Man, this will be a fun division to watch. I mean, there's a slight possibility that all four finish above .500, and no reason that at least three shouldn't. They have the odds-on favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, a team that went to four straight NFC Championship Games quite recently, a playoff team that has improved this offseason, and, oh yeah, THE DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS. Amazing.
Let's start with the Super Bowl XLII Champs. As is the custom for Super Bowl winners lately, a few key players have left the team. Michael Strahan retired, Kawika Mitchell is gone to Buffalo, Gibril Wilson is off to Oakland, and most recently Jeremy Shockey is living large in The Big Easy. Doesn't matter. This team was overloaded at DE with Strahan, as good as he was, and now Justin Tuck will play full-time alongside Osi Umenyiora and wreak havoc upon opposing QB's. Sammy Knight has been brought in to replace Wilson and Gerris Wilkinson will take Mitchell's spot. The main thing to consider is what the team brings back.
Eli Manning seemed to take a quantum leap forward in the playoffs last year, making Brett Favre expendable in Green Bay among other things like leading his team past the juggernaut that was the New England Patriots. He has become a new man, as he got married over the summer, with Justin Timberlake famously saying at the ESPY's, "he finally saw a girl naked". All kidding aside, it looks like Eli has finally become the leader the Giants have been waiting for.
Brandon Jacobs is an absolute load at RB, and if Ahmad Bradshaw can't get out of his own shadow, Derrick Ward is more than capable of spelling Jacobs. The line is strong with guard Chris Snee and tackles David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie. Plaxico Burress is coming of his best season arguably as a pro and veteran Amani Toomer solidifies the number two spot. Kevin Boss is a capable replacement for Shockey, as he showed at the end of last season. This team has an outside chance to repeat, though I wouldn't bet on it.
How about those Eagles? They might have the scariest cornerback trio in recent memory with Asante Samuel joining Lito Sheppard and Shelton Brown. They just better hope there's enough picks to go around. Trent Cole had a breakout year at DE while Brian Dawkins continues to be great at safety.
Offensively, Brian Westbrook has a pretty new contract to supplement his magnificent production over the last few years. If Donovan McNabb can stay healthy for this team, the sky's the limit.
The Redskins could improve the most of any East team, and they went to the playoffs last year. Jason Taylor is a more than capable replacement for the injured Philip Daniels and new coach Jim Zorn quarterback knowledge seems to be working great for Jason Campbell so far. Clinton Portis should be strong once again at running back and the receiving core should be better with Moss, Randle El, and new additions Devin Thomas and strong receiving tight ends Chris Cooley and Fred Davis.
4 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Pretty good job on the breakdown. And I largely agree with your assessment. This division is SOOOOOOOO tight it's kinda scary, any one of them could make a run. It will be fun to watch for sure.
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Corey McSweeney 10 months ago
Yeah it's sick how deep it is, they need to figure out a way to realign the divisions so it all makes more sense. I mean, Dallas can be less east.
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Oh man! But that wouldn't be as much fun, these teams are gonna be dukin' it out all year.
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Fox sports seems to think that Redskins aren't even even worthy of a top 10 list on the NFL's "NFL's best fan bases".
I just voted for "other", everyone go do the same for the insult.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8450106/VOTE-NOW:-Which-team-has-the-NFL%27s-best-fan-base?
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