Bleacher Report - Articles by Alex Petakas

Don't Look Now: Adrian Peterson May Be Running on Borrowed Time

Alex Petakas — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:25:42 -0400

It's no secret that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is the best young back in the NFL today.

Having exploded onto the scene with 1,341 rushing yards as a rookie and breaking the single game rushing record with 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers, Peterson only improved in 2008. Last season he ran for an astounding 1,760 yards, recording the best season by a Viking runner in the franchise's history.

However, as widely known as Peterson's dominance is, the short shelf life for an NFL halfback also recognized. In fact, the minor decline of 30 year-old LaDainian Tomlinson garnered Peterson the title as the NFL's top runner today.

A comparison to LaDainian Tomlinson is no doubt an honor in a number of ways. But when it's said and done, there are a few names that I'm sure Peterson—along with LT—would not like to mentioned in the same sentence with when it comes to winning. Those are the names of Hall-of-Fame caliber players Barry Sanders and Curtis Martin.

What do they all share in common? A career's worth of ball-carrying brilliance, and an empty ring finger to show for it.

Peterson is far from the same type of back as Barry Sanders was, but when examining farther, there are a number of similarities between the two. Like Sanders, Peterson was drafted into the NFC North to a franchise that is far from a championship organization with hopes to change that.

At first glance, it seemed as if both were capable. In 1989, Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards as a rookie and found the end zone 14 times. Peterson scored two fewer times on the ground with 12 TDs.

Although Sanders' outstanding rookie campaign was not enough to propel the Lions to the playoffs—they finished 7-9—it looked like the franchise had a star destined to launch them to the next level.

However, 10 years and 15,269 yards later, Sanders was yet to taste an NFL championship.

Many feel the lack of fielding a competitive team in Detroit was the reason Sanders retired early. Sanders' desire for a Super Bowl was more prominent than his desire to rewrite the NFL record books.

Now, on the brink of his third NFL season, Adrian Peterson takes the back seat to an even bigger name that is dominating the Minnesota headlines: Brett Favre.

Peterson admits that he would love to play with a Hall of Fame quarterback.

"If he is a part of our team when the season comes around, we're going to welcome him with open arms and see where the chips fall."

Peterson also isn't hesitant to place his trust in Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress.

"I know our coach is going to do his job, and at the end of the day, his job is having the best team possible to win games," Peterson explained.

"That's his job, so I'm going to let him handle his job and I'm going to do my job."

Now I pose the question: has Adrian Peterson misplaced his trust? Are the Vikings best suited going after an ancient Brett Favre, who is a shadow of what he once was? And is Brett Favre even enough to propel the Vikings to a championship caliber team?

Peterson was blessed to already compete in the NFL Playoffs.

However, he has also been handed the ball by four different starting quarterbacks.

Bring someone else to mind? That's right, as great as Barry Sanders was for such a long period of time, the Lions fielded 10 different starting quarterbacks during that time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the Vikings have no shot. I have more faith in their organization than I do the Lions.

However, if persuading Favre to come out of retirement with an injured throwing shoulder and hoping he can work his magic once more is their best attempt at getting Peterson to the big dance, then it's time to get serious.

If they fail to do so, they may find Adrian over the proverbial hill at 30-years-old with more miles on him than even the most durable of stallions can bare.

And like legendary Barry Sanders...nothing to show for it.

Minimal Distractions, Maximum Participation Has McCarthy Optimistic

Alex Petakas — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:20:33 -0400

Just last offseason, the Packers were surrounded by arguably the most distractions one team has ever faced in a short period of time. Whether it was talks of Brett Favre's return, the hold-out of Ryan Grant, or the pressure resting on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers, there is no doubt it was hard to focus.

However, Favre is now a concern to only the division rival Minnesota Vikings. Ryan Grant is participating in his first full offseason since his arrival in Green Bay, and appears to be 100% healthy as well. And Aaron Rodgers has proven he can play at a high level, quickly becoming one of the better young leaders in the game today.

With that being said, now, just one year later, the Packers wrap up mini-camp with almost perfect participation, with plenty of reasons to be pleased and seemingly no reasons to focus on anything other than football.

To start, what had the potential to be a distracting contract dispute instead was handled quite well by both parties, as Greg Jennings never let his contract situation become a distraction in the locker room.

For that (and for his outstanding play-making ability) Ted Thompson rewarded him, locking him up until 2012 and making him the second highest paid receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy feels Jennings is more than worthy of this deal: "I think Greg is a young man that has developed here in Green Bay and I can't say enough about him personally," McCarthy said in his press conference at the conclusion of this past weeks mini-camp.

"I like the way he goes about his business and he is definitely well deserving of this contract."

While Greg Jennings did not let his contract effect his participation in the offseason program, there was one other Pro-Bowl caliber player who did. However, after a long absence, Nick Collins returned to Green Bay for mini-camp as well.

Physically, Nick Collins returned looking as much in shape as he normally does, and McCarthy noted his exceptional physical condition, saying that "Nick has always been a conditioned athlete for us. We have never had an issue there, so I feel like he is on top of the physical part of it."

However, with the transition to a new defense, Collins has some catching up to do in the classroom. Luckily for both him and the Packers, he's well aware, and has taken strides toward getting the mental aspect down pat.

"I'm pretty up-to-date," Collins said. "I was in my playbook, I know the terminology, it's just going out there and doing the right things out there on the field."

Coach McCarthy noticed Collins has spent a significant amount of time doing his homework as well.

"He has a good understanding of the transition from the verbiage change, so he has been spending time in his book. You can see that."

Although Collins still has some catching up to do as far as getting on-field reps, his attendance at mini-camp was a big step toward getting the entire secondary together come the start of training camp.

As far as Nick Collins goes, if he can resolve his contract issues as Jennings has, then having the two stars back and ready for another standout year would give the Packers much reason to be optimistic.

Having had near perfect attendance in the offseason program, the rest of the team will now look to get healthier over the break. As for the installation period of the offseason, Coach McCarthy feels it was a success.

"I think our football team did a great job of coming in here, learning the systems, whether it was offense, the changes we made, defense being new, special teams being new. They took full advantage of their opportunity to have a clear understanding of what we're asking them to do," McCarthy explained.

Now, with the offseason behind us, and training camp just over a month away, it is time to put it all together and become one cohesive unit ready to take the next step toward achieving the ultimate goal that is a championship in 2009.

"Our football team will come together in training camp," McCarthy stated in optimistic fashion. "I think we've done a very good job, players and coaches alike, getting ready for that."

The difference between the team at this time last year and now in the present day is a great one. Distractions remain to be nearly nonexistent and the focus of the team is more than evident. If the Packers can now put the ghosts of a disappointing 2008's past in the rear-view, then we may be looking at one of the most improved teams of 2009.

Packers Only Hope: Greene's Fire Catches On

Alex Petakas — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:31:30 -0400

Entering his first season as an NFL coach, Green Bay Packers outside-linebacker coach Kevin Greene takes on a tough task: to mold the current group of outside linebackers, who are completely unaccustomed to the 3-4, into your prototypical outside rushers, wreaking havoc for quarterbacks and running backs alike.

It's a task that Greene takes head on, as he always has during his 15-year NFL career.

As a player for four different teams, Greene was a tough assignment for anyone to block. With 160 career sacks, he ranks third all-time in NFL history behind Bruce Smith and Packer great Reggie White.

Perhaps a more interesting statistic is that he is first all-time among linebackers, playing a part along with Lawrence Taylor in revolutionizing the position itself during the 1980's.

Clearly, Greene has the 3-4 outside linebacker position down to a science and brings a world of experience to the table. However, the experience is not the only asset of value Greene provides. One of his most outstanding qualities is his fiery attitude and his passion for the game, a quality that Packers players and coaches alike hope is extremely contagious.

A brief stint with the WCW showcased Greene's charisma, and Packers defenders joked that Greene showed them some old wrestling videos during meetings to lighten the mood and build a relationship with his new projects. When it comes to football though, Greene is strictly business.

Greene is quietly one of the more important parts of making this transition to the 3-4 a successful one. Having played under Dom Capers in Pittsburgh, he knows the system inside out, and knows what is expected out of the Packers new defensive general. More importantly than knowing the system, he knows how to succeed in it.

His more notable project will be molding Aaron Kampman into a modern-day version of himself. Head Coach Mike McCarthy didn't fail to express his excitement about this new relationship earlier this offseason.

"I know Kevin Greene is excited about working with [Kampman] and the individual time they've spent up to this point," McCarthy said. "Personally, I think this is really going to help Aaron Kampman."

Usually a media savvy guy, Kampman has taken a more quiet approach to dealing with the media this offseason, coming off as having a "strictly business" type of attitude with unmatched focus and intensity. Perhaps this is the first step in his transformation to becoming the Packers' own version of Kevin Greene.

If Kampman, along with the rest of the outside linebackers, could now emulate Greene on the field, then rest assured, opposing quarterbacks will have nightmares of the Green and Gold's pass rush all season long.

Packers With Something to Prove: Players to Watch in Training Camp

Alex Petakas — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:50:21 -0400

Mini-camp is not so much a time for evaluation as it is for installation. As the coaching staff attempts to make their installations to the offensive, defensive, and special teams systems, players are expected to first get a grasp in the classroom.

As Mike McCarthy continues to evolve his offense, Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers and staff are working vigorously at installing the 3-4 defense. New Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Slocum hopes to improve upon the Packers dismal display last year, ranking them last in the league in kick return yards.

With that being said, the offseason is quickly flowing by, and soon, training camp will be upon us. Then, it will be time to evaluate players based on their performance, as well as mental grasp of the playbook, while they strap on the pads and prove their worth.

This training camp, there are countless storylines and players for every Packer fan to keep an eye on. Here is a list of a few—out of many—who are either fighting for a spot on the roster, locked in a heated position battle, have plenty to prove, or will just be flat-out entertaining for any cheese-head to watch come August first:

Jeremy Thompson, OLB

Selected in the fourth round, 102nd overall in 2008, Jeremy Thompson enters his second season as the beneficiary of a system change that makes him a perfect fit. Originally an undersized defensive end, the Packers coaching staff asked him to gain weight following the 2008 season to make him more problematic for offensive tackles around the league and more durable.

Now, just a year later, Thompson has shed 10 pounds to fit his role as the outside linebacker opposite Aaron Kampman in the new 3-4 defense. The switch will call for him to use the athleticism that caught the Packers front office’s eye when he was coming out of Wake Forest.

Interestingly enough, Jeremy was the first player Packers General Manager Ted Thompson has traded up to draft in his entire career.

Thompson, who is leaner than ever, certainly has the athletic ability to get the job done. As of now, he has taken almost all of the reps with the first team defense and finds himself battling to maintain his role as a starter.

If he can keep the dinged up Clay Matthews at bay and prove that he can be more effective as an outside rusher than Brady Poppinga, then Jeremy Thompson may find himself as a starting linebacker for the Packers exciting defensive squad.

Brandon Jackson, RB

After injuries depleted Green Bay’s backfield in his rookie season, Brandon Jackson came into 2008 hoping to be the spell to Ryan Grant that the offense so desperately needed. With injuries hampering DeShawn Wynn since his rookie season, Jackson emerged as the solid number two halfback and also showed potential to become a prototypical third down RB.

He was fifth on the team in receptions, with 30 in 2008, and if he is able to continue to improve as a receiver, his role will take on higher importance in this offense.

Jackson is aware of this, stating that he looks to improve, “All around, blocking better, better zone reads and catching the ball.”

Jackson is also playing at 220lbs. now, his heaviest ever, and the results can be seen on the field. The extra weight should help him in pass protection situations, and Jackson looked much more difficult to bring to the turf at times in 2008.

He only carried the ball 45 times in 2008, but capped his season heading in the right direction, rushing for 113 yards in the season finale against Detroit.

If DeShawn Wynn can come back healthy, and last season's training camp, Kregg Lumpkin, can continue to improve, the backfield should be in good position to turn the ground game struggles around.

Mike McCarthy stated that it’s Ryan Grant’s group to lead, but loves the fact there is healthy competition behind him:

“[Grant] is the primary runner. But I think there is a lot of competition. I think Brandon Jackson did a lot of positive things for us last year with his opportunities. DeShawn Wynn jumped on the scene, had some production….You always plan to utilize all your players.”

If given the opportunities that McCarthy likely feels more inclined to give him, Jackson should emerge as a great asset for the offense. Keep an eye on the entire RB group come August, as the running game is one of the most obvious areas for improvement.

Jason Spitz, C/G

Drafted in the third round in 2006, the former Louisville Cardinal enters his fourth season in Green Bay looking to turn this young, and often disheveled, offensive line around.

Spitz is now arguably the most versatile lineman the Packers have, amassing 25 starts at three different positions (RG, C, LG). Spitz will battle it out with Scott Wells in training camp for the starting center position, but carries with him the experience from playing the guard positions that Coach McCarthy holds in high regard.

“I think any time you have the opportunity to play guard first and then move to center it really helps you,” McCarthy said. “I have always referred to the center and two guards as the core of our offense…”

“So Jason having the opportunity to learn guard then move to center really helps him….He does look natural there”

Whether it is Wells or Spitz starting at center when the season opens, it is likely Spitz will be starting at any three of the “core” spots in the offense. A strong core is vital to an entire body’s success, so consider Jason Spitz a very important part of the Packers 2009 season.

Anthony Smith, S

With Nick Collins deciding not to show up to OTA’s, one of the Packers only free agent acquisitions in 2009, Anthony Smith, took almost all of the reps with the first team defense.

Smith was an effective starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, playing in all 16 games and totaling 68 tackles and two interceptions. However, in 2008, he was a healthy inactive for the majority of their Super Bowl run.

Perhaps Smith’s biggest contributions for the Packers will come in the classroom, as he is one of the only Packers accustomed to running the 3-4. At safety, he has taken on the responsibility of making the checks for the secondary and has a pretty firm grasp on things due to past experience.

McCarthy noted his exceptional work in OTA’s, calling him, “The furthest ahead of everybody,” and saying, “He looks very natural out there.”

With this mental leg-up on the other safeties, and with Nick Collins wasting valuable reps in the offseason due to his contract situation, Smith may have a chance to rejuvenate his career as a solid backup or better in Green Bay.

Jermichael Finley, TE

Jermichael Finley is a very interesting case. Coming into the league after playing only two seasons at the University of Texas, Finley was an extremely raw talent.

He possesses a great build at 6'5", 245 lbs., and has outstanding athletic ability. Catching passes was not a problem during college, but making the adjustment to the professional game is an entirely different story.

“Last year it was all just overwhelming with everything I was getting thrown it and thrown at,” Finley admits. It’s only natural for a 21-year-old tight end, asked to take on increased responsibility in both run and pass block situations to be overwhelmed.

However, entering his second year, Finley is likely to see the field more and hopes to emerge as a legitimate pass catching target and a productive backup to Donald Lee.

A true pass-catching tight end is something the Packers have lacked in recent years, and having one would open up this offense in a big way. If Finley reaches his potential, he can bring that dimension to Green Bay.

Should he combine his physical tool set with hard work in the classroom and turn it into production, he can develop into a menacing player for any linebacker to have to cover in the future.

Ruvell Martin, WR

Ruvell Martin is a true workman’s receiver. Having played in NFL Europe and battling to make an NFL roster for three years, he broke in as a Packer late in 2006 and carried that momentum over to have a very productive 2007 season.

Granted, Martin only hauled in 16 passes, but consider this: A remarkable 15 of them were for either a touchdown or a first down.

Moving the chains and putting points on the board are the most valuable things a receiver can do for his club, and Ruvell’s four touchdowns in 2007 had me thinking he was finally the tall-build, red zone threat the Packers needed.

However, hampered by injuries in 2008, Martin finds himself on the rebound entering 2009’s training camp. A guy who showed vast improvement from year to year, Ruvell now has to battle his way to make the roster once more, as the Packers are loaded at receiver and are set on Jordy Nelson and James Jones being their three and four options, interchangeably.

Martin is no stranger to fighting for his NFL life, and will do so come training camp, as he will battle to maintain his role as the fifth and likely final receiver on this club.

Korey Hall/John Kuhn/Quinn Johnson, FB

It’s not the most intriguing position battle for obvious reasons, but the fullbacks need some love here. Last season, both Korey Hall and John Kuhn saw the field quite often at fullback.

Hall brings a great understanding of the game from the flip side, having played linebacker in his tenure at Boise State. He is widely considered the true starter at the position, and took the most reps at fullback for the Packers in 2008.

John Kuhn contributed later on in the season, earning more playing time as the year progressed. He is also a key contributor on special teams and posted 11 special teams tackles in 2008.

However, when drafting Quinn Johnson in the fifth round last April, Ted Thompson clearly saw something that he liked. Quinn also played linebacker at Louisiana State, so the physicality is there. When blocking in the NFL, the tenacity of a big time SEC linebacker is certainly helpful.

When Jacob Hester graduated, LSU switched Johnson to fullback, and the move was a good one. An interesting stat: Johnson had 11 touchdown-resulting blocks in 2008, second on a team that had significant talent on the offensive line.

I wouldn’t think the Packers would use a fifth rounder on a fullback just to have a body (and a huge one at that) in training camp. Johnson is here to compete.

But with the running-back group shaping up, it seems improbable the Packers will consider keeping all three fullbacks on the team. We’ll see which of these workhorses makes the final 53-man roster after training camp.

Will Blackmon, KR/PR/CB

Will Blackmon has shown very brief glimpses of greatness, and I still feel he has the capability to become an above-average/great return man. However, as I mentioned earlier, the Packers were dead last in the league in kick returns, so Blackmon may be on the hot seat in 2009.

He returned two punts for touchdowns in 2008, averaging just over 11 yards a return. On kickoffs, he averaged 21 yards per return, but he, and the entire Packers team failed to reach the end zone.

Shawn Slocum takes over as the Special Teams Coordinator after three seasons as special teams assistant. His most daunting tasks will be finding a punter to get the job done (Jeremy Kapinos and Durant Brooks will fight for the job) and setting up the offense in better field position.

When it comes to field position, Blackmon is the essential piece, assuming that he will resume his duties as the primary return man. Tramon Williams may potentially challenge him, along with Jordy Nelson. They both have had experience returning kicks and punts in their brief career with the team.

For Blackmon, it’s time to step up. His overall value on the team may decline if he cannot come up big in 2009, as Tramon Williams solidified himself as the third cornerback, and Blackmon has struggled to be productive there.

He is but only one part of an entire unit that struggled last season, but with a big year from him, he can be the most important piece to turning things around.

Assuming Blackmon finds a way to consistently set up the offense in good field position, his contributions will go far from unnoticed, and he can prolong his tenure in Green Bay for years to come.

From In-Vince-Able to Invisible: The Tragic Falloff of Vince Young

Alex Petakas — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:46:50 -0400

In-Vince-able:

Throughout the entirety of the 2005 college football season, Pete Carroll’s USC Trojan team was being compared to some of the greatest teams of all time.

Often mentioned with the likes of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, which produced 16 first-round draft picks, the Trojans—led by future first rounders Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush—were destined for eternal glory.

Winning by an average margin of just over 28 and-a-half points per game that season, USC stood undefeated coming into the Rose Bowl National Championship game, and was virtually unstoppable.

To climb this mountain and beat USC, it would take the performance of a lifetime.

That’s exactly what the college football world witnessed on January 4, 2006, in Pasadena.

Texas Longhorn quarterback Vince Young stared down the eyes of the monster that was the USC football team for four quarters of football and defeated it.

Passing for 267 yards and rushing for 200 more, Young scored three touchdowns on the ground and wowed a nation with one of the most memorable plays in recent college football history.

Trailing by four with only 19 seconds remaining on the clock, Young capped a 10 play, 56 yard drive with an eight yard rushing touchdown that propelled his team to the national title, and eventually catapulted himself into the limelight of the entire football world.

We all remember the “In-Vince-able” headline and the photo of Young drenched in confetti with the championship trophy in his hands.

This was an image and a performance that stood out not only to the fans, but to NFL scouts as well.

The 6'5" and 230 lbs. dual threat quarterback went on to be selected third overall by the Tennessee Titans that following April.

He proceeded to do what he did in college at the next level, using his freakish athletic ability to almost single-handedly win football games for the Titans.

Young is currently 18-11 as a starter.

Young started 15 games in the 2007 regular season and led the Titans to a 9-6 record in those games, resulting in the franchise’s first playoff birth since 2003. Young already had the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award under his belt, and even landed on the cover of the Madden video game franchise.

Not only was he one of the best athletes we had seen at the time, but also one of the leagues most marketable young stars.

An even-tempered southern boy from Houston who made it big—it was inevitable that Young would become one of the faces of the NFL.

At the ripe young age of 24, Vince Young was destined for NFL super-stardom.

Invisible:

Fast forward through the awards and endorsements to the present day, and we find 26-year-old Vince Young coming off the heels of an emotional and psychological breakdown.

After spraining his knee in the 2008 season opener, he lost his starting job to veteran Kerry Collins. Just as soon as he was out of a starting job, the rumors about Young’s emotional state, rather than physical state, began to swirl until it finally resulted in one of the more unusual and dramatic events the NFL has seen in recent memory.

On September 9, 2008, Vince Young went missing.

Young’s therapist, that he had visited earlier that day, went on record saying that he had mentioned suicide several times before leaving with a gun.

Young was allegedly upset about being booed against the Jaguars, a game in which he threw two interceptions and sprained his MCL.

Perhaps for a moment, the pressures of being an NFL icon became too much to handle?

Nobody knows what truly went on in the head of Vince Young that night.

He may have struggled with the thought of suicide for hours, or perhaps it didn't even cross his mind. But to be able to step back onto the field, Young would have to be cleared by a psychiatrist as mentally fit to participate in football.

Young looks back on the incident and calls it embarrassing, hoping that it is no indication of what many feel is a lack of heart and will to play the game.

But, could you really blame him for his epic breakdown?

He had the entire world in front of him, only to have it pulled out from under his feet.

The fact that he has only himself to blame for the depletion of his image—seeing as if he worked hard enough to get back to full health without having these character issues on his resume as well—was enough to push him over the edge and fall into NFL anonymity.

Now, Young finds himself with a seemingly impossible task: to battle his emotions, prove to his critics and coaches that he indeed still does want to play football, all while fighting to perform well enough to be given the opportunity to land himself back on an NFL field.

To climb this mountain, it will take the performance of a lifetime.

Again, like January 4th, 2006, the world waits anxiously for Vince Young to overcome all odds.

I, for one, will be rooting for another classic triumph for the underdog.

Jets Weigh Options: Consider Making Plaxico Sanchez's Newest Weapon

Alex Petakas — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:45:27 -0400

On the brink of his court date set for this coming Monday, Plaxico Burress has drawn the attention of more than just the justice system in New York.

After inking first round quarterback Mark Sanchez to a franchise record $50 million deal on Wednesday, $28 million guaranteed, the New York Jets are warming up to the idea of keeping Burress in New York.

That is, of course, if he can shed gun charges that can possibly land him in jail for a minimum of three-and-a-half years as easily as he can shed defensive backs.

With a rookie quarterback, there is no doubt that the Jets should be looking to surround him with a few weapons to aid his transition into the big leagues, so it comes as no surprise that they are looking to address their need at receiver.

Jerricho Cotchery is the only wide-out with significant experience that poses a threat to opposing secondaries, so the thought of matching him with a player like Plaxico is one that makes plenty of sense, based on talent alone.

However, in signing a player like Burress, much more than just talent comes along with the contract. Is the baggage really worth it? Some potential teammates at Jets mini-camp certainly thought so.

In a recent interview with the New York Daily News, Cotchery was asked about the idea of the Jets signing Burress if he is eligible to play this coming season, and he made it clear that Burress is too talented a player to pass on.

"Any team would find a way to welcome him. It's rare that you have that type of talent on the market this time of year. I don't think anyone would pass."

Cotchery is entering his sixth season with the Jets, and has showcased his limitless potential numerous times. However, as of now, the lack of another receiving threat may land Cotchery more double-coverage, and ultimately hurt his production in the near future.

If Burress is able to play this coming season, the Jets would be a potential suitor off the bat, seeing as they contacted Drew Rosenhaus in regards to Burress earlier this offseason, and the receiver position is their most glaring need.

The type of talent that Burress possesses is enough to take a franchise to that next level, and ultimately become a contender. First year head coach Rex Ryan assured the New York media Tuesday that in inquiring about Burress, the character issues are weighed heavily.

"One thing to know for sure is that if he is here or any other player is here that we decide to pick up, understand we would have done our homework on that particular player," said Ryan.

At the very least, it would provide both Cotchery and rookie Mark Sanchez with more opportunities to grow into the stars that they have the potential to become.

We've seen it happen time and time again. Prima donna receivers letting their off-the-field issues infiltrate the locker room, hindering a team's chemistry and leading to their downfall.

The question remains, can these people change? Can they put their problems of the past behind them, rid their selfish ways, and move forward in an effort to better their franchise?

If Burress is eligible to hit the field in 2009, the Buffalo Bills may not be the only team in New York hoping so...

Memo to Minnesota: The Young Guns Rule the North

Alex Petakas — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:18:13 -0400

The NFC North is nicknamed the black and blue division for a reason.

Not always known for prolific offenses, but more often for offensive ineptitude, it seems the majority of these teams have turned the corner, or at least are making an attempt towards shedding the old-school tag.

The Packers are pleased with the production from Aaron Rodgers in his first year as a starter. The Bears welcome with open arms Jay Cutler, who is more talented than anyone the franchise has had in decades at that position.

And, if all goes according to plan, the Detroit Lions have found the face of their franchise in signal caller Matthew Stafford, the first overall selection out of Georgia in April's draft.

However, the defending NFC North Champion Minnesota Vikings continue to waste their time flirting with 39-year-old Brett Favre, something that may make defending their title in coming years very difficult.

The idea of having the Brett Favre of old is just as unrealistic an idea as it is a good one. The Favre that the Vikings watched from the opposing sideline for 16 seasons is clearly not the same No. 4 that may potentially be calling signals for them this September.

So, is bringing a 19-year veteran who is a fraction of what he once was worth the effort Minnesota is putting in? Will it put this team over the hump and make them a contender? Absolutely not.

Perhaps the most effective thing Favre does now is put every quarterback on the roster in a bind by creating an entire offseason of uncertainty throughout the locker room.

This isn't to say that he has nothing left in the tank. Favre's competitive fire burns brighter than any other, and I will forever be a fan of his for what he did for the Green Bay Packer franchise.

But training camp is quickly approaching, and we're talking about a man who is not guaranteed to even be physically able to perform.

Each of the other three teams in this division is getting younger and has what they feel is the future of their franchise at quarterback.

The Vikings still have one of the more talented offensive lines in football and, combine that with the most dangerous halfback in the game in Adrian Peterson, they have the makings of a championship offense for years to come.

Just imagine if they could compliment that with a young signal caller with even above-average talent that Brad Childress can groom into a stud. The fact that they are going after Favre would lead one to believe the Tarvaris Jackson experiment is over, but Childress and company are yet to implement a backup plan.

It's not like finding a franchise quarterback is easy, but seeing as the Vikings are not making strides in that direction whatsoever has me feeling like they aren't too serious about winning in the future.

Rather than building an offense that is bound for serious success in the long run, Minnesota remains stuck in the past, playing in to Favre's plan to spite Green Bay by facing them twice a year.

How this year's edition of the Favre Saga will play out, nobody knows. However, it is safe to say that by investing all their stock in an over-the-hill quarterback is the perfect recipe for setting your franchise back.

Now, sit back and watch the young guys steal the show!

Packers Preview: Five Questions to Make or Break the Green and Gold in 2009

Alex Petakas — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:22:20 -0400

After their first season without Brett Favre at the helm in what feels like a century, the Green Bay Packers leave a lot to be desired coming in to 2009. A season marred by injury, inconsistency and disappointment had the Green and Gold finishing at 6-10. However, with the foundation of this team built through GM Ted Thompson’s successful drafts and good decisions, many feel that the Packers are poised for a big turnaround come September and possibly even a Super Bowl run in coming years. It is clear that the talent level does not match up with their sub-par record and if they can find an answer to a few questions lingering in Packers Faithful’s minds, they may very well find themselves in the playoffs again in 2009…

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