WON't HAPPEN this year. NO WAY. They didn't impress me against Miami. Other than Ed Reed, they were vulnerable against west-coast. With the no-huddle, Pennington almost got in the end-zone. Sure, he was picked. But it looks as they're no as effective against the run. Plus, their offense is average at best. Slightly below average. If Pennington wou've thrown a pick less, there would've been a game untill the end.
Next year? Maybe. Without injuries, of course.
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Joe Willett 6 months ago
If the Dolphins almost making it to the end zone is your argument against the Ravens winning the Super Bowl, I like their chances.
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Jason Henry 6 months ago
Cassel is going to be a bust. He's not as good as people think and he won't fit well with the system in Minn. Give my boy T-Jack a chance!!!
-JH
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Kyle Babcock 6 months ago
AMEN BRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cassel has the world to throw tooo!!!! If he goes to minn he will SUCK!! trust my words!!
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Sayre Bedinger 6 months ago
"T-Jack" has had three years brosef, time to go back to holding clipboards and ruining other teams' chances. He is a bust. The Vikings need a real quarterback if they want to be successful.
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TAB BAMFORD 6 months ago
Jackson looked lost and wounded in the Philly game. That defense, and AP, are all too good for them to need to win to get into the playoffs in Week 17. They should have buried the division, and will once they get a real QB.
That said, I'm not sold on Cassell either. Maybe a Jeff Garcia sighting in Minneapolis? Kurt Warner?
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Kent Nguyen 6 months ago
Playing in Minnesota will almost be as easy as playing in NE for Cassell i rkn.
He'll be seeing 8 man fronts all day. Sure, theres no Wes Welker or Randy Moss to throw to, but Berrian and the other receivers are serviceable.
I'm not sure anyone will bite and trade for Cassell though. Theres too much perception that its the Patriots system and not Cassell.
DMC for the AFC rushing title. Raiders for the AFC West with 9-7 record.
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St. John 6 months ago
This is a garbage article. Take a look at Ed Reed's season Sean. He didn't start making plays until week 12! James Harrison was consistent and dominant all year long, not just the final 5 weeks. Don't get me wrong, Ed Reed is a beast and a ridiculous football player, but saying it was a "travesty" he didn't win DPOY is ludacris and a slap in the face of a guy like Harrison who had a remarkable year. Apparently you are all aboard the Ravens bandwagon but you'll be getting off soon enough when they bow out of the playoffs.
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Bob Cunningham 6 months ago
how's it goin up there is Steeler-nation?
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Kyle Babcock 6 months ago
Hey I love the Steelers just like you!!! NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!! Shup, you great Steelers fan!!! I stomp upon your terrible towels like Lendale White DID!!!!
SKOL VIKINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Buzz G 6 months ago
Man I would love to see the Ravens win back to back SB's. But now that people are jumping on the Ravens bandwagon, I'm worried. They play better when they are the underdog and feel disrespected.
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Kyle Babcock 6 months ago
Great article POTD !!! Go Vikings!! And they wont get Cassel, what they really need is to fire Brad Childress and Darrel Bevel, and to get a good fullback. They never should have realeased Tony Richardson!!! Do you agree?
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Jim Selbo 6 months ago
Lorenzo Neal is going to be a free agent next year, he is a little old but check his stats. AP would run AD behind him. He's pretty good at buying the quarterback time in the pocket also. SKOL
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John Parker 6 months ago
ravens win next year when Joe Flacco isn't a rookie
this year i don't know who will win but i have a good feeling about the Cats(Panthers)
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Aces Casino 6 months ago
I generally love your articles, my friend, but Darren McFadden has about as much of a chance of leading the NFL in rushing in 2009 as I do of growing a full head of hair, shedding 40 pounds, and winning the 2009 'American Idol' competition. Good thing the 'Duhs like offensive coaches, because that team's been 'offensive' for over five years, now. Kwame? Gallery? THAT OL? OMG, that's just got no chance of happening. The Chargers have a better shot at getting a new stadium, than for a punchless RaiDUH offense to suddenly come to life. Keep up 80% of the good work, I agree with the rest of the top five (except the Vikes' getting Cassel. They WISH.)
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Will Rosselle 6 months ago
Thats funny I recall Jake Grove bringing it to Jamal Williams in the first game of the year, no doubt we should have won that game. I agree that Harris and Green were terrible and won't even make most teams in the NFL however even with them and DMac being hurt most of the year we still were the 10th ranked team in the NFL in rushing yards. You can count on us grabbing one of the top four LT's in the draft with our 1st pick and Mario Henderson was huge part of us winning our last two games of the year. THis Oline is way better then you think and Dmac and Bush have just begun to scratch the surface of what they're capable of. The same can be said for #1 pick JaMarcus Russell. Here's a prediction for you "The Greatness of the Raiders is in it's future."
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Ed Lee 6 months ago
Lol. Greatness of raiders in the future? good luck with that.
as long as al davis, and his big fat ego stays in oakland, they arent going anywhere.
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Luis 6 months ago
Aces,
I think that Darren McFadden will have a chance of being the leader in rushing for the AFC if our full back Oneal can stay healthy. The O line did improve and in 2009 the O line will look much better. So, I say you get some Rogaine, The Lap Band, and some singing lessons then we can make a bet. The only thing offensive was that it took the Chargless Bolts 12 weeks to finaly realize that they were making themselves look like complete fools and then finaly decided to play some football. The only credit I give the Chargless Bolts is knocking the Bronc-hoes out of any playoff hopes. It looks like the Raiders offense will be coming to life sooner than you think since no surrounding city wants to provide funding or support for a new stadium. Chula Vista or Oceanside do not want anything to do with the Chargless Bolts. Besides, the Chargless owner owes way to much money to San Diego for that shit hole you call a stadium. Maybe if the owner can ask the city of Tijuana for a chance of building a stadium, thats a neighboring city right. LMFAO. Seems like its LIGHTS OUT for the Chargless Bolts. Even I know that Kwame sucks, DUH!
Oh, let me guess, LT will lead the AFC in rushing right. I said it once and I will say it again. No Lorenzo Neal, no LT. Simple as that. How long did it take LT to even make an impact after he was drafted in 2000? Once again, the light in fading oh so fast for the Chargless Bolts and their Super Bowl.
You know, I hope they do win the Super Bowl so all you Chargless Bolts fans can finaly shut up after 40+ years of being nothing.
Ed.
The only thing left in the Raiders future is greatness. Al has lead this team to greatness in the past and he will do it again. Al has done more for this sport then any other owner ever has and you have to have a big ego in order to run a franchise like the Raiders.
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Leo Hayes 6 months ago
Again I can understand the claim that Reed should have won DPOTY, however calling it a travesty is a bit far. Do you think that Harrison was totally undeserving and that he is not in the same category as Reed. If so, then I suppose nothing I say will matter anyway, right.
However if you do think that both are very good defensive players and both are in the top tier of defensive players then it should make sense to you that either could have won the award. Any of the top three candidates deserved the award, they were all instrumental to their defenses (Reed and Harrison probably more deserving than Ware as their teams made it into the playoffs).
So you cannot call it a travesty, you can say that Reed may have deserved it more, which then we could have an actual discussion about, but as you state it it seems as though you are personally offended by the fact that Reed didn't win, and that discourages conversation on the topic.
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Spencer Taylor 6 months ago
Great article!
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Paul Kotch 6 months ago
Bush is a better back than McFadden.
Reid and McNabb back in Philly is a given.
The Lions could not possibly be as bad - let alone worse - than they were in 08.
Favre may be done ( I hope so ), but the guy can still make all of the throws necessary. People love to rip the guy after having built him up for so many years. He's like Britney Spears for crying out loud.
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Mike Meadows 6 months ago
Farve cannot make all the throws he is garbage what happened the last 5 games on pass att of over 20 yds was he like 3 for 50 with like 0 tds and 8 ints (cause he under throws them all) He has a DEAD ARM he shoulda just quit like 5 years ago and been remebered as the greatest instead of hurting his rep now hes just in the top 10 of all time. Plus im tierd of hearing about Favre on the sports stations on TV. HE SUCKS
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TJ Jenkins 6 months ago
Even as a Steelers fan, I'll agree that Reed deserved the DPOTY award. He's a complete and utter ballhawk. And he scores more than their offense (ok, well not really, but you get the point.)
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Nick Stanojevic 6 months ago
Sean, two concerns here:
1) Matt Cassel although he would have a good O-line in Minny, will lack Randy Moss and Welker. He will have to play under a new system, and I don't believe in him without all those things.
2) The Ravens regardless of what happens against the Titans HAVE to re-sign Ray Lewis. There are talks that he will not come back, and will go to the free agent market. They need his leadership. With him..... that team will be beyond scary next year.
Interesting predictions here Sean.
P.S. Would Harbaugh be the first rookie coach to win a superbowl? I don't know that one off the top of my head.
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Mike Meadows 6 months ago
Scary for next year wasnt it 2 years ago when the ravens won 13 games and got a bye then what happened like 13 losses the next year with practically the same team. You got a better shot of that happening than them being "beyond scary next year"
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Cody Swartz 6 months ago
George Seifert won the Super Bowl following the 1989 season, which was his rookie season of coaching (although to be fair, it was pretty much Bill Walsh's team, since they had won it all the year before). If Harbaugh wins it all, that would be a lot more impressive than Seifert. It would be a rookie QB AND a rookie coach.
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Dan Parzych 6 months ago
Great job here Sean
5 stars and POTD for sure.
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Tanner Bowman 6 months ago
adrian peterson will lead rushing.
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Chris Radez 6 months ago
Sean said McFadden would lead the AFC... not the NFC
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Tanner Bowman 5 months ago
Sorry Sean and Chris, I didn't read the article that thouroughly. Ardian Peterson will lead the NFC... But I believe that LT will lead the AFC.
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realRaidersteve Doyle 6 months ago
Not quite yet Sean. Darren McFadden may lead the AFC West in Rushing perhaps. Not the AFC as a whole. I project McFadden's numbers to look like 800-900 Yards rushing 6 TD's & 400 Receiving for 3TD's. He's not the starting HB. Michael Bush will be the starter in '09. With McFadden batting cleanup.
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Mackenzie Kraemer 6 months ago
I was going to say absolutely not, but then I looked at the AFC runningbacks. He has a chance, but that's only because the AFC is so muddled in terms of who is going to start for who next year.
I still don't think McFadden will do it though. That team is a mess, and he still has Fargas and Bush there. Besides, while I liked McFadden coming out of college, he still runs too upright, and his rookie season definitely didn't quell any doubts.
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John McClory 6 months ago
I don't know about the other nine, but #2 is dead-on. Anyone who thinks or reports that Brady will be back to start the season, or assumes that his rehab is right on schedule, is out of their damn minds. Even minor injuries often endure a longer recovery time than expected. If it's reported that player X will require a month of recovery time it's safe to add a week or two to that deadline, no matter the sport. Granted, it's not an identical situation, but this all seems like Carson Palmer part II.
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matthew offermann 6 months ago
*cough* BULLSHIT MCFADDEN BLOWS *cough*
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Paul Kotch 6 months ago
McFadden will not last if he is asked to carry the ball 20-25 times a game. Either they will have to split time between him and Bush ( the better fit for the Raiders ), or they will feed him the ball too many times and he will be dinged up by Week Four.
And for the Favre-bashers who love to jump on the lastest bandwagon, while he certainly faded down the stretch..... tell me..... what game-breaking receiver does Favre have that will change a game? What Jets' receiver will turn a quick slant into a big play, Coles?
Some people are parrots... they simply repeat what they hear "analysts" on ESPN say, and repeat it, as they feel it makes them sound intelligent - sad
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realRaidersteve Doyle 5 months ago
If Michael Bush is the starter... He will have a 1000 yard 8 TD season in '09. Michael Bush is Oakland's best RB. McFadden is just a special weapon. He's not a traditional RB.
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