Bleacher Report - Articles by JW Nix

The Almost All-Time Seattle Seahawks Offense

JW Nix — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:54:31 -0500

When the Seattle Seahawks were born into the NFL in 1976, they won just two games and their first draft pick ever was out of the league in a few years. But what they did do was get lucky on a few free agents, most notably Hall Of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent and quarterback Jim Zorn. Seattle was finishing seasons with a winning record by their third year, and have stayed consistently competitive throughout most of their history. The pinnacle for the franchise, so far, was appearing in Super Bowl XL, and their fans want more. It is easy to see why, as the franchise heads towards the 15th losing season in their 34th year of existence. Here is a list of some of the greats to don the teams jersey. REMEMBER : This is a continuing series paying tribute to NFL legends who are not, and perhaps never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Begin Slideshow

This NFL Week Separates the Contenders from the Pretenders

JW Nix — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:20:28 -0500

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

The Bucs are an ugly football team right now, and are led by a coach who appears clueless and out of his league. Atlanta is desperately trying to get into the playoffs since their division appears to have been won by New Orleans. The return of star running back Michael Turner for Atlanta gives the team the balance it seeks on the offensive attack.

Falcons 31 Buccaneers 17

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets

Both teams have just four wins and are seemingly finishing this season for pride and job security right now. Neither team has played as well as they had hoped, so it will be interesting to see if they have given up hope or are angry.

Panthers 27 Jets 24

Seattle Seahawks @ Saint Louis Rams

These are two teams that should play their youngsters and see what positions need help for 2010, because this season is over as far as playoff hopes are concerned. If you watch this game, you may be watching a few players finishing up their careers for the next six weeks. Some of them will be watching with you, because they are on injured reserve.

Seahawks 24 Rams 10

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

The Dolphins are clinging to their slight playoff hopes right now, and will be facing a Bills team that is hurting all over. Buffalo will possibly be missing a starters on defense, and appear to not like any of the quarterbacks on their roster to lead the offense. Expect Miami to try to grind them into submission.

Dolphins 26 Bills 16

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles

The Redskins wish their season was over about a month ago. The team has been victimized by bad coaching, a bad front office, and a plethora of injuries. The ones that are healthy enough to suit up are playing for their careers now.

Philadelphia has been immensely inconsistent all season, and have also been hit hard by the injury bug. Still, the Eagles are very much in the playoff hunt and really need this win a lot more than Washington does.

Eagles 23 Redskins 17

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

Fans of the Browns got very excited last week to see their team score one point less in one game than they had in seven other games total this year. There are three reality checks to damper that happiness.

One is that the Browns lost the game anyways. Another is that they won the only game of their season in one of those seven weeks. The final reality check is that they scored those 37 points against the Detroit Lions. Cincinnati is not Detroit in geography nor on the gridiron.

The Bengals are also mad they lost a winnable game to the unpredictable Raiders last week. Expect them to vent their anger on their in-state rivals.

Bengals 37 Browns 6

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

Houston is on the verge of oblivion right now for the 2009 season. They have dropped to third place in their division and see the resurgent Tennessee Titans charging hard behind them.

Pile on the loss to the former Houston Oilers, now the Titans, at home on national television last Monday, and you see a season the Texans were not hoping for. This game is their season most likely, and facing the undefeated Colts is a daunting task with everything on the line.

Texans 34 Colts 30

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs are playing spoiler right now, ask the Steelers, because there is nothing left for them to play for other than pride and job security. They do present a problem for the suddenly hot Chargers. San Diego is aware what their divisional rivals did last week and should be prepared.

Chargers 31 Chiefs 20

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers

Do not look now, but the Jaguars are in second place in their division and very much in the playoff hunt. Jack Del Rio has done a great job keeping his team competitive as he rebuilds the roster. Watching the youngsters step up has inspired Jacksonville two games above .500.

The 49ers still have a glimmer of hope to win the very weak NFC West, but it is faint. This game will be run heavy, so the battle in the trenches is key.

Jaguars 28 49ers 27

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

Chicago traded away a lot to get Jay Cutler to quarterback the team. It has not worked out well for them this season, and now all they have left to play for is pride. It may not be enough to defeat a Vikings team that is rolling in every aspect of the game every week thus far.

Vikings 38 Bears 27

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

The Cardinals are riding a three game winning streak and have taken a commanding three-game lead in their division. However, their leader, Kurt Warner, is battling symptoms of a mild concussion and is questionable this week.

It may be smart to sit him this week against a rejuvenated and hungry Tennessee Titans, and go with flop Matt Leinart at quarterback instead. I doubt Warner will sit, so this has the makings of an exciting game. Chris Johnson cannot be stopped, and is a leading candidate on many peoples MVP ballots.

The insertion of Vince Young at quarterback was a brilliant demand by owner Bud Adams that has made him look like Nostradamus almost.

Titans 34 Cardinals 30

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

A few weeks ago, this game had a look like it could have a great impact on who sat on top of the AFC North. How can time change things drastically? Well, the Ravens are at .500 and might be a loss away from losing any chance of making the playoffs.

Pittsburgh, the defending champions, are just one game better than Baltimore. Instead of fighting for the division, these teams are fighting to stay alive for the 2009 season. Bruises will be plentiful for each team, because they do not like each other. Baltimore is looking to settle a score with Steelers team that ended their season last year.

Ravens 30 Steelers 28

New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

Game Of The Week

This will be an interesting battle, and finally Monday Night Football can claim to have a game worth watching for all football fans this season. New Orleans put their undefeated season up against a Patriots team that still struggles in short yardage situations.

New England should take advantage of a depleted Saints defense that recently rehired the washed up Mike McKenzie to bolster their beat up secondary. Randy Moss should have a few big play opportunities available.

Patriots 37 Saints 27

Last week, including Thanksgiving, I went 14 - 4 . I am now 101 - 45 overall.

NFL Lucubrations

This might be one of the most mediocre seasons the NFL has had in recent memory. After 10 games, there are 14 teams over the .500 mark. Of those teams, four of them have a winning percentage of .600 or less. Most teams have been struggling to stay healthy on the eve of the league thinking of shortening training camps and extending the seasons.

What has been the most obvious flaw in the game the NFL pushes out today is poor fundamentals. Even after the league has revamped their rule books to cater to a group of mostly average quarterbacks and players who rely on kill shots over proper tackling technique, you are left still seeing sloppy football games each week.

Offensive linemen, who hold every play, are now less important to protecting the quarterback than the NFL. The hit zone on the quarterback has now shrunk to the coffee can strike zone of baseball, so that points can be put up on the board with much more ease. Even special teams has been effected by changes from a group of men largely consisting of guys who haven't put on pads since school yard days.

Though it is understandable the NFL is trying to progress with society, the failure to hold onto old school principles has helped the game suffer to the point it now resembles basketball with a helmet. To show further example, many players go out on Sunday without hip or thigh padding, because they rather protect up high where most end up head hunting.

The NFL probably doesn't see this, much like they did not see their game stagnating in the 1960s. This allowed the fourth version of the American Football League to gain a following and then later force a complete alignment between the two leagues. Other previous leagues that competed against the NFL had forced the NFL to emerge some of those defunct leagues into theirs, but not all like the AFL did.

Now, the United Football League has just completed their first season with an overtime championship game. The difference between the UFL and other leagues that competed against the NFL in the past is that the UFL is being almost marketed as a minor leagues for the NFL by some.

The UFL refers to itself as a complementary addition, though they have several rules different. Their overtime rule is like the college rule, where both teams get a chance to play offense.

The UFL might now have a chance to survive with the NFL shortening training camps. There will be even more excellent football players available after the NFL makes cuts faster, many will happen because of the lack of opportunity many will get with less time in camp or exhibition games.

Then there is the chance the NFL players could strike after 2011, much like they did in 1982 and 1987. The NFLPA is advising cut players from going to the UFL, which echoes the same message the league gave to players when they jumped to the AFL in 1960.

If the UFL plays this smart, much like the AFL did in the 1960s, they could offer much needed competition to the perceived fat and lazy NFL. Perhaps the UFL can go a step further and enable the defenses to play less inhibited, unlike the castrated version of defense in the NFL.

If the 2009 season keeps wafting along in a uninspiring waddle for the NFL, fans will begin to look more into the other option. Much like they did for the AFL only 40 years ago. The timing of the AFL anniversary and the UFL inception is no coincidence.

Perhaps some of you readers will find this installment of Lucubration tinged with unrealistic hope for more well played football, and perhaps even a few will nod in agreement on some avenues that were attempted to be taken. The ones that are skeptical need only look at the 12 teams in the NFL that were born in other leagues.

The AFC itself houses only six teams that have just played in their league alone, though the Bengals franchise is still considered an AFL franchise on paper.

Some say more is better, and this can apply to professional football too. The UFL should continuing applying wrinkles to their game to attract fans. One suggested wrinkle is to apply some old school playing that thr NFL once lived and breathed on. It can work, much like how the AFL once showed the NFL that lots of scoring can bring in fans. It did.

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. New England Patriots

5. Cincinnati Bengals

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. San Diego Chargers

8. Dallas Cowboys

9. Atlanta Falcons

10. Denver Broncos

11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. Baltimore Ravens

13. Green Bay Packers

14. Arizona Cardinals

15. Jacksonville Jaguars

16. New York Giants

17. Miami Dolphins

18. Houston Texans

19. Tennessee Titans

20. San Francisco 49ers

21. New York Jets

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Carolina Panthers

24. Chicago Bears

25. Oakland Raiders

26. Kansas City Chiefs

27. Buffalo Bills

28. Detroit Lions

29. Washington Redskins

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. Saint Louis Rams

32. Cleveland Browns

Buffalo Bills Need to Lay Off the Turkeys This Year

JW Nix — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:08:21 -0500

Yo! I jus wanna says for furst off dat I wishes yous alls a deelishous dead bird day, capeesh?

Let me intoduece myself too dose of yous dat dont know me.

I iz 7thStoneFromDaSun. I am 3rdStoneFromTheSun's cuzin, whos yous all know as JW now.

I usually post my procrastinashuns on anothur sight, but since my cuzin iz on a train right now and kant pick, I iz takin ova wit his blessin.

I iz postin our pix for your football games twoday, but givin my insites as too why, sence we agree on the choices.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Yo, da Lions got dat eeloosive win las weak. Hope dey enjoy it, cause it mite be a minute befour they get one again. They will be starting Culpepper and Johnson mite not play. Not good, capeesh? Expect Ryan Grant to runfor over 100 yards. Dis mite be da game to eat wile its goin on.

Packers 34 Lions 16

Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys

Da Raiders are da most crazy teem in da game. Dey can kill da Eagles and beet da Bengals, but kant beat nobody else. Dallas has ben horruble on offense da past too weaks, so they iz prime for defeet. What Raiders teem shows up is da issue too gamble on.

Cowboys 20 Raiders 13

New York Giants @ Denver Broncos

Denver has been sinkin faster dan da Titantic da past few weaks. It ain't az much a souprize as da winnin streak was, capeesh? Da G-Men looked like dey righted the ship last weak after a month of losin. Dis iz a game both teems need to stay alive, so it could be da best game of da day. Problem iz dat half on da cuntry might be asleep in a turkey coma by halftime.

Giants 27 Broncos 26

OK, I gots to go delivur dis bird to my Auntie Rossetta Madonna Scappelleeto. She iz a Saint, capeesh? Den I iz lookin for a fine lady too let me eat wif at her house. If ya got a extra seat at yer tables ladeez, I will help yous wash da dishes. I iz not only a good lookin good fella, I iz a gentilman.

I leave you wif sum babble 3rd sent me on a text message :

News comes out of Buffalo that Mike Shanahan recently spent several hours talking to owner Ralph Wilson. I personally cannot see him working in Buffalo.

He was said to be lined up for the Dallas Cowboys job in 2010 after the Cowboys fall short again and cost Wade Phillips his job as head coach. I can see that over Buffalo for a few reasons.

Dallas has a lot of talent, but lack imaginative coaching on offense to win the big one. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has been mostly terrible, and owner Jerry Jones needs his head examined if he still consider Garrett the head coach of the future for the Cowboys.

Firing Garrett after this season is the right move. He might need to go to the UFL or college to learn his craft some more, because he is not NFL talent. Shanahan would represent a huge upgrade, since he is a head coach who likes to play the role of offensive coordinator.

Phillips could even stay on as defensive coordinator, a role he assumed in Denver while Shanahan coached quarterbacks from 1989 to 1991, and where most observers feel is his best place on the gridiron.

Buffalo might be appealing to him because he could be both the general manager and head coach, something he most likely could not do in Dallas under the megalomaniacal Jones.

There is talent in Buffalo, but it appears the team is years away from putting a roster ready to compete in their division.

Though the 57-year-old Shanahan has experience coaching in cold weather cities, the ready made roster of the Cowboys may too hard to pass up. Then there is the notoriety of coaching the Cowboys as opposed to the Bills from a marketing standpoint.

Give Buffalo a lot of credit for getting a early jump on their search for a head coach. It speaks well to their fans, and shows that the 91 year old Wilson still has a thirst for victory.

There may be quite a few jobs open in the NFL for 2010. Some teams that might have openings are the Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers.

Cleveland and Tampa Bay may just get a new general manager, however, considering their head coaches are in the midst of their first season on the job.

The line of experienced coaches with the credentials of Shanahan willing to coach is short, and may only include Mike Holmgren. Holmgren might prefer to be a general manager at this stage of his career, so that makes the list even more sparse.

Whatever Buffalo does with their emanate opening, it has to be a wise selection. Fans saw promise when Hall Of Fame Bills legend Marv Levy returned for a few years as general manager.

When Levy left in 2007, the team has failed to progress. Shanahan would be a big get for Buffalo, so talking him into it now is the right thing to do. It remains to be seen if Shanahan feels that they are right for him too.

Washington Redskins Legends to Remember

JW Nix — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:02:50 -0500

The Washington Redskins have a long and storied tradition in the National Football League. The countless amount of players who have suited up for the team has helped make the story much more full and rich in the history of the franchise. This is the first of a continuing series that will pay homage to these legends that some may or may not remember. There will also be players included who briefly played with the team before finding success elsewhere on the gridiron.

Begin Slideshow

Abe Pollin Was No Sell Out

JW Nix — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:52:27 -0500

Today is a sad day for the Pollin family, the city of Washington D.C., the world of sports, and mankind itself, because Abe Pollin passed away at the age of 85 earlier this evening.

He was much more than the owner of the NBA's Washington Wizards or the longest tenured NBA owner to millions of people. Mr. Pollin was a beacon of courage and hope for all. His impact on the Washington Metropolitan Area for the past 46 years will be felt for countless future years ahead. He was a philanthropist whose generosity has donated countless millions of dollars that fed, clothed, housed, and educated many of the misfortunate dwellers of our Nation's Capitol.

He moved into the area in 1931 at the age of eight years old, and stayed in the area for the rest of his life. He attended George Washington University at a time when future NBA Legend Red Auerbach was a star player on the basketball team. After graduating, he went into the construction business and prospered. Pollin then made a business move in 1964 that changed the landscape of the area forever.

There had not been a professional basketball team since the Washington Capitols went defunct in 1951. Ironically, Auerbach had coached that team for three years and set records that still stand today. Pollin bought the Chicago Zephyrs for $1.1 million, which was a record at the time. He then moved the team to the city of Baltimore and named them the Bullets. The team moved to the Washington D.C. area in 1973, and has been here since.

His teams quickly became a force in the league, and helped the NBA from being a regional marketed game to the global entity is is today. The Bullets went to the Western Conference Finals in 1965, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The Bullets then later became a consistent winner a few years later after drafting two of the greatest players in NBA history, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Wes Unseld, in two consecutive years on 1967 and 1968.

From 1969 to 1979, the Bullets won seven division titles, including five straight at one point. They also won Eastern Conference crown four times in the era, and won the NBA Championship in 1978. The franchise has failed to achieve any of these accolades since, though there have been several excellent teams that have competed over the last thirty seasons.

Thirty years ago, he had his Bullets travel overseas to play basketball in China to serve as an ambassador to the game and help spread the game into the global market. This was an important move, because several international players have played in the NBA since. The NBA commemorated this trip earlier in the year, and sent another team to play in China. Antawn Jamison and Randy Foye represented Pollin's Wizards in the games.

Another of Pollin's contributions to the city was bringing in the game of professional hockey in 1974, when the Washington Capitals were born. He has just built a huge arena in Landover, Maryland called the Capital Centre, and it was the first arena ever to have luxury box seating and a large screen television that stood in the middle of the arena suspended above the field of play.

The Capitals struggled for decades as the fourth most popular team in the area, behind the Redskins, Bullets, and the neighboring Baltimore Orioles. Many years the team struggled to make the playoffs, though their fortunes began to turn for the better in the 1980's. The Capitals even made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998, but Pollin still lost over $20 million that season on the team. He then sold the team to current owner Ted Leonsis.

Pollin also brought the city women's professional basketball in 1998, when he founded the Washingtom Mystics just before the second year of the WNBA. The teams mostly struggled on the court, though they did reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002. What the Mystics did attain, however, was a huge following. They led the WNBA in attendance in six of the seven years Pollin owned the team. He sold the team to Leonsis just before the 2005 season.

One common theme he had with his ownership was a family run atmosphere. He was fiercely loyal to his players and teams. He would often voice his displeasure to media members who had spoken negatively of his teams, which he viewed as his family. His loyalty was legendary to the people of Washington D.C. especially.

When he changed the teams name from the Bullets to the Wizards in 1995, he gave his reasons as to being uncomfortable with the names connotation of violence in the wake of the areas high crime and murder rate. When his close friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated, he felt further compelled to hasten the move. Some fans note the lack of success the team has had since this moment, since the Wizards have mostly struggled.

It is almost fitting that his Wizards faced their long time rival Philadelphia 76ers today in D.C., a game he had planned on attending. The 76ers are coached by local legend Eddie Jordan, who was fired one year ago today by the Wizards after a stint of just over five years with the team. Jordan, like many other Wizard employees, probably stayed on longer than he deserved because of Pollin's loyalty.

Sometimes this loyalty was met with the chagrin of fans. This was echoed today by Bullets legend Unseld, the face of the franchise, when he said, "He saw the big picture. He had an answer for everything. He kept me on longer with the team than I should have been, and longer than perhaps I wanted to be at times. He knew what was best for the team and community."

Pollin always put the community first. This can be seen throughout the history of his ownership. He would often fire a star player if he felt that person was having a negative impact. The list of greats he cut ties with is long, and includes such players like Chris Webber, Rasheed Wallace, and Michael Jordan.

Though he often lamented the escalating salaries of players over the years, he knew how much impact they had on society. He was the man who demanded, and brought in, the rule of player conduct on the current labor agreement of the league. "You may or may not want to be role models, but you are role models. If you don't want to be role models, you should get out of this business and go do something else."

He was a role model himself. He saved a historic synagogue from being turned into a dance club a few blocks from his offices, even though it cost millions of dollars to refurbish. He gave every school in the city working computers so children could use them. He established a program called "Abe's Table", where his team would go door to door and give food to the needy. Today the program was out giving food when he passed away.

A mere hours before he died today, he spoke with his assistant on the phone. He told the assistant to make sure everyone employed by his Washington Sports & Entertainment Company went home early tomorrow to beat the holiday traffic. That truly epitomizes what type of character he had. As he stood on deaths doorstep, he was thinking of others.

The contribution that Pollin gave to the city that may be most remembered was when he built the Verizon Center in 1997 with his own money. He spent over $200 million on the building in his effort to revitalize a part of town that had not yet fully recovered from being torched to the ground during the 1968 riots. "I wanted to build a beautiful arena and one that served as a catalyst to turn things around downtown. I'm proud to say we succeeded in both scores."

That part of town is now immensely popular in the city, and is chock full of restaurants and other businesses. Every person who partakes in this areas enjoyment can thank Pollin for this, and can be reminded of his impact on the street named after him by the arena known to locals as, "The Phone Booth".

This year had been both mixed with pain and pleasure for Pollin. He was diagnosed with a rare disease called progressive supranuclear palsy. The disease impairs movement and balance, and left Pollin wheelchair bound in his final months. The disease and wheelchair did not slow him down, however, as Pollin could often be seen around his team so he could continue to stay close with his players.

Earlier this year, his Alma mater George Washington University inducted him into their School of Business Sports Executives Hall of Fame. At his induction he told fans that he wanted to win another championship, and that the team would not ever move so as long as he owned the team. "I've contracted a very rare disease, but it's not going to keep me from winning a championship. Until then I'm not going to quit, and I'm going to do whatever I can to win a championship for this town, for me, and for the fans."

Leonsis, his longtime business partner, is expected to take ownership of the Wizards and Washington Sports & Entertainment Company as agreed upon by the two men several years ago. Fans of the team are relieved at this thought, and expect the Wizards to be in the area for many more years to come.

All Abe Pollin wanted was for his teams to win. He did not own the Wizards for the money he made alone. He was a competitor, and it showed by his actions both with the team and community. Most of the fans of the team, especially the older ones who had been along with Abe on the fun journey, knew this.

As a life long fan of the team myself, I hope the Wizards rally and win a championship for him this season. Pollin would want them to win it all for the town, fans, and themselves first. As the Wizards would play with a heavy heart tonight against the 76ers, they showed a lot of energy and brotherhood in their hard fought 108 - 107 victory despite being short handed due to injuries.

They did for Abe. As team captain Antawn Jamison said, "It is tough. I love him. He had a lot of faith in me, and I am just trying to walk in the shoes he expected me to wear. It won't be the same without him with his pumping us up and wanting us to do our best. He loved the game of basketball, but is in a better place now. He saw us win tonight."

The real winners were us for having been blessed to have known and to have lived alongside him. Thank you Abe Pollin. Rest In Peace.

Crazy Canton Cuts : Kenny Easley

JW Nix — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:40:24 -0500

Ken Easley
6'3" 206
Strong Safety
Seattle Seahawks
1981 - 1987
7 Seasons
32 Interceptions
5 Pro Bowls
1981 AFC Defensive Rookie Of The Year
1984 NFL Defensive Player Of The Year

Kenneth Mason Easley Jr. was the first round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1981, and was the fourth player chosen overall. He went to college at the University of California in Los Angeles, where he is a legend. His jersey number is one of just eight to have been retired by the school. He owns the school record for career interceptions with 19, and his 374 tackles still ranks fourth overall.

He also ranks eighth on punt returns. While also having returned kickoffs in his collegiate career, UCLA even asked him to punt several times.. Blessed with great speed and a 32-inch vertical jump, the Chicago Bulls drafted him in the tenth round of the 1981 NBA Draft as well.

Easley is the only player ever to be named First Team All-PAC 10 in all four years at college. He was also named to All-American three years, and was the second Bruin to accomplish this. Easley is a member of the Bruins All-Century Football Team, the UCLA Athletic Hall Of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall Of Fame, and the College Football Hall Of Fame.

Seattle started him immediately, and the move paid off handsomely. He started all 14 games he played, intercepting three passes for a career high 155 yards. One was returned for a career long 82 yard touchdown. He also recovered a career high four fumbles. United Press International named him AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The 1982 season in the NFL is most remembered for being shortened due to a players strike. It is also the first season Easley was named to the Pro Bowl after he had four interceptions and the first two sacks of his career. He would be named to the Pro Bowl for the next three seasons as well.

Not only was he awarded Pro Bowl honors over these three years, he was also named First Team All-Pro in each year. No other Seahawk defensive back has done this, and it ranks as the second most in franchise history still today. His four consecutive Pro Bowls was also a team record at the time.

The 1983 season saw Seattle hire Chuck Knox as their head coach. Knox believed in winning games in the trenches, and his offensive philosophy has been dubbed "Ground Chuck" for his propensity to run the ball often. Easley intercepted the ball seven times and had a career best three sacks that season as the Seahawks made the playoffs for the first time ever.

The Seahawks won their first ever playoff game by walloping the Denver Broncos 31-7. Easley contributed a sack and helped stifle the Broncos all game. Seattle rode that momentum into the next week, and came from behind to beat the Miami Dolphins 27-20. Their season ended the next week by losing in the AFC Championship to the Los Angeles Raiders, who eventually won the Super Bowl that year.

Easly had the best season of his career in 1984. He has a career high ten interceptions and two touchdowns, both of which led the NFL. Seattle also asked him to return punts that year, and he had a career high 18 returns for 194 yards. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

The Seahawks won 12 games that year. It was the highest win total for them until their 2006 team won 13 and reached the Super Bowl. They got revenge on the Raiders in the first round of the playoffs by winning 13-7. Easley provided a key interception that was returned 26 yards to help the team. Seattle would lose the next week to the Dolphins.

He missed three games the next year, yet had two interceptions and two sacks. Though he missed six games in 1986 because of an ankle injury, he still managed two interceptions and a sack. However, the ankle injury would come back to haunt him later on in his career.

He returned to the Pro Bowl in 1987 after getting four interceptions. The ankle was still bothering him, and he missed four games. He was also held out of the starting lineup for a game for the first time since his first game in college. Seattle made the playoffs,but lost. It was the last game he ever played again.

Seattle then traded him to the Phoenix Cardinals for the rights to quarterback Kelly Stouffer. Stouffer had been the sixth player overall drafted the season before, but sat out the entire season because he and the Cardinals were unable to agree to terms of a contact.

When Easley arrived for his physical in Phoenix, the Cardinals doctors found that he had a kidney disease. It was later determined his disease stemmed from taking too many Advils when he was attempting to play on his injured ankle, which was what the Seahawks medical staff had been advising him to do over that time.

Easley was forced to retire as a player. He later settled with the team out of court over the Advil fiasco that robbed him of his kidney and playing career. He would undergo a successful kidney transplant in 1990. He was jogging within four months of the surgery, then won a golf tournament within six months.

His 32 interceptions are the fourth most in team history, and his 538 yards returned off interceptions is the third most. The three touchdowns he scored off of interceptions is the second most, and his 11 fumble recoveries is the fifth most by any Seahawks defender. No other defensive back in Seahawks history has gone to the Pro Bowl more than him, and only three other players in team history have more appearances.

Kenny Easley is a member of the Seahawks Ring Of Honor, and is a member of the NFL 1980's All-Decade First Team. He is the only member of the unit to yet be inducted into Canton.

Critics of his induction point to the seven years as not being long enough to be considered worthy. These are critics who truly do not understand the history of the game of football. The Pro Football Hall Of Fame is filled with players who played less seasons. One prime example for the modern day warriors who are oblivious to history is Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears. Sayers lasted seven years as well, yet his final two seasons saw him play just four games total.

Easley, on the other hand, finished his career at Pro Bowl level. He was the not only the best strong safety of the 1980's, but he was the best safety period. The other safety on the 1980's All-Decade First Team is Hall Of Famer Ronnie Lott, who played cornerback from 1981 to 1985 before moving to free safety. Hall Of Fame coach Bill Walsh thought the fact Easley's career was cut short has kept him from his deserved induction and said, "He'd be a Hall of Fame player (had he played longer). Maybe he still is. He was that good."

Well it is easy to see that Kenny Easley easily belongs in Canton. He really was that good.

Notable Players Drafted In 1981 ( * Denotes Hall Of Fame Inductee )

1. George Rogers, RB, New Orleans Saints
2. Lawrence Taylor, OLB, New York Giants *
3. Freeman McNeil, RB, New York Jets
5. E.J. Junior, OLB, Saint Louis Cardinals
7. Hugh Green, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Ronnie Lott, DB, San Francisco 49ers *
11. Keith Van Horne, OT, Chicago Bears
15. Dennis Smith, SS, Denver Broncos
18. Donnell Thompson, DE, Baltimore Colts
19. Brian Holloway, OT, New England Patriots
20. Mark May, OG, Washington Redskins
22. Hanford Dixon, CB, Cleveland Browns
24. James Brooks, RB, San Diego Chargers
25. Bobby Butler, CB, Atlanta Falcons
33. Neil Lomax, QB, Cardinals
34. James Wilder, RB, Buccaneers
37. Chris Collinsworth, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
38. Mike Singletary, MLB, Chicago Bears *
40. Eric Wright, CB, 49ers
41. Joe Delaney, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
47. Tony Collins, RB, Patriots
48. Howie Long, DE, Oakland Raiders *
51. Ricky Jackson, OLB, Saints
56. Andra Franklin, FB, Miami Dolphins
57. Frank Warren, DE, Saints
63. Greg Meisner, NT, Los Angeles Rams
65. Carlton Williamson, SS, 49ers
69. Russ Grimm, OG, Redskins
71. Hoby Brenner, TE, Saints
74. Tim Irwin, OT, Minnesota Vikings
78. Lloyd Burruss, SS, Chiefs
95. Todd Bell, SS, Bears
107. Eric Sievers, TE, Chargers
114. Edwin Bailey, OG, Seattle Seahawks
119. Dexter Manley, DE, Redskins
125. Ken Lanier, OT, Broncos
129. Larry Lee, OG, Detroit Lions
131. Keith Ferguson, DE, Chargers
154. Fulton Walker, DB, Dolphins
156. Bryan Hinkle, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
173. Ron Fellows, DB, Dallas Cowboys
177. Jeff Fisher, DB, Bears ( Notable NFL Coach )
183. David Little, MLB, Steelers
187. Eddie Johnson, MLB, Browns
189. Pete Holohan, TE, Chargers
201. Charlie Brown, WR, Redskins
208. William Judson, CB, Dolphins
210. Wade Wilson, QB, Vikings
212. Lin Dawson, TE, Patriots
221. Billy Ard, OG, Giants
226. Stump Mitchell, RB, Cardinals
231. Darryl Grant, DT, Redskins
241. Robb Riddick, RB, Buffalo Bills
265. Mike Mayock, DB, Steelers ( Notable Football Announcer )
291. Jim C. Jensen, WR, Dolphins
305. Jim Wilks, DE, Saints
314. Clint Didier, TE, Redskins
331. Ray Ellis, SS, Philadelphia Eagles

Matt Stafford Sets Record In Lions Last Second Win

JW Nix — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:24:21 -0500

Matthew Stafford, of the Detroit Lions, has had a rookie season that can best be described as trying. Both he and his team have struggled all season, which was expected by all observers.

There was a time this season some thought Stafford would be shut down for the season as he struggled with a knee injury. Stafford kept plugging along, and has taken his lumps all season long behind a porous offensive line that does not allow the team offensive balance with a consistent running game.

Coming into today's game against the lowly Cleveland Browns, Stafford had thrown 12 interceptions against six touchdown passes in the seven games he was able to get on the field and play. Though the numbers may seem unimpressive to some, others feel the rookie has shown great promise thus far.

Stafford showed an even bigger glimpse at his abilities today when he set an NFL and Lions record of five touchdown passes in a game by a rookie as the Lions won 38-37. It also ties the franchise record, which was set by Gary Danielson in 1978 against the Minnesota Vikings.

He got the ball rolling forward for his team late in the first quarter with his team down 24-3 by finding rookie running back Aaron Brown on a 26 yard pass play. He added two more in the second quarter, including a 75 yard heave to wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

With the Lions defense playing better in the second half, he added two more with each being a one yard toss to his tight ends. The second was was the most important, because it was with no time left on the clock and secured the Lions an important second win of the season.

Stafford still shows fans that he is a rookie. He did throw two interceptions and was called for intentional grounding while attempting to throw out of the end zone, which resulted in a safety. Now up to 14 interceptions this season, fans realize it may take Stafford a few more years of playing experience, to go with solid drafts to upgrade the surrounding talent, for him to truly show why he was the first player drafted overall this year.

Still, Lions fans have to be happy for the win and the prospects of their young quarterbacks future. Though fellow rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has gotten more press, due mostly to his playing in the media heavy New York City, it is easy to say Stafford has played better so far.

Though Matthew Stafford might not win the Rookie of the Year Award this season, he is in the record books already. How much further he can delve into both the leagues and his teams records books remains to be seen, but plan on it being fun to watch.

Luv Ya Blue Is Something You Should Do

JW Nix — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:01:20 -0500

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs come into this game missing two players that they expected to be their top offensive players this season in running back Larry Johnson and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Johnson is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals and Bowe is serving a four game suspension imposed by the NFL. Facing a team as defensively proficient as the Steelers, it will interesting to see where the Chiefs look for production. Do not expect much of it this week.

Steelers 38 Chiefs 13

Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings just extended the contract of head coach Brad Childress. This is a move of good timing, because it establishes a bond and perceived future in their locker room. Seattle remains a mystery on defense, as well as inconsistent on offense. The Vikings are expected to dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball this game.

Vikings 27 Seahawks 16

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys

Though perhaps the best rivalry in NFL history appears to not have as much glamour surrounding it this season, this game still has tremendous importance to both teams. Dallas needs this win to stay ahead in the NFC East, while a Redskins win would practically bring them back into the race for the divisional crown. Washington would like to start their era with a win in the Cowboys new stadium like they did with the old one.

If you would like a bit more of a look at this rivalry, look at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/294540-renewing-a-rivalries-importance

Cowboys 26 Redskins 24

Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions

Watching this game might be akin to watching two 97 lbs. weaklings missing all of their limbs in a tug-of-war battle. This is also a game where both teams may be looking for their last win of the season. However, it could be a close game that is decided on the final play.

Lions 23 Browns 14

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints are flying high right now, and their fans are experiencing a joy that has never been felt before in the franchises history. The Buccaneers are not playing well, and appear years away from rebuilding a competitive team. This could be a blow out.

Saints 45 Buccaneers 17

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants

This is a battle of two struggling teams trying to get back on course. The Falcons lost their best player last week in running back Michael Turner, so the passing game will be very important. The return of cornerback Aaron Ross could not have come at a better time for the Giants. New York needs to run the ball to win, and the bye week was a time to rest their hobbling backfield. This game will be a good indicator to show how for real the Giants are this season.

Giants 31 Falcons 23

Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens

The Colts are resilient. They keep winning and are undefeated, which is exactly what one wants if they have championship aspirations. The Ravens have been struggling lately, and this was showed last week when the Cleveland Browns matched them stride for stride over 30 minutes. Now star defensive end Terrell Suggs is out, missing the first game in his career. A big blow, considering Baltimore needs all the pass rushers they can get against an explosive Colts offense.

Colts 27 Ravens 21

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers

The Packers are coming off an impressive game where they defeated the favored Dallas Cowboys at home. The 49ers are coming off a less than impressive victory over the struggling Chicago Bears. The Packers stayed at home this week and should be ready to win a game they need to stay within shouting distance of the division leading Vikings.

Packers 34    49ers 24

Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Buffalo comes into this game a few days removed from firing their head coach of over three years. Jacksonville has had the same head coach for over six years. Sometimes a coaching change can inspire an underachieving team to a few victories, but Jacksonville has been showing steady improvement the past couple of weeks.

Jaguars 26   Bills 10

Arizona Cardinals @ Saint Louis Rams

Arizona has been playing much better recently, and they are undefeated on the road this year so far. The Rams best weapon is running back Steven Jackson. It may not be enough to keep pace with the Cardinals high octane offense.

Cardinals 41   Rams 17

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

The Jets have been crying the blues recently. Their season has not met their lofty expectations, but they really shouldn't be stunned because they are starting a rookie quarterback with little playing experience even on the college level. New England will be fired up for this game after all the media bashing they took this week for last weeks loss.

Patriots 34   Jets 17

Cincinnati Bengals @ Oakland Raiders

The Bengals are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and are coming off a game they spanked the defending champion Steelers. The Raiders offense has been so bad, they switched quarterbacks. Facing a defense like Cincinnati's is a tough test for any quarterback, let alone a new one.

Bengals 38   Raiders 14

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos

Game Of The Week

This is a very important matchup in the AFC West this week, and could have repercussions for the rest of the season. The Chargers have begun winning again after a slow start, while the Broncos have started to lose after a hot start. The Broncos also might have to resort to using a backup quarterback who was very ineffective during their upset loss to the Redskins last week. Denver's defense needs to win this one.

Chargers 24   Broncos 17

Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears

The Eagles are teetering on dire straits right now. Their inconsistent play has them on the verge of pushing themselves out of the playoff race. Not having a running game is the worst part of their game, so Donovan McNabb needs to step up now and play the best football of his career for them to have a chance. The Bears are a mess right now. Their trench play has been poor, and their injuries have been key. The big trade for quarterback Jay Cutler has not looked good thus far either.

Eagles 27 Bears 24

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

This is a Monday night game worth watching. Though the fans of Houston will heartily be rooting for the Texans, they have not forgotten how the Titans left them in 1996. The Titans were called the Oilers then, and were the champions of the American Football League for the first two years of their existence. Expect the Houston fans to have a quandary when the Titans walk on the field. Will they cheer them in appreciation or boo them for leaving? Will Titans owner Bud Adams have to tape his middle fingers to his ring fingers? There are a few side stories in this one, and let us hope ESPN does not drop the ball too much on the historical significance of this game. They typically do, but this is the year the inception of the AFL is being remembered. The Oilers were a huge part of that year, as they still are in the lore of the city of Houston.

Texans 34 Titans 30

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Cincinnati Bengals

5. New England Patriots

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. San Diego Chargers

8. Dallas Cowboys

9. Baltimore Ravens

10. Houston Texans

11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. Atlanta Falcons

13. Denver Broncos

14. New York Giants

15. Green Bay Packers

16. Arizona Cardinals

17. New York Jets

18. Miami Dolphins

19. San Francisco 49ers

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

21. Seattle Seahawks

22. Tennessee Titans

23. Chicago Bears

24. Washington Redskins

25. Carolina Panthers

26. Oakland Raiders

27. Buffalo Bills

28. Detroit Lions

29. Kansas City Chiefs

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. Saint Louis Rams

32. Cleveland Browns

Last week I took a bath and went 7-7 . I am now 87-41 , since I did not pick on the Thursday game.

Let us keep the focus on the Houston Oilers .

Bud Adams started the franchise in 1960 with the fledgling American Football League. Adams put together an excellent team quickly, some with hard work and some with good luck.

His big move in 1960 was signing Billy Cannon away from the clutches of the NFL.

Cannon was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the first pick of the draft, and he was the first pick of the AFL as well.

Adams signed the LSU legend and 1959 Heisman Trophy winner on the field after LSU won the Sugar Bowl.

Future NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle was the general manager of the Rams at that time, and he tried to force Cannon to sign with his team. Adams took the NFL to court and won.

Another of the many key signings that season was of future Hall of Famer George Blanda . Blanda had washed out of the NFL and did not even play football in 1959.

He joined the Oilers and immediately became the team's leader, helping them win the first AFL Championship when he hit Cannon for an 88-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.

Blanda led the Oilers to a second consecutive championship in 1961 and was named the AFL Player of the Year.

He tied the record of seven touchdown passes in a game the next season, as the Oilers reached a third championship before losing to the Dallas Texans in the longest championship game in professional football history.

Blanda also set a record of 42 interceptions thrown in that 1962 season.

Though the Oilers would reach the AFL Championship in 1967, losing to an Oakland Raiders team that now had Blanda on their roster, the team has never won a championship game again.

Many great players played for the Oilers, and several are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Players like Blanda, Earl Campbell, Ken Houston, Elvin Bethea, Mike Munchak, Warren Moon , and Bruce Matthews are just a few players that played for the Oilers and are now enshrined in Canton.

I have also included many Oilers in my Crazy Canton Cuts series. Robert "Dr Doom" Brazile, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Curley Culp, Jim Norton , and Bob Talamin i are Oilers whose profiles can be found on crazycantoncuts.blogspot.com . Charley Hennigan is a player I will be profiling in the future.

Despite their legacy, as well as being the first professional sports team to win a championship in Houston, the team relocated to Nashville, Tenn., before the 1997 season.

They changed their name from the Oilers to the Titans just before the 1999 season.

The timing of the name change worked out well for Adams, as his team went on to Super Bowl XXXIV but lose to the St. Louis Rams. It is the only season that the franchise has won the AFC Championship.

To learn more about the Houston Oilers, I encourage you to visit this site : http://www.remembertheafl.com/

Renewing A Rivalries Importance

JW Nix — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:35:25 -0500

The fact that the Washington Redskins will be playing the Dallas Cowboys in Texas this Sunday has to have even some long times fans of both teams scratching their heads at what the impact of the games outcome could mean. Mainly because the timing of the game is so important for Dallas.

This may as well be a playoff game for Dallas. With the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles floundering right now, the NFC East is there for Dallas to take complete control of it. A loss to a struggling Redskins team could have a harsh impact on their hopes for a divisional crown at some point later this season.

Tony Romo appears to be playing well at quarterback despite a receiving crop that has been very unsettled and inconsistent. What remains to be seen is if the Cowboys will block well for Romo, or if Felix Jones will finally get an increased role in the offensive scheme. Dallas is excellent at running the ball, but their linemen are big and slow. This has lead to several issues on passing plays.

The Cowboys still have a few issues in their secondary because of injuries, but the talent is more than good enough to do the job. Consistency is the key for this group. Romo's abilities should increase the workload of wide receiver Roy Williams. If this happens, as expected, then opponents will truly have their hands full. Factor in tight end Jason Witten, and even tight end Martellus Bennett, and you can see a plethora of options available at Romo's disposal. That passing threat should open holes for running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones, as well as the underneath passes to them. Jones is especially dangerous in these situations.

The Redskins have a very few good things going for them. Their offensive line has been an injury filled mess, as usual, and are amongst the worst in the NFL. Jason Campbell has been gritty and resilient at quarterback, despite having a coaching staff in shambles calling plays that has caused him to struggle at times. These are problems that bode very well for Dallas.

Running back Clinton Portis is not playing, due to a concussion. Ladell Betts is Portis' excellent reserve, but he has a long list of injury issues himself. If Betts goes out, then the Redskins will be down to just Rock Cartwright and a journeyman named Omar Gaither. The Redskins need the run to set up the pass.

Tight End Chris Cooley was the Redskins best option in passing situations, but he won't be back for weeks due to a broken ankle. Fred Davis has assumed Cooley's role, but he has had a mostly disappointing career with the Redskins thus far. The wide receivers are an unimpressive set that has had issues consistently getting open and producing. The Redskins defense has played mostly excellent so far this year, which will be crucial against the Cowboys big play offense. Whomever controls the line of scrimmage could be the victor in this battle.

This is another game that may find a place in the legendary series between these two teams. Each desperately needs a win, so it is succinct that they are facing each other right now. Both teams have a habit of killing each others dreams.

Such examples include Redskins Hall Of Fame safety Ken Houston stopping Cowboys running back Walt Garrison inches from the end zone in 1973, which put the Redskins into a first place tie with the Cowboys. Then there was the win-less Cowboys defeating the undefeated Redskins, one of the greatest teams in the last 20 years with their record setting offense and second overall ranked defense, in 1991.There are countless other examples implanted in the minds of each Redskins and Cowboys fan as to why this may be the greatest rivalry in football.

The road has a habit of running these two franchises head on at the most crucial of junctions. Any real fan of either franchise wouldn't want it any other way.

Time To Stop Pandering To Quarterbacks and Suspend Brady Quinn

JW Nix — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:52:54 -0500

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn showed a lot of who he really is during the Browns 16-0 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. The word flop is perhaps one word that may be too early to be used, but it certainly can be considered a logical assumption.

What Quinn really showed on national television is that he is a pathetically immature loser who lacks leadership and any form of respect. I'm not talking about his unpleasant showing of 13 completions on 31 attempts, which produced an impotent 99 yards. Most NFL fans have long speculated that Quinn is unwilling or unable to throw a pass more than three yards down the field.

What was mostly witnessed in this game was a petulant child who has been pandered to most of his life, nearly costing two players their health and playing careers. This move of frustration by Quinn went virtually unnoticed by the three member announcers team covering the game, because the media is jaded and programmed to dote most of their love and attention on the quarterbacks of the NFL.

If this move was perpetrated on Quinn, the television stations across America would have run the highlight on a continuous loop. Quinn has already been anointed a media favorite from his days of playing college football for the University of Notre Dame, a program rich with history and nostalgia in media lore.

This affiliation allowed for the cameras to be held inches from his face in the 2007 NFL Draft when his hype had him being called a top-10 draft pick. As he slipped to the 22nd pick of the draft, viewers were treated by the media's insipid insistence to keep the camera on him the whole time as they tried to predict his emotions as his dreams and wallet got lighter by the moment.

The Browns bailed him out of his misery by trading up with the Dallas Cowboys to gamble that Quinn would be the future of the franchise at the position. It helped that Quinn was photogenic and had grown up in Ohio as well. The Browns organization figured Quinn would help fill seats by his mere presence on the roster and attendance did increase initially.

While some call his rookie season a failure, due to Derek Anderson winning the starter's job and responding with a Pro Bowl season, most were pleased that Quinn could sit on the bench and develop as he learned the nuances of the game. It now seems neither event has happened.

Quinn was handed the starting job entering 2009, mainly from an edict of the ownership of the Browns. The team won just four games the year before and headed into the season with new coaches and not much prospects of immediate improvement.

After a dismal showing the first two games where Quinn failed to complete a pass over 26 yards, he was pulled from the lineup midway through the third game. Anderson replaced him, but did not fare much better, though he did lead the team to their only win of the season thus far.

With the teams record standing at an inept 1-7, Quinn was inserted back into the starting lineup. He responded poorly, which was not a surprise, but the one moment he had on the field should immediately be reprimanded by league commissioner Roger Goodell soon. If the Browns had any spine, they would beat Goodell to the punch and punish Quinn themselves.

Quinn had an interception returned for a touchdown by the Ravens Dawan Landry on the team's second series in the second half. The next time Cleveland got the ball, Quinn threw another interception. As the ball was being returned by Baltimore's Chris Carr, Quinn displayed his true character in front of America.

The Ravens' Terrell Suggs was engaged in blocking a Browns lineman for Carr during the return. It was away from the ball, but that did not stop Quinn. He barreled into Suggs knees at full speed, which befell Baltimore's star defensive end. Though Quinn was penalized 15 yards for an illegal chop block, Suggs limped off the field in pain and will not play football for at least a month.

He contributed just one tackle the entire game, but Brady Quinn almost cost Suggs a football career.

This was not lost on the Ravens defense. As the game was winding down to a close, Quinn tossed a short pass to Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs is Cleveland's best player and one of the most liked in the community. Many may know how he showed up unannounced recently at a high school homecoming football game to support the son of a deceased college football coach.

Cribbs quickly lateraled the ball to tight end Robert Royal, who was soon tackled himself, but the Browns wide receiver did not see Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards. Edwards happens to be Suggs's backup, as Cribbs turned, Edwards leveled him with a clean shot. The hit knocked Cribbs out and left him motionless.

He was taken off the field on a stretcher straight to the hospital. He was reported to have not lost any feeling nor movement in his body.

The question has to be asked if this moment would have happened for Cribbs if Quinn had not pulled off such a cheap shot earlier. Perhaps Edwards would not have hit Cribbs if his teammate and linemate hadn't almost had his career ended by Quinn.

The quarterback is already no longer a football player in the NFL; they cannot be hit too high, too low, nor too hard. Fines and penalties follow anyone who mistakes these golden boys as football players. Most quarterbacks are amongst the highest paid players in the league and many are by far the highest paid on their respective teams.

To allow them to pull off stunts like Quinn cannot go without penalties. It sets a bad precedent of double standards. The message would clearly state that players must go on protecting the quarterback, face reprimands if they do not, yet understand they are fair game at the quarterbacks discretion. This has already been brought into question last year, when Brett Favre pulled a similar stunt while playing for the New York Jets.

If Roger Goodell and the NFL Rules Committee are going to allow quarterbacks to vent their frustrations out circa cheap shots on other players, then they cannot logically ask the rest of the players to do the same.

Players who play a much more physically demanding positions where frustration is a factor on each play that transpires. The league also cannot allow a player who is obviously dissatisfied with his career cost other players their careers.

The right message would be to suspend Brady Quinn at least one game, as well as pile on a heavy fine that can go to a league sponsored charity. Let Derek Anderson pilot the team next week at Detroit in a battle now labeled as the "Last Chance For A Win In 2009 Bowl."

Week Ten Picks For One To Mull Over

JW Nix — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:40:18 -0500

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers

Carolina relies on the running game to win, and now they will be missing their leading rusher. Atlanta has been getting their running game going the past few weeks. The Falcons also have the better passing game. If Jonathan Stewart rushes for over 100 yards, the Panthers may have a chance.

Falcons 34    Panthers 19

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins

The good news for the Bucs is that they won't have to travel far for this game. Both teams feature young quarterbacks at the helm, but Tampa's Josh Freeman might throw the ball a lot to try to pick on the Dolphins young and depleted secondary. It might come down to who controls the ball best.

Dolphins 16   Buccaneers 14

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings won their first meeting with Detroit this year by running the ball and controlling the clock. The formula will probably not be changed.

Vikings 38   Lions 2

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Jets

The Jets desperately need to win this game if they have any hopes at all at contending for a playoff spot. Expect them to try to run the ball down the Jaguars throats, while Jacksonville attempts to reciprocate that notion with All Pro running back Maurice Jones-Drew. It will be a smash mouth game, where Rex Ryan will ask his defense to win this one.

Jets 24 Jaguars 13

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Game Of The Week

The Bengals have been the feel good story of the 2009 season thus far. They have a balanced offense and a very good defense. Playoff talk is a long overdue discussion in the Queen City, but it is a reality thus far. The problem is that the Steelers now appear to be clicking on all cylinders right now. If their running game can keep going, it will make the defending champions even more dangerous. This might be the best game of the week.

Steelers 38 Bengals 34

New Orleans Saints @ Saint Louis Rams

This is a week the red hot Saints can be thankful for playing in the NFC South. Not that the Rams are complete pushovers, because they do feature the excellent Stephen Jackson at running back, but New Orleans should win this if they do what they need to.

Saints 41    Rams 17

Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans

Don't look now, but the Titans are on the verge of a third straight win after six consecutive defeats. Chris Johnson is the MVP candidate no one talks about, but the key move might have been played by owner Bud Adams. Adams ordered that Vince Young start at quarterback just three weeks ago The Bills, who have been inconsistent all season, get Trent Edwards back at quarterback. He could have some rust on him, so Buffalo will need to run the ball well.

Titans 24   Bills 21

Denver Broncos @ Washington Redskins

The Broncos can take a big sigh of relief after dropping two straight games. They go into the Nations Capitol to face a beat up and disheartened Redskins squad who may be down to their third string running back. They will have a guy they signed off the street recently if that back, Rock Cartwright, goes down. The plays for the Redskins are called by a guy signed off the street a few weeks ago as well. The Redskins have semi-pro written all over them right now.

Broncos 27   Redskins 6

Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders

Flip a coin here. Keep flipping it, focusing on just the coin, for three hours. It should be more fun than watching this game.

Raiders 24 Chiefs 20

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are a team that even they cannot figure out themselves. They can be very explosive or completely benign. The Seahawks defense is just as unpredictable, having shut out two teams this year. Though Arizona are undefeated on the road and have only one win at home, I'm thinking they put two weks of solid play together.

Cardinals 27 Seahawks 1

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers

The Cowboys are leading the NFC East now because they run the ball well and their defensive line has played well. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on pace to being sacked over 70 times this year behind a injured offensive line. Rodgers has been very effective when given time, and has tossed just five interceptions thus far under all of that duress. If Dallas can get to him, they should win.

Cowboys 28 Packers 24

Philadelphia Eagles @ San Diego Chargers

The Eagles are winning despite being a team trying to get healthy again. Having running back Brian Westbrook back will be a tremendous help. The Chargers have been winning because they are passing the ball so well this year. They need to run well to win this one. Philadelphia had an unpleasant experience their last time in California, and will try to make amends. If their safeties play well, they have a good chance. Chargers tight end Antonio Gates could be the key.

Chargers 31 Eagles 30

New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts

The Patriots face an undefeated Colts team hurting in the defensive secondary. The Patriots are rolling in every aspect of the game right now, and will be tough to beat from here on out if everyone stays healthy. Peyton Manning will keep his Colts close, but Tom Brady should have fun throwing the football.

Patriots 38 Colts 2

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

The Ravens need a win in the worst way. Luckily for them, they are facing perhaps the worst team in the NFL today.

Ravens 34 Browns 17

NFL Lucubrations

After watching Jay Cutler toss his eighth red zone interception in 16 games, I had a few thoughts. None of Jeff George, because even George didn't pull stunts like that. I actually began to recall my questioning Chicago gambling away their future for Cutler. If you recall, the Bears gave up two first round and a second round draft pick for his services.

Please consider these words from Broncos legendary player Karl Mecklenberg in a recent interview with bleacher reports Sayre Bedinger , "I have gotten to know Jay through the Broncos and golf tournaments, and he is a child still. He is more concerned with himself than the team, and when McDaniels came in, he came in with a system that wasn't going to throw as much, and Jay saw that and put McDaniels in a tough place where he had really no choice but to get rid of him."

So what you have here is another diva who puts himself before his team. A child who would rather pad his statistics over winning. This is what the Bears traded away their future for. Then there is the old "Sid Luckman Curse". Luckman is the last great and perhaps even good quarterback to play for the Bears. Luckman, a Hall Of Famer, retired in 1950, and is STILL the franchises leader in passing yards with 14,686 yards. Think about that. Luckman played in a run first era where it was a lot harder to throw the ball with the ten yard chuck rule, let alone the way offensive linemen had to block.

Since 1979, receivers have the luxury of the five yard chuck rule and blockers are allowed to extend their arms and hold on virtually every play. It is also easier to play quarterback because they cannot be hit too high, low, or hard. Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers had 14,974 yards passing in 71 games coming into this season. This is just a small example of the long line of inept quarterbacks that have followed Luckman in the last 60 years for the Bears.

I am not ready to label Cutler a complete and utter failure yet for the Bears. His receiving unit is nothing special, and his offensive line is pathetic. He is also young, so there is a lot of room to grow and mature. Chicago better hurry up and get him some blockers at least, or Cutler might soon have irreparable damage to his body and fragile ego.

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. New England Patriots

5. Cincinnati Bengals

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Dallas Cowboys

8. Baltimore Ravens

9. Philadelphia Eagles

10. Atlanta Falcons

11. Denver Broncos

12. San Diego Chargers

13. Houston Texans

14. New York Giants

15. Green Bay Packers

16. Arizona Cardinals

17. New York Jets

18. Miami Dolphins

19. San Francisco 49ers

20. Chicago Bears

21. Seattle Seahawks

22. Jacksonville Jaguars

23. Tennessee Titans

24. Oakland Raiders

25. Carolina Panthers

26. Buffalo Bills

27. Detroit Lions

28. Kansas City Chiefs

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Washington Redskins

31. Saint Louis Rams

32. Cleveland Browns

Including Thursdays game = I am now 80-34

The Washington Redskins Discover Their Problem: No Testicles

JW Nix — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:52:10 -0500

When Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn told his team to attempt to get a first down on a fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter of a 31-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, all could see the indecision in his eyes. The inevitability of his calling a time out loomed large as the play clock began to run down.

Zorn predictably called the time out, and you could see his team roll their eyes and stare at each other. They were doomed for repeated failure they have been experiencing the entire 2009 season. After the time out, they were stopped by the Falcons on a screen pass that once again showed the Redskins players their coaching staff had zero confidence in their ability to run for the one yard needed.

Zorn, who has pretty much become a lame duck coach, was missing his headphones when he instructed his team to go for it. These headphones were his link to the Sherman Lewis, who is now in charge of calling plays. Lewis, who was playing bingo just a few weeks ago, did not seem part of the initial call by Zorn.

It seemed as though Zorn had temporarily forgotten his place in Redskins hierarchy, perhaps due to the heat of the moment, as he scurried back to his headset. The conversation that took place then can only be theorized by those not participating, but there was obviously a disagreement on the play Zorn had called to lead to the Redskins burning a timeout, momentum, and what little confidence they had.

This glitch is just another example of the cluelessness and confusion in the Redskins ranks. A once-proud franchise rich in tradition now reduced to the bumbling embers of bottom feeding losers burnt out on only hope for money at seasons end. The prospect of trophies and glory have now faded to another lifetime, and are a faded memory held onto with yearned melancholy of those fans lucky enough to be conceived just before that era.

The week leading into another losing effort saw Redskins owner Dan Snyder half-heartedly apologize to a few fans for his mismanagement of the team. His lament fell on deaf ears of those tired of the same old circus he has run for years, but none have yet to truly call him out on his banning of signs at the teams games.

Snyder's ban is not only a slap in the faces of Redskins fans who financially support his team, but it is an obviously slap in the face of America. His deciding to ban free speech under the shadows of the Nations Capitol speaks of an ego who feels he is above the men and women who have fought to make this country what it is today.

The fact that no one from Capitol Hill, many of whom attend games, has yet called him on his fascist actions shows another form of a lack of representation.

Having seen the front office try to threaten Redskins legends like Sonny Jurgensen, John Riggins, Joe Thiesmann, and Brian Mitchell this season has been a bewildering example of Snyder's obvious disdain for the teams tradition. A tradition the owner claims he admired as a child growing up a fan of the team.

Instead of taking their constructive criticism, he has opted to threaten Jurgensen with his job, and purportedly cost Mitchell his job with a local network affiliate. Some also recall Riggins lost his popular radio show after Snyder bought the rights to the radio station Riggins worked for.

Snyder now controls almost all of the sports radio talk shows in the Washington Metropolitan area via ownership, which allows him to control most of the content.

Snyder's brazen approach to former players has even allowed his lap dog Vinny Cerrato to pile on recently during a show Cerrato has on one of Snyder's radio stations. Cerrato disparaged Congressman Steve Largent, a Hall of Famer, for his coming to the aid of Zorn. Largent and Zorn were teammates with the Seattle Seahawks for years, and Cerrato went as far to practically call Largent a loser.

Everything that Snyder has touched this decade has turned to manure, as opposed to the golden touched he showed the decade before. He bought two companies, Six Flags Amusement Parks and Johnny Rocket Restaurants, that have quickly gone bankrupt.

He has cut staffing so much at Redskins Park that the grass in front of the offices went brown over the summer because no one could water it. There are murmurs that Snyder is mortgaged and financially stretched to the hilt.

Though the Redskins were recently listed as the second most valuable franchise in the NFL, the team has spiraled in jersey sales, accessories sales, and even in stadium revenue. A long line of fans that used to hope to get into a game now try to give away tickets for little cash on eBay and other avenues.

Snyder has become so desperate for cash that he recently sued a fan for trying to back out of their season tickets plan. The fan, like many Americans today, had felt the crunch of the recession and could no longer afford the tickets...Remember, this is a team with a waiting list of over 20 years for season tickets.

Few NFL teams sue their fans, and none have a waiting list for season tickets as long as the Redskins. This type of community awareness by Snyder has only made him more despised by any observer.

This type of approach has trickled down the Redskins chain of command. It has infested and infected the club to the point where losing is the only certainty week after week.Snyder has taken the team to a crossroads he can no longer ignore. Either sell the team or get a football expert to clean up the mess he created.

If he opts for the latter, all his role can be is to write the checks and get out of the way. Most fans would prefer he sell the team. Snyder claims to be a businessman, and every business man should be aware when they have overstayed their welcome and the time to sell has arrived. It appears now is that time for Dan Snyder.

Crazy Canton Cuts: Ed Meador

JW Nix — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:50:13 -0500

Ed Meador
5'11" 193
Safety
Los Angeles Rams
1959 - 1970
12 Seasons
163 Games Played
46 Interceptions
18 Fumble Recoveries
10 Kicks Blocked
6 Touchdowns
6 Pro Bowls

Eddie Doyle Meador was drafted in the seventh round of the 1959 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He was the 80th player chosen that year.

Meador went to college at Arkansas Tech University, mainly because one of his high school football coaches went there for a job and championed Meador's cause. He had been told by Bear Bryant of Texas A&M that he was too small to play college football.

He ended up being co-captain and played running back, defensive back, and returned kicks for the Wonder Boys. He scored 272 career points and rushing for 3,358 yards, which is still second-best in school history.

He was on the Associated Press Little All-American team in 1958, and was named the Outstanding Back in the All-Star College Football Game. He was named Arkansas Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1958.

Meador is a member of the Arkansas Tech Hall Of Fame, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Helms Athletic Foundation Sports Hall of Fame, and NAIA Collegiate Hall of Fame.

Earning a starting job right away as a cornerback, the rookie picked off three passes for a Rams team that struggled to just two wins under Hall-of-Fame coach Sid Gillman. The Associated Press placed him on their All-NFL Second Team for his efforts.

The Rams then replaced Gillman at coach with Hall-of-Famer Bob Waterfield. Meador made his first Pro-Bowl squad after getting four interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown.

He had one interception the next season, and was named First-Team All-NFL by the Sporting News. After a single interception the following season, he had six in 1963. It was his last season as a cornerback, and he was named Second-Team All-NFL by the New York Daily News and the National Enterprises Association. The Rams then moved him to the free safety position.

Though he had already established himself as one of the top defensive backs in the league, Meador quickly became a superior safety.

He went to the Pro Bowl in 1964 after swiping three balls and returning six kickoffs for 148 yards. He returned to the Pro Bowl the next year after getting two interceptions. He also ran the ball twice for 35 yards, including scampering 24 yards for a touchdown.

The Rams then hired George Allen in 1966, making it the third Hall-of-Famer that coached Meador in his career. Allen soon named him co-captain of the Rams defense. Meador responded with his third straight Pro-Bowl season, netting five interceptions.

In the third game of the 1967 season versus the Dallas Cowboys, he intercepted two passes from Don Meredith. He took one ball 30 yards for a score and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week.

He finished the season with a career-best eight interceptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Meador also completed the only passing attempt of his career for an 18 yard touchdown, and returned a career-high 21 punts. He was named to the Pro Bowl for a fourth straight season.

He went to his last Pro Bowl in 1968 after getting six interceptions, and he was named First-Team All-Pro. He also returned 17 punts for a career-high 136 yards, and returned a kickoff 20 yards.

The 1969 season was another year that he was named First-Team All-Pro. He scored two touchdowns off of five interceptions that season. He also was named the NFL Players' Association President that year. He was honored with the NFLPA Byron 'Whizzer' White Award and was named NFL Father of the Year. After getting two interceptions in 1970, he retired.

Ed Meador is a member of the 1960's All-Decade Team, and the Rams All-Time Team. He was known by several of his teammates as "the Rams Little Assassin" because of his fierce play on the field. He was also a multi-dimensional athlete who was the holder of place kicks for the Rams. Often he would run or pass on fake field goal attempts.

He still owns five records with the Rams. He has the most interceptions with 46, fumble recoveries with 18, and kicks blocked with 10. He blocked four kicks in one year, and recovered five fumbles in another. To say he had a nose for the football would be a huge understatement.

It is astonishing that Meador has yet to be inducted into Canton. He has gone to the same amount of Pro Bowls as 15 other defensive backs that are already inducted. He was named the Rams Defensive Back of the Year seven times in his career, which is just another example of his impact.

Tackles were not a recorded statistic in his era, but he exceeded 100 tackles in several seasons. He once had 126 tackles in a 14-game season, which is an impressive rate for a free safety. He was fast, quick, tough, and smart.

For all he did on the field, he did even more off the field. He was very active in charities, especially with the Special Olympics. His leadership abilities were seen from his days in college up until the day he retired from the NFL.

He had the respect of everyone who encountered him both on and off the field during his playing days. He overcame huge obstacles of being told he couldn't play, then coming from a small college, to start in every game he played in his career. He was an iron man who missed just one game in 12 seasons.

It is time to get Eddie Meador his well deserved respect. You can do your part by visiting his website at : http://www.edmeador21.com/how%20to%20nominate.html

Other Notable Players Drafted In 1959 (None are a Canton Inductee Yet)

2. Dick Bass, FB, Los Angelos Rams
3. Bill Stacy, DB, Chicago Cardinals
5. Dave Baker, DB, San Francisco
6. Nick Pietrosante, FB, Detroit
15. J.D. Smith, OT, Philadelphia
17. Bob L. Harrison, LB, San Francisco
19. Mike Rabold, G, Detroit
21. Rich Petitbon, DB, Chicago Bears
22. Buddy Dial, WR, NY Giants
23. Dick Shafrath, OT, Cleveland
25. Bowd Dowler, WR, Green Bay
26. Wray Carlton, RB, Philadelphia
28. Emil Karas, LB, Washington
29. Eddie Dove, DB, San Francisco
34. Joe Morrison, RB, NY Giants
35. Fran O'Brien, OT, Cleveland
41. Monte Clark, DT, San Francisco
44. John Tracey, LB, LA Rams
47. Dave Lloyd, LB, Cleveland
49. Bob Wetoska, OT, Washington
53. John Wooten, G, Cleveland
58. Dick LeBeau, DB, Cleveland Browns
102. Bobby Joe Green, P, San Francisco
119. Bob Zeman, DB, Cleveland
123. Art Powell, WR, Philadelphia
125. Harry Jacobs, LB, Detroit
141. Mike Connelly, C, LA Rams
164. Joe Robb, DE, Chicago Bears
167. Elbert Dubenion, WR, Cleveland
173. Bruce Maher, DB, Detroit
177. Roger LeClerc, LB, Chicago Bears
209. Joe Kapp, QB, Washington
219. Alan Miller, FB, Philadelphia
223. Dave Kocourek, TE, Pittsburgh
242. Dale Memmelaar, G, Chicago Cardinals
249. Donnie Stone, RB, Chicago Bears
250. Jim Fraser, LB, Cleveland
266. Fred Glick, DB, Chicago Cardinals
313. Timmy Brown, RB, Green Bay
319. Charley Tolar, FB, Pittsburgh
331. Ron Hall, DB, Pittsburgh
353. Jim Colclough, WR, Washington

The NFL Midseason Awards Show

JW Nix — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:25:41 -0500

As the NFL reaches the mid point of this bizarre 2009 season, we are witnessing a huge drop off of good and not as good teams. The long line of teams struggling is not a good thing for the NFL, and this will probably be brought up as the league tries to get a new collective bargaining agreement with the players before the 2010 season begins. There has been some good news in the league, and most of that has come from excellent play on the gridiron. I decided to have an awards ceremony which I hope you enjoy.

Begin Slideshow

The Almost All-Time Tennessee Titans Defense

JW Nix — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:13:32 -0500

Before they were the Titans, they were the Houston Oilers. Bud Adams started the franchise in 1960 with the fledgling American Football League. Adams put together an excellent team quickly, some with hard work and some with good luck. His big move in 1960 was signing Billy Cannon away from the clutches of the NFL. Cannon was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the first pick of the draft, and he was the first pick of the AFL as well. Adams signed the LSU legend and 1959 Heisman Trophy winner on the field after LSU won the Sugar Bowl. Future NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle was the general manager of the Rams at that time, and he tried to force Cannon to sign with his team. Adams took the NFL to court and won. Another of the many key signings that season was of future Hall of Famer George Blanda. Blanda had washed out of the NFL and did not even play football in 1959. He joined the Oilers and immediately became the team's leader, helping them win the first AFL Championship when he hit Cannon for an 88-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter vs. the Los Angeles Chargers. Blanda led the Oilers to a second consecutive championship in 1961 and was named the AFL Player of the Year. He tied the record of seven touchdown passes in a game the next season, as the Oilers reached a third championship before losing to the Dallas Texans in the longest championship game in professional football history. Blanda also set a record of 42 interceptions thrown in that 1962 season. Though the Oilers would reach the AFL Championship in 1967, losing to an Oakland Raiders team that now had Blanda on their roster, the team has never won a championship game again. Many great players played for the Oilers, and several are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Players like Blanda, Earl Campbell, Ken Houston, Elvin Bethea, Mike Munchak, Warren Moon, and Bruce Matthews are just a few players that played for the Oilers and are now enshrined in Canton. Despite their legacy, as well as being the first professional sports team to win a championship in Houston, the team relocated to Nashville, Tenn., before the 1997 season. They changed their name from the Oilers to the Titans just before the 1999 season. The timing of the name change worked out well for Adams, as his team went on to Super Bowl XXXIV but lose to the St. Louis Rams. It is the only season that the franchise has won the AFC Championship. Please remember that this team consists of players who are not, and maybe never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Begin Slideshow

The Almost All-Time Tennessee Titans Offense

JW Nix — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:35:44 -0500

Before they were the Titans, they were the Houston Oilers. Bud Adams started the franchise in 1960 with the fledgling American Football League. Adams put together an excellent team fast, some with hard work and some with good luck. His big move in 1960 was signing Billy Cannon away from the clutches of the NFL. Cannon was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the first pick of the draft, and he was the first pick of the AFL as well. Adams signed the LSU legend, and 1959 Heisman Trophy winner, on the field after LSU won the Sugar Bowl. Future NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle was the general manager of the Rams at that time, and tried to force Cannon to sign with the Rams. Adams took the NFL to court and won. Another of the many key signings that season was of future Hall Of Famer George Blanda. Blanda has washed out of the NFL, and did not even play football in 1959. He joined the Oilers and immediately became the teams leader, helping them win the first AFL Championship when he hit Cannon for an 88 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Blanda led the Oilers to a second consecutive championship in 1961, and was named the AFL Player of the Year. He tied the record of seven touchdown passes in a game the next season, as the Oilers reached a third championship before losing to the Dallas Texans in the longest championship game in professional football history. Blanda also set a record of 42 interceptions thrown in that 1962 season. Though the Oilers would reach the AFL Championship in 1967, losing to a Oakland Raiders that now had Blanda on their roster, the team has never won a championship game again. Many great players played for the Oilers, and several are members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. Players like Blanda, Earl Campbell, Ken Houston, Elvin Bethea, Mike Munchak, Warren Moon, and Bruce Matthews are just a few players that played for the Oilers and are now members of Canton. Despite their legacy, as well as being the first professional sports team to win a championship in Houston, the team relocated to Nashville, Tennessee before the 1997 season. They changed their name from the Oilers to the Titans just before the 1999 season. The timing of the name change worked out well for Adams, as his team would go on to Super Bowl XXXIV but lose to the Saint Louis Rams. It is the only season that the franchise has won the AFC Championship. Please remember that this team consists of players who are not, and maybe never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Begin Slideshow

The Song Remains The Same For The NFL

JW Nix — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:53:06 -0400

As another Sunday approaches for the NFL, one cannot help but recall certain themes that have transpired thus far. The days of parity appear to not be in play this season. With the Rams, Lions, Chiefs, Redskins, Browns, Raiders, Titans, and Buccaneers all struggling, as well as the Dolphins, Seahawks, and Panthers all with just two wins as well, it has become a case of the have and have-nots. The list of have-nots may be the deepest in recent memory for the league. Will things change after the new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon? That is one tune waiting to be composed.

Was anyone really shocked to see Brett Favre fumble then throw away the game for the Vikings last week? It was about time if you ask me. We are talking about the NFL's All-Time Turnover King. No player has thrown away the ball more in history than Favre, and he is just three fumbles away from tying Warren Moon for the record of most fumbles ever. With 313 interceptions and 158 fumbles, and counting, the Steelers decided to just let Brett be Brett last week. When you do that, you will win more than lose to him. Just be ready for the inevitable mistake. With a career average of 1.7 turnovers for every game he has played, it is a sound strategy.

Watching Larry Johnson bubble over with frustration, you have to wonder what is the biggest deal is. Is it his homophobic remarks, his rant on his new head coach, or his bemoaning the loss of cash? Johnson, some may say, had his mind destroyed along with his body with all those carries several years ago. Some may recall former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil calling his character into question once. Johnson, a coaches son, realizes his career is coming to an end and that he will never again command the salary he current makes. He stands to lose $600,000 this week, not exactly chump change. Though his comments were not politically correct, this still is America. Freedom of speech and expression is a right. Taking his money hurts, but watching his career end has to gouge him deeper. If he does latch on with another team next year, he will be a part time back with a pay rate showing such a role.

On with the picks. I am now sporting an unimpressive 60-27 record after going 9-4 last week. Let us see if I can do better.

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are approaching this game as a must win. They are at full health again with their offensive line, which will be critical in this match up. The Broncos have been, and is the surprise of the league so far with a perfect record. Both teams have had two weeks to prepare for this, so expect a hard hitting game.

Ravens 27 Broncos 21

Houston Texans @ Buffalo Bills

Houston is a team who appears to have found their groove on both sides of the ball, and could go on a winning streak if they are not sidetracked by injuries. Buffalo is a team still trying to find their identity.

Texans 34 Bills 17

Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears

Cleveland heads into the Windy City at a tumultuous time. Bears fans are unhappy with their teams inconsistent play on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Chicago expects a win over the lowly Browns, and Cleveland seems to have already packed it in for the season.

Bears 31 Browns 27

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys

Dallas came away with an impressive victory last week that was a much needed statement game as well. This game is critical in keeping the momentum going. Seattle is missing their best linebacker, and their best running back is dinged up. They will need to pass to win, which isn't easy against the Cowboys cornerbacks.

Cowboys 38 Seahawks 27

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets

Miami stopped the Jets winning ways just three weeks ago. After dropping another two games, the Jets won big last week. Miami came off their bye week by blowing a big lead to the Saints last week, Miami needs to run well to win, while the Jets are hurting in the middle of their defense especially. It should be another close game between these two rivals.

Jets 24 Miami 21

San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts

The 49ers lost last week, but quarterback Alex Smith may have won the confidence of his teammates. The Colts are undefeated and getting healthy. Even if Smith repeats last week performance, it will be hard for the 49ers secondary to stop the Colts passing attack all game.

Colts 34 49ers 23

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles

Though the Eagles won last week, they did not look much sharper than the team that lost to Oakland two weeks ago. The lack of running game has proven to be this teams Achilles heel for years, and it has been in the spotlight even more this year. The Giants realize they need to get back on track after two weeks of consecutive losses. Expect the Giants to pound the ball on the ground, while Philly tries to exploit a suspect Giants secondary.

Giants 23 Eagles 21

Saint Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions

It is too bad these teams cannot face each other more this season. They would win more if they did. Detroit appears ready to go with Culpepper at quarterback this week, and possibly the entire season. Though both teams have veteran quarterbacks, I expect this game to be won on the ground. Steven Jackson will carry the Rams to one of their few victories this week.

Rams 28 Lions 24

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers

The Raiders have been as inconsistent as their young quarterback JaMarcus Russell. After controlling the Eagles two weeks ago, they were pulverized by the Jets last week. The Chargers are as inconsistent, mostly due to an underachieving defense and banged up offensive line. If the Bolts do not get it going this week, they may never get anywhere this year.

Chargers 48 Raiders 24

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

The Titans are still without a win, and owner Bud Adams has ordered coach Jeff Fisher to start Vince Young at quarterback over veteran Kerry Collins. Though Fisher realizes the problem isn't just at quarterback, expect him to comply. The Jaguars handed the Titans a 20 point loss a month ago. They did it by pounding the ball down the Titan's throats all game. Expect a similar strategy, but something tells me Fisher has a plan this time.

Titans 23 Jaguars 17

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

Game Of The Week

As I told you the first time these teams met a few weeks ago, this is the game to watch. Not only is it the return of a certain Hyckocrite to Lambeau Field for the first time as a visiting player, but both teams have developed their personalities more since the first meeting. The Packers have had trouble running the ball this year, even with Ryan Grant's 148 yards versus Cleveland last week. The Vikings are excellent at stopping the run as well.

Expect the Packers to air it out against a depleted Vikings secondary, while the Vikings attack them with a balanced attack. Though the focus seems to be on quarterback in Minnesota, the main reason they win is by running the ball, controlling the clock and field position. This game will be a prime example of that, assuming their quarterback doesn't cough up the ball and victory as he did last week.

Vikings 34 Packers 31

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals

The Panthers have been a disappointment so far. Their passing attack is nearly non existent, and their running game is not at full strength with Jon Stewart battling injuries. The Cardinals are trying to find their running game still, but they realize how good their passing game is. If the Panthers do not get to Kurt Warner, the Cardinals may score often.

Cardinals 38 Panthers 17

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

The Falcons are just not running the ball as well this season as opposed to last year. This causes their defense to stay on the field longer that they would like, and for their secondary to be exploited. The Saints are also trying to get their running game more consistent so they do not have to rely on Drew Brees arm so much. This is a game Brees can air it out to multiple receivers, while Atlanta will need to control the clock to keep that from happening.

Saints 41 Falcons 30

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Denver Broncos

5. New England Patriots

6. New York Giants

7. Cincinnati Bengals

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Baltimore Ravens

10. Atlanta Falcons

11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. Houston Texans

13. Green Bay Packers

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. San Diego Chargers

16. Chicago Bears

17. Miami Dolphins

18. New York Jets

19. Arizona Cardinals

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

21. San Francisco 49ers

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Buffalo Bills

24. Oakland Raiders

25. Carolina Panthers

26. Detroit Lions

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Washington Redskins

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Cleveland Browns

31. Tennessee Titans

32. Saint Louis Rams

Vinny Cerrato Has Hot Air for Sale

JW Nix — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:16:45 -0400

Is anyone buying the pile of manure Vinny Cerrato is shoveling out of Washington DC? No respectable Redskins fan is, especially those who live in the nations capitol and are used to politicians lies.

Cerrato uses his radio show (why he even has one is beyond comprehension) as a platform to explain his incompetencies. He used it this week to make a few statements that need to be broken down.

"Jim Zorn is the head coach of the Washington Redskins and will be for the rest of this season, and hopefully into the future."

This is clearly Vinny saying he hopes he himself has a future with the club. Though many Redskins fans have scratched their heads for years trying to figure out why Cerrato maintains a job in the NFL, Dan Snyder keeps surprising them by bringing him back yearly.

"The frustration is very high, everywhere around here, but the relationships internally within this organization, quite frankly, remain the same."

That means it is business as usual for the clueless ones. Though everything crumbles around Cerrato, he remains the same obtuse dolt he always has been.

This was shown by his recent roster move of acquiring Levi Jones. Jones, whose best days were done in 2006, was a free agent all year. They pick up this has been while having dumped promising rookies from the roster the past few years. Clearly another example of Cerrato's inability to judge talent.

"I'm in the locker room and the owners come up to me and they ask me, 'How do we score more points?' "We're coming off of—against the 32nd-ranked defense — we score two field goals and have seven first downs.

"So I tell them, I recommended to them that Jim's plate is too full. He's the head coach, he's the offensive coordinator, he's the quarterbacks coach, let's take something off the plate to help him. So they said 'OK, go talk to him.' "

Cerrato said he met one on one with Zorn at the stadium and suggested the switch. Zorn asked for time to think about it. When they spoke later on the phone, Cerrato said Zorn accepted. "He says 'I'm in."

HUH? This is the guy who hired Zorn and told Snyder that Zorn could wear all of those hats. Never mind it is the second season Zorn has held all of these jobs.

The amazing part of this b.s. fest is that Cerrato is trying to claim he JUST recognized Zorn could not cut it. Where has he been the past two seasons? Siberia? Another reason for Snyder to fire Cerrato, IF Snyder can read through that quote.

The last part of Cerrato's load was on Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent. Largent, now a congressman, was a teammate with Zorn for the Seattle Seahawks in the 1970s to the '80s. Many of the receptions Largent got came from Zorn's arm.

Largent came to his friends defense, and said things for Zorn as an obvious mouthpiece. Zorn has a contract that extends into next year, and rather be fired for bad coaching so he can get paid.

Zorn stated some obvious facts about the poor leadership at the top of the Redskins organization, something that has long been stated by several Redskins legends like Sonny Jurgensen, John Riggins, Joe Theisman, and Brian Mitchell.

Largent was critical of how the Redskins hired Sherm Lewis from a bingo hall to call the plays. Cerrato labelled the comments as "off-the-wall", and then noted how Lewis had four Super Bowl rings, while as an assistant with the 49ers, while Largent had none.

Lewis retired after 2004, but Cerrato said, "You don't forget how to ride a bike if you hadn't rode your bike in four years."

Taking swipes at Largent not only shows what a bush league punk Cerrato is, but it also shows how much the man understands the game. Is Cerrato, who has Super Bowl rings as a member of the 49ers front office in the 1990s, saying he is above the Hall of Famer receiver just because Largent wasn't as lucky as Cerrato or Lewis to play on good teams?

Shows Cerrato's ego and IQ, if you ask me, as well as a blatant disregard to the legacy of the game. Considering on how Cerrato had to try to put a muzzle on Jurgensen recently, as well as the way he has run the club, this type of blather from Cerrato in regards to Largent comes as no surprise.

Redskins owner Dan Snyder likes to regard himself as a marketing genius. If this thought is even close to true, then Snyder must have a clue that his team is on the brink of falling from the lofty financial status he has worked so hard to build over the years. It was done in a way that Riggins has called Snyder the "Bernie Madoff of the NFL."

Well, Snyder has made off with millions of dollars from the loyal Redskins fans over the years. Certainly it is time for this life long Redskins fan to give back to Redskins Nation. The very first move is to realize Cerrato has destroyed his team. Perhaps the theory that Cerrato did it on purpose to repay Snyder for firing him in 2001 is possible.

Even if that is untrue, and Cerrato is doing his very best, Snyder needs to realize that he is the only owner in the NFL who would employ Cerrato. No one came knocking on Vinny's door the year he was out of a job until Snyder rehired him in 2002. There is a reason for this.

It is time for Snyder to cut the chord with his racquetball buddy Cerrato. It is time for Snyder to get a competent general manager to blow up the current roster and rebuild from scratch. It is time to stop signing has-beens, trading for has-beens, and gambling on uncertain talents. These are the moves that has destroyed the Redskins yearly from the time Snyder bought the club.

Snyder obviously is a fan of Redskins Hall of Fame coach George Allen. This can be seen by his propensity of signing aging players. The difference is that Allen was a superior evaluator of talent and knew which players could help the team and how. Snyder and Cerrato do not have this ability, and neither will ever enter Canton unless they pay for a ticket like the rest of the general public.

Now is the time for Snyder to find someone with the ability to discern NFL talent. He had that with Charley Casserly once, but fired Charley to try to make is own mark on the franchise.

Much like he did by renaming the stadium Jack Kent Cooke built, and the land that surrounds it. Snyder is intent on building his own legacy so much, he has eschewed the legacy of a proud franchise he grew up admiring.

Perhaps Snyder should swallow some ego and lean on that tradition he claims to respect so much by admitting to the fans he tried and failed his way. Now he needs to lean on the way of tradition and bring back the people who also care about the team.

Especially people who care about the teams success ahead of themselves, something Cerrato will never be willing to do.

Now on with this week's predictions:

Green Bay Packers @ Cleveland Browns

The Browns are spiraling out of control, and seem to have no clear direction. The Packers are a team who need to win. It should be a victory in the Dawg Pound for the Pack.

Packers 31 Browns 17

San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texan s

The news for the Niners is that first round draft pick Michael Crabtree will get his first NFL action in front of his home-town Houston. He will leave town with a loss against a Texans team that is jelling.

Texans 34 49ers 28

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Bolts backers are fired up with anger with their underachieving team. The Chiefs are fresh off their first victory. I'm not saying this is an upset primed to happen, but it could be close.

Chargers 41 Chiefs 21

Indianapolis Colts @ Saint Louis Rams

The Rams were within minutes of procuring their first win in 16 games last year. Their reward is they now get to face a hot Colts team who will be experiencing the return of safety Bob Sanders for the first time this year.

Colts 45 Rams 24

New England Patriots @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

You have to feel sorry for the Bucs. Their home game will be played in England instead of Florida. Tampa Bay is not going to be very competitive this year, so they best pray for jet lag to hit the Patriots hard. New England is coming off an explosive victory last week and will look to keep their motors running.

Patriots 35 Buccaneers 20

Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Brett Favre might be getting all of the press ESPN can muster, but Ben Roethlisberger is having a fantastic season thus far. The Steelers running game has been inconsistent, so Big Ben is on a pace to throw for over 5,000 yards currently.

The Vikings are hoping All-Pro cornerback Antoine Winfield will be healthy enough to play, but it looks unlikely. Factor in the Vikes having two safeties hurting as well. After watching Baltimore rack up yards last week, Roethlisberger has to be smiling.

Steelers 31 Vikings 30

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers

The Bills head into this game with their backup QB. The Panthers have gotten little production from their QB. This should be a smash-mouth game, where it is won in the trenches. Special teams will be a big wild card in this one.

Panthers 24 Bills 21

New York Jets @ Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are a week removed from an impressive defensive effort. The Jets are losing key defenders while going through the growing pains of their starting rookie quarterback. If the Raiders can establish their running game again this week, they could win another in front of their loyal fans.

Raiders 24 Jets 17

Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals

Da Bears and Bengals head into this game in need of a win. The key to this game will be who runs the ball best. Cedric Benson has something to prove to Chicago. The difference might come down to the Bengals ability to exploit an erratic Bears secondary.

Bengals 35 Bears 31

Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys

Game of the Week

It might not even be halfway into the season, but Dallas needs this game in the worst way. They have yet to establish themselves with a statement game, and this one may determine the futures of Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett in Dallas with the Mike Shanahan rumors getting louder.

The Falcons are hurting in their secondary, so they will need to run the ball and control the clock. With the Cowboys suspect run defense, this could be the game Mike "Burner" Turner has been looking to break out in.

Falcons 38 Cowboys 34

New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins

The Saints appear to finally have a team with the ability to win it all. This is the first time in the franchises beleaguered history, so trepidation is certainly factored in. They face a Miami team that is fresh off a bye week after winning two straight games. Miami has a young quarterback, and they love to run the football.

This will be a good test for the Saints defense, and a good measurement on how much ability the Saints have.

Saints 34 Dolphins 24

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants

The Cardinals are a team who needs the game bad. They have yet to really established themselves as a team who is to be reckoned with. This game is a must-win for them. The Giants are coming off a game where they were easily handled by the Saints, and need to bounce back. This could be decided in the final minutes off the foot of a placekicker.

Giants 31 Cardinals 27

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

The Eagles are coming off a horrible loss where their offensive line was destroyed by the Raiders last week. This can not sit well with head coach Andy Reid, a former offensive line coach. Expect some improvement, because it will be needed against an excellent Redskins defense. Washington has an issue moving the ball offensively, and are in disarray.

Jim Zorn will no longer calling the plays, so there is hope for some improvement in offensive proficiency. Still, the Redskins defense will have to win this one. Considering they don't turn the ball over much, it seems a daunting task.

Eagles 27 Redskins 14

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Denver Broncos

5. New England Patriots

6. New York Giants

7. Cincinnati Bengals

8. Atlanta Falcons

9. Baltimore Ravens

10. Philadelphia Eagles

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

12. Green Bay Packers

13. Houston Texans

14. San Diego Chargers

15. Chicago Bears

16. Dallas Cowboys

17. Miami Dolphins

18. New York Jets

19. Arizona Cardinals

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

21. San Francisco 49ers

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Oakland Raiders

24. Carolina Panthers

25. Buffalo Bills

26. Detroit Lions

27. Kansas City Chiefs

28. Washington Redskins

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Cleveland Browns

31. Tennessee Titans

32. Saint Louis Rams

Let the Mutiny Begin In Redskins Nation

JW Nix — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:37:52 -0400

When the Washington Redskins skulked off the field after being defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs 14-6 yesterday, they faced a half empty home stadium filled with rage and dismay.

Head coach Jim Zorn went into the game with the wrath of Redskins Nation on his shoulders. Many legends of the team have been critical of Zorn's coaching ability. Even Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen faced a possible ban from the broadcasting booth due to his questioning the team's game plans week to week.

Zorn's inept play calling was on full display versus the winless Chiefs. It got so bad that Zorn benched starting quarterback Jason Campbell in favor of veteran reserve Todd Collins. Collins played worse than Campbell did, but he did lead the Redskins to their only points of the game.

Due to the Redskins inability to sustain any semblance of an offensive threat, the Redskins will be replacing Zorn with veteran offensive coordinator Sherm Lewis as the play caller. Lewis joined the team a week ago, yet the immediate move seems necessary to all observers.

Washington became the first team in NFL history to start a season by facing six winless opponents. Many of the games were deemed cupcake matches before the season began, and would help the team get off to a fast start before the hard part of their 2009 schedule faced them.

Now the Redskins face the Philadelphia Eagles before heading into their bye week. The Eagles are coming off an embarrassing loss of their own, and should be expected to be fired up facing their divisional rival.

Though many of the Redskins players showed vocal support for Zorn this week, their play on the field has stated otherwise. Many are frustrated, and trying to circle their wagons to show unity.

Some players, like Albert Haynesworth and Andre Carter, played an excellent game versus the Chiefs. Many of the rest of the team played uninspired and seemed to belie the statements they wanted Zorn to stay on board.

The defense has been excellent all year, even despite the fact cornerback DeAngelo Hall tends to give opposing receivers a 20-yard cushion on virtually every passing play. The unit has kept the team in every game, only to be disappointed by the lack of offense created by their teammates.

What can be seen on the offense is a unit in shambles. The offensive line has suffered two key injuries, and has been shuffled virtually every week the past month. The wide receivers have given little production, causing the Redskins opponents to crowd the line of scrimmage and stop the run with relative ease.

Clinton Portis, the starting running back, has obviously lost a step and is becoming more fragile and injury prone with each time he totes the ball.

The only consistent weapon Campbell has had to rely on is All Pro tight end Chris Cooley. Due to Zorn's play calling, Cooley went without a reception versus the Carolina Panthers two Sunday's ago. It was the first time Cooley had gone a game without a reception since his rookie season in 2004. With teams focusing on Cooley, his opportunities will be fewer unless one of his teammates steps up and provides help.

The team has yet to show a fire in their belly overall as a team, despite the fact they state they support their head coach. Some asked the front office for a vote of confidence for Zorn, but none was forthcoming. After another lackluster game, none should be expected.

Zorn looked like a beaten man at his press conference after the game. He had the look of a man who knows his days in Washington are coming to an end, and quite possibly his last days of holding a significant job in football. It seems doubtful Zorn will ever again assume the duties of a head coach or even offensive coordinator at the professional level. He has appeared to have been over matched and out of his league since day one on the job.

With the Redskins days away from their bye week, the possibility of Zorn being fired looms much larger. The game against the Eagles will be played in front of a nationally televised audience on Monday. The spotlight of the teams dysfunctions will be on full display, and may be even harped on if the Eagles handle the Redskins with ease.

Zorn himself is not the sole blame for perhaps fielding the worst Redskin team since 1960-61. Washington won just two total games over those two seasons in a time that is generally considered to be the low point of the franchises long history. Though the Redskins won just three games in 1994, this team might have a hard time exceeding that win total despite having two victories already this year.

Vinny Cerrato is the teams general manager, and the man most responsible for assembling this underwhelming bunch of players. It is a team built through poor drafts and bad free agent signings, which has been a signature of the Cerrato era in Washington.

Though Cerrato should hang onto his job for now, mostly due to his friendship with team owner Dan Snyder, it would be virtually astounding to see him hold any type of position with the club, or anywhere in the NFL again, after this season concludes.

If Zorn remains the head coach for the entire season, he should be viewed as a figurehead image only. With Greg Blatche handling the defense and now Smith handling the offense, Zorn's duties should mostly involve him standing on the sideline as a spectator with a very good view he doesn't deserve.

There are a gaggle of ex-head coaches available for hire in 2010. Names like Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, and Bill Cowher have been bandied about. Only Shanahan and Holmgren have experience as a general manager, and would most likely want to hold that role as well as coach if they were interested in coaching again.

One problem is that Shanahan has been strongly linked to the Dallas Cowboys next season if Wade Phillips, the current head coach, fails to get Dallas into the playoffs next year. Holmgren stepped down from his job in Seattle after last season to spend more time with his family, and would seem to be even less interested.

Yet, with the fact the Redskins took a chance on Zorn and even Steve Spurrier in 2002, it seems unlikely they will gamble with an unknown entity again in the near future. This means Russ Grimm, an Redskins legend, will probably not get a chance despite having many of the teams alumni having stated he would be a good option.

Another issue will be trying to get an established entity to want to work under Snyder, an owner who gets too heavily involved with the teams operations despite admittedly knowing little about football. Snyder grew up a fan of the team and wants to win. Unfortunately he has a tendency of not being content with just marketing the team, which is his area of expertise.

If Snyder is as miffed as the rest of Redskins Nation, then he will clean house upon the completion of the season by starting with Cerrato and Zorn. Then he will have to commit to respected and able personnel and step back and let those hired try to build the team up with the many able parts already in place.

The talent is there on the roster, for the most part, but it will require sound, able, expert coaching and leadership to bring it out.

NFL Week 6 Picks To Flip Over

JW Nix — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:38:43 -0400

I am back with my NFL Picks after being laid up for a week. I went 11-3 on Week 4, thus bumping my record up to 43-18 overall.

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

This game will be fun. Houston needs to pass to win, while the Bengals key to victory will be running the ball effectively. I can't see this being a high scoring affair, because both teams need this, but it could be.

Texans 27 Bengals 24

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

If the Lions are smart, they will sit Matthew Stafford this week. With their bye week approaching the following week, they can rely on Culpepper. Green Bay will be hungry, so no reason to risk the future.

Packers 34 Lions 17

Saint Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Rams need some good news, but the exclusion of Rush Limbaugh from prospective ownership may be about it right now. The Jaguars are at a crossroads, so head coach Jack Del Rio needs them ready.

Jaguars 34 Rams 14

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

The Ravens can stop the run, but can they run it against the Vikings? I like the Minnesota secondary a little better at the end of the day.

Vikings 21 Ravens 17

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Game Of The Week

This matchup has a little of everything. The Jints keep winning despite a beat up secondary. The Saints have won despite an inconsistent running attack. Both teams are a bit healthier, and seeking balance on Sunday. Jeremy Shockey will be looking to beat his former team, and the Saints hope Pierre Thomas is ready to carry the load. The Giants have a balanced offensive attack that could give New Orleans fits. It will be fun to watch.

Saints 45 Giants 41

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Well, Derek Anderson is the better quarterback as I had stated long ago. The problem with Anderson finally getting Cleveland a win is that he now has to face a Steelers team trying to stay in the upper echelon in the league. Pittsburgh wants this one bad.

Steelers 31 Browns 10

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay has an exciting young quarterback named Josh with a bright future. Too bad they wasted their pick on Freeman, because I am referring to Johnson. JJ likes throwing to the tight end, especially Winslow. I don't like what the Panthers have trying to stop this connection.

Buccaneers 24 Panthers 21

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

The battle for the first pick in the draft. Who quits first? It won't be Washington for once.

Redskins 24 Chiefs 17

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

JaMarcus Russell has more flashes of incompetence than ability. I'm not quite ready to label him a bust, but he might be called damaged goods by seasons end.

Eagles 45 Raiders 17

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Seattle has had two weeks where its defense has been excellent, but the Seahawks are far from consistent. Arizona needs to treat this like a playoff game.

Cardinals 31 Seahawks 27

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

Times are tough for the Titans. Looks like my predicting them last place in their division is looking more solid. The Patriots are still looking for their stride, but the talent still carries them to victory.

Patriots 27 Titans 16

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Buffalo's no huddle offense is a flop. They need to ditch it. The Jets are seeing blood after being embarrassed last week on national television.

Jets 30 Bills 13

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons

The Bears have a real chance to explore a suspect Falcons secondary. The team that runs the ball will win this game.

Bears 34 Falcons 28

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

Denver was 4-1 last year when they faced a 2-3 Chargers team. San Diego won that game. History will repeat.

Chargers 34 Broncos 20

NFL Lucubrations

The mess in Washington has gotten a lot of publicity lately. Talking heads are now trying to goad the gullible Redskins owner, Dan Snyder, into a retread hire like Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, and even Mike Holmgren.

The issue is compounded by the fact the team probably just lost All-Pro offensive tackle Chris Samuels forever because of a spine issue. Things will get so ugly this year that Snyder will finally be forced to fire Vinny Cerrato. Out of the ambers of hell a miracle can occur.

There are a few teams at their lowest right now. The Redskins, Bills, Raiders, Rams, and Titans are certainly in that group, but perhaps no team has looked as lost as the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns ownership seems to be taking a tremendous gamble on coach Eric Mangini. Mangini quickly pulled the hook on quarterback Brady Quinn after a few weeks, even though Cleveland traded up to get the crying kid in the green room in 2007.

Now Quinn is preparing to sell his house as the trade deadline approaches. There has also be word floated Mangini might trade Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs. Mangini never came across as a coach with a plan while with the Jets, so it will be interesting to see if he actually has one or is just trying to establish his ego.

After seeing recently traded wide receiver Braylon Edwards contribute immediately with the Jets, you have to wonder if the gamble on the coach is smart.

NFL Power Rankings

1. New York Giants

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Indianapolis Colts

5. Denver Broncos

6. Philadelphia Eagles

7. New England Patriots

8. Cincinnati Bengals

9. Baltimore Ravens

10. New York Jets

11. Chicago Bears

12. Atlanta Falcons

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

14. San Diego Chargers

15. Houston Texans

16. Dallas Cowboys

17. Green Bay Packers

18. Miami Dolphins

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

20. Arizona Cardinals

21. San Francisco 49ers

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Carolina Panthers

24. Buffalo Bills

25. Washington Redskins

26. Detroit Lions

27. Tennessee Titans

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

29. Cleveland Browns

30. Oakland Raiders

31. Kansas City Chiefs

32. Saint Louis Rams

Crazy Canton Cuts = Bob Talamini

JW Nix — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:24:19 -0400

Bob Talamini
6'1" 255
Offensive Guard
Houston Oilers
1960 - 1968
Nine Seasons
126 Games
6 Pro Bowls

Robert Guy Talamini was drafted in the 24th round by the expansion Houston Oilers in the fledgling American Football League before the 1960 season. He was a territorial draft selection, and was the third from last player chosen overall.

He had attended college at Kentucky University, where he had been a starter under coach Blanton Collier for three years. Talamini played 60 minutes as both an offensive guard and middle linebacker, and was named Honorable All-American his senior year. He also was named to the All-SEC Third Team at the conclusion of the year, yet was not invited to any of the post season games to put his skills on display.

Talamini had no thoughts of playing professional football, and had already started planning on life after college. Things changed one day after Adrian Burk called him in a conversation that lasted less than two minutes. Burk, who holds the NFL record for throwing seven touchdown passes in a single game, was working in the Oilers front office for owner Bud Adams. Burk asked him if he would have any interest trying out for the team in a league Talamini had heard nothing about. After a moment of thought, he remained non-committal.

A contract soon arrived in the mail to Talamini, who then had his law professor look over it. It stated that he would make $7,000 only if he made the team, and nothing if he did not. Talamini then called Burk back and asked for a bonus. The Oilers sent him $500, so he decided then to try out for the team.

Houston had just made a big splash in the news by signing Billy Cannon to their roster. Cannon was an All-American running back who had just won the 1959 Heisman Trophy Award. He was the first draft choice of both the NFL and AFL Draft, which had both leagues go to court over the right to sign him.

When he arrived in Houston, the Oilers had already been in training camp for over a week. Over 300 players were at the camp, yet the league rules stipulated that only 35 players could make each roster. After standing out immediately, Talamini was soon told by head coach Lou Rymkus that he would start.

The Oilers started 17 rookies in their inaugural season, nine alone just on offense. They were led by quarterback George Blanda, a wash out in the NFL who would revitalize his career in Houston and end up in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. The only only other veteran on offense was seventh year tight end John Carson. Carson had been a Pro Bowl player in 1957 with the Washington Redskins, and would retire from the game after his lone season in the AFL.

Houston was a well balanced team that was equally adept in all facets of the game. They went 10-4 in their first season, then beat the Los Angeles Chargers to capture the first ever AFL Championship. They repeated as champions the next year by defeating the Chargers again in the championship game. Talamini was named to the All-AFL Second Team by both the UPI and the league in 1961.

Houston went to a third consecutive championship game after the 1962 season, but lost in double overtime to the Dallas Texans 20-17. Lasting just six seconds short of 78 minutes, it is still the longest championship game ever played. The Texans would relocate to Kansas City after the game, and rename themselves the Chiefs.

Talamini was named to the All-AFL First Team after that season, and would garner this award every year that followed up until 1967.

Though the Oilers failed to achieve their previous successes, they were a high scoring team over the next several seasons. One of the teams strengths was their rushing attack, which was led by Talamini's blocking prowess. He was excellent versus the pass rush, and was special when it came to pulling out and leading on sweeps.

After the 1967 concluded, he approached Adams for a pay raise. Despite coming off of six consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, at the young age of 28, he was denied his request. Talamini then asked for his immediate release from his contract.

Joe Spencer was an assistant coach on the New York Jets in 1968. He had worked with the Oilers a few years earlier, and was familiar with Talamini. Spencer called him and asked if he would be interested in joining the Jets. Talamini agreed to after being promised a pay raise, so the Jets gave Houston cash for his contract.

The 1968 season was a magical season for the New York Jets. This was a franchise who had struggled to stay in existence just a few years earlier due to poor attendance and play on the field. Things changed when they drafted Joe Namath in 1965. Namath, a future Hall Of Fame quarterback, brought the team a lot of publicity and credit as the Jets slowly built a winning team.

The Jets won their last four games of the year, and finished 11-3. They then faced the Oakland Raiders, a team that handed them their last loss, in the AFL Championship Game. New York won 27-23 on a late fourth quarter touchdown pass from Namath to Hall Of Fame wide receiver Don Maynard. The victory propelled the Jets into Super Bowl III, where they faced the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

New York won the game 16-7, and became the first AFL team to be declared world champions. They won by creating five turnovers on defense, and controlling the ball on offense. The offensive line was led by Talamini and Winston Hill. They paved the way for running back Matt Snell to gain 121 yards on 30 rushing attempts, as well as helping Snell score the teams only touchdown off of a four yard run.

Though he was just 30 years old, and had been on three championship teams in his nine years, Talamini decided to retire from the game. He was slightly worn out from a difficult season. Making $17,000 that season, he had to spend over $2,000 to commute from New York City to his family throughout the entire year. He decided to get on with his life after football, and to be with his family.

Bob Talamini is a member of the American Football League All-Time Team, and is on the second unit.

He is a player who deserves his induction into Canton when you try and measure his career in several ways. Many men are in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame now based on the fact they played on winning teams. Talamini obviously played on winners, beginning and ending his career collecting championship rings.

Many other players are inducted because they were Pro Bowl players several times throughout their careers. Being honored with a Pro Bowl invitation indicates that player is amongst the very best at his position that season. Talamini was given this accolade in six of his nine years playing. There are several inducted players who appeared in an equal or lesser amount of Pro Bowls than Talamini. There are also several inductees who played in fewer seasons over the duration of their careers.

It is quite clear that he was one of the best to ever play his position in the history of professional football. The fact that the AFL still continues to be disrespected today can be the only fathomable reason for his exclusion.

Jim Otto, Ron Mix, and Billy Shaw are the only three offensive linemen from the AFL that are in Canton today. Shaw is the only one who spent his entire career just in the AFL. Of the 48 players listed on the American Football League All-Time Team, only 12 are in Canton. This is obviously still a resonant of sour grapes that the NFL had for the upstart AFL, and the prejudice still continues.

The AFL was the league that showed scoring could bring in fans, as opposed to the grinding style the NFL was using in those days. Much of those AFL philosophies are still in play today, after the NFL saw the possibilities and expanded on it by castrating defenses.

The Professional Football Hall Of Fame is NOT the NFL Hall Of Fame! If it were, then many legends from other leagues would not be inducted and it would be even more of a empty facility than it currently is. It is very clear that the only reason Bob Talamini is not in Canton is because of more than just time forgetting him or his impact. It is because the NFL still does not respect the AFL.

Notable 1960 NFL Draftees * Denotes Hall of Fame Inductee:

1. Billy Cannon, RB, Los Angeles Rams
2. Richard Bass, RB, LA Rams
3. Johnny Robinson, DB, Detroit
8. Jim Houston, LB, Cleveland
10. Ron Mix, OT, Baltimore Colts *
20. Maxie Baughan, LB, Philadelphia
32. Don Meredith, QB, Chicago
42. Roger Brown, DT, Detroit
44. Jim Marshall, DE, Cleveland
55. Abner Haynes, RB, Pittsburgh
74. Larry Wilson, S, St. Louis Cardinals *
109. Charley Johnson, QB, St. Louis
110. Curtis McClinton, RB, LA Rams
119. Bobby Boyd, DB, Baltimore

Notable Players Drafted By The AFL In 1960 :

Jim Otto, C, Oakland Raiders *
Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin, DB, Dallas Texans
Larry Grantham, LB, New York Titans
Pat Dye, OT, Boston Patriots (Noted College Coach)
Jim Norton, DB, Dallas
Mel Branch, DE, Denver Broncos
Pail Maguire, P, Los Angeles Chargers (Noted Broadcaster)
Ed "Wahoo" McDaniels, LB, LA Chargers (Noted Wrestler)
Wayne Hawkins, G, Oakland
Tom Day, DE, Buffalo Bills

This Week in the NFL is for Breast Cancer Awareness

JW Nix — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:14:42 -0400

DETROIT LIONS at CHICAGO BEARS

Detroit broke their losing streak, and do not expect to start another one of that length this century. Chicago has been playing better than expected with an anemic running attack, and their leader on defense out for the year. Expect this to go into the fourth close before Cutler pulls it out.

BEARS 24 LIONS 14

CINCINNATI BENGALS at CLEVELAND BROWNS

Even though Eric Mangina finally put Derek Anderson back in as the starting quarterback, he may be the worst head coach in the AFC. His offensive line certainly is, and the Bengals should exploit that.

BENGALS 34 BROWNS 20

OAKLAND RAIDERS at HOUSTON TEXANS

If Houston is going to fulfill expectations of being a playoff contender this year, they must win this game. Oakland has had trouble passing the ball lately, so expect the Texans to crowd the line to stop those good Raiders running backs.

TEXANS 31 RAIDERS 17

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Without their starting quarterback, the Seahawks are not hard to stop. The Colts are always hard to stop with their quarterback.

COLTS 41 SEAHAWKS 20

TENNESSEE TITANS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Jags got a taste of victory last week, while the Titans still seek their first win. Both teams will be hungry, and this game will come down to who wins in the trenches.

TITANS 23 JAGUARS 21

NEW YORK GIANTS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Giants are looking good even after a few important injuries. The Chiefs have yet to find their stride on offense. Expect the Giants to ground and pound all Sunday.

GIANTS 38 CHIEFS 14

BALTIMORE RAVENS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

This is a matchup of two of the elite teams in the NFL today. The Ravens have an edge defensively, and the running game. Both receiving, and blocking units are evenly matched. This might not be the last time these teams play against each other this season. Flip a coin this Sunday.

PATRIOTS 28 RAVENS 24

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS

The Bucs head into Sunday with a young, athletic, and talented Josh Johnson starting at quarterback for his first time. The Redskins are reeling, and Clinton Portis is hurt again already. Could spell doom in D.C.

REDSKINS 24 BUCCANEERS 23

BUFFALO BILLS at MIAMI DOLPHINS

Miami is starving for a win, and the Bills are still trying to get consistent. If Miami can run the ball, then they win. Something tells me Trent Edwards will get hot Sunday.

BILLS 27 DOLPHINS 21

NEW YORK JETS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The Jets rely on their defense to win, while the Saints rely on their offense. The Jets will not have the services of two of their top DBs, so Drew Brees should be licking his lips.

SAINTS 27 JETS 17

DALLAS COWBOYS at DENVER BRONCOS

Denver might be catching Dallas at a good time. The Cowboys are down to one healthy running back, and you know that Champ Bailey can cover Roy Williams. Dallas has been inconsistent versus the run, and the Broncos could use this, and the mile high air to their advantage.

BRONCOS 31 COWBOYS 27

SAINT LOUIS RAMS at SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

Kyle Boller will start at quarterback, and you never know which version will show in his inconsistent make up. The Niners are hurting at running back, so they will have to rely on Shaun Hill getting the ball to Vernon Dean, often.

RAMS 34 49ers 24

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Game of the Week

The Steelers are not happy with one win right now. Expect them and the fans to be fired up for this game. The Chargers need to run the ball to stand a chance, though their passing game always makes them dangerous. This is a big battle of two teams with Super Bowl expectations, and a good measuring stick.

STEELERS 34 CHARGERS 31

GREEN BAY PACKERS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Though the media is trying to hype this game up, the one to bookmark in this series is the game at Lambeau Field later this year. The Vikes are clicking right now on both sides of the ball.

The running game carries them to victory, as the defense gets them the ball back quickly. The Packers are not running the ball well right now, and that bodes very good for Minnesota. Ball control is the Vikings game.

VIKINGS 27 PACKERS 17

Season Record So Far : 32-15 ( Did Not Predict Opening Day Game Pitt/ Tenn)

NFL LUCUBRATIONS

For those of you not glued to ESPN listening to the Favre Diary, there has been a few other things going on in the NFL.

One big subject might be to hold a poll on which NFL head coach will be fired first. You could toss in a few others, but this is my five, in no particular order, who I think are on the hot seat.

1. Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins He wouldn't even make a good offensive coordinator.

2. Eric Mangina, Cleveland Browns He, as I said the day he got the job, was a mistake to hire.

3. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars Jack is rebuilding, which takes time. Yet, he has been in Jacksonville a long time. Most coaches don't last that long with a team these days, so he makes this list almost by default.

4. Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys Jason Garrett should go first, but Jerry Jones loves this guy enough to call him a future head coach. Let him try in the UFL before the NFL Jerry. Word is that the Boys are hot for Mike Shanahan right now.

5. John Fox, Carolina Panthers Another coach on one team a long time. His team is really not performing well right now, so perhaps his sand glass is running empty in Carolina.

You could toss in a few others, but this is my five who I think are on the hot seat.

You may have noticed I spelled Eric Mangina's name wrong, but maybe you didn't? This name was given to him by me when he was running the Jets. Retread hires are an unknown generally, but this one had disaster written all over it.

Mangina seems to have a predication for neglecting the trenches. This is something Cleveland does not need right now, and the top brass should accept the full brunt of the blame.

Brady Quinn was handed the starting job, and did little. Derek Anderson replaced him last week, and gave the same results. Anderson was a Pro Bowl player two years ago, which also happened to be the last time running back Jamal Lewis was effective. There happens to be a reason for this theme.

The Browns offensive line has stunk the past two years. If the team had Johnny Unitas, and Jim Brown together in their backfield now, I doubt the results would be much better. Though I never saw Quinn as an NFL talent, he certainly cannot be blamed. That applies to the season Anderson had last year.

If no one is blocking or catching with any consistency, you just will not win many games. Mangina might go into next year as coach, but if they may as well get rid of him now if he does not build their trenches in the 2010 draft.

The Tennessee Titans are without a win so far. This is not what was expected from a team that had such a long and dominant stretch last year. Though I did predict a last place finish for them this year, which many disagreed with me on, I certainly wonder what will happen to their season if they fail to win Sunday in Jacksonville.

The Titans will face the Colts and Patriots the next two weeks before facing the Jaguars again. Losing this week will give Jacksonville confidence to come into Tennessee and win again.

If the Titans are 0-6 at that point, who knows what the moral of the team will be. Jeff Fisher has perhaps his most daunting task ahead of him so far in his 17 years as head coach of the team.

DO NOT FORGET TO DONATE TOWARDS THE CURE OF BREAST CANCER THIS WEEK if you are able.

Go To : http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org

Crazy Canton Cuts = Don Coryell

JW Nix — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:57:08 -0400

Don Coryell
Head Coach
Saint Louis Cardinals
San Diego Chargers
1973 - 1986
14 Seasons
111 Wins
First Coach With 100 Wins In Pro And College
Only Coach To Lead NFL In Passing 6 Straight Years
5 Division Titles

Donald David Coryell played college football at the University of Washington from 1949 to 1951 as a defensive back. He then went into coaching, and became a head coach at Whittier College in 1957, succeeding George Allen, who became a NFL Hall Of Fame coach.

He spent three years as the head coach of the Poets. While there, he led the team to win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in each of his three seasons. He had a record of 21 - 5 - 1 and is a member of the school's Hall Of Fame.

Coryell left Whittier after the 1959 season and was not a head coach in 1960. He then became the head coach of San Diego State in 1961, where his teams would make a significant impact on the college football universe.

Coryell stayed with San Diego State for 12 seasons until 1972. In his 125 games there, the Aztecs won 104 of them. Attendance jumped from 8,000 spectators per game to over 41,000 per game during his tenure.

Three of his teams finished their seasons undefeated, and seven of them won both the California Collegiate Athletic Conference and later the Pacific Coast Athletic Association title.

His offensive genius also garnered nationwide attention while at San Diego State. His 1969 team led the NCAA in total offense (532.2 yards per game), passing (374.2 yards per game), and scoring (46.4 points per game) in their undefeated season.

He also showed his innate ability to develop players, especially on offense. He had 54 players go to the NFL from his teams, including five players drafted in the first round. Nine of his players were First Team All-Americans. In 1967, he had eight players drafted, and five went in the first two rounds.

The list of players he coached with the Aztecs included Haven Moses, Dennis Shaw, Brian Sipe, Willie Buchanon, Isaac Curtis, Don Horn, Fred Dryer, Joe Lavender, Don Shy, Claudie Minor, Tom Reynolds, Gary Garrison, Ralph Wenzel, Henry Allison, and noted actor Carl Weathers known best as Apollo Creed in the movie "Rocky". Dryer also became an actor after his NFL career, starring in the television series "Hunter".

Shaw led the NCAA in total offense in 1969, and would go on to become the first quarterback to win the NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year Award in 1970. Only three other quarterbacks have won that award since.

Buchanon won the 1972 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award and is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall Of Fame and their All-Time Team.

Sipe led the NCAA in passing in 1971, while Reynolds led the NCAA in receiving. Sipe's successor was Jesse Freitas, who was also recruited by Coryell. Freitas would lead the NCAA in passing in 1973. Sipe would later be named the MVP of the NFL in 1980.

The Coryell coaching tree from his Aztec era is very impressive as well.

Joe Gibbs was a player on Coryell's team at first and won the team's Most Inspirational Player Award in 1963. Gibbs later became a graduate assistant, then assistant coach at San Diego State.

He also was an assistant under Coryell with both the Cardinals and Chargers before becoming head coach of the Washington Redskins. Gibbs is a member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Another Pro Football Hall Of Fame coach who coached under Coryell at San Diego State was John Madden. Madden would join the Oakland Raiders in 1967, and then become the youngest head coach of the league the next season at 32 years old.

After a very successful stint with the Raiders, Madden became a popular NFL analyst on television and video game mogul.

Joe Gibbs' coaching career was almost cut short by Madden.

Gibbs was working under Madden, who was the defensive coordinator for Coryell. There was an annual spring football game approaching, and Coryell had Gibbs coach the team that would face Madden's team in the game.

Madden approached Gibbs and asked him what plays would be run, so Madden could prepare his team. Gibbs refused to disclose the plays, so Madden asked Coryell to mediate the situation.

Coryell told both Gibbs and Madden to treat it as real game, without the disclosure of plays to either side.

Gibbs team won that game. As the final gun sounded, both young coaches met at mid-field to shake hands. Madden fired Gibbs right there on the spot instead. Seeing a distraught Gibbs, Coryell then brought him over to the offensive side of the coaching staff.

The rest truly is history.

Jim Hanifan, Ernie Zampese, and Rod Dowhower also coached under Coryell at San Diego State.

Zampese was a noted offensive genius who was the offensive coordinator on the 1995 World Champion Dallas Cowboys team, and is a mentor to current San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner and former head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Dowhower went on to succeed Pro Football Hall Of Fame coach Bill Walsh as head coach at Stanford University in 1979. He later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 1985 to 1986.

He was successful as an offensive coordinator with several teams in the NFL, including two consecutive NFC Championship appearances with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000 and 2001.

Hanifan was a head coach with both the Saint Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. He was also a top assistant coach for many years, and won the NFL's Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 1977.

He was one of the best offensive line coaches to ever roam a sideline, and helped develop countless All-Pro's. He helped coach the Washington Redskins to a World Championship in 1992, and later the Saint Louis Rams to a win in Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999.

Coryell's teams went to three bowl games in his tenure with San Diego State. His 104 victories and .840 winning percentage are the best in school history, and he is a member of the College Football Hall Of Fame, the San Diego Hall of Champions, the University of Washington Husky Hall Of Fame, and San Diego State Aztec's Hall Of Fame.

The Saint Louis Cardinals were coming off a horrid year in 1972 that saw them score just 22 touchdowns, have 68 rushing first downs, and 2,038 passing yards. They were the third worst scoring team in the NFL.

A change was needed, so they hired Coryell to be their head coach for the 1973 season.

Coryell matched the previous seasons record of 4-9-1 that year, but improved the team's scoring to eleventh overall in the league. It became evident that the Cardinals were improved under Coryell's leadership, and that was highlighted even more the following year.

The Cardinals finished the 1974 season with a record of 10-4, which was good enough to capture the NFC East crown. It was the team's first divisional title since 1948.

Though the Cardinals lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings, they sent five players to the Pro Bowl. Four of those players came from the offense.

The Cardinal improved on that the next year and went 11-3. They won the NFC East again, and are the one of only two Cardinals teams to win two consecutive division titles.

The 1947 and 1948 Chicago Cardinals team is the other, and the 1947 team is the franchise's lone squad that earned a NFL Championship win.

The 1925 team was handed the championship by the league, due to a controversy with the Pottsville Maroons, but did not publicly claim to be that seasons champion until 1933.

Nine Cardinals went to the Pro Bowl in that 1975 season, the most in franchise history. Seven of them were offensive players. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs again, this time to the Los Angeles Rams.

Coryell's 1976 team sent seven players, five on offense, to the Pro Bowl. The team finished 10-4, which was good enough for second place in the NFC East, but not enough to reach the playoffs.

The Cardinals stumbled to 7-7, yet still sent seven players to the Pro Bowl. Six of the players played on the offense. It was not deemed good enough by the Cardinals ownership, so they fired Coryell.

Don Coryell's 42 wins are the most by any coach in the Cardinals franchise's history, and his five years as head coach with the team is the second most ever.

The San Diego Chargers started their 1978 season with one win in four games under head coach Tommy Protho. Not happy with these results, the Chargers then fired Protho and replaced him with Coryell.

The team went 8-4 under him the rest of the way, including winning seven of their last eight games.

This was when "Air Coryell" was born as a common term, though Coryell's years in Saint Louis also featured high-powered offenses running under much of the same schemes used in San Diego.

The team improved to lead the NFL with a 12-4 record the next year, the most wins in Coryell's career, as seven Chargers went to the Pro Bowl. Five of them were offensive players.

They would would win the AFC West, their first divisional title since 1965, but ultimately lose in the first round to the Houston Oilers.

The Chargers would win the AFC West four straight years, the only time in franchise history that has been accomplished.

The 1980 Chargers went 11-5, but lost in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual champion Oakland Raiders by seven points. This team sent eight players to the Pro Bowl, including five on offense. It was also the first team in NFL history to have three receivers gain over 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

The Chargers went 10-6 the next year, and also led the league in scoring. Five players went to the Pro Bowl, four of which played offense.

They then played perhaps the greatest playoff game in NFL history against the Miami Dolphins in the first round.

The game ended up being a 41-38 overtime victory for San Diego, but it was much more than just that. It was named "The Epic In Miami", which was played in very humid weather reaching 29.4° Celsius.

Both teams smashed into each other all game, trading scores. Both teams combined to gain 1,036 yards that day, including 856 passing yards and 804 net passing yards. All are NFL records for a playoff game, as are the 79 total points.

There were seven turnovers, a special teams touchdown, and five different receivers gained over 100 yards on receptions that day.

Hall Of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow was the hero for the Chargers on that day.

Despite being stricken with dehydration, cramps, a pinched nerve in his shoulder, and needing stitches for a cut to his bottom lip, Winslow blocked a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation. He also caught a NFL Playoffs record 13 balls that day.

The Chargers then stumbled into Cincinnati to play the Bengals. On a day where freezing weather easily was below -57° Celsius, thanks to winds of 27 miles per hour, it was dubbed the "Freezer Bowl". The Bengals, led by 1981 NFL MVP Ken Anderson, won handily 27-7.

The 1982 season is known as the strike shortened year of the NFL. San Diego finished second in their division with a 6-3 record. Six players, including five on offense, went to the Pro Bowl. The Dolphins got revenge on the Chargers by beating them in the second round of the playoffs.

That year saw Hall Of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts and wide receiver Wes Chandler set NFL records that still stand today.

Fouts averaged 320 yards passing per game, and Chandler averaged 129 receiving yards per game.

The Chargers also paid back the Bengals for their loss the year before by gaining a team record 661 yards in their 50-34 victory over Cincinnati in week seven.

The next three years saw an aging Chargers team win 21 games. Though the team was still extremely explosive on offense, the defense would let them down.

A big part of that factor was an ownership that refused to pay their players well, which led to the departure of many key players. Hall Of Fame defensive end Fred Dean noted that his brother, a truck driver, was making much more cash than he was.

After the Chargers began the 1986 season at 1-7, Coryell was fired and replaced by protege Al Saunders. Saunders would be replaced in 1991 by Coryell disciple Dan Henning.

Coryell's 69 wins are the second most in Chargers history behind Hall Of Fame coach Sid Gillman, and his nine seasons with the team are also the second most behind Gillman.

Don Coryell then retired from coaching, at the age of 62 years old, with 111 wins in 195 games overall. He is the first Coach With 100 Wins In pro And college football.

To try and sum up this man's career or impact on football is nearly impossible. Virtually every offense today on all levels is a variation of his system.

Bill Walsh and Coryell also have several ties in football. Walsh used to rely on Isaac Curtis, a player Coryell coached in college, while Walsh was an assistant coach with the Bengals.

He also coached under Protho for one year with the Chargers, the man Coryell would replace as head coach.

While Walsh is credited with the "West Coast Offense", he started out as a student of Hall Of Fame coaches Sid Gillman, Al Davis, and Paul Brown's downfield passing philosophies.

It was Coryell who really started this offense, and refined it as each year passed during his coaching career.

Coryell turned around every team he coached from college to the pros immediately. Though most remember his days in San Diego, his time in Saint Louis also must be hailed.

He took a perennial loser, and made them a serious contender in an NFC East that was mostly dominated by the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins throughout the 1970's. He made quarterback Jim Hart a much better player and surrounded Hart with many weapons.

Wide receivers Mel Gray and Pat Tilley were wide receivers who excelled along with Hall Of Fame tight end Jackie Smith in Coryell's system. Gray holds a franchise record for having at least one catch in 121 consecutive games, and is tenth in franchise history with 351 receptions.

He is fourth in Cardinals history with 45 touchdown receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and averaged an outstanding 18.9 yards per reception.

Smith is still second in career receiving yards with the team, fifth in receptions and touchdowns, and averaged an excellent 16.5 yards per catch. Tilley was a fourth-round find by Coryell in 1976, and ended up sixth in career receptions with the Cardinals, and third in receiving yards.

One other thing Coryell brought to the NFL was the use of the multi-purpose running back. Terry Metcalf was his first of many backs who did everything well.

Metcalf led the NFL in total yards with 2,462 yards, which is still the best in team history. Metcalf is currently ranked fourth in total yards in Cardinals history.

Coryell also resurrected the career of fullback Jim Otis. Otis joined the Cardinals in Coryell's first season after spending his first three years as a back up with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

Coryell turned Otis into a Pro Bowl player in 1975, after gaining a career best 1,076 rushing yards.

Factor in such other weapons like Ike Harris, J.V. Cain, Wayne Morris, Steve Jones, Donny Anderson, Ahmad Rashad, and Earl Thomas, and one can see all the fantastic players Coryell used to make Saint Louis a winner.

He also worked with Hanifan in making the Cardinals perhaps the best offensive line in the league during Coryell's tenure. The line consisted of Hall Of Fame tackle Dan Dierdorf and Pro Bowl players like Tom Banks, Conrad Dobler, Ernie McMillan, and Bob Young most of the time.

They gave up just 55 sacks from 1974 to 1977, including only eight in 1975. This was the fewest allowed in NFL history, until it was surpassed by the Miami Dolphins in 1988 by one.

Though the Cardinals were an explosive offense, their defense let them down. This would be a theme throughout most of Coryell's coaching career in the NFL.

In his 14 seasons as a coach, his offenses led the NFL in net yards gained per passing attempt five times. They finished in the top five of the NFL six more times.

His teams led the NFL in passing yards seven times, and none of his teams finished lower than seventh. They led the NFL in passing touchdowns three times, and finished in the top ten nine other times.

His teams led the league in passing attempts two times, finished second five times, and was in the top ten another five times.

But Coryell also ran a balanced attack where the run was important. Twice his teams led the NFL in rushing touchdowns, and they finished in the top ten eight more times.

His teams finished in the top five in yards per carry three times, twice in the top ten in rushing attempts and yards.

His teams led the NFL in total offense yards five times, and in the top ten another six times. Twice his teams led the NFL in yardage differential, which is the number of yards they outgained their opponents that year.

His teams finished in the top ten an additional five times. Coryell's teams led the league in points differential once, and finished in the top ten another six times.

Yet his defenses often finished in the middle-to-lower end in all categories each year. His 1979 was the best defense he ever had statistically. That defense led the NFL in defensive touchdowns and allowing the fewest rushing attempts.

They also finished in the top ten in interceptions, net yards gained per pass attempt, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, total yards allowed, and touchdowns allowed. In 1980, the Chargers led the NFL with 60 sacks.

Many Hall Of Fame players and Pro Bowlers were coached by Coryell in the NFL. The list of players inducted into Canton includes Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Fred Dean, and Roger Wehrli.

When Coryell hit San Diego, the spotlight on his genius was shining. He took wide receiver John Jefferson in the first round in 1978 and had him become the first player in NFL history to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.

He transformed Dan Fouts into a spectacular quarterback, and saw Fouts become the second player in pro football history, and the first in NFL history, to have over 4,000 yards passing in a season. Fouts then would go on to pass for even more yards the next two seasons.

Besides his Chargers teams becoming the first to have three 1,000 yard receivers, their 1981 team had a 1,000 yard rusher in Chuck Muncie and two 1,000 yard receivers in Winslow and Joiner. Wes Chandler finished 43 yards short from joining them in the thousand yards club that year, which would have given them three receivers and a running back with 1,000 yards in one season. This is an accomplishment never duplicated in league

After his success with Metcalf, Coryell found other versatile backs to use in San Diego. Men like Muncie, James Brooks, Earnest Jackson, Gary Anderson, Mike Thomas, Lydell Mitchell, Don Woods, Clarence Williams, and the diminutive Lionel James all excelled in his offense.

Brooks led the NFL in all purpose yards in his first two years with San Diego, and James did it once.

James also had 1,027 yards receiving, which set an NFL record for yards receiving by a running back then, on 81 receptions in 1985. His 2,535 all purpose yards that year was an NFL record for fifteen seasons.

While Coryell's critics wrongly point to his lack of championship wins, the stinginess of the owners he was employed by was a huge reason why his teams never went past a conference championship game.

In San Diego, they lost Jefferson and Dean because on contract disputes. Dean left the Chargers mid-season to go to the San Francisco 49ers because of this reason. Dean was a key reason the 49ers won Super Bowl XVI that year, and was named UPI Defensive Player Of The Year.

With Dean gone, it hurt the Chargers defense immensely. The Chargers had the best defensive line in the NFL up until then, featuring Dean and Pro Bowl defensive tackles Louie Kelcher and Gary "Big Hands" Johnson.

All three were drafted together in 1975, and had a strong bond that had the fans nickname them "The Bruise Brothers".

Don Coryell changed the way football was played. It is still being played the way Coryell invented to this very day.

The now all to common sight on multiple receiver sets was first started by Coryell, as are many versions of offenses being run these days.

They are all spawns of his genius.

The Redskins three Super Bowls winning teams and Saint Louis Rams two Super Bowl winning teams ran offenses that were invented by Coryell. His impact on the game will reverberate for generations to come.

Winslow stated it best when he said, "For Don Coryell to not be in the Hall of Fame is a lack of knowledge of the voters. That's the nicest way that I can put that. A lack of understanding of the legacy of the game."

This is a despicable crime still perpetrated by the voters to this very day. It also shows that Canton MUST change their induction system.

Rumors of getting retired players involved, especially those already in Canton, has been circulated for years. These are the people who truly know who belong.

I have long told you about voters not even knowing what positions legends played in this series.

It, as Winslow stated, truly shows a lack of knowledge. It also shows the corrupt political process involved in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

A process that has wrongly kept Don Coryell from taking his rightful place.

The Forlorn Era Of Cerrato And Zorn

JW Nix — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:17:45 -0400

When Vinny Cerrato joined the Redskins, he had just come from a successful time working with the San Francisco 49ers. He has joined the Niners after working for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame University for many successful years, including a championship season in 1988.

In his eight years in San Francisco, he was part of a machine that went to the playoffs seven years in a row. The team never won fewer than ten games during Cerrato's time there. When he joined the Redskins in 1999, they made the playoffs that season.

Then Cerrato and team owner Dan Snyder began to hire washed up talents, including Hall Of Famers Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders. The team, already aging, found little relief with an influx of has-beens.

When Marty Schottenheimer was hired as head coach and general manager in 2001, Redskin fans would not recognize the importance of that moment until now. Schottenheimer was given the ability by Snyder to fire Cerrato, and he did immediately.

The Redskins became the first team in NFL history to follow a five game losing streak with a five game winning streak that season. It was accomplished with such mediocre talents like quarterback Tony Banks at the helm, where the team was third from last in the league in scoring.

If only Snyder had stayed the course with Marty Ball.

Schottenheimer was fired after his lone season in Washington, then would move to San Diego to help build a Chargers team that has been a winning team since. He was replaced by Steve Spurrier in Washington, where the team won just twelve games in two wretched seasons.

Though the hiring of Spurrier was a bad move in hindsight, the worst hiring in 2002 was when Snyder brought Cerrato back. It was a move most NFL experts laughed at. Many have said, since then, that Cerrato wouldn't be hired by any other team, and only Snyder would be foolish enough to hire such incompetence. Even the experts on ESPN, where Cerrato had worked in 2001, have long said such criticisms.

The laughter of NFL pundits continues today, though Redskins fans never wanted to see their team become a walking punchline.

There are several theories bandied about to how the inept Cerrato continues to stay in Washington, including the theory Cerrato is blackmailing Snyder to keep his job by possessing some form of incriminating documents or photos that would ruin Snyder's empire.

Cerrato's "expertise" has seen him neglect team need, especially the last several seasons. One example is his drafting tight end Fred Davis in the second round of the 2008 draft, even though the team had a young All-Pro in Chris Cooley at the position.

Sitting on the draft board was a huge defensive end named Calais Campbell for a team starving for defensive end depth. Cerrato blew off this, something he has consistently done when it comes to the Redskins needs in his time back in Washington. Campbell is now a regular contributor on the Arizona Cardinals, and helped them to a win recently by blocking a game winning field goal attempt.

Davis is a guy who should remind Redskins fans of former wide receiver Michael Westbrook in that he is not a fan of the game, and only plays it for the paycheck. He has given Washington virtually nothing since the day he was drafted.

These are the types of players peppered into the Redskins of today. A team desperate for linebacker depth, Cerrato decided to neglect the position until using a few picks on projects late in the draft. One of the projects had character issues, and didn't even make the team.

Whether it is wasting draft picks on projects, or trading away draft picks for washed up veterans who prefer to be 'Dancing With The Stars' in Hollywood than play football, the Vinny Cerrato era has been the worst of times for Redskins fans.

This Snyder team continues to dance with Hollywierd. Jim Zorn was seen yucking it up with Tom Cruise before he lead his team onto the field to break the Detroit Lions losing streak.

Zorn looked smitten with Cruise and had an expression on his face that he could not believe nor envision he would have ever found himself rubbing elbows in the world of entertainment. His time as head coach of the Redskins has been anything but entertaining to anyone but himself.

Dan Snyder has it in his biography that he grew up a fan of the Washington Redskins,and this is what inspired him to buy the team. Though Snyder is known to be very eccentric, a bit of a hot head, and admits to knowing virtually next to nothing about football, he has marketed the team well off the field.

If the Redskins are to have a chance, Snyder needs to step away from the field after he performs two very necessary moves on behalf of the Redskins organization.

The first move, and most critical, is to fire Vinny Cerrato immediately at the conclusion of the 2009 season. It is vital to the team ever having any chance at a future. The guy to consider replacing him with is the guy he replaced in Charley Casserly.

Casserly bleeds burgundy and gold, and is the guy who helped build some very good teams in Washington, as well as making the correct move in drafting Mario Williams with the first draft pick in the 2006 season for the Houston Texans. The Texans are now considered by many as an up and coming team.

The next move is to fire Zorn, a guy who isn't ready to be an offensive coordinator in the NFL, let alone a head coach. His play calling against the long suffering Lions was spotlighted by the nation, but most Redskin fans had already seen this.

Jim Zorn needs to go back to the AFC, because that is the type of game he calls and thinks can work in the NFC. His gutless and effeminate approach has loser written all over it in the NFC East.

Snyder needs to wake up now, and relieve the team of the inadequate Cerrato and Zorn. There is no way he cannot hear the screams of Redskins fans even in his ivory tower perch. Another year with Cerrato or Zorn is like being told to support the Dallas Cowboys, and a real Redskins fan would prefer to commit hara-kiri than do either.

Predictions For Week Three Of The 2009 NFL Season

JW Nix — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:57:31 -0400

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

The Browns are the worst team in the NFL right now. But things can change instantly. I just do not seeing it happening against Baltimore.

Ravens 31   Browns 13

Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions

Many seem to be thinking the Lions win finally this week. So do I.

Lions 21    Redskins 17

Tennessee Titans @ New York Jets

I cannot see the Titans losing this one. It could kill their season if thy do.

Titans 24    Jets 20

New Orleans Saints @ Buffalo Bills

I expect the Saints to throw, but Buffalo has a decent secondary.

Bills 35 Saints 31

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs will have some trouble even againbst an injured Giants defense, but I can see this going to the wire.

Giants 24   Buccaneers 17

Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks

Forte is the key here, because Seattle could not stop the run last week. I don't see Seattle winning with Wallace at quarterback this week.

Bears 24   Seahawks 19

Green Bay Packers @ Saint Louis Rams

Green Bay has to be upset after being run over by the Bengals at home last week. Champions don't do those types of things.

Packers 31     Rams 10

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

I like this game. Both teams are good on defense, but rely on the pass to move the ball. I am not convinced Palmer is his old self yet, so I'm going with Big Ben as the difference maker.

Steelers 24 Bengals 13

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

Denver has lead a charmed life so far. The problem here is that the Raiders hate them. This should be a bruising affair where injuries could be plentiful on both sides of the ball.

Raiders 20 Broncos 14

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Patriots

This will be a very good game. If Atlanta gets Michael Turner going, Atlanta will be in good shape to win. I am sure the Pats are aware of that.

Patriots 38 Falcons 34

Miami Dolphins @ San Diego Chargers

The Chargers did well against the Ravens with so many starters injured last week. They will be in better shape this week.

Chargers 31 Dolphins 17

San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings

I think the Niners will keep this close, but the Vikes defense will make the key play to win.

Vikings 23 49ers 17

Indianapolis Colts @ Arizona Cardinals

Game Of The Week

Two great quarterbacks with good offenses and decent defenses duel. I just think Kurt Warner has more weapons/ options.

Cardinals 38 Colts 34

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

The Jags don't get blown out. Del Rio is keeping them competitive while rebuilding. Houston, on the other hand, is ready to win now.

Texans 27 Jaguars 14

Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys

I just have this feeling the Panthers are going to run all over that suspect Dallas run defense.

Panthers 24 Cowboys 21

Kansas City Chiefs @ Philadelphia Eagles

SPECIAL MENTION TO WATCH HALFTIME!

Eagles 38 Chiefs 24

I think it will be close, but I don't care about that game this week. I am interested in what is happening at halftime of that game! Why? Because AL WISTERT is finally going into the Eagles Ring Of Honor.

THIS Sunday The Philadelpia Eagles Find Respect For History!

JW Nix — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:39:32 -0400

FINALLY! RESPECT IS BORN!

Give The Philadelphia Eagles credit today!

They recognize their tradition now.

FINALLY!

Al Wistert is being inducted into the Eagles Ring Of Honor on 9/ 27/ 09.

It will occur during a halftime ceremony when the Eagles host the Kansas City Chiefs.

BUT, the job is not done for Al.

He SHOULD be in Canton!

Here is his story again.

Consider getting on board.

Al Wistert
6'1" 214
Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles
1943 - 1951
9 Seasons
95 Games Played
8 Time All Pro

Albert Alexander Wistert was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia / Pittsburgh Steagles in 1943, the 32nd player chosen overall. The Steagles were a team that was comprised of Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers into one team because of World War II.

Al had played college football at the University of Michigan . He was a legendary two way player there. He had two brothers, Alvin and Francis, also play for the Wolverines. They all played the same position, Tackle on both sides of the ball, and wore the same number 11 jersey.

Francis was the first, Albert was the second, then Alvin was last. Their number 11 jersey has been retired by Michigan University , and is one of only seven to have achieved that honor. Albert played on Wolverine teams that lost only five games in his three years there. He was an All American and was named the MVP of the team in 1942.

One famous moment in Michigan University football history came against Notre Dame in South Bend , Indiana . Going in the locker room trailing at halftime, the Notre Dame fans told Michigan to go home because it was over. Wistert would have none of that and inspired his team mates with a pep talk that had the Wolverines fired up. Michigan rattled off 21 straight unanswered points in the third quarter and dominated Notre Dame to a 32 - 20 victory.

After playing in the 1943 East-West Shrine Game, Al was team captain of the College All Stars who played against the NFL World Champion Washington Redskins. Al's team stomped the Redskins, led by Hall Of Fame Quarterback Sammy Baugh, 27 - 7.

Al Wistert is a member of the Michigan University Hall Of Honor, and a member of the College Football Hall Of Fame, as are both of his brothers.

Al went to his first Steagles practice knowing no one. He saw Hall Of Fame Defensive End Bill Hewitt sitting on some rocks smoking a cigarette. Al approached Hewitt to introduce himself to the fellow Wolverine Alumni who had played alongside his brother Francis in college. Hewitt had just come out of a three year retirement to play for $4,000. It was the most Hewitt had ever made in the NFL. Al had just signed with the Steagles for $4,500. Al extended his hand and introduced himself, but Hewitt did not say a word or offer his hand. Al then decided to run laps around the field by himself. Pretty soon, the entire Steagles team was following Al and running around the field.

The Steagles disbanded the following season, and the Steelers and Eagles went back to being separate teams. Wistert stayed in Philadelphia . Al would make his first All-Pro Team that year in 1944, and would garner this achievement for every year of the rest of his NFL career. In 1946, he was named team captain. An honor he served until 1950.

The Eagles went to their first championship game in 1947, but lost to the Chicago Cardinals 28 - 21. The 1948 season saw the Eagles win their very first championship during a blizzard in a rematch against the Chicago Cardinals 7 - 0. The Eagles then went back to the NFL Championship the next year and beat the Los Angeles Rams 14 - 0 in heavy rain.

The Eagles are the only team in NFL history to win back to back championships and not allow their opponents to score. Al announced he would retire after the 1951 season. The Eagles held an AL WISTERT DAY in the fourth from last home game that year. The team gave Al a brand new car, and many other gifts. One gift was a hand crafted dining room table that Al still uses this day to eat his meals off of.

The Eagles then retired his #70 jersey in 1952, the first Eagle to ever have had this done. Al Wistert is a member of the NFL 1940's All Decade Team.

I find it utterly amazing that Al Wistert has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame! This man truly embodies what Canton is supposed to represent. Not only was he an eight time All-Pro in his nine year career, but he was a very important member of an Eagles team that dominated the NFL in the late 1940's.

He introduced the NFL to the stand up style of blocking you all see today, instead of the rolling type of blocks that were employed then, which allowed Wistert to use his speed and agility to keep on blocking more defenders downfield and making him better than all the rest.

Al was a true leader on and off the field. He captained a powerhouse squad full of Hall Of Fame players like Steve Van Buren, Pete Pihos, Alex Wojciechowicz, and Chuck Bednarik. His coach was Hall Of Famer Earle "Greasy" Neale. Al also gave back to the community by coaching a high school team in New Jersey over 50 miles away, even though he did not own a car. Neale liked and respected Wistert so much that he would lend his personal car daily to Wistert so Al could go teach kids how to play football. This says alot, because Neale was a noted task master.

One game, Al came to the sideline to tell the coach he thought he had just broken his leg. Neale replied, " Well, get back in there until you are sure that it is." Al never missed a game in his career. He started every game of his career except the first five of his rookie season. He would soon supplant veteran Ted Doyle after the fifth game. The only other time he missed a start was in 1950 season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Wistert had a severely sprained ankle and could hardly walk, but he ended up playing most of the game anyways.

A 60 minute man, he never left the field at any time. Whether it was opening up holes for runners on offense or closing them on defense, Wistert was an amazing athlete durable, strong, and cerebral. Al was the smallest Tackle in the NFL, weighing 214 pounds, but he was a master technician who would out think, outwit, out gut, and dominate his opponents on both sides of the ball for every minute of every game.

Al said, "I never gave then the same thing twice. I always confounded them with a new plan of attack." His team mates dubbed him "Ox", because he was incredibly strong and dependable.

The game was much different then. A rougher and more violent game with less rules and padding for self preservation. They played games in all sorts of poor weather, unlike the climate controlled stadiums so many players enjoy today. They would spend days travelling to cities by train, instead of a few hours on an airplane like today.

Just to get a taste of these times, the Eagles took a train from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after beating the Giants. Despite only having a few days in L.A. , they shut out the Rams in monsoon like conditions to win an NFL Championship. To say these men were tough is an understatement. They did this for the love of the game, not the love for the money.

Many great football players eschewed the NFL in those days because they could earn more money outside of sports, and in other sports. Francis Wistert was given $100 by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell just to sign a contract, even though he had no intention of ever playing in the NFL. Francis chose to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball instead of playing football.

Albert Wistert decided to play professional football and was great at it. He was a 60 minute man who stayed on the field at all times. After he retired, he became successful in the life insurance business and made million dollar deals. But he chose to play football first, and he is one of the path pavers who made the NFL the multi-billion dollar empire what it is today.

The fact the Eagles retired his number first, and only one year after his retirement, shows how special a football player he was. Al Wistert is also a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall Of Fame.

As the years go on, the more we tend to forget great gridiron stars like Al Wistert. The veterans committee for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame MUST be blamed for not doing the jobs they were given to do. It is plainly evident to see, with all of the accolades, that a grave injustice has been perpetrated in regards to Al. It was not lost on his fellow players. After he retired, over 23 players and NFL'ers have written to the Hall Of Fame asking that Wistert be put in. Greats ranging from Chuck Bednarik to even former Eagles owner Norm Braman. Why the voters have chosen to ignore such a rich, diverse cast of NFL Alumni requests is bewildering. There is NO QUESTION that Albert Wistert belongs in Canton .

YOU can help by signing this petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/AlOxWistertHOF/

Philadelpia Eagles Respect History This Sunday by Honoring Al Wistert

JW Nix — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:06:00 -0400

FINALLY! RESPECT IS BORN!

Give the Philadelphia Eagles credit today!

They recognize their tradition now.

FINALLY!

Al Wistert is being inducted into the Eagles Ring Of Honor on Sept. 27, 2009.

It will occur during a halftime ceremony when the Eagles host the Kansas City Chiefs.

BUT, the job is not done for Al.

He SHOULD be in Canton!

Here is his story again.

Consider getting on board.

Al Wistert
6'1" 214
Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles
1943 - 1951
9 Seasons
95 Games Played
8 Time All Pro

Albert Alexander Wistert was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia / Pittsburgh Steagles in 1943, the 32nd player chosen overall. The Steagles were a team that was comprised of Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers into one team because of World War II.

Al had played college football at the University of Michigan. He was a legendary two-way player there. He had two brothers, Alvin and Francis, also play for the Wolverines. They all played the same position, tackle on both sides of the ball, and wore the same No. 11 jersey.

Francis was the first, Albert was the second, then Alvin was last. Their No. 11 jersey has been retired by Michigan University, and is one of only seven to have achieved that honor. Albert played on Wolverine teams that lost only five games in his three years there. He was an All-American and was named the MVP of the team in 1942.

One famous moment in Michigan University football history came against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Going in the locker room trailing at halftime, the Notre Dame fans told Michigan to go home because it was over.

Wistert would have none of that and inspired his teammates with a pep talk that had the Wolverines fired up. Michigan rattled off 21 straight unanswered points in the third quarter and dominated Notre Dame to a 32-20 victory.

After playing in the 1943 East-West Shrine Game, Al was team captain of the College All Stars who played against the NFL World Champion Washington Redskins. Al's team stomped the Redskins, led by Hall Of Fame Quarterback Sammy Baugh, 27-7.

Al Wistert is a member of the Michigan University Hall Of Honor, and a member of the College Football Hall Of Fame, as are both of his brothers.

Al went to his first Steagles practice knowing no one. He saw Hall Of Fame Defensive End Bill Hewitt sitting on some rocks, smoking a cigarette. Al approached Hewitt to introduce himself to the fellow Wolverine Alumni who had played alongside his brother Francis in college.

Hewitt had just come out of a three-year retirement to play for $4,000. It was the most Hewitt had ever made in the NFL. Al had just signed with the Steagles for $4,500. Al extended his hand and introduced himself, but Hewitt did not say a word or offer his hand.

Al then decided to run laps around the field by himself. Pretty soon, the entire Steagles team was following Al and running around the field.

The Steagles disbanded the following season, and the Steelers and Eagles went back to being separate teams. Wistert stayed in Philadelphia.

Al would make his first All-Pro Team that year in 1944, and would garner this achievement for every year of the rest of his NFL career. In 1946, he was named team captain, an honor he served until 1950.

The Eagles went to their first championship game in 1947, but lost to the Chicago Cardinals 28-21. The 1948 season saw the Eagles win their very first championship during a blizzard in a rematch against the Chicago Cardinals 7-0.

The Eagles then went back to the NFL Championship the next year and beat the Los Angeles Rams 14-0 in heavy rain.

The Eagles are the only team in NFL history to win back-to-back championships and not allow their opponents to score. Al announced he would retire after the 1951 season. The Eagles held an AL WISTERT DAY in the fourth from last home game that year.

The team gave Al a brand new car, and many other gifts. One gift was a hand crafted dining room table that Al still uses this day to eat his meals.

The Eagles then retired his No. 70 jersey in 1952, the first Eagle to ever have had this done. Al Wistert is a member of the NFL 1940's All Decade Team.

I find it utterly amazing that Al Wistert has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame! This man truly embodies what Canton is supposed to represent.

Not only was he an eight time All-Pro in his nine year career, but he was a very important member of an Eagles team that dominated the NFL in the late 1940's.

He introduced the NFL to the stand-up style of blocking you all see today, instead of the rolling type of blocks that were employed then, which allowed Wistert to use his speed and agility to keep on blocking more defenders downfield and making him better than all the rest.

Al was a true leader on and off the field. He captained a powerhouse squad full of Hall Of Fame players like Steve Van Buren, Pete Pihos, Alex Wojciechowicz, and Chuck Bednarik. His coach was Hall Of Famer Earle "Greasy" Neale.

Al also gave back to the community by coaching a high school team in New Jersey over 50 miles away, even though he did not own a car.

Neale liked and respected Wistert so much that he would lend his personal car daily to Wistert so Al could go teach kids how to play football. This says a lot, because Neale was a noted task master.

One game, Al came to the sideline to tell the coach he thought he had just broken his leg. Neale replied, "Well, get back in there until you are sure that it is." Al never missed a game in his career.

He started every game of his career except the first five of his rookie season. He would soon supplant veteran Ted Doyle after the fifth game.

The only other time he missed a start was in 1950 season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Wistert had a severely sprained ankle and could hardly walk, but he ended up playing most of the game anyways.

A 60 minute man, he never left the field at any time. Whether it was opening up holes for runners on offense or closing them on defense, Wistert was an amazing athlete durable, strong, and cerebral.

Al was the smallest Tackle in the NFL, weighing 214 pounds, but he was a master technician who would out think, outwit, out-gut, and dominate his opponents on both sides of the ball for every minute of every game.

Al said, "I never gave them the same thing twice. I always confounded them with a new plan of attack." His team mates dubbed him "Ox," because he was incredibly strong and dependable.

The game was much different then. A rougher and more violent game with less rules and padding for self preservation.

They played games in all sorts of poor weather, unlike the climate controlled stadiums so many players enjoy today. They would spend days travelling to cities by train, instead of a few hours on an airplane like today.

Just to get a taste of these times, the Eagles took a train from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after beating the Giants. Despite only having a few days in L.A., they shut out the Rams in monsoon-like conditions to win an NFL Championship.

To say these men were tough is an understatement. They did this for the love of the game, not for the love of the money.

Many great football players eschewed the NFL in those days because they could earn more money outside of sports, and in other sports.

Francis Wistert was given $100 by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell just to sign a contract, even though he had no intention of ever playing in the NFL. Francis chose to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball instead of playing football.

Albert Wistert decided to play professional football and was great at it. He was a 60-minute man who stayed on the field at all times. After he retired, he became successful in the life insurance business and made million dollar deals.

But he chose to play football first, and he is one of the path pavers who made the NFL the multi-billion dollar empire what it is today.

The fact the Eagles retired his number first, and only one year after his retirement, shows how special a football player he was. Al Wistert is also a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall Of Fame.

As the years go on, the more we tend to forget great gridiron stars like Al Wistert. The veterans committee for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame MUST be blamed for not doing the jobs they were given to do. It is plainly evident to see, with all of the accolades, that a grave injustice has been perpetrated in regards to Al.

It was not lost on his fellow players. After he retired, over 23 players and NFL'ers have written to the Hall Of Fame asking that Wistert be put in: greats ranging from Chuck Bednarik even to former Eagles owner Norm Braman.

Why the voters have chosen to ignore such a rich, diverse cast of NFL Alumni requests is bewildering. There is NO QUESTION that Albert Wistert belongs in Canton.

YOU can help by signing this petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/AlOxWistertHOF/

Jim Zorn Flops on While Redskins Nation Flounders in Anger

JW Nix — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:26:41 -0400

Did Jim Zorn get hold of the Denver Broncos' playbook for 1983? Watching the Redskins struggle with the St. Louis Rams this past Sunday, it seems so.

While Washington barely won in spite of Zorn's inept play calling, it was a victory so shallow that the most loyal of Redskins fans sent boos cascading down onto the field after the final gun. Hopefully, the reactions sunk into Zorn enough to understand where he is at.

The Redskins play in the NFC East, not the AFC West. The weak finesse style of play Zorn seems to want will not work in Washington's division. The West Coast system may work in other divisions, but it has never produced a champion out of the rough NFC East.

This is a division known for being won by the strongest, not the prettiest. Though some of the mashers who became champions out of the division were deemed pretty by some after successes, usually the champion limps into the playoffs having battled some of the NFL's best teams, which happen to reside in the NFC East as well.

The inadequacies of Zorn's offensive philosophies shone brightest under the spotlight of scrutiny on the team's final drive. As the Redskins clung to a 9-7 lead with the game clock winding down, they found themselves inside the Rams' 10-yard line. It was first down and critical that the Redskins score a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

Zorn then resorted to calling a series of plays that were both ludicrous and baffling. The first play was an attempted shovel pass that was incomplete and was destined to go nowhere. Then it was fourth and less than a yard. Zorn decided to go for it.

Conventional wisdom would mandate either a sneak play from quarterback Jason Campbell or a run up the middle with running back Clinton Portis. Zorn elected to do neither. He called a sweep play with Portis that went nowhere and caused the Rams to acquire possession of the ball.

Luckily for Zorn, the Redskins defense held the Rams from moving the ball. The game ended in favor of the Redskins, though it was viewed unfavorably by many of their fans. Going into Detroit next week, they may find refuge on the opposing team's field. Hopefully Zorn will also have left some pages of his playbook in Washington as well.

Many pundits of the NFL say that a head coach usually gets a pass in his first year on the job. Zorn is now entering his second season, and his offensive scheme is as ineffective as it was last year. If this season continues on as it has started, it would be hard to imagine him back for a third season.

NFL LUCUBRATIONS

The NFL Rules Committee is out of control. Last year we saw a defensive player getting a 15-yard penalty for hitting Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan as he was releasing the ball. The reason for it? Putting too much weight on the quarterback.

Most know the quarterback has had many rule changes since 1979 to make his job obscenely easy, but now it is quite clear that the NFL quarterback is no longer a football player. He has become a media image full of unworthy hype and adulation.

I guess now the powers that be decided to change the definition of a touchdown now. Last week saw rookie Louis Murphy catch a ball in the end zone. He came down with both feet and had full control of the football.

Murphy then landed on his elbow, which is considered down and makes it a dead ball—though that should not matter, because the ball itself is supposed to be dead once it crosses the goal line.

The thing was that Murphy then lost the football after crashing down to earth. The new rule states it is an incompletion, not a score. This is perhaps the dumbest new rule farted out of the bowels of the committee, though the new rule on only having two players form a wedge to block on kickoffs is pretty darn close as well.

When does enough become enough for this group trying to justify their paychecks? These rules all subtract from the game and prove that not all busybodies provide positive contributions.

Perhaps in these lean economical times it would be prudent to disband this insipid council for at least a decade so the players can play football with the little rules left that allow them to do so. This is not the NBA, though Paul Tagliabue tried to make it so.

My NFL Power Rankings After Week Two

1. New York Giants
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. New Orleans Saints
5. New York Jets
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. San Diego Chargers
8. Indianapolis Colts
9. Atlanta Falcons
10. New England Patriots
11. Houston Texans
12. Denver Broncos
13. Philadelphia Eagles
14. Chicago Bears
15. San Francisco 49ers
16. Tennessee Titans
17. Dallas Cowboys
18. Buffalo Bills
19. Arizona Cardinals
20. Oakland Raiders
21. Cincinnati Bengals
22. Green Bay Packers
23. Seattle Seahawks
24. Washington Redskins
25. Miami Dolphins
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
27. Carolina Panthers
28. Kansas City Chiefs
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. Detroit Lions
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Cleveland Browns

Week Two NFL Predictions To Consider

JW Nix — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:52:27 -0400

HOUSTON TEXANS @ TENNESSEE TITANS

I think the Texans are mad after such a poor showing on opening day last week.

TEXANS 24 TITANS 16

ST. LOUIS RAMS @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS

The Redskins were embarrassed by the Rams on their hone turf last year, so they want payback.

REDSKINS 27 RAMS 21

MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ DETROIT LIONS

Detroit looks better, but the Vikings will run it down their throats.

VIKINGS 38 LIONS 17

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ NY JETS

Though I expect the Patriots to look better this week, the Jets will be fired up.

JETS 31 PATRIOTS 27

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles defense looked good last week, but Drew Brees is coming off a six touchdown passing day. The Eagles need to run the ball to win.

SAINTS 27 EAGLES 20

ARIZONA CARDINALS @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Cards got embarrassed last week, so their pride is at stake.

CARDINALS 27 JAGUARS 24

OAKLAND RAIDERS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Richard Seymour brings a big body, and the knowledge of how to win.

RAIDERS 28 CHIEFS 16

CINCINNATI BENGALS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

The Packers defensive line will abuse the Bengals offensive line, one of the worst in the league.

PACKERS 38 BENGALS 21

CAROLINA PANTHERS @ ATLANTA FALCONS

The Panthers looked really bad last week, while Atlanta looked decent.

FALCONS 24 PANTHERS 14

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ BUFFALO BILLS

The Bills get the no-huddle humming this week.

BILLS 34 BUCCANEERS 21

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

This will be a good defensive battele.

SEAHAWKS 17 49ers 14

BALTIMORE RAVENS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Game Of The Week

A game where the defenses and field position will decide this.

RAVENS 27 CHARGERS 24

PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ CHICAGO BEARS

Urlacher's loss will haunt the Bears all year.

STEELERS 30 BEARS 17

CLEVELAND BROWNS @ DENVER BRONCOS

Might be the worst game of the week.

BRONCOS 24 BROWNS 17

NY GIANTS @ DALLAS COWBOYS

The Cowboys open the new stadium with a lass, and that monstrosity called a TV screen will have an impact.

GIANTS 27 COWBOYS 21

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Colts will be too much on offense, while the Dolphins will not be enough.

COLTS 27 DOLPHINS 14

Fantasy Football Flukes and Jukes

JW Nix — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:24:54 -0400

This is a rare entry for me, talking about fantasy football.

I leave that stuff to Lester's Legends, a REAL expert!

Check him out, if you some haven't yet, at http://lesterslegends.com/

I have played fantasy football six years in about three to four leagues each year. Won four championships in the six previous years, and lost in two more championship games. The key for me has been gambling on rookies basically.

I am now in my fourth year as the commissioner of my own league, but I have joined three more leagues this year as well.

My problem was simple. I was the last team to draft in each league that is no less than 18 teams deep, and my life in reality had me so that I could only make one draft in person. I had to scour the free agents lists after the other leagues drafts.

Somehow I started this year undefeated, though I realize this is a fleeting moment.

For fun, I decided to let you in on my rosters so you can get a decent chuckle and realize my teams are probably not playoff bound.

The first team is called THE HANGMEN, named in honor of Chris Hanburger's nickname.

QB : Tony Romo = Well, no complaints. He is average
QB : Trent Edwards = If he stays healthy, he could be OK.
RB : Chris Johnson = Maybe, but he splits carries.
RB : LenDale White : The guy he splits the carries with. Auto-draft rocks lol.
RB : Knowshon Moreno = I like rookies, this guy might be good.
RB : Ahmad Bradshaw = If Jacobs has a injury, Ahmad might help.
WR : Randy Moss = No complaints here at all.
WR : Vincent Jackson = Again, no complaints.
WR : Chris Henry = I think he is a sleeper.
WR : Eddie Royal = If Marshall leaves, his value increases.
TE : Kellen Winslow = Dunno how many balls he will see?
K : Neil Rackers = He should get chances
D/ ST : San Diego = They are solid, so I'm happy.
D/ ST : Minnesota = I like them, so happy one again.

THAT is probably my best team.

Here are the others:

CHRIS HANBURGER HOF 2010, named because of my mission you might know of.

QB : Drew Brees = Geesh, how could I not be happy here?
QB : Trent Edwards = Just think he will be good this year.
RB : LaDainian Tomlinson = I hope L.T. still has IT.
RB : Pierre Thomas = I think he gets 1,000 this year.
RB : Tim Hightower = He scored me a mess of TD's last year.
RB : LeSean McCoy = I think Westbrook can't last 16 games.
WR : DeSean Jackson = A repeat of last year would be nice.
WR : Percy Harvin = Just have a feeling on this rookie.
WR : Torry Holt = I think his tank isn't quite empty.
WR : Darrius Heyward-Bey = Saw him as a Terp. He's a rookie starter.
TE : Jason Witten = The Cowboys love getting him the ball often.
TE : Jeremy Shockey = He could be big this year.
K : Kris Brown = Best free agent kicker available in my league.
D/ ST : Steelers = They are a top five unit in the league.

GAITHERSBURG GLADIATORS - This is my team in my four year old league, and defending champs.

We did some rule changes to increase scoring, and increase rosters. Missing this draft hurt, because one has to dig deep in later rounds especially. I did a lot of free agent moves here.

As the commish, I have to be fair and nice. One guy couldn't rank his players, and got no QB's worth anything. Being charitable, I gave him Kerry Collins for WR Dave Clowney.

QB : Phil Rivers = No complaints
QB : Matt Stafford = At least he is starting, so hope he does decent.
QB : Chad Henne = The best free agent left. Blah.
RB : Lawrence Maroney = Dunno if he'll get the ball much.
RB : Knowshon Moreno = The rookie thing.
RB : Cedric Benson = At least he is currently starting.
RB : James Davis = A rookie sleeper.
RB : Aaron Brown = I like this rookie.
RB : Mike Goodson = A rookie with potential.
RB : Chester Taylor = If AP goes down, he is the man.
WR : Larry Fitzgerald = He is a lucky get for my team.
WR : Brandon Marshall = Hope he is productive, not disruptive.
WR : Darrius Heyward-Bey = A Terp and rookie.
WR : Louis Murphy = He could surprise.
WR : Pierre Garcon = Many people get the ball in Indy after Wayne.
WR : David Clowney = The guy hopefully isn't just a preseasom player.
WR : Chris Henry = Hoping he realizes his talents.
WR : Jerheme Urban = The Cards love to pass.
WR : Mike Wallace = A sleeper rookie.
WR : Deon Butler : Gambling this rookie is ready.
TE : Todd Heap = He could be back to All-Pro form.
TE : Jacob Tamme : In a thin TE pool, he was the best option.
TE : Martin Rucker = A sleeper pick.
K : Matt Prater = This guy might not get many chances.
D/ ST : Eagles = Happy here. They can pick off passes.
D/ ST : Seahawks = I hope they will be good.
D/ ST : Bills = They are a decent team for bye week use.

HANBURGER HOF 2010

QB : Tony Romo = A decent guy.
QB : Jason Campbell = Hoping he is decent.
RB : Chris Johnson = Hope he gets carries.
RB : Ryan Grant = Maybe he gets 1,000
RB : Reggie Bush = I don't think I'll keep him long.
RB : Felix Jones = If he stays healthy, he might do OK.
WR : Larry Fitzgerald = Hope he keeps going.
WR : Lee Evans = He can be big this year.
WR : Devin Hester = Dunno how good he will be.
WR : Chris Chambers = Might dump him.
TE : Antonio Gates = He is a top TE in the AFC.
TE : Vernon Davis = If the Niners use him right, he could be the best.
K : Adam Vinatieri = If healthy, he is solid.
D/ ST : Vikings = Think they will do OK this year.

Well, these are my teams. Not impressive, I know. Beggars cannot be choosers when drafting last, especially if one does not make three of the four live draft days.

So, my advice is to get your fantasy help from Lester's Legends or Chris at http://undrafteds.com.

Peace